I've been keeping something from you. Something big. Something wonderful. Something super, super exciting. And now I'm ready to share. Because I had the best kind of confirmation for this something good today. I'm having a baby. Kris and I are having a baby. Annika is going to be a big sister. I went to my first doctor appointment today (at 9 weeks, 2 days according to the doctor) and I was able to hear the heartbeat! It was beating away at 156 bpm. It's there! It's real! It's alive! Whew! That was a huge relief. My official due date? February 14, 2007. Valentine's Day. Kris and I are pretty excited although we're still in a bit of shock too. It all happened so fast (which I know is a huge blessing but still - it really did happen really, really, really fast!). We're still adjusting to the idea of two. I'm still adjusting to the idea that Annika won't be my baby anymore. That she's going to be a big sister. And I admit that I'm a bit worried about how she's going to adjust, if we'll still have our super close bond, if she'll bond to her new sibling, etc. I'm just a worried ball of nerves basically. And a sick ball of nerves too. I've been sick for 4 weeks now. I was getting sick almost daily (and sometimes more - lucky me!) for a couple weeks there. It has started spacing out, the amount of sickness but I still feel terrible most of the time. I'm hoping this tapers off now that I'm getting closer to the end of the first trimester. It did with Annika at least and I'm hoping this pregnancy follows that lead. Wow. Pregnancy. I'm pregnant! I've been keeping a small journal locally and I'll upload those entries at some point so I have them all in one spot.

And now for some Annika-isms to round out the day. Whenever Annika asks for something we always make her ask again nicely, meaning she has to say please. Lately she says "Please? Okay." Kris and I usually say okay after she asks for something so she's just finishing our conversation for us. She does the same thing when we enter a room or come home. She sees us and says "Hi! How are you? Good." It is just too cute.

Annika can now sing the entire ABC's by herself. I'm so proud! And she also loves the Barney Song. (I love you, you love me, we're a happy family, with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won't you say you love me too?) The cutest part is where she has to hug and kiss you when the song says to. Who doesn't want Annika hugs and kisses. I surely do!