Baby Book

I just headed to Babysrus to return the mobile Baddaddy's family gave us (not knowing I already had it.) Here is the Baby Book I found...

I am excited to start filling it out.

Christmas Stockings

My grandma (yup, the same one who did all the ornaments) started several years ago to cross-stitch stockings for all her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, etc. There have been so many that she hasn't been able to keep up so my Mom did all the cross-stitching and Grandma put his name on it and put the stocking together. They just finished James' stocking and gave it to him on Thursday, making him officially a member of the family...

And here is my stocking...

And if we are lucky Mom will be able to finish up our little guy's before next Christmas. At this point she is only three kids behind with two more on the way this year. Good luck Mom!

Christmas Day

It was a Charlie Brown Christmas. Baddaddy told me several weeks ago that he wanted to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas every Christmas. Then at a family get together he and Magirk started reminiscing about watching it every year when they were young. So, I found the movie. Then I found cute ornaments so Baddaddy would have his own ornaments to hang on the tree. And while wandering through Barnes and Noble I happened upon the game and couldn't resist. We played it Christmas morning. What silliness!

To offset the silliness here is the very serious book I gave Baddaddy. I usually can't get him books because he has particular tastes and I don't understand most of what he reads. But he happened to be looking at this book while on my computer and it saved it in my Amazon wishlist.

I found one other ornament for Baddaddy that fit so well I had to get it. The Aum symbol is probably the most well known mantra used for meditation.
Baddaddy put the game Pikmin in my stocking. Although it was in my stocking to open Christmas Eve we had actually been playing it for a week or so. He tricked me into thinking we were playing something else and then had it all loaded for me to play. It is a cute and silly game that I enjoy.

Baddaddy also gave me the first two seasons of Stargate Atlantis. From which we get the famous quote: "We can name it later."

Both of us had a gift for the baby under the tree. We love books and are so looking forward to reading to him.

We have eaten so much sugar that we were craving some good food. So I made Cheesy Carrot and Broccoli Soup. Vegetables never tasted so good! We had this a few weeks ago at Magirk's house and much to my surprise Baddaddy loved it and requested I make it some time. (He is not real big on vegetables.) Thanks Magirk for the recipe.

Christmas Sunday

You know those Sundays when you just don't want to go to Church. But you convince yourself to go and you get there and you have a wonderful time filled with spiritually uplifting experiences. Well, today wasn't one of those.

I didn't get to sleep until about 2:00 but I got up anyway, put on a dress and went. The Young Woman were in charge of the convalescent home this month. Meaning we go there and take the elderly from there rooms down to Relief Society and Sacrament. It was really unorganized and the meeting room was unbearably hot and stuffy. The lesson was so dry that I really don't think it was just there age that had everyone sleeping through it. The Young Woman (including leaders) sang Mary's Lullaby by Charlene Newell for the closing hymn and then headed back to our own Sacrament Meeting to sing it again. The thing is we hadn't really practiced and we weren't very familiar with our parts.

The Christmas program is normally my favorite Sacrament meeting of the entire year, but something just seemed to be missing this year. Throughout the program the microphone kept going out or having static so you couldn't hear any of the spoken parts. And the songs just didn't touch me like they normally do. Not even the primary song. I could have skipped but went because I really wanted to be there. And its not that I regret the experience...I guess it just wasn't what I was looking forward to as the spiritually uplifting reminder of the meaning of Christmas.

After church my mom let me know that my punk little brother bought himself the thing he had told me I could get him for Christmas. Which I already had. Since he will be at my house at midnight tonight and leaves early tomorrow, I only had this afternoon to find a replacement gift. So the last place I wanted to be...out with all the cranky last minute shoppers is where I found myself. I did manage to get him a gift without too much trouble but by then my hip was killing me and I was emotionally drained. And my little brother and a friend who are picking up the other brother from the airport decided to come to my house early and hang out. The problem is when his flight comes in at 11:30, early is 9:30 which is just when I would be getting ready to go to bed. So I feel like I have to stay up and hang out and entertain. And as mentioned before I did not get a good night's sleep last night.

Baddaddy as always was so good to me; holding me while I had a good cry, rubbing my feet and telling me that he would stay up with them while I went to bed. Then he took me to dinner at Outback Steakhouse. I know, I know, it's Sunday, but I had already gone out shopping and making dinner was the last thing I wanted to do. So, we heathens went out and it was great! Nothing like grilled pineapple to make everything all better!!!!

So now, after all of my venting and really good food, I feel better. We are going to play a little Zelda: Ocarina of Time and then open his stocking stuffer. And when I am tired I will go to bed. Regardless of the company.

So, here is me today with 12 weeks to go.

Christmas Ornaments

My tree has no theme. It is a total mishmash of color and ornaments. But each of the ornaments has sentimental value.

My mom gave me this set of lighthouse ornaments. You can put a light from the Christmas lights in the back and it makes the lighthouse glow.

My Grandma gives all of her grandkids an ornament every year. This is a series of balls that she handmade for me.







Grandma makes these little boxes to hold each of the ornaments. She is the craft queen. I have so many handmade things from her: pillows, quilts, Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls. The list goes on and on.





In 2005 my nephews and niece gave me a snowman set. My favorite part is that each one signed the back of one of the ornaments.


I gave this to Baddaddy in his stocking last year. It has little lumps of coal inside.


For our Young Woman's Night of Excellence our YW's leader made everyone a cute star ornament using Macrame.


My favorite ornament is this little bear that I have had since I was five. We made them for a Primary Activity Day when my mom was in the primary. We picked this one to paint because when I was little everyone called me HuggyBear.


I realized that all of the ornaments on the tree are mine. Not a single thing from Baddaddy. I will have to do something about that.

Neighbor's Gift

My next door neighbors just knocked on the door, sang me "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and gave me this cute Christmas gift.

They are great neighbors!

Ripples

A business associates' partner committed suicide on Wednesday and I have been thinking a lot about it. My first thoughts were wondering whether he had a wife or kids. That it is Christmas time. That someone had to find him. And then I started to notice the ripples. First of all those people who are directly affected; his family. The first ripple of people whose lives are forever changed by his actions. The partner who had to tell me the reason he hasn't gotten me the signed document. I began to see how his death affected people who didn't even know him. Me who can't get the document. The bank that requires the document to cut the checks. The subcontractor who needs his check in order to give his guys their Christmas bonus. The guys who won't get their Christmas bonus.

I certainly don't mean in any way to say that any of us are as affected as the people who knew and loved this man. I just couldn't help but notice how many people who didn't even know him were in some tiny way affected by his death. Not emotionally or long term. But somehow affected.

Then two days later to see how that ripple has faded for those people. The document is signed, the bank cuts the checks, the subcontract gives his guys their bonuses. For all of them there was just a second where things didn't go as planned. But then their are the people whose lives will never be the same.

Just a Thursday

I slept the whole night...and in my bed! Quite the accomplishment. I may have mentioned this a time or two, but it is really great to work from home. I walked into my office in my pj's and just started working and I got so much done. The best part...I didn't have to drive anywhere.

After an epson salt bath I went to the Chiropractor. It was so fabulous! He adjusted my hip which is constantly killing me. I highly recommend it to anyone with any kind of pain, seriously; headache, backache, neck ache, hip ache, etc. I have been going to a chiropractor for about 12 years now, since a bad car accident. I continue to go at least once a month and it really helps keep my headaches in check.

Baddaddy stayed home from work today so we went out to lunch and then to Dancing Crane; one of our favorite stores to browse. Baddaddy bought a handcrafted Nepalese cushion for his meditation chair. And I bought a new purse. I seem to always be searching for the perfect purse. I finally found it. The perfect size. Or is it that it is made from Hemp?

We had this crazy notion it would be a good idea to go grocery shopping in the middle of a snow storm. It took us forever just to get to the grocery store, forever to get through the check out line and I got very cranky because I needed to eat. Sometimes I think I want to just hole up and never leave the house. I am a real homebody.

Dentist

With just one word I have everyone's sympathy. But in actuality it wasn't too bad. Not what I would call a pleasurable experience, but it was a great opportunity to put into practice the relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques that I have been learning for birthing. It went surprisingly well...if I can relax through glaring lights, annoying Christmas music, the sound and vibrations of the drill and someone's hands in my mouth...I might just pull it off while giving birth.

The rest of the day was busy and productive. I picked up draw checks for work and went into the office for a few hours. Every time I am there I am reminded how much I love working from home. It is not bad being there for short stretches but I am so glad I no longer have to spend all day at the office. My bosses gave me a Christmas bonus which is much appreciated. They apologized because it was smaller than last years; but that is just the way business works. I know the company finances so I know it stretches them to just do any bonus. I think they have forgotten that when they found out I was pregnant they gave me money for baby stuff. So I did actually receive more this year than last. They are so good to me and I really enjoy my job. They were hesitant when I broached working from home, but are willing to do whatever they have to in order to not lose me as my life changes with pregnancy and the arrival of a baby. Sometimes I think of myself as just an employee who could be easily replaced. Then they call me to find out if they can take money because I am the only one who knows the companies finances. And I remember all the things I do that they don't even know I do, let alone how I do in order to keep the company running.

I stopped to fill our water bottles at Water Wellness with the "special" water us water-snobs drink. One more stop to deposit the work checks and it was home to relax while watching a little Charmed. I know there are some members of the family who feel very strongly about the show but I enjoy it.

In the mail today arrived the final Christmas gift for baddaddy. I just need to wrap it and put it under the tree and we are ready for Christmas. Since he is a big participant of this site I will not be putting up pictures just yet...but I think his family in particular will get a kick out of some of his gifts.

The rest of the evening was pretty routine...dinner while watching CSI and one of our favorites, Stargate SG1. Now if only I didn't dread going to bed. It just isn't like it used to be. It feels almost like a chore. Most nights I end up on the couch at about 1:00 and then I get some sleep. Not sure why I don't just start on the couch.

The Baby's Jungle Room

Our baby's jungle room is so cute, thanks to the surprise shower thrown by baddaddy's family.

We have been so blessed to have been given so many things that help with the financial expense of preparing for a baby. And on top of that to be given such cute things that we probably would have been too frugal to purchase ourselves. Doesn't every mom want an adorable baby's room? I know I do...and I have it. Now I just have to wait (and wait, and wait) for the hopefully adorable baby.

I spent most of the day cleaning and organizing the baby's room and my home office. There are so many things I want to accomplish before the baby comes and since I felt pretty good today I just kept going until I wore myself out. Maybe someday everything will be in its place and all the projects will be done and I won't wake up with lists in my head. Of course that is NEVER going to happen...but I love crossing things of lists and even more, I love looking around at what I have accomplished and feeling good about my home.

Welcome to our evil page!

Not that we are evil or anything, just our kitty. Well, he is "half in, half out anyway."

HypnoBirthing Classes

My midwife, Julie Jones, recommended that we go to HypnoBirthing classes. I hadn't heard of it before but I bought the book HypnoBirthing and read about half before going to the classes. I feel that it is a great, positive way to give birth naturally. It is a four week series of classes and I am so excited that J is not only willing to go, but excited about it as well. We went to class November 1, 15, 29 & Dec 6. James was in LV for the second class on Nov 8 so we went back in Dec.

The teacher is Jolene Shields who is a certified hypnotherapist and I really like her. She was showing pictures of her new grandbabies, twins born premature at 26 weeks. What a surprise J and I got when we recognized the parents as Mary and Ryan. My roommate Mary (Clair) from the condos downtown. She lived with Janell and Donya and I until she and Ryan got married. Jolene is Ryan's mom. What a small world.

From Jolene's site:
HypnoBirthing® is a program of preparing for childbirth with hypnosis. This program teaches couples various techniques for relaxation and self hypnosis, making the pregnancy and birth experience an enjoyable journey for all. Building confidence, staying in control, shorter labor, less fatigue and rapid postnatal recovery are just a few of the many benefits of this program.

HypnoBirthing® returns to woman the art of birthing in a way that allows her to summon her natural birthing instincts. HypnoBirthing® is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not need to be a natural accompaniment of labor. HypnoBirthing® also creates an active roll for the birthing companion as well as promoting special bonding of mother, baby and companion.

We both have really enjoyed the classes. My biggest problem throughout was my jumpy legs. It always seemed worse as she was ending class with a relaxation/visualization session. J, who is very familiar with meditating really enjoyed the information and the relaxation sessions. Now that we are finished I continue to listen to the affirmations each morning and do daily relaxation and visualization sessions. I look forward to giving birth and hope that I can truly do it naturally, painlessly and quickly.

Here are the affirmations: