Sparky 12w4d

Here are some more pictures of Sparky.  Seems to be doing well with a strong heart beat.  Not moving so much today but trying to suck his/her thumb.  Still too early to tell if it is a Sparky or Sparkle but I am having another ultrasound in 4 weeks so I am hopeful:)  Either way I am just happy that Sparky is healthy and active and that I am feeling a bit better.  I have moved on to breakfast sandwiches for my mid day snack.  (I know I am all over the place!)

Looks like a thumb sucker!

The next couple are the 4D ultrasounds

So adorable!

Christmas 2011

I hate to even write this but I was not completely in the Christmas spirit this year:(  Unfortunately, I am still not feeling 100% and I am so exhausted all the time.  So what are the Herzog's to do?  Pack up and go to Edmonds for Christmas!  It was actually a very smooth drive and the kids were very well behaved.  We enjoyed my side of the family Friday, Saturday and Sunday before packing up and heading back to Spokane Sunday evening.  Santa found my parent's house (Matthew was very concerned) and everyone was very happy with what they received from him.  Agatha, Alex and Bennett stopped by in the evening when we got home and Oma and Opa came by tonight for a belated Christmas. 
As far as the pregnancy front, this child will either be a health food nut or a kernel of popcorn.  Seriously, I cannot eat anything remotely bad for me (aka Zips) or else it is right back up yet I eat a bag of microwave popcorn per day.  Very strange.  And peppermint tea.  Here is some shocking news...no more coffee!  I know it is heartbreaking.  I am heartbroken but it is just too acidic on my tummy.  I am completely addicted to Starbucks blueberry scones though so that keeps me there.  But that is really the only sweet.  Nothing sweets sounds good at all.  The belly is in full effect though.  No way that I could keep it a secret if I wanted to!  We are 12 weeks though and I have another appt on Wed where I get to have another ultrasound so I will again get to see Sparky and all the havoc he/she is causing me:)  Well worth it though just different than the other two pregnancies!  I guess Sparky knows he/she is the youngest and is just trying to make their own unique mark on our family!  I love it, yet I am excited to get my self back (I know sounds awfully selfish for someone who chose this right?) Anyway, I will post some belly pictures soon when it doesn't look like a blob!  HAHAHA

My nephew Jake opening 1 gift Christmas eve

My only family picture.  My bangs are looking kind of funky but not half bad!

Matthew loves holding that baby Bennett!  Practicing!

Agatha's has that "new mom" look!

More Pictures of Baby Bennett

I think Matthew is getting ready to be a big brother again!  In the mean time he is being a wonderful cousin:)

Lots of New Posts

Finally I am caught up!  Please read all the way down because I have updated about 4 new posts today:)  Thanks for your patience:)

Sparky

Well as you can tell from my header (if you don't already know from facebook!) yes I am pregnant.  This is part of the reason why I have been such a slacker when it comes to keeping up with the blog.  First, I felt like this was consuming my world so every time I posted I felt like it was fake:)  Also, I have been feeling terrible and I am in total survival mode.  I am not sure why I romanticized this in my head, telling myself "it will be so different this time. I will exercise and eat soooo healthy."  Yeah...not quite happening that way.  I eat whatever will not make me throw up and I have been lucky to work out 2 days a week.  Christopher and I are so lucky in the fact that we are baby making champs and don't have a problem conceiving.  I believe my plight is morning sickness.  I know it is SO worth it, especially when I look at the ultrasound picture and realize that is a 10 week picture of my baby!  But some days it is so difficult!  I feel like I am super crabby and it takes me 3x as long to do anything, but luckily my family has been really supportive.  The kids are trying to be good and Chris has really stepped it up and tried to give me some relief. 
I titled the post "Sparky" because that is what Matthew has named the baby.  He is convinced it is a boy (I really have no inkling one way or another) and he told me that we should name him Sparky.  Super cute!  He is so very excited and doesn't even mind that he will have to share a room with either Maggie or the baby!  When we told him that I had a baby in my tummy he was so excited, paused and said "mom, I know how you got the baby in your tummy."  I responded "hmmm, how is that?" He said "I prayed REALLY HARD!"  Seriously I almost cried!  How adorable is that!  Maggie on the other hand knows I have a baby in my tummy and tells people like it is no big deal, but she has no idea how her world is going to be rocked in a short 7 months!  Chris and I really contemplated this for quite a while but ultimately came to the decision that we wanted one more!  YES THIS IS IT!  I don't know if I could do this again:)  Anyway, we really appreciate all your prayers and well wishes.  We are super excited and can't wait to see what the baby turns out to be! (Sparky or Sparkle;))

Maggie's 3rd Birthday

Maggie turned 3 yesterday!  We were planning on having a small birthday brunch but fate had other plans for us.  Matthew ended up throwing up on Saturday and I took it as a sign that after my hell week, I needed to slow down and take it easy.  We ended up cancelling it (it was a random puke but better be safe than sorry) and just had Chris' parents over for a Chinese dinner and cupcakes.  Maggie was more than happy with this and some very generous friends dropped off gifts so she had more than enough gifts to open.  It was so cute because whenever someone would say "happy birthday!" she would say "happy birthday!" right back!!

Matthew's Christmas Program

Matthew had his Christmas program on Thursday night.  I felt so bad because I had a hell of a week and Christopher was out of town.  I wanted to be so excited for him but truthfully all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep:(  I ended up calling Amber to watch Maggie because she was so exhausted and needed to be in bed at 8.  With the program starting at 7 I was worried we would have total melt down!!  Anyway, I promise this story ends happy:)  I pulled myself together and enjoyed the most adorable show!  Matthew was so excited and sang his little heart out.  I was able to enjoy the performance without any meltdowns and I shed a few tears of joy!  Every class did a great job and I was very impressed.

There is the 2nd grade

I Am An Aunty!

Agatha had her baby!  I was so excited and couldn't wait to snuggle him.  He was born December 15th at 4:50 am.  They named him Bennett Alexander McLeod Springer.  He weighed a whopping 5 lbs 9 oz!  When I held him he felt like a tiny peanut compared to the monster babies that I birth!  Mother, father and baby are doing well.  Just the normal first time mom stuff but she is handling it like a champ.  I took the kids to the hospital and then they came over last night for dinner.  These are some pictures from both days.

Despite the face he was super stoked to hold Bennett

Maggie was more interested in the TV

Uncle Christopher...practice holding a baby again!

I realized I look pregnant in this picture!

Advent Celebration

This happened a couple of weeks ago, but Matthew's kindergarten class put on his school's advent celebration with the 8th grade.  They made a living advent wreath and sang a cute song.  I was cracking up because they are so darn cute I can't stand it!  Matthew is in the back but we got some cute pictures of his class. 

Gingerbread House, Skiing and More!

I feel like I have been so distracted lately!  I have a lot going on between Matthew's school, volunteering for the auction, Christmas and so on!  Whew!  Anyway, sorry for the absence.  Wanted to post some pictures of Matthew's first day of ski racing.  Yes, it begins again! This year, he is doing ski racing which is awesome for him but a bit of a commitment.  He is up every Saturday for about 16 weeks!  CRAZY:/  Chris loves going though so it is good all around.  Maggie and I are hoping to make it up for a couple of Saturdays this year.  We will see!

I mean look at him.  The kid loves it!  Because it is such a big commitment I said "Well this year we will try it but if he doesn't like it then we won't do it next year."  Who am I kidding!  He skied half a day and was so excited!  Luckily, he is in a class with some of the kids of Chris' business partners so it totally works out.  (And did I mention that Chris hung out all day with his partner's at their cabins watching the Zag game...rough Saturday for him!)

A couple of days ago I snuck away to see Twilight: Breaking Dawn for the 2nd time (not the last;)) and I left Chris to do a project with the kids.  I was cracking up because the way I do the gingerbread houses and the way Chris does them are completely different!  He made sure the house was very life like and it turned out great!  Loved watching him do it with the kids before I went off to enjoy the world of Edward and Bella!