Christmas Resolution

Just two more days and we'll have made it to Christmas. I really feel like it's been a struggle this year. Granted we'll arrive there one home made gift short of my goal, but some things have to be sacrificed. That present will end up being for Valentine's day instead I've decided.
I've Baked, I've Knitted, I've Tied, I've Shopped, I've Wrapped.....I'm exhausted. I try to be crafty but the truth is I think I fail. Crafty people make it look so effortless to get all this done and I'm about to pass out.
I'm making my Christmas resolution right here and now. Next year I will be more organized. I will plan ahead. I will start Christmas knitting before Halloween. I will buy presents before Thanksgiving. I will freeze cookie ahead of time. I will find time to enjoy my wonderful family and friends. I'm telling myself this year that the key is organization. Next year when I fail I'm not sure what the key will be.

Thanks for reading.
P.S. I'm posting this here in the hopes of keeping myself honest. It's public now, no more excuses. You can all hold me to it.

Oh the Cuteness

I thought that it was about time for some cute Levi stories. So, here are the ones I can think of today.

Last night he was playing and said to his Mega Blocks "You getting on my nervous." Gee, I don't know where on earth he could have heard that.

He loves his new bed and has a whole story line to go around it. His bed is the boat and the floor is the water. The water is cold and the bed is "warm and toasty". When in the "water" you have to move your arms like your swimming. If your in the water and he is on the bed he likes to throw you his rope to save you.

His rope is another new thing. He was using a cloth tie from some of my old capri pants, but Steve went and got him an actual length of rope. He carries it everywhere and believes it can do anything. At least 50 times a night I hear, "My rope can do it." He particularly likes to tie up bad guys with it.

Started this one myself so no complaining, but Levi wants to take the cushions off the couch pretty much every night and jump from one to the other. Daddy started stacking two high calling it a mountain and jumping onto the lower cushion. Because I didn't already have enough problems trying to keep Levi from taking a flying leap off of everything in the house he can get himself on top of. This boy has no fear it's astounding. I see broken bones in our future. I try to stay on top of him but mommy isn't omnipresent. Anyway, the leap:

He really gets some air. He Love love loves doing this. Set up the cushions and sit back because he is entertained for hours.

Levi "helping" put laundry away. He would close his eyes and pretend to snore.

That's it for now. He's a character. I can't believe how much fun this stage is. He says something funny everyday.

Have a good weekend everybody.
Thanks for reading.

The Difference

Most of you already know that I'm pregnant. If not, Hey, I'm pregnant.
I'd just like to take a moment to take a look at the difference between being pregnant the first time vs. being pregnant the second time.

1. The first time I could rest and relax after work and put my feet up. The second time there is no time for for rest. Which brings me to..
2. Steve was perfectly willing to do things for me, and bring me things with the first pregnancy. This time, he's totally over it and I have to do for myself.
3. 3 years ago I took it easy and didn't do anything too taxing. Now there is a two year old demanding that I run from one end of the house to the other chasing Daddy. Or get up and down off his boat (new bed). Which always makes me think...
4. How am I going to handle two kids? With the first kid you really have no idea what your in for so, your nervous but figure you can handle it. With the second, you know how much work it is and you're scared to death you won't be able to handle it.
5. With the second pregnancy I'm keenly aware of how much I have to gain and loose. I had no idea the first time how amazing having a baby would be, now the stakes seem so much higher.
6. My main worry the first time was about how I'd be as a parent and what baby would be like. This time I'm much more concerned with how Levi will react and making sure he doesn't feel slighted then anything else.
7. When you tell people you are pregnant with your first child they are so excited for you. They tell you stories and share experiences. When you tell them your pregnant again, they're happy for you, but more like: "Oh, that's nice."
8. If your me then you can't fit into any of your maternity clothes from the first pregnancy because you're fat. (Talk about depressing, try being to big for maternity clothes. What a downer.)
9. I'm even more reluctant to buy maternity clothes because I know it will probably be the last time I'm pregnant and who wants to spend money on clothes to wear for 5 months. (Tangent Warning! Why are maternity clothes so expensive? I mean unless your Michelle Duggar it doesn't make sense to spent that much money on maternity clothes. Very frustrating.)

Okay that's all I can think of for now. Please leave me comments with anything I've forgotten. Or if you are so blessed as to have more then two, what was the difference between pregnancy 2 and 3 or 4?

Thanks for reading.

New Nativity

I got a new nativity this year and it was the best kind.

Free you say? Well, Yes

Heartfelt? Yes that too.

But best of all....

Made with love by these cute little hands. Levi made this at the sitters the other day and I was so excited to add it to my Christmas decorations. This is the first decoration I have that Levi made. My mom always had all kinds of incredibly ugly things that Casey and I had made she put up every year, I loved it. (I'm not saying it's ugly. I think it's completely adorable.) Steve and I have already decided to get this it's own Tupperware container so it won't get crushed from year to year.

What do you think he's getting ready to do with that shovel? God Bless us everyone.
Thanks for reading.

Big Boy

It's official my baby is a big boy now. He loves his new big boy bed and thinks there is nothing better then getting in and out of it all by himself. He's been sleeping great in it too. In fact we used the threat of putting him back in his crib as incentive to stay in it. All these milestones are so bittersweet. I love how adaptable he is and how well he takes to change, it's good that he has such an independent spirit. But, it's all happening too fast. Can college be to far away?
Now if I can just get him potty trained before kindergarten we'll be in good shape.

Thanks for reading.

Joseph

When I hear/remember the Christmas/nativity story (what ever you call it) I always have the same thought. "That Joseph, what a guy."

Imagine if you will, your engaged to this nice girl, who shares your values and vision of the future. Then one day out of the clear blue she tells you she's pregnant. If your Joseph your first thought as got to be "How?" Your next thought is probably great my girlfriends um.... promiscuous. (Trying to keep it PG but you know the word I'm thinking of.) Then she tells you she pregnant with God's baby. Now your thinking, Oooooh, she's crazy. Not Joseph, he stuck by Mary, believed her in the face of a pretty unbelievable circumstance. The faith that must have taken astounds me. You know his buddies would have been like, Come on Joseph, you don't believe this crap do you? But no he stands by her side, helps her raise Jesus. (Don't even get me started on the pressure to raise God's only son. Do you think they had discipline issues?) Think about what you would think if you heard about this situation in your life. What would you be thinking? Because I know I would be sceptical at best.
Thanks for reading.

The Grinch

My favorite Christmas movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The old animated version not the Jim Carrey version. I generally dislike the live action versions of Dr. Seuss books. In fact I think that if Dr. Seuss were to ever see them he would roll over in his grave.

The original version, to me, is a wonderful story about what is important at Christmas time. "It came without presents, it came without bows, without whosits,....." It's also taken directly from the pages of the book.

The live action version takes a lot of liberties with the story. I just hate the whole section about the Grinch as a kid and the relationship between him and the mayor's girlfriend. It almost feel like a fuzzy green version of Carrie at times. I suppose they get around to the message but by then it's so diluted that I think it gets missed.

This post has nothing to do with anything, by the way. I was just thinking about this today and was hoping to get some other opinions. I've pleaded my case, now please tell me what you think. Am I crazy here? Does anyone else get a little sad about these new Dr. Seuss movies?

Thanks for reading.