tiny little things

My sister in law Laura made baby Mellema a couple of tiny sweater and hat sets! How cute are they?!

Merry Christmas 2009!

We have had quite an eventful year this year. I thought I would update you all on some of the changes in our lives.

Angela: After working for a research lab at Purdue University since 2004, the funding for my position ran out and I became a full-time housewife beginning in June. After spending a month or so on projects around the house I decided to use some of my free time at our church and began volunteering 2 mornings a week at our church's community center. I also kept up my weekly commitments at the local pregnancy resource center.

In July we found out that we were expecting a baby, due March 21. I spent the next couple of months on the couch, so I was thankful for my slower-paced schedule! In early November our ultrasound revealed that we should prepare for a little boy.

Face shot of the littlest Mellema:

Steve: After working since 2004 at a software company, Steve accepted a new job in the Minneapolis, MN area. Steve grew up there, and the chance to be close to at least one side of our family was pretty attractive. Earlier this month we loaded up our things and moved from Lafayette, Indiana to chilly Minnesota. We are currently staying with Steve's mom and dad while we transition to our new city.

The move has obviously changed several things in our life. Steve has played in a band, TitusJustus, for the past several years, so it was hard to say goodbye to them. He really enjoyed having a creative musical outlet there, as well as being a part of our previous church's worship team. It was hard to leave behind many of the areas of service that we've been a part of, both through our church and local community. But at the same time we're looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us in our new community.

These next few months hold some exciting changes for us, a new baby, hopefully a new house, and exploring our new city, so be sure to stop by for updates every so often. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Double-digits!

Today, if you notice on my ticker to the right, I have 100 days left in my pregnancy. I am now in the double-digit countdown! And as soon as I find the camera and the cord to the camera, I'll take some more belly pics :) I have definitely noticed significant growth the last couple of weeks, and so far everything is still going well.

We're getting settled into Minnesota, despite the cold weather! Steve starts his new job on Monday so he's looking forward to getting going on that. I had my first doctor's appointment here already, to get set up in the new clinic and get my next few appointments mapped out. So far I am so impressed with the efficiency of my new clinic, and I really liked the nurse practitioner that I met with. I meet with my new doctor in less than 2 weeks.

Thanksgiving

We were blessed to have my parents and brother come visit from South Carolina and my little brother (who lives in town) here for Thanksgiving, so we got to host our first Thanksgiving in our house :) Right after we got cleaned up, we started boxing away, so it was quite a reminder that we're not here for long at all. Here are a few fun pics.

24

Things are going well here, and in the midst of Thanksgiving, packing boxes and canceling utilities I turned 24 weeks :) I am feeling good, just some random aches and pains that are probably common and nothing to complain about quite yet. Baby Mellema is certainly a spaz, there is no end to his flipping around, kicking and squirming. We've been talking about names and have a few on a relatively short list, but aren't really attached to any one quite yet. Here I am at 24 weeks.