Big Brother T-shirts

When we told Eric's parents we were going to have another baby, we got these t-shirts for the boys that say "Big Brother" on them and we had the boys wear them when we skyped to share the news.

At the time, the boys were wearing 12 month clothes but the smallest size the store had was 24 months. Yeah, that made me feel really great when I was buying them...my children weren't even old enough to wear the "big brother" t-shirts when we had another on the way!

Anyway, they were wearing them one day before we moved and I took some pics. Looking at these pics makes me really miss our house :'(

Cute butts!

Really late posting of the boys' birthday

I've been so bad at posting lately! Here are a few pics of the little party we had for the boys.

Their cake. They had a "Baby Einstein" themed party

Beginning to get into the cake

Getting messy!

The boys got this car for their birthday. It was the perfect toy for twins. We had one boy sitting on the car and the other push him around. It was so funny! The boys loved it.

What's in a name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet?"

~Romeo and Juliet

This quote has been playing in mind ever since we found out we're having a girl. For some reason, we are having the toughest time deciding on a name. We used to love the name Emma, but in the past few years everyone has named their daughter Emma. I don't know why we mind so much, but we don't want our little girl to have a name where she's going to have 15 other "Emma's" to share it with.

We also have a slight problem. Well, it's not really a problem so much as an expectation we unknowingly made for our family's names. You see, the letters in our names go: B,C,D, and then E. We did not intentionally do this; we just really like Brandt and Carter and we are already Darcy and Eric. So there you go...now people think Baby Girl Groen needs to have a name that starts with an "A." We're not really putting too much weight into the name needing to begin with an "A," but it does create a slight fear of disappointment in those wishing for the ABCDE Groens.

We also have this problem: as Eric puts it, I like floofy names. And it's true. I like them pretty. I wouldn't pick a modern name. I pick names that sound pretty with they're spoken and when they are written. Written with lots of curly cues and loop de loops. Names that sound like little Girl Groen needs to wear bows and ruffles and petticoats everyday. Eric does not. We have the hardest time even finding a name that we both think is okay. And okay just will not do. Ugh.

So the search for Baby Girl Groen's name continues. She needs a name and at this rate, we're going to be the couple at the hospital they won't let leave because they haven't named their child.

I ask that if you have any name suggestions, please let me know. I mean ANY suggestions. I like floofy, Eric likes simple. So really anything will be taken into consideration!

It's a.......!!!!!

Over a week ago, I had an ultrasound done at my new OB's office. I was under the impression it was going to be THE ultrasound where all the measurements are taken of the baby to make sure he/she is growing normally and to determine if it's a boy or girl. I was bummed because Eric was on call that day (it seems like he's on call everyday, but that's another issue), but I was still excited to find out if the baby is a girl or boy.

Old Man Ultrasound Tech greeted me when I got there and informed me he was going to do the ultrasound. Seriously, this guy was so old. Anyway, OMUT (this is what I'll call him for short), proceeded to perform the ultrasound. I was waiting for him to start taking all the measurements, to tell me my amniotic fluid was fine, tell me there was no signs of downs syndrome or hydrocephalus...anything! All I got was, "Yep, you're right on schedule for your gestational age. Here's the brain matter and here's a femur." And then the exam was over. I asked, "Wait, can't you tell if it's a boy or girl?" He replied, " Oh no. It's too soon yet and this machine is so old, I wouldn't be able to tell."

I was so mad! Not only did it seem like the ultrasound was for nothing except to measure the gestational age, but stupid OMUT didn't even try to find out for me. Now I know that ultrasounds aren't to determine the sex, but this guy could've tried. What made the most mad was that he told me his machine was too old. What a big fat lie!

I went home and made an appointment at one of those ultrasound boutique places. I told the lady I spoke with I just wanted to know the sex of the baby because I'd just had a ultrasound but OMUT wouldn't tell me. She asked who did the exam and when I told her, she said, "I taught him all he knows! He certainly could've told you."

That Saturday, Eric was off so we and my in-laws took the boys and went to the boutique place. It was so much fun! The lady was a really good (and nice!) tech and she made sure to get a good shot of the goods. Without further ado, here's the pictures that were taken, beginning with showing off the goods.

It's a GIRL!!!! See the three lines? Ok, it's kinda hard to tell, but they're on the left.

Her beautiful little feet are crossed. What a little lady!

Here are some 3d shots. Since it's still pretty early, she's looking pretty skeletonish, but beautiful nonetheless.

She's smiling!

And here she is sucking her thumb :)

We are so excited to add a girl to the mix! We love her so much already. Now I just hope we can decide on a name!

We made it to IL!

We are finally here and almost settled in. There are still a few lingering boxes that don't seem to be getting unpacked, but besides that, we're all in!

The drive itself was loooooong. I remember it being long, but it's so much longer with children! It seemed like everytime we got on the road, someone had a poopy diaper requiring immediate attention. It was three really long days.

We're living in Eric's parent's basement this year, so most of our stuff is in storage. What a hassle it was to divide everything up between the two places and making sure the movers got it to the right place. We're just glad to be here and that the drive is over and our stuff made it, too!

Here are a few pics of the trip and when we first got here:

Caves in AZ

Mr. Carter sleeping in the car. The boys don't really sleep well in the car, so I was grateful when they did for a little bit.

Me driving. I think this was the third day when I didn't know if I could go any further.

The little travel companions. It was so helpful to have my mom there. While one of us drove, the other would tend to the boys.

Mr. Brandt and his foot :)

The day after we got to IL, we all went swimming. I'd just changed the boys' diapers and put them in those cool designer huggies that look like jeans. We went out to the pool to show off the diapers and decided the boys should swim. Ummmm...if anyone doesn't already know this: normal diapers explode when they get too soaked. We had to invest in swimming diapers the next day. Anyway, here's Carter with his grandpa.

Mr. Brandt!

Mr. Brandt in his denim diaper

I love this picture. I look like crappola, but Brandt sure is cute!

Playing in "real" grass for the first time.

My mom with Brandt. It was so fun to swim and not be driving!

Everyone having fun at the pool.

I have so much more to post, I need more hours in the day. Both the boys have started walking. It's so amazing how they just decide one day they are going to try it out!

Baby G #3!!

Yep...the rumors are true. I'm pregnant! I can still hardly believe it. It was such a huge shock. Needless to say, we weren't trying at all. Our "plan" was to wait a few years before we wanted to even think about trying. We hadn't even decided if we were going to stop at 2 children. But, God had a VERY different plan for us.

It's already been an eventful pregnancy. I had a subchorionic hemorrhage that started at week 7. This was so scary! It ended up not being a big deal, but I thought for a week that I was losing the baby. Since the scare, I have had the easiest first trimester. No morning sickness!! The only weird thing was for a couple of weeks, dinner sounded gross. So far, this pregnancy couldn't be more different than my pregnancy with the boys.

I'm due in December. My due date has changed a couple times. Right now, it's December 19th, but I think that is still about a week late. I really think somewhere closer to the 12th is more accurate.

We're so excited to meet this next bundle of love!

Dr. Eric J. Groen

Eric graduated...medical school is over! Eric has had mixed emotions over this change. He is really going to miss the friends he's made over the past few years. He is also getting very anxious and nervous about starting his intern year. He has complained quite often over the past year that he doesn't get to do much during his rotations, yet now that he will be given more freedom and responsibility, he is questioning his readiness. During his internship year in Chicago, he will spend each month doing something different (ie. pediatrics, OB, critical care, etc.) and Eric just found out his first month is pediatrics. As Eric says, "I don't do babies and I don't do ladies." Needless to say, he's getting especially nervous starting in peds.


Below are a few pics of his graduation. It was a lovely ceremony and we can finally call him doctor! :)

Waiting for the ceremony to start. We had to get there early to get make sure we got a spot where we could easily escape if the boys were getting loud. They did great, despite missing their morning nap and stayed the entire time.


Eric is the tall blonde in the third row from the bottom and smack dab in the middle.

Our little family.

With my family

The doctor with his boys.

With Eric's family.

A cool shot Eric's dad took.

Eric with some of his friends from medical school: Melissa and Robert Nelson, Anna and Russell Horton, Saul Rosenstein and then us.

This picture cracks me up. Look at Carter giving Saul a look!

Saying goodbye to everyone