The 2010 Book Club List

Another year, another book club list! At our last gathering, we selected books for 2010, so here's our list for next year!

JANUARY
Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smarta**, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster

FEBRUARY
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

MARCH
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

APRIL
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

MAY
A Silver Lining (If You Could See Me Now) by Cecelia Ahern

JUNE
Free for All… AKA book report month: pick your own book to read and share with the group (dioramas optional)

JULY
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

AUGUST
The Funny Thing Is by Ellen DeGeneres

SEPTEMBER
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

OCTOBER
Dracula by Bram Stoker

NOVEMBER
Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison

DECEMBER
The Best Worst Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

2009 Books

Looking back at the books I read in 2009, I read very little that I hadn’t read once before. Several of the books were re-reads because our bookclub chose them as books for the month, and I tried to re-read anything that we were reading for bookclub.

On the other hand, I just decided at the end of the summer that it was time to re-read all the Harry Potter books and boy were they good! It was really nice to read them all at once, back to back and get the whole story in one big chunk. (Although J would disagree because I pretty much disappeared for about a month.)

So here’s what I read in 2009 – stars by the books I liked best.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (reread)
*Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
*The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman (reread)
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
*Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies by Laura Esquivel (reread)
*Size 12 Is Not Fat: A Heather Wells Mystery by Meg Cabot
*Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Where are you now? by Mary Higgins Clark
*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling (reread)
*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (reread)
*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (reread)
*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (reread)
*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (reread)
*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (reread)
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (reread)
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (reread)
Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffengger
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (reread)
Naptime is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside-down by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

We have our bookclub list for 2010, but I’m always looking for more to read, so suggestions would be wonderful!

38 Week Update

38 weeks (pregnant... in case you haven't noticed)

I went for the regular check-up today and haven't made much progress. Although, I had one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life last night, so I was hoping for a little better news. Won't bother you with the gory details, but basically I feel as if I'm being split in two from the bottom up.

They tell me this is probably because she is "sunny side up" - or head down, but facing the wrong way - and putting a lot of pressure, well, everywhere really.

Based on Bug's birth, being "favorable," and the amount of pain I'm having, we've made a tentative induction date of January 4th for Baby Awesome.

I'm third on the waiting list, so we may or may not actually get in there that day. I also have a doctors appointment scheduled for the same day, so if she doesn't come on her own, and I don't get induced, then we'll be seeing the doctor again and looking at a possible induction for later that week... oh, and I have a solid induction date of January 11th scheduled as well.

So... basically to sum it all up, I have no idea when this baby is coming. (Just as it should be I suppose... although the control freak in me is screaming.) She'll be here sometime between now, and January 11th!

Merry Christmas!

Cheeriest sounds, merriest sights, holiday joys, brightest delights...

May they be yours this season.

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours!

Up and Running Again

We're back up and running again with a working home computer and internet... we don't have everything all settled yet, but at least I can get on the internet again!

Today we went to our 37 week doctor's appointment. J has the next few days off for Christmas, so we went out to breakfast and all went to the appointment together.

No new progress at this point. Baby is still in there kicking away.

I've been having a lot of cramping and back aches, but since I haven't progressed any since last week the doctor doesn't think we'll be having a baby any time soon. And I agree. I think she's pretty set on staying in there for awhile yet, and just making me uncomfortable.

We're planning an easy Christmas with family and staying close to home, which I'm really looking forward to.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas too!

Growth Chart

I made this growth chart a few weeks ago for a friend to give to her sister for a baby shower gift. I think it's my favorite one I've made yet...

J, of course, did the hard parts - I drew the tree, leaves, and racoon, but he cut them out. Then, I painted everything and put it all together.

It makes me want to re-do the nursery and paint everything with trees.

36 Weeks

On Monday I had my 36 week appointment with the OB... baby is doing great. She's moving around a lot, and I’m really feeling like I’m starting to run out of room. At the doctor, I was measuring right on track, and I’m once again 3 centimeters dilated. Although, I’m not getting my hopes up this time, because I was that far along at this point with Bug, and she didn’t come out until she was induced on her due date.

One thing that’s different is that I’m 25% effaced… so I guess there is a little spark of hope that we won’t have to go another full four weeks. I just don’t know where she’s going to go if it takes that long. I already feel like we don’t have any more room in there, and she’s trying to suffocate me!

Last weekend, some of my dear friends threw a surprise “Baby Sprinkle” for us! It was so sweet and nice to have some time with girlfriends. We did pampering things like a paraffin wax on our hands, and everyone pitched in to help us purchase a double stroller. We are SO LUCKY to have such great friends in our lives. (No pics, cuz it was a surprise and I didn’t know I needed to bring my camera!)

And now, here it is, the middle of the night, and I can’t sleep… maybe I’m nesting? There just seems to be so much to do, and so little time - and then you throw in Christmas and New Years and she’s going to be here before you know it!

Things to do before baby comes:

• Pack the bags
• Install the car seat (at least we know where it is, and it’s all cleaned up again)
• Hang things in the nursery (including a super-cute wall decal I just ordered)
• Order our new double stroller!
• Organize all the baby toiletries and find them homes again (right now they are in big plastic bags)
• Make baby blankets
• Make baby pacifier attacher
• Make a new sling
• Buy pacifiers
• Paint the kitchen/living/dining rooms
• Set up the home computer
• Wrap all the Christmas presents

I’m sure there’s a lot more, but that’s just the top of my head.

We might not have internet for a week or so, while J tries to get it set up in our office (there’s currently no phone line or cable in that room, and it’s on a slab) – so just a warning if you don’t hear from us for awhile!

*******

PS! I set up a guessing game for when BabyAwesome might arrive on the right of the page... so make your predictions!

First Day of "School"

First Dentist Appointment

Visit With Santa

We visited Santa at the Children's Museum once again this year, and Oh! what a difference a year makes!

Miss Bug was adorable. She was so excited to meet him, and she walked right up and gave him a big hug and sat on his lap. I think even Santa was a little surprised.

She did smile for a picture, but the hugging one was too cute to pass up.

When Santa asked what she wanted for Christmas, she kind of just grinned and seemed to be in some sort of stunned celebrity-induced euphoria. And then just hopped off his lap and went on her merry way.

The Christmas Card Update

We’re having so many “firsts” and changes around here lately that I think I’ll just give you the down and dirty quick update.

• Bug had her first dentist appointment – which went great – and she got a free ice cream cone out of the deal. We redeemed the free ice cream from Chic-fil-a immediately afterwards, and she finished off her nuggets by dipping them IN the ice cream. Gag. Delicious.
• Potty training is on hold for now. We gave it a good solid one/two week effort. The first few days we had a few successes, but it just didn’t quite click. She’s wearing pull-ups now, and we still sit on the potty every day, but she just hasn’t quite connected the urge to go with getting to the potty – or else she just doesn’t want to. She does stay dry for a lot longer these days, though. So no pressure, we’ll try again in a few weeks.
• We’ve decided that we’re taking a break from dance class until next year. About a month ago, they changed the songs/order of what they do in class, which set little MissBug off. She pouted at every new song, and decided to sit or stand in the corner when they would come on. At our class last week, she just decided to pout through the ENTIRE class - while very pregnant Mommy danced around trying to get her to participate. I’m sure it was a sight. Anyway – we want this to be fun, and if she doesn’t want to do it, that’s OK. So, we decided not to sign up for the December lessons, and we’ll try again next fall when she’s not TWO anymore.
• This week MissBug starts “school!” We’re enrolling her in a Parent’s Day Out program at a local church – it’s four hours, one day a week, and Mommy Bug is really looking forward to it. We decided to start her this month instead of next, so that hopefully there’s no association with the birth of BabyAwesome – in case she handles it the way she did with dance class.
• I’m going to be a full time stay at home mom! My last day at work is December 16th, and then I’m retiring from the architectural work-force for awhile. I’m really looking forward to being home with our two little girls, but I’m really scared and nervous about it too.
• My handy-man husband has been super busy with finally getting our house settled… and it’s almost there. We have nearly-every room painted, curtains and blinds hung, and we just got new furniture for the living room. There’s just one room (the junk room office) that’s still full of boxes, and the living room/kitchen to paint. Now that our Christmas decorations are up, it’s starting to really feel like home!
• Speaking of J – he’s been at his new job for a full YEAR now. He still really likes it and it is unbelievable how time flies. We're so lucky that he's finally in a place where he's doing something he enjoys. 

That’s the big news at our house these days… I feel like I just wrote a Christmas card update. So, Merry (early) Christmas!

34 Weeks

How far along? 34 weeks and 2 days

Maternity clothes? Beginning to run out of ones that fit…

Sleep: I’m a pretty serious sleeper, and these days I can’t get enough. There are the many trips to the loo in the middle of the night, but I’ve been making up for those with naps during the day.

Best moment this week: Wednesday morning MissBug told my mom that Baby Awesome was in her belly. I think she thinks all bellies are now called “Awesome.”

She also told her that she was going to be a big sister, and hold and kiss the baby. She also said she was going to “hide” the baby… I’m hoping she was talking about playing hide and go seek.

Movement: She’s beginning to run out of room in there. She’s squirming away, but it’s getting more painful, and she’s all on my right side – kicking my ribs and things I didn’t know could hurt in there. She also gets the hiccups a lot.

Labor Signs: I have Braxton hicks whenever I have to pee – which is pretty often – but nothing regular or serious.

Belly Button in or out? In, sorta… now it’s mostly just flat.

What I miss: bladder control

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our new little girl!

Weekly Wisdom: I don’t believe for one second that cocoa butter, or any other kind of lotion will keep you from getting stretch marks. If you’re going to get them, you will – and if you’re one of those lucky people I hate that doesn’t get them, then you won’t. Period. That’s just how it works.

I got so many stretch marks with Bug that I can’t tell the new from the old with this one. And I RELIGOUSLY applied the cocoa butter with the first pregnancy, and pretty much gave it up with this one.

All dreams of being a Victoria’s Secret model are out the window – I’m OK with that. I’m going to have a couple beautiful little girls who make it worth it.

Milestones: Just FORTY days to go! Just had my last of the quick two week check-ups. Starting in two weeks (36 weeks), we’ll get to start weekly visits and exams to see how we’re progressing down there. At 36 weeks with MissBug I was 3 cm dilated… so cross your fingers!

when left to her own amusement...

Yesterday, (after talking and playing for about an hour) when I went in to get MissBug up from her nap, she was a little startled and looked as if she was caught in the act of doing something wrong.

She had her socks on her hands, and her pants pulled up to her knees, and a big grin on her face.

And even when I got her out of bed, she walked downstairs, played with toys and continued to wear her socks on her hands for about ten minutes.

She, of course, decided to take them off as I was getting the camera out.

Turkey Time

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wondeful Thanksgiving with family and friends - two of them actually.

Prior to the big turkey day, we had a playdate with our friends the Macks, James, and Lands and made our very own turkey shirts. The shirts turned out really cute (they say "I'm Thankful for My Family") and the back of Miss Bug's has her handprint. The following day was MOPS, so we decided to dress up our kiddos in their shirts and try to get a picture of all of them together...

This is the best I could get. But to be really honest, it's a pretty good description of their personalities/talents at the moment... (from L to R) Sarah is pretty laid back and easy going; Annabelle is just starting to sit up; at the time, Abby was spending most of her time sleeping; Connor is quite the little ladies man; and then there's Bug. The picture says it all. She's TWO.

She was all smiles before the picture. And then, when I asked her to participate, her answer was of course, "No." And when I forced her to participate, the hysterics began.

So that’s our precious little Bug. Always the life of the party.

And not in the other pictures. She's probably laying on the floor kicking and screaming.

I have family pictures from the actual Thankgiving celebrations to come... but between the TWO YEAR OLD and being SIX WEEKS away from my due date, I'm not feeling so up to blogging these days!