The After Christmas Post

I am just going to bite the bullet and do one ginormous blog post on Christmas, I just don't have the time or energy to do "parts." So bear with me--it's mostly pictures I promise.

{CHRISTMAS EVE}
I invited my parents and sister over for just a little snack and games just to do something, since we had to wait until the 27th to celebrate Christmas with them, when Melissa, Kreg and Landrey could be present.

So we played some rock band. Chad loves it and no one ever plays with him, so he loves when people come over so we can be a "real band."


Then we headed off to our amazingly awesome church for Christmas Eve service. So sad we didn't take a picture of us before we left...trust me we looked good. :)

After church we drove around and looked at a few lights in the neighborhood and then got ready for Santa to come!!

Writing our letter to Santa

We had to test taste the cookies...don't want to poison Santa! ;)

{CHRISTMAS MORNING}
Lo wakes up EXTREMELY early every.single.morning. So we were up and at 'em by 630a. This video melts my heart. I tear up (thanks hormones) every.time. I think about it or tell someone. She was just so sweet to immediately say {and sign} "thank-you." I guess I must do something right as a mommy.

Here is just some fun photos from the rest of the morning.

New electric toothbrush...so exciting.

Still crying from her sweetness...
Showing her, her new Minnie Big girl panties, again so exciting.

The only gift we got her (you know besides the Santa gifts)
Food for her kitchen. Again she was so thankful. What a great heart she has.

Chad hid my gift (a necklace) on the tree for THREE days and I never noticed!
He thinks he is so clever.

Reading Santa's letter back to Lo.

{CHRISTMAS DAY @ Grandma Rachel's}
Normally, it is just us with Rachel and Tom (her husband), but this year his 3 daughters and their boyfriend's/husbands were there too! Which made for lots of fun, but lots of chaos, especially with an energetic toddler around. These are just a couple fun shots we got.

So excited about her Elmo magnetic doodle board.

Again with the Minnie Mouse! She loves that thing.

Baby Q was not forgotten this year either.

{CHRISTMAS with my side on the 27th}

My sister made these ADORABLE outfits for the girls. I was so impressed.
My only contribution were their hair bows and those came from target.

Melissa got Lo a cupcake kit and this adorable monogrammed apron! This was the best shot I got of it, so neat. I think (THIS girl) made it, but I could be wrong...
let me know Kendra (or Misa) if I am.

Brother's gifts: I heart giraffes (as you may know) and so my parents got him a giraffe lovie and my mom made his blankie.

The funniest part of the day was Lo telling our family his name, unfortunately no one could understand her but us! HA HA HA!

Lo is always the first one done at meals, so now she is helping Lan's get finished up so they can go play. :)

My daughter is sweet and tender hearted, but she is NOT a cuddler. So I sneak my snuggles in with this cutie patootie, who loves to snuggle.

My husband is a clown, but this is actually from the game he got we never had a chance to play. :(

This is so weird. TWO years ago I looked just like this pregnant with Lo.
Last year just the 3 of us.
This year...

Go HERE if you want to see the BIG Christmas news
Bump Shots.
Two years ago we did the same thing, only we were 6 weeks apart then, not 5 months.

Well that about sums up our Christmas extravaganza. We were totally blessed by everyone. We all got just what we needed and wanted and had a great time doing it. The little girls make Christmas so much fun, and next year there will be more! ;) Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas.

Ho Ho Ho Drama

A friend of ours was kind enough to let us come by while he was dressed up in his Santa suit (for a school program) and let us get some Santa pics with Lo for FREE. {I can't bring myself to pay $30+ for the mall Santa}.

This is what Lo thought of Santa.
The crazy thing is the WHOLE way to our friend's house she kept saying "Santa" and "Ho Ho Ho" over and over and then when we headed to the school for the program, we followed Santa in his Infiniti G35 Sleigh and again she kept chanting "Santa" and "Ho Ho Ho," but once we came face to face with Santa it was a no go! HA! Why do kids do that?


Personally, I think the screaming Santa pics are the best...to be truthful I was a little bummed last year she did so well. HA! I will be laughing at this picture for years.

2009 went much better.

Anxious to see what next year will bring with TWO kids.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

From our Family to Yours

I love receiving Christmas Cards, but never really do them myself, so here is what I would have sent out had I actually done something. Merry Christmas.

Seasonal Chic Noir Christmas Card

Turn your photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Christmas Traditions

What would the holidays be without a little tradition or two. I have so many fond memories growing up doing all sorts of things. Now I am trying to implement some holiday fun and traditions in our family now that Lo is a bit older and can participate more.

Decorating the Tree and then laying under the lights.

While I did this as a kid, Lo actually started this one for her and I. She even did it last year at 10 months...something about the lights just fascinate her us.

Reading the Nativity Story as we put up our Nativity. This was a tradition from my childhood.

Making a special holiday craft.
And of course what Christmas tradition would be complete with out making sugar cookies?!
I really enjoy having a little elf (remember her name Olivia mean elf army!) around to help me with all these things. Sure it takes a bunch of extra time, but I love having her by my side participating it makes it more fun for both of us!

I do want to start getting a yearly ornament to represent our year, lots of people do that and I just think it is so neat...guess we better get on it eh?

We also go to our Church's Christmas Eve Service and then come home and get ready for Santa to come!

However, I am sure as she gets older there are plenty more traditions we will be incorporating, but for now this will do.

What are your traditions?

32 Weeks {aka Watch Mommy Grow}

How far along: 32w 1d

Baby Q 32w

Lo 31w

Total Wt Gain/Loss: +14# :/ I really should just stop looking at the scale, I find it terribly depressing...I know it's "good" and all, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

Maternity Clothes: Definitely wearing, especially pants! I love dresses and tunics, but mostly just live in sweats.

Best Moment thus far: I am really getting anxious to meet him. I am starting to wonder what he will look like, hair? no hair? who will he favor? what will his personality be like? will he be a sleeper? or colicky like Lo?

Gender: BOY!

Movement: His movements aren't as great as Lo's were. I just feel him some, enough to know that he is in fact still alive. Not sure if this is a good thing or not?! Maybe this means he will be easy going and a sleeper?!

Milestones: Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month. ~(courtesy of thebump.com)

Already feel him descending. He is so low in there I swear I might as well just stay in the bathroom, since he is under the impression my bladder is a squeeze toy. I honestly think I prefer rib kicks (which I don't get b/c he is so low.)

Food Cravings: Pizza, Chocolate, Soups (especially taco or tortilla), Apples and Raw Broccoli with Ranch dip. Mmmm good. Sugar cookies. (although that may be coming to an end.)

What I miss: My brain. It is official gone. Mommy brain + pregnancy brain is not a good combo! :)

Sleep: Not good. For whatever reason I am just struggling to sleep, even though I am so.very.tired. I start to fall asleep and right as I am about to drift of BAM! I wake myself up. So annoying.
On a positive note I can still {mostly} sleep on my tummy, I don't remember being able to do that at this point with Lo.

What I am looking forward to: The end. 6ish weeks and counting!!! {God willing} But while that is said, I am really just trying to enjoy being pregnant as best as I can. This is the last time for that and being a family of 3. I don't like change so there are a lot emotions going on for me right now, but I don't want to rush it.

Belly Button: Totally popped out. So embarrassing.

What I learned at my pre-natal visit: At my 29 week appt. we discussed my ever present, ever strengthening contractions. There are days and nights they get so strong and consistent that, if this was my first pregnancy I would be up in OB triage for sure, BUT because I know how bad active labor and contractions will get I stay at home and try to rest. All this to say I am now being checked now at exams. At 29 weeks, my I was thinning and softening, but no dilation.

At my 32 week appt I was sent to my OB for the duration of this pregnancy. (I had been seeing my PCP, because, well, why not). Anyway, they don't like my contractions, duh, so it is best to let her (my OB) handle it from here on out.
I was checked again, thankfully, still no dilation, but in a way it twerks me off because the strength and consistency of these contractions that I endure are doing nothing! But obviously, it is a good thing I have a stubborn cervix, just wish I didn't have to go through all this pain and have nothing happen. However, on the flip side once my body decides to get with the program, it gets with the program and I will go fast, so alas, I am happy nothing has happened yet...and my OB wants it to stay that way until at least 34 weeks after that she said they won't do much to stop it.
I am not allowed to travel for Christmas...good thing I have no where to go. HA! And I have to dial it down at the gym. Which I was already doing.
But all that to say, who the heck knows, besides God, when Baby Q will debut. I could go tomorrow, or be 2 weeks past my due date. Dilation or no it doesn't mean a darn thing, we all know stories of women who are dilated to a 4 for 3 weeks before the "go" and others who nothing seems to be happening and then BAM! They are in full on labor the next day. I just hope I don't have to endure all this for more than 5-6 more weeks however--selfish, yes, but it's the truth.

Oh and remember THIS POST {4 blood draws, 3 hours...} and how I said as an RD I was fairly confident I didn't "pass" the 3 hour?! Yeah, well guess who was right? Well, it wasn't the doctor. My OB looked at the numbers and said I borderline failed and that they would error on the side of caution. Which is what I thought from the beginning, but who am I, just a dietitian. SO I am suppose to have an appt with and endocrinologist sometime and start testing my blood sugars and watching my diet...who knows when that will be, I am already doing most of that, so whatev.

HB 132, measuring 30 weeks.

So there is all I have learned at my pre-natals over the last month. I go back in two weeks to learn more good news I am sure. :)

Symptoms: Uh, contractions. And I keep losing vision in my left eye every so often. Does that happen to anyone else while pregnant? It is so weird. I think the baby is just hitting a nerve, but still it isn't fun.

Interesting things that happened/anecdotes:
*In case some of you haven't caught on yet, Baby Q and Lo will be TWO years apart(ish). This pregnancy mirrors Lo, nearly week for week. Here is a picture of me 28 weeks pregnant with Lo in front of our tree.

28w pregnant with Lo!

Now here is one of me in the same outfit at 28 weeks in front of our tree. Do I look smaller, bigger, or the same?

Baby Q 28 weeks

I say bigger/same.

*Just hoping to make it to 36 weeks. Which incidentally is during TOC week, which I will find so funny if I go into labor then. {Sorry but inside family joke}.

*We have a name...finally, but it is still a secret so don't bother getting it out of me, my hairdresser already tried for over an hour and I STILL never caved! She ruthless I tell ya. ;)

Sorry this was so long, but I just want to remember everything as it is going on. One day someone may appreciate it.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today Chad {and Daddy} turns the BIG 3-0, 29. {Because if he is that old it means I am too and I am just not there yet...at least I still have two years to get ready for it.} You know since Chad robbed the cradle. HA!

I just can't get over how "old" we are, I swear we just met at college last year! I can't wait though to see what your next 30 years will bring.

~~~~~~

Now many of you may be wondering what kind of big bash we threw...nothing. We aren't really party people, we just like to be surrounded by those we love on our special day. On Wednesday evening we went to yummy Sumo with a few close friends to celebrate {sorry no pics, because I am awesome...} and tomorrow we are partying it up with family, with another dinner out to Abuelos, followed by a sinfully delicious ice cream cake from Cold Stone and gifts, if he has been good enough. HA!

~~~~~~~

Chad,
Lo, Baby Q, and I are very blessed to have you in our lives. I have never laughed so hard in my life than when I am with you. I love spending time with you and hate when we are apart. I love how you keep me sane when I feel like everything is going crazy.
You make me/us incredibly happy. I love the father daughter relationship you have with Lo, I love watching you make her giggle her biggest laugh and how she {usually} lights up when you get home. You were her first word, she loves you! And I know our son will love you just as much.
Happy Birthday from us!