2nd (I think) Annual Baker Beer Bash and Chili Cook-off!

Tonight was our annual Baker Beer Bash and Chili Cook-off!  2nd annual by my records...5th annual when Blaine welcomed everyone.  Hmmm...  Anyway, we had a great turn out with 11 beers and 13 chilis entered for the competition!  And this year was a bit different.  Besides being much colder outside, we made it kid-friendly with a bounce castle so that more friends could attend...that was a huge hit and worth every penny!  I think we had almost 40 adults and 20 kids!!

Back porch with two tasting stations

Chili tent

Gift basket of chili-related items for the winner of the best chili

Rogue Chipotle Ale with a gift card for the winners of the beer tasting

How well do you know your beers??

Partaking in the chili tasting

Best babysitter ever!  The other 18 kids were apparently in my house at this time eating cake shots!

Blaine takes his role as taster very seriously

Chocolate Stout Cake Shots...yum!

I know this shouldn't be funny to me (however, it is), but I had to grab my camera when the bounce castle blew a circuit and collapsed on the children inside.  Oh, the screams...of fear first, but then of excitement!  Everyone was okay.  :)

Blaine gives a prize to the winner of guessing the most types of beers...a tie between Matt and Edros!

Dan is proud to have submitted the winning beer...Shocktop Wheat!

Jeff and Marie take the prize for best chili!

It's almost 10 p.m. as I write this...at this time last year I was thoroughly enjoying the different beers with our friends in Hawaii.  Now, I'm ready for bed as a few guys sit with Blaine in the living room watching the UFC fight.  I imagine next year's party will be different, too, when we have a baby to put to bed.  :)  

Prayers Answered

For 20 weeks now, I have prayed for a healthy baby.  That's all that matters to us.  I'd have taken a boy or a girl, as long as our baby is healthy.  We were thrilled four weeks ago to find out we were having a girl...but we were even more thrilled yesterday when our ultrasound appointment assured us that she is, indeed, healthy and growing right on track!

I just love seeing her on ultrasound...it's so amazing to see all of the little parts of this little person inside of me.  She squirmed around a bit, but we got to see everything we needed to see.  My favorite was seeing her face, I think she is beautiful!  

Who do you think she looks like?!

Her little legs crossed!

Sweet baby foot...I can't wait to kiss those toes!

20 weeks!  I can't believe I'm already halfway through my pregnancy.  Only 20 more(ish) weeks until we meet our baby girl!!

Baby Sam weighs 12 ounces and is about the length of a banana now...and I can surely feel her moving around in there.  She particularly likes to punch and kick me right after I eat, so now I just sit back after meals and wait for her to say "hello".  I love it!!  

Happy Birthday, Blaine!

Today was a very special day.  First and foremost, we remember the fallen and honor the living veterans of war today.  But we also celebrated for another reason...today is Blaine's 35th birthday!  It is only fitting that someone as patriotic as my husband be born on this day.  :)  We had a nice breakfast with Blaine's brother, followed by gifts and yummy cupcakes.  I don't think Blaine was expecting any of it, so it was nice to see a look of surprise when he woke up to all of this.  I really love to make him feel special!

Perhaps the best gift of the day came later...when Blaine finally was able to see and feel our baby girl kicking and moving around in my belly!  I started to feel flutters and thumps a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't exactly sure it was her I was feeling.  But then I was reassured a few mornings ago when I decided to sit still and watch my belly.  Much to my surprise, I saw it move with one of those thumps!  I laughed and laughed until I cried.  So amazing!  Since that morning, I've been trying to get her to move for Blaine, but I guess she was waiting for today to give him a special "birthday kick"!  The look on his face was priceless.  :)  I think we are both so ready to meet her, we have so much fun talking and dreaming about who she will be and what our sweet little family will be like.

My growing belly...I haven't even taken the 19 week picture and I'll be 20 weeks on Thursday!  I think I'm even bigger now since this picture was taken.

Samantha's first pair of shoes...oh, to imagine those little kicking feet wearing these!  Melts my heart.  :)