Christmas

COMING SOON- after I get over the humiliation I will be able to write this with more joy!

December Highlights

My blogging has been a little...lacking lately.  So instead of making 100 posts (because our lives really are that busy) I am just going to jam everything into one.  

Mat and Andi were able to get us a crib from a family in their ward for FREE!!  We were so excited and eagerly got ready to put it together when we found- the hardwear was wrong.  So we had to go to a couple different stores to find what we needed.  But finally we got it up.  All of our blankets are folded and in the crib (for storage) and the room finally looks like a nursery!  I have tried hanging up some of my baby shower decorations (I will need to adjust and fix them) and so it is getting more pink by the second ( I think Ben is warming to the idea of pink). 

 

On Tuesday, December 18, Ben's co-workers at Crocs threw us a baby shower.  They had catered in food and presents.  It was so much fun to see everyone, and meet new people, and to see the love everyone had for Ben.  Everyone is so excited for a new 'Crocs Baby' and they all raved to me about how good of a father Ben would be (like there was any doubt).  

Our rule growing up is that the house had to be "Christmas Clean" in order for Santa to come and I love Santa, so this tradition had stuck.  While on bed rest, in September, I planned our Christmas prep, maybe in too much detail, including my 'job list.'  Little did I know in September how big and uncomfortable I would be by the time December rolled around.  I tried to get a lot of this list done; I would occasionally get bursts of energy and succeed in one or two of my OCD tasks.  However I must admit that I did not completely Christmas Clean my house (and yes Santa did still come). So now I am trying to finish the list to "Baby Clean" the house- although I have been warned that some of the tasks should be saved till I was a little closer to my due date (moving the fridge and oven to clean behind, for example).  

Another big Christmas tradition is- GOODIES.  Again, I had this meticulously planned and again I fell short.  I did have one day of baking glory (followed by a day of exhaustion).  I made some delicious pumpkin bread and was able to get some snickerdooles for Ben.  Again I have decided that all of my other goodies will be saved for "Get Ready for Baby Goodies"- she needs to gain some weight...right?

Another thing that I detailed in my bed rest Christmas list was the decorations but again...I am always tired.  So instead of getting the tree up Christmas slowly crept up on us with NO TREE.  Instead of getting the Newson's extra tree and spending hours putting it up with lights (I am not joking, hours!)  I sent Ben to the church, late at night, and he stole or 'borrowed' a tree.  We had it home and decorated in a couple minutes.  I love the idea of having a fancy elegant and matching tree but Ben loves homemade and original ornaments, so this year we did both! I must admit that I like it. 

At the Stones Birthday Party (Dec 9) Grandma Baker gave Ben and I a pre-Christmas gift.  She gave us a beautiful nativity that used to be Nannies.  Grandma said that Her and Grandpa had given this to Nanny and she was now passing it on to us.  We both feel so special to have such a beautiful and important nativity.  Thank you Grandma.  

Another thing that we got from Grandma Baker were some baby cloths.  Grandma is an amazing (even expert) knitter and her talent is raved about.  She made us an adorable white outfit, which we have decided will probably be her blessing outfit, a beautiful blanket and some cute embellished blankets/socks.  We both are so impressed and will always treasure these amazing pieces and heartfelt cloths.   

Christmas Birthdays and Christmas Eve Eve Eve

Stones Christmas Birthdays (Dec 9)

We have three Stones Birthday's right in a row at the beginning of December- Erica, Mat and Dad. Together we have about 132 years of life (if I am remembering their ages correctly) so it was definitely something so celebrate.  We all got together for a dinner of Soup and Salads- I thought it was delicious (and I think the men folk even found it filling).  Andi made two amazing cakes and we had three candles (at different distances- which was funny).  It is always so fun to see family and to make memories together. 

 

CHRISTMAS EVE EVE EVE 

 This year no one could make it to Mom and Dad's for Christmas Eve or Christmas (other families, sickness, surgery, church obligations, excuses, excuses).  So we decided to have our Christmas Party on Christmas Eve Eve Eve (aka December 22).  We had a great traditional Christmas Eve dinner (Ham and Cheesy Potatoes- YUM) and so much yummy Christmas goodies.  We did not open presents; except for Mom and Grandma who got our traditional family scrapbooks (this year we decided to do them online and have them printed- although I am sad that I didn't get to cut and paste- this worked well and allowed us to have more pages).  

I am sad I do not get to see everyone on Christmas but I loved seeing everyone again.  I love my family and I think family togetherness is one of my favorite parts of this holiday season!

 

Baby Classes

I convinced Ben that, because this is our first, we needed to attend some Birthing Classes.  We were a little skeptical at first but are so glad that we went to these classes.  The people in our class were great and we had a really fun and energetic teacher.  After the first class I was freaking out a little bit, not sure I was ready for everything.  We did take the classes a little early because I did not want to take them during the holidays so a lot of the stuff, that was so close for the other women, was still WEEKS out for me.  Ben did not freak out till the third class, when they actually showed a video of a live birth.

We learned a lot about what actually happens to the mom, baby and dad before, during and after labor.  We also learned some relaxation stuff, which I thought was going to be stupid, but ended up being really helpful.  We are really glad that we went and that we are a little more prepared for this new phase in our lives. 

(A couple weeks before this class we took a shorter coarse on general and infant first aide.  Although a lot of it was review for us, it was nice to know/remember.)

The Hobbit

I am proud to admit that Ben and I are nerds.  We are not even closet nerds- we out in the open proclaim it to the world nerds.  Our last public display of nerdome was last Friday (December 14) when we went to see "The Hobbit." We had pre-ordered tickets, went early and stood in line and even dressed as hobbits (just kidding that would have been really weird).  It was SOOO GOOD.  

Ben grew up reading and listening to (book on tape- it helps him sleep) the Hobbit.  I grew up having Dad tell us the stories to keep up occupied on hikes and I even read it.  We both loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy movies and were very excited for this prequel.  The book was split into three movies, which many un-enthusiasts did not understand, but the back story and history (found in the Silmarilion) were also added to the story (Ben actually spent two hours describing and clarifying the back story to me).  It was very good and fun to get so excited about something with Ben. 

Scary Toilet Paper

In October we had a Youth Halloween party.  Our ward was in charge of a booth and we did Pumpkin Bowling.  We had toilet paper rolls (decorated as ghosts) stacked and the kids had to bowl a pumpkin to knock down the ghosts.  This did not really turn out to well, instead of softly bowling we had young men throwing pumpkins and, well that is messy.  

I took the toilet paper all home and for the past two months we have been using ghost toilet paper.  Every time I put in a new roll it makes me smile and think of our youth.  So although it is really weird and doesn't really go with the Christmas Season it is fun to be reminded of our great youth...when I go to the bathroom?

Book Club Exchange

Well, we made it through another year of book club although we might be a little worse for ware.  This year was harder for me to read (once I started to get morning sick reading was out the window).  I love book club and love the conversations and thoughts of everyone about the books we read (although this year turned into a 'girls night' club).  I am excited for a new year and the hope of new books.  

On December 6 we all met at the Huckleberry, on Main Street in Louisville, for dessert and a White Elephant Book Exchange.  We have many new members and it is fun to get to know them.  There were a lot of new books brought and it made me excited for the prospect of book club with these new ladies.