Ultrasound Pictures

At nearly 20 weeks, this is our baby! They guessed it was about 11 ounces. Can't wait to meet him/her in person!

FINALLY!!!! And 21 weeks prego

I have finally felt our baby move!!! Oh, I have been waiting and waiting for it. I had today off, so I was lounging in the recliner when I felt something, then again, and again! YEAH!! I knew it was what I had been waiting for. Well, 21 weeks today and feeling great. Our 3 year anniversary was on Wednesday, so Ben and I went to Area 57 Cafe in Wanamingo (where we had our rehersal dinner) and had supper. It was nice and relaxing. Then came home, put our pajamas on and caught up on our recoreded TV shows. Wild. I've got band practice tonight at 7 and still have to make supper. Stay warm this weekend!! Ben and I really get sick of the super-old days. Ready for Spring. Talk to you next week!

Baby's Room and 20 Week Update

Can you say skinny?!?! Almost! From how big this little boy was when he was a baby, he is almost skinny. There are still a few rolls on his legs keeping him warm this Winter, but how cute is he?? An aunt just has to brag a little.
20 3/7 weeks.

I feel like I've really grown in the last week or two. Keep in mind- this picture was taken after eating a big ham dinner (thanks Mom!!).

Katie helped me pain the baby's room last week. We went from a burnt orange to...

Green! I wasn't crazy about the color at first because I was painting over such a different color, but I like the way it turned out. I also painted Ben's old dressers white. They were a 1950's tan "wood" look. So with some sanding, primer, three coats of paint and new pulls- I think they turned out very nicely! Then last night, Jeff came over and helped Ben put up the baseboard trim so the dressers could get out of the garage. I appreciate their work!

We had our ultrasound last Wednesday, and everything looks awesome!! No issues at all. It was so comforting knowing our baby is growing as it should and it seems healthy. I have pictures that I need to post this week of that.

19 Weeks

This is an exciting week for us because on Wednesday, we have our anatomy ultrasound to check out the baby. I know Ben is excited to see how big kiddo has gotten since the first ultrasound. Ben will work a nearly full day, but leave a little early to come to the appointment. I was feeling some big changes today. All day I was having this ache in my lower right pelvis area. I'm assuming there was some stretching going on. I just couldnt get a comfortable position that gave me relief. But after a few hours at work, it went away. I stayed 8 extra hours tonight. They were short on night shift, so I stayed and made some extra money. I work nights this weekend, so it will get me ready for those. The nice part is that I have a carpool buddy from Zumbrota. We carpooled together when we were in nursing school together so it's nice to have someone keep me awake after a 12 hour night shift. Oh, another things happening this week is on Tuesday, Katie is coming over to help me paint the baby's room! I'm very excited about it because I don't really like the color that's in there. As soon as it's painted, we can move the furniture into the room!!!! It's been in the garage for the last two or three months being painted. I need to get back to work. Remeber to pray for the Benson's. It's a pretty rough time for their whole family. Much love to you all.

I forgot to tell that I've only gained 4 pounds from my first appointment. I was curious to see what it was since I've been so hungry all the time and it was the holidays in between appointments. I was really proud of myself! But I ate 4 of the 5 cinnamon rolls that got from Mindi. Oops! Ben said he was surprised that I didn't gain more!

18 weeks

I had another appointment today and everything looks great!! They drew blood a week ago to test for Trisome 18, Down's Syndrome and any neural tube defects. Well, I received a call this morning when I was getting ready for my appointment that the test results were normal! Yeah! I was relieved to hear that. Then I went to my appointment and I got to hear the heart beat again and it was in the 150's. A bonus was my doctor did a quick ultrasound to check the baby too since we had some extra time!!! What an unexpected surprise! I couldn't belived how much bigger kiddo was than the first ultrasound. It looked like a baby, not a blob with arms. Ben was a little upset that I got to see the baby again, and he didn't. But next Wednesday, we have the big anatomy ultrasound where they check the growth of the baby. We are so excited for that. Well, I'm at work and have to get my assignment. I'll write next week if not sooner! Happy New Year!

17 1/2 weeks!

I'm growing! 17 1/2 weeks along and still feeling really good. Kiddo should be about 5 inches long!
I just woke up from a nap during the Sunday football game. Good thing I'm turned to the left. I had a serious case of bed-head on the right. My next appointment is on Monday Jan. 5 and I can't wait!! I look forward to my appointment every month. I'll be curious to see what my weight is. I've been very hungry the last two weeks, but I've tried to keep my eating in check, or at least stick to healthy food as much as I can. As soon as I eat, I'm stuffed. Then in two or three hours, I'm ready for another snack! I could graze all day. Good thing I have a busy job and don't have time to sit and munch. I would be in big trouble otherwise.

Last night (Monday), I finished making supper and was walking back into the kitchen and stopped... I think I felt something. Was it the baby?? Maybe. What is it supposed to feel like? Was it gas?? I am really hungry. A few minutes later Katie called and as I was talking to her, I felt something again. But this was a little different than earlier. So, I might have felt my baby move last night, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'll feel it again before Saturday! Then I'll know for sure. Happy New Year!!

Dang Squirrels

November 1, 2008. A day for the record books.

Ben was going to do some "clean-up" before winter came and change the oil in his truck. This 1992 Silverado doesn't get driven like it used to, but we still have it around. This particular day, Ben was having trouble getting the hood open. It does have a history of sticking, but with a little push, it will open. Not this day. So he called a few people to see if they could give him a hand. His cousin's husband Nate Sommer came to our rescue. After 10 minutes of grunting and prying- it opened. The boys were laughing and laughing, yelling for me to get the camera before I came over there. When the hood finally opened- this is what they found.

WALNUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was UNBELIEVABLE! The squirrels had stored their winter stash of nuts in the engine of our truck. Every stop you could ever THINK to stick a nut, it was there.

After nearly two hours of vacuuming, blowing and searching for nuts, we thought we had them all out. One or two must have been hiding from us, because when Ben started the engine, a loud clank, clunk, smash was happening under the hood. There was only a minor hole in the fan casing. Nothing a little duct tape can't fix!


About 2/3 or our 50 gallon barrel was full. We drove to the city dump immediately, and dumped the danged nuts. Haven't had any since. And I'll be the squirrels are hungry by now. Too bad.

A thought

Tonight, Ben and I were in the living room in our usual spots. He's in the recliner, and I'm curled up in a blanket on the couch. We were watching TV with a quiet house behind us. I looked at him and said, "We don't have many nights like this left." Just the two of us, watching TV, doing what we want. He raised his eyebrows and sighed. Fivc and a half months!

14 Weeks

I'm 14 weeks tomorrow and getting a belly!! I thought I should start taking pictures of what I looked like at this point, because I've been told I won't remember. It is such an exciting time for Ben and I. I love seeing the changes in my body ( for the most part). I had my second appointment yesterday and Ben was able to come to this appointment too. I love when he can be there and get the inside scoop of what the doctor says. Since neither of us have been through this before, I like having a second set of ears to listen. My... chest is STILL growing. STOP! I'm still really tired, but I'm hoping that will be ending soon. Otherwise, still feeling really good!

Here is Ben and his "baby bump." What a goof.


I have some pictures from Halloween and other things we have done. I'll get them up this weekend.

Week 12

Tomorrow, the plum will be 12 weeks old, and he/she weighs about a half an ounce. The sex of the baby has been determined, but we won't know what it is for another 6 months! I've been feeling really good, except for still being ridiculously tired. If I don't get at least 9-10 hours of sleep at night, I'm a zombee at work. I haven't thrown up but I do get naseated if I don't eat in the mornings. And I've been gaging on my gum, while brushing my teeth, when I get too tired, early in the morning, from the smell of my car, and now when I just look at my car I gag! Isn't that stupid? I see car like mine driving down the road and I get a lump in my throat like I'm going to vomit! Something weird I never thought would happen.

I'm starting to get a little gut! I don't look pregnant, just chubby. That's OK with me. Ben and I read the pregnancy books every Thursday night to find out what kiddo is doing the upcoming week. I think he'll be more excited when he can see more changes in me. I know he'll be a great dad, he's already a great husband. Well, talk to you next week!

It's Official!!

Ben and I are going to have a baby!!!!!!

My due date is June 5, 2009 which makes me 10 weeks on Friday.

Ben came with me to my first doctors appointment Tuesday morning and everything went very well. The baby looks good and was wiggling all around during the ultrasound. The doctor also confirmed there is only ONE baby.

We spilled the beans to both sets of parents last night. We had waited so long to tell them which made it a really fun evening. Grandma Val can't wait to be a Grandma again and Ben's Dad was excited to get to baptize another Grandchild!

We made special trips to both parents houses and after some casual conversation, Ben handed the mom's the ultrasound pictures. Ben's mom Avonne, looked at it and thought it was something we had found in a box in the garage (becuase we were cleaning out there eariler in the afternoon)! Then she looked at me and I smiled. She started crying and there were hugs all around! My mom looked at it for a minute, then looked at Dad and realized what she was holding!! She started crying as well and so did I.

Shortly after that, I had to go to band practice. So I left and told the Loose Cannons there will be an addition to the band next Spring! There were all so happy for us.

24th Birthday

On Sunday, I celebrated my 24th birthday. Grandpa and Grandma Haggstrom, Grandma Lindell, Don and Avonne, Mom and Dad, Katie, Jeff, Noah and Casey all came to Mom and Dad's for supper. It was nice to have everyone there.
Don and Grandpa relaxing on the couch after supper.

The Grandmas at the kitchen table.

This past weekend, Ben and I had our nephews (Chris and Pam's boys) at our house . Matthew- 11, Grayson- 9, Daniel and John- 6 year old twins, and Walker- 4. They came to our house around 5:00 on Friday and we had a campfire with smores. Then on Saturday we had a big breakfast and went to Mazeppa to a corn maze, pumpkin patch and apple orchard. It was so beautiful on Saturday and we loved the corn maze. Then we went back to our house and took a mandatory nap- mostly for Ben and I. The guys played some more Guitar Hero while I made supper and we hung around the house for the rest of the night. Then we went to church on Sunday morning, and Ben played in a golf tournament. It was perfect weather- rain, wind, snow, then sleet. It took him hours to thaw out (that's dedication) We had a great weekend (and for the first time in a while we finished our nephew-sitting duties w/out any stitches or hospital visits. Bonus!) We always enjoy spending time with the boys. Love you guys!!!!

The Bakken Boys Weekend!!!! Oct. 24-26

This is what happens when I leave Uncle Ben and the oldest Bakken boy alone at the campfire. Ben showed him how to tie/tape an old T-shirt to the end of a stick and use it as a TORCH!!!
Playing Guitar Hero on Saturday morning.

Daniel LOVES getting his picture taken, so any excuse to get in front of the camera is Ok with him, even if it's with his brother.

Jonas Brothers???

I made the boys go outside for a bit while I got myself ready for the day. Ben got out three rakes and told them to rake a pile. It kept them occupied for nearly an hour!!
So photogenic.

Walker's turn to jump in the pile!


Go Johnny Go!!



Right after this was taken, Daniel lost his B.T.E. (the little device that sits on his ear and allows his cochlear implant to function) in the leaves. After a minor freak out, we found it. Yeah!!

Grayson jumping in the leaf pile.
Matthew getting some sweet air!

Three little trouble makers.

Ben managed to get all 5 boys up in the neighbor's tree for a picture. This made me a little nervous, but we got a picture.

The oldest boy, Matthew.

Bakken Boys Weekend!

Walker, Daniel and John looking through the giant pumpkin.
Show me your corn!!!

You too Walker!!

After a weekend at Uncle Ben's, a kid can be pretty worn out. This is how Ben found walker.. lounging.

I guess this was the only quiet spot in the house.

Random Pics

At the end of September, Katie, Noah and I went to Grandma Lindell's house and made supper for her. We had pork chops, broccoli and potatoes. It was so nice to spend some quiet time with Grandma. We love you!!
The first Monday Night Football game on Oct. 6, we invited a few people over for supper. Our friends Jamie and Michelle Stay came over with their daughter Katherine, and she got her first shiner at our house. (No thanks to Jeff.) Poor girl. But she got some ice cream and felt all better.

Mama and Noah watching football.

Noah's New Toy

I watched Noah for a few hours on Thursday, and I happen to be washing rugs. (We all know I needed to clean desparately.) Well, Noah had never seen such a thing!! He thought the washing machine was GREAT!! It kept him occupied for a good 15 minutes!
He was so excited he was hitting the door.