Swelling, Stuffing, and Santa

12/17/10

That last couple of nights at our house have been low-key.

Swellin' (kind of sounds like Sue Ellen when I say that real fast. Huh? Anyway...) has become my middle name just this week. My toes look like they belong on another person's feet, and I'm down to one pair of shoes that are work-attire appropriate.  It's weird how this stuff just creeps up on an eight-month pregnant woman all of a sudden (What's also weird is that Parker just kicked me so hard that it made me type a wrong letter. I guess I should have left it just to remember the moment, but I absolutely hate it when I make a typo. Anyway...).  

By low-key I mean there have still been dishes to do, Christmas card envelopes to be stuffed, dogs to feed, toys to be picked up, and teacher's gift sacks to be filled. So it hasn't exactly been the come home, eat dinner, watch a little Survivor or Giuliana & Bill, take a hot bath kind of nights, but believe me, I've been trying.  

But with a "mini me" with boy parts stripping completely naked and getting into my freshly run bathtub of perfect temperature water and  taking a major leak in it, it leaves me to take a shower instead...which means more standing...and standing equals not good for swelling...see what I mean?    And that's just my shower fantasy not coming true.  You can take a guess at how the TV watching and becoming a couch potato for the night go sour.  Sigh...

Speaking of work (but no more about attire, for real), Jake is super glad Santa is hard at work.  I think I mentioned we took him to see him weekend before last.  And since I haven't shared this photo of them together, I will now.


They actually had a really cute conversation.

Once they got introductions out of the way...you know the usual - name, age, stuff like that...it was on to the BIG question.

"Now Jake?  What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"

The three words that flowed from Jake's lips were exactly what I expected..."Criss Cross Crash!"

They talked about that the infamous Criss Cross Crash for another moment or two, and then Santa asked the second BIG question. 

"So Jake tell Santa.  Have you been a good boy this year?" 

His response, "Ummmmm...(long pause)....yeah!  In that moment and in my head, I heard the record scratch.  Everyone got quiet, and everyone froze except for Santa and I.  I swooped in, looked him in the eye, and said, "Now Santa.  You did catch the part where he told you he is three years old right?  Oh okay, you did.  Well, you've been around a lot longer that I have, so I know YOU know the real answer to your question, right?  But you'll roll with it, won't you?  Whew!  Okay, just checking."  

Santa looked over at me, and noticed Parker (who I decided not to sit on his lap so he would be able walk again once the next twenty kids behind us got through sitting on the same knee), and asked Jake about his baby brother.  Jake told him just as we've been coaching him about his arrival - "He will come after you come to my house and bring me presents."  Santa laughed and asked if he could count on Jake to be a great big brother and helper to Mommy when he came.  Jake nodded his head yes.  I was so melted, I tell you.

Then a few more words were exchanged, a great big hug, and goodbyes. 

I swear, I wished I had had my video camera.  It was truly priceless, and I'll never forget it. 

I hope Jake doesn't either. 

Last but not least...

It's Friday, Ya'll!! 

And Parker and I are shaking our tail feathers!

A Touch of Class

12/14/10

Or I guess I should say...A Touch of Jake's Classroom because this...

is something he brought home from school today.

Looks like the Christmas spirit is here...

there...

Aww heck...with only 11 day to go...

it's Everywhere!

It's Beautiful

12/13/10

I'm now the proud owner of cankles

and Parker somehow gained seven pounds in the last two weeks...

but it's beautiful!


The hair on my belly is actually visible (and measurable for that matter) in places,

my legs get (partially) shaved once a week (if they're lucky),

and my belly button is just about no where to be found (although I hear it cry out for help ever so often so I know it's there some where)...

but it's beautiful!


My boobs are able to rest on the ledge (a.k.a. my abdomen) that catches crumbs from my breakfast, lunch, and dinner,

and my ribs have become punching bags...

but it's beautiful!


Collecting a urine sample isn't as easy as it used to be,


and I put my socks and shoes on like a man...

but it's beautiful!


You can hear not just one heartbeat, but two, beating from the walls of my body,

and I've contemplated buying stock in Palmer's cocoa butter lotion ...

but it's beautiful!


I've experienced a miracle first hand all over again...

And It's Beautiful!



What I'm Loving This Week

12/12/10

I'm loving...

that I don't have to repeat certain parts of the last six days! Three audits at three different college campuses, nine hours on the road, a hotel room undergoing maintenance repairs, contractions out the ying-yang, and a visit to OB Triage later, I'm so so glad this week is over!...

that my Christmas shopping for my niece is done! And now it's on to the grandparents...

the feeling that I got when I looked into my backseat and saw Parker's pumpkin seat there, completely installed, just waiting for him to hit the open roads with me...

that I finally got around to ordering the contact lenses that I've been meaning to start wearing since August...

the smell of the clean sheets that are on my bed as I'm sitting here writing this blog post...

that my Christmas cards will be here any day now...

that we got to see lots and lots of snow flurries coming down this morning...

that I have tons to look forward to in the week to come!

Whip it...Whip it real good

12/6/10

My word, the wind has been kicking today! As I laid awake this morning way before it was actually time to be awake, it sounded like a two hundred pound bird was swooping by our bedroom window!

Okay, so that's the only thing I really have to say about wind, so if the title of this post doesn't make sense anymore, it's not you. I somehow got that song in my head when I laid awake listening to the wind, and it's stuck with me all day. And maybe that's because we were out in it several times.

But right now...it's all about what I'm loving...so here goes...

that I've managed to take two afternoon naps in the last two days....

the check mark next to "Take Jake to see Santa" on my Things To Do list (And yes, he told Santa exactly what he wanted him to bring him...And yes, it was priceless!)...

our completely decorated Christmas tree...

my latest addition to my DVR...Bridal Plasty (Like I needed one more right?  But seriously, I can't help this one.  I watched one episode today, and now I can't bear to miss a minute of it!)...

that it's cold enough to wear turtlenecks and sweaters, which means I can wear my sports bra every day of the week...because now it's the only one that fits around my upper waist...

my family...because they make my life complete!

Hello Saturday!

12/4/10

Holy cow what a fast week this has been!

I have no sure fire answer as to why, though.

Maybe it's because it was actually a short work week for me. Parker and I are now getting our weight gain check on, our blood pressure check on, our urinalysis check on, our heart rate check on, and our growth check on every two weeks now. So Monday was our 32-week appointment for that which means my routine day was cut in half to take care of that business. (All checked out beautifully, by the way).

On Tuesday, we carpooled as a family. It was raining cats and dogs (well, not really, but you knew that), my umbrella has bitten the dust (it will only stay supported by the wire underneath on one side), and Jim didn't have to be at work quite as early as usual since this was technically a "dead" week for his students, so we saved a half gallon of gas (or more...or less...I have no idea...a half gallon just sounded good, I guess), and I didn't have to get soaked or even wear my rain boots.

The rest of the week there were lunch dates, visits to child care facilities for Parker, Christmas gifts bought (Doing Santa's job is a tough one! Lucky him he has parents that help him out. Poor Guy! He'd never get it all done!), haircuts, six loads of laundry, and one Christmas card received in the mail.

Now it's Saturday.

The dryer is running. Jim is trimming our crepe myrtles, and Jake is waiting patiently to help him wash our vehicles. I'm enjoying my TV on in the background, writing "Thank You" cards, throwing away coupons that are expired, handing out popcorn and honey buns, and wondering how I'll end this blog post.

Hope your Saturday is as enjoyable as mine has been so far!

Perfect Examples

12/2/10

These are


perfect


examples


of my attempts


at getting


the perfect


Christmas card

 

photo.

And by now I'm sure you can hear the chanting going on...practice makes perfect, practice makes perfect, practice makes perfect.......