Oh, how times have changed...

Here's our happy 9 month old with Santa in December of 2007...

And our *not* so happy 21 month old with Santa last week. I know that we'll laugh at this picture for years to come :) And we'll probably have to break it out at her wedding one day!

Merry Christmas to all!!!

It's been a while....

I realize I haven't been the best about updating this blog....and I'm going to go ahead and blame it on this pregnancy :) Things have been much tougher this time around as far as morning sickness goes and lately I've been so exhausted that any free time I get while Addison naps is usually spent napping myself which leaves little time for blogging!!

Speaking of this pregnancy things are moving right along...I'll be 14 weeks tomorrow and my next doctor's visit is on Christmas Eve. We had an ultrasound and screening test done on Nov. 25th so we got another sneak peek at our little turkey. Everything looks great and he/she is quite the mover! I haven't felt anything yet but I'm sure that will be here before I know it. I can't wait! My due date is currently set at June 9 and the next big day for us to look forward to is January 20th - hopefully we'll be able to find out the sex that day. We're both kind of feeling 'boy' this time around - and Erik SWEARS he saw some little boy parts during our last ultrasound but I guess we'll have to wait and see :)

After our screening appointment we made a quick stop at Wendy's for lunch (I've been craving chicken nuggets this whole pregnancy!) and then we hit the road for Camp Sherman, OR where we were spending Thanksgiving with the Opsahls.

We made great time on the drive and arrived at the house just before 7. Addison and Sampson ran around like maniacs for a few hours and then we all hit the sack for a very restful night.

Wednesday we relaxed around the house while we waited for Allie and Jordan to arrive after a long drive from San Francisco. During the day Addison got some guitar lessons from her Papa and got to visit Nana's horse Chloe. She had such a great time!

Allie and Jordan got in late Wednesday night and it was fun for the family to catch up....we don't get everyone in the same place very often.

Thursday the boys went up to the pit to go shooting while the girls got things ready for dinner. We had a great dinner and even better conversation - the perfect Thanksgiving! Friday we ventured into Bend for lunch at Red Robin and a little Black Friday shopping but we didn't come home with too much loot.

Saturday we had a nice family breakfast and then we headed back home so we could spend Sunday getting our tree and getting the house decorated for Christmas.

What a great weekend :)

Sweet Baby Vera is here!!

At 2:57am Thursday morning our best friends Chrissy and Nate welcomed their little girl into the world. Vera Tamiko Parker weighed in at 8lbs 1oz and was 19.5 inches long. Naturally, she's absolutely gorgeous and we already love her *so* much!

Wednesday night....before all the hard work started!!

Proud Papa Nate

With two of my favorite girls :)

Tricia and Baby V

Uncle Erik

The Opsahls and Miss Vera

Sleepy girl :)

It's been so much fun to think back about all the wonderful things that come along with a new baby. Vera's arrival has made us even more excited for baby #2!! Sometimes it feels like June 9th can't come soon enough...

Congratulations to the Parkers and welcome to the world Miss Vera :)

xoxo

Practice run

Yesterday afternoon we decided to put Addison in her Halloween costume for a little 'practice run'. Let's just say that she didn't love her costume by any means :) Hopefully she'll wear it again tomorrow with a little less protesting.

Here's our angry little peacock...

First doctor's appointment

Yesterday we saw the world's best OB/GYN for our first prenatal appointment. Everything looks great and we were able to see our little bean....and a very strong heartbeat!

We're thrilled that things went well and we are excited to have a due date to look forward to (June 9th!). Here's the first picture of the newest Opsahl :)

Getting ready for Halloween!

Erik and I have never been big fans of Halloween but this year we decided to really get into the spirit with Addison.


We started out with a trip to the pumpkin patch at Maris Farms in Buckley. Addison *loved* it here....there were tons of pumpkins (of course) but also goats, cows, pigs, and even a few turkeys. She had a great time running around in the mud and checking out the whole farm.

Trying to carry her own pumpkin

Helping daddy load the pumpkins

Just lounging in the wheelbarrow

Erik spent the weekend decorating the house with pumpkin lights and last night we decided it was time to start carving!

Of course Addison loved to stick her hands in the pumpkin guts :)

The finished products....Erik's Cougar pumpkin and my attempt at Finding Nemo.


And all lit up!

Friday afternoon Addison and I will head into Seattle to visit Erik at work and then we'll head back home for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Addison is going to be a peacock this year and our trial run did not go so well so I'm hoping she'll at least keep the costume on for a few (tearless) pictures!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Guess who's going to be a....

It's still *very* early (about 6 weeks) but we have a doctor appointment/ultrasound at the end of the month and a tentative due date of May 31st!

We're absolutely thrilled and we know Addison will make a wonderful big sister :)

xoxo,
Erik & Denise

Playing tourist!

As you may know, we had some family in town from Ireland for Tricia's wedding. My Uncle Denis, his daughter (my cousin) Emma, and her boyfriend Gary were here for about 2 weeks and we had lots of fun doing the typical tourist activities.


Denis and Gary after arriving at my parents house

Day 2 of their visit we headed downtown for a little visit to Pike Place Market. We had a yummy lunch at Lowell's and Uncle Denis even had a rubber fish thrown at him at the world famous Pike Place Fish. Unfortunately we didn't catch that moment on film!!


Addison checking out the cute fishmongers :)


Emma and Gary in front of the market

Days 3, 4 and 5 were filled with all things wedding!!
http://opsahlfamily.blogspot.com/2008/09/tricia-got-marrrrrrrrrried.html

Day 6 (the day after the wedding) was the All Ireland Hurling final between Waterford and Kilkenny. Erik got up bright and early Sunday morning (before 7am!) to drive the crew down to Fado Irish Pub downtown since they were the only place in town showing the game. They all enjoyed a yummy Irish breakfast and some early morning beers :)

Day 7 we were off to the Puyallup Fair! it was Addison's first time and she loved people watching and looking at all the animals.



Checking out the foot massagers


Days 8, 9 and 10 the group visited Las Vegas! They had a great trip and even won a little!!


Day 11 we headed back downtown for an Argosy Harbor Cruise and a visit to the aquarium.

Waiting in line on the pier



Before boarding the boat


Getting a tan on deck


Checking out the seals with Gary


Emma, Gary, Addison & me

Next stop was the Seattle Aquarium, which is one of Addison's favorite places to visit!

Addison made fast friends - as usual!



Checking out the fish with Grandpa


Peek-a-boo Addison!



Checking out the octopus with Uncle Denis


Fun picture with mommy :)



Visiting the fish in the dome




Looking at the seals



More fun with Grandpa

Day 12 we spent the day shopping at the Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip. Since it was Saturday Erik, Tricia and David got come along too :)



Day 14 (Monday) was our last full day to do something so we headed back downtown to visit Pacific Place and Seattle Center.



Addison's first carousel ride (with mommy, of course!)

With grandpa too

Next we were off to Seattle Center...

Enjoying the fountain with Gary



We had a great two weeks showing our visitors around and we were sad to see them go this week :( Hopefully we'll be able to visit them all in Ireland again soon!

This weekend is another busy one as we get to celebrate Erik's great-grandma's 100th birthday!! Addison is very fortunate to have a great-great grandmother so we're looking forward to experiencing this milestone with her.