A FedEx Kind of Christmas

Please let me preface this entry by saying "I love FedEx." No really, "I LOVE FedEx!" They pay my husband a good salary, provide excellent benefits to our whole family, and for 11 months out of the year are a very flexible employer. However, when you are hired at FedEx, they will very honestly tell you that in the month of December, you belong to the company. This December, poor Bryan belonged to FedEx even on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

So with that being said, this is Jillian and I on Christmas Eve. We always spend Christmas Eve with Bryan's family. We go to church and then dinner at the in-laws followed by presents. As we were putting on our church clothes, my sister calls and reports that it is standing-room only at the church. I am almost nine months pregnant with an almost 2 year old. I needed a seat. Without a seat, I made the decision to skip church. I feel really bad writing that down but it makes me tired to think about standing up, chasing Jillian around for an hour without Bryan to help while we are not paying attention to the service. However, don't we look cute in our church clothes???

After trying to kill an hour waiting for church to get out, we then went over to my in-laws for dinner and presents. Bryan finally got off work and got to his parents' house around 8:30. He got there just in time to see Jillian open her presents. She got a very cute outfit from her Grandma with poodles on it and a very handy travel doodle screen (which will not mark on the car because it uses water not ink).

I got one picture of Bryan on Christmas Eve. This is proof that he did make it.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, we spend the night at my parents' house. Our Christmas Eve tradition since I can remember is to receive a new pair of pjs. Jillian screamed and yelled when she got her new pjs and insisted on putting them on immediately.

So Christmas Day arrived and Bryan was off to work at 7:30 a.m. Jillian and I spent the morning with my parents. We helped Grammie cook in the kitchen. We sung Christmas songs with my Dad. Finally, our extended family arrived at noon for Christmas lunch. My Grandma, my aunts, my sister, multiple cousins and their families all came over. I think we had over 25 people.

Bryan finally got off work around 1:00 p.m. He came over, ate lunch, and crashed on the couch. Poor thing! He looks a little pathetic considering he is wearing his uniform on Christmas Day.

Finally, all the extended family left, we woke Bryan up from his nap because it was time to open presents!!!

I don't know if it was because it was the end of the day or Jillian's age or just too much going on in the day but Jillian was NOT interested in opening her gifts. Just plain did not interest her. She looked at the boxes and frowned. So everybody else opened their gifts and she did like to watch.

Finally, Bryan went and got her "big" gift.....a play kitchen. We did get a big reaction over that gift. She played with it for the rest of the night and the next day and so far, she seems to really like it.

That's it. After the presents were opened, it was about 6:00 in the evening and we were all exhausted. We packed up and went home.

Poor Daddy had to be back at work at 6:00 a.m.

"Deer"

No time to blog! I am enjoying every second of my Christmas break! All the presents are wrapped underneath the Christmas tree. Jillian and I have watched "The Grinch" about 1,000 times. Even though she is 14 days away from being 2, she is pretty aware of "Christmas." She loves all of the lights on the houses, loves looking at all of the ornaments on the trees, and LOVES singing Christmas songs. That brings me to the video. Jillian loves singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which she refers to as plain-ole "Deer." So without further adeiu, let me introduce Jillian Avery singing her rendition of "Deer."

p.s. Please take note that my FAVORITE part is when she sings, "and they shouted out with glee." Cracks me up!!!!

School's Out for the Winter!!

Yippee!!! 3 hours and counting - then I am a free woman for over 2 weeks. I am going to enjoy every second of my break. I am going to nap everyday with Jillian. I am going to sleep in "late." I am going to eat chocolate, wrap presents, listen to music and......fight my reflux. That's right. Not everything is perfect. I went to the Dr. yesterday and she says that I will have the reflux until the baby comes. Alriiiiiiighty-then!!! Baby looks good. He is measuring right at 34-35 weeks.

Gotta go finish my last day. Will post more later.

Lip*stick Jun*gle

Maybe this whole lipstick as a reward program is getting out of control? What do you think?

Talk to the Hand

On Saturday, we had a 4D ultrasound. Baby Boy was NOT cooperating. For the entire 20 minute ultrasound, he was snuggling next to the placenta and he had his hand in front of his face. The sonographer tried and tried to get him to move his hand but no luck. We did briefly get to see glimpses of his face but the sonographer had a hard time capturing the picture. For those brief moments, his face reminded me of sweet Jillian's little newborn face but only time will tell. We will get to see his face soon enough I guess!!!

For those of you who are unable to read ultrasounds, the placenta is on the left (blocking his cheek and mouth) and his little hand is in front of his right eye. He does seem to have Jillian's nose (well, ultimately Bryan's nose) but again, I guess we will see when he gets here!

Flying Colors

At yesterday's appt., the exact words of my doctor were "You passed the test with flying colors." She said my weight gain is right on track and I definitely do not have gestational diabetes. Yay!!!! Now, gestational reflux....that's a whole other story. Lately, when I go to bed and get in a horizontal position, I start feeling very sick. Sometimes, I throw up, sometimes I don't. It actually happened when I was preggo with Jillian but I didn't realize the feeling had a name. I thought I just ate something funny. This pregnancy it is happening quite frequently. But dr. prescribed some medication that I can take with dinner and hopefully it will work. Otherwise, baby is head down. He was measuring a little small at 31 weeks. HB was 142. On Saturday, we have the exciting 4D ultrasound, so maybe we can get a sneak peek of what he looks like!!!!!

All Things Concerning the Bathroom

Last weekend, after I was busy loading and unloading the laundry, I found Jillian playing in my bathroom. As you can see, she had everything set up...babies, blankets, pillows. The whole scence was very cozy except of course, that the scene was set in the bathroom. Since then, she loves playing with her babies in my bathroom. Since then, I have been very busy keeping my bathroom very, very clean.

I cringe when I see how close her head is to the toilet. Note to self, need to clean it again when I get home.

Now on to the most exciting news EVER..........................................................................................................in addition to playing by the potty, Jillian has been using the potty!!!! You read that right. My big girl has been doing her business in the potty. She does it about 2 times a day.

Like any red-bloodied American, Jillian likes to watch TV while she goes (her head is turned watching Barney) and this part is a little weird, she likes the doggies to be with her. See Gizzy in the corner of the picture??

Bryan and I have been so excited. After the first time, Bryan asked if she wanted a treat. She immediately went to the pantry and tried to get the doggies' treats. We then asked if she wanted a cookie. She looked straight into our eyes and said, "No, lipstick." So now when she goes in the potty like a big girl, she gets lipstick. Dang, she is a girl after my own heart.

Look at her form!!!! Such a supermodel!!!

What do you think I can get her to do if offer eye shadow next?? Something to think about.....