Christmas Day

Christmas Day was very busy. We had breakfast at Amy's, lunch at Su-su's and Emma was asleep in bed for the night by 6:15. Emma was so overwhelmed with all the presents she didn't even open them all.

Santa Claus was here!



I really am an angel.



Chas races his car.



Rock Star!



Pop-pop helps Emma open presents.



Chucky finally gets the ball on the tee and he is so proud!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve: Breakfast at Beverly's, church, dinner at Mom-mom's. Emma threw a fit in the morning because she didn't want to wear her dress. She eventually got over it and we had a good time in the morning. At mom-mom's she sensed something exciting in the air. She wouldn't each much and rolled on the bed like a crazy monkey when I tried to get her into her pajamas. She ran through a big pile of wrapping paper trash twenty times with Maggie and we had to tear her away from the place. We finally got her into bed around 9:30 and she was still awake at 10:15. This is the beginning of her Christmas excitement . . . it will fade in late adolescence and return and surprise her when her own children await Christmas Eve . . .

The traditional Christmas paper fight with the Norris'.



Maggie and Emma



Chucky, Emma, Kate



Mom-mom and Emma look for the cat.



Mom-mom puts on a show.



Nannie tries to read the Christmas story . . . her audience doesn't let it last long.

Are we cleaning?

Christmas a few days away and I am wondering where all of Emma's gifts are going to go in this already-full house. I decided to weed out some toys from the baskets downstairs . . . Emma "helped."

21 weeks

Here I am at 21 weeks - halfway there! Some people notice I'm pregnant right away, others have no clue. I guess they just think I'm fat. I am feeling great, have lots of energy, sleeping well . . . hoping it lasts! I feel the baby move often, more that with Emma. She wants to feel the baby move but the movements on the outside aren't quite big enough for her to feel with her tiny hands. It was a cute moment yesterday when she put her hands on my belly and asked me if the baby was moving!

Mr. Nice and Miss Naughty

Here is this year's picture with Santa:

Chucky thinks it is torture to take her every year but she really wanted to go! And she was excited while we waited in line and she wanted to go back again later. I think this one will be especially fun to look back on. As I left her in his arms, her dress was hiked up under his arms and her whole diaper area was showing - and I said, "just take the picture!" He was very nice and pulled her dress down, held her tight, and smiled. Poor guy.

Ultrasound #4

It's a GIRL!
Long story short, I had a very quick ultrasound today and will return in two weeks for the rest of the ultrasound. 19 weeks to go! April feels much farther away than that! After Christmas/hunting season I will have Chucky moving furniture and getting all the baby gear and clothes out of storage. We have no clue as to what her name will be . . .

4.5 Months

The pregnancy is progressing - so far, so good! I am 20 weeks now, halfway there! I have an ultrasound tomorow, and hopefully we will know the sex of the baby! Chucky and Emma are coming along and I hope Emma doesn't get upset at the technician touching me. I am wearing all maternity clothes now and finding it hard to keep warm-for some reason all maternity shirts are thin v-necks, unless you find a sweater. My pants are too long, but I need them now and don't want to give them away for a few days to a tailor to hem. So I roll them up, put white tshirts under my dressy blouses and look silly. This, and the fact that I could just wear flip flops instead of bending over to tie shoes and crush the baby, is why I want to be pregnant in the spring a summer!
The first 14 weeks I felt like dirt, but now I feel great. I have more energy now than I did before I was pregnant. I am hoping this lasts a few more weeks past Christmas so I can get Emma potty trained!
I have several pregnant friends, and I am looking forward to our children being close in age. Lisa Major (April), Dana McDaniels (May), Stephanie McMurtrie (July), Terry Whitaker (August), and another friend to remain un-named until a few more weeks pass by and she tells everyone!

Vamanos!

Saturday was wrapping day. Emma and I did a few things downstairs, then I told her it was time to go upstairs to the office to wrap gifts. I said, "Let's go!" She said, "Yeah, let's go up to the office! Vamanos!" OK she is speaking Spanish-thanks Dora the Explorer.

The Halls Are Decked

Sunday we decorated (all day) for Christmas. Emma was very excited and busied herself picking up all the green needles that fell to the floor while we put the tree together. After a day together decorating, Chucky and I are still speaking, so that means it went well. After we got the tree together and lit up, Chucky decorated outdoors and Emma and I pulled everything out of boxes, santas, the nativity scene, stockings, etc. Each item was a delight to her. While she napped in the afternoon, I decorated the tree. She came downstairs and said "Ohhh, but I wanted to help you!" After she got over that she decided that it was beautiful and told me I did such a good job.

A glimpse of our tree.

The stockings were hung with care.

Snowbaby: "Love is a baby girl."