October 2018 Update

Almost every time Kenna wakes up, whether it's during the night or in the morning, she either whines or calls out and waits for us to get her. But not this morning! She woke us up by bursting through our bedroom door, a bright and sunshiny grin on her face, saying, "Hi, Mommy!"

She's getting to be such a big girl.

Every time she notices my belly, she pats it and says, "Baby dister (sister)". She's going to be such a good big sister, once the initial adjustment period is over.

Baby is eight months now...just another month to go! We have been extremely busy with work, so we're not completely prepared yet, but we've been trying to get there lately. I've washed clothes and gotten the carseat out of storage. We've been looking at names, although we're still far from making a decision.

I cannot WAIT till this baby is born, so I can go back to eating normally. Even though I'm only borderline for gestational diabetes, I still have to avoid ALL pasta, rice, pizza, cold cereal, and sugary drinks. And I have to check my blood sugar and count carbs.

Only one month left...hopefully not any longer!

Not only have I been busy with work, but I launched my new blog at the beginning of October, so I've been busy trying to build up my content, my social media followers, and I've just started sending out pitches to various brands in an attempt to collaborate on sponsored posts. I really need this to work out, otherwise I'll end up having to go back to my job once my maternity leave is over, and I honestly can't stand the thought.

Check out my blog here, if you haven't already!

So far, I haven't made a penny from it... Which is no surprise, since it hasn't even been a month and it's going to take quite a bit of time and effort to start making money. So far, the only way it is monetized is with affiliate links. My plan is to create some digital products to promote in addition to signing up for affiliate and sponsor sites, reaching out to brands I'd like to work with.

I did recently receive a surprise payment of $100, which came from the Google ads I have posted on another blog that I don't keep up with anymore. If only I'd realized that my Morkie blog gets so much traffic, I would have gone a completely different direction with this whole thing, but it's too late now. At this time, I don't want to go too many different directions....maybe later though.

Anyway, we'll just be continuing on as we wait for Baby Girl to make her arrival....

November 2015 Update

 Even though it's really blurry, I love this picture of Little Buddy (Sherlock)

Sherlock is SO NAUGHTY! Just now, we caught him inside the bathroom garbage can...he'd tipped it over and emptied it of its really nasty contents (cat litter, paper towels from cleaning the toilet, etc.) then tucked himself inside with only his tail sticking out.

But he's also so, so cute. He is super curious, and just follows me around when I'm cleaning or doing anything that seems really interesting to him, and watches me. He loooves the vacuum. I can run it right into him and he'll just sit there.

Anyway, as promised, I thought I'd share a couple pictures from when the Beckmans visited. I don't have many, but here they are...

We took Isabelle to the Rocket Slide park for a picnic and to play for a bit.

We shopped downtown and got some coffee (and a cookie for Isabelle) at Don't Spill the Beans.

We put together a puzzle that night, and the next morning, Isabelle helped me make breakfast. Such a good helper!

Sorry so short, but that was way back in August, so that's all I've really got. I was all pumped up to do a blog post today, since it's been so long since the last one, but now that I'm here...I'm all out of steam. I'll try though...

So, what else is new in the Mickelson household? 

Well, not much, actually. We haven't really gone anywhere or done much since our Seattle trip. On Halloween, we went to Mitchell to shop a bit and Dan and I both got our birthday presents. He got a saw that he'd been wanting (and used it today for a project he's helping me with!) and I got a bench with storage to put by the door in the kitchen, so we can sit while putting shoes on. Once the 'project' is done, I'll post a picture of everything all together.

Dan's birthday was on Monday. I have to admit, I kind of forgot that morning until we were already at work...yikes! He wanted Italian Nachos for supper (tortilla chips topped with mozzarella cheese, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and pepperoncinis - and dipped in marinara sauce) and one of his coworkers ate dinner with us. It totally slipped my mind to make a cake, so I picked up pumpkin cupcakes and gelato (to fit into the Italian theme) for dessert. 

We started going to the gym about a month ago. I had been working out at home until then, and it just wasn't going anywhere...I was losing motivation (and getting bored). So we've been going twice on the weekends (or trying) and Dan goes several mornings during the week, and I go a couple times during the week after work. I'd been going to Tabata on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but now that's on hold for the next six weeks since they're having boot camp instead. I wasn't quite up for that yet!

Anyway, that's about it. We don't have much else going on now until the holidays...

Sherlock and Graya

Warmth {with Loki & Mila}

Loki basking in the warmth of the fireplace

Mila still prefers the warmth of a blanket

Karissa's Baby Shower

Finally, we had a weekend to relax at home after a couple busy--but fun-filled--ones. Two weeks ago, we had a couple friends come over from Fargo, and we also had a housewarming party with a bunch of people from work. It was fun to finally invite people over to our new house! Then last weekend, Dan went to see his friend in International Falls--an 8-1/2 hour drive. And I drove back home for Karissa's baby shower.

Yesterday, my dad and Justin stopped by for coffee on their way to Phoenix. It was fun to have them over, even if it was just a quick visit! Other than that, I have done a little writing, and not much else....

I thought I'd post a few pictures from the baby shower...I am absolutely terrible about posting in a timely fashion!! Better late than never, though, right?!

I didn't have a chance to take many pictures because I was pretty busy, but I got a few anyway. We didn't have much for decorations, but what little we had took a while to put in place. On top of that, there was food to prepare and the shower was at noon. It was nice getting it over early, though, so we could have the rest of the day to relax.

Pink streamers and pom-poms

Candy guessing game and advice cards

Cake made of cupcakes

The mommy-to-be

Mom and the sisters

Karissa with the grandmas

Opening gifts

We had a pretty good turnout, but not so many people that the house was too crowded.

After coffee at the Cottage House on Sunday morning, I went to visit Dan's parents for a couple hours. It was a beautiful fall afternoon--I wish I had taken some pictures. Between that and stopping to see my family in Wolf Lake on my way back to Huron, it was awesome to see all the changing colors. Once I got back into South Dakota, it was all fields and no color...which I'm coming to realize is pretty in its own right. The cornfields and lakes can be pretty to look at, although it gets a little old after a while. Still, nothing beats fall in Minnesota.