Christmas 2011

You wait a whole year for Christmas and then it is over so fast! Every year I say that I am going to take time to really enjoy Christmas, but with all the places to go and things to do it really does leave me feeling really exhausted. Then I regret not taking the time to do the things that I wanted to do. I guess I'll say it again, maybe next year.

The girls were good this year, so Santa came to visit. Kristen got the easy bake oven she has been wanting. Lauren got her little people zoo she has been wanting. We took out a few things for them to play with, but had to put the majority of it up since we are still at Paul's mom's house. It will be like Christmas all over again for the girls when we move in to our new house.

I didn't take as many pictures this year, but here are some from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

Here are some from Christmas Eve







Here are some pictures of Kristen getting things ready for Santa. Lauren had fallen asleep on the way home and did not want to wake up for the Pre-Santa festivities.

Putting out Reindeer food for the Reindeer.


Milk and Cookies for Santa



Kristen wanted her picture taken with Eric, our Elf on a Shelf. She cried Christmas morning when he wasn't there. In fact, Oswald our Beta, died on Christmas Day and I thought Kristen would be very upset. Well, she was more upset that Eric wasn't there than Oswald, who has been part of our family for several months.



Here are some pictures from Christmas morning.









Here are the handprint snowman ornaments the girls made. I thought they turned out good.

Lauren's

Kristen's



We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

The House & Pregnancy

So, the house is coming along nicely. Paul has done A LOT of work on it and I know he is exhausted! He goes there straight from work and works until 8 or 9 at night. The painting is almost completed. We painted the whole house. Walls, doors, trim and ceilings. He has pulled up all of the carpet and the laminate in the foyer and play room. He has also pulled up the slate that was in the living room that a wood stove sat on. The locks have been replaced and our refrigerator, washer and dryer have been delivered. All I have done is clean one bath tub, the stove and microwave and lined some of the cabinets. My work will come when we start unpacking and putting things away. Once the house is completed I will post some before and after pictures. Here are some of the girls entertaining themselves while we were working.

Kristen was very happy to get to "help" paint the wall.


Lauren was just happy to be doing something her big sister got to do.


Kristen made some pajamas out of a plastic bag she found. It was very creative and I was impressed. By the way, she posed like this all on her own without any coaching.


Of course you have to have snacks at the new house!



Today I am 31 weeks pregnant and have actually breathed a little sigh of relief. I think I might actually make it! I did find out I have gestational diabetes...SHOCKER. I had it with both Kristen and Lauren. I go next week to the Diabetic Clinic and will be put on pills, which is better than insulin shots. They will also start fetal monitoring when I go in for my appointment on January 5th. I will be seeing the Perinatologist every week and my doctor every two weeks. Not sure just yet how often I will have to go to the Diabetic Clinic. It will kind of be like when Lauren was released from the NICU. I felt like I was going to see a doctor every day. Glad it's me and not her though.

4D Ultrasound Pictures

Today I went in for my 28 week appointment and they did a 4D scan of the baby. It is so neat to see and amazing how far technology has come. Here are some pictures from today. Kristen said after they were finished that she really hopes that her little brother isn't yellow because it is a very ugly color.


Our baby boy is measuring very big. He is already 3 pounds 5 ounces. I go for the first part of my gestional diabetes testing in the morning. I am SURE it will be positive.

Merry Christmas

We took the girls to the Bass Pro Shop for our annual free picture with Santa. This year Kristen was really excited to see Santa. Lauren said she was, but wasn't a big Santa fan once we got there (as you can tell). Kristen told Santa that she wanted an Easy bake oven and a baby doll, so hopefully she has been good enough to get those things. Paul had told her a while back that if Santa didn't bring her the easy bake oven he would buy it for her. Well, we have an elf on the shelf who Kristen has named Eric. He didn't move one night (because we forgot) so I told her it was because they weren't very good and didn't go to bed when they were supposed to. I then told her she had to be good or Santa wouldn't bring her the easy bake oven. Well, she looked at me and said that Daddy told her if Santa didn't bring it he would buy it for her. Nothing gets past that kid.