Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Since we won't be sending out our (late) Christmas cards and letter this year, I thought I would update here!

As you know, we are expecting a baby on June 2, 2009! Our BIG ultrasound is January 9 and quickly approaching. Make sure to visit often because we will have an update on baby boy or girl Batson :)

The year 2008 started out in a new home in St Louis. Jerret was working at Barnes and Noble and Stephanie at SLU. Stephanie had a huge video launch to promote the college. (See it HERE) She worked really hard with Coolfire Media in St Louis!

In February, Cameron from Kansas City came to visit! He wanted to learn a little about Steph's video and what to do in college. We had a good time showing him Coolfire's loft office and a few other neat St Louis places! In March, we visited Doug in Chicago and both went on trips with friends to Memphis, TN.

March was also when Jerret took a NEW job at Purina. He works days and not weird hours now!! We are so proud of him for taking a leap and getting the job! April took us to Indianapolis, IN for little Sarah Brush's wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher really know how to throw a party!

In May, Rayna graduated from high school and in July we took a Batson family float trip on the black river in Missouri. (Dirty, but fuN!) Our friend Brandon was married to a great woman in central IL in July too.

September, we went on a bachelor/bachelorette party to Kentucky Lake for Jerret's dad Mike. We had a blast there! In October, Mike and Ashley became Mr. and Mrs. Batson! We had fun being in the wedding and sharing OUR great news with family.

October, November and December consisted of doctor's appointments, excitement, and family visits. From Tremont to DuQuoin to St Louis we were always visiting family!

We hope 2009 brings you and your family as many blessings as our year has in store for our new family!

Current Basement LOOKS like...

Here it is. The boys are working hard to make this room awesome!


Drywall is up!


12X9 bedroom for guests--with one door! Not three!

Workbench.

Basement Update 1 of 2

So the guys have been working in over-drive to get the basement completed. It is looking great. Here are some pictures from LAST week. Next post will be the current progress.

Looking at the bedroom--has insulation!


Collier gets a cold one!

Jerret standing in the doorway : ) What a cutie!

Baby Batson update!

Just saw Dr. Lauri Klabi this week and baby is doing well. I heard the heartbeat and scheduled my appointment for the BIG ULTRASOUND! We find out if we are having a BOY or a GIRL on Friday, January 9, 2008 at 9am! (If baby cooperates!!)

To make it more fun, we are going to do a 50/50 drawing! $5 to enter, only one entry per person. You can guess BOY or GIRL and the winning group will be put in a hat and drawn out by Momma Steph! The winner gets 1/2 the money and the parents-to-be get to spend the other half on baby stuff! In order to enter, you MUST have your money to us by January 5th. We will announce the winner on the blog along with whether or not we will have a BOY or GIRL baby in June. (Of course, we will do a pool closer to the due date for date and time of delivery of new baby!)

I'm excited to have started clearing out the nursery (it had eBay stuff to sell and TONS of crafting stuff!) and getting ready for the holidays at the house.

Jerret is staying busy with finishing the basement and studying for his GMAT test. Please keep us in your prayers, as we are searching for an affordable daycare option in August, Jerret takes his GMAT test and applies to Grad school in January, and we want baby Batson to arrive safely.

We have a few more requests: our family members, health for friends and family, traveling over the holidays, Don to heal fully, baby Noah's life, Joanne's mission fundraising, Joan's heart, Sue, friendships at church, our marriage, Tatia's baby and being back to work, and our enemies.
LUVS--Steph
PS, here is a picture that Jerret took while Steph tried on maternity clothes for the first time (plus, an additional belly! "This is what Steph will look like in 5 months", says Jerret!

Cuddles

Jerret and I like to cuddle on the couch and watch TV or a movie together. Sadie (dog) and Snickers (cat) beat us to it! They spent some time sleeping together the other day! Sweet dreams girls!

THANKSGIVING

So we were ready to get out of town for Thanksgiving and here are some photos and comments. We went to Tremont and had a great time. We even went shopping on black Friday! (Of course we only picked up a faucet and a light for the house!) We had dinner with Beth, Drew, Brandon and Gayle and a lunch date with Gary and his wife, Lindsay! Whew, were we glad to see everyone and then head home BEFORE the snow hit our area!

Aunt Deb, Steph and Rena after a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner! YUM



Babe, Noah playing with his new Christmas present. A CAT tractor from Aunt Pooh (Aunt Steph)

Baby Noah and daddy.

He is TOO cute! Love that hat, kiddo!

Noah learned how to kiss, he LICKS you! I love baby kisses