Third Trimester Already??

That's right, I'm almost 29 weeks.  Last time I went to the midwife she gave me a packet of papers for birthing options, hospital tours, and parking passes for the big day.  It kinda freaked me out--it's not that time yet!

Things around here are good, but hectic.  Brendan has had a few interviews and has another major one coming up on Monday.  He's off to Milwaukee again for a second interview for a job he really wants, and they are hiring like right now so if he were to get it, what does that mean??  Not only are the holidays coming up but so is a brand new baby.  Makes moving a little tough, you know?

Otis has been moving around like crazy, doing flips and rolls and making my belly look quite crazy.  Brendan is so funny, he just does not get into the pregnancy thing at all.  I could sit and stare at my moving belly for hours, while he touches it once, feels a move, and immediately grabs his hand back.  I laughed at him and said what's the big deal?  He said he knows in his head it's okay but he feels like he's going to hurt the baby or something.  By putting a hand on my belly.  If he saw how Ingrid treats me he wouldn't be so worried...She is constantly climbing on me and elbowing me in the belly, or hitting me or poking her finger as far as it will go (not far) into my belly button. 

Yesterday we got some new pjs for Ingrid at the consignment store--they have "Big Sister" on the shirt, she was SO excited to put them on as soon as we got home.  She seems excited to be a big sister but who knows what that means in her tiny noggin!!  Hopefully she'll be okay when Otis gets here but that's another thing to think about--she's going to have a new brother and move to a new house right on top of each other...Two major things at once, hard enough for adults, much harder for kids.  Nothing I can do about it now, though, is there? 

So that's that, more of the same.  Thinking about jobs, moving, babies, being sick, stressed, and trying to enjoy life as usual while we are in this limbo...

Holidays are meant to be enjoyed.

I was just thinking about our Christmas plans and trying to decide a couple things.  We are in Michigan this year, the first time I've been sort of close to my family.  By close, I mean 2 1/2 hours away instead of 4, and we don't have to drive through Chicago to get there.  I haven't seen my family on the actual day of Christmas in years, so it's pretty exciting to be able to be there with them this year.  We will have our own family Christmas morning and then set out to my brother's house for an afternoon with the extended family--all of Ingrid's cousins and my brothers and sisters.  I love having Ingrid spend time with her cousins when she can because she has a lot of fun, and I know she won't really be very close to them growing up.  So...this year seems to be the year for spending lots of time with everyone.

However...not only is there my family's get together on Christmas, but my mom's side of the family, the WAY extended family, is getting together the day after.  And my grandparents are getting up there and this could be the last year for them (morbid but realistic...)  And it's the one year we live in Michigan!  So I feel like I should go, but it just seems to be too hard to plan it.  For one thing, it's another hour drive from my brother's house.  And that would mean we'd have to spend the night somewhere, which is never fun with Ingrid because she's a basket case.  And we'd have to find someone to watch our dog on Christmas, which isn't gonna happen.

So, after a bunch of going back and forth, I had to step back and realize I want my holidays to be fun and peaceful.  Last year we were living with Brendan's parents and didn't get to have our own holidays.  This year we are back in our own place, with our own tree, and we had money to get Ingrid presents, and I want to enjoy it!!  Brendan's actually taking time off, he'll get a four day weekend, so I really am looking forward to hanging out with him.  And thus, my decision is made--we're going to my brother's for the afternoon, but nothing else. 

I remember the family I used to nanny for had a three month old and they had a whirlwind holiday--driving an hour and a half for Christmas Eve, then coming home for Christmas morning, then driving two hours for one family gathering, and another hour for another one the next day.  It exhausted me just hearing about it!!  I always thought to myself how nice it was to not have family nearby, it just wasn't ever an issue.  So now that it is an issue, I just have to say forget it, I still want my peaceful holiday.  I want to sit around with the fireplace crackling, fresh cinnamon rolls in the oven, football on TV (most likely...) and Ingrid puttering around the house with her new toys.  Not driving with a screaming kid that hasn't had a nap or gotten a good night's sleep.  Again, just call me Scrooge, I'm such a party pooper!

Party Preparations

Did I spell preparations right?  I'm having one of those moments where words all look wrong to me.  And they make no sense when I say them to myself.  I think I had too much coffee this morning. 

Anyway...

Sunday we are having a party for a few friends and their kids.  I am so excited to have people over!  We're getting our tree Saturday, then I'll be baking and cooking all morning Sunday to be ready for our afternoon of fun.  During Ingrid's nap today I've been making little goody bags for the kids, and ornaments with their names on them. 

I love getting things together for a party.  Ingrid and I went to the store and just wandered around looking at festive things.  We got a tiny string of lights to put up on our holiday shelf, and some santa napkins and plates, and toys to put in the goody bags.  I have lists of food things I need to get ready, and presents all wrapped and ready to go under the tree.  I've been listening to holiday music on Pandora and it even started snowing.

It's Christmas, everybody!