A look back at our Christmas holiday . . . I left for Newport the Monday before Christmas. Mom, Dad, Allyson and I did some last minute shopping in Little Rock and began our week-long parade of food! We went to Allyson's favorite restaurant, El Puente, in Newport, and it didn't disappoint. On Tuesday morning we awoke to ice storms scattered through the state of Arkansas. After the all clear from the highway department, we headed down to Dumas. Auntie was waiting for us with a great dinner of duck and dressing, chicken and dumplings, okra, potatoes, and rolls. Does that sound like a southern Christmas meal or what?!?! I also requested banana pudding for dessert and it was super! We opened a few gifts and did lots of visiting then decided to get rested for the next day's activities. We headed out to Memama and Poppa's at lunch on Wednesday and waited for Kevin to meet up with us. (Of course I got to taste-test the apple pie for Christmas Eve!) Finally Kevin arrived and Baby Lincoln really got busy wiggling. Many of my family members got to feel a kick or two . . . and one of them was kind of creeped out! Allyson isn't sure she likes the feel of the baby kicking, but she kept reaching to feel again. Christmas Eve brought lots of good food at Julia Ann's house, and we opened lots of fun presents including Baby Lincoln's Razorback goodies. We headed back to Newport after dinner so we could wake up on Christmas morning at home. Dad's designated job on Christmas Day was cooking, but we managed to open lots of presents before he had to get started. Kevin is already making plans for my new mini-spring form pans: he requested little cookie cakes and brownie cakes. His favorite gifts were for Baby Lincoln, who really racked up the Razorback items. Kevin received his very own diaper bag (very man-ly with a Hog on it) and lots of stuff to put in it. Dad was in charge of pancakes (with grape jelly of course) and other breakfast staples, followed by the Freeman Christmas Lunch of cheese dip, finishing up the evening with hamburgers (my other pregnancy craving). All in all, mom and baby had a yummy day! Allyson came back to Dallas with us on Friday night, and we had lots of fun. We watched a few movies, shopped, slept in and had dinner with Eric and Samantha at Mi Cocina. I put her on a plane home yesterday afternoon happy that we got to spend so much time together. She's warming up to the baby and loves to watch Kevin obsess over my belly.

Unfortunately, I managed to take a pretty bad cold in the midst of the holiday. After spending hours researching different remedies on the internet, I called my doctor. I have been through all the symptoms over the past five days: sore throat, coughing, congestion, stuffiness, and now ear troubles. I'm confident there are no symptoms left for me to have, so this must be almost over! Everyone took such good care of me while I have been sick. I have to say I was very cautious regarding cold remedies, and it probably drove a few people crazy. Most cough suppressants, expectorants, decongestants, zinc cough drop therapies, liquids and pills are considered unsafe during pregnancy. I ready studies from all over the world on many different species and generally freaked myself out about drugs! Sometimes there's too much information available on the internet . . . anyway, Dr. Milstein to the rescue and I'm on the safest road to recovery.

Baby Lincoln has not slowed down at all. He's been keeping us entertained with lots of kicking and a repeat of the hiccups. His activity patterns have changed a bit. He does some serious dancing in the mornings, naps a bit, then wakes up for lunch. After another nap, he resumes dancing and kicking in the evening when we settle down. Kevin still loves to feel him kick, and I still love to watch the two of them. I never take for granted how amazing it is, and I love to share that with Kevin.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. My camera didn't come out of my purse even once, so I'll have to rely on others for photos. Perhaps Dad or Sarah will send me a few to post.

Happy New Year!

The Life of Lincoln

What's Lincoln been up to lately? Well, he's been one busy little boy! The book says he's up to 2 pounds now. (I'll spare all of you a picture of what they've given me as a comparison - - a 2 pound chuck roast! The picture wasn't as cute as fruit!) As he gets bigger, his movements get much more consistent and forceful. He's still most active when I'm at work, plugging away at my desk. He keeps me entertained during those long days. Speaking of long days, my last day of work was Friday and I don't return until Jan 5. I know, I know, we're really spoiled! I'm going to enjoy lots of time with family and friends, sleep as much as possible (which won't be much) and get ready for the new year.

So here's what Lincoln has in his bag of tricks these days:

He gets the hiccups! Seriously, it's so funny that he's hiccuping in there and he jerks every few seconds. It lasted about 10 minutes last time and made me laugh so much.

He has serious karate kicks! Kevin got to feel one again last night, and it always shocks him. Lincoln does a lot of swimming around in there and usually has mild kicks, but sometimes he really gets me. I know not to take it for granted because before long we won't be together every minute.

He plays a kicking game with me! So I got a swift kick the other night, and I decided to fight back. I gave him a quick poke above my belly button. A few seconds later he responded right back with another kick! We played our little game for a bit while I made dinner, and I laughed and laughed. I'll try to keep this game limited to pre-birth, as I don't really want my kid to be the kicking, poking bully taught by Mommy!

Hope you're all ready for the holiday. We're off to Babies R Us this afternoon and maybe a bit more Christmas shopping. But first, Lincoln is asking for pancakes with grape jelly for breakfast this morning. I'm sure I can make that happen for the little fella!!

What's in a name?

There are many things to consider when naming a child, as I've come to learn. Nicknames, alliteration, pronunciation, initials, meaning and origin, and most importantly people you already know with that name! Fortunately we've found a name that passes each test, and we're excited to announce we no longer need to refer to our bundle of joy as Baby Boy Kuhlman. From here on we'll call him Lincoln Kevin Kuhlman. That's right . . . Lincoln. My mom called to say she learned of a baby boy with a name that was stuck in her head, and she was passing it on to us with no pressure. We mulled it over for a bit, and it was just what we needed. We practiced the in trouble voice (Lincoln Kuhlman, get in here now!), the stadium announcer (Starting at quarterback/pitcher, Lincoln Kuhlman), the friends greeting (What's up, Linc!) and the potential girlfriend call (Hi Mrs. Kuhlman, is Lincoln there?). Lincoln fit perfectly!

Just in case you're wondering: Lincoln is of Latin origin and means lithe, or characterized by flexibility and grace.

So let us know what you think . . .

Pretzel Mania!

It's that time of year again at our house . . . Pretzel Time! For those of you who don't know, I make chocolate dipped pretzels with sprinkles for Richard's corporate gift baskets (although they are WAY more than baskets). Kathy does an amazing job putting together 50 baskets of all things chocolate each holiday season, and my pretzels are one of the stars. How does one make 50 bags of these lovely treats?

Two days off work

+

5 cases of pretzels

+

25 blocks of chocolate

-

a bit of sanity

x

a slight backache

=

50 bags of dipped pretzels

Luckily I was able to take time off work, and luckily I had a little helper this year (and no, I don't mean Kevin). The pretzels looked cute and the bags turned out great. It took endless hours to dip and 5 more hours to bag, so I listed to a lot of Sirius or XM (whatever) 90s on 9! Note: Nelson, Gin Blossoms and Alanis Morrisette are constantly in the rotation on 90s on 9. You'd think with an entire decade of songs from every genre they could have a few less repeats!! Anyway, the music was helpful and helped me not go crazy. Baby and Mom danced to our favorite songs and sang a lot, too! Sitting worked out for the bagging portion, which took longer than I had planned . . . I spent too much time making sure each sprinkled pretzel faced outward to maximize the holiday effect. I know, I know, people are just going to eat them not stare at the bag, but I couldn't help it. Included are a few photos of the work in progress, although we forgot to begin documenting the progress until the end! Merry Christmas!

24 weeks and counting . . .

Since my last post was all about holiday spirit, I thought I'd add one all about Baby Boy Kuhlman. I know you're getting tired of me referring to him as Baby Boy Kuhlman, and I'm working on it! There is a lot to think about when choosing a name, and Kevin is giving me more than I bargained for. Each name I suggest has a counter because he always knows someone weird with that name. For example - Ross is out because a kid named Ross ate dog food in 5th grade. Do you all understand what I have to work with!!! We've narrowed the list to four and are practicing with one each day. Allyson has dubbed him "Little Tyke" so feel free to use that for now.

I'm happy to announce that Kevin finally got a swift kick from Baby Boy Kuhlman, and it was very timely. The evening of the infamous Christmas Decorating (overdoing it) we hadn't had any movement and panic set in. Around 11:00 that evening I was just about ready to hit the emergency room, but Kevin was trying to calm me down. I laid down and put Kevin's hand on my belly and BAM! Kevin jumped off the bed and yelled, and I was so excited on so many levels. I loved getting to be a part of them finally meeting each other, and I was so relived that my worries were unfounded. I certainly slept well that evening! Since then Baby has been a little shy when Kevin's hand is near, but he's cooperated a few times with follow up kicks for his Daddy.

He's still most active near lunch and dinner, so we're assuming he'll be a foodie like Mom and Dad. He did lots of jumping this evening when I tried a new pork tenderloin marinade. I'm assuming he liked it!

On the Mom front: I've hit the stage of not sleeping. The book cited racing thoughts, leg cramps (serious charlie horses!) and frequently bathroom trips as reasons for my lack of sleep, and I second all of these. It's amazing how accurate that book is! I'd like to add to the list two cats that need to sleep ON me, a husband who has a very consistent snore and a tendency to hog the body pillow, and my already general light sleeping. Ah, the joys of motherhood. I'm finally ready to post a belly pic! Kevin took this one on Friday night after dinner, just as we were getting settled in with a nice warm fire. I didn't plan the red shirt to match the decor . . . but it is a nice touch! My belly seems extremely big, but I guess that's ok. I've learned that I'm carrying high and out front, which definitely doesn't lend to concealing. Kevin is still obsessed with everything belly and assures me it's getting bigger each day. Until next time . . .

In the spirit . . .

Ok, so I'm one of THOSE people! You know the ones who go totally crazy with everything Christmas. I only have one strict rule . . . Christmas season begins on the Sunday after Thanksgiving . . . period! My parents left on Sunday morning, and we got started right away. Kevin helped me get the boxes of decorations out of the garage, Eddie and Emmitt inspected and smelled each item to make sure it was safe, and I dug in. It was truly a perfect day for decorating - the weather turned cold, I had stew in the oven (smelling sooooo good), and football was blaring on tv. Our first order of business was the tree, but of course we ran into some difficulty. Richard and Kathy to the rescue with the extra tree piece we couldn't locate (it was in their garage) and heavy lifting. Once the tree was assembled, I began lighting and fluffing. My ladder was in use because Eddie needed a nap on the top step, so I used a chair instead. The ornaments didn't take too long, and the tree turned out great. Kevin keeps using the word "obnoxious" to describe our tree, but I think "outstanding" works much better! I managed to find decorations for the desk (nutcrackers), entry way (vase with holiday spray), dining room (sparkle trees for centerpices), and kitchen table (ornaments napkin holders and shiny stars). There may be a few more items scattered throughout the house (I just don't want to make you all crazy imagining it all), but I'll stop there. The house is ready for Christmas! I've been enjoying holiday music in the car and at work, the three (sad, right?) gifts I've purchased are wrapped, holiday socks are available for each day, and Christmas cookies are already baking. Kevin is playing along well this year, although he is never a fan of holiday socks. It might help that he's the cookie test-taster!

One side note: pregnant ladies should NOT work so hard decorating for the holidays. Specifically, they should avoid boxes, ladders and stepping on chairs for 6 hours straight. I ended up in so much pain Sunday evening and Monday. I try not to be such a wimp and leave work for no reason, but I had to come home and rest Monday afternoon. I felt much better after 4 hours of couch time. Gazing at my beautiful tree might have helped my aching back . . . not sure! I'm happy to report I'm fine now and have resumed all regular activities. Baby Kuhlman was pretty worn out and didn't do much for a day or two, but he's resumed his regular activities as well. We've all learned our lesson about overdoing it, and we'll have lots of help to put away all of these fabulous decorations after the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for this year, I don't know that I can list everything

*Baby Boy Kuhlman
*Our health and baby's health
*Each other, though I'm not sure Kevin feels that way when pregnancy hormones flare up!
*Our families who are there for us every day-whether in person or on the phone. We constantly rely on them for advice, inspiration, direction and always just to listen.
*Our friends are wonderful, and we are lucky to have so many people to enjoy being around. Hopefully, they'll keep us.
*Our home, our jobs, and our sanity - these are each quite necessary for the others to continue!
*Our Lord who watches over us and guides us.

I know there are so many other things, but these are on the top of my list today. Take a moment to be thankful for the things that bless your life.

Busy Bodies

We've all had quite a busy week . . . there are definitely THREE busy bodies living at our house. Kevin was busy with work and meetings, as usual. Our most active giving season is now (October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - holiday giving/year end donations), and I've been working late and hard myself. Baby Kuhlman is definitely trying to keep up with us! He is busy doing somersaults, kicks and punches all day and night. He likes to play after lunch and before and after dinner. I'm trying to give him a varied diet these days. According to the book, the amniotic fluid changes each day based on what I take in, and he is swallowing some of the fluid now for nutrition. So let's get him interested in pizza, salad, broccoli, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potatoes, fajitas and grilled chicken now - just to name a few of my favorites! The book also informs me that he's grown to about 1 pound! He was 12 ounces at our last appointment, so he's right on track to be 1 pound this week. Can you believe that? OK, so I've accounted for 1 pound of the 9 I've gained . . . hmmm. He should double in weight by Christmas, so I'll definitely have an excuse for my baby bump in the Christmas card picture! I've gotten a few requests to include a baby bump photo, so I'll work on that. Perhaps Kevin can assist me this weekend. Since he's continually impressed with how my belly changes every day, I know he'll be interested. Until next time . . .

It's A Boy!!!!

We are excited to announce that Baby Kuhlman is officially Baby Boy Kuhlman! We've been keeping the secret for a few days, and that is pretty difficult if you know either of us. So here's how it happened: Our appointment was scheduled for Wednesday, November 12 which happens to be our 3 year wedding anniversary. What better way to celebrate than a check-up and peek at our baby. The doctor assured us first that the baby is perfectly normal, healthy, and progressing right on schedule. No fluid around the brain, small developing lungs, 4 chambers in the heart, working bladder, two kidneys and a proportionate spine. What a relief! If they had stopped there, we would have been perfectly happy because we all the details we needed to be happy expectant parents. After much poking and prodding Baby Kuhlman finally cooperated and splayed out his legs to show us the goods: It's A Boy! Of course, we have the evidence to prove it. We were so excited that he's a he! We'll have lots of fun doing lots of little boy things-I'll just have to learn about them first. Kevin is sure he needs to work on his pitching arm already and convinces me that our retirement is covered, as Baby Boy Kuhlman will be a start pitcher in MLB one day. OK!

Now that we have this wonderful news, it's time to share it with our family and friends. As most of you know, I didn't get to do any clever or creative announcements when we found out about the baby so I've got to make up for it now. For the first reveal, I called the gift shop back in Newport and had a basket of boy stuff prepared for a 5:00 delivery. The 5:00 delivery time was very important, but I know the girls there (of course) so they assured me it would be perfect. I called my parents house right before 5:00 (just as I do every day after work) to chat. Dad answered and we began our usual discussions when the doorbell rang. As Mom was headed for the door, I conviced Dad to check it out too and even Allyson came running. I'm hearing all of this on the phone and it's going perfectly. They open the door and the basket full of blue tells them all they need to know. I'm so glad I could share the news that way, as it was almost as close as being there. For the second reveal, we invited Richard and Kathy to dinner to celebrate our anniversary at one of our favorite restaurants (Gordo's). We brought a basket of boy items for them that Kevin snuck under the table. (The manager almost gave us away, as Kevin had spoken to him earlier in the day!) Kevin told them we had a gift for them but they couldn't scream and no doubt they were confused about our secrecy. Out came the blue and only a few squeaks escaped! We entertained several of the other diners with our celebration. It was really fun to tell them. I bought a cake for my friends at work to make the announcement, and they were so excited. Lots of hugs! Lastly, our Mi Cocina group needed to be let in on the news. It was really hard to keep quiet for two whole days, but it was finally time to share. I made chocolate covered pretzels with blue sprinkles and added a balloon that read "It's A Boy" for our centerpiece. I managed to get to the table before the guests and each was surprised as they walked in for our weekly dinner. Everyone was so excited, and the guys have already mapped out the poor boy's entire sports future! Most of all we're excited about our healthy baby and happy to share the news with you all. I'll leave you with one more picture for now.

The Halfway Point

We officially hit 20 weeks on Friday! It seems like so much time has passed since this pregnancy began, but it also seems like the blink of an eye. I know there's so much to look forward to and so much to dread in the next 20 weeks, and we can't wait for each day. I don't know what other pregnancies are like, but I think we've been pretty lucky. We had a rough start but it turned into a miracle. If I hadn't needed an early sonogram at 6 wks, the doctors wouldn't have discovered I had stopped producing progesterone. Without the hormone, our growing baby wouldn't be. We are so thankful the Lord was watching over us and taking care of our family. Poor Dr. Milstein and my endless questions and phone calls . . . he'll never give out his cell again! The little movements the baby makes each day are welcomed by me and encouraged by Kevin. He can't feel anything yet, but it's not for lack of trying. He pokes my belly endlessly, and I'm ready for the baby to give him a real kick next time he gets near! The baby got to experience the Breast Cancer 3 Day this weekend, which is a 60 mile walk through Dallas in 3 days that raises several million dollars for Komen. Most of you know I walked all 60 miles in 2006, and this year Kevin and I volunteered to be on the Pit Stop Crew Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We served food to over 3,500 walkers each day and enjoyed their stories, slogans and triumphs. These women and men are so inspirational, and it really means a lot to us to support them. If you're ever in the market for a real challenge, call me for information regarding the Breast Cancer 3 Day. It will make a lasting impact. Here are some photos of the event. Enjoy!

Kevin setting up the food table. He also sampled all the snacks!

Me in the food tent - standing like a pregnant lady!!

Fruit Update

OK blog fans, it's time for another update on our growing little fruit . . . we've got a mango! I can definitely tell there's a lot of growing going on. My bump is growing each day, and there is more consistent movement from the baby. Kevin was shocked when I got back from Arkansas with a baby bump because there wasn't really one there when I left Dallas. In the past week or so it has really come alive much to our amazement. I can feel squirming and kicking more and more, often when I eat chocolate! (A perfect excuse to keep eating a brownie with ice cream each evening!) I'm so glad to get to know the baby more each day. He or she likes chocolate, enjoys daily jogs, and is a fan of sleeping in. Sounds just like Mom! We've almost reached the halfway point of 20 weeks. I can't believe we've come so far, and I can't believe we've got so far to go. Glad you're all along for the ride . . . stay tuned for more updates!

Halloween Fun

So we were going to be scarecrows, but it looks more like we were college kids at Sadie. Amazingly, the overalls still fit. Samantha and Eric looked great in their 60's attire! I can't believe we convinced Kevin! Luckily the costume was very comfortable. Hope you all had a great halloween.

Happy Halloween

Emmitt and Eddie are certainly enjoying our new Halloween decor. Since the baby isn't posing for pictures just yet, our other "kids" will have to do. Hope you all have a great Halloween. Wish me luck on convincing Kevin to dress up . . .

Celebrating Royalty

It turns out that there is royalty in the Freeman family. Allyson was choosen as Jr. Class Maid for Newport High School Homecoming 2009. I flew home for the festivities on Thursday night and spent Friday morning helping Allyson beautify. The dress she and Mom chose was perfect, and I knew she was going to look gorgeous. The ladies were paraded in at the afternoon Pep-Rally . . . and paraded in with no mis-steps, I might add. (As most of you know, Allyson is most comfortable in softball cleats!) Dad was her escort at the football game, and he looked sharp in his suit. They looked great. I'm so proud of Allyson in everything she does, and this is no exception. She usually astounds with her athletics and grades, but this time her poise (yes, I said it!) was on spotlight. Not only did I get to spend time with Mom, Dad and Allyson, but Auntie and Patsy drove up too. We did a bit of shopping and both Kevin and Baby Kuhlman got presents. Kevin got two of his favorite things: a new measuring cup and a Razorback shirt. Baby Kuhlman got one of his/her potential favorite things: a Razorback sippy cup. I'm including pics so everyone can see Allyson - enjoy! Many of you haven't seen her in several years, and you'll be shocked at how old she is.

Exciting Weekend

We had quite an eventful weekend . . . lots of exercise and lots of eating! Saturday morning was the 25th Annual Dallas Race for the Cure. Susan G Komen for the Cure was founded in Dallas, and the inaugural race drew 800 walkers. This year over 30,000 people participated in the Dallas Race for the Cure. Joining those 30,000 walkers were Kevin, Eric, Samantha, Jason and myself. It was a wonderful morning, and it was so inspring to see Komen in action. I have participated in the Race for the Cure many times, and it always impresses. I'm glad our friends could come along. Once we successfully walked/ran 3.2 miles, it was time for a reward . . . so we headed for the State Fair of Texas! On our list was Fletcher's corn dogs (not for the pregnant lady), fried grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken strips, nachos, and a funnel cake. We never made it to the chicken fried bacon booth! The Midway got our attention, and the guys won several prizes. We got a toy for Eddie and a toy for the baby . . . I'm sure those are safety-inspected! All in all, it was a fun day. Another milestone for Baby Kuhlman - first Komen event and first State Fair. I think the baby liked the funnel cake the best!

Getting in the Spirit!

We recently hosted a Pumpkin Carving Party, and pictured are the fruits of our labor. Two cats, three jack'o'lanterns, a spider and a ghost were the more traditional choices. To insipire our Dallas Cowboys, we also made a star and a football helmet. Jason, Samantha and Eric worked alongside Kevin and I on these festive pumpkins, and we had lots of fun. No way these will last until Halloween, what with the heat and humidity here in Dallas. Until the mold takes over, we proudly light them on the front step each evening for our neighbors to enjoy.

Happy Halloween!

Southwest Vacation

We've recently came back from vacation, and I wanted to share a few pictures. We joined Richard and Kathy on a trip to Phoenix/Scottsdale and Las Vegas, and what a trip! Kevin and Richard golfed at The Biltmore and Troon North, Kathy and I did plenty of walking, Kevin won big in Las Vegas, I got lots of pool time, and we all got enough to eat! Our stay at the Phoenician Resort was incredible, as we had our own casitas with a wonderful view. It was so beautiful and quiet. The Bellagio Hotel gave us premium rooms on the 26th floor with a perfect view of the Dancing Water show. We saw the largest Joshua Tree forest and the coolest chocolate fountain, drove through the Hoover Dam, ate In n Out Burger 3 times, raided Trader Joe's for lots of chocolate, and even bought a cactus to bring home. It was lots of fun, and we're so glad we could spend the time with Kevin's family. Also, it was Baby Kuhlman's first vacation. I know there will be much more traveling to come, but the baby did great on his or her first trip! It may never be this easy again . . . enjoy the photos!

***Golfing at The Biltmore***

***The Hoover Dam***

***Yummy Chocolate!***

***Our view-Camelback Mtn and the pools***

***Yummy Mexican Restaurant***

There aren't many things I know about this baby yet, but I have leaned that it usually resembles fruit! The books always give me a size comparison that they think are easily understandable . . . I'm not so sure. So here are the sizes of the baby so far: grape, nectarine, orange and now grapefruit. I'm not sure this really computes with us, but it's a fun image. Last week I came home with an orange to give Kevin some real perspective. Why can't they use fruit that I eat and already have on hand like apples, bananas or berries? Oh, well. Speaking of food . . . our diet hasn't changed much around here. We still grill a lot and eat lots of veggies, but we have added brownies as a daily nutritional requirement. Kevin thinks I make the BEST brownies ever, and I agree. (It's easy when Betty Crocker is behind the scenes giving you tips!) I think brownies count as calcium, as I alway add a dollup of vanilla ice cream on top. I still run most days, and I've even convinced Kevin to join me a few days a week. I'm sure our neighbors love those days, as we trot down the street chatting at the top of our lungs. Our whole neighborhood knew I was pregnant before we managed to tell anyone. I never said I was quiet, and when gasping for breathe I guess I get louder! That's about all I know for now. I hope to learn more about the little one in the days to come. I'm waiting on the "pop out" of the belly, which leads to the feeling of movement, which means I'm really having a baby. I'll keep you posted!

What we've been up to

heading out for golf
monitoring the grilling
ready for the pool
Happy Birthday!

I made it back . . . but not before several mini-meltdowns! I hope you all can view our page because we can't, though Allyson has convinced me it works and looks great. I can definitely tell that I'm pregnant, as the emotions are in full effect. (I kind of think they were before too, but whatever!) We had quite a celebration recently, and I wanted to post a few pics of our party. Kevin turned 30 on Sept 16! Samantha and I took Kevin, Eric and Jason to The Cliffs at Possum Kingdon Lake to celebrate. Eric turns 30 on October 20, so it was a joint birthday. We cooked out, layed out, golfed, and laughed a lot! I think the baby enjoyed all the laughter, and I know he/she enjoyed that we got the good bed! Our condo was great, but the other sleeping arrangements weren't quite as comfy! It's great to have such fun friends. Kevin wasn't exactly excited about being 30, but he has so much to be thankful for. A wonderful wife (ahem), a great job (sure), a lovely home (ok), and a baby on the way (now that one's true!). Stay tuned for more on the Kuhlman Family. Up next . . . what's been going on with the baby!

The Beginning

Welcome to the Kuhlman Family Blog, our first foray into the blogosphere . . . I warn you that we have no idea what we're doing! I've decided to start a blog for our friends and family that can't be close to us everyday. There are so many things going on in our family that we'd love to share, and this seems to be the "easiest?!?!" way to spread the news. Of course, the big news first - WE'RE HAVING A BABY! I definitely think that deserves all caps, don't you? We are so excited and can't wait for the baby to arrive. As of this post, we are 16 weeks in. It as been a wonderful pregnancy, and I know I'm very fortunate. I didn't have even one day of morning sickness or nausea, as my only symptom was being extremely exhausted. The very day my second trimester began, the tiredness went away completely. We celebrated with a burger and bowling! Are pregnant ladies even supposed to bowl . . . oh, well. (I should also say we haven't bowled since we moved here, so odd choice for a celebration.) I haven't started showing yet, and I'm really ready for that stage. I'm stuck in the waiting to show, waiting to feel the kicks, waiting to find out the sex, waiting for everything stage! However, I think in a few short weeks things will begin to change very dramatically for us! So thanks for tuning in to our blog. You're welcome to join us as our family grows. As my blogging skills expand, I'm sure the posts will improve, and I'll do my best to keep you all updated with what's going with us and the baby!