Happy Halloween!

On Friday, I took Dallas Trick or Treating at Doug's work. As you can tell, Daddy was busy when we got there...
Off to find some candy!

It didn't take Dallas long to figure out how to pick out the candy...

We also made a few stops at the businesses around the square in Williamsburg. They had Trick or Treating hours on Friday because most of the businesses are not open on Saturdays.

I tried to get a few more pictures of my bumble bee when we got home, but it was very windy and he wasn't in the mood to hold still!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Until next time...

Just wanted to say...

to my wonderful husband! We hope you had a great day.

Love you lots,
Rajean, Dallas & Gertie

Until next time...

Week 37 (updated)

Let the countdown continue! Only 3 weeks until due date :)
Make sure you submit your guesses for the baby pole (see previous post).

Here is a little comparison of what I looked like at 37 weeks while pregnant with Dallas.

I am headed to the doctor this morning for another Baby Gertie check-up. Let's hope my blood pressure is down this time! I will update how it goes when I get home. I am feeling lots better, and not coughing as much as before, but sleep is getting very difficult. I just can't get comfortable. Oh, well...I guess I'm just preparing myself for those every 2-3 hour feedings!

Until next time...

Update: Everything went really well at the doctor this morning. Dallas got to meet The Cat in the Hat, and he even got a candy bar...lucky! As far as Gertie, all is good and growing. I have put on a few more pounds since my last visit, but my blood pressure was back down to normal! Baby Gertie's heartbeat was right around 150 beats/min...it is beginning to slow down, but s/he is still as active as ever. Dr. Smollen did comment once again how great my ankles looked...she is kind of crazy like that!

Baby Poll!

Can you believe it? Gertie's due date is only 3 weeks away! S/he will be here before we know it. Once again, I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and support through this pregnancy. I feel so blessed in all that I have. Since we are getting close to the arrival, I thought I would start the baby poll.

Here is how you play:

1) Click on the comment link at the end of this post
2) Take a guess at what day Gertie will arrive
3) Take a guess at what Gertie's length will be
4) Take a guess at what Gertie's weight will be
5) Finally, take a guess if Gertie is a boy or girl!

Make sure to leave your name, especially if you don't have a blog log in name.

Here's how you can play if you don't have a log in: Leave your guesses, and then select the "button" for either -Name/URL or -Anonymous.

If you choose -Name/URL, then just type your name in the name box...You can leave the URL box blank.

Here are some helpful tips when thinking of your guesses. My due date is Nov. 19th - this has not changed during the pregnancy. With Dallas my due date was originally March 24th, then it was moved to March 4th. Dallas arrived March 11th - by induction. Dallas weighed 8 lb 8 oz and was 21.5 in long.

Hope you enjoy this! I will be excited to see your guesses!

Until next time...

Quick Trip

This last weekend, Doug, Dallas, Charlie, Fred, and I made a quick trip back to Indiana. We left Friday mid-morning, and we were back home by Monday early-evening. We were able to spend time with our families, as well as some friends. Enough of me "talking", here are a few pictures.

Dallas riding the rocking sheep at Grandma and Grandpa Robertson's.
Grandma Robertson had foot surgery about 2 weeks ago, so she has a wheel chair to help get around. Dallas thought it was a lot of fun to push! (FYI: Grandma is healing very well from the surgery...she'll be back to chasing Dallas by the holidays!)

On Saturday, Dallas got to meet George Martin.

Then he got to meet Autumn!

Meeting two new cousins in one day - so much fun!

Dallas enjoying a little reading material during a car ride.

Grandpa Robertson had to show Dallas his new toy...Doug hopes Dallas doesn't say "Ferguson" before "Oliver"!

Grandpa Robertson's Ferguson wasn't the only tractor Dallas got to ride...

...here he is driving Grandpa Bergman's JD 110

Taking a ride with Grandpa Bergman

Finally, a quick video of Dallas taking Aunt Josie and Daddy for a ride.

Until next time...

Week 36

4 weeks until due date!!!
Now, as you look at this week's pictures...remember that I took these at 10:50 p.m. This was after canning applesauce and apple butter with a friend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and after teaching my weekly religious education class. In other words, I'm a little tired.

I think Baby Gertie has shifted her* position...look how much farther my belly is sticking out this week!

I'm still feeling well, and I'm very excited about our trip to Indiana this weekend. Let's hope the weather cooperates and we can enjoy some sunshine (or at least some great fall weather).

Until next time...

*disclaimer: We do NOT know the sex of Baby Gertie. We just choose to say she or her instead of it*

Home Invasion

Today is a warm day in Iowa...we actually made it to "normal" high temperatures - 62 degrees! With the warm weather also comes the invasion of the Asian lady beetles. They are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!

This is my back door...
Here you can see them covering the house foundation...

Any suggestions on how to keep them outside?

Until next time...

Various Pictures of Dallas

Where's Dallas?

A new "ride on" toy...

Which shoe goes best with this outfit?

Dad's shoe...

or Mom's shoe...

Snack time...

That pudding must have been tasty

A little rest and relaxation...

Until next time...

Week 35

FIVE weeks until due date! or also known as 35 days - that's the one that somewhat scares me!
I had a check-up yesterday with Dr. Smollen, and everything is still going great. Baby Gertie is still just as active, even if she is running out of room. My weight was down a pound...how that happened, I'm not sure. But my blood pressure was still up...due to this cough I'm still hanging on to. Baby Gertie's heartbeat was right around 160, so that's good too.

At this point, Baby Gertie is just putting on more weight to build up her body fat for temperature control. According to one book I have it says, "...everything else, from her toenails to the hair on her head, is fully formed. If she were born now, she'd have more than a ninety-nine percent chance of surviving."

I'm feeling much better as far as this cold/cough is concerned. The medicine Dr. Boelter gave me last week has helped tremendously! I have been able to sleep a lot better - until last night when the leg cramps returned. Oh well.

I'm also feeling much larger these days, but that is expected at this point and time. I'm not too uncomfortable yet...just when I sit in the same position for an extended time, which only happens when Dallas is sleeping! Speaking of whom...I need to go check on him.

Until next time...

19 months!

Dallas turned 19 months this past Sunday. I can't believe the day went by and I totally forgot! Here are some recent photos of my toddler...

Dallas loves to put on hats...as long as it isn't his!It is amazing to watch Dallas' creativity develop. He plays so well by himself, but I'm sure he will learn very quickly to play with Baby Gertie. Here is an example of his imagination at work...

He had to make the perfect seat to watch the Colts' game this past Sunday night. He would sit back farther in the "gym" and use it like a rocking chair!

Dallas still isn't talking that much, but we are working on it all the time. We read lots of stories and point out things and say the words. As I have mentioned before, though, his comprehension is excellent. We are just waiting patiently for the vocabulary to explode!

Until next time...

Our Weekend

As promised, here are some pictures of our weekend with Gram, Grandpa and Aunt Josie!

Dallas "reading" his tractor book to Gram and Grandpa
Farming with Grandpa

Aunt Josie caught the little man!

On Sunday, we took Dallas to a pumpkin farm. Click here to see our visit last year. It was a cold day, so we were pretty bundled up for photos!

Dallas loved petting the goats.

I do think his favorite animal has to be a cow though. He thought riding this one was pretty fun

At the pumpkin farm, they have a cow train. We asked if there was an age limit, and the driver said not really, but she did suggest Doug ride with Dallas. I think Doug had just as much fun!

As you can tell, there are many different photo opts around the farm...we found a horse just the right size for Dallas!

Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

Swings are always a favorite no matter where we are

Dallas and Daddy are off to school!

Dallas wanted to revisit the swings, so Doug took Josie through the wheelbarrow course

New to the farm this year was the Big Orange Pillow! I think this might have been everyone's favorite

Farmer Dallas

Dallas was quite big enough for the trike course, so Grandpa pushed him around on the pedal tractors

Gram, Dallas, and Aunt Josie on the wagon ride to the pumpkin patch

Off to find the perfect pumpkin!

How about this one?

Lastly, our family of three...for now!

Until next time...