We had Ourselves a Merry Little Christmas

Christmas was lovely. I didn't have to work for a few days, Pete was home, we got cute stuff for the baby (and some practical stuff too--it's not nearly as much fun buying a waterproof mattress pad as it is choosing out frilly little dresses, but I figured the baby would need it) and Lynn donned his best Holiday Cheermeister Sweater for the occasion.



We spent Christmas Eve and much of Christmas Day with my family and then got together with the Tidwell's two days later for a family service project (we assembled hygeine kits for the Humanitarian Aid dept.) and a Holiday meal. And on Saturday Pete got to go snowboarding, which he loves more than chocolate, Christmas, and Cougar Basketball combined. So he was happy too. I got him some new snowboarding boots for Christmas and some new snowpants (the gear he's had since he was 17 just isn't cuttin' it anymore). So he was an all new man and as giddy as any little kid on Christmas.






I got a new coat that actually buttons over my belly (Mom was disturbed that none of my coats quite covered me--she was afraid I was freezing her grand child to death). And I got some fancy perfume from my sweetheart. Good year.



Here are some pics of the festivities:

Christmas Cheer

I'm a bit chained to the house right now and feeling antys pantsy. It's not that I have nothing to do, I have planty of Christmassing left I need to get done, the problem is that in my current attractive, if not altogether slender state I own very few pairs of trousers that both fit me and are acceptable to be seen in public. And they're both in the wash right now. Soaking wet. Technically I could wear a skirt, I have a couple of those that fit too, but baby it's COLD outside. So I'm not dressed up with everywhere to go.

But I'm so excited. This year wil be Pete and my third Christmas together and we finally started the Christmas tradition that I have always wanted to be staple in my holiday-ing. We called the United Way of Utah and signed up to sponser a family for sub for Santa. It's a small family, a single father with one seven year old son. But I couldn't be more excited. We drop off Christmas for this kid tonight. (They told us to focus on the child, the parents rarely want any fuss made over them).

So this is what we got:



Two pair of trousers, four shirts and some toys. The email we received from the United Way said that this kid loves army stuff and wants a tank more than anything for Christmas. So, like the dedicated Santa he is, Pete braved the crazed masses and skoured the beyond-chaotic toy aisles at WalMart for nearly a half an hour to find the perfect collection of J.I.Joe toys for our little boy. I don't think he had to actually fight anyone for them, just search in every unlikely place to find them.

I took the safe road and picked out clothes (the boys clothes dept is much less of a war zone than toys). I got him some army camo clothes, but because I wanted the kid to look nice and not like a hood rat all the time, I got him some stylish clothes too.

We're not quite done, I still need to pick up a book (the United Way requests that you give each child you sponsor a book in their efforts to promote literacy--and I like the idea anyway. Books last longer and make better soul mates than action figures).

This is the book I'm planning to pick up--when my clothes dry.




Basically because it's brilliant. And I've never met a kid who didn't immediately fall in love with the inspired silliness of Shel Silverstein. Sheer poetry.

And we'll get him some candy of course. What is Christmas without a little sugar rush?

I love being Santa. And this is a valuable tradition that babygirl will love someday too. Hopefully family traditions like this can help save her from becoming a greedy material girl who thinks she should get a new Macbook, cell phone and ipod every year after she reaches the age of six.

I'm Becoming Crafty!

Pregnancy brings with it a lot of unexpected changes. Changes that leave an unsuspecting expectant mom barely recognizable from her previous self. I'm not talking about the monstrousity that has become my belly, that was pretty much anticipated. I'm referring to my sudden and intense desire to make things. Lately, if I'm not working on some project for the house, the nursery, or the baby herself, I have a nagging feeling that I am grossly wasting my time. (Even if I'm working--I don't think my boss would appreciate this sentiment if he knew about it).

Here are a few of the many little projects I have recently completed, or am currently working on:

While visiting the boutique at Thanksgiving Point I found a rose wreath very much like this one and was smitten. Their wreath however, was insanely expensive ($99) and I thought "I could make this for a fraction of the price." So I did (with the help of my sister-in-law the florist, thanks Sarah). I'm rather proud of the way it turned out. It will go in the baby's room, naturally.



Then I started making pillows. This will probably end up in the rocking chair (that is in the shop being finished right now). I know it's rather simple, but for someone with my skill level, it was an accomplishment. (If you look closely at this photo you can see the roses on the ends of the crib as bedknobs--we added those too.)



This is the one I'm getting the most raised eyebrows over; my burp cloth collection. I started stitching ribbon, lace, bows and rosettes onto burp clothes. I know, I realize the baby won't care if they're pretty, and she's just going to drool (or worse) on them. But I like them. I like the idea of having pretty things for my little girl, and even more, I like the idea that I was the one who worked to make them pretty and one of a kind. I've made 14 of them now. In fact, I'm going to have to start giving them away as gifts to friends who have babies because they don't all fit in the basket I have for them. (I stitched a ruffle around the basket too, by the way).



Other projects in the works are the bookshelf; I'm covering the back with fabric that coordinates with the pillows (and the curtains I'm making, oh, and the dust ruffle I'm making too).

I got a great deal on a canopy to hang over the crib, but it's rather plain, I'm planning on sewing lace trim on it.

Lastly, and probably most ambitious, I think I want to make the blessing dress for the baby. I attended a baby blessing for Pete's niece a couple weeks ago, and she was wearing a beautiful and unique blessing dress and bonnet. I asked my sister-in-law about it and she said she made them from leftover fabric from her wedding dress. She said it was easy (and I don't think she sews much, so I believe her). Well I bought my wedding dress so I don't have leftover fabric, and I'm not about to cut it up for a blessing dress, but I think I might be able to handle making a simple pattern. And adding lace and ribbon of course, because that's what I do. At least, that's what I do now, if someone had told me five years ago that I'd be making all this stuff just for fun I would have thought it a good joke.

Happy Birthday Mamaloo

Sharon and I plotted quite a bit to put Mom's birthday bash together--although it wasn't anything overly spectacular. I showed up to the parent's house with birthday dinner (Quiche Lorraine, Roast Potatoes, Cottage Cheese and Asparogus)and then Pete and I carted everyone up to Salt Lake for a Christmas concert in the Catherdral of the Madeline.

The Utah Premiere Brass were playing, and the Bountiful Bells as well. Coupled with the impressive cathedral ambiance, it was quite a show. Afterward we all went to Sharon's wee house for birthday cake and presents. I made a chocolate Pudding Cake with fresh whipped cream, but as you can see from the photos the gift was a much bigger hit. Sharon, my dad and I all went in together on an ipod and Sharon downloaded some of mom's favorite songs to get her started. You can't see from the photos, but it made her cry. I think she likes it.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Tidwells!

No Seriously, How Big Are You Really?

Some of my devoted blog fans have requested that I post photographs documenting the progress of my pregnancy, and have even expressed mild irritation that I seem to be blatantly avoiding posting any such photos. There is a simple explanation for this; it is that I have finally surpassed the valley of the reasonably large and am rapidly approaching the vast plains of the criminally humongous. And I don't think my poor camera appreciates it. AND I still have eleven weeks of optimal growing time (and the Christmas Holidays--with all its Christmasy chocolateness) to get through before I can do anything about it.

And I am sorry, but I have no sympathy for pregnant women who complain about feeling "fat" when I see them walking around (sometimes even RUNNING around) all over town, and one would never know they were pregnant except for the bowling ball size bump stuffed down their trousers. No hips. No thighs. No gigantic other parts that look large enough to breastfeed an entire army of babies.

I however, have gotten to the point that when I see people whom I haven't seen in a long time I tell them "yes, I feel great, I never imagined triplets would be so easy!" I think Utah County is considering assigning me my own area code.

For those of you with morbid curiousity these photos were taken today.

A Masterpiece in Progress

Thought I'd post a few pics so you all could see the projects Pete and I have been working on over Thanksgiving weekend. This nursery in the making is going to be no less than a work of art.