Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Y'all! Whether you welcomed the incoming year in your jammies and slippers or a little black dress and heels, I hope it was fun....and safe! As for me, I'll be in the jammies, slippers and flat out asleep crowd when the ball drops. I know. It's a barrel of wild fun at my house *chuckling*, but I did get to hang out with family today and chill which is always nice. Oh, and did I mention that I had a few contractions? Yes, I said contractions!

The Hubby's voice went up a couple octaves when I called him at work and told him what was going on. They were happening every twenty or thirty minutes for a while, but then seemed to ease off. I was kinda tense for a while there. I put my feet up then downed some water and that must've done the trick... In any case, the baby is still his mobile self, kicking away in my tummy. What a relief!

I really don't have a New Year's resolution. I've never been one for those....mostly 'cause I know I won't stick with it. What can I say? I'm honest! The only things that come to mind are things I strive for all the time like being a better mom, wife, daughter, etc. This year comes with a unique twist. I'll be a mom to two little boys in a few months instead of one. I won't be perfect, and am expecting to make a few goofs along the way but I think I need to go into it that way. Realistic expectations take a bit of the stress out of things, don'tcha think?

Yep.

Yep.

I know the bloggy vacation has gone on too long when even the Hubby is shocked that I haven't written a post in a while. What can I say? I was having fun chillin' with my guys, enjoying Christmas festivities, baking....reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.

Yep.

I've been sucked in. I've heard so many people say how good the series was that I thought I'd check it out for myself. I tried to reserve it at my local library and the waiting list was laughably long which led to me just springing the $8 for the paperback. I picked it up on a lazy day here at the house and literally finished it in one day! I'm a fairly quick reader, but the story and quick flow of the plot kept me glued. Hubby just shook his head and laughed when I told him. So what was waiting under the tree for me Christmas morning? You guessed it! The next installment in the series, New Moon. Then my parents gave me a gift card and I flew out and got the final two, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I'm already through New Moon and Eclipse and am half-way through Breaking Dawn. *sheepish shrug* I had a bit of a sick day yesterday and spent most of it on the couch reading and blowing my nose. Good times, y'all.

So I'm back, ready to blog-n-roll and catch up on what's going on with y'all! Those McSpeedy reading skills should come in handy....

Cleaning, Shopping, Christmassing...Warning, these may cause Bloggy Slackeritis

Yes, I know! I've been remiss in my overall blogginess this past week....and this week, too. Like most of you I've been runnin' around getting things done and bought, I also attended some of the Bubs's Christmassy school events and helped in Dad's class (we made candy coated pretzels since most of them had never made/had any), and........*slightly hysterical giggling* Well, you get the general idea!

The Hubs and I have also been on a bit of a spring cleaning kick. Yes, we do know it's December and, as of this past Sunday, it's winter but we're doing what we can while we can. So far we've successfully ditched, ahem, I mean donated several bags of clothes, toys, books and other miscellaneous stuff to a local charity. We can see the floor in our bedroom...even the floor under the bed, y'all! The Bubs was amazed by this. He came in one evening a couple days ago and just stared at the floor, "Wooooow. I can see the floor!" I think we say the same thing about his playroom when he's cleaned up in there. That boy is a hoot.

Now we've moved on to the *dun, dun, DUN!* craft/guest room. There's always that one room or area in the house that all the "where does this go?" stuff gets tossed and this room is it in our house. It's the smallest bedroom in the house but, honey, was it crammed! Old baby stuff, gift wrapping supplies, my paints and art items, office supplies from the Hubby's job....and the list goes on and on. Right now we've got everything pared down and now I'm going through my craft closet, Heaven help me. I'm being ruthless in getting rid of unused items and re-organizing what's left. The Hubs is so proud....and keeping his distance because he knows if he says one thing about my craft and art stuff, he's toast!

Now, with everything as crazy as it's been there've been a few evenings where I've had a whopping case of the tired giggles. Some of the women on my Mom's side of the family have the tendency to giggle hysterically and, often, for no apparent reason when we're really tired and loopy. Now take that bit of knowledge and mix it in with mine and the Hubby's habit of making up whacked out lyrics for songs and you've got the following silly tune that I was humming in my head the other night (in between aforementioned loopy giggles)~

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

All around our house

Take a look at the Christmas bins still stacked in the ol' kitchen

With decor and the Christmas lights all strowed

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

Hidden toys and all

But the prettiest sight to see is the Hubs and Bubs and me

Gathered round the tree!

Boo Mama's Christmas Tour of Homes

Hi, there and welcome! This is my first year being involved in a Christmas Tour of Homes and I wanted to make your time here special. So what did I do? I took my tushy over to Scrapblog, of course, and made y'all a slide show. Feel free to click the pause button at will so you can read the little blurts about our Christmassy happenings or click the arrow buttons to peruse at your leisure. Enjoy!

Just plain silly....but I can't help myself!

*goofily singing*

"Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to myse-elf

Happy Birthday to meeeeee!"

To dream a little dream...

I've always had dreams that were vivid and realistic. So vivid and realistic, in fact, that even when I woke up it was hard to tell whether or not I was really awake. If I was eating in the dream, I tasted it. I smelled, felt, saw and heard things as if I was walking around in a fully concious state. Trippy, to say the least!

I know that dreaming increases when one is pregnant from all the medical info I've glanced through recently. Sleeping more increases the oppurtunities to dream and those lovely middle of the night bathroom trips ensure a better recall of them. Every. Little. Detail.

Lately my dreams haven't been restful in the least. Nightmarish would be the better term. It started a couple of nights ago and hasn't let up since. One such nightmare featured me dying in a horrific car accident and the other featured the Bubs being hurt and I couldn't do anything to stop it. I've been having flashbacks of the dreams during the daytime. My husband had to lay down with me today in an effort to get me to take my usual nap. I didn't want to have another dream. I eventually drifted off after he laid his hand on my tummy/baby and quietly prayed for me.

It dawned on me earlier this evening that both dreams, if I could look past the horrific nature of them, highlighted the fact that, in both, the situations were out of my control. I couldn't stop the car or protect Bubs. Telling fact, isn't it?

I must remember that even when it feels like my life, or facets of it, are out of my control that I have a Heavenly Father who is holding my life and the life of my loved ones in the palm of His infinitely capable and loving hands. I haven't been endowed with a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. I can't let the nightmares overtake my peace and my day-to-day life.

Y'all know my life is a soundtrack...well, there's a Fernando Ortega song that goes along with how I'm feeling called Jesus, King of Angels. The melody is reminiscent of a lullaby, but the words are so very powerful. I invite you to have a listen and revel in the sense of peace it evokes.

My Christmas Heart

One of my new fave reads is Octamom (c). Her blog is always well-written, fun and so very sweet. And, oh yeah, she's called that because she has a family with 8 children! She posted a new blurt today about a cheap red velvet reindeer ornament that triggered some favorite Christmas memories for her. In turn, she asked if there was a favorite item, a special scent, etc. that triggered favorite Christmas memories.

Well, I slapped my name on her little list of volunteer bloggers to post a related blurt...and then it hit me that there are sooo many things that trigger fond memories for me. A great problem to have, yes, but still a bit of a conundrum. Should I write about the wonderful Christmas music that I practically listen to year-round, the sweet and spicy fragrances of holiday baking, or the wonder in our son's eyes as he takes in Christmas traditions, events and -most importantly- the reason we celebrate Christmas?

As much as I have favorite ornaments, favorite Christmas events to take part in, and even favorite things to create year after year, I'm drawn to the memories that involve people and not things. I remember laughter, music, warmth, love, child-like wonder and anticipation, and the joy of giving.

More vividly, I remember Dad playing Christmas songs on the piano for Mom, Aunt D. and I to sing along with one Christmas morning while we puttered in the kitchen and my husband listened from a chair next to one of the many Christmas trees in their house. Where was the Bubs? He was swaying back and forth next to the piano stool, sippy firmly planted in his mouth, watching his Poppi play.

I remember when I was little, trying to peek under my door Christmas Eve night to see what Mom and Dad were doing. I'd usually smell coffee, hear things being moved around and my parents laughing.

I remember helping my Granddaddy get wood from the woodbox for the fireplace in their old house. He'd patiently explained why we don't want the green wood and how to keep a fire going safely, then we'd stand in front of the fireplace and roast our backsides. Not really saying a whole lot, but just enjoying the simple pleasure of one another's company...and the calm before the Christmas present mania began.

Was every Christmas Day perfect? Not a chance, honey! Family is family, after all, and perfect we're not. But I've had to make a choice and an effort to remember those precious moments where sentiments were genuine, peace was allowed to reign, and laughter abounded. Christmas is in the hearts of friends and family and now that I'm a Mom, my Christmas wish is that the Hubby and I will instill that ideal in our sons (Bubs and the one to come). Christ left His heavenly home to find a home in our hearts and that's where my fondest Christmas memories are centered...in my heart and the hearts of those I love.

Good gracious granny...More bloodwork?!

Thank heavens that the lab at the naval hospital is chock full of peeps who are great with needles. They don't come at me angry, in a hurry, or insensitively....'cause what's worse than one of those traits when they come at me with a needle and several empty vials in their hands for me to fill?

I'm used to having to become a human pincushion during pregnancy. It's just the way it goes and I'm okay with that. It's a wonderful thing to be able to screen for problems, etc. An ounce of prevention and all that jazz. So I get a call yesterday evening from my doc about the anatomy ultrasound findings. The sono lady was a little concerned about how low the placenta was and the thickness along the bottom. This is apparently indicative of something, but so far the doc is a little famisched (I love my Yiddish dictionary!) as to what that something could be. This was even after she and others from the OB/GYN clinic "cracked open the text books". She went on to say that the baby itself looks great, but they just want to make sure that there's nothing going on that will affect him later in the pregnancy or even after he's born. Oy.

Soooo, I went in to the lab this morning for another glucose test with a blood draw instead of, um, "giving a sample" (that's an hour wait for that one) and gave another vial of blood for a TORCH test. The TORCH test is to screen for antibodies which would indicate the presence of certain infections that could potentially cross the placenta to the baby. Double oy.

Next on the doctor given to-do list was to make an appointment to see the OB specialist who only comes down once a month to their clinic. Done. Unfortunately, the appointment is on the last day of school before Christmas break begins for the Bubs. I hope I can still help out with their little festivities. It's always so much fun and the Bubs always gets such a kick out of me being there. I'm enjoyin' that while it lasts!

Meanwhile, we can only wait for the results of the tests to come in. One of them they have to mail out and we won't know those results until 7-12 days from now. 7-12 looooong days. Well, at least it's December and there's never a shortage of things to do to keep me occupied and not thinkin' about it!

The Cool Parents

The older the Bubs gets to be and now that we're pregnant with another precious little boy, I can't help but think about how things will be when they both get older. Their personalities, their friends, their ways of thinking, their challenges and triumphs.....you know, what every parent wonders about. I also wonder if we will be those parents. The "it" parents that our son's friends are so comfortable being around that there's always an extra place to set at dinner or a friend over on Saturdays.

Now, I know that Hubby would prob'ly be the belle of the ball if that were to happen. Y'all should see all of the anime movies, game systems and games that the man has! A boy's dream come true. However, he's very strict about what the Bubs is allowed to see. The more adult games are only played at night or when the Bubs is with Ammah and Poppi at their house. I'm fairly certain that the same rules would apply to any friends. Smart man, that!

I've been fairly easy going with the little visitors we've had in the past. I don't mind loudness or silliness in general and have fun watching their antics. I only have a few expectations, though. They're expected to share, be safe, and under no circumstances are they to be behind closed doors. I'm sure that I might add a couple things when they get older, but those are the basics at our house.

I know a few of my readers have children that are a bit older than the Bubs....got any advice for me?