Baby in 3D

If you squint, tilt your head, and take 5 steps back... you MAYBE can make out our baby!! ha haI know what I am looking at, so it is very easy for me to make it out. But the pictures did scan a bit blurry- not to mention the baby was moving constantly, so they are already blurry! My mom had a very tough time making out what was what! So let me know if you need me to explain anything in detail!:)

Baby from shoulder up... has it's arms up, and hands by face!

This is it's face straight on- and blurry because he/she was turning it's neck from side to side like crazy!

Sly little smirk on his/her face! :)

Getting ready for baby!!

This is only at 5 weeks, but I am glad that we took this picture, so I can see where I started from! haha..
This is our 19 week ultrasound. Todd and I wanted to find out the sex of the baby-- BUT the baby was too modest. He/she had thier legs crossed the entire time, and when the technician was adamantly trying to find the sex- the baby had his/her HAND covering his/her crotch!! haha

21 weeks... getting BIG! ugh!

This is an old dresser that a great aunt gave us, last week my mom and I (well mostly my mom!! Thanks mom!) worked hard on sanding it down, and refinishing it!

here is the awesome after picture!!! We are getting all ready for the baby!! :) I need to slow down.. I'm getting too excited- and I still have 19 weeks to wait!!!!!!!!

Baby, OH baby!

Boomer has some news to share with everyone!!
He is going to be a big brother!:)
Todd and I are expecting, December 7, 2010!!! We are more than excited!
We went to SD to surprise Grandpa and Grandma Te Slaa this past weekend! They were shocked!:)
Make plans to come to the Chicago area in early December!!!!:):)

Poor, Poor Boomer:*(

Our dear dog Boomer had surgery! We felt very bad for him. I told my students at school that my dog was in the hospital right now having surgery. They of course wanted to know why, and (stupidly) replyed so he cant have any more babies. They looked at me, and said "Mrs Van Baren, "HE"S" cannot have babies?" haha

Boomer is sleeping on my lap, but standing up with his back legs-- poor guy!

Boomer stood here for 20 mintues and wouldn't move:(

Todds Bday

For Todd's Birthday (January 24) for those of you who forgot!... we went downtown and stayed in a motel in the "heart of Chicago's magnificent mile!" It was an awesome time! We spend all weekend walking on Michigan ave. checking out all of the shops, and restaurants! (We even went out for pizza at 12:45am! --- because we could!!! haha) It was really fun!!

In our hotel room
View of Mich. Avenue from our hotel room.

Our hotel- right above Neimin Marcus!

In the lobby of our hotel

Lobby of our hotel

Lobby of hotel

Shopping ... somewhere!

We COULD HAVE TAKEN BOOMER????!!!!!!

Projects!

This is my school bag for this year! (Privacy for all pictured!)
My pillows I made to match the basement valances.

Basement valance

Kitchen valance- and soon a matching Table runner.

Living room valances

Boomer and living room valances! The new furniture will be here soon- and then coordinating pillows will be in order!!:)

Boomer and SNOW!

We went to SD for Christmas- and Boomer was introduced to snow with a whopping 18' of snow!!!!

This is when he was thrown into a 4 ft drift- he was leaping and bounding to get out!!!

Close behind!

Looking for where the grass went!!

I'm ready to come in.......and......

Put on my new Snuggie for Puppy that I got for Christmas!!!!!!

My last piece of South Dakota Identity... gone...

Today Todd and I did it.....we made my last piece of legal South Dakota identity disappear:( Haha..
Both of our cars now are legally registered in Illinois! ...I am now just one of the road ragging millions........
(Speaking of which.. I had my first encounter with an Illinois State Trooper last week!! haha..)

There they go.....

going....

going.... (with Boomer's help)

GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Todd... The wife is here to stay......:)

Bring your puppy to work day!;)

Boomer got to take a ride in Todd's work truck!!!

He should be their maskot!! I would totally buy all my doors from them if he was!.. Although I already do buy all my doors from them!;)

Proud Daddy and puppy!! hahah

Boomer's first trip to Sioux Falls

With Grandpa and Grandma Te Slaa!

Boomer's first trip to the beauty shop!!

Boomer went to the beauty shop this week! He only got the "puppy package" which helps puppies get used to the idea. He got a bath, trimmed around the face, and paws, nails clipped etc! I wasnt ready to say good-bye to his puppy FLUFF yet anyhow!!!!

The Before!!

The After-
At this point Boomer was READY to get home!!!- He had fun, but was very happy to see me come back!!;)

New Classroom

As Summer comes to a close- and all the little kids are going back to school... So am I!! I will be a Discovery Center Teacher this next year! It is a very structured, specialized resource room- that is "powered" by Elim Christian. It is for all levels of learning disabilities in grades from K-8th grade! I am very excited about this new journey!
Here is my classroom- Todd and I finished it last night!! He is such a keeper!!! Dont you just love him!!!! hahahah

Todd refered to this as the "Classic teacher pose".... hahah yea right! If he only knew!!!:)

If I have 5 spare minutes in my day to use the bathroom- I'm Thrilled!!!!!! haha