Thanksgiving Recap

Hello all! Thanksgiving was wonderful this year! Joe and I had several days off together and really enjoyed that time! Thursday morning we went next door to watch the Macy's parade with Al and Linda for a while and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. Then during the day we went to our friend's house (Bill and Janelle) for an afternoon feast and great company from church! From there we headed to Kay's where everyone was able to be there together. We enjoyed lots of yummy food, playing with Alie, relaxing on the couch, and a wide spread of Black Friday ads. I opted out of Black Friday shopping this year, no major bargains that we couldn't live without. (unfortunately, no photos from Kay's). Friday Joe and I unpacked the Christmas tree and various boxes of decorations. Saturday we headed to Norfolk for a get together with the Svoboda side of the family. Amazingly everyone was able to make it there too, we're getting to be quite the large group!!

With Bill and Janelle

Svoboda cousins and significant others with Grandpa and Grandma

Profile shot, 30 weeks (Thanks Janelle!)

Bump Update

Hello all!
As promised... here are the latest profile shots thanks to Janelle = )

27 Weeks!

Baby modeling her new top from Aunt Loribeth!

 

Almost into 3rd trimester already!

Holy cow time is flying by! I can't believe we are almost into our third trimester already! Yikes! I am super excited to get to meet our sweet baby girl, but at the same time I am really liking the bond we have right now. She is a very active baby, mostly still just fluttering but I have noticed an occasional jab as she must be getting stronger. I desperately need to have a profile shot taken to share with you all.... I'm getting huge! (At least I think so)

We go to the Dr again Nov 15th. As far as I know all is going super well. I feel great most of the time. I do get tired a little more but that's normal and will only increase as we get further along.

I started a new job this week, at St. Albert's Childcare Center here in Council Bluffs. I am helping in the 17-24 mo. old room. They are very active for sure, but I absolutely love the kids. It's amazing how unique they each are... and wonderful to observe how God has gifted them (i.e. nurturer, leader, etc.). They aren't to the potty training stage just yet, so I am getting my fair share of diaper changing prep! It's really a great learning experience overall. My favorite time has to be when I am reading books to them and they all try to sit on my lap... they're just so loving and cuddly!

Joe is working this week so I will pose for a photo next week and try to get it posted asap = )
Much love to you all! Continued thanks for your support and prayers!

Our babymoon!

Dad and Mom by the Miss. River

**First off, I am still learning to navigate this blog site, therefore, the above photos technically belongs down below.... but I couldn't figure out how to move it down there. Whoops! **

So... according to various internet/magazine articles that I have read.... it's encouraged to take a babymoon. This is defined as a vacation you take with your spouse some time in the 2nd trimester of your first pregnancy, to enjoy time just the 2 of us before baby arrives. Well..... as silly as it may seem, we happened to have a trip planned during this timeframe, thus, a babymoon! Last week we went down to St Louis to visit my parents. It was SO great to see them and spend some time with them!! I've seen pictures of their apartment and toured the office via Skype... but it was good to see it in person. They have a nice amount of space I think. There wasn't a grand agenda for this trip, just hanging out.
          Wednesday night when we arrived mom gave us a tour of the apartment/basement, dad grilled up some pork chops, mom and I took a walk, and we just spent time visiting.
          Thursday Mom Joe and I went to the grocery store (got to see some of the St Louis area near the seminary), took a guided tour of the campus, had yummy lasagna for dinner and watched a movie.
          Friday Joe and I went to class in the morning with dad and then we went and visited the arch. We did take the tour up to the top... very high! Friday night the seminary hosted an Octoberfest gathering and we got to meet several of dad and mom's friends.
          Saturday morning we went to the mall with mom and did a little maternity clothes shopping (Thanks mom!!). Came back to the apt. for lunch and then headed back to the Bluffs. A short trip all in all but some much needed together time!!! We'll see them again around Thanksgiving when dad gets a break from classes, it'll be here before we know it!

Goofy us at the bottom of the arch

Joe and I by the Miss. River

Joe and I @ Octoberfest Gathering

Joe and I in the teeny elevator to the top of the arch

Dad and mom in elevator

Looking out of the top of the arch

approx 630 ft in the air, wow!

Belated Photos...

Here are a few shots from our trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch:

Joe, baby and I  = ) .... by a tractor, of course!

Kay and Alie

Our niece Aliette - 1 yr old

Feeding a Lama

We had a great time, the weather was nice and warm! Sorry it took me so long to get pictures up = )

Update needed....

Hello all!

I know an update is needed... but life has been a little hectic and I am waiting to compile photos to share. Baby girl bump is definitely growing. Overall I feel great, this baby is really a mover and I absolutely love it! I can feel her quite a bit and I can't wait until she's big enough for others to feel too! What a miracle this new little life is! We are SO excited to meet her!!!

We painted the bedroom last week. Nothing fancy, just a new coat of white. It's brighter than what was in there before but I really like it. Opens up the room quite a bit. Also moved the furniture around some and brought the crib and changing table in from the garage, boy does that make it seem real. I'm pretty sure Joe hasn't moved the furniture in the 5 years he's lived here and well... there have been a few stubbed toes in the night already, but hopefully we'll adjust ok. I will post pictures soon = )

Also, we went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch last Thursday with Kay, Sarah, Andrew, Loribeth, Alie and Karen (Loribeth's mom). It was super warm that day which was nice. There's really a lot to see out there. Kay had made dinner and then we went back to ride the tractor. We had coupons for free pumpkins (up to 8lbs) and a discount off any food product... so we had to get caramel apples... YUM! Photos of this extravaganza will follow as well = )

Spillin' the beans...

It's a GIRL! Yay!!

It's a.... baby!!!

We had our 20 week ultrasound this past Wednesday. Our baby was very active and moved around a lot. The tech said everything looked great. We had a Dr's appt today, but it was rescheduled to next Monday because she had 2 deliveries this morning. Here are some photos of our little bundle of joy:

Baby's feet : Legs were crossed so the arches are opposite of normal

Baby's leg all stretched out, It was amazing that I couldn't feel it pushing against me... (but my bladder was really full so I couldn't feel much besides that)

Baby's arm and hand..... God is SO amazing, all 4 fingers and thumb are present = )

Profile of baby!!!

Dixson Baby Travels

19 Weeks! Just shy of halfway, I cannot believe how fast this has gone by!!

Overall, still feeling great. I can now tell the difference between baby's movements inside and various gas/digestion gurgles so that's been rather exciting. I feel him/her most when sitting or laying still and occasionally when I am standing.  We go for our ultrasound this Wednesday.... Can't wait to see our little one again!!!!!  We're using the crib from my parent's so I got that while I was in Norfolk. It will be nice to get it set up and have a designated space for 'baby stuff' as we gather it. This is just such an amazing time of life for us and we are SUPER excited! We're very thankful for all the blessings God has poured out over us!!

Over the weekend, I (Emily) went to Norfolk to visit family/friends. It had been far too long since I had seen them, the summer went by rather quickly. I stayed at Gpa and Gma Svoboda's so I had lots of time to just sit and visit with them in between various other visits. Friday night after Matt got off work he and I went to his place, I made dinner, and we just spent time talking and catching up. Saturday morning Gma Margaret and I walked at the mall, came home for breakfast and then ran some errands during the day. We found a couple great bargains on maternity clothes.

Saturday night Matt and I went to visit Megan Curry at her folk's house. This is me with her and Dylan (2) and Lily (approx 2 months). They currently reside in CO but Megan comes to Norfolk once a month for drill.

Me with Gpa and Gma Svoboda.

Matt holding his niece/nephew for the first time (sort of)

Sunday after church Gma Francis took us out to lunch and John and Karen met us there. We then went back to Gma's for some very yummy apple crisp and continued visiting.

John, Karen and I

On the way back to Council Bluffs I stopped in Columbus to see the Shanle's.... forgot to take any pictures but it was great to sit and catch up with them for a little while as well!

Love to everyone!! 

Thank you for your continued 

prayers and support!!!

17 weeks

Hi everyone! As most of you know (or got to see) my folks were home this past week or so. It was great to see them!!! They stopped here at our place on the way to/from Norfolk. No major news lately. Still feeling great. Growing....

Dad and Mom with Matt. We haven't seen Matt in a while but I (Emily) will be going to visit in a couple weeks.

 

Joe and I with Dad and Mom (No, we did not plan the color coordination)

Joe and I must need a 1-2-3 count for our photos... we couldn't get our smiles right. This is the bump at 17 weeks.

Nesting...?!

Hi everyone!
    The ultrasound will be Sept 15th and next Dr appt is Sept 17th. Praying everything will go well. I'm feeling good and getting decent sleep these days. That's probably partially due to the cleaning I've been trying to get done, so I'm up and moving most all day. Aunt Linda has been a big help = )  It's pry partial nesting and it's mostly to get ready for the Labor Day Party (Joe's side of the fam). Most women like to present a clean house, even tho Joe swears that no one will care ; )   
      Overall, we're doing great. May take another profile pic this week.... since it's been 2 weeks since the last one.... we'll see.

15 weeks!

Hello all,
    The Dr. appt Tuesday went well. It was quick. Weight, blood pressure, found baby's heartbeat and she answered a few of our questions and we were done. Next ultrasound will be in 4 weeks as well as the next Dr. appt. Yay!

Here's the first profile shots:

Tried to get fancy..

Sorry about how unreadable the last post is. I was trying to play with the font/colors and well... made a mess. I'll need a tutorial from Hannah to help me figure this site out.


Bought my first maternity pants yesterday. Eek! But my normal jeans were getting rather uncomfortable.


Will post again next week after the good word from the DR.

First Trimester Recap

I can hardly believe it but we're at week 14 already! Full steam ahead into the 2nd trimester! 


Only pic we have of baby so far....

Overall the first trimester went well. I did not have much morning sickness, except for a few occasions. The biggest 'downer' was fatigue. I was much much more tired than normal. That was a hard adjustment since I am used to being such a busy-body. Emotionally, I'd like to think I stayed pretty even keel, but my co-workers would probably have a different story. They got to see most of the hormonal ups and downs. On more than one occasion weird stuff would make me tear up. (Like why am I crying over this ad on the radio?) And the strangest part was pretty intense pain in my tailbone. I injured it in highschool and it's never really bothered me before. The DR said it's because everything is expanding down there and there's pressure on my tailbone, stand on my feet 8 hrs a day pry didn't help either. All things considered, I'm very blessed!


So this week has been pretty great so far, I do have more energy, baby has moved off the tailbone.... and I'm in a happier mood more consistently = )  I am starting to outgrow my jeans tho, so some shopping will be done in the very near future.


We go back to the DR a week from today and she will schedule another ultrasound for late this month or early next month.... 


Thanks so much for all your love and prayers!!
Emily

The beginning

Hello All!
I am just beginning to figure out this blogging stuff, hopefully this can be a good way to keep everyone up to date on the happenings of our growing little family. Joe and I are incredibly in love and super excited for all that God has planned for us = ) Thanks for taking the time to visit our blog.

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