Mabel Courtney Meinhardt

Happy Birthday sweet Mabel!  She arrived a bit earlier than expected at 5:17am this morning instead of Dec 21.  I had contractions for a couple hours at home so we came right in to make sure I didn't have any issues being a previous c-section mommy. Anyway, she weighs 6lbs 9 oz, 18 inches long and looks a lot like Jeremy except with super dark hair.  

Nightly Tradition

Jbird and I get in the car almost every night and drive around looking at Christmas lights!  He picks the direction and I drive.  We listen to Christmas music and enjoy the holiday season. Ryan and Amelia join us some nights when Amelia is not in bed already and tonight, we picked up his little buddy Jack to drive with us.  There are some pretty unreal houses around here and I took a picture of a couple.  The picture doesn't do it justice because it's 4 houses in a row with Santa, his sleigh, reindeer and presents going from house to house.  The houses across the street are decorated like crazy as well but I couldn't get them in the picture.

Tis' the season....

For Elf on the Shelf.  It's a super cute little elf and it comes with a book that explains the story and rules that come along with the elf.  Your child names it the 1st year (thankfully Jeremy has stuck with the name he chose last year, "elf").  Every night, the elf leaves your house and flies to the North Pole to tell Santa if your child has been bad or good that day.  The children cannot touch the elf, they can only talk to it and tell it what they want for Xmas.  It's great for mom and dad as well because it helps to remind the kids that the elf is watching if they are acting up.  When the elf returns to your house, it picks a new place to hide so the kids can find it first thing in the morning.  Jeremy wakes up every morning and asks where his elf is.  We tell him he has to find him and Jeremy even tells the elf where he wants him to sit the next morning.  A cute tradition that we have enjoyed for 2 years and many more to come.

Decorations

Time to decorate some ginger bread cookies!

Jeremy enjoyed decorating and...

Amelia thought it was important to eat the candy decorations!

So...no candy made it on Amelia's cookie

and Jeremy could barely eat his cookie because there was too much candy!  They had a good time and made a BIG mess.  

Christmas Tree Shopping 2009

Kids had fun running around for a few minutes until J wanted to go home to go to the bathroom and Amelia had more fun climbing on the crates that the trees were on.  We didn't leave with a tree but we left with a beautiful wreath :)  I was able to catch one cute shot of them.

Peaceful moment between cousins

Cousins Kalea, Georgia, Kira, Jeremy and Cece coloring in Oma and Opa's backyard!

BEAUTIFUL trip to the Santa Monica Pier

Oma, Opa, Court, Dave, Ryan, myself and all the kids went to the Santa Monica Pier this morning and it was lots of fun.  I wish I had my nice camera because it was clear, sunny and the views were amazing.  We're lucky to live here.  My iphone camera doesn't do it justice but you get the idea!

View from ferris wheel

Another view from ferris wheel

Opa & Georgia

Taking a break from walking

Family looking at the ocean

Daddy and Amelia

As we walked by this guy with birds, he asked Georgia if she wanted to hold it.  She was very brave and held two of them.  Cece and Amelia wanted nothing to do with it and J gave it a try.

Big boy

Amelia wanted NOTHING to do with the bird!

36 weeks down and 22 days to go....

I am getting more uncomfortable every day (I officially lost my ankles last night...swollen from water weight once again) but getting more excited to meet this little one and to NOT be pregnant anymore.  The thought of 3 kids is a bit scary at times but I know the chaos will be well worth it in the end. :)  Well, so I've been told.  Some people have asked for belly shots so here is one from yesterday.  I had my appt on Tuesday and the baby was moving all over and the heart beat is strong.  Other than that, nothing much to report!  

Another dancing holiday with the Littles

Oma put on Gypsy Kings and the kids got busy dancing.  Bonnie and Clyde, as Courtney calls Jeremy and Cece, are in the back dancing really cute together.  

Thanksgiving Day Pictures

Good times were had by all.  It was really nice and warm today so we spent most of the day outside.  The first picture below was a nice part of the day when the kids were playing on their own, a couple were sleeping and we got to enjoy adult conversation.  

The kids in "their house"!  Missing Kalea, Georgia and Teddy

Dinner time

Auntie Jess, Uncle Jon and Piper came up to spend Thanksgiving with us!  It was a fun trip!

Happy Thanksgiving

Ryan decided he would make his grandma Nellie's famous rolls and I signed up to make the pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving this year so the whole family helped!  Literally, everyone helped or made it take longer but it was fun!  Here are some pics!

Yeast?  Got it.  Can't have bread without yeast right?  Well, not the kind Ryan is whipping up!

Amelia likes to really say "cheese" when she sees me coming with the camera.

Mommy and kids making the pumpkin pie.  Jeremy actually cracked an egg and did REALLY well.  He loved scooping the pumpkin.  Once all ingredients were mixed, he kept telling Amelia to "smell it because it smelled really good."  Oh yeah, the stovetop that Amelia is holding was not on.

Time to make some rolls now that the pumpkin pies are in the oven!  "Is this right dad?"

Kids lost interest once dad's recipe got complicated.  Dinner time!

What happens when you leave kids unattended...luckily for us, usually not a lot.  I found them post bath in the living room inside the toy bin.  ALL toys had been dumped out but they cleaned them all up before bed.  

Wow!  Now that's some kneading.  Well done sweetheart.  We shall see what they taste like :)

A beautiful morning at the beach

After a hundred sand in the eye issues, one sand castle (that mom built), one crashing wave on Jbird and mom (so he wore his undies the rest of the morning), lots of running around with his friends Simone and Blaise, lots to eat and a warm bath....it was night night time for both kids!  Gotta love that salty sea air!  Is it really Thanksgiving time?!?!  You would never know here :)

Update...

Baby Meinhardt #3's birthday will be December 21 around 7:30 am.  

Baby Meinhardt #3 - 34 1/2 weeks and counting....

I had my 34 week check up today (a little late since I am 34 1/2 weeks) and everything looks great!  The baby's head is still down and its back is on the left side of my belly, its butt is on my right side and legs are kicking way on my right side.  Jeremy and Amelia were much more central so they didn't kick so far on the side.  The heart beat is strong, it still has the hiccups ALL the time and we're just ready to meet the little one.  One bummer thing...they are not going to be able to do the c-section on Dec 18 like we planned.  The dr. is going to see if she can get it scheduled for Dec 19, which is a Saturday, and they usually don't schedule c-sections on the weekend.  If she can't book Saturday, the birthday would then be Monday, Dec 21!  A little closer to Christmas but she would be able to discharge me on Christmas Eve day.  Yikes...cutting it close.  Anyway, I now see the doctor weekly so I might know more on Tuesday when I go back.  I will update then....

For those of you who can look at ultra sounds with the right eye, here is #3.  He/she is looking right at you.  The big white section on the right is the cheek and side of its face.  You can see one eye and the little chin at the bottom.  It almost looks like its smiling.  Amelia has a very similar picture with the same CHUBBY cheek.

Has anyone seen the powdered donuts?

BUSTED! GUILTY!!!!!

Sunday Night

Another weekend at the Meinhardts.  We had Emily's birthday party on Saturday which was lots of fun and then Mommy and Daddy got a sitter on Saturday night to go visit their friend's new baby.  Ryan took the kids to get icees this morning and then Mommy went to UCLA women's soccer game this afternoon.  Once Jeremy and Amelia were fed and bathed, they had some story time with dad in front of the fire and then Morgan (one of mommy's players at LMU, turned babysitter...now family friend) came over for dinner.  Good times!

Amelia & Annie

Jeremy has LOVED Annie and Jack for some time now but Amelia has jumped on the band wagon.  She yells Jack when she sees him and laughs when they get close.  It's so fun to see her develop friendships with them.  Here they are coloring in our driveway.  Amelia looks quite natural using her left hand.  Another lefty?  Jury is still out.

Morning out with Mom

I got a sitter for Amelia and took Jbird out to breakfast and to Color Me Mine for some one on one time.  He ate a yummy breakfast (as did Mom) and had fun painting his motorcycle piggy bank.  

Jeremy discovered toothpicks and LOVES them.  You can take the boy out of Missouri but you can't take Missouri out of the boy!  

Goofy smile!

Busy at work!

Getting ready....

for #3!  We moved the old changing table/dresser out of J's room (someone is buying it) and arranged it how we thought it would work best for J and A to share.  It looks super cute...just needs some artwork and a better rug or wall to wall carpet.  Sorry Ryno, the KU rug doesn't cover enough floor space anymore.  Our bedroom has the cradle, changing space for the next and the rocker.  ALL is almost ready to go.