Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Today is my last day in the office! I am off until the 5th of January. I wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We are heading to my parents house tomorrow afternoon/evening. Then, we go to my Aunt's for Christmas Eve. This is the last year of having the holiday at her home as she and my uncle are moving from Pittsburgh to Florida in the coming year. I am looking forward to seeing my family and eating all the good food! Next year we will have to start our own traditions. We did stay here in Columbus last year but it was not the same without spending the holiday with family. This year is extra special!

We will be spending Christmas day at Chris's Dad's house then his Mom's for dinner. It will be a nice day and I am sure we will be exhausted by Friday. We plan on staying in the Steubenville area until Saturday. Once we are back in Columbus Chris and I are both off so we plan on getting some things done around the house!

Aiden is looking forward to Santa's arrival! We baked cookies this weekend and I set a few aside so we can take the ones he made to leave for Santa. He only asked for two things this year, a drum set and a power ranger toy. Of course..... he will be getting both and then some! I will try to post pictures after the holidays!

Cheers!

My Christmas Ham!

My Christmas ham is not the kind you eat, it's my Son! Last night was his holiday program for daycare. He and his classmates sang two songs, Frosty and the Candy Cane song (which was new to me, but very cute!). Of course, he as always has to be the center of attention and at the end of the last verse of Frosty he prolonged the word Day to DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Not only was he going solo at this point but he had his arm up in the air in a dramatic motion (as Amy said, like Mariah!). His teacher said he had done that a few times during his practices and hoped he would do it last night but didn't think he would. Well, expect the unexpected from Mr. Aiden! We captured this event on video and if I can figure out how to download and post it I will try over the weekend!

Thank you Amy!!

Just wanted send a HUGE Thank You to my BF Amy. She surprised me Tuesday by going to my house and cleaning while I was at work, as part of my Birthday gift. It was such a wonderful gift!!! It was nice coming home to a clean house. It's very hard for me to get motivated to clean after working all day and coming home to take care of Aiden. (Not to mention being pregnant has not helped that much!) She is such a wonderful friend!

Weekend Update

Well, my long weekend was very nice. It started out Thursday evening, my parents, Aiden and I went to dinner at a local Mexican place. Chris was still working so we brought him some take-out.

Friday morning, Chris went to get us coffee and donuts after dropping Aiden off at school, then my parents and I got ready for our annual day of shopping. Chris has given up on going he can't take shopping for that length of time. My Dad is the only man I know that will just walk around the mall without any complaints and hold our bags for us. We were gone from about 10 until 4, so we picked Aiden up on our way home. That evening we just relaxed at home, watched some tv and played Wii. I thought my Dad would enjoy that but, unfortunately the way his mind works he wasn't really able to catch on that well, he got frustrated which mad me sad but, I try not to focus on that too much it just makes him feel worse.

Saturday, we woke up and headed to Burlington where my Mom and I went a little crazy on the clearance rack of girls clothes! Then to Kohls where the line was halfway around the store. We also hit the dollar store and praise the Lord for this place at Christmas, I got all my gift bags, tissue and wrap for 20 bucks! Then we went back rested a little before our trip to the fish market for dinner. That was really nice, they gave me a rose for my B-day and a candle in my dessert. We sat back near the lobster tank which kept Aiden entertained. Except when the big rake came down to grab the biggest one in there and he was visably confused. We told him the lobster was going to be with his friends in the ocean. Luckily he didn't notice the three pound creature coming back out onto someones table about 30 minutes later with a bowl full of melted butter ;-)

Sunday was pretty uneventful, we got up, Chris made breakfast and my parents got all their things together including loading the car with all of the Santa toys for us and they headed home. I laid around most of the day. Chris re-strung the Christmas lights! He ended up going out and purchasing all new lights, the big ones that screw in so he doesn't have to deal with the little ones burning out (see previous post). Whatever makes him happy!

Monday was my official Birthday. I came to work and a co worker brought me a mocha frapacchino with a candle in it, she is so sweet! Another co worker took me to lunch. Once I got home Chris had a cake and balloon ready for me and my presents all wrapped, in all different paper of course but it's the thought that counts! He and Aiden got me a new pair of boots, a sweatshirt ( I knew I was getting), a prenatal massage which I cannot wait to schedule at Kenneths and most precious the with child willow tree figurine. I have always wanted her and was waiting for the day I was pregnant again so I could finally have her! We just ordered pizza as Aiden was a bit tired from school and I really didn't feel like heading back out and we had our cake and ice cream and played candy land. It was a very nice evening. After Aiden went to bed Chris and I watched the Hills and I cannot believe I still watch that garbage! Spidey gets on my nerves more than anything in this world. If they eloped, why the heck were the camera there, and Us Weekly taking pictures, it's so fake, yet I continue to watch....I guess that's my own fault.

I also have a new addiction. The Twilight series! I have heard everyone talking about these books and all the news regarding the movie that came out so I grabbed a copy at the pharmacy a few weeks back. Well, I haven't been able to put it down! I love reading but never really have time. I just bought the second book to the series today! More on that later!

Today I just about finished my holiday shopping at lunch I have a gift card to get and that is about it! (I also got a few more pink items......couldn't help myself)

29......again

Well, I have a birthday coming up (Monday) and I have decided that every year past 30 will be my 29th from now on!

I have bittersweet feelings today. It has been 7 years today since my dear friend Tiffany passed away. Sadly, every year around my Birthday I have to look back and remember the loss of someone so special that was taken too early. I am at peace this year knowing she is with her father who recently passed away. I will always keep the memories we shared close to my heart.

On a brighter note, my Mom and Dad are on their way to our house right now. They come to visit me every year the weekend of my Birthday and take me out to dinner. We also do an annual shopping trip to Easton Town Center and I enjoy that every year. It is so beautiful there at Chistmas time. Last year we went on a Friday and it worked out wonderfully, we avoided a lot of the weekend crowds, so we are doing the same this year. Then, Saturday evening we are having dinner at the Fish Market.

In baby news, not too much happening, she is moving around like crazy and I am enjoying every second of it (other than the frequent trips to the bathroom!) I don't go back to my OB until the 5th of January which seems like a very long time from now. I am just thankful that I am feeling good and everything is progressing as it should.

21 Week Belly Shot

Here is my most recent belly picture taken at exactly 21 weeks!

Winter Wonderland

Saturday was a great day! Our day started with a trip to the mall, we originally didn't plan on going near the mall this time of year on a weekend but, we were picking up a coat at Macy's as a favor to my father in law. So, I decided to just make one dreaded trip and go ahead and get our visit to Santa out of the way. We were so lucky, we got there and didn't even have to wait, Aiden got right up on his lap and told him exactly what he wanted. I was so pleased that there were no surprise items, he stuck to his original wishes, a drum set and power rangers toys. (Which are already purchased!) We left the mall and the snow was falling, it was just a nice day to be out and about this time of year! We then headed to the home depot to look at the Christmas decorations. We ended up getting two 4 Ft. inflatables, a snowman and a santa, I can deal with that! ( per my previous post) Once we got home Aiden and I both took little naps and we went to dinner. When we got home from dinner Aiden wanted to play in the snow so we ran around the front yard for a little while and I was able to get a few cute pictures!

Sunday rolled around and I went to the store and came home and started cooking away. I made dinner for Sunday evening and a pot of chili that is home cooking as I type for dinner this evening. Chris and Aiden were outside playing again and Chris decided to just go ahead even in the freezing cold temps and hang the outside lights. Well, after three hours outside he comes in and is upset because only 1 or the 4 strands of lights is working!!! I felt so bad for him although, I still can't figure out why he didn't test them prior to hanging them up! So, right now we have lights on the house that don't light, but my wreath and the inflatables are good to go! Hopefully we can get everything working by this weekend!!

Christmas Decor

Two weeks ago, Chris took Aiden to a few stores to look for some new outdoor Christmas decorations. We had two really nice reindeer that moved and lit up but, after a few winters of blowing over in the snow, we had to retire them last year. Well, this is the image of what my son wants to put in the front yard. I am not a huge fan of inflatable decorations. Sure, they are cute and all but just not my cup of tea. On the other hand, I am trying to be open minded, I am keeping in mind that this is a magical time of year for a child and if this is something that will produce a memory of the season that he can someday look back and smile upon then, he can have it! I will have many more years to decorate my home "my way." Someday I might even miss the huge inflatable in the front yard. I highly doubt it, but it's possible :-) So, we will be heading out this weekend in search for the perfect decoration to add to our front yard this year. Chris prefers santa crashing into a palm tree or something crazy like that, so this will be an intereting battle between Father and Son. I am staying out of it and will be sure to post the pictures when we are done decorating!! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Sugar and spice and everything nice - that's what little girls are made of.

We had our ultrasound appointment on Monday and found out we are having a little GIRL! We are over the moon with excitement! Chris felt it was a girl all along, as many of my friends and family did as well. I felt more girl but didn't want to come out and say it because I honestly would have been excited no matter what, although leaving the doctor's office I had overwhelming sense of pride and excitement, I just wanted to break down and cry. I just feel so blessed. I could not wait to call my Mom to tell her about her new Grandaughter. I know she was really hoping for a girl (although she guessed boy). I told the doctor this little one will have a wardrobe by this weekend if it's up to her Grandma!

Aiden went with us to the appointment and he was very intersted in seeing her on the screen. He was a little confused when we were on the way and wanted to know if they were taking the baby out of my tummy. We explained to him that they were putting a camera on my belly and we would be able to see the baby. The doctor even gave him his own picture and he took it to school to show all his friends yesterday. He calls it my baby and everytime we see a commercial for a baby toy on tv he says "we need to get that for my baby", it's so adorable, I just hope it lasts!

Most importatly of course is that she looks healthy, she measures exactly perfect, even the doctor said it's extremely rare for the measurements to match exactly to the due date which they did, so that made me feel good! She weighed 12 oz. on Monday! We saw and heard her heart beating, her little hands looked like they were clapping together, it was super sweet! I wish I could peek in there everyday! I trying to sweet talk Chris into getting a 3D/4D scan done at the end of the month or beginning of next month. I think it would be such a wonderful keepsake for us and eventually for our daughter.

Chris is also excited, when he was bringing me back to work after the appointment, he almost passed the turn into the parking lot and I said "What are you doing?" He said, " Oh, I was thinking about the prom" which I found super cute because my mind had not even begun to go there yet.... prom, wedding, babies....this is going to be an entire different journey than having a boy! I look forward to seeing him interact with her. He is already a wonderful Father and I think having a little Girl is going to allow me to experience a totally different side of him. I just smile thinking about it!

Of course since nothing in our lives goes on with out any drama, I was totally anxious, nervous and excited on Monday. I gave Chris his reminder call about 15 minutes prior to when he was to leave the house to come get me. The plan was for him to get Aiden at school then, get me and then off to the hospital which is where my appt was on Monday and it's near my work. So, I call and he said, "Change of plans, my car won't' start." So, I had to run out of here, run home to get him, which is totally the opposite direction of where we were going, then to get Aiden, then back over this way to the hospital...whew, no wonder my blood pressure was high. Since I didn't want to have to do that all over again I just went home for the day and rested.

I was a little under the weather yesterday which is why I just posted this today. I stayed home from work and rested, there is only so much I can take now so it's no fun getting sick. Luckily I feel much better today but drama never ends....Chris called as I was about to go over to wal-mart at lunch and his car did not start again! He just got a new battery yesterday! So, I had to go back today try to jump his car, it didn't start, so I guess we will have to get a tow truck to come get it.....I vote to just go get a new car instead of putting more money into this one. It's nice that it's paid off but not worth the hassle of dealing with the issues of an older car. I did get a nice unexpected lunch with my hubby out of the ordeal!