Tap Tap

I felt the baby move this morning. That is the best feeling in the world.
17weeks 3days pregnant today.

Christmas Pictures

cookies for Santa
Originally uploaded by redamy.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning. Thank you everyone for all of our lovely gifts.
Please click on the photo to see more Christmas morning pictures.

Can I get a do over?

The day started badly and went down hill from there. Ethan and Mark stayed home since Mark is off work for the holidays. Thye were planning a fun day of pancackes and playgrounds while I was leaving for a day of payroll fights and IT conversions.

At lunch I had to go to the mall. Yes, I did procrastinate on getting stocking stuffers, but I also had to pick up Ethan's hat where he and Mark left it at the "mall playground" (It's a giant junglegym/maze that is the mother of all playgrounds to a three year old). Parking was a nerve wracking 30 minutes and then I had to walk a mile to actually get inside.

I did get to leave work early, but that just meant I got to the grocery that much sooner. I swear our Giant has never had more than 4 lanes open at one time. I don't know why they bother having 15 check-out lanes.

I came home and watched Ethan play with Katya. Then I got the bright idea to make toffee for Mark. Toffee, for the blissfully unaware, has to be heated to 300 degrees before being poured into the pan to set. In case you're wondering- yes that's HOT. A tiny speck splattered on your arm hurts. An entire glob landing on your forearm and thumb hurts so badly you scream and cry and scare your toddler to death.

So, yes, one "do over" for this day, please.

Ugh

Last night I made a pan of what I refer to as "Mexican chicken". It's basically taco seasoned chicken breasts cooked in enchilada sauce with diced tomatoes and chiles. It sounded delicious when I planned on making it.

After puking twice while making it, I couldn't summon the urge to actually eat it. Mark had a great dinner. I had a piece of cheese.

I love being pregnant, but this form of "morning sickness" can go away anytime now.

With warbling accompaniment

The "Pirates" have now morphed into the "Muffets." "Muffets" isn't really as cute or as thought provoking as "Pirates", but now I get singing from the back seat. Balance, see.

Understand that this is the "Muppets Christmas" and the first song is the "12 days of Christmas" with all the Muppets signing. On nine ladies dancing Miss Piggy starts singing "me me me me" in her high pitched piglet voice. Then she sings "ba dam bum bum" after she draws out "5 golden rings". Every other kid I've heard sings the "ba dumbum bum" part with great gusto. Not my child. He thinks the "me me me me" during nine ladies dancing is the best thing ever.

For me the best part is his 3 year old interpretation of "a partridge in a pear tree". In Ethan speak that is: "And a party in a pear cheese."

Wrap your mind around THAT.

15 week appointment

We're 15 weeks today! Junebug's heartbeat was good and steady. He/she is right below my belly button just like last time. My blood pressure was 126/80 which would normally be high for me but it's been that level the entire pregnancy, so we're not complaining yet. I've gained a whole 2lbs in the past 4 weeks. That makes 2lbs net gained since the positive pregnancy test.

All in all we're doing great and getting ready for the big trip this weekend.

Mmmm fudge

I've been fighting some killer headaches recently. I've tried drinking more water, adding a bit of caffeine back to my diet, and every other cure I could think of. Nothing was helping until I discovered the miracle cure: fudge.

Ethan has been a holy terror this past week. He was actually speaking to me last night instead of screaming incoherently, so when we got home I decided to get my mind off my aching head and do something constructive. I set Ethan up with Dora TV, his zebra, his cigar box, and some walnuts. (Don't ask, you're really better off not hearing about all of that.) Then I was off to make fudge. Fudge, thankfully, is not a two person science project like peanut brittle.

By the time I had finished, the lovely rich smell of chocolate wafting through the house had calmed the terrible Ethan beast, made the husband figure act all dreamy and romantic, and I was actually willing to be in the same company with the two of them.

Fudge cures all ills - and that was before we started eating it!

Ethan and Junebug

UK leaf boy
Originally uploaded by redamy.

I'll take some Christmas pictures of Ethan as soon as he gets a haircut. Until then, enjoy these two pictures of him raking leaves.

There's also a picture of Junebug taken in mid-October. Next photo of Junebug won't be until January!

(Click on the photo to see the other 2 pictures)

Tis the Season for... pirates?

Ethan and I have been jammin' to "The Muppet's Christmas" album while we're in the car. The only catch is, I'm either slurring words very badly or his hat covers his ears a bit too well. The Muppet's, in Ethan's mind, have translated to "The Pirates". Trust me this gives me many moments of joy thinking about scurvy, black- toothed, unwashed men sitting around singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas". That's a holiday picture you never thought to conjure, eh?

Speaking of unkempt rogues, I need to conjure the energy to take my little man for a haircut. My soon to be sister-in-law will have a coronary if she sees him right now.