Torie Hermann

Wow, it has been awhile!

2011-11-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Bus rides are her favorite!

Walking "Baby Duck"!!

Lyon, France

It has been a couple of years since I have written a blog. I thought starting this before my daughter was born was a great idea and would help me to keep my family and friends informed on the development of my pregnancy and Kensie's growth! However, as soon as she was born (2 years ago!) I completely got into "mom mode" and just didn't devote the time to blog about anything, including her! Now, I find myself sitting on my couch while my daughter reads her books to her rubber duckies thinking that I need a hobby! So, here I go! My daughter, Kensington, was born July 23, 2009 and has been the highlight of my life ever since! I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with her all day everyday. My husband got an offer with his company to move overseas this year and we decided (after a lot of pros and cons lists and consideration of family and friends) that we would make the move to Luxembourg. A very small but amazing country! We have been here for roughly 6 months now and are very happy with our decision. More to come on that process later! I am posting just a few pictures of our adventures so far with plenty more to come!

Niece and Nephew!

2009-07-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post something about my time with my niece and nephew for a couple of weeks now, but haven't had a lot of time! Damien (5 years old) and Hannah (almost 2 years old) spent most of June (during the day when mom and dad worked!) with me! I realized during my time with them and the couple weeks since they have been back at their other babysitters that I really love having them around! They are 2 of the greatest kids ever! I tried to take them on fun adventures, usually to different parks in the area and realized quickly that with my expanding pregnant stomach that was easier said than done. So, unfortunately for them we did a lot of things just around the house!

One day Damien wanted Subway for lunch. Well, I told him we were eating lunch at home but we could make subway type sandwiches if he wanted. He LOVED this idea! (go figure!) So, he got out everything to make a Subway, we had a sign posted, the counter was all set out with all kinds of food (mostly veggies that he didn't want on his sandwich anyway, but it was all part of the fun!) He did all the work and loved it! Hannah and I were his only customers that day, but he made us some yummy sandwiches and everytime he comes to my house now he says, "remember when we made Subway right in your kitchen?!" So, I think that was a good experience for the little guy! At least he had fun! While I am talking about Damien... he LOVES Kensington already. Every single morning he would come in and kiss my belly and say good morning to the baby. When it was "rest" (not nap!) time he would lay across my belly and just rub and say how much he loves his little cousin! I can't say enough how precious he is. I can't wait to see how is when she is born!

As for Hannah...she is a handful...but a fun one!! She is very independent, but of course isn't quite 2 so needs help with most things! We were playing in the kiddie pool I had out and she spent the whole time dumping the water (with tupperware bowls!) out of the pool. She would look back at me, knowing I was watching her, and would just laugh. When I gave up telling her to keep the water in the pool she only dumped faster! Doesn't reverse psychology work anymore??!! I guess not! I took the kids to Union park one day...this park has a giant rocket slide at one end and across a grassy area has a swing set and smaller playground area. Damien was playing on the rocket slide and trying to get Hannah to go down the slide with him...all she wanted to do was swing! The rocket slide is awesome too, but she just wanted to swing! She is the easiest kid when it comes to the park, as long as there is a slide!

They are wonderful kids and I love them very much!

Baby shower pic

2009-06-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

I just thought I would post this pic. It was at my shower a couple of weeks ago! Yes, I am HUGE!! And, the shower was outside in 90 degree Iowa humid weather!!! So, my hair is a mess, and I was hot and swollen!! But, it was still a great, fun day!!!

Baby Kensington

2009-06-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, June 22, I had an OB appointment and an ultrasound! Kensington is still healthy, however, weighs 5 pounds 4 ounces. I was 32 weeks at the time of the appointment. She is in the 84th percentile for weight. I am not exactly sure what that means, but my doc said there is nothing to be worried about right now. Since I have type one diabetes this is pretty normal. However, we don't want to have a 10-12 pound baby so they are going to check her lung development at 36 weeks (which is in 3 weeks now!) and if they are good, they are inducing that day! If not, they will wait one more week and induce at 37 weeks!! She is really healthy otherwise so they are not worried about her being a few weeks early! It concerned me a little at first, but I have to realize that I trust my doctors very much and trust their knowledge on giving birth and babies!

I go back to the doctor this Monday for another ultrasound and they are going to check the movement of the baby for about 30 minutes or something!! I am excited for these last few appointments! It is getting so close! In 3-4 weeks I am going to be a mommy! It is a lot to take in!

Jason is out of town this weekend...maybe the last "guy's weekend" for awhile! So, I have been cleaning and getting Kensington's room all ready. Jason has done a lot of the big stuff for her room...he put her crib together, put up new casing on her windows, is going to install new blinds, and redo the closet! So, I just did little stuff like put all her clothes away (we got a bunch of super cute stuff!!), organized all of the stuff from the showers we had, etc. Actually, Jason has done a lot more work on her room than I have! He is loving it though!!

My feet are starting to swell sitting at this computer! I am off to put them up for the night! More to come after my appointment on Monday!

6 weeks or so...

2009-06-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

I have about 6 weeks (maybe 8, but more than likely 6) left of this pregnancy! When I was in high school and college 6 weeks sounded like forever and honestly did take forever. However, now, it seems like tomorrow. I have a trillion things I want to get done before Kensington is here and no time to do it. Well, at least I feel like I don't have any time to do it. I have been trying to clean out my basement and guest room for like 3 weeks now and am only about one third of the way done! Eh, it will get there!

My sister and sister-in-law are throwing me a baby shower tomorrow afternoon. I am really excited for it! They have been planning this for over a month now and have worked so hard. I really love them for everything they do! So, tomorrow I will be able to blog about my baby shower gifts!! And, I just found out that my greatest friend ever, Janelle, sent me a gift to my sisters house! YAY!! I am really excited! I have the greatest friends and family ever!

More blogging!

2009-06-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

So, I finally figured out how to add the countdown to Kensington's birth icon thing! I almost ripped my hair out in the process, but I figured it out! You would think that with my husband being a computer programmer, living and breathing technology, that I would catch on a little bit! One of these days I will get with the times!

I was going to come up with something great to write about tonight, but all I seem to think about is my baby and being a first time mom. Everything is so cool. I can't even describe what I am feeling. I have been watching my stomach move all night long. She moves and kicks and has hiccups all day long! I know I said this in my previous blog, but, feeling this baby move inside me is the best, most wonderful experience of my life. I have loved being pregnant. I can't wait to see her little face and hold her little body and spoil her more than anybody has ever been spoiled before!

I am a little nervous about labor and contractions. However, I keep thinking about Kensington being here for us to hold and love and all of my fears go away!

I do have a cute story about my nephew, Damien. He is 5 years old and loves that he is going to be a cousin. He sits and rubs my belly and says things like, "Kensington is so beautiful, Kensington is so little and cute, Kensington is really moving today!" Every morning he comes to my house and one of the first things he does (after cereal of course!) is rub my belly and tell her good morning. So, Damien's little sister, Hannah (almost 2 years old) and I were playing on the floor this morning bouncing around being silly and Damien yelled, "Torie... you are going to hurt Kensington. You can't bounce like that." He is so protective of her already, it is just adorable! It makes me even more excited for her to be here! I do have pictures of Damien and Hannah, but am to lazy to put them on my computer right now! They will come later!

First Blog EVER!

2009-06-17T21:29:00.001-07:00

Well, this is the first time I have even considered blogging! I am not sure yet what I am doing or what I even have to write about. But, I am sure I will think of something.

I will start by talking about my baby girl who is due August 16, 2009! I am 7 months pregnant and really love every minute of it. The pains and swelling in my feet aren't the greatest, but I can't complain. I have had a somewhat simple pregnancy so far (compared to other friends of mine!) I feel her kick and move all the time, which is by far the best experience of my life. I love getting to see her in the ultrasounds, it sends a magic feeling all over me! I can't wait until she arrives!

My husband and I got married about a year and a half ago after dating for about 7 years! I am super in love with him and we couldn't be happier about bringing a little baby into this world! We have decided to name her Kensington Ranae Hermann. We were in London awhile ago and loved the Kensington neighborhood and Kensington Palace. The name somehow just stuck with us for the last few years! Ranae is after my sister. The reason for naming her after my sister instead of my late mother... well, while my mom was sick in the hospital (she had ovarian cancer and passed away February 12, 2007 at the age of 43.) she was sleeping, or so I thought, when she popped her head up and said, " you need to name one of your children after me!" Of course, right away I said "YES! Of course we will!" She layed back down and I thought she was asleep. She popped her head up again and said, "but don't use Joyce (her middle name) because I hate that name." So, I agreed and she went back to sleep. About 10 minutes later she popped her head back up and said, "Don't use Peggy (her first name) either." I was at a loss! I asked her what name I should use then and she said, "I am not sure, get creative!" My sister, my mom and I were extremely close. When picking out our names, my dad had most of the ideas, but Ranae was my moms idea. So, there...Ranae, and yes, spelled with an A, not an E! I think that Kensington will enjoy that story as she gets older as to how we came up with her name, I know how much I love telling it!

Alright, well, this isn't that great of a blog, but this is it for tonight! I will try to be more creative tomorrow!