Tis the season

I must start out with the hilarity that is my dog at each Christmas. My wonderful in-laws always take care of her with a new "baby." (This year there were 3 that we are choosing to give her one at a time.) Well, Christmas night, we came home and gave it to her. This is what went on for at least an hour:

(I hope it works) 

She doesn't let it leave her side. This morning, I woke up and Soco and I were in the living room when suddenly she started walking around the house very distraught. I just watched her and she came prancing out of our bedroom with her baby in her mouth. 

She also makes sure she has it when she takes naps on the couch. 

 

Right now, she's snuggled up against my leg, sleeping with her baby right in front of her head. It's really sweet until she gives it too much love and the stuffing comes out. 

...at least she has 2 more when this one's is over-loved. The weird thing is that even after we think we've thrown away all pieces of babies, months later, she will bring us a random ear she had hidden somewhere. 

*******

Our Christmas tree started out as a butt of a joke for Derek and me. Last year, our tree stand broke. Despite our MANY efforts, we couldn't fix it and had to go out and buy a new tree for the year. We opened the box with great anticipation because of the "awesome deal" we got on a pre-lit tree only to find that you can see right through it. From every angle, no matter how much fluffing is done, you can see the stem of this tree. We laughed it off, decorated it and were thankful we had a tree for the year. We also had a goal of buying a new tree after Christmas when they were on sale. 

Well.... we forgot. We took our tree out remembering the wonderful pre-lit-ness of the tree and began fluffing. Then it all came back and we started laughing at how Charlie Brown it looked, especially with no decorations on it. Since our Friends' Christmas is at our house, and was only 2 days later, we decorated as best we could and made a promise to buy a new tree this year after Christmas. (We still haven't)

Well... here's our tree. It doesn't look so bad in pictures. :-) 

What you don't notice in these pictures is that Derek and I are both about a foot taller than the tree. 

Here is a picture from last year of Soco in front of the tree 

She looks enormous, but the tree is just so small. 

*******

Who knows if we really will get a tree, or if we'll just forget about how small and sad this tree is once again until we open the box next year. 

One thing I do know... next year there will be much more excitement surrounding Christmas. We'll have a 9 month old baby to celebrate with! 

a head in the shower

I forgot to write about my first and really only HUGE emotional breakdown of pregnancy. It's quite hilarious when I look back on it. 

A few weeks ago, I was taking a shower. I was washing my hair and my eyes were closed because I was rinsing shampoo. Well I opened my eyes to see a HEAD in the shower with me! Derek snuck into the bathroom and poked his head in the shower, pulling the shower curtain tight around his neck and making a weird face at me. I gasped and he was about to laugh when....

I immediately started SOBBING. I'm talking hyperventilating, tears streaming down my face, coughing, and in between breaths and realization that I was being overdramatic, I would laugh. I literally could not stop sobbing for the rest of my shower. It was like when a little kid cries and for 10 minutes after, they have that sad breathing thing where you think they're done and then they have this hard breath/cry sound that comes out. 

I guess my weirdest fear was realized that day. I remember when I was little, I had a dream, or my brother tried to scare me, or something that someone was standing in between the shower liner and outside shower curtain. I forgot about that until that day. 

Moral of the story: Don't scare your pregnant wife in the shower.

My rotisserie baby...

I can't believe there are 15 weeks left. It's flying by so far! Here's my belly this week: 

I think my former PJ shirt needs to be retired until the baby comes because for some reason, it's just not quite as comfy anymore. It seems to have gotten a little too small. 

It's super crazy that next Christmas, we will be putting gifts under the tree for the baby, too! 

The baby has chosen to hang out on my right side these days. About an hour ago, actually, I felt its entire back along the right side of my stomach. I felt like I was holding the baby or something because I could feel so much of it. 

He/she has also been acting like a rotisserie chicken. That's all I can think of to compare this feeling to. It feels like it's spinning around in there and it's almost nauseating. I don't mind it though because movement is comforting and helps me remember he/she is doing good! 

Ugly sweater party time is almost near, so I must go get tacky....