Baby Update

Kevan, Ezekiel, and I spent the morning admiring our newest family member...by ultrasound, at least! The doctor ordered one more scan to measure the baby and get a better idea of my due date. As I suspected, it is looking like this little one is due closer to the end of December (consistent with my first ultrasound), rather than the middle of the month (the due date my doctors have previously stuck to). New due date: December 30th! So... for those of you anxiously holding your breath, it looks like we have a few more weeks yet. It was a really encouraging doctor's appointment - her size is just right and it even appears that her lungs are fully developed. So, whenever our little girl decides to make an appearance, we are ready!

As I was leaving the doctor's office this lady in the waiting room just had to stop me and comment on my belly. Yes, I know, it is hillarious. And it is only going to get hillarious-er. I have tried to see myself through other's eyes and I do realize that I look like a swallowed a larger-than-NBA- regulation basketball. This woman was at least kind about it. She kept going on and on about how "precious" my belly is and how "lucky" I am to carry this way. Then she proceeded to tell me that I must find an artist to paint my belly as a Christmas ornament. Complete with a gold topper made out of a styrofoam cup and a pipe cleaner hook. I mean, she was really serious. After all, she says, "you are having a Christmas baby and you look like just like an ornament!"
So, if you know anyone... =)

This is a fun week. Yesterday I got bags full of girl clothes from my friend Heidi and had so much fun hanging them up. Tomorrow we are going to pick out our Christmas tree and start decorating. And Friday is a cozy little baby shower at Heidi's house. I can't wait!!

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving was a great day with family and friends. Kevan's mom, Anna, came into town and we all enjoyed spending some quality time with her (especially her spoiled grandson!). Ezekiel even learned to say "Nana" while she was here, which was so darn cute. He kept saying her name over and over. One of Kevan's buddies from work joined us, too. We always love that. Seems like every Thanksgiving we have someone new brave enough to be part of the family for the day - and it always makes the day more special. We continued the Holbrook family tradition and logged what each of us our thankful for in our "Thankfulness journal". Such a neat thing to look back on over the years!

BUT, I have to confess, there was a big hole in my heart on Thanksgiving as we missed Matthew's family, Andrew's family, and Rebekah this year. They were spread all over the globe, and it was hard not to share the day with them. CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS all the more... only 22 days until Rebekah comes home!!!

I especially missed Beckah as I attempted to take pictures - she always takes the best family pictures. So, here are a few measily attempts to capture the day! (We took like 87 pics of our little family of 3... and the one above is as good as it gets!) =)




Helping Dad give directions - one more friend coming to play!


Ezekiel at the "kid table"


Lots of story time with Grandma and Papa Mark


Saying a sleepy goodbye to Nana at the end of a fun weekend!

Sheepish

I'm back! I'm back! I am embarrassed by how long it's been since I've posted anything adorable or funny about my son. I guess we have been busy... but a good kind of busy. Lots of new babies coming in our world so we've been celebrating with baby showers for our dear friends. I was also able to go on a women's retreat last weekend with my church, which was wonderful! My friends Jen and Heidi (and their husbands) watched Ezekiel while I was gone since Kevan had to work. I know he had a great time, and it was really good for me to relinquish control for a couple days. I am getting better and better about leaving him (I promise!). But he is just so darn fun to be with!

Ezekiel is also keeping us busy these days. He is into EVERYTHING. As exhausting as it can be to keep up with him sometimes, I LOVE this stage and love watching him discover. He can play with things for endless amounts of time, fascinated by the littlest details. One of his favorite discoveries is the lid on our kitchen trash can. If I'm missing anything, the first place I look is the trash because he'll sneak anything he can in there. Today I found 5 baby blocks and a pair of my shoes!

What's really sweet is when he invites you to play with him. He'll come toddling up to us holding out a book and saying "mama?" or "dada?" How could we not read to him? He also loves his hair brushed so he finds his little comb and brings it to us and stands there with the most peaceful look on his face while we comb his hair.

One thing I am sure of about this season of life: I am not missing anything. I am enjoying and savoring every moment with my little family and with our amazing son. I am soaking it in. Life is about to change in just a few short weeks, but we enjoying the sweetness of this moment.

Some fun pictures to bring you up to date (sorry it's taken so long to get you pics of Ezekiel's cute little costume!):

Our little lion learned to roar just in time for Halloween!

"Mom, I am too hot in my costume!!"

He loves to hang out with his dad!