Well That's Over

I've never so quickly wanted to take down the decorations and tree and get this Christmas good and gone. Don't get me wrong, I had a great morning with my kiddos and the BWB. But, I'm done with the family drama, so so done. Too many of my childhood/teenage Christmases were tainted by my father, I don't need my MIL to ruin the rest. It's too long and boring a story to get into, so I'll just say, I hope you all had a joyous holiday filled with love & laughter!

(and yay for there being four states separating me from my MIL)

Counting down

Wow, I can't believe Sunday is already Christmas. Where did December go?

I just finished my Christmas cards, they might be late to some people, but hey, it's the thought that counts, right? I also put together the cookie tray and gift bags for DB's preschool teachers. I think I have actually purchased all the gifts I need to get, but now I have to find where I stashed them all, take inventory and get them wrapped (in between tackling a monstrous pile of laundry and keeping everything hidden from prying eyes). So, easier said than done. Sigh.

I feel oddly melancholy this holiday season. I love Christmastime, but I'm just not feeling it this year. I don't know if I have a case of the baby blues or am just generally down with life right now. I'm not doing my usual holiday traditions out of joy but more out of habit. Yeah, I baked cookies, sure I sent out cards, but they just felt like chores rather than fun. Hopefully, I can pull myself out of this funk and enjoy the upcoming festivities.

It's Official

My suspicions have been confirmed, the girlchild is enormous. At her 2 month appt today, she weighed in at 13lbs 13ozs and measured 24" long. That puts her off the charts in weight and in the 90-95th percentile in length. I was wondering how she had already managed to fill out 3-6 mo clothes a bit too well.

Did I also mention that my Gertie is a night owl? Oh yeah, there will be no sleeping before 11:30pm. Actually, last night it was 1:30am. This? Sucks. Now she sleep for a good five hour stretch, but when those are the only five hours of sleep you are getting--no so good. It would actually work out ok if she were my only child, as she does sleep in, quite late, like 11am. That honestly doesn't help much when the boys rise around 7am. Sigh, I already have a party girl on my hands.

Oh and yeah, see, she'll only nurse to sleep, and if you try to remove boob after she's asleep, she flips the hell out. I'm talking screechy, clawing, enraged child. This is how she has already managed to roll over back to belly because in her desperation to have to boob in her mouth again, she will frantically grab for my chest giving her enough momentum to end up face down. That doesn't please her too much either, matter of fact, it adds a whole new level of screechdom to the equation. Ah gertie, I guess it's only fair that as I want to just gobble you up during the day you want to reciprocate at night.

And before you say hey, why not give the child a pacifier? Let me tell you that the mere presentation of anything silicone near that child's mouth is an offense worthy of the seventh level of hell. She will gag, and choke, and spit up, and wail like you've just killed her dog. It's pitiful really. So, tomorrow night will be interesting when I leave her with my SIL to go to BWB's company party. I've pumped, I've stored, I have food that will no doubt still be in the fridge when I return to a very pissed off and hungry baby (and not much happier sil).

Vegas Baby!

What a wonderful weekend, the weather was gorgeous, the bride was gorgeous, and my baby, she was gorgeous. Proof:





The wedding really couldn't have gone better, the service was short and sweet, and the minister did a really great job. We went out for a fabulous dinner afterwards and gorged ourselves on delicious Italian food. Everyone was just so at ease and genuinely enjoyed the day.

In other news, we got kicked out of three casinos! I wish I could say it was for something exciting, but really, it was all Gertie's fault, stupid laws about minors in casinos. We still managed to gamble (throw money at the dealer with no hopes of recovery), and have a few beers. Probably just not as much as we would have liked, but such is life when you're a parent of small children. I'm just happy we didn't have to bring the whole crew.

I'm not a huge Vegas fan, but this trip actually has me looking forward to going back in October (for Convention '06), if that's the consensus of our group.

It's a love/hate thing

How do I love my new digital camera--so so so much. How do I love my kids--so so so much. How do I love using my digital camera to try and get a Christmas card worthy pic of the three kids? Not so much.

Why yes, it's time for the annual dress the kids in Christmasy cute outfits and snap 137 pictures in order to find one that will have to do because the meltdowns have begun. Every year, people get to see the result, that one lucky shot that is emblazoned across 100 cards with a hastily written note (if they're lucky) and sent on it's way. Well, here are some of the pics that didn't make the cut.

I swear I just had that ornament in my hand...



















Maybe if we choke the baby, we can do something else.



















Whack! (That set off crying jag #1)














Yo ma, you be illin' if you think we's gonna smile for the camera.














Man, who asked for the sister?














Yeah mom, this is fun.














Think of the candy reward, think of the candy reward...














Diaper fillin' makes everyone smile.

I, am a dolt.

Yeah, so me, Ms. Superior-I have all my christmas shopping done HA!, screwed up. And not only screwed up, but implied that my SIL was the source of the screw up because how could it possibly be me, Ms. Superior? Last night my SIL revealed her identity to her secret santa by giving him an early gift. I was rather taken aback since the person she bought the gift for was MY SS pick. So, I called and boldy asked, "who do you THINK you have for your SS?" To which she replies, "I know who my SS is." She couldn't possibly know, because she was buying presents for mine, and I was so already done with shopping. So, after a little back and forth, I go to the board where my husband tacked our picks to the wall and confindently unfolded those little pieces of paper assured I would see the name of my pick. And there it was.....n't. I had somehow bought for the wrong person. Me, the one who is FINISHED with Christmas shopping. Gasp...choke...tears. And see, we couldn't just switch, because my pick is my SIL's husband.

Sigh.

My SIL was nice enough to offer to buy all the gifts from me, so I didn't have to return everything. But now, I must do more shopping, and for someone who IMO is much harder to shop for. Bleh.

Ah well, at least I can brag that I've done all the buying for my husband, his SS, my SS, my SILs SS, all the kids, and even myself. Yup, bought my own gift because I'm much better at researching and bargain hunting than the BWB. So, might as well just click the BUY button when I've found the best deal, it's not like it was a surprise gift (an SLR digital camera) or like it's not going on the same CC.

So, in conclusion, I'm a dolt (but an excellent shopper).