Happy Holidays!

We enjoyed spending Christmas and New Years' with family and friends. Now 20 months old, Emma was able to open up gifts on her own and enjoyed having an audience to share her excitement with. Kristin's fatigue from pregnancy wore her out at times, but the entire family is hoping to have her back soon as she is almost 12 weeks pregnant and nearing the end of the 1st trimester. Emma tried to "help" daddy put the decorations away without strangling herself.

New Year's Eve with Mayos and Langdons. Emma was asleep when the ball dropped, Kristin enjoyed non-alcoholic champagne, and we all shared New Year's Resolutions. The Rahns hope 2009 will bring a finished basement play room and an end to the major home renovations!

Our 2nd Christmas in a row at home. Nana and Grandpa Dave joined us for Dinner on Christmas Day, where Nathan enjoyed preparing something new (garlic mashed potatoes) while Kristin and Emma enjoyed preparing themselves for the event by taking respective naps.

Santa brought Emma a basketball hoop, and she enjoyed entertaining the Rahn Grandparents with a slam dunk.

Emma is so proud to give the Grandparents her gift and watch them open it.

The Katterjohn Christmas gathering in Greenville.

Emma loved playing with 4 other young cousins, the most children from Grandma Bonnie's side of the family since Kristin was a child. Next year will bring 2 more, as Jesse is due with their 3rd child in May and Kristin is due in July.

Baby Aloha is Healthy!

We had the joy of seeing Baby Aloha’s heart beating today at our first ultrasound! The pregnancy felt more real than ever when we saw the baby moving around, and we were happy to reconnect with our wonderful OB/GYN. The measurements were right on target for 9 weeks, so the due date remains the same. Dr. O’Leary was just as surprised as we were that we got pregnant so quickly, saying, “I guess you’re meant to have crazy lives for a few years!”

Emma posing for Christmas photos.

Ready for Christmas!

We enjoyed a visit with the Rahn Grandparents this weekend, which allowed us to get the house decorated for Christmas and for them to have some quality time with Emma. Nathan especially loves the new addition of a new outdoor doe and tree lighting. The official due date for Rahn Baby #2 ("Aloha" womb name) is now July 19th (only 5 days away from Nathan's; maybe another Leo). Kristin is increasingly nauseous (sp?), fatigued, and particular about food (a healthy salad, Taco Bell chicken soft taco, and Ruffles). She just can't seem to find the perfect combo of nourishment and settling of stomach.

Deer Camp & Emma's "Baby"

Last weekend Nathan went to “Deer Camp” with father-in-law (Carl) and good friend (Jim) at Jim’s rustic cabin near Big Rapids, where the family hunters gathered before opening day of firearm deer hunting season. Nathan enjoyed playing cards, telling stories, eating, and napping away from the “real world” of cell phones and running water. They recommend Carl James or James Carl as baby boy names, and wonder of the baby will be born on either of their birthdays (June 28th or July 1st).

Back at home, Grandma Bonnie stayed with Kristin to help with the “kids.” Emma started saying “happy, happy, happy” after Bonnie asked her if she was always this happy while they were playing. Other new things Emma started this week include her dragging around her “baby” and cuddling it close to her, and becoming more “selective” about sharing her toys with Daddy and Mommy during playtime (“No, ..Mine”). While we support Emma asserting herself, we hope this just remains only a normal phase of development.

Kristin is now 5 weeks pregnant and is mostly tired, so Daddy has been trying to help out a little more around the house. She is scheduled with her OB/GYN Nurse on December 1st , and we will see the first ultrasound on December 16th!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations, Nate, Kristin and Emma! I'm so excited that we will be pregnant together for a little while! Emma will be a great big sister! You guys are a beautiful family.

Love,

Ana, Matt, Marcelo & (Isabella)

November 2008

The Fall always brings the mess of leaves, but this year Emma earned her keep!
Emma has something to add...

We're pregnant! We just got the positive pregnancy tests this weekend, so it is still VERY early on, but if all goes according to plan, Emma should have a sibling next July! We were especially grateful that Uncle Pete, Nana, and Grandpa Dave were visiting and could share the new news with us!

October 2008

The Thrall Family came to visit from Montana, and we all spent a Friday afternoon at the Three Cedars Farm. So many fun things to do there - doughnuts, playing, tractors, hayrides, pumpkins - what a terrific place!

For Halloween, Emma had difficulties in choosing between the two costumes that we borrowed. So she was a ladybug by day, for the Daycare Party, and a bumblebee by night, for trick-or-treating with friends.

Emma quickly vacated the wagon, so that she could walk like a big girl.