Emotional

I. Am. Emotional.

Below is proof.

A few things that have made me cry recently:

1. Seeing the Shutterfly calendar with Sinclair family pictures (most of which I took so it wasn't like I was seeing them for the first time) that my sister made for our family gift exchange.

2. Opening a Hallmark baby card from my boss. Those Hallmark cards......sheesh...

3. Getting stuck in an unplowed street during our recent blizzard. I wanted to go look at a glider we found on craigs list across town. Tom didn't but we went anyway because we also needed groceries and Trader Joes was on our way to their house. We had come straight from my brother's house so we didn't have boots or hats or gloves on. I tell him to turn down the wrong street (darn gps). He does. We get to the end of the dead end street and I realize what has happened. We go to turn around (in an unplowed driveway) and our CR-V doesn't move. Tom throws his hands up and says, "I am really frustrated right now. Really frustrated." in the sternest/most upset voice my sweet and loving husband has. I apologize. He gets out. I move to the driver's seat and turn the wheel and put it in reverse while he pushes as hard as he can. Still not moving. I see him out there with no boots or gloves in short socks and tennis shoes. I think about how we don't have any friends in the area with cars suitable to drive in the weather to even come help us and no roadside assistance or a shovel. I feel awful and like I've failed him miserably. So I start to cry (more like sob). He sees me through the windshield and what does my amazing husband do? He stops pushing, comes and opens my door, puts his arm around me and says, "honey, it's going to be ok. Just breath. I love you. It's ok." I apologize profusely and tell him how awful I feel seeing him out there in the deep snow. I calm down. We regain our pushing and driving positions. And then a miracle happens - A Christmas Miracle, if you will - the car becomes unstuck and we're able to back out of that dreaded dead end street. Just like that. Have I mentioned how much I love my husband? Because I do. Love conquers all.

4. Opening the children's Bible from Greg and Natalie at Christmas. If that wasn't enough, she wrote a message to baby Dixie in the front cover. Put.Me.Over.The.Edge.

5. Receiving an invitation to my baby shower thrown by my dear friend, Erin and sisters-in-law, Trisha and Nikki. Super precious and "very me" and then imagine my surprise when I flip it over and see Dixie's u/s profile shot on the back of it. Tears came quickly.

6. Researching electric breast pumps. Overwhelming.

7. Remembering Shannon on his birthday and at Christmas...

8. And most recently (last night), this story that appeared on the news.
The Roseville police dog injured while chasing a burglary suspect will not walk again, city officials said on Wednesday.

I mean...it's sad, but is it worth crying over? Apparently yes, it is.

Merry Christmas to ME

Good-bye Canon Rebel XS.

You have been so good to me the last two years. We have traveled to Hawaii, Scotland and Ireland together, not to mention numerous family outings. You were there for many random photo shoots for blog posts, and saw me through the start of my photography business that kept me very busy this fall and early winter.

You were simple and easy to use.

It's been really fun exploring together. But I must say...

Hello Canon 7D!

You are much more complicated, but I love you anyway.

I am looking forward to many happy memories *smile.

28 Weeks - Start of 3rd Trimester

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 28 Weeks - My favorite number and start of 3rd trimester!! (omg!)

Size of baby: 14.8", 2 1/4 lb

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 14 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Still some regular tops and loving those maternity pants.

Gender: Your guess is as good as mine! 

Movement: When "Dixie" is moving, he/she is really moving, sometimes so much that it makes me giggle b/c it's just so crazy and almost tickles. I read this past week that the movement of the baby has a lot to do with their personality. I have been hoping and praying for a calm child, so we shall see *smile.

Sleep: Toss and turn a lot, but still sleeping great.

What I miss: Being able to run more than a mile.

What I WILL miss: Feeling those sweet kicks and somersaults. Celebrating milestones like passing my glucose test and reaching the 3rd trimester.

Cravings: People ask me this all the time, but I'm not sure I really, truly crave anything. If cookies/sweets aren't in front of me, then I am fine without them. And my mouth waters if I think about grapefruit.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, crazy emotions, and it's getting more difficult to roll over at night.

Best moment this past week: Celebrating Christmas with both families, receiving a Bible for baby Dixie from Aunt Natalie and Uncle Greg (I cried) and opening the invitation to my first baby shower in January, which also made me cry.

Exercise: Usually running a mile/walking a mile, lifting with the hubby and biking 2-3 miles depending on how hard I want to work *smile. 

2010 Sinclair Family Christmas

We were with my family down in Ames, IA this past weekend to celebrate Christmas. We arrived Friday around 3:30 pm to Weston looking particularly dapper with his spiked hair. I love him and his craziness even though he basically wants nothing to do with his Aunt Sarah *smile. I can't be too offended though. He's at a stage where he doesn't really want much to do with anyone other than his mom and dad and any young kids who will play with him (like really cool older boy cousins who love cars and trucks and causing messes just like he does.)

Uncle Tom and Hayden got right to work on building a....jungle castle? Not quite sure what that thing was, but I know Weston knocked it down shortly after.

Scott, Nikki and Jacob arrived shortly after us and Jacob got right in there to check things out.

I did get some snuggles in before bed, I guess.

Weston and Hayden before bed - love their flannel pj's and robe. Kills me.

My family does a White Elephant exchange in addition to a normal $25 one. There were unused candles, lotion/potpourri, Christmas sweatshirts, racquets among several other items. Some were cooler than others, but hey - everyone needs a belt. Speaking of that, Brent was lucky enough to score several new belts along with some Christmas decorations (one of which was widely popular by all ages as you will see later...)

Dad got a new ISU "hat" and tie. I wouldn't want to sit behind that guy at a football game.

And Nikki received beautifully hand-painted glasses and a matching pitcher that she can't wait to find room for in her small kitchen use.

The boys opened gifts youngest to oldest...

Weston thought his new sled was pretty cool.

I like to sit on my gifts as I open them as well.

The beloved "fawn" that everyone wanted to steal from Brent....

It didn't originally come with the "crown."

There were games...

with some friendly brotherly competition...

And lots of jumping on air mattresses. Jacob is literally in mid-air close to landing on Weston in this one. No worries, no one was hurt. That badly.

Two of my fav people!

Lots of Sinclair babies in 2011!! So exciting!
Nikki is due June 26th, Becca is due April 23rd and I am due March 20th
I can hardly contain my excitement!! kajdflajjsdfflj;asjdfksjdkfjak

Noah (almost 10 - gasp) also gave us a short recital with his new viola. He's so good!

Breakfast time - watch out for sticky little boy fingers! Scott and Nikki make the BEST pancakes - YUM!

Hayden was so proud of his Legos that he put together ALL BY HIMSELF. And Noah reading in the background is so absolutely him right now. Love this picture.

2010 Sinclair Family Christmas Picture

I love those people.

We are blessed and God is good.

Multitude Monday...better late than never

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#511...Finishing our registry and thinking about all the cute little things "Dixie" will need.
#512...Nephew hugs and kisses.
#513...Christmas traditions...mom's oyster stew and dad's grapefruit/banana/cherry combination (pretty sure my mom makes the oyster stew just for me - love her.)
#514...Winning a game that (much to everyone's surprise) I usually lose *smile.
#515...Unlimited cookies, brownies and other desserts for two days straight. Don't mind if I do!
#516...Watching the boy's faces light up as they open gifts.
#517...Seeing my sister's baby bump (and my SIL's not so big "bump" that's still precious.)
#518...Lights on a Christmas tree...there's just something I love about them.
#519...Remembering that baby in a manager who has changed my life.
#520...Reflecting on a year filled with more surprises and joy than I could ever have imagined.


For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Cecilia Jo Meier

Remember 9-month-pregnant Margie (sorority sister) from back in October?

Well she isn't pregnant anymore!

Baby Cecilia "Ceci" was born November 15th...we got to visit Margie and Ryan in the hospital and hold that sweet baby girl! (They knew what they were having but kept it a secret from the rest of us. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for her birthday and finally she came, almost 2 weeks late!)

I was even able to take some newborn pictures of her recently...

I do love me a newborn *smile. Good thing I'm going to have my own soon.

Look at all of that hair!

What a blessing and joy Ceci is.

I'm so excited for our little ones to grow up together.

Sugar Cookie Workshop

What do you do when you're snowed in?

We bake sugar cookies!

Not from scratch though. We could do it (using my good 'ol 4-H skills), but we thought we'd give the Trader Joe's Sugar Cookie Workshop Sugar Cookie Baking and Decorating Kit a try knowing we probably would be stuck at home all night last Saturday. We had tickets to a Celtic Christmas concert in St. Paul, but thankfully it was postponed due to just a small ity bity MN blizzard.

For $3.99, it came with everything needed, including three cookie cutters! Take your pick!

Mix, mix, mix! We also added just a tad of almond extract (Tom's recommendation), which makes just about everything taste better.

Tom's rolling job, which I find adorable. Typically you try to get it round or oval shaped. (He wasn't in 4-H.) But hey, they still tasted GREAT.

Baked to perfection. (Actually maybe 45-60 second too long.)

Decorated all pretty (kind of....I'm not really into details) and ready to take to work to share with coworkers. They were a huge hit, but don't worry, we kept some at home to ourselves. Remember my sweet tooth? *smile.

Another great product, Trader Joe's!