Old McDonald had a "Mini" Farm

On Saturday, Nick and Ella came up to Monroe to spend the day with us at the annual Ag Expo and 4-H Livestock Show. There was a mini petting farm there for the children. Ella and Lilya loved the animals. They got to hold baby chickens, pet baby sheep, and baby goats. There was a small calf there that was born last weekend. Of course, Lilya wanted to hold the baby moo. There were miniature cows there called Zebu cows. They were not any taller than 36 inches. Nick had to check out the John Deere exhibit obviously. Ella wanted to ride on all the tractors where Lilya wouldn't sit on any of them. She did get on the John Deere golf cart looking thing because she thought that Ella was really going to ride her around on it. The girls had a great time though. We took them to the mall afterwards and then Nick and Ella headed back to Cottonport.

Baby Jaubert

Had another ultrasound today to check on baby Jaubert. He/She is doing great. We are now at 31 weeks and the baby weighs 4 lbs 6 ounces and has tons of hair as you can see from one of the pics. This baby did not want to cooperate for a picture today. It is head down and face down buried in my right hip. The technician got one good shot of its face which took a look of pocking and proding on my belly and literally took 45 minutes to get. Lilya loves hearing the heartbeat. We have to play the ultrasound dvd for her over and over so she can hear the heartbeat. The technician is super nice and let Lilya listen to the baby's heartbeat at least 5 times. We will keep everyone posted on the progress and when the baby arrives.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great new year! Ours was very quiet. We could not travel this year per Dr.'s orders so my family came to see us this year. They said we were gonna have a "redneck christmas". It was very weird not being home (Cottonport that is) for Christmas. As any family with children knows, Christmas isn't complete until you have a sick child. On Christmas Eve, we had to take Lilya to the pediatrician because she had fever and an ear infection. So our Christmas Eve consisted of her sleeping all afternoon (til 7 pm) and Rog and I watching 24 hours of "A Christmas Story". Christmas morning Lilya was feeling much better. She knew Santa had passed at her house. It was cold that morning and she had to bring Lucy in to show her all her presents. We waited for Kay-Kay and the gang to show up then we opened a hundred more presents. New Year's eve was very quiet. It was nasty and raining. We stayed home and rang in the new year in our sleep. Hope everyone has a wonderful 2011.

Two Christmas Miracles

On Saturday, we took Lilya to the children's museum. There is an ice skating rink and fake snow made out of white confetti, arts and crafts, and many toys to play with. Santa Clause was there too. This was the third time we have seen him. We saw him at the mall for Thanksgiving; she only waved from a distance. We saw him again at the mall about 2 weeks ago. She went to see him then but wouldn't speak and sat on her daddy's lap. Yesterday, we let her see Santa all on her own. This Santa had candy canes; Lilya is easily persuaded with candy. It took about 30 minutes or so but she finally got on his lap. Great Christmas card picture, just a few weeks late. We then went to let her ride the carousel at the mall, always a Lilya favorite. She rode the spinning cup of course with our friend Ali, then she decided to get on with her daddy for 3 more rides. Let me explain this one too. Lilya does not ride the animals at all, only the spinning cup or the bench. I was sitting on the bench waiting for Lilya and Roger to come around and was pleasantly surprised; Lilya was on a horse. I found out that Roger told her that she could be a big girl like Oscar and ride a horse and then we would send him a picture to surprise him. Apparently that's all it took. My child grew up to be a big girl all in one day.

Lilya's Cooking for Christmas this year

Last year for Christmas, Lilya got a cooking set with food, menu, plates, napkins, an apron, the whole nine yards. We are bad parents though because we hid it in the closet and didn't let her play with it. There are probably 100 pieces. She found it this week so we decided she could play with it. Got to entertain her somehow. She is a good hostess. She takes your order, cooks your food, brings everything to you, and even offers to get you more. Think we are going to let her cook for Christmas this year.