I was going to wait until the weekend to update since I don't really have much new to say, but I have an overload of pictures to share. They're not the best pictures, but I still need to share =)

We went driving through a neighborhood near ours to see if they'd done any decorating worth looking at and we found the saddest display of Christmas lights I've ever seen...



Matthew has discovered the joy that is the front yard. Especially with all of the cool lawn ornaments we have out right now.



We took him out at night so he could see the lights and dance around to the music we play. He had a great time. This coat was given to him by Auntie Val last Christmas and it's been cold enough for him wear it a couple of times. He kind of looks like the kid from Christmas Story and he has a hard time keeping his balance when he wears it.









I just think he looks so cute in his pj's. Also, the toy he's dragging around is the mirror I used to have in the car when he was in his infant car seat so I could check on him while driving. It plays music and he loves that music as much now as he did when we had it in the car.



Ok, so Matthew is horrible at taking bites of food when he's handed something that is too big to eat in one bite. Well, yesterday Grandma Maudie handed him a mini croissant and we kept telling him to take bites. He took one initial bite and then this followed:











Yeah, he's a good time. He managed to finish it off and he didn't choke on anything.

Elise got her first pair of shoes this weekend. It may seem a bit silly, but we will be wrapping them and putting them under the tree for her. She will also get a couple of stocking stuffers. We know it's more for us than anything but we really want to acknowledge her even though she's not here yet. She also got her stocking this weekend =).



Well, it looks like everyone thinks Matthew looks more like Gilbert. I agree =). The pictures are still posted below and you can still vote on the left until the end of the week.

I am officially feeling large. Here's the tummy today at one day shy of 21 weeks:



Here's the tummy at 21 weeks with Matthew:



I'm definitely bigger now...

Now for some fun...

Who do you think Matthew resembles more?

Me:





OR

Gilbert:



One more for good measure. Me on the left, Gilbert on the right:



Vote on the left!

Matthew and I both keep getting bigger every day. Fortunately for both of us, that means we're healthy =). My poor little guy has managed to come down with yet another cold, which is always fun. At least he gets to build up his immune system now. When he starts school he'll be fine and he'll just bring the germs home and get the rest of us sick. We'll just make him take care of us... I wonder how well that will go over...

We had a leaders' meeting at church on Saturday but because Matthew was sick and clingy I ended up at the park with him and some of the other kids.

This picture cracks me up because it looks like Addilyn is barking some order at him. Although she did learn his name and will yell it out when she sees him wandering off. It's pretty funny.



I love the look on his face here. He's actually smiling at Gracie.



Walking back from the park





After the meeting we headed to Toys R Us to get some more ideas for Christmas. Matthew had a great time wandering the Star Wars section.



So lately any time Gilbert has to wear a name tag at a church function or write his name on a party cup he insists on being "The Baron Von Tito"... The title was passed on to Matthew after the meeting...



"Ok, Dad. I'm ready to go now."



Look how happy he is to be looking at all of the Star Wars toys



Following Mommy through the baby section



Going for a ride with Snoopy



Matthew has been really into lounging lately. He'll find something he can lean on, back up to it, sit down, and lean back. He does this with me, Gilbert, and now the pillows.





According to his shirt he's my #1 fan =)



This is the Rudolph toy he's been obsessed with since we unpacked all of the Christmas stuff. It sings "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and the nose lights up. This particular toy was actually given to Gilbert by his grandma. Matthew loves it so much that he will actually hug it and start dancing with it. I wish I had that on video.



My sick boy refuses to eat most foods, but apparently blueberries are still appealing... and messy.

vvvvv

Texas has some crazy weather. It was almost 80 degrees here on Tuesday and yesterday it was in the 30's... and it snowed. Granted, it wasn't snow like what people up north or on the east coast see, but it was still snow.







Elise has been moving around a lot and she's been getting strong enough for me to feel her if I put my hand on my tummy. Gilbert hasn't felt her yet, though. The plans for her room are taking shape and we need to start working on the glider that I got at a garage sale for $30. I'll post a tummy picture some time this weekend.

I know I said I would post last night, but we got caught up at our friends' going away party. It was fun and there were some awesome outfits as it was 80's themed. Good times. Here's a little example of the good times.

Jimmy is actually bald. Like, my brother Carlos bald.



Jimmy and Mari. We're going to miss them so much.



That would be our pastor's wife, Rachel, on the right. She's due 4 weeks before I am.



Now, on to what you all want to know...

We are having a baby GIRL! Elise Victoria is measuring right on target. She currently weighs 11 oz and is right on target. She was very cooperative with all of the measurements and was pretty eager to let us know that she is, in fact, a girl.

Here she is looking right at us. Her head is on the left and her body is on the right. If you look closely you can see her eyes and the black spot on her body is her little heart =) (Sorry, these are pictures of the pictures because our scanner isn't hooked up right now and that's just too much effort.)



Another shot of her looking right at us



The doctor did give a picture of her "girl parts", but for obvious reasons I will not be posting those on the internet =)

The tummy



Last, but not least... my handsome boy in his Big Brother shirt. He's amazing and he will be an incredible big brother.



"Everything she sees,
she says she wants.
Everything she wants,
I see she gets.

That's my daughter in the water.
Everything she owns I bought her.
Everything she owns.
That's my daughter in the water,
everything she knows I taught her.
Everything she knows.

Everything I say,
she takes to heart.
Everything she takes,
she takes apart.

That's my daughter in the water,
every time she fell I caught her.
Every time she fell.
That's my daughter in the water,
I lost every time I fought her.
I lost every time.

Every time she blinks
she strikes somebody blind.
Everything she thinks
blows her tiny mind.
That's my daughter in the water,
who'd have ever thought her?
Who'd have ever thought?
That's my daughter in the water,
I lost everytime I fought her
Yea, I lost every time."

"Daughter"
Lauden Wainwright III

It's like Christmas day here today. Well, maybe just for me, but still. I was so excited this morning that I couldn't sleep past 4:15. I must be crazy. Once Matthew woke up and ate breakfast he got a bath and then I dressed him in his "Big Brother" shirt. Poor kid has no idea what he's in for.

This week has been another busy one. The boys were here 3 days this week and Matthew thoroughly enjoys their company. I survived the week with as little pain as possible. Other than that, the week has been fairly quiet.

Our very lazy Wednesday. Matthew stayed in his pj's until after lunch time.



I love all of his facial expressions





A very messy dinner of shredded chicken, rice, and a torilla. He gets to play with the spoon when he's done eating while I clean up the table.



He was a little too quiet in the dining room yesterday and when I went to investigate I found him under the table. All of the chairs were still in place and this is the smile he intentionally gave me.





And a couple of new videos. You can't really hear it too well but one of his toys is playing music in the background and that's what he's dancing to. Otherwise, he was just in a good mood =)


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.

Yes, you can expect another post later today with the results of the ultrasound and a picture of the tummy.

The big ultrasound is in 2 days!!! I decided to have a little fun and see what everyone thinks we're having.

<---- Go Ahead and vote under the tickers!

I have been a bad, lazy Mommy. I so enjoyed my week off last week that I didn't even break the camera out.Thanksgiving was great, but I didn't even think to take pictures. Sad, I know. There were about 15 adults and 8 kids at Thanksgiving and we had a great time. We left early, though, because Gilbert and I were so tired that we didn't want to have to chase Matthew around anymore. Instead we came home, put up the baby gates, and let Matthew take charge of the living room, dining room, and eating area in the kitchen.

Yesterday we had some of our friends over for some food and games. We had 8 adults here and about 8 kids. 10 if you count the two that are still in utero. Matthew absolutely loved having all of the kids here. Here are some pictures from last night.













Our house is decorated and I think that Gilbert's imaginary Christmas light contest has finally ended. I'm just glad it's Christmas time =)



The stockings from left to right are Gilbert's, mine, Matthew, and Pez's. After the ultrasound, if the baby cooperates, we'll buy a mini stocking in either pink or blue and wait until next year to buy his or her real stocking. We'll also be getting a stocking for Jason when he moves in.



Our tree is covered in penguins, reindeer, Rudolph, and Star Wars ornaments. =)





We also have the Peanuts gang ice skating through our yard



People have been telling me that I've "popped" and now that I compare this week's picture to last week's picture I can kind of see what they mean. Our little one has also been giving me what I call "love taps" every now and then and I'm extremely grateful for the movement I'm feeling. Only 4 more days until the ultrasound!