Chicago Baby Shower

Mom and Kim gave us a baby shower in Chicago the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was so nice to visit with all of our Chicago friends and family! Thank you so much to everyone for all of the generous gifts! We can't wait for our little one to arrive!

Mom and Dad ordered a gender neutral cake,

but the Costco people used a lot of pink...is it a sign?? :)

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch. From the left: Judy Wolter, Jen Wolter, Karen Harris, Corky Little, Jenny Little, Judy Baker, and Christine Newsome

Julie Renaud, Joyce Stevens, Susan Newsome, and Nancy Wolter

Mom made us the cutest quilt for the baby with little ducks.

In addition to all of the great presents, everyone also bought us a children's book to start the baby's library.

The Swansen Ladies - Mom, Me, and Kim

Thanks for a fabulous shower!

Fort Wayne Visit

Over the week of Thanksgiving, Randy and I visited our families in the midwest. We only had 4 days in Fort Wayne, so we had lots to celebrate at the same time - Thanksgiving, baby shower, my birthday, and Christmas. We celebrated Christmas early since I will be too pregnant to fly home in December this year. Here are some pictures of the Trietsch Christmas:

My 30th Birthday!! Yikes, I'm getting old!

Mom and Dad surprised me with my favorite ice cream cake.

The Trietsch Family under our stockings:

Heather, Jason, Taylor, Mom, Dad, Sam, Ryan, Nathan, and Randy and I

Randy loved playing with Nathan and Taylor!

Randy teaching Taylor how to play drums.

Our nephews...can't wait until they have another cousin!

Dad thinks he is soo cool in his stylish new pajama pants. :)

Merry Christmas from Randy, baby, and I!

(I was 30 weeks along in the picture.)

Fort Wayne, IN Baby Shower

Mom, Heather, and Samantha gave us a baby shower at Heather's house in Fort Wayne the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It was so nice to see all of our family and friends from Indiana! Thank you so much to everyone for the generous gifts!

The cute umbrella cake was made of cupcakes.

The Trietsch Ladies -

All of us sisters are pregnant at the same time!! :)

Holly - due in February 2010

Sam - due in June 2010

Heather - due in August 2010

Watch out PaPa, you will have FIVE grandchildren by next Christmas!

From the left: Heather, Jasmine, Aunt Kathy, Grandma Trietsch, Brenda, Grandma Sudmann, and Aunt Darlene

Sandy Ritenour, Sherry Cunningham, and Kim Pedersen

Sara won! She predicted how big my belly was with PINK yarn...is it going to be a girl?

My college roommate and Alpha Phi sorority sister Sara (Adams) Centeno is due one week before I am, but she is having TWINS!!

Grandma T. playing pin the baby picture on my belly.

All my college roomies and sorority sisters -Amber, Sara, and Crystal- drove 2 hours for the baby shower! It was so nice to see them again.

After the shower, all the men arrived and we enjoyed visiting with the whole Trietsch clan. Here is Randy holding our nephews, Nathan and Taylor.

I'm cuddling with Taylor.

We spent the evening with all of my cousins and their kids: Nicole, Ashley, Megan, Heather, and Jasmine.

Baby is 29 weeks!

Baby Swansen is 29 weeks and weighs 3 pounds.

Here is an ultrasound picture of baby's face.

Baby's profile.

Baby's face in 3-D!!! Sooo Cute!!

Can you see baby's nose, lips, and chin?

Baby's hands are by his/her face.

Who does baby look like??

Holly Randy

Baby's Room Update

Randy finished the walls of the baby's room with the bead board and chair rail. Now we are ready to buy the crib!

Brenda and Shaun gave us our baby shower gift early so we can hang it up in the baby's room. They bought us a one-of-a-kind original art cel from the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Television Series!! What a cool idea --a Walt Disney original!!

Happy Halloween!

For Halloween this year, we carved pumpkins with our friends Brenda and Shaun.

Randy had to get the biggest pumpkin with the most guts.

Randy decided to carve his detailed pattern with his drill.

I think he just wanted an excuse to use power tools. :)

Rascal wanted to be in on the action, too.

Brenda carved the winking face, I carved the spider, Shaun made the spooky drama mask, and Randy carved the skeleton head.

I'm 27 weeks along in the pregnancy, and my belly is almost as big as my pumpkin!

24 Weeks Along

I'm 24 weeks into the pregnancy, and my belly is getting bigger everyday. On September 18, we felt the baby kick for the first time. Ever since then, the baby is kicking up a storm -- it is an amazing feeling!

We are in the process of getting the baby's room ready to match the cute Winnie the Pooh crib bedding. We decided on light green paint since we want to be surprised if the baby is a boy or a girl.

Baby Swansen is on the way...

As you probably already know, we are expecting our first baby!! We are so excited about becoming parents, and can't wait until February 1, 2010 when the baby is due! We wanted to give you some updates on how our little one is doing.

Baby is 6 weeks old - 0.44 cm long

(It's the white spot in the middle of the black amniotic fluid)

Baby is 10 weeks old - 3.31 cm long

(Baby's head is on the right, little arm buds, and legs on the bottom left.)

Baby is 14 weeks old - 8 cm long

(This time baby's head is at the bottom and legs are at the top)

Baby is 20 weeks old - 15 cm long

Baby's head is sideways on the left -- you can see the two dark circle eyes that looks like an alien. The body is the other big white area on the right -- the legs are not shown, but would be to the right. Look closely, you can see the backbone on the bottom edge of the body next to the arm at the bottom.

(Is that enough description Mom? :) Can you see it now?)