Ready... set....

Lucy Leppin is set to arrive January 31st via C-section (unless she comes early on her own). So.... we decided it was finally time to get her room put together. We are pretty much just going to recycle Bel's old furniture for Lucy (hope she doesn't mind the pre-made teeth marks on her crib :) However, I didn't really want to use the same bedding and colors we used for Isabel. Maybe it is because she was the "queen of reflux" and puked on her old bedding 4 million times.. or maybe it is because Isabel's current room is the PINKEST thing you've ever seen-- but I decided to go with a totally different color scheme. No pink this time. Her walls are called "baby fawn" (a color I saw on Pottery Barn's website and fell in love with-- but that looks NOTHING like it did online) and her bedding was made for me by my VERY crafty Martha Stewart sister for Christmas. It is paisley and oh so pretty. We are accenting it with a green and cream color. Overall, it is a soft and muted room- but I love it!

I tried to take some pics of her room-- but I can't get the lighting right. With no flash it is too dark-- and with a flash everything is washed out and appears white. Too bad--you can't see just how cute it is. Here you can sort of get the idea though.

Tis the Season...

This has been such a fun holiday season so far. Isabel is finally old enough to be really excited about everything Christmas related. We have been reading her stories, watching Christmas movies, and singling carols---Here are some of my favorite pics from December so far...

At South Elgin's "An Almost Winter Day" with the grandmas :)

Payton and Belly

Decorating our tree

Decorating YaYa's tree too

This year we started the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition too. Isabel gets so excited every morning when she wakes up-- she can't wait to search the house for "Max". Here are some of the places we have found him.

Perched on the light fixture in the dining room

Having a tea party with dolly

On his way to school..... and several other places.

On Dec. 9th we got our first snow of the season. Isabel was excited so we took a few pics before school.

It wasn't much-- and it didn't last long (just the way mom likes it)

But it was fun, nonetheless

Isabel took a trip to the mall with Ya Ya and cousin Payton to see Santa. However, she would not even go NEAR him. So when her daycare said that they would have Santa visiting this past Saturday we were hesitant about going. Luckily, in this environment she was slightly more comfortable.

While she wouldn't sit on his lap-- she did give him a "high five" and a hug-- and shouted what she wanted from across the room (an Angelina Ballerina doll and band-aids-- who knew?!)

Hugs for Santa!

A quick pic with one of her boyfriends from school- Garrick

Our Christmas card picture...

Such a fun (and busy) time of year!! We are looking forward to celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ in just two short weeks. Merry Christmas friends and family :)

Gobble.. Gobble...

See that?!

That is our Thanksgiving turkey.. and what you CAN'T see is that this is my mom holding this 20 pound guy and giving me a turkey making tutorial at 9:00am on Thanksgiving morning. This year we hosted Thanksgiving for twelve at our new house. It was so fun to have everyone over for our first official holiday. The Leppin-Kerruish-Davis family all pitched in by bringing lots of side dishes and desserts -- so it was actually pretty low stress for all. And that turkey turned out yummyif I do say so myself :)

Isabel....is watching and learning.

Cousin kisses! The girls always have fun playing together

My beautiful sissy! (aka Rapunzel)

awwww... our first holiday in the new house

Kind of came in handy not having any furniture in our front room- - just rented some tables and chairs and voila!

Delish

Just because I am not feeling short and squat enough these days... :)

Isabel made necklaces for all of the ladies

Pretty grouchy after her nap

wow--now that looks good

Definitely not my favorite part

More food than we could possibly eat!

Dig in!

really?! cute cowgirl

Everything that I am thankful for is right here on this couch! God has blessed me greatly.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good News!!

As week 29 approaches.... I am feeling OH SO pregnant. The heartburn has gotten out of control again and TUMS just weren't cutting it. Dr. Michael prescribed me some prescription strength meds. this week, and luckily these seem to be taking the edge off. I am entering my third trimester now and slowing down. I feel so tired after work on most days that I am pretty much useless by 6:30 pm. That means I have to make the most of my weekends and I really need to start working on the baby's room. Soon it will be the holidays and then Jan. 31st.... and then baby girl!!!!!!

.. and speaking of baby girl--- Yesterday, we got some really great news. We went to see a specialist  because my doctor had been concerned about how the baby's kidney had been developing. After a 2.5 hour appointment Jason and I were reassured that everything looks great. He does not think I will need any more ultrasounds and measurements are right on track. Now I feel like we can take a little breath and start to prepare for our girl.

By the way.... do you want to meet her? Here is the latest picture............ of Lucy Kathleen Leppin.
That's right- once again the cat is out of the bag and Jason and I can't keep a secret. We have decided to name our little girl Lucy (how cute is that?) Both Jason and I fell in love with the name. Kind of old-fashioned, kind of classic, very cute. And Kathleen is of course in honor of the most important woman in my life-- my momma. I have always liked the fact that my mom named me after her mother -- and I wanted to honor her by doing the same. I know that Lucy will love sharing this name with her Ya Ya. Besides, Kathleen is beautiful.

Trick-Or-Treat!

This year Isabel was finally only enough to REALLY enjoy Halloween. She was excited to dress-up, had fun at her daycare party, and then got to run from house to house trick-or treating with family and friends in our neighborhood when Jason and I got home from work. It was great!

The DIVA had a hard time deciding on a costume. At one point she wanted to be Jessy cowgirl.. then it was Princess Jasmine... then it was a kitty cat... then it was a parrot.. and pretty much anything else she saw on TV or in a store that particular day .In an effort to avoid last year's "lizard/turtle" debacle... I went shopping without her and bought this bee costume on clearance at Gymboree. I figured she would love it. But apparently, she wasn't feeling the bumble bee when I brought it home. Once we convinced her it wasn't an ordinary but bumble bee... but instead a bumble bee PRINCESS ... she warmed to it.

Ready for school!

Kisses for daddy. Hey--- where is HIS costume?

with Miss Heather from Goddard

Home in time to trick-or-treat! Load up the wagons!! Payton the peacock is ready!

Uncle Scott, Aunt Shannon and cousin Marcus joined us too

The Leppins-- we loved our new neighborhood. SO many kids and families out-- people with fire pits on their driveways, having drinks, socializing etc. Like a giant block party.

The Kerruish fam- Hector looks great!

CANDY!

Belly, Collin, and Marcus. Bel enjoyed bossing the boys around and telling them where to go :)

Have you EVER seen anything cuter?

and we ended the night at Yaya and Grandpa's for some chicken noodle soup, fresh bread, and apple cider.

I HEART Halloween!