The Blur of a Holiday.

This year, I felt like Christmas snuck up on me and then in a blurry whirlwind, it was over. Before I knew it, it was Christmas night and the typical Christmas night blues sunk it. I always feel so let down Christmas night. The whole month is full of celebration and excitement and just like that, it's over.

This year was no exception, except that I was so extremely busy that I felt like I barley even got into the Christmas spirit. Between working two jobs, being a mommy, cooking, cleaning, fixing up the house, and my calling, I didn't do a lot of the usual Christmassy stuff. I was included in the group of frantic people trying to fit in Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. I even fought the horrible crowds of Walmart. (Seriously, 45 min to get two pictures printed out? Death.) I will NEVER go to Walmart Christmas Eve again.

Amongst all the craziness of the season though, Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day were wonderful. I was so excited to have Abby to celebrate with. And even though she has yet to know who Santa is, it was still just a magical feeling through my house. I made sure everything was perfect for her.

Christmas Eve was spent eating, watching Christmas movies, wrapping gifts, and making Abby a pillowcase. My Granny was from South Africa and they had a tradition that Santa would leave his gifts in a pillowcase and the rest of the presents would go under the tree. So I made Abby this pillowcase so Santa would know where to put his gifts. I'm pretty dang proud of it too. If you know me at all, you know I am basically horrible at anything crafty. We also kept the tradition of Christmas Eve to open our PJ's.

Christmas day was a fun blur. We started out going to church. It was such a good program and really brought the spirit of the Holiday. After church we opened up our gifts (Sam spoiled me rotten) and then we were able to talk to Sam's little brother for a while. After that, we went to my moms and had the our traditional ham Christmas dinner, which I was especially looking forward to this year seeing as last year, as with most things, I got sick off it. That night we played games with my family. (I'm not a big game person, but Headbandz is super fun and has my approval)

I think that Abby really enjoyed her first Christmas. She got to dress up in a pretty red dress and play with her cousin's and open gifts. She likes her toys too...but I think that plastic sacks are her preference. (Don't worry, I took it away from her after I snapped this picture. And she was pretty upset with me.)

Can't wait for next year!

Dear Abby,

Happy 5 months baby girl! You're getting to be so much fun! Since you were born, I was most excited for this stage. And even though you were basically sick your whole 4th month with croup then a cold, you're still a very happy baby!

At 5 months, you jabber a lot. You're also starting to giggle and those two sounds are the cutest sounds in the world! Daddy and I can't get enough of them. You are also interacting with us so much. You follow us around as we walk, and you get so excited to see us when we get you from your crib! You still love getting your diaper changed. In fact, that is what has makes you giggle the most, when your feet hit your face. (well that and mommy dancing to Baby) You are starting to love your toys more and you can sit up by yourself for a few seconds. You also love eating your rice cereal and still get upset in tummy time.

Thanks for being a cute daughter Abbigale.Can't wait to spend Christmas with you this weekend! Love you!

It's Christmas Time!

Card made by Erik Bingham.

I am so excited for Christmas this year! Looking forward to watching movies and eating food with Sam and Abby tonight, and spending the day tomorrow with family! And especially excited this year for Abby's first Christmas. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!

On The Fifth Date of Christmas

My dad took Abby for the whole entire night this past Saturday and me and Sam were able to go out, just the two of us, and attended the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. It's so much harder now days to go out just us two, (as most parents know) so when we are able to, it makes it that much more exciting!

We started the night off by going to Moochies. Best. Sandwich. Place. Ever. Well...maybe not ever, but pretty darn close. We split the famous Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. It's one of those things you finish and feel sad when it's gone, it's that good. After Moochies, we headed towards the Conference Center, stopping by our second favorite Smiths on 4th south(the Avenues one being our favorite) to get some groceries for dinner the next day.

Outside of Moochies

We found really good parking spot right by our old apartment and walked over to the Conference Center. The concert was amazing as usual. (except the duck dance move...that just had to go) Nathan Gunn is now at the top of my favorite guest singers, and Jane Seymore was absolutely stunning!

Afterwards, to avoid sitting in traffic, we stopped by our 'secret' 711 in the Avenues to get slurpees. Somehow I managed to spill slurpee all over my new cream coat. Despite wiping it off when I find it, I am still finding slurpee. I'm even a mess when I don't have a snotty 5 month old with me. (literally snotty, not bratty. Poor baby girl has a cold.)

It was such a fun night, and I'm pretty sure Abby had a fun time with papa. He sure does love her!

7 more dates....5 more days till Christmas. Hm....looks like it will have to go into the week after.

On The Fourth Date of Christmas

Very blurry pic

On our Fourth Date of Christmas we just took a break from life. Things got a little stressful with the busy season, Sam finishing the semester up, and other life stresses, so Tuesday night after he got home from class we put Abby to bed and got some take out and watched Christmas Vacation cuddling close by our tree. It was a nice little spur-of-the-moment date.

Two and Three

Abby joined us on our second and third dates of Christmas.

On our Second Date of Christmas, we attended our ward party. It was weird though because the last time I ate in that gym (and if i remember right, had the same meal of ham and funeral potatoes) was for my grandmas funeral almost a year ago. The tables were even set up the same. It was really weird. Once I got over that though, we enjoyed the food and the company. Abby was asleep for the first part of it, but as soon as she woke up, she was hamming it up for all of my grandmas old friends. They all adore her and I know my grandma would have loved showing her off if she were still here today. And because Abby has my nose, which was my grandmas nose, Brother Coon from my ward calls Abby Betty instead. It works.

Our Third Date of Christmas took place tonight. After a delicious dinner of sweet and sour chicken and fried rice (which I'll blog about later) we bundled up and headed to Temple Square to see the lights: a perfect Sunday evening date. Abby again was asleep for the first part of it and woke up very grumpy, but soon enjoyed looking at the lights. Sam and I love being downtown and miss living there so much. We showed Abby all the hot-spots (well some of them anyway) including our last apartment. (she was a big part in that apartment after all.) It was such a fun night, even if I was a little over-paranoid about Abby being too cold and feeling like a terrible mom when I saw other babies in warm fuzzy body suits and Abby just had layers of clothes and lots of blankets. She did have the fuzzy warm hat though.

Sam and I were talking about being newlyweds today. We both kind of miss it. I miss it mostly because we could be disgustingly cute and nobody can say boo, because that is what newlyweds do. And our first year of marriage was totally awesome. But really, I think our third year has topped it. It's harder to just get out and go somewhere seeing as a paranoid prepared mommy has to pack everything under the sun, just in case, but Abby was the best decision we ever made.

9 more dates!

This is why I love him.

 

 Isn't he a cute daddy?

I think he is.

I'm so in love with these two.

Food, Glorious Food.

 Thanks to this cute face, I still have a bunch some baby weight to lose.

In fact, I had an interesting conversation with some Kindergartners last week. It went something like this:

Kindergartner 1: Where were you yesterday?
Me: I was home with my sick baby.
Kindergartner 1: Do you have another baby?
Me:...no
Kindergartner 1: Well your belly is big.
Me: Thank you...
Kindergartner 2: No, he's serious.
Me:....
Now this should be motivation enough to get my butt into gear right? And the fact is, I'm pretty faithful at working out. (except this week, but really working during the day and then again till 2am takes its toll)

No, I basically have the working out down, but my real problem is food. At the elementary school where I work, we are doing a 12 days of Christmas. Everyday for 12 days, we have treats in the teachers lounge. And every morning for the past 2 mornings, I get really excited to get to work to see what the treat is that day. Oink, I know. And I usually grab some at 10 am to make sure I get some. Double oink, I know. This quote on Pinterest fits me to a T.

I just love food! I love sweet, salty, gummy, sour. I get excited to eat a meal, and after I eat that meal, I get excited for the next. When we go out for food, I can't wait to oink that delicious meal. When me and Sam split a treat, I get jealous if his is bigger and sometimes when I have an extra delicious treat, I have to remember to share.

Basically, I guess I'll just have to keep battling the food vs. fat.

And because I love food so much, I will do it happily.

Twelve Dates of Christmas and 4-month Stats.

On the First Date of Christmas my true love went with me to Wingers! I found a really cute idea on this blog about doing The 12 Dates of Christmas. I thought this was a really great idea, so Sam and I are going to give it a try. Granted, we are SWAMPED this Christmas season, but they aren't going to be large dates and we won't always have a sitter for them. Family dates are always fun too.

So like I said, on our first Date of Christmas Sam and I went to Wingers. Abby was going to join us, but she's been really sick with the croup so we dropped her off with my mom. (my mom wants any excuse to sit and cuddle Abby for a few hours) We haven't had too many nights with just us since Abby has been born, so it was nice to go an enjoy each other for an hour or so. After we were going to go get us a tree, but I had to get home and get ready for work. It was still nice to get away for a while. And as nice as it was being just Sam and I, it was also nice getting Abbsters back home with us.

Speaking of Abby, she had her 4 month check up Friday. She didn't get her shots. (her doctor didn't want her to be double miserable. Thanks Dr. Fox! She was sad enough already!) but here are her stats: She weighs 13 lbs which is in the 27th percentile. At her two month, she weighed 11.9lbs which was in the 68th percentile. So she has gone down, but he isn't concerned because she is still average. She is 25.25 in long, which is 77th percentile. (last time she was 23 in long which was 64th percentile) So Abby is tall and skinny. Although with the chub around her legs, I really can't see the 'skinny' part of her! I get to go back in next week when she is feeling better and get her shots. She thought she dodged a bullet. Wrong baby girl!

Besides her croup, Abby is as healthy as can be and developing wonderfully!