Chocolate & Coffee

If you knew my mom you miss her every day like I do. February 19th is her birthday, and every year I like to make sure to take a moment and do what she did best to try and help the sadness: Eat chocolate, drink coffee, and be with the ones she loves. Each year I look through pictures to see how she has shown up, and the winner this year was my first ever successful coffee cake (I think because I was at home preparing it with both my sisters, thanks Skype).

Additionally, I started my graduate classes at Clemson University in January.Dan and I drove down to South Carolina for my orientation. Along the way we got to visit with some great friends (Wes & Gillian, and Melody and her boys). We learned that Southern hospitality is very nice! I am officially a Tiger, I bleed orange now. Even though my program is online, my professors reminded me it is still an accredited Master's program...I have learned that thus far! How it works: I am in a cohort of 30 students, and we all go through the two-year program together. We take one accelerated course at a time, lasting 7 weeks, two per semester until December 2013 when we graduate! We meet every Tuesday night online, in this crazy chat place, from 7:00-8:30. I do A LOT of reading, posting, and reading.
The program is Youth Development Leadership, if you really want to learn some more check it out http://www.clemson.edu/hehd/departments/youthdevelopment/ .

Balancing school and work is tough, and is only going to get a bit harder! But you all know I've got an amazing partner to help with everything! Dan has been supportive, caring, and motivational to help ensure that I stay on track! I can't tell you how lucky I am!

Dan is ready and excited about Poppy. He is working in the nursery right now actually! Work is going well, and he is working hard as always. He is preparing for his first mini-marathon in Indy on May 5th. So he has been outside running in this cold weather, he thinks it's enjoyable at least.


Those are the mojor updates, enjoy some pictures below!!!

Uncle Bennett with Poppy - He is a lot happier than he looks!

Brother Henry snuggling with Poppy - He is actually a lot more jealous than he looks.

                        4 weeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23 weeks!

Do I look any different? Woah! Baby is obviously growing. Poppy (baby Nieder-Meyer's nick-name) is about 1 pound now and approximately 12 inches. However I think the baby is at least 2 feet long! Last check-up everything was looking good, heart rate was 147, and I'm still feeling wonderful. Even better, now that I get to feel kicks and punches!              

Pictures of Poppy

We got to see Poppy today! Let me say, it was awesome! We saw the heart, spine, bones, and face! The baby was fist pumping, waving, bouncing, twirling, all over the place!

Heart rate was 148, approximately 9 ounces, very long, and everything else looks normal, healthy, and good to the doctor!

Here are some pictures:

2011 Flashback

Our 2011 photo flashback
 (based off of available pictures, not priority)



Like always, the same way we celebrate the past year, we welcome the new one!
By the way, there will be two babies in this picture next year!



Well that was quick! We know that 2012 will be jammed packed with school, babies, and who knows what else!
 I hope we get to enjoy some of it with you!

So you heard the big news?

Well if you made it this far,  I think you already know our big news! Yup, baby Niederman is due June 6th, 2012.

 Here is all of the fun baby/pregnancy stuff you might want to know (if you don't skip to below):

1. We are really excited!
2. Henry is not  . . .
3. We are not going to find out the sex until June 6th! If you are devastated because you just don't know what to buy the baby think blue, green, yellow, polka dot, or diaper!
4. We have names picked out, but they are also going to be a surprise! We currently are calling it Poppy, so we don't have to call it "it"
5. The nursery is alphabet themed: blue - orange - brown
6. I have not been sick yet, and I think it is a boy!
7. Dan thinks it is a girl, but then sometimes boy . . . 50/50
8. We are really excited, we hope you are too!

Other news, jobs are going well and we are thankful for them! I start my master's classes in January at Clemson (online), so we will see how long this BLOG will last after that. Dan is training for the mini-marathon in Indy May, 5th! We still love Bloomington, and we really encourage you to visit at any time (we still have a nice guest bedroom)!

Check back in for pictures, updates, and more baby news!

Happy Holidays!