In keeping with tradition, we spent New Years with our good friends Jason and Kathryn and Heather and Daniel who were all visiting from Nashville. Violet especially enjoyed their stay, and watching Jason and Ben play Super Mario Brothers. She liked it so much she's taken on an alter-ego "Mario".

My cousin D.J. graduated from Air Force boot camp in San Antonio. We took a trip to see him and other family members in town for the event.

Ben had a birthday! He got a "raw denim" pair of jeans that he is very excited about. He is a big proponent of having an "honest wear" on jeans. He'd be happy to tell you all about it if you want more info.

Violet has been taking a dance class. I think gymnastics or Martial Arts are probably more her style, but she enjoys parts of the class. Particularly getting a princess wand towards the end of class for free dance. She likes to sneak in some sword moves when the teacher isn't looking.

Here she is sleeping in her new double bed. We needed her toddler bed to convert back into a crib. She's taken to the bigger bed with no problems. She calls this chicken "Mr. Hen".

I'm obviously getting more and more pregnant! Getting a lot of "any day now" comments, when really at this point I was 2-3 months away! The MOPS group I'm a part of had a little shower for me and Lisa (on the left). The picture on the right was taken at Ikea.

Ben and I traveled to Nashville in January for our friends Holly and Christian's wedding reception. Four inches of snow fell while we were there and the whole city pretty much shut down. Lots of fun! I wish Violet could have seen it. She was having fun here with Grammy and Poppy.

Our Nashville friends through us a little shower too! The last picture is of Ben and I at the reception. Can you believe I wore this little dress out in the snow? Things you do for good friends! Love you Holly!

The year started off sadly with saying goodbye to my sweet Granddaddy. I've thought of him often since he passed away and I miss him a lot. I'll always remember the touching speech my dad gave at the funeral. Also how it was the only funeral I've been to that kind of had an open mike type thing going on, which was interesting. Lots of people loved him and it was hard to have him leave the world. Ben's Dad's Dad passed away in 2009. In a 12 month timespan we said goodbye to our last three grandparents.

In March a huge hailstorm hit Austin. Bigger-than-golfball sized ice pelting the earth was quite exhilarating to watch. Only later did I learn the kind of damage the stuff can do. We had to replace our roof, screens, playground pieces, and both of our cars were beat up pretty badly.

We collected insurance money on the cars and traded my aging Impala in for a CR-V! Love it!

Great visits from Maria, my mom, Ben's folks, Josué and Nicole, Jill, Aunt Becca, and two visits each from Kathryn and Jason AND Holly and Christian. Also had Daniel and Heather and a dear friend of mine from Tallahassee over to our house. Am I missing anyone?

Did not hold up our end of visiting our friends. Travelled all over Florida and to the Atlanta Georgia area. Ben went to Illinois for his grandpa's funeral. The three of us went to San Antonio to see Maria and go to Sea World. Later I took a little trip to San Antonio to see my cousin graduate boot camp.

We found out we are pregnant! A few months later we learned that it is a boy.

Violet started going to preschool two mornings a week. Soon after that she started wearing glasses.

Ben's parents moved to the area! We love having them around!

Ben managed his team for a little while and throughly hated it. He asked to go back to his old position as Web Developer. Landed an entirely new position, which he loves, as a quasi R&D guy.

We did not send out Christmas cards... Hopefully we'll get our act together next year and you can read about our 2010 that way.

We were ready for Christmas this year! For the 24 days leading up to this Christmas we did an activity advent. Every day Violet got to move the little Santa figurine from one day to the next on the advent calendar and a slip of paper would be waiting to be discovered noting what the activity for the day was. Most were very simple. Here are just some of the things she did...

• Decorate the tree and have hot chocolate
• Make a jingle bell bracelet (bells and pipe cleaner)
• Set up the nativity
• Make rudolf ornament out of popsicle sticks
• Go to Marble Falls to see light display
• Make a gingerbread house
• Decorate Christmas cookies
• Make gifts for friends at school (felt mice with candy cane tails)
• Have a special candlelit dinner by the Christmas tree

I want our family to have Christmas traditions. For this purpose I've been collecting Christmas themed storybooks for the past couple of years. I wrapped each in newspaper and Violet opened one a night for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. In keeping with the past couple of years we also fed the birds some cranberries and popcorn. Ben's mom read Santa Mouse on Christmas Eve and Christmas Kitten on Christmas day just as she has been doing since Ben was little. I gave Ben chocolate covered cherries from Santa which is a tradition picked up from my side of the family.

We were supposed to have Ben's family over to our house for Christmas this year but plans changed at the last minute. There was a huge power outage in Austin on Christmas Eve which meant no heat for our house. We aborted the original plans in hopes of having a warmer Christmas morning. We spent the night at Ben's folks house instead and it worked out nicely.

Violet got plenty of presents of course including a handmade robe from Grandma, lots of books and games, and a bedspread from Grammy and Poppy for her new double bed (we need to convert hers back to a crib). Her favorite was probably the robotic cat my aunt and uncle sent. Ben got a magic mouse for his computer cleverly wrapped by his sister to make him think it was a shirt. I love my new Sonicare toothbrush! For the Christmas meal I contributed Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish which was awful as a stand alone dish but lovely as a condiment on ham sandwiches the next day. I heard about it on NPR and was intrigued by the odd combination of ingredients (cranberries, onion, horseradish, sour cream).

We had a very Merry Christmas!

On September 19th it had been three years since Ben and I first saw Violet's sweet face in her referral picture. Here is the commemorative shot we take this time of year.

December 1st was our actual three year anniversary with her. We watched the video of our first meeting, went to dinner, out for ice cream, talked about her story, and took these at a photo booth. We've got to find a new photo booth for next year! Two were too dark to try to post.

What a wonderful three years! We love you sweetheart!

We were lucky this year to have two Thanksgiving dinners. We spent the actual holiday at Ben's folk's new house. They're renting it while they build on their property.

There were three tables... a 25 and up, 24-4, and a 3 year olds table.

Violet's best quote from the day is "That orange stuff is not good for my life" regarding the sweet potato casserole.

I was a lazy bum that day, sleeping two and a half hours post turkey.

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

Violet went as an animal for Halloween for the third year in a row. I was about to pass this rooster over at the thrift store, but Violet asked to see it again and joyfully buryed her face in it. She had been on an all things chicken kick lately so it was perfect. Her favorite activity to do while in it was to sit on her eggs (I explained once that wasn't the typical role of the rooster but didn't drive home the point to let her have her fun).

Ben and I weren't actually in the same city as Violet during her trick-or-treating. My mom drove her to my aunt and uncles house earlier that day while Ben and I were still in Tallahassee for the football game. My sister and cousin Katie took Violet trick-or-treating. She had a blast. By now she has totally forgotten about the stash of candy hiding in the kitchen.

On Friday, November 13th we found out it's a boy! Ben, Violet, and Ben's parents were all present. I had been expecting a girl and was honestly a little taken aback. It took a few days to sink in to feel real. You'll notice on the video I called "boy" before the practitioner did. Mind you, what I thought was a boy part was not. I'm still having trouble deciphering what is what on the grainy photos.

This will likely be our only ultrasound. My OB has a "only when medically necessary" policy that is just no fun!

I think this is his forehead, nose, and cheek coming up out of the mist.

Now that I know the gender, my nesting instinct is in a full blown state of activity. We've pulled Violet's baby stuff from the attic, bought new baby stuff, furniture, closet organizers, clothes all in the span of a week. We've scoured websites and books for baby names and are zeroing in on some favorites.

Here is a 3D image taken that shows off his little profile a bit. Don't know where he inherited the tiny chin! That is his arm up by his face. So sweet!

The ultrasound's findings were normal. I have an anterior placenta, and although less common, there is nothing scary about it. The best part after getting the gender information was getting measurments on how big the baby is currently. His head circumference is 20.1 cm, which is about the size of a tennis ball! His little thigh bone is only 3.79 cm, the length of a small pecan. Still has a lot of growing to do.

We are very excited. I think Violet's fist pump says it all!

We couldn't go to Florida without having a beach day! I hardly ever went to the beach when I was growing up. I'm pretty sure I go more often now that I don't live in the state.

My sister and brother-in-law went with us to Fort Myers beach. I really like the pictures my sister took of us.

Violet had a wonderful time playing in the sand with her Uncle Chris. They made drip sandcastles.

I thought that since it was November the water would be too cold to swim in. Perhaps if I would have went more while I lived in the state I'd know better! The water was fine and we let Violet go in fully dressed. Fun times!

The FSU football game and FSU themed family pictures weren't enough for us. We had to broaden our Seminole experience and visit a Seminole reservation on our trip!

Our first stop was the Swamp Water Cafe for some gator meat. Violet couldn't get enough of the stuff! After lunch we saw a "critter show" and Violet actually pet a snake, armadillo, and skunk! She wasn't at all afraid.

Violet fell asleep during the airboat ride, despite the drama of seeing alligators in the wild and me being stung twice on the neck by bees(?). My belly really grew during the time we were in Florida. I blame it on all the good Thanksgiving type food my Aunt Theresa cooked up!

My favorite part of the trip was visiting the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum and getting a refresher on Miccosukee/Seminole history. Here is Violet with her Uncle Chris on the boardwalk and with Ben on a swamp buggy ride. It was fun being a tourist in my own state!

After five years, Ben and I finally returned to Tallahassee. Our friends Jill and Chip encouraged us to go to the FSU homecoming football game with them this year and we are so glad we did. Jill and I were college roommates for three years and we still are good friends. She is expecting her first child and is only a few weeks ahead of me. We were fortunate to see a few other dear friends during our brief trip too.

Here we are after getting rained on and fried mercilessly.

Violet took this picture of Jill and I think it is pretty cool!

We left the game early to travel to central Florida to have an "early Thanksgiving" with family. My cousin DJ is entering the Air Force and won't be available to celebrate on the actual day. One thing my family always does as these events is take pictures for the family Christmas card. Here is a wacky one of us on my uncle's boat.

I think we took pictures in five different locations this year. This one was particularly fun. Unfortunately Violet didn't quite make the shot! My brother made the FSU baseball team this year thus all the FSU garb.

After spending one night in central Florida we headed to South Florida to my hometown. On the way Violet, Ben, and I stopped by Ybor city to eat some Cuban food which is way too hard to find here in Austin!

This was our second year going to the Fall Festival at Elgin Christmas Tree Farm.

It was the first chilly day of Fall so a great day for this kind of thing.

Our neighbors and Ben's sister joined us this year and we had a great time.

As you can imagine, Violet tore up the floor during the dancing competition. She didn't quite make it to the end of the contest (distracted by baked goods). Otherwise I think she would have won!

It's true! There is a little bun in my oven. We've got a baby on the way, folks!

We found this out mid July. Violet's first reaction was "wow". Then her eyes grew bigger and she said "I want a baby in my tummy when I'm 49". Is this how old she thinks I am?

Speaking of Violet, for awhile there I really think she thought she was pregnant too. For about a week she was drinking all her milk and actually eating salad, something that NEVER happened before. She said it was so the baby in her tummy would grow and get stronger. One day I told her she didn't really have a baby in her tummy.. that she must just be pretending, right? She went back to her old eating habits immediately!

Now for answers to standard questions: I am now 14 weeks along. We're expecting this baby to make its appearance late March/early April. We definitely want to know the gender asap! I honestly don't know how people can wait to find that out. The first trimester wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. I was constantly nauseous and fatigued but my reputation as "iron gut" held true and I never really threw up (TMI?). My energy is slowly returning and I rarely feel nauseous these days. The thing I've craved the most is soup (chicken broth or tomato based), ramen style noodles, and Arby's roast beef sandwiches.

We're excited!

Last weekend, we drove to San Antonio and spent the day with Bethany's high-school friend Maria at Sea World. Here's a little video of the day.

Here is Violet on her first day of preschool! It is a "Mandarin immersion" school and she really loves it! I was concerned that she would get frustrated with not understanding what was going on but I guess she gets along just fine. After just two days there she had already started using some new words!

The school runs a tight schedule and although the teacher is very nice, she is also pretty strict. She warned me beforehand that the first few days Violet was kind of "trying out" to see if her personality would fit what was going on there. Violet didn't take to "sit down" time very well the first day but by the second day she got the hang of it. She has a formal classroom type setting for 15-20 minutes a day... Violet has never sat so long before it her life! She is just going two days a week but we may increase it to three days a week in January.

Violet now sports glasses! We found out Violet was near-sighted when she was just six months old. At that time we were told to have her eyes examined again in a few years. A couple of months ago Violet was straining to reach a pile of folded laundry on top of my dresser. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was trying to get the candy (meaning the clothes). I called the eye doctor right then to schedule an appointment. The first few days she wore the glasses she exclaimed multiple times "I can see very much better!" I am surprised that she keeps them on dutifully when we are out and about. We have a harder time keeping them on when we're at home... maybe because they aren't as beneficial to her here?

She also had about four inches cut off her hair. Isn't she cute!

GIven the options of having a tea party or a pirate party, Violet unequivocally chose a tea party. My mom made the purple dress Violet wore to the party and sent the little tea set. The cups are actually part of an espresso set which is smaller and easier for little kid hands. I love the colors!

All the little activities I planned for the event (craft, dress up, performance of "I'm a little teapot") flopped save the actual serving of the tea. The two and three year olds all were sitting still with giddy little expressions on their faces. I think they felt really grown up with the breakable set that was being used. Violet seemed to enjoy stirring her sugar into the tea more than actually drinking it. The kids did really well with the breakables and surprisingly, nothing was ever dropped!

Here is Violet making her birthday wish. She was so sweet... folding her little hands together and closing her eyes. She said "I wish for a brother and a sister. Amen". Note she only has one candle to blow out. One of our little guests got excited and helped her with the other two. Violet didn't mind at all.

Ben's parents were able to come into town for the party which was wonderful. We went for Chinese food on Violet's birthday specifically so she could eat noodles, a Taiwanese tradition. I don't think these are actual "long life noodles". Next year I hope to take the time to find out and get the right kind for her. She loved these though and she got a lot of "happy birthdays" wished to her while wearing her happy birthday pin.

Violet was actually potty trained about two weeks before her birthday. We had been working on this for about a year and a half so it was a pretty big accomplishment! What finally made it click for her I think was having little practice drills every time she had an accident. I'd have her run to the potty 10 times each occasion to practice getting there quickly. She really enjoyed these drills which was an added bonus. It didn't take long at all for her to get it after using this method.

I hope your year being three is the best ever, our little big girl!