Catching Up

32 days until Christmas. Is YOUR Christmas shopping done?! Unfortunately, not here. I've decided to do mostly online shopping and then just wait until the gifts arrive. I just don't have enough ideas and have no motivation to go back out and brave the mad crowds. (They are getting bad already I noticed after a quick Target run yesterday. People fighting over parking spots, traffic jams, etc......) Chris and I were able to get out and have our shopping date a couple weeks ago, but we mostly just enjoyed ourselves child-free and had a quiet dinner together. It was lovely! The "shopping" we did do just wore me out and made me re-realize why I don't like to go Christmas shopping in the first place. Sure, shopping for myself and my girls is great, but mostly because I know what we need and like.

Today was another OB appointment for me! I actually look forward to these appointments, as the end result is pretty darn exciting. Anyways, it was a pretty uneventful visit. Things still are looking well. I did receive my H1N1 vaccine today, which I wasn't really expecting. Since this vaccine is not required, I had a lot of questions. I've had a virus of some sort for the past couple of weeks that I'd like to thank my children for giving me. Feeling well for the most part, just have this cough and congestion that won't seem to go away. I was told that it was highly recommended (even with having a mild sickness), and there were 34 other pregnant women before me in my doctor's office alone to have received the vaccine. None of them have reported side effects from the vaccine. I was also told that if I chose not to receive the vaccine, I would receive the vaccine in the hospital since I would be primary caretaker of a < 6 month old. Side note: My doctor runs single-practitioner office who is always busy. Today was his 64th birthday, and I've always told him that he can't retire until I'm finished having babies. Ha! He is a great, caring doctor and you just gotta love him!

Stats at 30.5 weeks:

• BP 124/82
• Gained 3 pounds - (pretty excited that the lower-sugar diet/more physical activity has done me some good!)
• Baby heartrate 140
• Fundus measured 31-32 cm (still on the big side)
• Baby is currently head down!
• Appointments getting closer together at this point - next appt is in 2 weeks.

I've been bad at posting lately and doubt it will happen again before Thursday... We do wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving this week! Be sure to relax and enjoy with family and/or friends if you can!! After all, having family and friends is definitely something to be thankful for.

God bless!

Christmas Preparations (Already!)

46 days until Christmas. Yesterday we spent the day cleaning up in anticipation of dragging out the Christmas tree and 4 totes of decorations. Why is it that I have the most decorations for Christmas, yet it is the shortest timeframe in which to enjoy them around the house?! Generally, we get everything out the weekend after Thanksgiving, but 4-5 weeks of enjoying it is not long enough for us! We had the weekend mostly free; and with Alexis being around, we decided to start early this year. It was, however, a little strange getting Christmas things out in 70 degree weather!! The weekend here in Lincoln was absolutely gorgeous. F-Sa-Su we saw temps in the mid 70's! My goal is to have Christmas stuff packed away and baby stuff out the weekend after New Years. We're anticipating this baby a bit early, HOPEFULLY, and I can't come home from the hospital to Christmas decor and messes!

On that note, we are looking forward to the Husker game on ABC this Saturday and a day of shopping. Just my hunny and I. We've got a sitter lined up (thanks Grandma & Grandpa!) in hopes of getting some of the dreaded Christmas shopping out of the way. As exciting as the holiday season may be, Christmas shopping is a stressful thing for me. I'm constantly struggling to find that perfect gift year after year. I try too hard. It's my weakness. Another reason to get a jumpstart on shopping is the simple fact that I am getting too LARGE and TIRED at this point in my pregnancy. I need to do my shopping without waddling everywhere and sitting every 5 minutes. Yes, the third trimester is now here folks. Yay! =)

Happy Halloween

Our little Ava dressed as a chicken yesterday. She looked super cute!

Since Halloween fell on a weekend this year, we took advantage of it and headed out of Lincoln for the evening. We walked from Grammy and Grandpa Raasch's house in Fremont down the block to my parent's church for a fall festival to play games and trick or treat for a few hours.

Ava with her cousin, Melany at the church festival.