Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! I am sitting here- 7:30am Christmas morning - waiting for Ella (and Travis) to wake up...oh the anticipation. Ella is going to be so excited...I have got the movie camera ready for her reaction. We had a busy day yesterday at the Mantle's and then at my mom's. It is so fun being a family of four. May you all be as blessed as we feel this holiday season and in 2010!

as close as we will get to Ella taking her picture with "Santa"

Sister and Brother

all ready in her Christmas jammies

Annual Christmas Baking Day

We (mom, Amanda, g-ma, and I...and a few additions) have been baking cookies and other goodies a couple of days before Christmas for many years and it never gets old. We missed you this year, Katelyn! We made sugar cookies, rice krispy treats, puppy chow, fudge, white chocolate covered candy cane/pretzels, and peanut butter kisses. Yummy!

LOVE

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these pictures!
Our friends, Scott and Tiffany Souquet-Bressand, came over last Sunday to snap some photos of Jonah and Ella. They came out great! We are loving our new little guy and his big sister has been so helpful. There hasn't been a twinge of jealousy yet.

Jonah Monroe Mantle

Jonah Monroe Mantle was born on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 1:13pm, weighing in at 7lbs. 12oz. and measuring 20 inches long. Although the c-section was quick and easy, the recovery is not so much. I feel pretty good but have a lot of swelling and bruising and for some weird reason, high blood pressure so I am going into the drs office tomorrow to see whats up. Jonah is an amazing baby and Ella is loving being a big sister - she is very helpful and wants to do a lot for us. I have been trying to rest but it is hard...Ella went to the sitter today and Travis, Jonah and I laid on the couch and watched a movie....much needed. Here are a ton of pics from the last 6 days...

Getting ready to go...

Travis was very calm the whole time...

Fresh out of the womb...

all wrapped up

My first look at him...

cutting the cord

7lbs. 12 oz.

Dr. Kudlinski....about 10 minutes after the delivery

Ally and Jonah

precious

the getting ready to leave

happy family

Ella LOVES him and is so curious about him...

Brother and Sister

He's coming tomorrow!

It is unbelievable to think that I will have two children tomorrow....this pregnancy has flown by. Although I can't say it was as delightful as Ella's pregnancy, it still wasn't too bad - just full of anxiety. My mom says it is because I have that maternal "neurotic" worrying instinct and I think she is right. Everything little thing worried me this time around, compared to when I was pregnant with Ella and was worry free. I can't even fathom this being my last pregnancy so we'll see how the newborn stage goes... It is so weird to have it all planned out and to know when he is coming...right up my alley. It was nice to know that I could work pretty close to my delivery date but still have a couple of days to enjoy Ella, get pampered, clean, and just relax...and that is exactly what I have done the past two days. I got a mani/pedi yesterday while Ella was at the sitter and then she and I visited Travis at work for lunch. We took her to Build-a-Bear last night to make a bear for Jonah and get some jammies for her kitty cat. Today, I had my hair colored and then came home to clean the house one more time....knowing it will be a while before I actually get that vacuum out and clean the way I like to. Then Ella and I laid on the couch and watched "Sleeping Beauty". Later tonight we are off to Greg Secord's surprise b-day party and then one last night as just the three of us. I will be waking up at about 4:00am to eat and drink something since I have to be fasting for atleast 8 hours before the surgery and there is no way I could do that from the time I go to bed. I am hope to sleep as long as I can tomorrow and then pretty much twiddle my thumbs until it is time to go. We will drop Ella off at the sitter (which is going to be so hard since I won't get to see her again until we come home from the hospital on Saturday) and then it is off to Banner Desert by 10:30am. Wow....
I will text everyone and try to post on Facebook at least by tomorrow afternoon if all goes as scheduled. Wish us well and send good thoughts our way!

Early Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Sunday this year up at the Mantle's since we will all be a little preoccupied on Thursday with the little man, Jonah. It was great to get together for one final big, delicious feast before our lives change once again. Too bad we didn't get a picture of all of us...just my side. Luckily, Adam and Katelyn made it just in time for the pic. As I always say, I am so thankful to get to celebrate all holidays with both sides of our family...it can't get any better. And yes, that is me...the ginormous one....wowzaaaa! Only two more days until skinny again...yeah! (well we all know it doesn't exactly work out that way but I will still hold out hope)

Surprise Shower!

To my surprise this afternoon, some mom's from my class came in to throw me a baby shower. I was shocked to say the least...considering this is the first year I have ever really had parent involvement, let alone moms that feel comfortable doing this for the teacher. The kids were so excited and did a pretty good job at keeping it a secret, although there was a lot of whispering throughout the day :) I can't believe that I am done working for 3.5 months...I feel pretty at ease about how I left things and hope that all goes well. I know once Jonah comes, I will care less about how things are going....

Me and the sweet moms that surprised me...

My cake that read " We will miss you"

My crazy kiddos that were so unbelievably hyper after the surprise and the cake (and to think that I still made some of them finish their writing after all of this)

Randomness

As I was taking pics off of my camera so the card is empty for the baby's birth, I realized there were some random ones with no good post to go along with. So here goes...


Uncle Beefy came to town last week and we had a fun-filled dinner at Logan's Roadhouse

Amanda was doing her usual...entertaining her favorite kiddo, Ella

I thought Ella looked so sweet sitting with Mickey and concentrating so hard on her coloring...this table was Mimaw Mantle's when she was young

Family shot...

Pumpkin carving and trick or treat

Friday and Saturday night were busy nights for us. Papa Mantle came by on Friday night (we missed you Mimaw) to carve pumpkins with Ella - our annual tradition. Papa carved a silly guy with dread locks and Daddy carved a cool spider while Ella played with all the gooey insides. Fun!

Trick or Treating on Saturday night was a blast! We started off with having a pizza/ play party over at Jenn's - once again, another tradition we have started. Ella's old sitter, Tiffany, Scott, Chloe and Zora joined in, as well as, Mimi, Papa, and our neighbors, Jamie, Dan, Shelby and Sidney all were part of the festivities. Ella was the cutest little ladybug and definitely the leader of the pack...she held Chloe's hand and dragged her up to each door. Ella was all about "trick or treating" and getting as much candy as she could. We walked around for about 1 1/2 hours and then headed back to Jenn's so the girls could play - and eat candy - wow, they were so wound up. It was a late bedtime - 10:00 and that is why Ella (& Daddy) are still asleep - why am I up? Who knows, most likely because I am in major "nesting" mode right now and feel the need to always be doing something productive - plus, the circulation in my right arm is all screwed up and driving me bonkers. Anyways, it was a fabulous night!


The best and only pick of full lady bug get-up


Come up girls, this way....


Chloe, Ella, Shelby, and Lauren


Miss Ladybug and Minnie Mouse

Blurry, but cute!