We're 30!

This week I turned 30 AND Stella is now starting her 30th week in my belly!

I can't believe I am 30.  When I was younger I thought I would be in a completely different place when I turned 30.  I thought I would have been married for at least 5 years and have at least 2 little ones.  Now I realize I wouldn't trade my life for anything.  I have had some incredible experiences in my 30 years, met and loved some wonderful people, am very proud of the education and career I chose, so proud to be Andrew's wife, and can't wait to be Stella's mommy!

For my birthday I got a few awesome gifts.  

1. My brother came home for the weekend.  Luke has been gone for medical school for the last 3 years and I miss him more than I could ever explain.  I can't even tell you how excited I was that I got to spend the weekend with him.  He came in late Friday night and we got to spend the whole weekend just hanging out.  

I am so dang proud of all Luke has done.  I feel so blessed to not only call him my brother but one of my best friends.  I think Luke was super surprised to see me with a huge bump but loved when Stella finally gave him a good kick!  He is going to be the best uncle ever.  Love you buddy...keep your head up and keep working hard!

2. I got to see my little love!  On Saturday we (including my mom, dad, and brother) went to the ultrasound place to see Stella.  She was super cute.  We got some good pictures of her little face, got to see all of her long fingers and toes, and got an idea of how BIG she is.  The ultrasound lady said that there is a chance that Stella is already 3lbs 9oz!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!  That is huge.  But she also said her femur was long which means she may just be tall and skinny...imagine that considering her daddy is 6'5". 

Cute little nose and beautiful lips!  Can't wait to meet this beautiful little girl.

3.  We had a wonderful dinner with a few of my closest friends.  I figured at 29 weeks pregnant I wouldn't have it in me to have a big 30th party so this was a perfect way to celebrate.  I got to set our fancy dinning room table with beautiful napkins and stuff, Chef Andrew worked so hard to make one of my favorite dinners, and everyone just hung out, relaxed, and enjoyed each other's company. 

I was inspired by my mom to set a pretty table.  Luke brought the beautiful flowers that matched perfect!

Chef Andrew!  Andrew worked so hard to make the perfect meal.  Thank you thank you!!!

These are some of my favorite people in the world.  So blessed they shared their Saturday night celebrating my birthday. 

4.  My mom made meatballs.  All the Seibolt's out there know what this means!  My dad celebrates his 60th birthday August 22nd so we had a birthday dinner Sunday before Luke went home.

This was a wonderful way to start my 30th year.  I think it is going to be a good year!

Practice Makes Perfect

Last week Andrew traveled to Pittsburgh to meet his new niece, Madeline.  He got to spend a lot of quality time with Brook and Madeline.  Andrew got to celebrate Brook's birthday with her and learn all about caring for a new baby.  He was so very proud that he figured out how to use the car seat and stroller like a champ.  We have the same ones so this will really come in handy.  He was also very excited the day he chose a bow and had Madeline wear it all day!

I knew this trip would have one of two results...Andrew would come back with a look of terror in his eyes saying "What have we gotten ourselves into?!" or he would be even more excited for our Little Miss to come.  He came back with a huge smile on his face ready to greet Stella and myself and had brought her home some adorable shoes.  I am so thankful Andrew had this time to spend with Brook and got to love on Madeline and learn all kinds of stuff about taking care of a new one!

Andrew with Madeline

Got the bottle thing down, no diapers though...just you wait buddy!

"Uncle Andrew picked my bow and everyone thought I was such a cutie!"

**I have SO conditioned Andrew that little girls need bows...HAHA!**

Mr. & Mrs. Bruchman

Andrew and I were lucky enough to be invited to the wedding of my oldest, and one of my dearest, friends.  I grew up about 3 doors down from Alicia's family so for as long as I remember Alicia has been a part of my life.  Alicia's first word was "horse" and mine was "baby" so our interests obviously differed greatly but it never stopped us from being the best of friends.  As the years have gone by we haven't been as close as we were the first 12 years of our lives but I still consider Alicia one of the closest people to my heart.

Andrew and I travelled to Flagstaff on Friday afternoon and I had the opportunity to walk down memory lane as we roamed the campus of NAU.  Though it was many years ago **and I only lasted a year** I still have some of the most amazing memories from this place.  I got to show Andrew where I lived, where we ate, where I had class, and where some of my favorite moments occurred.  On Saturday my parents met us for lunch, and this is where things got interesting.  While sitting at lunch my dad's hip dislocated...again.  With Andrew's strength (thank God he was there) we were able to get him out of the restaurant and into our car and to the hospital.  Unfortunately the hospital there was unable to get his hip back in place and unfortunately my parents had to miss the wedding but my mom was successfully able to transport my dad back to Phoenix where they were able to shove his hip back in place the next day.  Needless to say this part of our trip was heartbreaking as I hate seeing my dad in so much pain and I saw the disappointment in my mom's eyes that she had to miss witnessing Alicia's incredible day.  Thankfully my dad's surgeon, who is out of the country, answered my phone call and was able to schedule a great surgeon to put him back together.

Now on to the beautiful wedding....  Alicia's wedding was perfectly Alicia.  The wedding took place just outside of Flagstaff.  The ceremony took place in a beautiful meadow surrounded by trees.  Alicia and her dad rode in on a clydesdale drawn carriage.  She was incredibly beautiful and it was so wonderful to witness the love between Alicia and Max as they became husband and wife.

The beautiful bride

Andrew and I had so much fun catching up with my old neighbors.  Andrew had the opportunity to talk hunting with my old neighbor Dave and I had the chance to catch up with April, who is due about two weeks ahead of me with a baby boy!  I absolutely loved the time I was able to spend with the people who have probably known me the longest.  

April and myself and the bebes

Alicia saying "Of course I am on a horse!"

**Why was anyone even surprised**

My sweet girl

These last few weeks have been fun watching my belly continue to grow.  She likes to move most at night and early morning.  I look forward to these moments every day.  I always feel like she is just saying "I am good Mom, you can stop worrying for now!"  I officially have the pregnancy waddle towards the end of the day, which Andrew loves to give me a hard time about.

25 weeks

26 weeks

Madeline Margaret McHugh

We have a niece!!!!

Madeline Margaret McHugh joined the Daniel's family July 11th.  I will have to say Andrew was a nervous wreck ALL day.  I think I got 20 texts and at least 10 phone calls with updates and nervous brother messages throughout the day.  It was cute to see his concern and love for his sister as she experienced one of the biggest moments of her life.

 Brook and Greg decided not to find out what they were having while she was pregnant and I think everyone except Greg and Grandma predicted the baby would be a boy. We were all surprised to hear the baby is a GIRL!!! I am so excited that Stella will have a little girl cousin her age to grown up with. I can only imagine the bows and dresses that will be flying around at Christmas!

I unfortunately have to wait until Christmas to meet this little beauty but Andrew gets to meet her in about a month. He is going to have to take an extra suitcase with him just to accommodate all of the clothes and things we have already purchased for her.

I can't say how excited and happy I am for the McHugh family. Love you!

She's Growing

With the move and everything else going on in our lives I feel like I haven't been doing a very good job at keeping up with the baby bump pictures. It is fun to look back and see how we are growing!

20 weeks

22 weeks

24 weeks

 It is incredible how much I love this little girl. Sometimes I just find myself sitting in her nursery dreaming about holding her in my arms. I *LOVE* feeling her move. It is the highlight of my day. I don't go to sleep at night or get out of bed in the morning until I am able to get a little love from her. She is already a Daddy's Girl! Andrew can put his hand on my belly and talk to her and she will most always give him a little love back.

It has been crazy to watch my body change but I have loved it. I still will catch a glimpse of my growing belly and scare myself a bit but I love knowing she is always with me.

 This last week we had an appointment and everything looked great! We also registered at Target and Buy Buy Baby. I am pretty sure by the end Andrew was completely overwhelmed and really had no idea all the things this little one would need.

 She is incredibly spoiled...or should I say well loved. She received 3 packages in the mail last week. All filled with incredible clothes that I can't wait to dress this Little Miss in!

Home Sweet *New* Home

We Moved!!!! After finding out we were having a baby we realized quickly we would need a larger home to accommodate our growing family. We began looking for homes and quickly realized this was going to be a more daunting task than we originally thought! After searching for previously owned homes and new homes I got mad I couldn't find what we wanted. Then early one Sunday morning I found *our* home. It is so close to my previous home that we put Clay on his leash and walked a few blocks to check out what might be the home in which we would raise our family.

It had all of our requirements. A backyard big enough for Clay and Andrew's trees, enough rooms to have LOTS of visitors *hint hint*, and a den that Andrew could put all of his animal stuff in with DOORS!!!! The buying process went really well and within about a month we had moved in, had new floors put in downstairs, and had bought new furniture. I have to say I am so relieved that we were able to move before I became to ginormous! Oh and I forgot the best part of this house...Katie and Keith live just behind us! We just keep moving closer and closer to them. :)