Amen

Daryl figured out how to squeeze the prayer bear to make it talk.  Then he learned how to say "Amen!"  This was very touching for us, especially since this was the bear I gave my dad in the hospital just before he passed away.  Now we will have new, beautiful memories attached to it!

It's a girl!

We found out that we're having a girl - now we'll have one of each!  She's due February 15th.  Daryl is starting to understand that he's going to have a new baby sister.  Sometimes when we talk about "his baby," he'll touch my belly.  He'll be very surprised when we bring her home and she doesn't leave!

Gumpy & Angela Go Skydiving!!!!!

For Christmas last year we all pooled our money together and bought Gumpy, Matt's Dad, a gift certificate for skydiving.  So, on Sunday, we all traveled to Baldwin, Wisconsin to watch him take his death-defying leap!  Angela, Matt's sister, also jumped, too!  This was at Skydive Twin Cities, where I jumped 9 year ago!  Now just to get Matt to do it!

 Daryl with the plane - he loved watching it take off, but was a little scared of the noise at first.

 Gumpy getting his gear on!

 "I'm ready!"

 "Here we go!"

 Making sure it's good and tight!

Boarding the plane

 The kids playing while we wait for them to jump!

 Here they come - flying ants!

 Angela with her legs up and ready for landing.

 Gumpy - living the dream!

 Landed safely on the ground - taking a breath and thinking about what just happened!

 Angela making her landing.

"We did it!  What an amazing experience!"

Daryl waving goodbye to Gumpy and Auntie Angela.

Their plane taking off.

Gumpy's landing

Baby #2 - 12 week ultrasound

I had my 12 week appointment today.  It was supposed to be a normal check-up, but the doctor had trouble finding the baby's heartbeat, so I got an ultrasound, too!  Everything is looking good, and the baby is doing great!  He/she was very active, which is probably why the doctor had such trouble hearing the heart - he/she wouldn't stop squirming around!

 Smiling for the camera - you can also see the brain!

 Camera shy

 The lump on the belly is the umbilical cord.

Just chillin' up against this soft pillow.

Daryl's 1st Birthday Part

 We celebrated Daryl's 1st birthday at our house on Sunday!  All of Daryl's cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were there.  He has 8 cousins now, and always has someone to play with!  Daryl has been such a gift from God.  He always makes us smile and laugh.  He knows the sign language for milk, more, all done, night-night, and wash.  He loves blowing kisses, reading books, walking, watching other kids, and being tickled with Ma-Ma's feet.  Daryl has been such a blessing, and we love him more than words can express!!!!

 Nana made his cake, and he had his very own cupcake to eat!

 One of his presents from Mommy & Daddy

 "I'm 1 now, so I can feed myself!"

 The kids got to play "pin the candle on the cupcake".

 Good job, Daryl!

 He loves cuddling - even if it's his cousin Gavin's blanket.

 Surrounded by a sea of gifts!

 A parking ramp from Mommy & Daddy

 The biggest present was a kids' picnic table from Auntie Kacie, Uncle Eric, & Preslee.

 Shootin' baskets

  "Now I can help Daddy mow the lawn."

 "Vrrrrroooommm!"

 Time for cake!

 "Happy Birthday to you...."

 "What is this?"

 "It's all over my hands!!!!  Help me!!!"

 "My cousin Trevor loves my new parking ramp too.  I bet he'll come play with me all the time now!"

I hope you had a fun day, Daryl!  Thanks everyone for helping us celebrate and for the presents!

"Happy Birthday to you..."

Trying out his new slide all by himself!!!!  What a big boy!!!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Daryl!

 Daryl turned 1 on April 13th, 2012!  He celebrated by going to the Minnesota Zoo with Ma-Ma and Da-Da.  It was a little rainy, cold and very windy, but luckily there is plenty to do inside!  We had so much fun!

"Ahhhh!  Help us, Daddy!"

Watching the penguins.  "Uh...Mommy?  What is this thing?"

 Daryl almost loved watching all the kids around him more than the animals!

 We're in the rain forest.

 Look at all the fish!

 Exploring under the crocodile tank with Daddy

 This was a "fallen tree" that you can climb in, and it goes right through the monkey exhibit!

 One of the monkeys was sleeping right above Matt's head!

 There it is!  So beautiful!

 Kimodo Dragon (on the bottom)

 "You better hurry before the ma-ma alligator comes back!"

 Climbing through some tunnels

 "This was my favorite part!"

 Showing off his walking skills while exploring the under-water exhibit!

 "Shhhh...the coyote's sleeping!"

 Riding a wolf with Daddy

 Daddy made Mommy nervous by sitting me on the ledge, luckily there were just birds and turkeys here, no bears or lions.

Bobcat - Daryl wants a kitty now!

"Look how close he is!"

Because it was so cold out, we didn't walk much outside, instead we took the tram.

"I can see so many things running around!"

Petting the sheep

Feeding a goat

The cutest chicken around!

Driving a tractor just like my great-grandpa, Daryl!

It was super windy, but Daryl had a blast petting the goats!  He thought they were so funny, his legs gave out a few times!