Baby Wiese Update

So today I am 18 weeks and 2 days. I had an appointment yesterday and everything is looking good! For the most part I am feeling pretty good. I need to eat right away in the morning and pretty often or I don't feel very well. During the day I usually feel super and then sometimes in the evening I start feeling not so hot (probably because I am tired). The thing that no one ever told me about is also happening, LEG CRAMPS! It has happened a couple mornings when I stretch before I get out of bed. Not fun! Now that I know it is a normal thing during pregnancy I am being very careful about it. My stomach is starting to feel a little pregnant and not just "fat". I am starting to feel what I think is the baby moving which is SUPER exciting! I will try to get a good pic of my belly and put it up soon. We are getting so excited and starting to look at furniture for the baby room! We are praying for our little one so much and can't wait to meet him/her!

Christmas Break: Part 1

The first couple days of our Christmas break were spent at home getting things done and relaxing. We also attended Mackenzie's 5th birthday party. We went to Pizza Ranch and then back to Aaron and Nichole's for cake, ice cream, and gifts.

The next couple of days were spent at my dad and mom's house hanging out with family. On Christmas Eve we all went to the church service, had an amazing dinner, and played games. Christmas morning we woke up early because Andrew and I had to leave early to catch our flight to San Francisco for Andrew's sisters wedding. Of course we took our annual picture on the stairs before opening gifts.

We had a very wonderful morning and are so thankful for God's blessings and especially the gift of His Son coming to Earth to save us!

Christmas Break: Part 2

Our trip out to San Francisco for Abby (Andrew's sister) and AJ's wedding went well. We weren't for sure if we would be able to fly out of Des Moines because they were in the middle of getting snow. Everything went smoothly for the most part and we made it there a little before midnight on Christmas Eve. AJ's sister Mandy picked us up and we headed to San Rafael, to where we would be staying close to the wedding festivities.

On our first day there we had a wedding shower for Abby in the morning and then went on a hike to the ocean. It was so beautiful and I was so sad that I didn't have my camera! After lunch it was raining but we decide to go to Muir Woods to see the Redwoods anyways. That evening we went over to AJ's apartment for a Christmas party and wonderful food. So bummed I didn't have my camera with me all day:(

Sunday was wedding day. I woke up early to help Abby with her hair. Anna did her make-up while I curled and then we styled it together. It turned out beautiful! Anna had made the headband and it looked perfect with the 50's style Abby was going with.

The wedding was so beautiful! AJ sang to Abby twice and they wrote their own vows to say to each other. I think there were quite a few tears shed, happy ones of course. It was so cool to see their devotion to God and each other. We are so excited to have a new brother in the family! Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Van Cannon! Andrew and I before the wedding...

Abby and AJ...
The sisters...

The men...
The Wiese family with AJ's dad and brother...
The next morning we went disc golfing at a really awesome course. It was out in the country, on the side of a hill, with wild turkeys running around. Afterwards we packed up and headed into San Francisco by Fisherman's Wharf where we would be staying the rest of the time. As we headed down to Pier 39 we had to stop and get a picture on a trolley (we didn't actually ride it.)
And of course we had to stop and eat and IN-N-OUT.
Andrew's family had never had it and we all enjoyed it very much! Anna and I...
Ben and Sherry...
And Dad and Mom Wiese...
After our stomach's were full we finished our walk to Pier 39 to see the sea lions. We were disappointed to only see 4 when there are usually 600:( The whole time we only saw less than four... they said that they had left to find more fish? Not sure?
Next, Dan and Anna, Ben and Sherry, and Andrew and I walked up to China town. This is what we saw a lot of and smelled a lot of... not too appetizing.
The streets were so crowded! It was quite the experience and we enjoyed stopping at all the little shops.

Next we walked back to Pier 39 and ate dinner at Bubba Gumps with the Wiese and Van Cannon families together. It was a great post wedding celebration and of course it had to end with ice cream from Ghirardelli Square.
We enjoyed it very much:)
On Tuesday we went disc golfing again. This time we went to Golden Gate Park. It was a really fun course too but there were a lot of people there. In the evening Ben, Sherry, Andrew and I took the city bus to Union Square to do a little shopping. We did get rained on but it was worth the trip. We topped it off with a little Cheesecake Factory after walking around in the rain trying to find a restaurant with a shorter wait. Cheesecake Factory is always worth the wait!
On our last day in San Francisco we were going to take a tour out to Alcatraz Island. We didn't realize that we should have booked way ahead of time because they were booked until Sunday. We walked to Pier 39 to see if there were more sea lions... nope...
and then decided that we would take a boat ride with some of the rest of the family. It went under the Golden Gate Bridge...
and around Alcatraz.
We did end up learning a lot of history and fun information about each one and also the city itself. On our way back to the hotel for a rest, we walked up what they say is the twistiest road. It was crazy how many people were in line to drive down it!
To top of the trip on our last evening together, all the Wiese family (except Dan and Anna because they had already left and AJ and Abby) went out for pizza. We came back and chatted and then went to bed.

Ben, Sherry, Andrew, and I left at 4:00 am for our flights back and we made it safely! We had so much fun but were so tired and glad to be home, kind of. We didn't actually go home but instead drove up to Ames to hang out with friends for NYE! We all met at Joel and Tori's to watch football, eat good food, and play games. Us with Tori and Joel...
and the rest of the gang... Pat, Liz, Marcus, Joel, Zac, and Cathy.
We had so much fun and were so excited to see everyone and catch up! Thanks Tori and Joel for a wonderful time and letting us all crash at your house.

The rest of our Christmas break (the weekend) was spent getting ready to go back to work!

We are so thankful for safe travels and wonderful family and friends!

Tis' the Season

So I am a little over 14 weeks and feeling much better, most of the time! Thank You God! I had my Dr. appointment yesterday and we got to hear the heart beat for the first time. It was so exciting! At my last appointment we got to see the heart beat but not hear it. It is still a little surreal because I just feel fat right now. I think it will seam a little more real as I get a bigger "baby" belly and start feeling kicks. I can't wait! Andrew has been helping me so much around the house even though I'm not as tired. He is such a blessing! We are super excited for Christmas break coming up. One more day of school tomorrow and we are off for two weeks! We have all our Christmas shopping done and are ready to spend time with family and remember the reason for the season. Hopefully I will have some pictures to share soon! Have a wonderful Christmas!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful thanksgiving break! We got to spend half of Thursday with my side and then drove up and spent the other half with Andrew's side. This year it was his parents and Zach and Annika with the girls. It was small but we had a wonderful meal and good company. Friday morning Andrew and I woke up at 4:00am and went bargain shopping. Andrew didn't get the t.v. he wanted but we did find some other good deals. Here is a picture of the girls before they left. So adorable!

That afternoon Andrew and his dad enjoyed a game of cribbage on his new cribbage board while I slept on the couch. After lunch we headed back to my parents house. Thanks Dad and Mom for a wonderful time and delicious food!

Here is Mackenzie showing me what Leah got her for Thanksgiving and the house that SHE built out of legos.
She picked Uncle Andrew to read her this book.
So Friday night my friend Adrienne (from high school who now lives in Virginia) came down from her parents to hang out for the night. Marie and Anne came over and we drove up to Chop House 61 to eat.
We met our friend Joann and her adorable little girl there and had a blast catching up!
After dinner we went back to my parents to hang out. I got to see the bridesmaids dress that Adrienne chose for her wedding in July that I am in. It looks perfect so I'm not quite as nervous trying to fit in a dress 3-4 weeks after having a baby! Thanks Adrienne.. It was so wonderful to see you!

On Saturday the boys did this for a little bit....

while the girls were doing this....

just getting the food together for the big Massner Thanksgiving. It was so great to see everyone and eat a ton of good food! We are so thankful for our families and all that God has blessed us with! Now for getting ready for Christmas....

Plus One!

So we have good news! Baby Wiese is going to arrive around June 15th and we can't wait! I am 12 weeks right now and starting to feel a little better. I had been feeling nauseous all day and pretty tired but I think things are getting better! Last week we got a sonogram for dating and got to see the heart beat! Everything looked great!

Right now we are scoping out the baby furniture world. I am thinking white but we will see. We are so excited and thankful for God's perfect timing. We pray every day for our little one that he/she will grow up to love the Lord. Oh, and my sister is due 1 month before me so that makes it even more exciting!

Happy 50th Mom!

This past weekend we celebrated Mom's 5oth Birthday! I had sent out invitations to family and some close friends a couple weeks ago, but Mom just thought we were going to be eating dinner at Uncle Don and Aunt Carol's with some family.

On Saturday Nichole and I went grocery shopping and then to Aunt Carol's to start the preparations. We worked all afternoon making food and decorating the condo. Aunt Carol had gotten some old pictures of Mom and we put them in frames and set them around. Here are some pictures I took before everyone arrived...

Our menu was: chicken lips (from Martini's), little smokies, french onion soup, shrimp cocktail, mexicorn dip with chips, a veggie tree, and a chocolate fountain with fruit and pretzel sticks. For drink we had hot apple cider, sparkling grape juice, flavored sierra mist with a frozen fruit kabob, water, and coffee.

This was Andrew's spot for most of the afternoon; watching football while grading papers.

Around 6:30 most of our guests started arriving. We had Dad make Mom and him a little late so we could surprise her when she walked in, and she was surprised! Nichole bought her a crown and a necklace for the evening and many of the ladies dressed up as "old" ladies. It was hilarious!

After eating we watched her open gifts and played a game that she played growing up.

Before everyone left we sang Happy Birthday and ate dessert. It was such a fun evening and couldn't have done it with out so many people helping out!

Sunday was Mom's actual birthday. After church all of us kids went up to Dad and Mom's for lunch and hung out while they went to a funeral. When they got home we all went out to eat at Chop House 61 before Dad had to go to a meeting.
After dinner all of us kids went back to the house with Mom to hang out and open gifts.

It was so much fun spending time with family and most of all celebrating the birth of the best mom and most beautiful 50 year old I know! You are such a blessing to us Mom and we love you very much!