Lauren's 4th Birthday Bash

Wyatt and Riley getting ready to go down the waterslide
Kaitlyn shooting water at people in the pool

Kaitlyn and my dad watching the kids on the slide, she went down once with Sean and that was enough!

The lion head spitting on me.

Party in our room!

No more monkeys jumping on the bed.....

Practicing his flying skills

MMmmmm.... Pizza!

My lovely maternity swim suit

The little kid's area of the water park

Taking a break

Riley and Lauren

Friday, the 21st we went to the Venetien Water Park in Maple Grove to celebrate Lauren's 4th birthday. It was a great "staycation" since it's only about 15 minutes from work. The whole family was there and had fun playing in the pools then we all spend the night in the hotel. Mom and Dad let the kids run wild in our room and jump on the beds, that is what happens when you play until 10 then go up for cake and ice cream! Once the kids passed out we played cards for a while.

Jason and Erin Chapman's wedding

Erin and Jason
Bette, Terry, Eileen, and Andy

Classic "talk to the hand"

Andy's cousin Jason got married last weekend. Kaitlyn had a blast, she danced for hours with all the little kids there, she didn't know any of them but it didn't seem to bother her.

I posted a few videos of her dancing.

Dancing Queen

Sorry I couldn't get it upright. This is Kaitlyn dancing with Andy's Grandma Eileen and her friend Anita at Jason's wedding on Saturday the 22nd.

Toddlers helping the grieving process

Just over an hour ago the world lost one of the biggest jokesters I've ever known. My dad's brother Marty passed away after battling many health problems. Sunday we spent the afternoon with him and had a good visit. His breathing with heavy but he was able to make fun of us every once in a while. At one point I asked what he needed and he said "well, I could use a kick in the ass". Later he propositioned the nurse, if she gave him a shot in the butt he and my dad would take her to dinner. I think she only came in to check the monitors but she was tempted to take him up on the offer. That is exactly the kind of person my uncle was, he always had something to say and he wasn't shy about it.

Kaitlyn saw me crying tonight and she said "Mom, why are you crying? Are you sad?" Then she got me a bath towel and wiped my face off. She ran down the hall and said "dad, come here, mom is crying, she is sad"

My niece Riley is 4, when my dad called from the hospital to share the news she answered the phone and said "Papa, is your brother an angel yet?" I guess having a toddler around helps with the grieving process.

Tonight there is a new angel in heaven and many heavy hearts left here on earth.

It's Official!

I had a successful doctor's appointment this afternoon. My doctor retired last year so today I got to meet my new one. Turns out, she is the doctor that delivered Kaitlyn. She is an absolute sweetheart and I'm looking forward to my visits with her. My last doctor was lovingly called "dr. fruitcake" by Andy. He was an interesting fellow and we never really hit it off.

Today I FINALLY got to hear the heartbeat. It was about 160 beats per minute so a lot faster than last time. It's such a relief to hear that and be on my way to my second trimester.

12 Weeks!

Well, finally made it to 12 weeks! Next Tuesday after my check up with the doctor we'll make our official "we're pregnant" announcement. So far just our family and a few close friends have been told.

On November 14th we found out that we were expecting our second child and we're both very excited about it. Somehow we were able to keep the secret until Christmas. I made a binder for my parents for Christmas, in it was a bio sheet for each grandchild and a recent picture of them. It included their birth date, favorite outfits, most memorable moment, etc. They went in birth order starting with Wyatt. The last page was a bio for Baby Burak and a picture of the ultrasound that was done at 8 weeks. Making up the stats for the baby was kind of fun. Favorite outfit was a "birthday suit", hobbies included swimming and developing organs, biggest achievement was having a strong heartbeat (148 at 8 weeks, 5 days). I can't believe that no one had a clue, it was so much fun to tell them.

I'm definately showing a lot sooner this time. I haven't announced it at work but I'm already wearing maternity clothes, I'm just waiting for someone to ask. The other day I walked by Andy with a tighter fitting shirt and he said "Oh my god! You're pregnant!" I replied with "Hmm, I thought I already told you" Evidently that was the first time he realized I was already showing.

Our due date is July 21, I'm hoping everything is on time so I'm out of the hospital in time for my 30th birthday August 3rd!

Random Holiday Pictures

Kaitlyn and Riley in the Calvin Church Christmas pageant. Kaitlyn was a stable dog.

Wyatt and Lauren's Christmas program at daycare

Lunch with Liz and Melissa, my theta ladies.

New Year's Eve