A Wintry-Mix Day

See that is what we have here where I live. Once every 10-20 years you get an actual snow day. In between that time however, we have lovely wintry mix days. It leaves schools certain that they should close and every other business in town completely confused as to what to do. For those of you that are used to snow and icy roads let me tell you, there are actually those of us who are not qualified for such days (at least not on the road).

All of that said, after having to drive home in heavy sleet yesterday at a whopping 10 mph, my butt (and the baby's) are home today. Thankfully, Justin can work from home during bad weather, which means I only have two family members to worry about driving in this mess. After stealing my favorite shirt from Justin's side of the closet (it was bigger, but the baby is correcting that) and slipping into my new maternity leggings a friend gave me last week, I am content to not be dressed up today. While we should have gone grocery shopping last week, the only thing we are at risk of running out of is caffeine free coke. I have 1 left. It is the last bubbly drink in the house outside of sprite, and after 6 weeks of drinking that and only that night and day, it will take a hefty chunk of money to make me drink another sip for awhile.

Days like today give me lots of time to think. While I used to pray for weather days like today as a little girl (always thinking it would keep Daddy home), I dread them as an adult. It doesn't exactly feel like a vacation and so it isn't super easy to enjoy myself because I feel like I shouldn't. Crazy? Well, so is the weather here.

On the plus side, as a first time pregnant chick, I have quickly come to realize why pregnant women hate advice. Because you hear too much of it and typically ask for only a little of it. If you thought you hated the advice about going to college, or dating, or planning your wedding, I suggest you take a deep breath and chow down on whatever makes you happiest because you will have to grin through it somehow. I am only three months in and I am about to run out of snacks and happy drinks to keep me smiling some days. If I didn't think my mother deserved a sainthood before, I tell you what- where do I go to nominate her now. Here is why.

In the first few weeks of nausea, I got advice on not overeating during pregnancy because it is (apparently) the worst sin you can commit during this nine month adventure. When I wasn't grinning through advice on overeating (which is impossible when all you want to do is keep down whatever you can possibly muster down), I was given sympathetic looks from both old and new mothers alike. The worst of it is when you realize apparently being a first time mom means you are the most ignorant being on earth and must not have known nausea was a possibility or the easiest part of pregnancy. How does it help me to hear things like "oh, wait until that 36 week visit" or "and then during delivery they...oh, well, you'll see.". For real, ladies, I have a mother of my own and she not only laughed the stork theory out the door, she made sure I was never left that clueless over babies. Needless to say, I love my mother. I LOVE my mother. Amidst the pitiful looks and "helpful" advice, I have found solace in my mother's texts and phone calls and visits. She doesn't baby me when I tell her I am nauseous. I receive the same "aww, baby" that I have heard and loved my entire life. She hasn't stuck her tongue out and rubbed her hands together menacingly while laughing and saying this is all payback for what she endured with me. She just listens and tells me she remembers and it usually gets better. Then she moves on to talk about the happier parts of being pregnant. She doesn't chide me about my diet (or lack thereof). She told me to feed the baby whatever he/she craves because God was only going to let me crave what they needed. (Apparently I have low blood sugar every day and am in need of antioxidents daily because Little Bit craves chocolate these days.) And when the baby made it clear chocolate is king three weeks ago, my mother didn't get onto me, but instead aided in the madness that is this baby's likes by sharing chocolate krispies she made at home. She even got Daddy in on it by buying me chocolate bars during a normal shopping trip. She has held her tongue when I go to the doctor and not questioned a word, and listens to everything I tell her as I replay each visit with her on the phone.

And, y'all, I know the books say make friends with recent moms, but let me just warn you, this doesn't always work perfectly in my experience so far. Sometimes, it is VERY helpful. You can get the play-by-play of what to expect at your next visit and what processes take place during delivery in your area. Books can only alert you to so much and then they seem to notate that you should check with your hospital to be certain. It is great to have someone reliable to ask beforehand, especially, if like me, you want an answer months before it even matters. That said, the downside can be a silent competition that you aren't prepared for, at least I wasn't. Doctors do different things with different patients, so your visit may not be exactly like your friend's was and the doctor may not recommend exactly what she did for her. Sometimes you choose to do things differently because some things may not matter as much to you or you may feel it is more important. At times, that reliable source may just seem a little irritated with what you are learning from your experience. All I can say is, don't let this ruin your special time. Justin has to hear me complain about this from time to time because it happens and I get upset and I have to vent to him or I'll just let it sit and fester. At least once I get it out, he puts me back on track and I can remember this is our time and our pregnancy and we have to do what we think is best. Plus, then I have my sister to talk to and then there is my mother who listens and cares and there isn't a chance of competition between us, so she is always happy to talk and always happy to listen and always happy to give advice when I ask her for it.

Somehow in the last few weeks, advice has skipped from pregnancy to child-rearing and I sometimes worry my mouth is going to get the better of me. Y'all, I am that person that considers tripping the child that runs off from their mom. I cringe listening to the yelling and arguing from the toddlers to their parents. Oh, and let's not talk about the kids that get up and run around the table at a restaurant. For real? I know I don't have kids, so technically I am not supposed to talk, but I feel I can because I was a kid once and I know my parents did not let me act like that. Did I get in trouble? Of course. Did I earn those noses in the corners, groundings, and occasional spanking? I most certainly did. Did I scream bloody murder during lab work at the doctor's office. Yes, but I am attempting every time to hide that from my nurses now. In all of that, I loved my parents and grew up to love them more. I trust them out of every other adult on earth. I know I can go to them with questions and they won't shove what to do's on my shoulders, but offer advice and suggestions and let me make the call. That said, I grew up with a strong dislike for anyone outside of my parents telling me what I can and cannot do. An even stronger dislike now is being told what our baby will be like. I know I won't be the perfect mom with the perfect house and the perfect attitude and perfect smile all the time. (I can dream though. :) )I know this little chocoholic baby of ours will not always be the giggling, cooing, adorable little angel I think they already must be. Still, I have high hopes for this baby and I already think our little one will be capable of so many great and wonderful things. (Granted if they are uncoordinated it is totally from their mommy and I am apologizing in advance.) I don't like being told to give up or give in. It drives me bonkers (for lack of a better word). I especially don't like being told to give in with my baby. 

The strange thing in all of this, even though I get so frustrated with the unwanted advice and so upset with what is said, in some ways it brings me closer to our baby. It makes me want to protect them all the more. It makes me more determined to push them in the right direction, to hold their hand, to keep my eye on them, to love them, to hug them, to kiss them good night, to get that Mommy-look down pat (oh, because we all know we needed that from time to time). It makes me realize more how much I want for them and how hard I want to fight for them to find it for themselves. It makes me want to cover their little ears and tell them every day not to listen to the madness their mommy is having to listen to. It makes me closer to my husband because I can't do this alone. It makes me need him more, in a new way than before. It makes me question what we think and what we talk about. It makes me trust him more and it makes me more grateful that he is so on board. It makes me grateful he is my partner in crime with this big step and where this little one will take us. It makes me pray more and it makes me pray harder, for things I didn't know to pray about before. It makes me beg and plead for what I thought I already had. It even makes me miss my parents more. I am already seeing a little differently what my parents always told me. I thought I understood, but I am understanding better already. It makes me grateful they fought so hard for us and did so much for us. It makes me grateful they taught us not to follow the crowd and reminded us daily not to believe everything we heard. It makes me love a whole lot more than before. 

Again, it is funny how someone so little can change so much even before they are here to see it all taking place.

                       

A Little Catching Up...

Every Saturday, Justin wakes up before dawn and goes to his office to accept a new challenge in his game. He leaves me to sleep for as long as I want. This morning was no different, accept for my hand resting on my growing baby bump. I looked at the empty spot beside me and had the most wonderful thought. Soon our Saturday mornings won't be so quiet and that baby bump won't be there below me, but instead beside me. I could picture the prettiest little face, head bobbing as it turned tiredly, one cheek marked red from where the sheet was wrinkled beneath, and their curls shining in the sunlight coming from their daddy's window. Okay, so it may be a year from now at least before Justin is up for playing again, or perhaps I should say that the baby may be willing to let him sleep so he can get up to play. I know it was a daydream. I also know that I won't likely be sleeping so late anymore myself, but I know that it wasn't that far off. This baby has already begun to change a great deal for us.

For nearly a year, Justin and I prayed for this little one together. I (always Mrs. Optimistic) worried he or she may never come. Justin has been a great support- never flinching, never showing doubt, always somehow wonderfully certain. Even the morning that we found out I can remember my choking on tears and surprise while he sat with unwavering certainty in the bed waiting. "I already knew." was the first thing he said (much better than the "I told you so." he could have offered me). When "morning" sickness hit the following morning in full force, Justin didn't flinch. He managed everything without one complaint or one joke at my expense. *On a side note- Morning sickness is a joke in itself in this house. From Dec. 17th until last Tuesday, there has only been 24/7 ALL DAY sickness- the kind like I can't remember before. It kicked me on my butt and laughed at me I'm pretty sure.* Back to my sweetheart though, Justin has been a trooper. He's treaded on our cold, hard floors to the kitchen in the dark for breakfast first thing every morning, made sure we were stocked up on anything I thought sounded good, and even used those smoothie skills I've been hearing about for two years to make me some supposed "Nausea-Free" smoothie pops. *Note to self- you can not believe everything you read on Pinterest.* He has marched through the freezing cold weather with me to our first two doctor's appointments. He has also seen his wife for the giant baby I warned him about- the one that hates doctors and thinks Advil should cure everything. He only laughed at me when he was eavesdropping on my nervous laughing and pathetic "joking" with the lab nurse, even though I did explain to him I was a devil child to too many of them when I was little and know now I should really attempt to stay on their good side. He has even attempted the art of keeping a dreadful patient occupied in the waiting room so I won't look so miserable, and he only smiles when he fails. In his defense though, no one, not even my parents, have ever truly succeeded in making me a better participant in the waiting room. I say all of this for two reasons:

#1. So that in a few months, while worrying over the big nothings that will come and go with delivery, I may reread this and remember how perfect and wonderful my partner in all of this has been all along.

#2. So that our baby will know how wonderful and loving their daddy is.

I have so much more to catch up on and say, but we are losing time and there is a nursery to be cleaned out. With morning sickness out of the way (I just can't say that without a smile), I should be a much better blogger for a while I hope.

I hope all of you have been doing well. I have a lot of catching up to do with you as well, I know!

   

We Couldn't Decide, So...

 

Christmas Season 2014 So Far...

Sorry, I have fallen so far behind in blogging, y'all. I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas season so far. I know ours has already kept us busy, but that is just part of its charm, right?

As promised, here are some more Christmas pictures from our home, and a little of what we have been up to around here!

This our living room...

Yes, the stockings have already been filled. As my mother noted, we truly work off of an honor system in this house.

In the kitchen, I went for a 50s theme. A little white tinsel garland and some red and blue balls matched my new Hobby Lobby décor with my already red kitchen.

Last Sunday, we decided on a whim to make our annual Natchitoches Christmas Lights trip! I grew up with this road trip (more than once a year when I was younger, actually). To share this with Justin is amazing.

Yesterday, after a short visit with my family and some fun with Christmas pictures, we made our annual trip to Marshall, Texas for Christmas lights. It was a little too crowded to get ALL of the pictures we wanted, but we did get a few and Justin got to see the skating rink.(Note: The latter is NOT a common site down here in the south.)

Oh, and before I forget, we managed to finish our Christmas pictures a few weeks ago! I love sending Christmas cards. I grew up watching my mother, filled with pride, plan and make our Christmas cards every year. She never forgot anyone, never gave up even as time went on and we received fewer and fewer. Now I not only watch her, but I get to enjoy making and sending our own.

Sweet husband was very patient this year, dressing in his uncomfortable dress shoes and running back and forth from the camera across the room. Still, this was his reaction when I finally said we were through. Have to love him!

Anyway, this is just a short update of our Christmas season thus far. What have you and your loved ones been up to? Baked any Christmas goodies yet?

Candy Cane Christmas Decorations 2014

We have been crazy elves in our home for at least the last month. My only excuse for the early decorations is that Christmas is happy whether the decorations are hung before or after Thanksgiving. The lights, the garlands, the elves (my favorite obviously) have just been too cute to keep hidden for another month.
I don't know about you, but in spite of my efforts to look something like this with my Christmas duties...

I always end up feeling like this....

Always reaching for the ummmm...cider? Until I can pull it together and look more like...

I'm cool. I'm calm. I'm collected. Haha! So not all the time, but I do only drink apple cider in this house. I mean, we all know the strongest stuff is hot chocolate anyway (homemade with Hershey's Cocoa Mix, yum!).
Joking aside, I don't like rushing to hang my decorations, and make Christmas cards, and wrap presents, and make Christmas crafts. I want all of that to be fun. With everything already out, I can take my time with our cards and work on projects when I want, and bake cookies around all of my decorations and music. Christmas time just seems more exciting and relaxing when the decorations are already in place. As for Thanksgiving, I like seeing the trees out for two holidays especially now that I don't get to enjoy my parents decorations every day like I did when I was home. This year is especially exciting, too. It will be our first Christmas in our house- our new home!

We have multiple trees, so I thought I might spread the Christmas cheer out a bit. With our very large dining room, I could not wait to set out all of my dishes this year. I noticed most of them are candy cane themed, so I talked Justin into buying a third tree for the house and decorating the room in candy canes!

Totally not posed! just fell out of the box like this. :)

We sort of bought the table with the house. The last owners left it behind, so we brought it in from the shop outside and put our other table in the back room for the holidays. I had already preplanned the decorating a bit, and because I didn't want to buy new chairs just for two months, I found these cheap red party chair covers on Amazon. I covered our regular chairs and voilà- Christmas dining room table and chairs!

Sorry for the blurriness! This is the best picture I have from the 1st night.

My elf collection on top of Justin's desk! This is some of my antique picture collection at the bottom!

My desk area- Christmas Style!

We have outlets in the dining room that for one reason or another were placed half way up the wall. It is great for ironing, but terrible for Christmas decorating. I had already planned on putting this tree in the corner of this room, so the best solution was to place Justin's mystery gift (nice & tall to keep him guessing) in front of the outlet while the tree is kept in place! Of course, it only bothers him more not to know what is in the package since he has to unplug the lights every night. Bwahahahaha!

At night time!

At night, we turn on all of the Christmas lights in the house and open the dining room curtains. Since we don't go in there at night anyway, we don't lose any privacy. I plug in the tree to let just a little bit of our inside decorations add to the outside lights!

How about you? Have you started decorating your home yet?