Annual Christmastime Trip to Grand Geneva

The main entrance to Grand Geneva.  The pictures simply don't do it justice!

 There is an arch for each of the 12 days of Christmas at the beginning of the driveway to get into the resort.  Cory was driving a little fast for me to get more of them on the camera! :)

 This is one of their newer displays. Santa is on a motorcycle and he jumps over the pile of gifts.

 The gingerbread man does a flip over his gingerbread house.

 It is difficult to tell from the photo, but this entire display (inside Grand Geneva) was like a giant disco ball.  There were small, sparkly mirrors on the branches, reindeer, ornaments, etc. 

It was beautiful!

Another display inside.  They change the displays every year.  Can't wait to bring our kids here in the future!  They will love it....

Decorating Gingerbread Houses

Cory and I love to do little projects together.  Cory saw a gingerbread house kit at the store and insisted that we buy it.  I LOVED that idea, so of course I went along with it.  After putting the houses together and letting them get solid overnight, we got to the decorating.

Cory's house looked great until.....

 He was carrying it to the counter to dry and he dropped it on the floor.  This is him trying to put it back together....

 His finished gingerbread house...It looks like it was caught in a tornado.  I'm fairly certain that after he dropped it we laughed for about 15 minutes straight.  In fact, I am still laughing now looking at it!

 This one is mine :)

We had so much fun, but ended up only decorating 2 of the 5 houses.  They are a lot of work and very time consuming!  We saved everything for next year though :)

Saturday, November 26, 2011 - 12 Weeks and beyond

It does look as though I have grown slightly :)  I have a small bump, however, I don't think it is the baby 'showing' quite yet.  I think the baby is just pushing rather unflattering sections of my tummy outwards more!!!

I honestly don't mind.  This little miracle growing inside of me is worth every stretch mark, fat roll, headache, bout of nausea/heartburn/vomiting, and body change that has/will happen. 

About a week after this picture was taken, I could feel the

great effects of the 2nd trimester being so near.

Goodbye nausea, goodbye severe exhaustion. 

 Hello to eating dinner again and being a productive member of society!!!!

2 days ago was my most recent doctor's appointment and it was one that Cory and I have been waiting what seems like forever for!  We got to both meet our wonderful doctor (Dr. Hemphill) and got to hear the most beautiful, miraculous sound either one of us has ever heard.... Baby Cooper's heartbeat! 

Who knew this one sound would change our lives forever?!  Who knew this one sound would bring us both to tears and absolutely solidify how excited we are to meet our little angel? 

It is truly life's most incredible and miraculous gift.  We simply can't wait to meet him/her! 

Only 26 weeks to go!!!!

Saturday, October 29, 2011: 8 Weeks

'Parts' of me have grown... but, I am not 'showing' yet :) 

I am so excited to travel on this journey towards motherhood.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to my friends Tiffany, Andrea, and Nikki.  They have been an invaluable support to me throughout this journey so far.  The advice, friendship, and love have been SO appreciated.  They are amazing friends and I am lucky to have them!!!!! 



Carving Pumpkins

 Cory's 'Jolly Roger' pumpkin...

...M.J.'s witch is stirring her cauldron...

 ...and of course we had to carve one for Baby Cooper...

We sent this out to family and friends after our first dr. appointment.  

Cory finds out he is going to be a daddy!

I couldn't bring myself to tell Cory this monumental news over the telephone...

SO, with MUCH restraint I waited 4 days to tell him the news once he got home from his training.  I set up a video camera (nanny cam hidden style) and wrapped up a gift that included a positive pregnancy test and the onesie*** below.

I wish I could post the video, but frankly it turned out blurry and I have no clue how to get it from the video camera to the computer.  It basically includes some hugging, crying, and yelling... Why yelling you ask?  Because as soon as he got home he was running towards the TV to turn on the NLDS game in which the Brewers were about to clinch a spot in the NLCS game.  After I basically forced him to open his present, the Brewers game no longer mattered :) 

We are SO excited!!!!

***Side-note: Cory thought the onesie was some kind of 'outfit' for the dog. 

He sure has a lot to learn in the next few months :)



We're Expecting!!!!

Tuesday October 4, 2011... The day I found out our lives would change forever!!!!

I took a test before and after school, just to make sure. :)

 Cory was in Illinois to complete a training course for his new job the day that I found out we were expecting.  So, I had to take this picture of myself... Yes, I am aware that I am a GIANT dork!