Baby Update

Okay, so I haven't been doing a great job of updating my blog for the past two months. It seems to have taken a back seat to some other priorities. Mainly, I have not had the energy to sit at the computer late at night like I did before I was pregnant. I am 18 weeks, along as of today. The nausea and fatigue have subsided and I am beginning to feel like I am getting back into a normal routine. For now....

That may all change when I take on a long term sub position in a few days. I have been asked to return to the high school Family and Consumer Science (home econ) Department for the remainder of the school year. I expect to start in a few days. I know the next few months will go by incredibly fast once I start working full time. But that just means the waiting for the baby to get here will go by that much faster.

I had my second sonogram today. Everything looks as it should. Baby measured exactly as we were expecting.

Here is Marley's favorite shot. Hopefully you can see the hand waving beside the face. Marley says it looks like an alien. I reminded her that I have a very similar photo of her taken at 19 weeks. She was able to go along for the appointment since she was sick last night and I didn't want her to go to school today. She had a million questions for the technician who was very nice to answer all of her inquiries.

Ray, Ella and I like this photo best.

I think the baby looks so big but it is only 5 oz. in size.

And yes, we are still calling it an "it." We did not find out the sex. We want it to be a surprise! I know that is hard for some people but we think it will be more fun for our family this way. Turns out "Be-Be" (as we have nicknamed the baby) had it's legs crossed and we wouldn't have been able to find out the sex if we had chosen.

Hope you enjoy Baby Bradner's first photos on the blog!

I will try to keep updating.

Pierced Ears

This is Ella's sad face because she doesn't have her ears pierced. She has asked a few times over the last six months about getting them done. But then she gets cold feet when we agree to take her. When school started and she asked again, I made a deal with her that if she brought home a good report card, I would take her to get them done. Well, last month she brought home a GREAT report card. I offered to take her for the piercings. She thought she would wait until her birthday instead. But something changed this weekend. She was suddenly ready. So off we went to the mall.

No time to waste. We got her into that chair and did it before she could even think about changing her mind.

Only a few small tears! She was such a brave big girl.
I love that she picked out the pink flower earrings. I had tried to talk Marley into these when we took her two years ago. They are so Ella!

Here she is at home. This time with a smile on her face.

Guess what Ella would like for Christmas?
More earrings!

SHE is here!

Here is my new niece, Mya Kristene.

Born Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008

6lbs 10oz

19 inches long.

This is my niece, Abby holding her.
Beautiful Girls!

Big brother Adam (21 months) is beginning to warm up to the idea of sharing his home and his family members with a new baby.

My brother, Tod and his wife, Jenn with their lovely family.

Welcome to the world baby Mya!

Love,

Aunt Na~Na

Extra Special Thanksgiving Blessing

(WARNING: Turn the music off at the bottom of this page before playing the videos)

This year our family had some great news to share with our families when we gathered for Thanksgiving Day. Our first stop was lunch at my parents house. Marley was asked to share the information at this house. She was instructed to wait until everyone was seated for the meal. She had a little trouble getting everyone's attention but once she got them listening, she had everyone's undivided attention.



Then it was on to my in-laws home for dinner. Ella had the pleasure of sharing the good news here. She worked her announcement into her meal time prayer. It is hard to hear her blessing of the food, but you can make out the ending where she makes the big announcement. You can tell my in-laws were not expecting to hear what they did.



After dinner I went to the local hospital to visit my brother, his wife and my brand new neice, Mya. I had the pleasure of making the announcement to them. How nice it will be for Mya to have a cousin so close in age. I will post more about Mya's arrival when I get some good pictures.

What a pleasant day with so many wonderful blessings and so many wonderful family members to share them with.

This post will be a true test to see who actually reads my blog! I will be waiting to get your comments.

Pumkin Dip Recipe

Pumpkin Dip

1 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1 c. Cool Whip

Mix, chill, then serve!

Great with ginger snap cookies, graham crackers, animal cookies or Nilla wafers. Also makes a great topping for pumpkin pie, gingerbread cakes or pancakes and waffles. I have also dipped apples in it as a fruit topping.

If you are watching your figure, you can substitute fat free sour cream and cool whip without noticing much change in the flavor.

I have been giving out this recipe for years. It has become known as

Angie's Pumpkin Dip Recipe, but I can not take the credit.

I was given the recipe at a Pampered Chef party I went to many years ago.

I have seen other similar recipes. I have tried some that call for cream cheese. But I always come back to this one as my favorite.

I have already made it twice this year and plan to make more for Thanksgiving.

Let me know what you think!

New Baby Boy

He's Here!

Amanda and Nate's baby boy made his way into the world on

Friday, October 17, 2008

Such a good little boy, he made his mommy so happy by coming one day before his actual due date.

Welcome

Grant Joseph

7 lbs 9oz ~ 20 inches long

My favorite picture is this one.

My mom, proud Aunt Wanda rushed to the hospital tonight to see him.

She says he is "really cute."

I thinks so too! But unfortunately I have a terrible head cold and will have to wait a few days before I can get my hands on him.

Amanda, Nate and Baby are all doing great.

Happy Fall Y'all

Fall is in full bloom here. What a beautiful weekend we had in south central Pennsylvania! Too bad I was sick and couldn't get out and enjoy it. Terrible head cold, trouble breathing. Couldn't stand to be outside, especially once my hubby mowed the grass. The rest of the family was able to get out and have fun. This is a video the girls made one day after school last week. I thought it was cute. Hope you think so too.