Breaking in the deck

So it's not quite approved yet, but we decided to have a BBQ anyway. I love entertaining, but I am realizing now that it is a lot more work when you are pregnant. It didn't help that Jon was at work all day when I needed to be setting up. Margaret and Mike came over early and helped get everything (tables and food) setup. Jon came home pretty early actually and good thing, because Mike and I could not figure out what screws needed to be switched out on the grill to get it working. While they worked on that, Margaret and I got the food ready.

We started a little late, but that was okay because most people didn't show up right at 5. The grill is together and getting prepped with oil.

The tables are set. Funny what you can do with some random chairs, a couple saw horses, and a broken outdoor table top.

The party goers.

We played some games inside once it cooled down outside. Next time I would like to have a fire.

4th bedroom

We had an egress window installed. We now have a legal 4th bedroom. This will be my craft room. I can't wait to move everything in. The inside still needs to be finished, but the outside looks great. There is so much light in the room now, it will be great for crafting.

Birthday #32

What a weekend. It started on Friday when my co-workers decorated my cube. I wish I had my camera with me because it was a jam packed day. Everyone brought in goodies for a pot luck - salads, sweets, meatballs and chili. All soo yummy! Then we closed down early and went to a wine tasting that I won at an auction. Don't worry, I told them I was pregnant so they didn't think I was rude just taking a sip of each (5 wines) and tossing the rest in the "spit" bucket. All the girls looked like they had fun and many went away with bottles. Then a few of us went out to dinner at El Toro. Also very fun. I have found that I am not a good person to go out to dinner with unless you don't mind me finishing way before everyone else and having half my meal still left over. Great for me because I have leftovers, but not so much for the people that are still eating.
Saturday I went over to Jon's parents house with Polly. Always a good thing because Polly gets pooped out and I don't have to deal with her boundless energy all weekend. Margaret and I went to Jon's cousin, Stacy's house for a Jockey party. It was so nice to see her again. Being that she lives in Colby, WI we just don't see each other except for parties that someone holds to sell products. We got home pretty late. Jon had picked up Polly earlier and went home. When I got home she was ready to play ball again, but quickly went back to sleeping.
Sunday was the big day. My birthday. My parents had finished remodeling their living room and everything looked so nice. The Moritz clan came, Aunt Sally and Jon arrived later because he had to work. We had steak and shrimp on the BBQ. The steak melted in your mouth it was so good. Then I opened presents - I had asked for money because I really want to get this egress window installed in the basement. My mom also gave me a few items to use on the new deck for entertaining. Sally gave me a gift card to Target - always a good thing. Mom got a cake that tasted just like our wedding cake; white cake with strawberry filling and butter-cream frosting. YUM!

Nursery

Jon put the crib together today. I picked up a little.
Just a few finishing details that are on the registry.

As for big stuff, all that is needed now are curtains or blinds and bookshelves.

Hot Air Affair 2010

Jodi invited us to the Hot Air Affair in Hudson. It was my first time going. I have seen the balloons flying overhead but never thought anything of them. It was so cool watching them fill up. They are so big up close. It was really cold. I wasn't prepared for that. Next year I will know better. They had a dance team selling hot chocolate for $2 and you got a souvenir mug, then refills were only $1. Wish I would have known about that when we got there. Next year :)

I really went to see Gracie's reaction because Jodi said she LOVES the balloons. She was so cute. When the first balloon took off she waved bye bye to it.

MICE

So I noticed some mice poop on the counters in the kitchen. I thought it was because the kitchen was dirty. I cleaned everything and dissinfected everything. No mice for a while. Then I find a chunk of cookie with the chocolate in the center scratched down. Apparently my favorite cookie (the peanut butter kind with the hershey kiss in the center) is also the mouse's favorite cookie. I was then wondering how the cookie got to be on the counter because everything was cleaned up. The mouse had chewed through the plastic covering the plate, ate the cookie partially inside and then pulled it through the small hole. I had to throw the whole plate of cookies away. This meant war. I put the traps out...with peanut butter. One by the sink and one next to the stove. This morning, the one next to the sink was moved and peanut butter was eaten but not set off. The one next to the stove was on the floor, peanut butter eaten, and set off. Nothing caught but a little fur. I didn't want to have to resort to poison, but they leave me no choice if they are going to be smarter than the traps.

A Very Merry Christmas

Written on Sunday, December 13, 2009:
I can hardly stand that I have to wait to post this until after Christmas. Jon and I have been trying to get pregnant since February. After 6 months I went for my normal yearly exam. The doctor told me there was nothing they could do yet, but to start taking my temperature. I've been doing that since September. Never really noticed the swing in temps. This past week my temp has been unusually high - in the 98-99 range. A friend was talking about how she was not feeling well and I mentioned how I was taking my temp for ovulation, but that recently it has felt like I have a slight fever in the morning. She asked some other questions and then asked if I had taken a test lately. I actually took one December 4 before going to a co-workers party. (wasn't sure if I would be drinking wine). It was negative. Then last night I kept having dreams that I was pregnant, when I would wake up I just told myself it was a dream. I decided to take a test this morning - there was a faint line, but there was a line. I couldn't believe it. I started crying and raced into the bedroom and woke Jon up (7am) and told him to come into the bathroom. I told him it was positive, he gave me a hug and went back to bed. Wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but it was 7am. Later he was so excited, he almost slipped to his dad when they were cutting up branches. I had trouble this afternoon because all the aunts and moms got together to make Christmas cookies. Not being able to tell them was KILLING me! At one point I wasn't feeling great and both the moms looked at each other and said, "could it be?". I just said, "it's gas". Although it is going to kill us to keep this to ourselves for the next two weeks, we thought it best to be able to tell the both of them at the same time. Luckily Christmas is right around the corner.