The J's: 07/10

7/21/2010

After exactly 8 years of marriage and 7 months of trying, we got a wonderful surprise today....

YOU!!

I can't wait to meet you, to hold you, to see you grow, to see Jennibelle as a big sister, and to see how Jaylee takes over being your Mom. You are already soo special to me, little J Baby!!!

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I'm not even sure why I took the pregnancy test... Jason insisted that I buy one when we were out out for our anniversary dinner. The next morning, I gave it no thought, I just grabbed it and did what you gotta do, NEVER expecting that plus sign. I even had to look at the directions, since I have never gotten a "plus" before!! Then I sat there... smiling from ear to ear!! I could NOT believe it!! I yelled for the girls... Jenni came first, I hugged her and said "I'm pregnant!!" She immediately knew exactly what that meant... she hugged me and said "You're gonna have a baby?!? I'm gonna be a big sister?!?" Her excitement was putre and awesome! Then we both yelled for Jaylee, who was just as excited. I called Jason, knowing he was in a big meeting. So, I called 3 times in a row, knowing he'd eventually stop sending me to voice mail. He answered and said "Babe... I'm in a big meeting..." "I know", I cut him off. "But I'm pregnant!!" "Oh yeah?!? Hey everyone... my wife is pregnant!!!!!!" I could hear the excitement in his voice!!

Luckily, my Dr. could see me the next day (7/23). The ultrasound shows we're 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant. We couldn't see the baby, but saw the sac and yolk just fine. So, in one week I go for another "Ultrasound for Viability". Don't like the sound of that, so will just say Ultrasound! The girls were so excited to see the ultrasound, though Jenni was nervous. Jaylee kept saying "Jenni it's fine, I've seen this before and it doesn't hurt!" They were a little disappointed to not see a "baby" but enjoyed seeing their "tornado", as they said it looked like!!

Last night we all picked out our favorite names... all beginning with J of course:
Jennibelle: Juliette and Jake
Jaylee: JoAnn and Jack
Jason: Juliette and Jackson Lee
Jenn: Josie and Jackson James

Of course, we still have MANY weeks to go until mid March, but it's been exciting news for all of us!!

7/18/2010

The Rest of the Stringhams' Visit

Grandma and Grandpa were given a "ride" by Jaylee & Jennibelle around the cemetary.

Jaylee is getting pretty darn good...

Jenni enjoys making us laugh... even if that means looking behind her wile driving!!

Here we go...

and some video...

the camera makes it look like we're going fast, but we never go above 5/10 mph!

We spent one of our 100 degree days at The Landis Valley Museum,

which is outdoors!!!!

http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/cgi-bin/eventsdetail.cgi?Year=2010&Month=01&Day=01

I was sooo happy that Grandpa totally enjoyed the barn full of old farm equiptment.

The girls liked that he knew what every tool was.

You could see the enjoyment on his face!!

Jennibelle LOVED finding the pics of the dog Wasser throughout the museum.

She was not interested in the questions that the dog pictures answered...

she just really like finding the pictures!!!

It's the little things...

The girls were able to give Grandma her Mother's Day gift -

A book that they write WITH her,

pages about nicknames, childhood memories, photos and more.

It was neat to listen to them working on it.

The girls LOVE hearring Grandma's stories about growing up in a 4 room house, losing her dog down the out house, and bringing home cough drops as refreshments.

Jaylee and Jennibelle were trying to look like Grandpa while we were out shopping.

We spent an afternoon at the North Museum.

I have NEVER seen it so crowded!!

We're literally the only ones there when we go, but summer camps were there and there were kids everywhere!

Story telling in bed...

Jason and Grandpa laugh soooo much when they are together,

it is GREAT!!

And so much fun to listen to!!!

Here they are chit chatting, but you should have heard them with Jaylee watching Get Smart!!

Grandma and Grandpa took off from Lancaster Airport...

I got very nervous for them when I saw the tiny plane pull up.

Between TEARS and sobs, Jaylee had intermittent laughs while watching them climb up the tiny stairs and watching the pilot crawl in his window.

Jenni didn't get too emotional... her motto seems to be

"It is what it is"

at times! :)

We all cried as the plane took off, but Jaylee always seems to take it the hardest...

she and Grandma have a special bond, just like she does with Jason!!!

Grandma did say that the plane offered great views of Lancaster, but that it was pretty nerve racking.

7/05/2010

July 4th

I can NOT keep up with the blog... I want to document everything but we just do too much!!

June was sooo busy with a baby shower, Jason's bday, Father's Day, a family reunion, and a high shool reunion. I keep asking myself "When will life slow down?"

Well, definately NOT in July!!!

Jaylee's "water proof" cast was not drying out as well as it needed to, so her skin starting rotting... lovely!!
So, she got it off 1 week early and we were instructed to have her keep her splint on for 1 week.
BUT... her wounds needed to heal so I've been keeping it off of her and she hasn't complained of pain yet!

We're getting the house ready to put on the market so we're busy cleaning.
(I'll do a whole blog with pix of the house before we move)

We bought the girls a 3' deep pool so we're busy swimming.

Grandpa and "Graham Cracker" Stringham are here for a week-long trip and though we've done so much relaxing, we've also done a lot!...

July 3rd fireworks at home:

This was the only pic that was not super blurry... darn camera!!

Jaylee AND Jennibell LOVED the sparklers and Poppers.

Jason liked settting off the "big" fireworks in the street.

I was MUCH more relaxed this year!

July 4th picnic and swimming followed by fireworks at Long Park:

Jenni decorated our flag cake.

We bought the pool less than 1 week aggo and Jaylee has probably logged 50 hours of swimming!!

Long's Park...

July 5th pedicures, swimming, Jenn's basketball game and dinner at Olive Garden:

Jaylee...

Jenni...

The girls are in HEAVEN!!!!

They just love having them here and taking part in everyday things!

Mandy's Surprise Baby Picnic for Cole

Oh how I do LOVE planning parties... from the details to the great deals I find to the moment when it "happens" and then I am good... I don't need any of the food, conversation with people I don't know, or the clean up. Maybe I picked the wrong profession?!?

Mandy's Party was Sun June 12th at 1pm at my house.

The Menu:

Hess' Pork BBQ and Meatball Sandwiches

Kielbasa

Strawberries/Blueberries with Cool Whip

Mac N Cheese

Salad

Chips

Drama Drama Drama...

and this time it was all my fault!

I completely forgot to pick up the Pork from Hess before they closed.

Luckily, I got a hold of a lady that helped me out and we sprinted over there...

we arrive 40 mins AFTER they closed!!!

Then, after a very long lecture to Jason about NOT turning on the oven b/c the rolls were being stored in there, I turned it to 350' and didin't notice the burning rubber smell until 1/2 of the rolls were ruined!!

Luckily meg just laughed at me wehn I told her what I'd done.

We replaced the rolls but in the end, we ended up sending exrta rolls home with everyone anyway!!

Here's everyone waiting...

Jason, Mommom Matheson, Poppop, Nan & Peggy Dombach.

"Luckily" Mandy only got 1 hour of sleep btwn getting home from work adn having to wake up for "dinner at Mom's". So, when She pulled up to my house, she was thoroughly confused.

Despite me jumping and running and waving my hands yelling surprise!!!

Even after I explained that it was a surprise party, she thought that it was a party for Brian's Bday!!

Here's she looking at me asking "What IS this?"