Wrapfest

I feel as though I've wrapped 7,483,290,483,274,032,784,932 gifts today, and somehow I'm still not close to done.  There is Christmas shrapnel covering every flat surface in the baby's room.  I don't know where we're going to store all this stuff next year when there's actually a baby in the baby's room.  And to top off the never ending holiday to-do list, Shannon was put on bed rest to keep her blood pressure down.  Sucks for her and for me both.  I'm handling all these final preparations solo.  Elves don't get paid enough...

Blessings

It's natural this time of year to want to slow down and count all the blessings in our lives, to give thanks for all that is good and right in our worlds.  I thought I knew what all my blessings were.  I try hard to be grateful for the many, many gifts I have, a continue to receive, each day. 

And then I sent out my Christmas cards and a letter to my extended family.  After nearly a decade, I decided it was time to share what's really going on in my life, who Shannon really is to me, and that we're starting our family.  I didn't know how the news would go over, but I definitely never expected the outpouring of love and congratulations and excitement and joy that we have been flooded with this past week.  Even a few colleagues at work, with whom I am *very* hesitant to share personal details, have put two and two together, and come to me to offer love and support.  I never knew I was surrounded by so many amazing, open-hearted people. 

I never knew I had this much to be thankful for.  I am so, so overwhelming blessed.

Today

I am thrilled to wish my father a Happy 80th Birthday!

I am excited to go see my niece's holiday orchestra concert.

I am proud of this. Can't wait to start digging into it with pictures this weekend!

Advent Cone Calendar

Just a quick repost from Oh Dee Doh.  Such a simple, sweet idea, and a fun way to showcase all your favorite holiday papers!

November Moments

Well, this has certainly been one of the most memorable - and B U S Y - Novembers in memory.  It went a little something like this...

• Baby shower.  Nothing beats being, well, showered with adorable baby girl gifts from all the people you love and who love you back.
• Rosie's cancer scare.  The words "negative" and "biopsy" are a beautiful pair.
• Thanksgiving.  My brother and his wife actually both came, and brought a baby gift no less. Our whole crazy family of 8 +1 were gathered around our dinner table, and it was wonderful. Cooking, carving, eating, cleaning, throwing bags outside after dinner, and lots and lots of laughter.
• Black Friday.  First in line at Wal-mart, baby.  Me in lane 6, Rosie in lane 7.  Mm hmm, that's right.
• Decking the halls.  Normally we have the fullest, fattest 9 foot Christmas tree ever, chock full of balls and bulbs and a royal pain in the ass to put up.  This year, since baby A could arrive any time after Christmas, we wanted to simplify a bit.  So we put up an adorable 4.5 footer packed with just our most precious ornaments. And we figure this will probably be our tree for the next few years to get us through the destructive toddler phase.  It's really a very sweet little tree.... I'm adjusting. 
• Winterhaven.  We're going on Saturday, December 11.  I love this tradition with all my heart.
• The nursery.  All of Shannon's gorgeous artwork is hung, the drawer pulls have been painted just the right shade of green, and the carpet has been cleaned.  I couldn't imagine a more perfect room for our baby girl.
• 12 Days of Christmas.  I've decided that the December Daily is just too much for me, and I happened to stumble upon a blog with an abbreviated but equally special version of it that focuses just on the twelve most important holiday moments and events of the season.  *This* feels much more manageable to me, and I'm almost done creating my foundation.  I'll post picks as soon as it's done.
• Shannon's birthday.  We topped off the long holiday weekend with a simple celebration, just the two of us.  I made her breakfast, she opened gifts, we went to the movies together.  It was delightful. 

In fact, this whole month has been delightful.  Ending a rough year on a wonderfully high note, it seems.  I hope this keeps up.

Sharing

Twas a busy Saturday - haircut, scrapping, brunch, movies, shopping, dinner, laundry, chores.  Now Shanni's asleep on the recliner and I'm watching HP and the Goblet of Fire and checking out SC's December kit sneaks.

A lot on my mind today.  We're missing loved ones.... Ruthie and Nervs.  While the holiday season is, of course, joyful, it also makes us long for those no longer with us.  Speaking of holidays, I'm sooo happy that Zach and Kenz will be with us for Thanksgiving.  Rolling meatballs for the soup, watching the parade.  But at the same time, I'm disgusted that their parents are going to spend the week hunting while they push their 4 children off on extended family.  I can't stand who my brother is as a parent anymore and it makes me sad.  And I'm feeling anxious... worried about finishing all the baby preparations and desperately eager to meet our daughter, hold her, smell her, count her fingers and toes, kiss her rosy cheeks.  Shannon is going to ask our doctor for one more ultrasound, just so we can see her.  January 19 will be here before we know it, yet feels too long to wait for a glimpse.

That was today's project, inspired by Tom Petty and everything I'm feeling right now.  Anyway, it's late. It's time to head to bed.  Hoping your hearts and minds are more settled than mine :)

Miss You

It's mid-morning on a Tuesday and here I am.  Why?  Because I woke up at 3:30 this morning with my first bonafide migraine.  I've had headaches before, even severe ones with light and sound sensitivity that I *thought* were migraines.  I was so wrong.  This was the most excruciating pain I possibly have ever experienced, to the point of vomiting and other stomach catastrophes you don't want to know about.   Point is, Shannon helped me call the sub line in the wee early hours and I have taken today off.  Thanks to my wonderful teammate Tina who slapped some sub plans together for me this morning. 

I've spent most of the morning in bed resting, but I was bored.  So I hauled my butt outta bed and into the craft room.  I have had our sweet Nervs on my mind lately, missing her so.  After 12 years, our family feels incomplete without her around.  I was inspired by Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch this week:

 

Jen Jockisch posted it based on a layout by Waleska Neris.  I instantly fell in love with it, so this morning I created this:

I miss her so, so much.  Shocking how deep into your heart a pet can burrow, and how much their loss can hurt....

On another note, Kayla Aimee, Jeff, and their daughter Scarlette could use your prayers.  As we wait for the birth of our first daughter, KA and her family are on our minds and hearts.  Sending them lots and lots of love. 

A heavy sort of day.  Climbing back into bed for a while...