Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Getting the tree straight

Eugene had to saw the "square" trunk in order for the tree to fit in our stand.

Giving Zo her "Elmo" ornament for this year-she loooooves Elmo!

Helping to hang ornaments

Christmas Cookies

Every year my mom makes frosted sugar cookies for Christmas. And every year since I can remember, my sister and I would help frost cookies. This year I asked if Zenobia and I could come down to help with the cookies. Of course it was a yes and Zenobia got to frost her very first cookies!!! She loved it and frosted about 10 cookies. She did great and had a lot of patience for being only 19 months. Here are her masterpieces.

20 Week Ultrasound

The two pictures above are of our children. One is of Zenobia while I was 18 weeks pregnant and the other is of our second baby (name yet to be determined) at 20 weeks. Can you tell the difference?? There is quite a resemblence already! When the U/S technician showed us the baby's profile we were amazed at how much it looked like Zenobia's profile at around the same age. The top picture is of Baby Burge #2 and the bottom is Baby Burge #1 (Zo). The baby looks healthy and growing well and my due date is right on target according to all the U/S measurements. We were happy and thankful of this report, now only the sex is to be determined. We are still holding out although Eugene made a "Nosey Envelope" in case we change our minds. The U/S tech checked on a piece of paper if the baby is a boy or girl and put it in a sealed envelope. Eugene didn't want to find out and at first I was a little hesitant but am excited now about the moment we find out and my midwife says "It's a _____!" So.....BOY or GIRL???? What do you think?

Thanksgiving

We went to Olathe, KS to have Thanksgiving with my sister and her new hubbie, Brian. It was fun to see their new house and to visit with them. Zenobia and I arrived Sunday night and did some shopping and had fondue at the Melting Pot before the others arrived. Eugene, Mom, and Dad came on Tuesday and the games began! Of course we played board games, ate good food, and enjoyed each other's company. It was a lot of fun and Mel and Brian were awesome hosts! Thanks newlyweds!!!

18 Months

Zenobia turned 18 months on November 7! Hard to believe she is already half way through her second year. She is becoming quite the character as well! She absolutely loves music, if she hears a catchey tune on the TV she drops whatever she is doing and sprints to the TV and dances. When the tune is done playing she says "Muni?" with both hands palms up saying "where'd it go?" She's always asking for "muni" and dances to it all. In church she will get down and dance and even sing some. One day she started singing a little late (while the band was switching songs) and I think the whole church heard her. Zenobia loves waving hi to anyone and blowing kisses. She loves to help mommy clean whether it is mopping or washing dishes. If she sees me turn the water on in any sink she dashes to get her step stool so she can take part as well. She also loves her baby dolls and is so loving towards them. (Let's hope this stays with her for her baby sister or brother) Zenobia has one small doll that she takes everywhere and likes to fall asleep with. One of her favorite phrases is "Oh my goodness" and "Oh man" which she uses at the right times! She is growing like a weed!!!! In the last 6 months she grew 7 inches and gained 8 pounds. Zenobia has always been in the 70th percentile or higher for height but always below the 50th percentile for weight. At her 18 month check up, her weight caught up to her height. She is 35 1/2 inches (100%) and is 28 pounds (92%). Our baby girl isn't so much a baby anymore and becoming a true toddler. She is so fun and such a joy and precious gift in our lives.

First Snow

On Friday we received a little bit of snow and fortunately for us it stuck so we could take Zenobia out for her first encounter with snow. When she walked out on the deck she kept looking at her feet and would just stomp on the snow and hear all the fun crunchy sounds. Then the snow started to cover her boots and she said "Ah Mama, boots-dirty", and she tried to wipe the snow off. Zenobia didn't want to touch the snow at first until she saw me making snowballs and throwing them. She seemed amazed that a ball could come out of the "dirty stuff". Eugene pulled her around in her little sled which she absolutey loved. She even slid down her slide which was super duper fast and as she pushed the snow down the slide she landed in a huge pile at the bottom. Eugene and I were laughing so hard-she was kind of stuck like a turtle on her back with all her snow gear on. We even got to make a snowman, miniman-it was shorter than Zo. Again Zenobia was in awe of the whole thing. Once we got the eyes, nose, and mouth on she would point to miniman's nose then hers, his eyes, then hers, and his mouth, then hers. I don't think she really figured out that the sticks we put in the miniman were actually his arms. It was very interesting for her and especially for us to watch her precious expressions over everything. Hopefully there will be more snow times this winter. I know there will be if we have another winter like the the past two!!

Fun at Mami and Papa's

Since Zenobia always tries to take Mami's glasses off, Mami found some glasses (lens removed) for Zo to wear herself.

Helping Mami wash dishes.

What a diligent little helper!

A herd of wild turkeys roam the streets of Dayton and Zo got to witness it.

Trick or Treat!

Look what I have!!! Can't wait to eat it......

These Jack O'lanterns are neat!

Mami taking Zo trick or treating.

Zenobia with her 2 favorite men

Our neighbor and Zo's little playmate, Emma, handing out candy to Zo. Too Cute!!!!

Our Lil' Pumpkin

Of course her baby doll had to make the picture

Daddy and Zenobia

Mami and Papa with Zenobia

Had to get a pic with Zenobia before I left for work

Helping Mami carve the last pumpkins


I had to work on Halloween but Zenobia got to go trick or treating to a few neighborhood houses with Daddy, Mami, and Papa. They came to have dinner with me at work and Zo got to do a little treating there too. She loved wearing her costume but wasn't so sure about the pail at first until she saw candy (or num-nums as she calls it) filled it. I tried to "help" her carry it at the hospital and she wouldn't give it up. She turned out to be such a cute little pumpkin! Thanks for the costume Izzy!

Carving Pumpkins

Check out Zenobia's new shirt

Yes we're having another baby! I'm kind of late posting this but better late than never right? Eugene and I found out I'm pregnant in August when I was just a "little" pregnant. We just wanted to keep it to ourselves for a while and make sure all was well until we started spreading the good news. I am just about 4 months along now and the due date is April 18th. We are happy and excited about this new little life developing inside me.

Little Diva

Since Zenobia loves to try on Mommy's and Daddy's shoes and clothes, Grammy (Maemi-as Zo calls her) bought her some play shoes and a pretty dress for her and her baby. She loves to clickety click her way around in her fancy shoes and dress her baby in her 'party dress' just like her. Unfortunutely we had to throw the boa away since it was shedding all over the place. I'm sure there will be more down the road though.

While Mommy is cleaning.......

Zenobia tries on Mommy's shoes


Zo gets a free ride on the vaccum cleaner, and usually tries to help Mommy vaccum and mop with her little popper toy.


She tries on a few of the many hats Daddy has.


Plays with stickers, at least they don't end up stuck on the walls.


Zenobia sees how many bibs she can wear.

First Potty

She's so proud of herself!

Well we started potty training but haven't gotten too far due to my inconsistencies. Hopefully once things slow down with company we'll be able to keep a better schedule. Zenobia has gone potty and #2 in her potty and I'm so proud of her. I think she'll catch on really fast once I make things more consistent.

Ky and Zo

Look who ended up in our bed

Mekhi and Zenobia going nighty night

Zenobia absolutely loves her big brother

Daddy pulling Ky and Zo

Ky pulling Zo