It's Christmas Season!!!

Christmas season is finally here! Blake brought everything up from the basement and I was able to decorate. Ideally, I like to decorate the day after Thanksgiving...Blake had different idea's this year. He hasn't really been home for too many holiday's these past five and a half years, so he hasn't had a lot of input in how we do things. He likes to wait until the first week in December, so imagine my surprise when a few days ago, he brought everything up while I was out. It was fabulous!! He went out the day before yesterday and bought me candy canes to put on the tree as well. He really is rather wonderful. I'm gearing up to do my first ever christmas candy and cookie baking. I am super excited about this. I hope everything turns out!

We had our 30 week baby appointment this week. Everything is looking right as rain. Baby Cara is measuring perfectly and has a strong heartbeat. We are still having a problem free pregnancy and I am so thankful for this! I do, however, feel as if I've been transported back into the first trimester...I've actually had "morning sickness" now. The hormones seem to have come back full blast too, but I'm still determined to be happy. Or at least have a happy thought or two! I can't believe we have two months left. It will be so nice to meet this little one. We can't wait! Well, I guess that's it for us for the moment. I hope you are all enjoying this fabulous start of the Christmas season!

Hummel

We (Kimberly and I) went back to the stores today. The Hummel guy was there signing Hummel statues. We both entered the drawing they were having, and wouldn't you know it, I won!! I never win anything!!! I was so happy. I also got a free gift with my purchase I made. So I ended up with three Hummel things for less than the price of one. I bought the lamp, which was around 50% off, got the little plate for free with the purchase and won the little boy! It was a great day!!!

Black Friday...

So, I did something today I thought I'd never do. I got up and went shopping on the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday. As most of you know, I am NOT a huge shopper. I like to avoid going anywhere near stores the day after Thanksgiving. This year, however, I went with my friend Kim. We had a few things we wanted to get and one of our friends wanted the laptop they were selling at a fabulously cheap $350. Our friend got to the store at 2 am. We thought she was a little bit crazy....we showed up around 2:45 am (we didn't want her to just sit there waiting by herself....). We pretty much thought we'd be the only people there for quite some time...boy were we wrong. We were the second ones in line, and by 3 am, there were at least fifteen people there. By 4:30 am there were between 30 and 50 people there, and by 7 am, the line was wrapped around the side of the building. It was insane!!! The doors opened at 8 am. The first 100 people got gift cards and once you were at the register checking out, for every $100 you spent, you got $20 off your purchase. Not too shabby. Our friend got her laptop and Kimberly and I got what we needed. We were shopping for our work holiday party (giveaway prizes and whatnot). We ended up getting done with everything at around 11 am. The checkout lines were massivly long. They took forever to get through. All in all, this was a once in a lifetime thing for me. It was not a horrible day, but it was long! I will go back to my usual avoidance of any stores from now on. The day after Thanksgiving will be reserved for decorating for Christmas from now on. I hope all of you had a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!

Third Trimester

We have hit the beginning of the end. We have 13 weeks left (approximately) until this little one gets here. I remember when we were only 13 weeks into it! It didn't seem like very long, and yet we were so very pleased to be getting out of the first trimester. I think this second trimester has been the best both physically and emotionally. Things are defenitly starting to happen now, though. The stretch marks have made thier appearance...I think they are trying to recruit friends too!! I try to tell them it's okay...friends of thiers aren't welcome, but I don't think they are listening to me. Oh well....Cara is getting bigger along with my belly. I still don't look as pregnant as I feel like I do, but I'm sure that will change here pretty quick. Blake commented the other day that I waddle...I don't know how accurate this is. Sometimes it's hard to get up off the couch, and then when I do, it takes a few steps to get comfy...maybe I do waddle! Well, I guess this is life. I am still loving the fact that we get a kid at the end of all this. The stretch marks, the itchy belly, the sleepless nights, the incurable indegestion...everything is so totally worth it. It's hitting home more and more that she will be here soon. Life really is a miracle!

A work in progress...

This is Cara's first cabbage patch doll (thanks Vanessa!!!!!). She looks just like mine!! I think it's so wonderful that her doll looks like my doll. I spent the day so far putting all the baby clothes away. This took some time, but they are all organized by size and neatly put away. I'm sure this will probably not stay this way, once Cara is actually born, but one can always hope! I also put together a bassinet. My friend lent one to me, which was really nice of her. It did not come with directions, so it took me awhile to complete, but I finally did. Yea!! It's starting to look like we are having a baby around here!

26 weeks and going!

We have only one week left in the second trimester. How crazy!! I don't even believe how fast this is going. I am finally showing, although some clothes show is better than others. I should probably start wearing some of those shirts for my third of the month picture. I have gained 20 pounds....this is a little devastating, but I know it's for a good cause. Oh, we have an update to Cara's name. The spelling is different that I thought originally. It will be Carolyn. Since she will be named after Blake's Grandma, I figured I should spell it the way she does. I just found out she spells it with a Y. I'm happy with this. It's perfect! I washed 4 loads of baby clothes in Dreft yesterday! We got so many cute things! I am still in awe at over how great everyone is! Our next appointment is on the 28th, and after that, we start going every two weeks. I can't believe we are getting down to the end. It's just wonderful. I am getting more and more excited to meet this little person and see what she looks like and what her personality is going to be like. She is moving more and more. People can most defenitly feel her on the outside now. The cat can even feel her when he is draped across my belly. Gratch has been most interested in all the new baby things in the house. I think his favorite is the little thingy's that go over the hands so the baby doesn't scratch herself. I have found some of these in various places in the house! He is still in love with the crib, but that's okay. I will have a solution to that before Cara actually gets here. Well, I think that's it for this months update! I hope everyone is having a wonderful month so far!