Christmas eve eve

Today I worked a half day which means I got stuck there two hours longer than I hoped and still didn't get everything done. Paisley seems to have come down with a small bug/virus so I ran to the store for a few items and then home to care for her. Exhausted I crashed on the couch next to her while she watched cartoons and griffin seemingly had endless amounts of energy. When we finally all had a bit more energy we decorated the tree together. It was quite fun and a memory I will cherish over the next year! I am thinking about all these moments now where it is still just the four of us...two parents and two kids who can talk and interact with us. Soon the baby will be here and that will change things...I am not saying that is bad but it will be different. So for ow I am cherishing these moments of being a family of four.

The kids went to bed quickly and a bit early. Then lee and I finished our crafting and wrapping..well, most of it. Of course it can't all be done...so we will finish tomorrow. Now to finish that, make cinnamon rolls, make soup for Christmas, exchange gifts with Kelly, and clean this funky house. Oh, and enjoy myself. A glass of wine might be in order for that to occur.

Breast Cancer wins again :(

http://mywifesfightwithbreastcancer.com/

this is an amazing story of pictures of one woman's fight with cancer. She died just the other day.

More deep conversations with griffin (and paisley)

We were driving to the dentist on Tuesday. As we drove down our street I spotted the mail lady named sandy so I stopped and gave her a holiday card. After driving a bit paisley says "there are two sandy's....the mail lady and baba, daddy's mommy."at this point griffin wanted to know a) why her name was also sandy and b) why she wasn't a mail man and when we would get a mail MAN.

Drive a little more and we start discussing all the grandparents real names and what they also call them by. Grammie=Shirley, mommys papa=Darrell carroll (that really blew their mind), daddy's papa=David norris(they were amazed he had our last name).

Then griffin wanted to know who the old one was that had silver hair. The old papa, you know, the old one. (I had no idea what/who he was talking about at first and then realized it was lees grandfather who died last year). Yes the one who died. But then he wanted to know when everyone was going to die....(I told him we don't know but we hope a long time from now). Paisley is meanwhile interjecting that she doesn't remember the old papa (which breaks my heart). Griffin then asks when I will die? When daddy will die? I said I wasn't sure but I hoped it wouldn't happen soon. Then he wanted to know what would happen to them if we both died (by this point I am hoping we can time warp to the dentist and get out of the conversation). I told him that mom and dad would make arrangements for people to take care of them paisley : "what are arrangements?"). Griffin then debated all the people he thought could take them and the different reasons...."Kelly could cause she really loves me. John could cause he lives in Florida. Etc". Paisley then says:" they cold all take us griffin because they all love us."

We finally were t the dentists office and agreed that many people loved them and it was unlikely mommy and daddy would die together or soon and that all would be ok even if that did happen.

Geez....not exactly my easy ride in the car. Their little minds really can move at rapid pace.

Driving at the holidays

Is maddening. Everyone is in a hurry and turns on their worst driving etiquette and most aggressive skills. Tonight we were behind a real winner and altho lee was the one driving I could not help but notice as well. Some expletives might have been released from our mouths even. The kids were unsure what to make of the situation so the questions ensued.

Paisley: "which woman? THAT green car momma?"
Griffin: "where is this bad driver? What makes them bad?"

And then the repeat of questions followed by more confusion. It ended up being hysterical as talking to children about adult real life situations often can be. Lol.

Names

We are getting closer. It is very exciting. It makes me excited to be closing in but since we will have to wait until march to know which side, boy or girl, we land it isn't that exciting.....yet. But I am still pretty psyched. If/when we decide we will do another voting poll. In the meantime any other suggestions?

Rules we are trying to follow:
2syllables
A noun
Goes with griffin and paisley
English, Scottish, Celtic


Also, any family members have suggestions for family middle names. We are considering/set on mcgregor for a boy middle name and considering Ada, Merrill, Kelly for a girl middle name. Would love to hear other suggestions of names I might not have thought. We do want a family connection for middle names.

Running

Is not my favorite pastime. While that may be true I can run and do occasionally when not pregnant. When pregnant? Apparently this is something I should always avoid. Today lee dropped me at a store so I could pick up a last minute Xmas present. He circled and I had just missed him as I exited the store. I tried waving, walking briskly, and then I ran. Oh my goodness. This must have been a hysterical sight as two men laughed at me and two others smiled and said "well merry Christmas.". I have never felt so ridiculous. After finally catching up to him and getting into the car, it took a good 5 minutes to stop panting. And then after driving home I could barely walk. An icing down and nap later things improved but I am pretty sure I will be suffering for days from my little "jog". Good grief.

A side note: this reminds me of a story my sister in law reminds me of on occasion. The first time I met her I was pregnant with paisley and battling some sciatica. It was august too so the combination of pain, heat, and pregnancy had me sitting on an ice pack (no humility I swear). Needless to say she was horrified because she did not know why I was sitting on ice. She asked my BIL "doesn't that usually happen after the baby?". Haha. I guess I really have broken her in since ;)

My five

A day home with kids
Food coop, city fresh holiday share, and fresh fork ll this week.
Mostly ready for Christmas already
Chocolate cake-yum!
A plan in action

More changes

If 2011 has taught me nothing else , it has taught me change can be a good thing. This may seem common sense but I have never been very good at acceptance of it. But 2011 forced me in a way because of threats to my work, home, and body (3rd pregnancy). And at the end of this year close by we will be experiencing and accepting another change at the office. Sarah is leaving.

The simple explanation is she got another job. The longer explanation involves my husband "stealing her" for his own company. It is a great opportunity for sarah and I am sooooo happy for her. We are all going to miss her though and her shoes will be hard to fill at the office. So, 2012 will for sure bring a new employee and a new baby. I am optimistic and when I am feeling stable (hah) I am excited at the prospects.

Hear we go.....

Crazy Preggo Stuff

I know reading about my crazy pregnancy is just so thrilling for people. lol. But I got nothing else since I can actually put up what I have been crafting...I will after the holidays though.

One of the craziest parts of pregnancy are the dreams. woh. For the longest time I have been dreaming about friends (various) calling me up and being really pissed at me and leaving me angry voicemails over non-sensical situations. Then last week was the "back in college" craziness. Last night was a sex dream. It wasn't risque but geez it was weird. Never in any other part of my life are my dreams this all over the place and do I remember them so well.

I am looking forward to next June when it is warm and my body might be back to some semblance of "normal". I love this baby already but I do not love what he/she is doing to my body/mind.

Elf On the shelf laughter

This made me laugh so hard I cried, happy tears this time though.

http://peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.blogspot.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html

Day salvaged with a long nap

I was a hormonal wreck today....a pregnancy stereotype to the max. I did not feel particularly tired but after work I took a bath and then headed to bed, mostly to protect my family from my horrid mood. I fell asleep and slept four hours, with the light on. The dog woke me with some shenanigans and I feel so much better. Crazy.

I was crying today. And over things I know are not worth crying over. For example, a friend dropped me off a muffin and after eating it (it was delicious) I cried because it was so nice. Then I cried because I confused my front desk and they did not give the mail carrier his present. And then I craved, like hold me back craved, fountain coke. So I got that at lunchtime. Weird stuff those hormones. I don't care for that which I doubt many do but seriously those experiences are some of the harder for me during pregnancy/life...those feelings of helplessness because hormones are controlling the show.

On to another day but first a let dinner as I am starving!

Midwife appointment

Got to feel the baby (who is head down!) and hear the heartbeat. I also passed my glucose check.....bring on the goodies...lol. Just kidding. I have craved savory much more anyhow. I gained 8 lbs. This month which likely explains all the pain and contractions....growth! I hope it slows a little....not into gaining too much more or adding to my stomach marks too much more....slow and steady is fine with me.

We got to discuss a little bit of the birth plan, more in theory than in detail and it was very exciting. After the holidays and then my next visit only 8-9 weeks more til d day. Crazy. Still lots of little things to do but we are pretty much ready....or so we think. Lol.

Now if those names would just decide for themselves. Ha. Soooo hard this time.

Holiday Prepping

We spent a good portion of last weekend creating for our loved ones. Tomorrow I am going to do a little project with the kids for their teachers....chocolate peppermint popcorn. I scored big with griffin on this because he loves popcorn and because I am psychic (or he thinks) since they are decorating their classroom with peppermints. He thinks I am falling in with the theme.

Anyhow, you pop plain popcorn, put it on a cookie sheet, melt chocolate, drizzle, sprinkle crushed peppermints. let get solid and then crunch up a bit and put in a little tin. I really really hope it turns out ok.

Tomorrow is also midwife appointment....I just want to get through today. A busy one at work. It is very sad when you wake from a restful night's sleep and the first thing you think is "can't wait to go to bed tonight." ha. There is not enough sleep for this lady these days.

Big Clothes

I am laughing about this so much tonight. I posted on facebook and discovered I am not alone in the "big clothes" phenomenon but still...it is baffling me and cracking me up. I took a bath and then searched my drawers for some comfy clothes. what did I pull out? some comfy (and cute) maternity PJ pants, a very soft, almost see through t-shirt from middle school camp, and a very soft, very over sized long sleeve tee from high school. How did those last two fit? Because apparently i LOVED big clothes back then. lol. sooo funnny HOW big though. oh and really? why do I still have them because the camp shirt? is really almost see through and i could almost put my arm through it, not the arm hole, through the shirt. haha.

oh, and the overalls.....yeah, those were huge too. maybe for another post.....

Early morning

Several times per week someone in this house wakes me up in the middle of the night. I think this has happened roughly since griffins infancy. Typically though I just go back to sleep and easily....not so much when pregnant :(. So here I lie in bed wide awake. I have tried lots already to go to sleep and nothing is helping. Now there are only 15 minutes before the alarm so I might as well give up. It's gonna be a looooooooong frida.

Paperwork from bed

Having braxton hicks at a week shy of third trimester is so not cool. I had a busy day yesterday but felt good. Today, not so much. So I am in bed tackling some paperwork, guzzling water, and hopomg they simmer down....I have too much to do. Of course I will do none of it if needed but sheesh.....this momma is used to being n the go......

Then and Now...woh

This is me pregnant with Griffin at 27 weeks



and THIS is me pregnant tonight with 3rd baby 26 weeks. How will there be more room? haha. pardon the toweled head :)