This past Sunday, I went up to IL, for a baby shower for Elizabeth!! She is looking good and counting down the days till Baby Gottschalk arrives!

Elizabeth and Dave opening gifts.

The happy couple showing off the mobile that goes with their bedding!! (Probably Elizabeth is more excited about it than Dave.)
Baby Bellies meet!

College friends waiting for first babies!!

Elizabeth and Mary showing off bellies!

This year we celebrated my dad's birthday by going to a Badger's Game in Madison, WI. Paul and Angie's family came from VA and Greg and Dawn's family came up from IL and Pete and I joined in the fun. The weather was great...

Aaron, Katie, Hannah, and Cole

5th Quarter and a very upbeat marching band

The gang that sat together in one group of seats, Grandpa, Grandma, Aaron, Katie, Hannah, Cole, Pete and I On the way out of the stadium...after a big win!


Pete, Katie, and I

Hannah and Cole
Grandpa and Grandma
I am trying to make him a football fan...at least he is smiling
Back at the hotel...some hung out by the pool

Some went sliding and swimming

Hannah took Aaron out at the bottom of the slide!!

The weekend before Alyssa's birthday we had a surprise party for her at Hacienda...I truely think she was surprise. Lots of fun was had by all, many friends and family joined us to make it a night of many laughs and good times...

Alyssa surprised that it isn't just dinner with Pete and I

Some of the many friends and familyTate stealing a chip from someoneAlyssa with AaronThe big hat while the wait staff sang to AlyssaLevi having fun with his cars and anyone who would play with him

Well lots to catch up from the past couple of weeks...

and why do I have time to do this on a Monday morning at 8:15 ...well we don't have school due to all the flooding from the 1o inches of rain that the area received in the past couple of days.

Our last drs. appointment we had an in-depth ultrasound. Everything looked good and measured right about where the baby is suppose to be except length...length measured about 3-4 weeks ahead of where the baby is. The doctor said you might just have a long baby, only time will tell. Heartbeat was at 156. Normal but on the fast end. Here are a few pictures from the ultrasound...

Baby facing down, body on left with backbone at the top of the picture, head on the right.

Baby profile, top of the head on the left, nose and mouth sticking up with a hand just under the chin

You can see the whole body, head with a face (that looks a little ghost like) but eyes, nose, mouth, arms and legs

Since I didn't have my cord to download pictures yesterday...I wanted to send one more birthday greeting!!!

Happy th Birthday

plus

day Alyssa!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALYSSA !!!

WE LOVE YA

Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa to Be (again)!!!

Not sure where the last post went...one day it was there and the next it was gone. The first week of school went as well as a first week of school can go!!! I have a great class which will make this year enjoyable, (at least the time I am there) However, one could say that I need to get back into the swing of teaching, Friday night I fell asleep on the couch around 7:30 went to bed at some point and got up Saturday morning, (with a few bathroom breaks throughout the night) around 7:45 Saturday morning! Apparently the first week made me tired.
Doctors appointment this coming Thursday, we have our ultrasound, should be fun!!!

Yesterday was Mary's first day of the new school year. One day down...too many left to go! Her motto for this year..."I only have to do this until mid January!" Actually, she really likes the group of kids she has and has high hopes to enjoy these last few months of teaching.

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

Baby Update

This past Tuesday I went for another doctors appointment. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat...it ranged anywhere from 142-160. While we were listening she pointed out the sounds that were actually the baby kicking. Still amazing to me that a small little person is growing inside of me and at such a rapid rate. As Alyssa said "can't think of any better reason to be sick" I have to agree!! We go back the end of August for the detailed ultrasound and another appointment! Hopefully by then I will begin to feel the baby move!!!

July happpenings...
We spent 4th of July in southern Indiana with several friends. We enjoyed some time on a lake and Bailey enjoyed swimming.



Cade watched most of the fireworks before he snuggled in and fell asleep, apparently he had seen enough for this year.



We celebrated Evia's 3rd Birthday at a park with cake and ice cream



This past week was VBS at church...Alyssa was in charge of games and I was in charge of 2 cute boys. I watched Tate and Cade while she was at church...
Cade doing a little jumping and looking a little mischevious




Everyone needed a little nap

Cade finding everything and anything outside that he shouldn't eatTate having one of his many conversations on his "hello" generally the conversation went something like this "Hello Mom"

Cade getting a kiss from Bailey... so glad Cade and Tate both get along so well with our furry critter

Many already know, but as I found out last night there are still several who don't know that come 2009 Pete and I will no longer be a family of just two we will be a happy family of 3. We are expecting our little arrival Mid-January. We are excited to welcome a new little person into our home. We have had one doctors appointment so far, and they said everything looked good. They did an ultrasound so that we could see the baby's heartbeat. It was crazy to actually see the little person growing inside of me. The last few weeks have been OK, I haven't felt well and have been sick, but as the doctor says "that's a great sign" and am just hoping it passes soon!!! But we know that God will watch after us both.

The baby standing on his or her head with its legs/feet in the air

From left to right you can see a leg sticking out, an arm and the head is all the way on the right

An impromptu picture taken by Alyssa of Mary showing Pete the pregnancy test...yeps it is positive!!!

Happy Birthday Evia!!!

(don't know why this won't turn the right way)

This past weekend Pete and I traveled to the Smoky Mountains in Tenn. for Pete's family reunion. It was nice to see everyone, although it was a long trip, it took us about 9.5 hours to get there and a little less on the way home.

Pete and I went to the Dollyworld waterpark on Saturday with Pete's Aunt and Uncle and one of his cousins. It was nice to be near water since it was in the 90's. We spent time at the cabin with everyone and enjoyed many laughs with all the relatives. There were a total of 29 people in the cabin, but have no fear it slept 38. Overall, it was a good trip and plans are already underway for the next reunion I am hoping it is closer to home or that Pete will have more vacation by then so we can enjoy it a little more.

On Sunday after I returned from Michigan, my friend Elizabeth came over and went and visited a couple of friends in Fort Wayne and another friend, Heidi who was visiting from Arkanasas. It was good to see everyone and catch up and see Matthew and Kelli's little boy Ian who was born in Feb.
Kelli, Heidi, Kristen, Mary, and Elizabeth after lunch out



Enjoying some time catching up...