Christmas Day 2007

There are no little kids in our family, well at least none that are out of the womb yet, so we didn't need to get up super early to greet Santa on Christmas morning. We exchanged gifts while sipping on our coffee. We were all blessed with very nice gifts. Mom and Dad got us a video camera and Eli had it rolling as soon as it came out of the box, so we have Christmas footage. We all got ready and then headed to the Annex at mom and dads Church. Mom's family got there around 1 for lunch. We had a small group again this year but it was great to see those that could make it. We had a wonderful lunch and then we played a game of dominoes.

The Downey Boys and Us.

Christmas Eve 2007

My Dad and I









Dad, Scott, Ryan, Deb, Grandma, Marlyn

Eli, my brother Anthony and I headed back to Nebraska on Saturday December 22nd. We arrived at mom and dads house early evening and then headed down to the local pizza place for dinner. Some of my cousins and their kids met us there.
Sunday morning we all went to Church together and then had a lazy day at the house.
Monday, Christmas Eve we headed to the local super Wal-Mart to do some grocery shopping. We called my sister in law, Anna to get her special green chili recipe and then attempted to find all of the needed ingredients at Wal-Mart. It proved to be quite the task. The salsa isle contained nothing stronger then medium! We did our best to find comparable ingredients. My brother and I managed to make a pretty tasty green chili for dinner. My dad's family arrived around 5 and we had dinner around 6. We had a good turn out this year. We were missing a few people but all in all it was a big group. All 5 of grandma's kids were there so she was happy.
After dinner the little kids opened their presents. Tonya bought them all megaphones so that made for a fun night. Lincoln received his first Christmas present from his great grandma. She bought him a white Christmas teddy bear and he got a stuffed animal horse from my Aunt Deb and Uncle Bill. It was so sweet of them to think of him this Christmas. When the kids were done opening their presents we started our traditional gift exchange game. This year we decided to do a camping theme. We each opened the gift that we brought one at a time and then we started with the first person to see if they wanted to steel someone elses present. If you wanted to steel another persons gift they were able to ask you a question about themselves and if you answered it correctly you could steel their gift from them. It was a fun way to learn new things about one another. My uncle Scott learned that his sister Deb did not get married in 1980....She found that pretty funny considering her youngest child was born in 1979!

Dr Appt #7 12-17-07 28 Weeks Pregnant

7 months! Are you kidding me?! It feels like yesterday that I peed on the stick...well sticks..I did take 4 of them remember!

I had to take the glucose test. I drank the yucky sugary orange drink and then I wasn't suppose to eat or drink anything until they drew my blood. I got to the Dr office and they weighed me, like they always do, I peed in a cup, like I always do, and then they drew my blood. We listened to Lincoln's heart beat. Strong and good. I told her where she could find his heart because I knew his foot was in my rib. I had felt it there all day long. When I left they told me no news was good news....well, I got news. They called the next day and told me that my level was 141. The sheet said that anything over 140 was considered high, the nurse told me 130 or above and then the Dr told me 135...so regardless I was above all three levels. I have to go to the Qwest lab in Englewood on Janaury 2nd for the three hour glucose test. They draw my blood a total of 4 times and I get to fast for 12 hours before they do it! Fun. Fun. They had birthday cake at work for me and I passed so that I would pass my glucose test. Well geez I should have had a big ol piece. The Dr said that I most likely do not have gestational diabetes but I have to take this 3 hour test to make sure.

Come to find out the cold that I have...the third one of my pregnancy, could have elevated my glucose level. I am on antibiotics now and should hopefully be better by the next test and can pass with flying colors!

My 28th Birthday

We received our anxiously awaited packages from Eli's parents. They send us a big box every year filled with our birthday and Christmas presents. We received the package on the 13th. Eli and I sat down and opened our gifts one at a time. The theme this year was "things that make your life easier." Norma is a very thoughtful gift giver and we loved everything they got us.

After we were done opening all of our gifts Eli told me that there was more upstairs for me. He told me to go into the nursery. I walked in the room and there was a gorgeous wooden rocking chair in the corner of the room with a card taped to it. The card said "Mommy" on the outside in sloppy handwriting. I opened the card and it was a Pooh and Piglet card that read "Pooh loves Piglet. Piglet Loves Pooh. And guess what Mommy? I love you! Happy Birthday." Eli added an extra special message from Lincoln. It read, "Mommy. Happy Birthday!!! This is your first present from me. There will be many more. Please use this to rock me to sleep. P.S. I am like daddy and can't sit still that's why I got you a rocking chair." Love Lincoln.
I couldn't help but cry. It touched me so much! My husband is such a softy! He also got me a card from him!

My birthday was a nice one filled with breakfast and decorations at work and gifts from friends. We had an off site Nike meeting and we were able to head home at 2 when we finished. I came home snuggled on the couch and watched "Polar Express." After that we got ready to head to Jason's graduation party.

Jason's Surprise Graduation Party

The Graduate

Eli Lovin on Kari

Gretchen,Me,Ebeth

Jason received his Bachelors Degree! Yeah! Ebeth threw Jason a graduation party at a bar on Broadway. We all showed up at 7pm and he got there around 7:30. He was truly surprised to see all of us there. Ebeth also surprised him with a beer kit and we all gave him gifts to add to the beer making. Little did he know another surprise was awaiting him at home. His parents came in for a visit. They were waiting at the house for him when they got home on Friday night. They were able to attend the ceremony and visit for the weekend. Jason was extremely grateful to everyone and especially to Ebeth for putting it all together.

We love you Jason and we are so proud of you!

It was also my 28th birthday so I got to see my friends and be the DD for my husband!

Christi's Ornament Exchange

I was finally able to make it to Christi's annual ornament exchange. My ornament was the joke of the party because it was 3 years old, but when unwrapped it was still super cute! I have had to miss the party every year since I have been invited, but this year despite the weather I was going no matter what. I bought my ornament and wrapped it the first year I was invited and have kept it in hopes of sharing it ever since. I was blessed with Linda Dismang's ornament. It is a beautiful red glass icicle shaped one. The party was full of lots of great food and fun. There were a lot of pregnant bellies there me, Caren, Christi, Susan and Maggie!

Martini's and Mistletoe

We went to Patty's Annual Martini's and Mistletoe Party. The weather was bad and we thought about staying home but we just couldn't miss this party. It is always a lot of fun. She hires a bartender and makes lots of great food.

Front Row Left: Jerimy, Gretchen, Denelle

Middle Row Left: Jason, Carl, Me, Ebeth

Back Row: Eli and Patty

Melissa's New Do and the Belly

I decided that I wanted to treat myself to some pampering for my 28th birthday present. I got my hair cut and eyebrows waxed today. I went for the Jenny McCarthy look. I am getting a pre-natal massage, mani and pedi on Saturday! I can't wait for some pampering. I have never needed a massage so badly in my whole life!

Photo Shoot 25 weeks Pregnant

Our friends Pete and Lynn from Church leased a studio downtown, fixed it up and turned it into a photo studio. They have given Eli and I a key to use the studio as a side business. We are going to pay them the sitting fee that we charge in return for use of the studio. I volunteered to be Eli's model so he could practice with the lighting and get use to the studio. He has his first photo shoot booked for the 19th of December. He is super excited as photography has been a passion of his for a long time. He has sold several of his pictures over the last year and has recently invested in a new upgraded digital camera. We are super excited to see how God will provide extra income through this endeavor to live as a one income family here soon! Here is a link to the pregnancy photo's that Eli took of me.

http://picasaweb.google.com/elifrick/PregnancyPhotoShoot02?authkey=t_Gyac54W3w