A Very Terry Christmas

Dear Baby Bug-

Tonight was so much fun! We went to Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Carol's house for the Terry family Christmas and it was such a good time. We arrived around 4:00 and had a big dinner of Italian beef sandwiches, pirogues, sausage, ham, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, corn, salad, and much, much more. Once dinner was over, we opened gifts and boy did we get some great stuff! Mommy got a beautiful scarf and earrings from Aunt Katie and Tim, some snuggly new maternity clothes from Grandma and Grandpa, and a stuffed Yorkie dog from Marcia. Boy, Bug, for not even being out of the womb yet you sure did get a LOT of stuff this Christmas! You received a whole new wardrobe in one night! Here are some pictures from the evening including all of the ADORABLE stuff for you!


All of your cute new clothes!


Clara with the Yorkie Marcia gave Mommy


Aunt Katie trying on the apron Laney made for her


Grandpa Jeff taking pictures of the unwrapping


Mommy modeling her new scarf from Tim and Katie

Christmas Break!

Dear Baby Bug-

This week has been awesome- I haven't had to go to school and Mommy has been able to get lots done around the house and for Christmas. Monday was spent cleaning and running errands with Becky. Later that night, we had dinner with Becky, Betty, and Beth to spend some time together and catch up. We decided not to get each other gifts this year, and it was so much better to spend time together than exchange items. We had a fun time but had to cut our dinner a bit short because it started snowing pretty hard and we had to get home. We made it home to Daddy safe and sound and it was a very productive day!

Tuesday was a day all to myself. I didn't leave the house all day and spent most of it cleaning and getting ready for Christmas. The first thing I did was tape off your room so that Daddy can paint it whenever he wants. After that, I went through all of the fun presents that people have given you and put them all in your new dresser so that when Daddy paints they won't get all messy. Later on, I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom and wrapped the rest of the Christmas gifts. The tree is now full with presents underneath and I can hardly wait to give everyone their gifts. You even have gifts under the tree, Bug- Daddy has some surprises for you and I am very curious to see what they are! Once Daddy came home, I was exhausted and went to bed early. Even though I'm on break I still have to go to sleep early because I am just too tired to stay up late!



Today was another fun day. I was finally able to sleep in a little and took my time having breakfast. The puppies and I snuggled for a while until I had to get ready to run more errands. Rudy had an appointment to get his hair cut, so I took him over to PetSmart for his appointment. After I dropped Rudy off, I went to Edwardo's to meet two of my former Pantherettes, Kathryn and Aimee, for lunch. It was so much fun seeing them and catching up on their lives. It's nice being able to talk to them like friends now instead of like students when I had them a few years ago. They are both doing great and I hope to see them more often! :) Once lunch was over, I had to have an eye doctor appointment and then went to pick up Rudy. He looked so tiny with his hair cut and he was really happy to see me! Once I had Rudy, I still had to run a few errands but I didn't want to leave Rudy in the car. So, I brought a big shoulder bag along and put Rudy inside to run into a few stores. I sure hope people didn't wonder why my purse was moving around! Rudy was such a good boy and I made sure to give him a couple of treats when we were back in the car. You will learn soon enough that Rudy will do whatever you say for a treat!



Daddy came home not long after we got home and we snuggled with Rudy and Zoey and watched TV for a while. It's funny to know that when we go to sleep at night there are 5 heartbeats in our bed. That's one crowded queen-size mattress! You won't be able to sleep in bed with us after you're born, but we sure enjoy everyone being in one place right now! Daddy is at Grandpa Jeff's right now, but when he comes home we are going to watch It's a Wonderful Life. I've never seen it before and Daddy says that I HAVE to watch it. I'll let you know what I think.

I probably won't be able to write again for a while, Bug. Tomorrow we have the day at home but then have a super fun Christmas party at Grandma Carol and Grandpa Jeff's tomorrow night. Friday we will try to get up early, load the car, and drive to Grandpa Rand and Grandma Cindy's for Christmas where we will be for a whole week! Daddy is going to meet us there after practice on Friday and we are going to have dinner at Grandma's and then go to church. Christmas morning will be spent at Grandma and Grandpa's and then we will get ready and go to Great Aunt Lou's for the rest of the day. Sunday is Uncle Brandon's birthday, so we will be going to Fort Wayne to meet Sharon, Glenn, Sarah, Aaron, Kelly, Chase, and Taden for a late lunch. It will be so much fun! Uncle Brandon flew into Detroit today and hopefully Grandma and Grandpa have picked him up by now. We can't wait to see him and spend all week with him while he is home. It's going to be a great vacation, Bug, and it's only just begun!

I can't wait until next Christmas when you are here with us. By this time next year you will be about 8 months old and it will be so much fun to dress you in Christmas dresses and buy you cute new things. I'm sure you will have no shortage of things to play with, but getting you stuff for Christmas will be fun nonetheless. For now, we are content with waiting for you to come and will enjoy the anticipation of spending next Christmas with our little ladybug!

22 Weeks and Counting!

Dear Baby Bug-

We have reached 22 weeks and you are still growing! Everyone was excited to see your latest ultrasound pictures and are also happy that things are going as planned. Here is the latest picture of you in Mommy's belly:



When Daddy saw my belly today he said, "Whoa, it' really getting big!" Under any other circumstance I might be a little offended, but since it is totally true I am embracing it. :) Just like when your cousin Clara patted my belly last night and said, "I hate to tell you, but you're getting fat!" I just laughed and told her "I know, but at least it's because there's a baby in there!"

Speaking of last night, we had a great time celebrating Christmas at Aunt Debbie and Uncle Mike's house. (Almost) the whole family was there and we had so much fun eating, talking, and playing. Aunt Debbie had us play a really fun gift exchange game and Daddy ended up with Dominoes while Mommy received a collapsable colander. It was a wonderful night and we can't wait to celebrate Christmas with the Terrys on Thursday and with Mommy's side of the family over Christmas.

Today was pretty uneventful. We went to church, ate at Miner Dunn, and ran some errands for you. First we went to Babies R Us to see if we could find a glider for your room, but we didn't really find much that we liked. We then went to Home Depot to get the paint for your room and that trip was very successful! The color of your room will be "Peridot" and we can't wait to get the paint on the walls so that Daddy can put your crib together. That should all happen over this Christmas break and then we will be all ready to fill it with cute stuff for you. Here's a little preview of your room theme- it should be super cute and fit for our little ladybug!



This week is going to be so great, Bug! Mommy has the whole week off of school and it will be busy with cleaning, seeing friends, and family Christmas parties. Get ready to have lots to eat, because Mommy plans on taking full advantage of all the yummy Christmas food this year. We just need to make sure that we start working out a little in the new year. Have a great night, Bug, and keep on kicking away in there!

Friday December 17, 2010...Further Confirmation That You Are a Ladybug!

Dear Bug-

Today was a fantastic day- I was able to see you again! The day started early because I had to drink a bunch of water before going to the doctor's office for my ultrasound. Once I was able to drink all of it (and not use the restroom) I headed to the ultrasound so that we could get another peek at you. Daddy couldn't come because he had to work, so Mommy had you all to herself. During the ultrasound, the technician asked me if I knew what you are, and I said that we think you are a girl. Sure enough, a couple of minutes later, she turned the screen around to reveal the following picture:



The technician said that this picture confirms it- you are definitely a girl! After that good news, she continued to take pictures and measurements for a very long time. Once she was done, she showed me some fun pictures of you including your little feet, hands, and face. She really wanted to get a profile picture of you to keep, but you just wouldn't cooperate! You spent the whole time looking right at us. She even tried to poke my tummy to get you to move, but you just weren't having any of it. The technician showed me how we could see your eyes behind your eyelids and that they were moving back and forth- she said you must be in REM sleep and dreaming. I wonder what you could be dreaming about? Hopefully about how excited you are to meet your Mommy and Daddy!! The technician assured Mommy that you are measuring exactly where you are supposed to be and your official "age" should be 21 weeks 3 days. Wow! You're getting to be an old lady! :)

After the ultrasound, Mommy had some time before she had to go to work, so I took a gift and some hot chocolate to Kathy and the other counselors at Wilbur Wright Middle School. It was fun to spend some time over there. Since it was the last day before holiday break, everyone was in festive moods and we just talked and laughed together. I showed them all of your pictures and they all agree that you are perfect. I don't know who could argue with that!

Once I left WWMS, I went to Memo's to pick up lunch for the guidance department. We had a wonderful time eating, laughing, and exchanging gifts. Mommy got some really cute things and is so lucky to work with such wonderful people. Once lunch was over, our school principal took us on a tour of the newly constructed swimming pool. Bug, it is AMAZING. If we still live in Munster when you are old enough to go to high school, I hope you will at least have your PE class in that pool. It is bigger than any other pool facility in the state of Indiana except for the one in Indianapolis. It is absolutely beautiful and it was really neat to see it finished.

After school, I called Grandma Carol and Grandpa Jeff to tell them about your ultrasound. They are so excited to meet our little ladybug and were happy to hear that you are doing great. Grandma Carol and I agreed on a time to go to Daddy's game and she picked me up a little later to go. Daddy's team played hard, but they didn't win. :( After the game, Daddy and I went with Daddy's friends to eat and have fun. We were both very tired by about 10:30, so we finally came home and went to bed.

It was a very full day but an awesome one! Mommy is now officially on Christmas Break and has two whole weeks to relax, work around the house, get ready for Christmas, and spend time with Rudy, Zoey, and Daddy. I'm so thankful to have this time off and can't wait for all the fun Christmas activities coming up in the next week!

Here are some more pics from your photo shoot today! We love you Bug!

Mommy's Birthday Gift from Daddy :)

Dear Baby Bug-

This will just be a quick post to show you what Daddy got me for my birthday- it came in the mail today and it is a brand new BEAUTIFUL Coach diaper bag for me and for you! It has plenty of room for all of our stuff and it is pretty easy on the eyes unlike a lot of diaper bags I have checked out. This bag is going to get a LOT of use, Bug...I can't wait until you're here so I can fill it full of your stuff!

Birthdays and Bellies

Mommy, Daddy, Rudy and Zoey at my birthday party


Cammie's 12th birthday!


The 342 Crew celebrating Mommy's birthday


20 Week Belly Shot


Dear Baby (Lady) Bug-

Boy did we have a big weekend! This post is a little delayed because our internet quit working last night, so I am going to try to sum up the rest of our weekend in this post. After all the excitement of finding out that you are a little ladybug, we had to come home and work on getting things ready for my 30th birthday party. Daddy and I worked super hard and had everything perfectly prepped for when our friends started arriving. Carrie and Rob came to our house before dinner and we all went over to Cafe Borgia to meet the rest of the party. Carrie, Rob, Jess, Tom, Sara, Jeremy, Annie, Jenny, Aunt Julie, Uncle Jeff, and Grandma Carol all joined Daddy and I for a delicious Italian dinner. Afterwards, we went back to our house where many of Daddy's friends plus Sherri, Betty, and Mike came over to celebrate with Mommy. We had a great time talking, laughing, and having fun. Everyone is super excited to hear about our little ladybug and it was one of the best days of my life. Thank you to Daddy for giving me a great party and for giving me you!

After the party, Carrie, Rob, and Annie stayed overnight and we had a great time catching up. The next morning, we hung out and Daddy and I took them to one of our favorite places, Miner Dunn, for hamburgers for lunch. Sara and Jeremy came to pick up Annie around 1:30 and Carrie and Rob had to leave shortly afterwards. It was so fun to see all of my friends and you are going to love, love, LOVE them all! Once the house was empty, Daddy and I spent some time cleaning and then took a nap so that we could catch up on some sleep. Once we woke up, we had to get read to go to your cousin Cammie's 12th birthday party. Your cousins are SO EXCITED to meet you and they are already calling dibs on who gets to babysit for you. You are so lucky to have all of these wonderful people who care about you, Bug. I know I've said it before, but you are going to be one SPOILED little lady!

Well, Bug, we have made it halfway through. There is a picture above of Mommy's belly at 20 weeks. You are apparently almost the size of a banana so you are growing and growing! We have a lot to do to get ready for you in the coming months. In the near future, we hope to find the bedding for your nursery so that we can paint the walls and Daddy can assemble your crib. Your dresser is already put together and it is beautiful. I can't wait until your room is put together and I especially can't wait until you are here to enjoy it. Thanks for giving us a great weekend, Bug! We love you!

Hello to Our Little SHE-Bug!!!

Dear Baby Bug-

Today was one of the best days of Mommy's life- we were able to see you through an ultrasound and you look like a REAL baby! We also found out that you are a GIRL! I know that you have probably known this all along, but it sure is nice for Mommy and Daddy to know. I am so proud of you because you listened to me- basically the first shot that the ultrasound technician took was of the parts that let us know your gender. Very good job, Bug.

Let me start from the beginning. Today is a very big day because not only did we get to see you, but we also have a lot of friends coming over tonight to celebrate my birthday. I will probably do a separate post about those festivities- this post is too special to crowd with other things! Since Dr. Hamburg won't do an ultrasound for another two weeks, I took it upon myself to schedule one for today at a place called The Belly Factory in Frankfort by where Daddy used to live. Grandma Carol asked if she could come along, and of course we said yes! Grandma Carol picked me up and we drove to Frankfort where we stopped off at Alsip to buy your first Christmas ornament before heading over to The Belly Factory to meet Daddy. Once we were there, a nice lady took us into a room where she immediately started looking for you. Grandma Carol taped the whole thing and we were able to see you on a great big TV screen in front of us. She showed us your girl parts, then your body, your heartbeat (152 today!) your tiny hands, and finally your little face. It is amazing how much you have developed in just 20 weeks- now all you have to do is spend the next 20 weeks putting on weight. The technician did some 3-D pictures and my favorite one is with your little fist up by your face. There is also a 3-D one where you look a little like Lord Volemort...you may not know who that is now but I am sure that we will get your caught up on the world of Harry Potter at some point in your youth! I was so excited to see you that I kept laughing and shaking the picture. It was truly one of the most special moments of my entire life, Bug, and I am so happy that you are doing OK in there!

After the ultrasound, Grandma Carol bought me a pretty black dress for my birthday so that I have something to wear to my Christmas parties. We also went to another baby store and she bought you a pink onesie that says Basketball on it- Daddy liked it a lot! Daddy is already excited to point out girly little outfits and hats for you to wear- you are going to be one stylish little baby. I don't know how we are possibly going to wait 20 more weeks for you to be fully baked, but I know all the waiting will be worth it. We still need to get further confirmation that you are a girl, so we will have an ultrasound with Dr. Hamburg on December 17th. If you decide to grow an extra part to your anatomy between now and then, we will be just as happy. But for now, we are excited to meet out little girl and love you very much. Thank you for cooperating today- it is just one of the many times you have already made Mommy happy and this is just the beginning!

December 1, 2010...Bug's First Nutcracker

Dear Baby Bug-

Tonight was another first for you- you went with Daddy and I to see your cousins in the Nutcracker! Cameron, Laney, and Clara plus Cammie's cousin Jo all had parts in the Indiana Youth Ballet production of the Nutcracker and we go to watch them every year. The Nutcracker is a huge tradition in the Terry family and started way before I knew Daddy. Your Great Grandpa Cass used to take everyone every year to see the Nutcracker and Daddy says that they would sit in the front row. Your Great Grandpa Cass and Great Grandma Stella were pretty amazing people from what I hear and I am sad that neither you nor I will get a chance to meet them. I think you will enjoy the stories about them just as much as I do!

The production of the Nutcracker tonight was very good and it was fun to see your cousins up on stage. Cammie was a party boy, Laney was a party boy, a pink angel, and an acrobat, Clara was a Chinese girl (I'm still rusty on my technical Nutcracker terms), and Jo was one of the cutie pies that comes out of Mother Ginger (again, don't know the technical Nutcracker term). It was a great night and we were able to see not only the girls but also Uncle Jeff, Aunt Julie, Aunt Carrie, Grandma Carol, Grandpa Jeff, and Casey. There will be many more Nutcrackers in your future, Bug, and depending on how you feel you may even be part of the Nutcracker production one day. No matter what happens, you will definitely be part of the Terry Nutcracker tradition and we can't wait to take you to your first official performance...you know, like when you can see and stuff.

Another great piece of news came today- we scheduled an appointment to find out who you are! In just two short days we will have an ultrasound after Daddy's JV basketball game to see if we can determine whether your are a boy or a girl! I am so excited and don't know how I am possibly going to be able to sleep until then. You better cooperate for this ultrasound, Bug, or you are going to have one unhappy Mommy. And believe me, you don't want to make Mommy unhappy!! No matter what, I love you and know that it won't be long before we get to meet you in person. Only 20 more weeks!

19 Week Appointment...Almost Halfway!

Dear Baby Bug-

How are you doing in there? Today was a day like any other except for the fact that we got to see Dr. Hamburg again! He was very busy today and we had to wait a long time to get in, but boy was it worth it. He told me that I am looking good and that everything seems to be going "perfectly." I got to hear your heartbeat again and it is beating strong at 146 beats/minute. The best part of the appointment came when he gave me the slip of paper that we have been waiting MONTHS for...the order for your 20 week ultrasound! We now have the key to hopefully finding out what you look like now and whether you are a he-bug or a she-bug. Now that we have it, I don't know how we are possibly going to be able to wait to schedule that appointment. Daddy has a basketball game now, but I am DYING for him to get home so we can figure out a good day in the (very) near future to get this ultrasound. I am so excited to see you,Bug, and to see how you are developing. I know you've come a long way since the little gummy bear in the first ultrasound and you will actually look like a real baby this time. It's hard to believe the miracles that can happen in just 20 short weeks and the many more that are still to come when it comes to you and your development. If I every ask you to do anything in your short life, please follow my instructions now: COOPERATE DURING THAT ULTRASOUND!! It is way too early to start disobeying your mother, so I have no doubts that you are going to just lay spread eagle during that ultrasound so that we can tell just who we are dealing with in there. There's no use in fighting it because if you don't cooperate the first time, we'll just have to try again. We can't wait to meet you in person, Bug, but right now this ultrasound is the best we can do for another 20 weeks. Behave in there, keep kicking away, and we'll be seeing you (or at least your picture) soon!!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, Bug!

Dear Baby Bug-

Hello my sweet little baby! We had a very big long weekend which started on Wednesday with traveling home to Grandpa Rand and Grandma Cindy's house to spend Thanksgiving break. Daddy couldn't come because he and his team were busy winning their first game- how exciting! He didn't miss too much, though, because once we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's we ate dinner and then I fell asleep. I'm just not much of a night owl these days.

Thanksgiving Day was great because it started off by sleeping in. I've been sleeping a little better lately and was actually able to sleep until 9:00 which is unheard of. Shortly after getting up, Grandma, Grandpa and I were sitting around the table when the doorbell rang. There was Daddy, Rudy, and Zoey there to surprise us and to spend Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for and I was so happy that Daddy could be there to spend the day. Once we were able to get ready, we headed to Great Grandma and Grandpa Walter's house for the Thanksgiving feast.

Oh, Bug, it was so good to spend time with family! Most of the Walter family was at dinner and we spent the day eating, talking, and sleeping. Aunt Molly commented that by this time next year, you'll be 7 months old and may even be crawling around! That will be great- you can help us work off our dinners! She also brought up some neat coincidences. I was born the year that Aunt Molly graduated from high school and now you will be born the same day that her daughter, your cousin Mattia, graduates high school. Also, Aunt Molly was 30 when she had her first baby and I will be 30 when I have you! So now she thinks I am destined to have 4 girls...we will see about that! :) Once we had eaten ourselves silly, we helped clean up the dishes and went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for the night. Daddy, Rudy, and Zoey had to go home but it was nice to be with them for the whole day.

Friday was a full day of running around with Grandma Cindy. We visited a bunch of different places in Shipshewana to look for gliders for your nursery. We found a couple that I liked, but it was more about spending time with Grandma Cindy than actually finding the glider. That evening, we went with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Rand to eat dinner and to see the movie Unstoppable. It was really good and we had a great night.

Saturday was a very busy but fun day. We were able to sleep in again and then we headed to Fort Wayne to do some more Christmas shopping. I am so proud of myself- it isn't even December and I only have two more people to buy for- hooray! After we shopped for a while, we met your Uncle Glenn, Aunt Sharon, and cousin Sarah for dinner at Texas Road House to celebrate my birthday. It was so much fun to sit and catch up. We are so close with them and Sarah and Mommy have been great friends since we were babies. It is not very often that we are able to spend chunks of time together but when we do, it is a lot of fun and much appreciated. After dinner, we headed back to the mall for a little more shopping and even though we got home late, it was totally worth it!

Now it is Sunday, the last day of Mommy's break. Even though I am sad it's over, it has been a lot of fun and pretty relaxing. Today was probably one of the busiest days of all. It started with church in the morning and then we went to McDonald's for breakfast with Grandma Cindy, Grandpa Rand, Great Grandma and Grandpa Walter, Terry, Adam, and Lindsay. After breakfast, Mommy had to head for home so that I could make it back for Becky and Randy's baby shower. I made it back just in time and the shower was perfect! I can't wait for you and Baby Hoyle to meet and be good friends, just like me and Becky. I have a feeling we will all spend a lot of time together. The shower was a lot of fun and they got a lot of really neat stuff. It is so exciting that Baby Hoyle will be here in just two short months...and you will be following just two months later!! Holy cow!

After this long weekend, Mommy is ready for bed. We have a big week ahead of us with a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and my birthday party on Saturday plus Daddy has two big games. I think the time between now and April 23rd is going to fly by and I just want to enjoy feeling you grow and kick inside of me so that I can enjoy you even more when you are here! We love you, Bug!

Monday November 22, 2010...Birthdays and Basketball

Dear Baby Bug-

Today was a big day for many different reasons- it was Mommy's 30th birthday and Daddy's fist basketball game as a head varsity coach! Mommy's birthday was pretty much like any other day. I got up, got ready, and went to school. Becky was super nice and brought me a blueberry bagel and hot chocolate which was much appreciated. For some reason, hot chocolate ALWAYS sounds good these days but I very rarely drink it. Later on the in the day, Mommy's work friends shared cake and ice cream with me and gave me some pretty neat gifts. Daddy also had some beautiful flowers delivered to me at work- pink and purple, two of my favorite colors!



After school, I tried to take a nap so that I could get ready for Daddy's game. I have so many great friends and family members that it was hard to sleep because people kept calling to tell me "Happy Birthday!" I heard from your Grandpa Rand, Grandma Cindy, Aunt Molly, Great Grandma and Grandpa Walter, and Great Great Aunt Lou and Uncle Bernard. A very special person that called me was Carrie, and she let me know that she was going to drive all the way to Frankfort to sit with me during Daddy's game. She has no idea how happy that made me and she is such a good friend. Right after I got off the phone with Carrie, the doorbell rang and a man delivered some BEAUTIFUL flowers from Rob and Carrie which are pictured here in this blog. Mommy has some pretty special friends!

When it was time to go to Daddy's game, Grandma Carol came over so that we could drive together. We don't really get to see each other very often so it was nice to spend some time together in the car going to and from the game. Once we arrived at the game, we watched as Daddy's team fought a hard battle but ultimately lost. (Don't worry, Bug- there's good news! Daddy's team won two other games later in the week!) Carrie arrived right after the first half and she surprised me with some super yummy cupcakes that we enjoyed at dinner after the game.

The one thing I can say, Bug, is that I am happy today is over. You will really enjoy birthdays, but once you get older you will realize that they are days full of expectations (even if you don't think you have any) and pressure. I was very happy to crawl into bed and remember what is really important- you growing in my belly and getting ready to come out. You're the best gift that anyone could give me and I am so happy to have the chance to be your mommy!!

Christmas Shopping Has Begun!

Dear Baby Bug~

Boy did we have a busy weekend! Every year your Grandma Cindy and all of your great aunts take a whole weekend to go Christmas shopping and this weekend happened to be it for this year! Mommy always wanted to go on this trip but was never really "allowed" until last year. You will really enjoy all of your great aunts and Mommy really enjoyed the weekend away with them.

We left home on Friday right after school and met the rest of the family in Mishewaka at the Fairfield Inn which would be our home away from home for two nights. Once we checked into the hotel, we all went to Houlihan's for dinner. It was good to get some food in our systems, because after dinner we hit a bunch of stores to get started with the shopping madness. Mommy was able to get a bunch of birthday cards for various people, Great Grandma Walter's birthday gifts, some gifts for people at work and for Great Uncle Mike, Great Aunt Debbie, Great Uncle Chuck, and Great Aunt Sue. We had only scraped the tip of the iceberg, though, because there was a lot more shopping to be done the next day.

Once we returned to the hotel, Great Grandma Cindy and all of our aunts surprised Mommy with a birthday celebration complete with chocolate cake and coffee (for everyone but me- I had water!). It was so nice of them to think of me and we had a great time talking and eating. It must have been too much for Mommy to handle, because I fell asleep as soon as I ate my last bite of cake. Everyone else stayed up to talk until well after 1:00, but I had to get my beauty sleep for the big day to follow.

Saturday started early with breakfast at a place called Nick's Patio. It was super good and we had breakfast with 14 family members! You would think that 14 people would be hard to organize for a shopping extravaganza, but everyone agreed to go their own way and split up to different places. Mommy, Grandma Cindy, and Aunt Sharon started at Toys R Us and were able to find great gifts for your cousins. We then stopped at Bed, Bath, and Beyond before hitting the mall for the rest of the day. It was a loooooong day but Mommy found so many great gifts and had a wonderful time spending quality time with Grandma Cindy. We got to be together for the entire day which doesn't happen very often. At 5:00, we met the rest of the shoppers for dinner and more shopping. We finally made it back to the hotel around 10:00 where we ate more cake and Wendy's frosties. What a great day!

Sunday I returned home to see Daddy, Rudy, and Zoey. Daddy was able to make it out to Babies R Us to pick up your furniture and boy is it BIG!! Right now, your crib is in a box in your room and your dresser is in a box wedged between the couch and the lamp in the living room. Let's hope we can get it into your room! Tomorrow is Mommy's birthday and Daddy's first big game. It will be an exciting, full day so I had better start getting ready for bed. I love you Bug!

Monday November 15, 2010...An Early Birthday Celebration for Mommy

Dear Baby Bug-

I know that age doesn't matter much to you right now, but Mommy is about to turn 30 in one week from today. When you are 30, you'll probably be driving a hovercraft like Judy Jetson and have kids of your own...I can't even think about it because I know that it will go too fast! People keep asking me how I feel about turning 30, and I just keep saying that it doesn't bother me. I am at a wonderful place in my life; I'm married to your Daddy, we have two wonderful dogs, and we are expecting you...what could be better?

My "Griffith" friends offered to take me out to dinner tonight for an early birthday celebration because Rachel and James are home visiting from Ireland this week. James has a very big interview in Baltimore on Wednesday and so they flew in to spend the week and visit family. We were so lucky to be able to find a time when we could all get together, and tonight is when it all came together.

Beth, Betty, Becky, Rachel, and James met Mommy at TGI Friday around 6:00 and we had a great time talking, laughing, and catching up. It's amazing how far we have all come in the 6 years that we have known each other. We have all gone from being single and crazy (not too crazy, Bug. I'll tell you about all the crazy days some other time!) to meeting our significant others to getting married to moving away from each other (some of us across the ocean!) to now planning for and having babies. It's nuts to think about when I look back at this time in my life and the whole new chapter that Daddy and I are beginning by having you. I love my friends and they are very supportive of me and, like I keep saying, they can't wait to meet you!

Although it was a fun night, it was also a long night and Mommy has to go to bed. I hope you are doing well in there- I can feel you kicking every once in a while and can't wait for those kicks to get stronger and more frequent. Until then, I'll rest assured knowing that you must be pretty comfy in there. I love you, Bug!

A Weekend Full of Baby Bug Preparation

Dear Baby Bug-

What a weekend, Bug! Daddy and I were super busy doing many things, and all of those things are to get ready for you! Let me start at the beginning. It was a great weekend because Grandma Cindy came to visit. She arrived on Friday evening and Mommy was SO HAPPY to see her. Grandpa Rand couldn't come this weekend because he had to work, but I have a feeling that he may have been a little bored if he did come. When Grandma Cindy arrived, we turned right back around and headed to Betty's house for a party. It was a great night and even though Mommy was very tired, it was fun to spend time with Betty and with Grandma Cindy.

Saturday was a VERY busy day. Mommy and Grandma Cindy got up and drove out to Orland Park to meet Daddy for lunch. We went to a place called Five Guys Burgers and Fries and it was really good. After we had filled our bellies, it was time for the big task of starting to register for all of the fun things you will use. We went to Babies R Us and were there for over THREE HOURS!! Who knew that someone so small will need so much stuff!? And we didn't even get through half of what we need to do. Registering was a lot of fun and Daddy is super excited about your strollers, baby carrier, and baby monitor. He was very patient and a good sport while Mommy hemmed and hawed over which brands will be safest for you. Grandma Cindy was also very patient and I think she really enjoyed the experience. The best thing about the whole process is that we ordered your furniture AND bought the mattress for your crib! In a couple of weeks we will have your crib and dresser and I can't wait for you to be here so you can use it! Even though we were all exhausted at the end of the day, registering for all of your fun stuff was a success!

Saturday night Mommy and I went to Aunt Julie's house for another party. It was super fun and we were able to spend time with Grandma Carol, Aunt Julie, Alice, Casey, Laney, Clara, and Cammie. Your cousins are all very excited for you to come and all want to have input on what you are named. Some of the names that were tossed around are Cassidy, Joanna, Tioed (thanks to Clara) and Gwen. I am happy that they are so excited for you to get here and think it's fun hearing all of the names that they like.

Sunday was another day full of things to do. The entire Terry family (and Grandma Cindy) went to the Munster Performing Arts Center for a delicious brunch for Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Carol's 43rd anniversary. It was so nice to spend time as an entire family and we even drew names for our Christmas gift exchange. I love the holidays because we all get to see each other more often. Grandpa Jeff told me that the next big thing to look forward to in regards to you is November 23rd when you can start hearing outside sounds. I can't wait to start reading books to you and singing to you. I bet that if I ask him, Daddy will even sing his favorite song, O Holy Night for you. It is the Christmas season after all! :)

After brunch, the major project started. Daddy surprised me and cleaned out all of the drawers in the furniture in your future room so that we can move it out of the house and make room for Baby Bug! Uncle Pete came over and helped Daddy move all of the furniture out of the house and they either took it to Uncle Pete and Aunt Carrie's or to Grandma Carol's...I'm not sure where it went and don't care since it is officially out of our house! Mommy and Daddy spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the room and now it is totally ready for the next phase- painting, furniture, and decorations! We can't wait to find out whether you are a He Bug or She Bug so that we can start getting you a place of your very own. Only three more weeks until the big reveal!

I can't believe that you have been with me for 17 weeks now. It is amazing to think that we can know your gender in just three weeks. This week was big for Mommy because I think I can feel you moving around every now and then. I can't wait until I can feel you all the time- it is amazing to think that you are always in there, moving around and constantly growing. I hope that you are resting in there- you only have a few more months until you will arrive and be VERY busy. With all of these people who care about you, I have a feeling that you will have lots of visitors and lots of attention. Keep yourself cozy in there- it is getting cold and I look forward to when the weather turns warm...it will mean that you will be here! I love you Bug and Daddy loves you too!

Saturday November 6th, 2010...Happy (Surprise) Birthday to Carrie!

Dear Baby Bug-

Hi little one! We had a wonderful weekend spending time with some of Mommy's best friends. Carrie's 30th birthday is coming up in December and her sister Kelly arranged a very special weekend for all of us to help Carrie celebrate. We traveled to Burr Ridge, IL to spend the day at the Kohler Spa, relax, and have fun. Mommy had a manicure while Carrie, Kelly, and Sue all had facials. After our treatments, we all relaxed at the spa, ate yummy food, and read magazines. It was just what the doctor ordered! Mommy felt so nice and relaxed and I bet that you did too!

After the spa, we headed over to a nearby hotel to eat dinner and spend the night. Once it was time for dinner, Jess and Carrie's friend Erica met us to eat and have fun. The food was really good but the best part was the chocolate cake that the waitress brought Carrie at the end of dinner. Carrie was nice enough to share it with everyone and it was DELICIOUS!!

Carrie is so sweet- even though it was HER birthday, she still brought YOU a present! When you arrive you will have a warm, cuddly blanket to snuggle up with and you have your very first Cubs t-shirt! You should be all set now- Jenn gave you a Cubs onesie and once you get too big for that, you will be just big enough for your new t-shirt! Mommy's friends are so wonderful and I can't wait for you to meet them all. For now, just keep on growing and make sure you are ready to have lot of friends when you arrive!

Fall Break and Another Doctor's Appointment!

Dear Baby Bug-

Hey you! I haven't been able to write to you for a while because I've been busy with Fall Break. Mommy had five whole days off from school and, as you'll come to see once you're around me for a bit, those five days were packed full of things to do! Friday was a lot of fun- we had lunch with Becky, Betty, and Beth at Edwardo's where we were all able to catch up with each other. It's amazing how time flies and before you know it, it's been a month since you've seen some of the really special people in your life. Never take time for granted, Bug. It's important to value it and the way you spend it. All of my friends are doing well and it was great to hear about what is going on with everyone. After lunch, Becky and I ran some errands and then I had to come home and pack for our fun weekend in Indianapolis.

Friday night Jess, Tom, and Ethan came to pick Mommy up so that we could drive to Sara, Jeremy, Kaden, and Baby Wilking's house. It was so much fun to see everyone and to meet up with Annie and Carrie. These are Mommy's college friends and they are so important to me. Just like my friends here, these guys (affectionately called the 342 Crew) will be a huge part of your life. It was a great weekend of laughing, catching up, and having fun. I miss those guys a lot but before we know it, we will be seeing them again.

Yesterday and today were spent catching up with important things. Mommy ran lots of errands with Becky yesterday. Becky is so much fun and such an important part of Mommy's life. She is having a baby in February and we are hoping that you and Baby Hoyle will be good friends. Becky is a great friend to Mommy for many reasons, and it is fun being pregnant together. She thinks that she is my "guinea pig" because she is going through all of this big pregnancy stuff and can tell me about it before I go through it. It is secretly pretty great! :)

Today was a wonderful day- Mommy got to go see Dr. Hamburg again. I can't believe that you've been with me for 15 weeks and 3 days and that this was my third doctor's appointment. Dr. Hamburg says that everything is looking great and your little heartbeat is 153 beats per minute. He says that Mommy has a "very good attitude" about pregnancy and it's just because I'm so excited about you. Our next appointment is on November 30th which is Great Grandma Walter's birthday. Hopefully Dr. Hamburg will order your 20 week ultrasound so we can finally find out if you're a He-bug or a She-bug. :) I can't wait!! According to the things I am reading, you should be the size of a large apple by now and Dr. Hamburg says I will probably start feeling you rolling around in there in the next few weeks. That will be so exciting! Your body is now longer than your head (which is encouraging), you can now sense light, and your taste buds are forming. It is so interesting to read about what develops in and around you from week to week- you are going to be absolutely beautiful (or handsome) and we are so looking forward to meeting you. We've still got awhile to go, so stay snug as a bug in a rug in Mommy's tummy and I'll write more to you soon. I love you Bug!

Happy Birthday Zoey!

Dear Baby Bug-

Hi there Bug! It's been a while since I've written to you. We've been busy with work, birthday parties, and for me, resting. Today was a day that I had to write about- it's Zoey's 4th birthday! I can't believe that Zoey is 4 already- it just goes to show how time flies. It seems like not too long ago she was the little one pound puppy that was wearing sweaters and crying all night. Now pretty soon, that will be you! Daddy wasn't able to be around for Zoey's birthday because he had a basketball meeting, but we had a little celebration anyways. Zoey, Rudy, Mommy (and you!) sang happy birthday and then Zoey and Rudy each had a birthday hotdog. I hope that Zoey enjoyed her birthday surprise- above are some pictures that show the big celebration!

Meet Your Furry Friends

Dear Baby Bug-

I think you've waited long enough- it's time for me to tell you about the other living things that will be greeting you when you come home from the hospital. You see, Mommy and Daddy already have a couple of "children" but they are a little furrier than you will be. Their names are Rudy and Zoey and they are our (and soon to be your!) puppies. Even though they're not really puppies, that's what Daddy and I call them. I want to tell you a little about your furry brother and sister, because they are going to be just as much a part of your lives as we are. I hope that you love them as much as we do- it may take a while, but I know they will love you right back!

Your oldest brother is named Rudy and he is five years old. He will be six when you arrive in this world and if you can believe it, that will be (if my math is correct) 42 in dog years! I know that's really confusing, and we'll help you to understand that when you're older. Rudy was Mommy's first baby and he was a gift from your Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Rand for my graduation from grad school. Although Rudy is tiny (only 4 pounds!) he makes up for it in attitude. He won't eat his food out of the dish; we have to put it on the floor in just the right way for him to nibble on it. He loves dog treats but won't eat them right away when you give one to him. He has to carry it around with him for about ten minutes before he finds a nice quiet place to enjoy it. One of my favorite things about Rudy is that he's a mama's boy- you can find him every night curled up next to me while I'm watching TV. Right now he is wearing a little sweatshirt because Daddy thinks it's too cold for him. We call it his Grandpa Walter sweater because your Great Grandpa has a sweatshirt almost identical to it. Rudy doesn't seem to mind wearing clothes and no matter how grumbly he is, he's still our little buddy.

Your furry sister is named Zoey and she is a lot bigger than Rudy. I think Zoey weighs in at about 12 pounds and she is what Daddy likes to call a "tomboy." Zoey will plow through anything in her path to get what she wants and she doesn't care who or what it is. Unfortunately, a lot of times she is running over poor little Rudy. Zoey was a gift to Mommy from Daddy for Christmas four years ago. Daddy surprised Mommy right before Christmas with this little furry bundle who quickly grew up to be Zoey. Zoey is almost four years old and even though she can be a bully, she is the cuddliest dog I have ever known. You're probably going to hear Zoey more than you'll see her at first- she is always barking at other dogs or people on the street. She loves to play and snuggle, and she will be a great companion for you to play with. We know that you will love to play with her just as much as we do.

Now Bug, you have to know that if these furry friends don't warm up to you right away you can't be sad. They have had our undivided attention for years now and they may be a little bit upset that you are coming into the picture. I think they can kind of tell that something is up already, but that will be nothing compared to how they feel when you arrive. You just have to be sure to be nice to them- no pulling their hair or squishing them- and they should be ready to play with you in no time. Mommy and Daddy will make sure that everyone gets along and I can't wait for all of our babies to be together in a few short months!!

Baby Bug Belly Update

You must really be in there, Bug! Daddy took the first picture after our first doctor's appointment which was when you were 6 weeks along. The second picture was taken today at 13 weeks 3 days- there's a bit of a difference! Even though you're only the size of a plum, you're still making my belly grow which is exactly what you're supposed to do! :)

Another Fun Weekend for Baby Bug!

Dear Baby Bug-

A lot has happened since I last wrote to you. Mommy finally got through the PSAT which is one of the biggest things she has to coordinate in her job. It was very stressful and I am just glad that we both made it through OK! Daddy is steadily getting ready for basketball season and his team tryouts are just around the corner. It is so strange to think that there are all these major events coming up before you even arrive. Don't worry- you're the event we're looking forward to the most!

This weekend was super fun- you and I got to go back to visit Grandpa Rand and Grandma Cindy again! There was a very special reason for going back home- Uncle Brandon came home for a visit. He is in his friend Ryan's wedding so he is actually home for a whole week. The sad part is that I could only be home for a weekend to see him because I still have to work. Daddy couldn't come because he had too much work to do. Everyone misses him when he doesn't come with me, but it's good that he could have a weekend to do his own thing.

On Friday we drove to your Grandma and Grandpa's house and then jumped right back in the car to drive to Fort Wayne to pick Uncle Brandon up from the airport. He didn't get in until after 9:00 and by that time we were all REALLY hungry. We sent to Red Robin to get some food and then drove straight home to bed. Saturday was a packed day and it started with Mommy getting her hair done! No offense to you, Bug, but you caught me off guard coming when you did and it has thrown my hair schedule off. I feel like I was starting to look like I didn't care about my appearance, but cousin Staci fixed that on Saturday when she cut and highlighted my hair. Now I feel MUCH better! After the hair appointment, we went to visit Great Grandpa and Grandma Walter for a couple of hours. They are still so excited about you and can't wait for you to come. After their house, we went and stopped by Great, Great Aunt Lou and Uncle Bernard's house. They had to go to a party, but we were able to visit them for awhile. We finished the night by going to Grossman's for dinner, getting groceries with Grandma and Grandpa at Wal-Mart, and getting food ready for Grandma Cindy's big party on Sunday.

Sunday was a fun but also sad day. We went to church as usual and then went to lunch with Uncle Brandon, Grandma Cindy, and Grandpa Rand. After lunch, Grandpa Rand had to leave on a business trip to Georgia, and it was hard to say goodbye to him. Although we didn't spend much time with him this weekend, we will get to see him more with the holidays coming up! :) After lunch, we went home and waited for Grandma Cindy's party to start. There were a ton of people that came! Most all of your great aunts and uncles were there and so was cousin Sarah. She gave Daddy and I a really fun book to help keep track of my pregnancy so you can have it later and life. I bet that coupled with this blog will provide you lots of entertainment! After having a huge dinner of pulled pork (one of Mommy's favorite foods) and lots of other yummy things, everyone went home.

Monday was one of the best parts of the whole weekend. We stayed home with Uncle Brandon for the day to hang out. Instead of staying in the house, we decided to go out for lunch and to a movie. We went to Olive Garden and ate a ton of pasta then went to see The Social Network which was all about the creator and creation of Facebook. I wonder what Facebook will be like when you are old enough to use it (like when you're 25)...I wonder if it will still be cool or it will be a thing of the past? It's hard to believe that it could be old news since it is SO POPULAR right now! After the movie, Uncle Brandon and I went back to Grandma and Grandpa's and had dinner with Great Grandma and Grandpa Walter. It was the perfect day.

The more you are with me, the more excited I get to meet you! By now, you have fingerprints and you may even have vocal chords! If we could see a picture of you now, you would look like a real baby, not just a gummy bear. We absolutely can't wait for you to come into this world and as you can see, there are lots of people ready to greet you!

Fun Gifts for Baby Bug from People Who Love You!

Dear Baby Bug-

In the short time you've been around, you have accumulated some pretty fun stuff! People already love you and you don't even have vocal chords yet! Here are some of the nice things that people have given you...we can't wait for you to arrive and enjoy them!


The stuffed ducky is from Great, Great Aunt Lou and Uncle Bernard for you to snuggle with when you are sleeping

The basket of goodies is from Becky, Randy, and Baby Boy Hoyle...it is stuffed full of stuff for you and for Mommy and Daddy

I Love You Forever is from Betty- it is such a good book and I will be reading it to you a lot!

Saturday October 9, 2010...Telling Extended Family About Baby Bug

Dear Baby Bug-

Today was a super special day- it was the day that you became public knowledge to the rest of the Walter family! We started the day by going to Corn School which is hard to explain now but something you will hopefully experience for many years in your lifetime. You should have been super satisfied because we got to eat an elephant ear AND a carmel apple while we watched the parade. Corn School is a lot of fun but only in small doses. Once we saw the parade, walked around, and ate some good food, it was time to head back to your great grandma and grandpa's house.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Walter had all of your great aunts, uncles, and cousins over for a haystack dinner today at my request. Once everyone got started with dinner, Mommy gave Great Grandma and Grandpa a present to open. It was a picture frame with your first sonogram picture and once they realized what it was, they were so excited! Both your Great Grandpa Ned and Great, Great Uncle Bernard had suspected that I was pregnant but they didn't know for sure until today. As expected, everyone is so excited for you....especially Great Grandpa and Great, Great Aunt Lou. Great Grandpa told everyone he could find about you and Great Great Aunt Lou and Uncle Bernard gave you your first stuffed animal- a stuffed duck!

One of the best things about this weekend is that Grandma Cindy can finally tell everyone about you. She has been dying of excitement keeping this secret and now she can tell whomever she wants that you are on your way! We are officially 12 weeks today, so Mommy feels a lot better about sharing the news with everyone who wants to know. You just have to keep healthy and grow strong...everyone's depending on you to come out in April and be ready to be spoiled!