Christmas

Christmas this year was...pretty good. Of course, the season was wonderful and I loved celebrating Christ's birth. (Especially with the impending birth of the twins. I was particularly sensitive to the Spirit.) But the festivities? They were a bit lack-luster. Between moving (read: no friends), pregnancy, new job and new house, there was little energy for the Christmas details.

We did manage to fit in our annual Christmas Eve-Eve hotel stay. Anna was beside herself with anticipation and excitement. Poor Isaac got SO sick the day of the stay. We decided to brave it and go anyway. He made it through swimming and then spent the rest of the night throwing up and crying. Poor, poor boy.

 Since we were up the whole night, we decided to go straight home at 6:00am. We stopped at a gas station for hot chocolate and donuts for breakfast. The rest of the day was spent sleeping off the previous night and cooking treats for the evening.

Isaac was still super sick and missed most of the festivities. Anna made up the traditional plate for Santa and the reindeer, we read a few Christmas stories and then it was off to bed.

This picture pretty much sums up how I was feeling: slow and swollen. (That shirt is an XL maternity shirt...not big enough for these boys!)

Santa brought Anna and Isaac scooters, slippers, puppy dogs, and some DVDs.

 Anna got right to playing.

 Oh, Isaac. So sick.

 Playing with toys.

The new Christmas pjs, slippers, and robe.



Christmas Outfits

 These are, sadly, the best shots I was able to get of the kids in their Christmas Best. Isaac fell down the stairs a couple days earlier, so he's a little banged up. Despite the blurriness, I still think these kids are pretty adorable.

Nov/Dec Pictures

Playing in the backyard.

Jumping in piles.

Doing the dirty work.

Entertained by our new front loader.

Keeping busy with shaving cream and toy baths.

Winter activities: snowflakes and Pin the Nose on Frosty.

More backyard play.

Making gingerbread cookies.

Such a good helper.



Goodbye Camry! The new van is already in the garage.



30.

Jeff turned the big 3-0 today. We kept things pretty low-key. Anna helped plan his "party" all day. She worked so hard to make a birthday banner, draw a portrait of Daddy, write a birthday card, hang streamers and help make the birthday bread pudding. I asked Jeff to text me on his way home so Anna could change into a party dress and hide for the big surprise.

Jeff gets home pretty late from work so we had the party first, put the kids to bed, and then feasted on take-out from Bonefish grill.

I laughed until I cried.

Funniest picture ever.

A couple of belly shots...

I'm always hesitant to post about myself because, well, it just feels weird. But I know in ten years I'm going to want to look back and remember what it was like at this time. And while I am generally avoiding the mirror these days, I'll probably want to reminisce about pregnancy at some point in the future. (Right now I'm ready to say 'hasta la vista" to the whole gestation thing.)

So, here I am at 33-34ish weeks with the boys. I enlisted Anna to take some pictures of me and this is the best I got. The babies are growing and look very healthy. One of best parts of being pregnant with twins is the monthly, and now bi-monthly, ultrasounds. It's so fun to see these little guys kick around and catch a glimpse of their profiles. They are both footling breech which means they are basically kneeling at the bottom of my uterus.

I am feeling pretty good. Of course I'm tired and uncomfortable just like any other pregnancy, but I'm healthy and able to get around and the babies are healthy so there is not too much complaint from my end. When I found out I was having two I was really worried about being put on bed rest, but thankfully that has not been an issue.

Things that are different this time around:

• My hands and feet are even more swollen than with Isaac. You can see pictures from Isaac's pregnancy here. Then use your imagination.
• Ligament pain. Uggg. I never realized how painful this can be. Bless all you women who have had multiple pregnancies filled with ligament pain.
• I'm carrying these little guys a lot lower and more out front.
• Tons of movement. Obviously.
• C-section. My first and I'm a little nervous about it. Not necessarily physically, but I won't get to hold my babies right away and that bothers me.
• Anna is really excited and loves to talk to the babies. "Hi boys. It's Anna, your big sister." She was not even remotely interested in Isaac. Before or after he was born.

It's strange that this pregnancy is nearing the end. I'm excited but not ready. Can't wait to see those tiny fingers and toes and hear sweet little newborn sounds times two. But I could use a few more weeks to prepare.

Also, name suggestions anyone? We have one nailed down, but are at a stand still with the other.

The Nutcracker Ballet

I wanted to do something special with Anna since things have been so crazy around here. After giving her a few options, she decided she really wanted to see the Nutcracker Ballet.

The anticipation was almost as fun as the actual night out. This was Anna's first theater experience so we had a couple of conversations about what to expect and proper etiquette. Anna must have asked half a dozen times if I was sure there would not be popcorn at the Ballet.

But my favorite was the time and thought Anna put into her outfit for the occasion. She went back and forth for a week on what dress to wear. Would it be fancy enough? How well would it twirl? One night I found Anna in her room where she had laid out every dress she owns on the floor and contemplating which would be just right.

I let Anna choose any restaurant for our special night. Thanksgiving must have really left an impression and much to my dismay she chose The Golden Corral. After a delicious meal of Mac & Cheese and crackers, we made our way downtown.

When Anna gets excited she talks and talks and I had to remind her many times to try to be very quiet during the performance. But her enthusiasm was so cute. She got restless by the end, but I think she really loved it. We took home a nutcracker ornament to remember the night.

I really enjoyed the one on one time with Anna. I think this may become a Christmas tradition for us!