Pre-Holiday update

Happy Holidays to Everyone

We have had a busy fall, and now it appears start of winter, the snow has been falling periodically since Thanksgiving, and just when the last of it leaves the ground a new storm comes through. So far, no major storms like last year. Caleb has decided that summer is a lot better, you don't have to wear 5 layers of clothes every time you go outside and you can go outside a lot more often. I agree with him. Caleb is learning very quickly how to say more and more words and follow simple instructions, although this new level of communication does not seem to lessen the number of tantrums that we see. Doug is doing well, has been playing a lot of indoor soccer. He just found out today that he will move up to the top level team of his semi-pro club that he joined last month. His office is getting ready to move at the end of next week, unfortunately that means the end of coming home for lunch everyday. My pregnancy is going well, we just had our ultrasound last week, and no we did not find out the sex, and unless we have issues with the pregnancy we won't be able to since neither the technician nor the doctor know. We have our 22 week appointment next wednesday just before our holiday trip to the northwest. I included the first pictures we have taken of me as well as some ultrasound pics below.

Going for a sleigh ride after the years first measurable snow

A pause in car pushing action for a photo op at the Great-Grandparents house

Life is sooooo funny from the viewpoint of a 17 month old in a rocking chair

Hanging out with Auntie Jen and Cousin Anna in the beanbag

Playing...or should I say standing in the snow at the great grandparents, he didn't think he could walk in the white stuff

"Hey Anna if you help me eat all this snow down to the grass, I will be able to walk out of here"

Story time with Grandpa Jim and Anna

Christmas tree hunting day, I'm outside this is fun....for 5 minutes, then it isn't so fun wearing this snowsuit, I want to go home.

This about sums up the day for Caleb, "I'm really tired, but these doritos are too good to miss out on and they make a big mess"

Who's the "cool dude"

Ladders are a lot of fun, I like to climb on and under just about everything.

Look how big and sneaky I am, climbing the ladder, and I can't read all those danger warnings

Caleb's attempt at sitting still for a photograph with the stockings

Aren't I cute eating my apple slices...my new favorite food

"Daddy! a little help here, these boats, I mean boots have a mind of their own, they won't go the right way"

We are so proud of our son, his feet face the wrong way and he thinks that the calculator/ruler is a telephone....Oh my

Pulling his plastic wagon around and around and around the stair case

Snack time and cartoons after all the running from the previous picture

Pregnant with baby #2 at just over 21 weeks....over half way

Baby #2 profile and hand with fingers via ultrasound

Leg (shin bones are very white looking) and foot with toes pointing downward

That's all the sneak peeks for this little one until sometime in April when the baby makes it's grand entrance into the world.

Happy Halloween

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday, Caleb enjoyed his first official trick or treating year as a running monkey, at this point the candy and costume were not so important, but going outside and running from door to door or cubical to cubical were great. Unfortunately, the photo ops were not great as a running monkey does not make for good photos. First a few other fall and pumpkin pictures.

Contemplating life on the front porch

Running around and having a good time at the CSU football tailgater with my green and gold "pledge to drink and party responsibly" beads on

Playing at the park, Daddy throwing leaves on my head makes me laugh and shrug my shoulders

Caleb's pumpkin that mommy carved (without a kit), the neighbors think she is an artist

Mommy's pumpkin that she carved with a kit (except the boo shadow)

Daddy's last minute pumpkin

Caleb as the running away from the camera monkey

I've got candy, and it echoes in the entry way at Grandpa Jim's office, which is really funny

At the great grandparents house

With mommy just before bed time, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Big News and long awaited update

Well for those of you who still check the blog, and haven't heard our big news, we are expecting a sibling for Caleb in Mid April. Don't worry the blog will still be more pictures of Caleb (he is cuter), but I will post some info and pics as things progress. Everything appears to be going well with this second pregnancy, I am currently at 16 weeks, but not really showing yet. We have heard the heart beat at a couple different routine appointments, but that is about all we know at this point. We will be having an ultrasound sometime around the end of this month, but we aren't planning on learning the sex this time around.

As for the rest of the family we have been busy with sports and Doug travelled for work every week in October, so Caleb has had a lot of Mommy time. We briefly saw Jen, John and Anna for a while in September and spent a lot of time with Doug's grandma Luella during her three week visit.

Video of Caleb dancing to music from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers a couple months ago, not his best attempt, but the best one captured on video.

Caleb and Doug at Bridal Veil falls the endpoint of our hike near Estes Park

Me at Bridal Veil Falls

Anna, Caleb and Cindy at the zoo in September

Caleb with Great Grandma LuLu at the zoo

Caleb the Thomas the Train Engineer

Caleb and his friend Makena getting ready for the New Belgium "Tour de Fat" parade

Playing in the rock garden in the backyard

The Raspberry Hound, when you can't pick them just eat them off the bush! The raspberries were a daily visit in our neighborhood this summer

Caleb with Makena fighting over who is the better driver

Caleb's first hike under his own power, to some petroglyphs and ruins near La Junta

Around the House

Well in contrast to last month we have pretty much been here at home the entire month. Doug is off backpacking for 4 days while I am writing this, but otherwise we have been working on cars, the yard and the garden. Caleb is working on several teeth, you can catch a glimpse in a few pictures :) This has been a month for birthdays, and the infamous Tour De Harmony. Sports have been on hiatus most of the month, but our new softball league starts today, and soccer in a couple weeks. We are bummed that the days are getting all too short, but with that means football season. Showing off my walking skills and playing in the tupperware drawer

Did you know that this door opens and then this thing inside spins...oh and it makes a good hiding place for toys

Helping daddy replace the brakes on the honda, it's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it

I am learning everything I can about wheels, tools and grease (notice the fingers in the mouth...tasting this dirty job)

An afternoon at the neighborhood pool, we were the only ones there

Bath time, something clean and fun

My evening routine of dancing to 80's music with my bath towel cape

More dancing, but with accident protection

My new favorite passtime, mowing concrete and pavement

It's Brett's birthday, we're having a party at his pool, I like the mixed drinks

With my new friend Isiah and his uncle Brett

Playing with my music table

Playing with my dump truck in my new Thomas the Train engineer hat from the Caplingers

Helping daddy pick green beans in the jungle garden