Christmas To-Do List

Last Christmas

Christmas is exactly 4 weeks from today.  Less than 4 weeks really because our official Christmas traditions start on December 23.  I feel like I have to much to do and not much time to do it in!  Plus my head has just been so full of baby, work, Christmas and just general life stuff lately that everything is getting kind of jumbled in there.

So I need to make a list so that I can remember what I have to do:

Buy presents.  I have a really good start on my Christmas shopping, but I still have lots to do.  It's amazing how getting married multiples the number of gifts you have to buy by about 100.  (Ok maybe not that many).  I have booked a whole day off work just in hopes of getting my shopping done.

Decorate my house.  This might happen this weekend.  I don't think it's too early anymore, we are in the full swing of Christmas.  The streets have been decorated for weeks, so my house might as well be decorated too.  Since we get a real tree, that will have to wait a bit longer.

Wrap presents.  Buying them is just the first step.  If I was smart I would start wrapping them now....Ya right.  I will frantically try to do it all at once the week before Christmas.

Go to a million Christmas events.  There are Christmas craft sales, Christmas Parties, 2 Santa Clause parades (one is this Saturday!), family Christmas' that takes place before Christmas, work dinners.... It's a busy time!  I'm glad I'm only this busy at Christmas and in the summer because I love it, but it's exhausting.

Watch Christmas movies.  This is a very important part of the season!  I have already watched the Santa Clause 1 and 2, but that doesn't mean I won't watch them again!  Then we have Home Alone and of course The Holiday, and Ryan wants to throw 8 crazy nights in there.  We need a movie schedule I think.

I know I should have more on my list, but my brain is stopping there.  Basically if I remember the presents I should be good, right?

Bump Date: 26 Weeks

• Baby is the size of a head of lettuce and is around 2 lbs
• I have my glucose test for gestational diabetes next week.  Basically I drink a sugary drink and then sit at LifeLabs for an hour until they take my blood.  The test itself doesn't bother me, but sitting there for an hour in the middle of the day might be kind of annoying.
• I had a bit of a freak out when I thought I saw stretch marks earlier this week.  I think I had just scratched my stomach though because I can't find them anymore.... but it started me up with the slathering nasty belly butter on my stomach again
• My midwife confirmed that the tightness is probably round ligament pain
• I'm so happy to be this far along in my pregnancy.  Now that baby is moving around a lot it's so much more comforting.  I don't have to wait for an appointment to hear a heartbeat and make sure that there's still a baby in there!
• We got so much snow this week and the driving was not fun.  I normally don't like driving in it, but can usually push through.  But this year it's slightly more stressful and I'm hoping that the next 3 months aren't like this.
• Only up a couple of pounds at this appointment for a total of around 18 lbs!  That's pretty good considering that the baby has probably grown at least a pound since my last appointment.  Maybe I can stay within the 25-35 lb range after all.
• So much was accomplished this week!  My glider finally came in and we picked it up.  The nursery is definitely cramped, but at least we have all of the furniture.  Now I just need to put stuff on the walls.
• I also bought a boy and girl going home outfit.  Ryan thinks that's ridiculous.  I want at least one cute gender specific outfit to put the baby in.  
• I have bought 15 used cloth diapers and 6 new ones.  I went back and forth about cloth diapering but when I found the used ones for an amazing price I just went for it.  I know a lot of people think I'm crazy for wanting to do this.  Hopefully I will post about my reasoning behind it sometime soon.  I think that poor cloth diapering is very misunderstood!  I haven't invested a ton of money in it so that makes me feel much better about it.  

Bump Date: 25 Weeks

I was a bit behind this week.  We went on a girls shopping trip on Friday and didn't get back until Sunday night.  So the bump picture was really taken at 25 weeks, 3 days.  But now I have people on my case to blog about it so I'd better get it done!

• Baby is the size of cauliflower
• Still feeling stretchy and sore this week, especially if I don't drink enough water
• Acid reflux hasn't been quite as bad, or maybe I'm just getting used to it
• The belly is definitely getting bigger, time for some more maternity shirts!  The non maternity ones are getting  a bit short in front.
• Exercise has definitely slowed down.  I tend to get that stretching feeling more when I'm working out, so on days that I'm feeling it anyways I don't want to work out at all.  I can usually only do 20 minutes on the spin bike or elliptical before it gets too uncomfortable.  
• Baby is still moving lots in there, but just for me.  
• I'm looking forward to the Christmas season!  We have something on every weekend from now until Christmas, which is crazy but exciting.  It's probably good because otherwise I would be hibernating. (Which is what I will be doing in January and February.)
• I have a midwife appointment Thursday.  I enjoy them except for the weighing myself thing.  I know I've gained weight, I don't want to know how much! (I'm going to estimate I'm at 20 pounds now.)

Bump Date: 24 Weeks

• 24 Weeks already!  Well over halfway with only 16 weeks to go.  Craziness
• Baby is the size of an ear of corn
• Mom is much sorer these days.  Back pain, side pain, stomach pain, I’ve got it all. 
• Feeling some major tightness in my lower belly, sometimes just randomly, if I stand for a long period or if I’m exercising.  It might be Braxton Hicks, I don’t know.
• Baby is still moving lots, still fairly low down.  I need to get Ryan to feel it more often, but baby kicks when it wants to kick and I don’t really want to sit on the couch with his hand on my stomach for an hour!
•  I miss sleeping well.  I can’t get into a comfortable position and wake up lots during the night.
• Still trying to exercise, but I find I get sore a lot quicker so I've definitely slowed down.  I've had a few weeks off from my yoga class but will be starting back up next week
• I can’t wait to go away Christmas shopping next weekend on our girls trip!  And maternity shopping too of course
• Best moment this week was hitting 24 weeks.  The baby is now viable and chances of survival outside the womb will get better by the week!  But stay in there for a while longer please baby!
• Last Wednesday was our 3rd anniversary.  We're definitely excited for what this next year will bring us!

3 Years

 

Today marks 3 years married to this guy.

He's a really really good husband.  Much better than I am a wife.

Last night he made me ice cream with smarties.  It's the little things.

He turns my heated mattress pad on if he gets into bed before me.

He puts up with me telling him I'm growing a human.  It's one of the useful things I've done since we got married, so I need to tell him once in awhile so that I feel less lazy.

He builds me stuff.  Marry a man who can build you stuff, it's a useful quality.  

He lets me plan vacations.  I love planning trips and he just lets me do my thing and then goes along willingly.  

He cooks me mac and cheese.  He cooks me a lot of delicious things actually, but last night it was mac and cheese and it was so good.

He makes me coffee on Saturday mornings before I get out of bed.

I'm a lucky lady and this wee baby is going to have the most amazing father.  He knew he wanted a baby long before I did (I mean I knew it, but he was really ready).  The baby is going to be spoiled rotten and will probably get way more ice cream than it should, but it will be so loved.  

Happy Anniversary Fella.

Bump Date: 23 Weeks

Week 23 already!  Time is flying. At my one yoga class I asked the girl how far along she was and she said 23 or 24 weeks, I've lost track.  And I wondered how you could lose track.  But I caught myself this week forgetting how many weeks I was!  

And I know for non-preggo people the weeks thing is confusing, but I find the months so confusing!  So I'm pretty sure I'm 5 months pregnant, I'm now on my 6th month.  But talking in weeks involves much less thinking.

• Baby is the size of a papaya
• Last week was our babymoon.  We had an amazing time in Chicago with just the two of us.  We love travelling together, so adding a baby will definitely change the pace of our trips.
• My mom and I made a crib skirt this week.  I love it and can’t wait to keep working on the nursery.
• I’m hoping to get a lot done in November.  I already feel like Christmas will be here before we know it and not only do I have Christmas to prepare for, but a baby too!
•  Some people who were resistant to the fact that I’m showing are finally starting to say that I look pregnant.  Thank goodness, I thought that would never happen. 
•  I do feel smaller than I thought I would at more than halfway through my pregnancy
• Ryan hasn’t felt any more kicks.  They aren’t consistent enough yet, but do happen frequently throughout the day.
• Baby is almost viable.  Of course I want to make it to at least 37 weeks, but it’s nice to know that with each week the chances of survival outside of the womb increase.
• I did a gender predictor quiz and used a predictor tool and they both said girl.  Those things are 100% correct and scientific, right?  Better start buying pink.

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Chicago Babymoon: Top 10

Last week we went on a 4 day babymoon to Chicago.  We took the train there from Port Huron, which is about 2 and a half hours from our house.  If you are from Canada, that's honestly the way to do it.  The train was cheaper than what it would of cost us to park our car at the hotel, and once in Chicago you really don't need a vehicle.

We stayed at the Chicago Essex Inn.  (By the way, I'm a deal finder when it comes to trips and booked pretty much everything in advance through Group On, including the hotel.)  The Essex Inn was right on Michigan Ave, close to Museum Campus.  A bit further away from the Magnificent Mile, but still walkable.  We walked multiple times!

So here are my top 10 recommendations:

1.  You need to try Chicago deep dish pizza.  We went to Lou Malnatti's, but I have heard good things about a number of chains.  There was a Lou Malnatti's 2 blocks behind our hotel, but they are all over the place as well.

2.  The Shedd Aquarium.  This is probably personal preference, but this is the one museum that I would highly recommend you do.  They have dolphins, belugas and penguins and a total of 32,000 fish and other animals in total.  

This Beluga was chatting away

3.  Second City.  We did their Dinner and Show where you book a dinner reservation with a price fixed menu through them.  Dinner was great and very filling.  However, once at the show, you can order a variety of appetizers and small plates and their prices are very reasonable.  So I would suggest you go early and just order food and drinks at the show.  The show was hilarious and we both had a great time.

4.  Check out the view from the John Hancock Building lounge.  You can pay to go up to Chicago 360 observatory right on the Magnificent Mile.  It's $19 per person.  Or, you can wait in what is probably a shorter line and go to the lounge or the restaurant.  We literally walked right in (to the elevator of course).  You could go to the lounge and not order anything, nobody is checking that you actually get a table.  But we ordered a beer for Ryan, a smoothie for me and an appetizer.  They were expensive, but it was still cheaper than going to the observatory, plus we were able to relax and enjoy the view.  Oh an check out the view from the women's washroom.  Sorry men, apparently there aren't windows in your washroom.

My Strawberry Smoothie

5. Take a Chicago Architecture Cruise.  People say that if you do one thing in Chicago, this should be it, and I 100% agree.  We went with Chicago Line Cruises because I got a Group On and it included free coffee, tea and muffins and cookies.  I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be as good as the Architecture Foundation cruise, and of course I can't compare the two, but our tour guide was extremely passionate and knowledgeable.  She talked for the entire hour and a half!  Our cruise also wasn't full, so it was nice because you could wander freely around the deck without getting in anybody's way.

The Sears (or Willis) Tower - from the river

6. The Lincoln Park Zoo.  This zoo is a bit further north and takes longer to get to, but it's free!  And it's actually a decent sized zoo.  I was very impressed with the wide variety of animals they had there.  The gorillas are always my favourite!  The kangaroos were a bit lazy that day.

7. Food, food, food.  Besides the pizza, there is lots of other delicious food in Chicago.  I suggest Al's Italian Beef, for huge beef sandwiches that are dipped in gravy.  We also had a sandwich at Potbellys, which are all over the city.  I had chicken salad and it was unbelievable!

8.  You need to get some Chicago Mix at Garrett's Popcorn.  You know when you mix cheese popcorn with caramel popcorn?  That's called Chicago mix and it was created at Garrett's.  I think the line ups can get pretty long, so we were there right at 10am when it opened.

9.  Walk out Navy Pier.  Ok so we didn't walk all the way to the end.  But that's because we stopped to play a game of mini putt (I lost badly) and by the time we were done we had to get moving because we had places to be!  

10.  Go to Cloud Gate, aka The Bean.  However silly and overly touristy it is, you have to do it when in Chicago.  We went twice, and I suggest going on a weekday if you can.

We had an amazing trip and it was so nice to get away with just the two of us before the little one comes.  I can't wait to travel with kids, as it will be a new and exciting experience, but Ryan and I really enjoy travelling with just the two of us as well.