It's almost 11pm,

and we're watching the ball drop and going to bed. We were with friends and all of us joked about how we used to stay up until 2-3 am. We laughed as all of us headed home at 10pm. You know, kiddos to put to bed, pregnant women to get sleepy. That sort of thing. Luckily in the central time zone you can just pretend it's midnight when the ball drops.
Hope your New Year started in a more exciting way. :)
Happy New Year's Family and Friends- Wishing you a healthy and happy year ahead with wonderful memories to make and cherish.

I know I know....

Three posts in one day. But I've had requests for an explanation of "retro space." The bedding I picked out is being shipped to me so the process is in full swing. Here's what we had in mind....



Here's the bedding that we have chosen:

The under side of the quilt is hard to see, but it's a count down from 10-1 to teach our genius math baby. The sheeting is the same.

Here are all the pictures we took at Disney. They really speak for themselves in how much fun we had. Feel free to watch the whole show, but warning, there are 250 of them. :)

This though is my favorite picture ever!

I know I know...

I promise I'll get a post in about Christmas at Disney, because it was truly amazing. But until I get that one finished,

Ahhhh, so this explains it....

Happy Christmas!

I know Christmas isn't until Tuesday, but I can guarantee I'll be too busy to post before then. See, we'll be at "The Happiest Place on Earth" for the holiday. That's right, Disney World here we come! I won't get to ride all the rides, but that will just give me an excuse to watch ALL the shows and Christmas spectaculars and eat everything I can get my hands on.
We'll be back on Thursday night and I'll have a doctors appointment on Friday, so I'm sure I'll have a lot to post about then. Cheers! And wishing you the warmest of holidays.

Come visit us!

I know every now and then I make a plea for people to come visit, but now's the perfect opportunity.
Southwest Airlines is running a special for flights during the month of January if you buy your tickets by December 27th.
Come see us! :)
Check out the good deals.

Which Austen character are you?

Take the Quiz here!

Ok so the quiz kind of was easy enough to allow me to cheat, however, I am most like Elizabeth Bennet.

Book Hunting

Adam and I have a hard time buying books at full price. See our problem is, that we are collectors and therefore because of the sheer amount of books that we own we cannot justify spending the full amount they are sold for. So we frequent Half Price Books on a fairly regular basis in order to fulfill our pack rat desires. We have a system that we follow almost every time we go.
We start to the right of the front door and walk towards the crafting section. Here's where I end up with most of my books to glean ideas from. In order to get to this section we have to walk through the antique books section. Normally we avert our eyes and keep walking, (these books can be very expensive, but I love them so much) as to not lose ourselves in the endless aisles of barely discernible titles on the spines. Our trip on Friday night however, had a different twist. Walking down the aisle to the craft section an older book basically jumped into my hands. Entitled, Thurber, I instantly knew it was related to the author James Thurber, writer of wonderful short stories, illustration sketches, and fellow Columbusite. He just happens to also be one of my favorite authors because of his timeless humor and wit. It ended up being a compilation of stories that appeared in the New Yorker and it happened to be only $5. I knew the book belonged to me and wanted to come home with me.
We made it to the craft section and I perused through the knitting, crochet, embroidery, and textile books (no I still can't knit, but I like to get ideas from knitting). It looked like it had been completely revamped since my last visit (it had become a little disappointing), but still nothing that I couldn't live without, until Adam exclaims, "Look!" He saw a coveted item that had long been on my Amazon wishlist. The Happy Hooker. It is a current book of which I had been wanting to make quite a few patterns out of. (Crocheting friends, you may laugh that I don't own this book already, but as stated before, I hate to buy books at full price, so I've been just waiting for it to show up at HPB.) He feebly made an attempt to make me choose between my old love of James Thurber and my new love of crochet, but I resisted and happily walked through the rest of HPB without adding any new paper. On our normal route we then go from the craft section to the children's section in the back of the store. It is the bridge between our interests. We both love children's and young adult literature. I can normally find old copies of Laura Ingalls Wilder or The Babysitter's Club to fondly reminisce over while Adam looks for newer books in the fantasy realm. I normally get bored of that section before he does, so we split up and I head to general fiction while he finishes up in children's lit, makes a stop by science fiction and fantasy for adults, and then meets up with me in fiction for the last remnants of that. We easily spend an hour or so walking through all the books and both often have to pare down our pickings by the time we hit the cash register.

Just thought I would share with you a little piece of one of our favorite things.

A day of fun, but not for some...

Boo! Snow! Ice! Boo!
First of all. Pray for our friends in Missouri- Michael, Kristi and their four kids. They have been without power for four days now and may not have it back before the end of next week.

Here's part of an email from Kristi I got yesterday:
I am tired, frustrated and also getting sick now. I am at a friends house with my four kids and her two today while all the other adults went to work (God is so laughing with me right now as I remember how many times I said the kid care is not my "gift"). Our friends have been so gracious to have us move in their house but I don't know if this is a good solution beyond a day or two.

Bless those friends. I wish I was there to help. The kids have not had school or anything because of the lack of power. The most I can do is pray that they continue to be healthy and safe.
That and anticiapate their visit to us right after Christmas. I can't wait.

Best New Year Ever?
Also, I heard unofficial word that our friends from California will be hopping in after Christmas for the New Year. Is that true Danny and Jessica? Please tell me it's true. Having some of the old gang together would be the ultimate!

Thursday o' Fun
Yesterday was so much fun for me. I was so full of excitement by the end of the night that I couldn't sleep very well and it was as bad as being a kid on Christmas Day night.

We had a wonderful two hour lunch with Bill and Darby and Miss Kate. Merry Christmas!

Then we went to Matt and Rebecca's to spend some time with their new little ones. It was so much fun! I wish I could post pictures of these two, they are pretty much the cutest little boys I've ever seen. We played on the floor and then Kenneth showed off his bike riding skills.

We went to Grand Prairie to see the Christmas Light Spectacular there. It was a lot of fun. Except when I tried to go to the bathroom. I almost had to pull the pregnant lady card to ditch some people in line. But I didn't. I waited my turn patiently. We all had a lot of fun watching the dinosaurs eat Santa.



We had so much fun, here's just a slide show of all the pictures yesterday (minus our visit to Matt and Rebecca's). Enjoy!

Littlefoot
Long before we even knew we were pregnant, Adam and I talked about children's rooms for our hypothetical children. For little boys we talked about Adam's favorite childhood things, Dinosaurs and Space. We agreed on a retro space theme if we ever had a boy. When things looked more and more like a reality, we revisited that theme and decided to go with it. In the world of fabrics, there is a resurgence of retro reproductions being made from the 40s and 50s, so it has been a lot of fun getting some ideas. So because I love having themes for everything (parties, holidays, etc.) we will be persuing a Retro Space theme for Littlefoots childhood enjoyment.

So much to do

My little ticker on the side of my blog told me today that apparently I theoretically have less than 150 days until Littlefoot is born. Lots to do and very little time....
Just thought I would share that really exciting news! :)

Today I have a busy day ahead, but not a lot to do until the laundry is done and I have something to wear. :)

We are having Christmas Luncheon with the Kooglers.

Then we are meeting up with Matt and Rebecca to meet their sweet little ones, Kenneth and Michael.

Lastly we are having dinner with Hans and Courtney and going to Grand Prairie to a park that they do up in Christmas lights and you get to drive through and look for a certain amount of money.

Crafting

Here are some updates on crafting....

Advent Calendar
I can't decide on stitching for the star and trunk so I may leave it as is until I can think of something. But I had a request for a picture of the whole thing, so here it is.


Christmas Present
These stockings are being given away for Christmas. But I can't say who for, that would ruin the suprise.


Belated Birthday Present
Come on Nick, did you really think I forgot? It's just that this pattern has been the bane of my existance. Almost four months late, I am seeing the end of this afghan for my brother's birthday.

Neck Cozy

And I was asked for the pattern for the neck cozy I made last week.
The pattern came from Crochet Kids by Kelly Ronci (a really wonderful book that has great patterns, but also teaches you how to crochet as well) the neck cozy is right on the front cover and that's what attracted me to the book. The pattern is just back and forth making what I would call a swatch using super bulky yarn (as I did). Their's calls for a single crochet, but I'm pretty sure I used a half double. Attach a button and button through the stitches. I wore mine this morning and I like it a lot except that it sticks up a little far for me in the back, but I think if I button it differently it will lay a little better.

Today someone asked

why I wasn't drinking coffee anymore. You mean you noticed a change in my drinking habits, but didn't notice the growth on the front side of my body that makes me look like I'm wearing a pillow under my shirt?
And just to prove how much I've grown (and maybe justify the lady at the mall's comment last week) here's a belly pic for you.


My thoughts during this picture: Don't forget to smile. And, I hope that Adam is remembering to cut my chubby arm out of the picture.
Thanks Adam for not forgetting. That's why I love you.

PS. Seriously I've only gained about 5 pounds the entire pregnancy. I wouldn't even lie or talk about it if it wasn't true because it just blows my mind that I look like this and haven't gained the poundage to prove it.

Pictures to go with previous posts...

Group Photo from Department Christmas Party last week.


Semi-finished penguin army

Stitching on our advent calendar. Now I know how to blanket stitch.

Growing family

Dear friends of ours, Matt and Rebecca, decided to become foster parents earlier this year and finished the process just a few weeks ago. Their intent was to have children who are available for adoption in their home and eventually adopt those children if possible. They received two little boys this week, Kenneth and Michael who are just the most adorable little things I've ever seen pictures of. They are three and one. I am hoping to post pictures of them here if I am allowed (I don't know the regulations yet because of them actually still being foster children). But Adam and I will get to meet them on Thursday and I can't wait. Pray for their family as the boys adjust to their new environment and pray for Matt and Rebecca as they adjust to being instant parents. I know they will do great and are so excited to love these little ones (just as the rest of us are).

Mind Spinning

I've often made fun of pregnant women in my head for doing funny things, like leaving car doors open. But I've found that unless you've been pregnant, you do not know the enormity of things that can spin through your head at any given moment during the day. Add on top of that, the busyness of the holiday season this year and I'm amazed I make it to work in any semblance of a fully dressed person.
In the past few weeks I've gotten to work before realizing that I've left my entire purse at home (I NEVER leave the house without at least my purse and typically one other tote bag of something). I've started mixing up words and phrases when talking to people, this is great especially because my job requires me to talk on the phone 99.9% of the time. And I can't even find the multiple "TO DO" lists I've made in the past week to keep myself on track for gift buying, making, shipping, baking, crafting, organizing, cleaning, visiting, cooking, etc. that I do on a regular basis. I started taping a craft TO DO list right next to the light switch in the craft room in attempt to keep something together in there.

In finished TO DO list items... Cute penguins have been made at work thanks to Eleamar's help and the initial blanket stitching has been completed around the advent tree. I am trying to get creative with the trunk and star. We'll see what I come up with. (pictures of these will be added as soon as I remember to bring my camera to work. that could be days or months.)

This is the neck cozy I finally finished this evening. I love taking naps in the afternoon because then when I can't go to sleep in the evening I find lots of unfinished projects to put the finishing touches on. Like, putting the button on this which I had actually made a few months ago and just couldn't decide on a button. Now it just has to get cold enough here for me to wear it. (Ahem, it will be 80 degrees tomorrow.)

I have a really long to do list in the craft world right now. Tonight as I was trying to make a path through that room that has been taken over by yarn, Christmas stuff, and the growing collection of baby stuff we are acquiring, I made a list as I went of all the projects that have been started and not finished or that need to be done by Christmas or that I saw that I would like to get done in a timely manner. Whew, the list ended up being around 15 things long. It's going to be a long winter folks.

But enough of yanking your chain, we went to the doctor today and found out we are officially having a baby. Yup a baby. They did get a little more specific and tell us it is a boy! Unluckily, we had all good girls names so now we are in a constant argument about what to name this thing. For now the current nickname is Littlefoot. You know from the Land Before Time? The original one at least, not the 25,000 sequels that they made of it. So Littlefoot it is. As for its real name, we'll have to wait the next 5 months to find out. Hopefully, Adam and I can agree by then.

We are both very healthy and have no complications or risks. I only gained about a pound (even though I feel like I've gained around 15) so I am still allowed to eat whatever I want and Littlefoot is growing immensely. He tends to lay with his feet to the right side of my body and his head to the left and decided to move his mouth around and do some side twists while we were watching him today. The doctor had high praise for him and said he looked great.

I promise to post a new belly pic soon. A lady at the mall yesterday asked if I was having twins. I was so mad. Also, the ultrasound pictures were not very good this time around (but the video was pretty good) so those may or may not get posted quickly. Taking suggestions for names, but only "hey this is a cool name," not, "I really don't like this name at all." What's wrong with people, if I'm mentioning a name it's obvious that I like it. Duh.

Thanks to Tip Junkie for reposting this from Executive Homemaker. I totally wouldn't have seen it there and it warmed my heart immensely.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Texas Style

'Twas the night before Christmas, in Texas, you know.

Way out on the prairie, without any snow.

Asleep in their cabin, were Buddy and Sue,

A dreamin' of Christmas, like me and you.

Not stockings, but boots, at the foot of their bed,

For this was Texas, what more need be said,

When all of a sudden, from out of the still night,

There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright.

and I saw 'cross the prairie, like a shot from a gun,

A loaded up buckboard, come on at a run,

The driver was "Geein" and "Hawin", with a will,

The horses (not reindeer) he drove with such skill.

"Come on there Buck, Poncho, & Prince, to the right,

There'll be plenty of travelin' for you all tonight.

"The driver in Levi's and a shirt that was red,

Had a ten-gallon Stetson on top of his head.

As he stepped from the buckboard, he was really a sight,

With his beard and moustache, so curly and white.

As he burst in the cabin, the children awoke,

and were so astonished, that neither one spoke.

and he filled up their boots with such presents galore,

That neither could think of a single thing more.

When Buddy recovered the use of his jaws,

He asked in a whisper, "Are you really Santa Claus?"

"Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?"

and he smiled as he gave a mysterious wink.

Then he leaped in his buckboard, and called back in his drawl,

"To all the children in Texas, Merry Christmas, Ya’ll"

PS- Last chance to weigh in on whether you think Baby Kipp is a boy or a girl. We'll find out later this morning. Horray!

I'm off to make apple crisp and a cheese ball for a Christmas Party tonight with all my great work friends.

Oh Texas....

This is a common saying around our house. We said it when we had a bit of snow flurries on Thanksgiving Day, or this morning when when the Cowboy Emporium (I can't remember the real name of the store) had a commercial on advertising everything cowboyish for Christmas.
This time it is said in honor of the seasons.
It is 70 degrees today, a little chilly this morning (in the 40s) but it will be nice out later today.
This is a picture I took this morning while waiting for the elevator (still loving our new camera by the way).

Yup it is December, however in Texas it is just now autumn. Everyone else is blanketed in snow and having floods, here it is bright, sunny, 70 and autumn. Go figure.
Not that I'm complaining. My Christmas tree is up, so I can ignore the outside world and just sing "Let it Snow" inside. I'll just turn the air conditioning down so it feels chilly.

Fun weekend

I'm trying not to fall asleep at my desk today. It's too warm in our office and I tend to nod off around this time of the afternoon.

This weekend was really nice. On Saturday night we attended Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb Christmas concert at a large church in town. Before you think we spent the whole time singing Christmas carols, let me explain about this concert.

Andrew Peterson is a singer/song writer and gets a few of his friends who are also singer/song writers to come along with him. Saturday he had Bebo Norman, some guys from Caedmon's Call, and my personal favorite Sara Groves. There were some others along, but no one I'd ever heard of before.

They do a Nashville Round (thanks Hans for the term) where they all sit on stage and just talk about how they know each other, why they wrote the song they're about to sing, etc. while they each sing a song or two each. That's probably my favorite part. But then they did the actual Christmas part of the program where Andrew Peterson goes through songs that he has written in chronological order about the old testament leading up to the birth of Christ. It is moving to go through the whole old testament in an hour, let alone through song. I had heard many of the songs (thanks again Hans) but hearing them performed live and in order was really moving.

I think the last "concert" (not play, or performance) we had been to was before we moved here to Texas, so it has been a while. It was really great to just groove on some good music.
Oh yeah, Baby really liked the music too. I'd been able to feel it move once or twice before, but with us being in close proximity to the stage, I could feel Baby Kipp moving a lot. Maybe we'll finally have a percussionist in the family.