Christmas Shopping: COMPLETE.

Success baby LOVES shopping.

I can't believe how easy it was this year. Seriously. I usually stress over buying and shopping for presents- not to mention, my sister's and dad's birthday are on the 18th and 22nd respectively. I only get paid once a month and I've felt a certain kind of way about buying for the people on my list (I feel like I don't buy them the stuff they want...whatever...)

So this year, I tried to do it differently- saved my pennies all year, made an ING holiday stash and then relied COMPLETELY on Amazon. I made an order last Sunday with prezzies for everyone and put them on hold so I could think about it, tweak the list, etc. Also, I left the gift giving for Todd's family up to Todd.

This morning, payday (just in case I needed my emergency Christmas fund for other things) I hit the send button around 7:15am and ALREADY three things have shipped.

Also, as I think I've previously mentioned, I've been reading Living in Gratitude and the topic this month is about selfless giving and receiving. I've always been a little stressed about gift giving because the recipients don't seem to get as excited as I do- or rather, my expectations of their reaction to the gift doesn't match the actual reaction- and we all know about expectations (in general) and their potential for setting us up for failure.

So, I'm trying to buys gifts I really think these people will like- and then become unattached to their reaction (and enclose a gift receipt just in case ;-) Another great aspect to Amazon? If the price for the gift I want to get is a little higher than I have budgeted I can EASILY search for an alternative.

Steps for this included- NOT sending a follow up email to my brother and sisters about how we'll to gifts for the kiddies and each other. After initial conversations I got the impression we'd just be swapping money- and I didn't like that idea. I don't really like to give money. SO- kiddies are getting a present that I think is REALLY cool- and if you're reading this bros and sisses, they do not make noise.

Overall? Success. Now just a few things to do (homemade cards- I'm an asshole) and CHRISTMAS MERRIMENT CAN COMMENCE.

Picture Tuesdee.

The saddest sound in the world? A little boy with a fever overnight. He was so sad...

And I got a crap night sleep...but then got to stay home in the morning with him!

He's a real trip.

BB, taking his temperature.

The end of maternity leave.

My friend KDet. is about to end her maternity leave. Scary stuff, right? We were emailing this morning about it and I came up with a list that was important/helpful for me.

I thought I'd share it with yous.

Good luck, God speed and get thee to a Coffee house.

1. YOU'LL BE FINE!!

2. Most mom's won't tell you this...but sometimes I actually like going to work to get a minute for uninterrupted, guilt free time in the bathroom, drinking coffee, looking at my hair in the mirror, surfing the internet. When you have [insert awesome baby's name here], I'm sure you don't stop for coffee (to a place where you have to get out of the car, at least)- so do a little something nice for yourself daily (or weekly if you can't rationalize daily) that is much more challenging now that baby is the #1 in the [fill in last name] house. 

3. Do a dry run. Get up a few morning's before the big day when you would get up, practice getting ready, getting baby ready, getting everybody breakfast, and getting out to the car- and then either go and visit someone or go back inside to cry a little and hug your nugget. 

4. You're boss isn't kidding- it is hard. Really- but you have a network of sisters who have blazed the trail before you and as for those who have yet to come? You'll be able to share your story with those broads later. You're strong- you can do it! And...just [tell husband/sig other s/he] should buy you a present- I tell TBone that any time I do something that makes me snuffly. 

5. Maybe plan lunch with a friend out for the day you get back or the day after that- it'll give you something to focus on. And be choosy who they are- will you need a distraction? Choose someone who HAS seen you so you don't have to recount the labor and delivery story. OR will you want to gush about Baby all day? Choose someone who can share the WHOLE story with! Either way, good distraction. 

Call me if you need anything- really- you can do it!

So there's my list buds. What else can a working ma share? I'd love to hear from yous. (really, I'm sick of this shizz, start commenting...or else. I need some new blogs to read from some real ass Bs. I have four buds who keep up with their blogs...the rest of them out there..."oh, my life/husband/vagina are great/flawless." barf.) I say that with the most love in my heart. 

27 Weeks.

Hey dudes!

Happy Monday to yous all. This is my very most favorite time of the year- it's finals week at my place of business and that means...? No real work that is available for me to do- I've put off doing things here and there so that I keep busy- but no crazy deadlines. Next week will be MUCH different. The shizz is going to hit the fan as I get to check and recheck who's eligible for athletic participation.

Wee!

Until then, I can take this week to catch up on my correspondences and snoop around.

So, what a great time to update you all on the nugget in ma belly. I'm mad. I haven't done the weekly shizz I did with Maksi- it's mostly because he stands in his crib watching Thomas while I get dressed and it slips my mind. AND that I'm not in the same shape I was when I was carrying him. Hopefully that means two things; 1.) Dos will SLIDE right out hot dog in a hallway style and b.) I'll be reinvigorated to use the camera soon.

In the mean time, I've waltzed into my third trimester. DosieDoe is approx two pounds. I've gained more weight than I'm willing to admit but it's surely because of the highly restrictive diet I WAS on prior to getting knocked up and then promptly stopping said diet. Pants are a sticky subject. I'm a legging fiend but I'm running out of tunics or other long shirts that go with the leggings. Finally, it feels like Dosie is flipping over today...or at least doing this inside my uterus (and for anyone who's keeping track is allegedly 2.5" above my naval):

Here are a few snapshots from this morning.

Me and BB singing in the morning to Daddy when we text him to rub in how much fun we're having while he's at work. The picture I left out is the one of me crying because I have to get up and GO to work.  

Emily (the doodooo- BB speak for Choo Choo) taking a cruise around Dosie's house. 

BB right after he gave DosieDoe a kiss. 

Resolve.

Last year I resolved to declutter the house. In years passed, I've vowed to wear belts with pants that require them and made sure I flossed every day.

This year- I think it might be the year of finding contentment and creativity.

Ya see, with the whole clutter aspect of my resolution I found that what was more needed was moving things around in the house so the flow of each room was more reasonable. Things that got moved to new places: the dishwasher (it's a roll up) the recycling container, the couch, our bed, cleaning products. Those were the big players. Each of these VERY small moves made my house so much more livable. It really contributed to the feng shui, if you will. These small changes got me thinking...

Resolution: make awesome memories with more small changes.

Rationale: This past year has WHIZZED by. I want to relish in this year and all years to come. We started our Kurpel Christmas Read Along (and although I know Maksi is really only interested in the cherclate in the Advent calendar) he's reminding us (at 18 months!?!) after dinner to get to business and read our story (eat our cherclate.) This has made me SO happy at night. So happy.

The plan:

1. call, write thank you notes and send more cards. people like mail. people don't read email.

2. monthly DIY project. I like to craft. I plan on being home more this spring since I'll a) be on maternity leave and 2) am not coaching lacrosse. Summer is now WIDE open. Furthermore, Maksi needs to get the creative juices fertilized. Choosing a weekend each month, going to the craft store and gettin' our glue on.

3. go shopping in my own closet.

4. spend more time with my husband, child(ren), siblings and parents.


These plans are not final. I would like to hear about your resolutions so that I can steal them to tweak mine. I used to take a real light-hearted approach to these (see the one about the belts.) I think they offered good training for bigger, better resolutions. And it's time to make a move.

The smallest change in our life right now told me what she really though of my sparkly sweater and peed on my arm this morning. Welcome to the family, MauxMaux!

But I want a chalkboard wall!!

TBone and I are trying to move. And by trying, I mean, the house has been on the market for nearly a year and we've only had one person come through- and it was on the 4th of July.

Sure, the house is probably over priced. Whatever, can change it much. Also, it's really not urgent for us to move at this point- and depending on the gender of our next we may not even have to move until Mommy and Daddy need some more alone time- and in that case, the downstairs may make a fine bedroom.

Until then, we're making the joint more liveable. This month we had a guy put in cement front steps and put in new windows on the ground floor and in the kitchen and dining room. You know what's nice? NO DRAFTS. I feel like royalty living in a cozy house...

I've really been wanting to paint a chalk board wall like my bud Shannon has (link takes you to her sweet advent-style wall) and to be honest- if I know anything about real estate, as soon as the paint is on the wall, someone will call that instant to see the house...wet paint and all. Whatevs.

So, in the spirit of keeping the house a little more neutral so that potential buyers would be interested, to have my cake and eat it to, so to speak, I bought me some of this:

WHITE BOARD CONTACT PAPER!

TBone has been bothering me for a calendar at home- so we're satisfying both of our needs and saddling up (my need is to write on a wall, his to know where I am.)

So there she blows.

My junk is in blue. Todds in brown. I'm way too busy.

Baby Watching.

I was lucky enough to get home around 5:30 last night. We made dinner and got started on a new family tradition. Ya see, I'm reading this book, Living in Gratitude a year long reflection about being thankful. It's a nice read and it's guiding me through my morning pages (three pages, stream of consciousness, nonstop writing.)

One day last week it talked about what family traditions I remember from childhood and which ones I'll be passing to my family and what new ones we're creating. I got a little choked up about it. Since we were back and forth for most holidays and didn't have a real holiday routine I don't remember if there was a holiday tradition. Furthermore, mom and dad practice different religions so holidays that included church, again, were different.

So- Todd suggested we start some. I bought three advent calendars with chocolate in the windows and one of the Chicken's Soup books that has a daily Christmas story. After dinner every night we're going to read one and eat our cherclate. We started last night and Maksi just wanted to play with my yoga mat and eat ALL the cherclates. He's starting to understand stuffs so we told him we'll have another one tomorrow.

It was fun.

I saw this picture after I put him to bed-

...and got a GREAT laugh since...I watched him play with my new over sized yoga mat for an hour (see the small section about toy recognition.)

Oh, this one? He's started taking his clothes off. Real cute. 

And a video:

Secret Santee

A few weeks ago I started lurking around on Reddit.com. Reddit is a site where people submit content and people can comment or upvote or downvote it (similar to facebook and the Like nonsense.)

So, I found out shortly after they have a subdivision- redditgifts.com and pair people up for a gift exchange. I was signing up for the Secret Santa exchange but they've done a mug exchange, a Halloween exchange and a few others.

I love presents, so I signed up...

We had to write a brief profile about ourselves:

Things that are sparkly, fun, or as seen on TV. I love amazon, sun glasses and things that are funny. Fave TV show is House, guilty pleasure movie is Legally Blonde. I'm not a gamer. I teach English to college freshman, I coach collegiate field hockey. I need a new whistle. I appreciate warm and weather proof hats and gloves. I LOVE stationary and pens. I have a magic 8 bouncy ball (think magic 8 ball, instead of shaking, bounce.) I already have a fanny pack. I LOVE bold, black, strong coffee and jokes about that. I'm a novice photoshopper. I'm a lady. kthanks.soexcited.

...and you can also creep and see what kind of content your match puts up on reddit

...and YESTERDAY I GOT MY GIFTS!!

A Robostir, the rolls royce of coaching whistles and a $25 Amazon.com gift card!

So, my Santee was not as helpful- I'm waiting for the packages to be delivered to me so I can put them in one box. 

I got him this, and this and this. 

Because he told me this: Helpful Tips from FullMetalJoint: love computers, and anything glowy or shiny

The USB- fun? I guess?

The stickers are the little icon/mascot or reddit.

The plant? After some digging I found out that he smokes, ahem, trees. And apparently the symbol of trees on reddit is the pineapple. So there's that.

Do you have other suggestions? Please send one along because I saw this today...and now I'm feeling like I'm not that generous. I scoured the site for a price limit. Some people are ridiculous. 

Seriously. A cruise.