Christmas Post

Christmas Eve we always let El open one gift. I bought her a Lalaloopsy Doll, she never asked for one but I was secretly hoping she'd love it and maybe, just maybe, leave the Pokemon obsession behind her. HAHA! Yes, I'm evil. But that darn Santa brought her more Pokemon, gonna have a word with the man that wears the red suit.

Peach the Elf left us Christmas Eve but left Elly Belle a pair of jammies. We'll miss you Peach, have fun on the beach!
A lava lamp...so fun!

Elly got Daddy earphones for Christmas!
She got Mommy a pretty necklace! Excuse our rolled outta bed look...we sure make it look good.

After breakfast, Nana and Papa came over and brought some more presents...


What a great day!We had a wonderful Christmas!!

DATE!

We have a date!! Just got back from the doctor's office and February 15th, 8am we will be welcoming our second child with open loving arms. Excited, scared, freaking out! YAY!

P.S. Yep already changed my tickers! Tick, tick, tick!!

Bump Watch ~ Week 32

The Belly

Christmas fun!

Side View

Mood

Still feeling good! Getting anxious to get things set up and ready. On pins and needles to get the room painted, the crib set up, etc., etc., etc. Tick, tock!

Symptoms

Swelling! Holy swelling! I did not expect this to come this early and so fast. All is good but wow was it scary for a few days. Blood pressure is fine, no elevated proteins...thank goodness. I've also been dealing with some asthma issues but that is normal as well for me, unfortunately. Must stop coughing and wheezing ASAP!

Cravings

Nothing really, I'm at the stage where nothing sounds good and I'm just not as hungry. I force dinner down most nights. I'm also trying my hardest not to eat too much salty food to help with the swelling.

Poof

Poof weighs as much as a cantaloupe.

Merry Christmas!

Love~

Jon, Kaci, Elly and Sarah

Christmas Q & A

What does Santa look like?

Santa looks like a person with a big white beard and a big red suit. And that's really all, oh and red boots. Wait, I mean black boots.

Where does Santa live?

The North Pole

What is Santa doing right this minute?

Delivering presents to kids.

How does Santa keep track of what you want for Christmas?

He saves all the letters that the kids give him or they know what they want cause he can always look down and see what they want. Or Elf on the Shelf.

How does Santa get to every house in one night?

His reindeer are super fast.

Is the Grinch real?

No, but you sure like that movie.

Do families have a special dinner on Christmas Day?

Sometimes, we have Christmas dinner.

Does Santa bring gifts for parents?

Depends, were you good this year Momma?

Is it customary to leave food for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Yep, we leave cookies and milk and carrots. But the carrots are for the reindeer.

How does Santa know if you are good or bad?

He has a naughty and nice list.

Have you ever been on the naughty list?

No way.

Why do we celebrate Christmas?

Cause it's a fun holiday and we get to spend all day together.

What are you most excited for this Christmas?

To spend time with my family. I miss you when I'm at school and on Christmas I get to spend all day with you.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

XOXO

Mommy's Christmas List

1. A prenatal massage. Or better yet, a prenatal masseuse on call at all hours. Including 2 am when these legs start cramping. Um...and can his name be Jorge or something exotic, ooo and he smell all yummy, and offer me a cold beverage? Did I go too far?
2. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I’m looking at you kicking baby girl who thinks my bladder is a squeeze toy. Oh and I'll add to sleep on my tummy, oh how I miss that.
3. Stretch marks. No explanation needed, they are bright red and hurt.
4. Week without heartburn. Spicy Subway veggie sub how I love thee, but not the heartburn that follows.
5. Swelling and the end of pregnant fat face. I get it, I’m gaining weight and need to, but in my cheeks. My poor feet also look repulsive.
6. Walking anywhere with out feeling like I just ran 10 miles...and going up and down the stairs. I really wish we bought the house where the washer/dryer was not in the basement.

**This was just for fun, I really do love being pregnant and all things that come with it. I wouldn't trade this miracle for anything!**

For the Love of Hershey!

My favorite commerical during Christmas...makes me wanna eat chocolate. =) Mmmmm

4 days till Christmas!

Christmas Fun

So for the past few weeks, I've been trying to think of a fun Christmas activity we could all do, I thought of a movie, dinner, Christmas lights, and so on. Seeing as this is El's last Christmas as a only child I wanted to make it memorable.

So on Saturday after our cookie fun, we got ready and headed out. First stop was Hallmark, I wanted her to pick out a special ornament. Being 7, she had other ideas in mind. She wanted a stuffed animal, not a Christmas stuffed animal, a bright pink dog. (See picture below) Not wanting to make waves already so young in the evening I said fine and didn't insist on the ornament. Never plan ahead on how things will go, I should know this by now.

So onto the next activity, we let Elly pick the restaurant, as long as it wasn't Chuck E Cheese I didn't really care. She picked Olive Garden, great, yum! We get there and the wait time is 1 hour! Really, 1 hour, are you kidding me? Okay fine, are you sure Elly you don't want to go to Applebee's or how bout that other hamburger place that serves you in less then 5 minutes? No, okay fine, grumble, grumble, spoiled little... So we waited and waited and I kid you not I learned about this woman's back surgery and kids that I was sitting next too while we waited. She hit me with her purse, her jacket, and just when I was going to blow we finally got called. I may or may not have accidentally hit her with my coat as I got up to go to my seat. Ya my back hurts too woman! Sheesh.
After dinner, even though I was stuffed to the gills we stopped and got some Starbucks love for a little pick me up, yawn, and went on to look at lights. It was really fun, and even in a smaller town people still had beautiful displays. I love this tradition we have done since El was first born.

Next year we'll have another Little Miss who will enjoy the lights, I just know it.

5 days till Christmas!

Cookie Making Fail!

Marshmallow Snowmen Recipe Don't these look adorable, I mean how fun! I love snowmen, my tree is filled with Smores ornaments. I just love em. So I thought Elly would have fun, making these...and she did.

Here's the one I made...a little tipsy. Too much eggnog? Pull yourself together soldier and pose!
Here's Els, not too shabby! The eye is a little droopy...he must of snuck in and had some eggnog too. Sheesh!
30 seconds later...catastrophe!! What the, what the? Come back to us! Medic! Medic, we have a man down!
Hmmm maybe another hat will work Momma? Okay El try that.
So then we started to get creative...prop the head up with a extra pretzel and marshmallow will work. We were determined.


***

Then Big J joined in and thought he could make a better snowman...typical, let the man show you how's it done.
First attempt...extra licorice at the bottom, make the base stronger girls.
Then a lighter hat? Peppermint kisses...mmmm, no, must not eat prop ingredients.

Whelp...ya they were a bust. Sorry Nestle but this recipe didn't do well in our household. And yes I do see that Jon's is holding up the most. Shush! But, but, but do you see the extra pretzel in the back holding it up? Along with some crazy glue and and and...I kid!

Name the above photo...

~Massacre in the kitchen

~Twas the night of zombie snowmen

~Is this Christmas or Halloween?

~Peach the Elf got hungry

Stirring the frosting...mmmmm do you think my OB would consider this calcium? Awh come on!

***
Well after about 20 minutes we gave up.
Pose with me Elly Belly, CHEESE!
Then we got silly with the licorice or scarfs for the snowmen.
Christmas is in 6 days!! XOXO

Friday Funny

Click here!

Enjoy!

Letter from the Teacher

Click on the letter to make it bigger if you're having a hard time reading it.
Miss Carper is a substitute teacher while Ms. O is on medical leave. Miss Carper was also one of Elly's preschool teachers and she was one of Elly's daycare teachers as well. We have a long history with Miss Carper and we l.o.v.e her.

Elly was Star Student of the Week last week and she sure felt special. Every day they did something special.

Monday Elly shared pictures of her family, pets, etc.
Tuesday Elly shared special items from home, like favorite toys, etc.
Wednesday Elly read her favorite book.
Thursday Elly took to class a letter from Mommy and Daddy to Elly, Miss Carper read the letter.
Friday Elly's class all wrote letters to her, the above letter is from Miss Carper.

It was very heartwarming to read all the letters the kids wrote to Elly. Makes Big J and I think we are doing something right. *wink* She is such a great kid, we feel very blessed to have her in our lives, sass and all!

Bump Watch ~ Week 30

The Belly

Hello belly!

Side View

Mood

I'm still feeling great! Mood swings are not as bad as they could be, last Monday I was for sure weepy but lack of sleep and a cranky boss can get the best of anyone, pregnant or not.

Symptoms

She's kicking a lot harder these days, holy moly! I love it though, honestly. One morning I was driving to work and listening to Christmas music. Jingle Bell Rock came on and I swear she was dancing in there, when the song stopped she did too.

Cravings

Just craving gingerbread lattes, gingerbread cookies, gingerbread...mmm! YUMMY! I'll be so sad when the holidays leave. Wonder if I can write Starbucks and have them extend the yummy-ness till February?

Poof

Poof weighs as much as a large cabbage.