Merry Christmas from Us!

Here is our Holiday Newsletter this year, via email!

This year has been a very fun year for us, and especially for our now 21 month old daughter, Leah! March brought her first birthday, and we had a huge family party for her. She continues to grow by leaps and bounds, learning so many new words a week it is amazing! Both Josh and I are treasuring this "learning" time with her. Some of her favorite things include watching "Grek" (Shrek) and "Winnie-a-Pooh" (Winnie the Pooh) movies, reading lots of books, learning all animal sounds she can, and cuddling with mom. She's a sweet, care-free little girl!

Our exciting news of this year is that in Spring of '08 we will be buying my parent's huge Blue House in the country! We are very excited about that, as it is such a great place to raise a family, and we will be close to everyone out there. My parents intend to build next door to us. As of November this year, we moved in with them for the winter, which is a great treat to be with family again! Leah just loves waking up and seeing Grandma and Grandpa. She even learned all 5 dogs' names by memory!

Josh continues to work for Ken Berge Construction, and is coming up on his 3rd year with them this April. He bought a new ice fishhouse last winter with all the goodies, and is really enjoying using it every Sunday with "the guys" (My Dad and brother Isaac) He also loves having his snowmobile out and running! Deer season went well at the Parthun House this year, Josh harvested 3 deer over the course of the season, and we are still amazed at my brother Isaac, who snagged a 10 pointer! The guys had a lot of fun this season

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I have been busy with Leah's care, sewing projects, gardening, canning jams and produce, and lots of other household "wife" duties! I wouldn't have it any other way.. It's a great "job" I continue to teach in AWANAs at church, and enjoy spending time with all my girls.

Also this year we purchased one of my Mom and Dad's Golden Retriever Puppies, and names him Teddy. He is a very soft-hearted, sweet 7 month old puppy. Leah adores him, and sometimes I feel like I am rasing 2 kids instead of one, as they both require constant attention and direction! I participated in a obedience class with him this fall and he did very well! He will be a great family dog!

My highlight this year was our Helweg Family Trip to Wyoming with Josh's family from Warroad. We traveled to the Black Hills, Mt Rushmore, Rocky Mt Nat'l Park, and many other landmarks of the west, all while visiting Josh's grandparents in Laramie, WY. It was a once in a lifetime trip we all enjoyed!

Another blessing for us, is in August, we were blessed with discovering we are due for our second child in May of '08!! I have been very well so far, and the baby is healthy! We are thankful and excited to meet our new little one soon! Leah grows more excited about "Baby" every day, and kisses my tummy in anticipation! She will be a great big sister!

Hope you all have a great year, and Merry Christmas to you all!

Josh, Laura, Leah (and Baby) Helweg

Laura and Baby - 21 weeks 12/22/07

Our Leah Rose - 21 months old

My Sewing Projects!

I decided today, looking like a rather quiet day, would be a great day to tackle some summer '08 sewing for Leah. I got two pairs of pantaloons done, and even sewed her a new apron!! (This will save on her dresses wearing so fast!) They were very easy to make, and I just love the patterns! I bought them from some friends of mine, who make and sell modest clothing. :)

http://www.thekingsdaughters.com/

The patterns I used are "Jewel's Apron" and "Girl's Pantaloons"

I can't wait to see Leah running around wearing her new things next summer!

Then for a fun Christmas gift idea, earlier in the month, I designed and made a bunch of Hand-Quilted Potholders!! They were so easy and quick to make, plus they make wonderful gifts.. especially for Grandmas! I whipped out about 6 in a week's time! I liked having something to sew by hand while watching a movie or resting. :) It was great fun!

Ode to Pinkeye..

Ever have a child who has had Pinkeye? Ever had it yourself?

This has been my week so far.. my Loooong 3 days of it anyway!

Monday night, Leah was extra crabby and fussy, plus her eyes were weepy and kind of swollen. I didn't notice any redness at the time, and had a Dog Obedience class to go to with our puppy, Teddy. So I left her with Daddy, and the two of them had fun movie time together. When I got back, Josh told me she had Pinkeye. I had never had contact with this before, so he said she HAD to go into the Urgent Care tomorrow and get prescription eyedrops.

Well, there goes my quiet week, I thought! But nevertheless, I packed her up early the next morning and sure enough, after an hour waiting in the clinic (I HATE waiting when it's flu season) she got in and got her prescription.

However, someone failed to mention to me how contagious Pinkeye really is!! I contracted it that night in both eyes, and it was kind of painful!! Your eye is swollen, weepy and sore, and all you want to do is rub it! Not too fun... especially when you have a crabby toddler with the same problem. Answer? Dad to the Rescue!!! Josh came home from work and stayed up with a fussy Leah 'til midnight last night, as she couldn't sleep, allowing me to get some MUCH needed rest and re-coop in bed!! I was so thankful!!!!

So today, both of us are MUCH better and using the eyedrops has helped so much, pretty much no pain and soreness!! Thank the Lord for medicine!! I am looking forward to staying home now, and re-cooping, plus getting my chores done I had to set aside :)

Our Newest Addition.. still in the making!

Here are our 20 week Ultrasound Pictures I just got done yesterday! I LOVE getting to see the baby, and especially the profile picture!! The ultrasound went really well, everything is progressing normally and on-time! The Doctor was very happy with the results. :)
I just love getting to see the toes and fingers, and getting a glimpse of our new little one!

Top Pic: Foot and Toes!!!

Bottom Pic: Baby's face.. notice the hand above the head!! Cute!

Top Pic: Head/Body Shot

Bottom Pic: Profile Pic.. my fave!

so.. does this baby look like Josh more, or like me?

Baby's face

Thsi pregnancy has been going very well, except same as Leah's, right on the 5month dot, I started getting awful heartburn with anything I eat! (Even milk/cereal!) So, I filled a prescription to antacids.. but I am trying natural Papaya tablets first. Anyone else have any good natural treatment ideas for heartburn?

Also, this baby is growing so fast ot is putting pressure on my lower abdomen, right where I had my incision, and is starting to be sore and crampy, later at night especially. The Dr said I should just take it easy, and not to cause stress on the muscles, as I will need them later! Which includes carrying anything heavier than Leah.. such as laundry baskets, groceries.. (I laughed.. like that will happen!) I will just have to try and be easy on myself.. not to do too much in the evening especially.

All in all, it has been going just great.. especially since the baby's been kicking now for about 2 weeks. It is very active.. trying to earn it's Black Belt in Karate, I think! :) But it's been fun to feel it move and kick.. :)

To Days Gone By...

I LOVE looking through old scrapbooks and (in this case) old pictures on the computer!! Here are some of my faves from a while ago.. I love trips down memory lane!

Feb '06 - Preggo with Leah

Sept '06 - Dad n'Leah

March '06 - Mom and new baby:)

May '07 - Leah's 1 yr old pics!!

Summer '06 - Mom n'Leah- has to be my all time fav!

The Best Moments in a Day

Ever have one of these moments as a mom? I LOVE it when my day is full of these!!!

1. The feel of clean sheets on your bed.. and getting to sleep in.. a little bit.. :)

2. The smell of fresh baking cookies.. and the sight of all of the finished ones!

3. The feel of your toddler snuggling in your lap.. and the smell of her baby skin. :)

4. The warmth of your house, when snow is falling outside.

5. The taste of yummy chicken and rice.. with Chinese coleslaw for a side.. my fav!

Today number 3 definately tops my list.. :) I was folding laundry and when Leah woke up from her nap.. she wanted to snuggle. Guess what got done later? I love my "Mom moments"..

Pic of me and my Leah-bug.. at the aquarium with the fish.. Yes, that is my pregnant 18 week belly! :)

My new favorite cookie!

I just LOVE Christmas time of year.. especially when I get to bake LOTS of fun, yummy treats!

I've been doing a lot of that this past week, freezing some for our week of Christmas. (On Dec 25th I'll take every kind of cookie I've made all month out, and we have a BIG cookie feast!) So fun! I just love baking.. :)

I found this recipe in a "Family Fun" Magazine.. and it looked just scrumptious!! I decided to try it with my holiday baking yesterday, and let me tell you, these cookies are just little chocolate jewels!!! They're advertisted as a cookie/brownie hybrid! Talk about yummy!

Here is the recipe so you all can try them too!

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Chocolate Crinkles

3/4 Cup Butter, melted

1/2 Cup unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1 Cup White Sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 Cups flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp salt

6 oz mini semi-sweet choc chips (I just used regular, and mashed em'.. lol)

3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

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In large bowl, mix together butter, cocoa, and w.sugar. Whisk in eggs and vanilla.

In another bowl, mix in flour, B.powder, B.soda, and salt. Use spoon to add dry ingredients spoon-by-spoon into wet ingredients. (The key is to slowly add it in) When mixed, stir in chips.

Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.

Form dough into 1 inch balls, and roll in Powdered Sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake cookies at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then move to wire racks to cool. Makes 4 Dozen Crinkles. :)