Time flies...

...when you're gestating. Or something like that, anyway. I'll be 12 weeks on Thursday, so only 28 weeks to go!

Its been hard to muster up the energy to write. Partly because of the pregnancy, and partly other things.
DH is still unemployed, although we've heard some good news on that front. The company is at least moving in the direction of recalling rather than expanding layoffs, so we're thankful that.

Munchkin is in full Christmas mode. Singing Jingle Bells (unrecognizable except the tune and "way..hey!" shouted enthusiatically) and rushing to get the candy out of her Advent calendar every night. This is a ritual Daddy has taken to...leading her over and showing her which door to open today. She loves Christmas trees and lights. She points them out to me as we drive. "Pretty trees!"

St. Nicholas Day was Saturday, Friday night we had Lorelei place her shoes by the back door right before be and told her St. Nicholas might put candy in them if she was good. First thing in the morning Saturday I asked her if she remembered about her shoes and she said "Tandy??" We went downstairs and she was so excited about the little chocolate Santas in her shoes! She wouldn't let go to open the present so it was pretty funny. Of course I only let her have one piece, and then (I am so bad) I recycled the rest of the candy into the Advent Calendar.

We finally got the tree finished during her nap, and then went down for dinner at my parents (we sort of called them and said "hey-what are you doing, can we come over?) and stayed over night. We spent all day Sunday making Christmas cookies. Munchkin was HILARIOUS in her little apron trying to help. She's sneaky too. She'd help me by putting the little peanut butter cookie dough balls into the sugar and then handing them back. She did great for about half a dozen and then suddenly pinched one and popped a chunk into her mouth--quick as a wink. Ditto with placing the Hershey's kisses into them--she mushed about 6 in there just great then popped one in her mouth so fast you could hardly see it. She clearly gets that from her Dad!!!!! Decorating was funny two. She did slop some icing onto a couple cookies, then just ate it off the knife.

Great weekend.

Our October Surprise!

Photobucket Album

Oma's House

DH and I went to the PGA Tour Championship on Saturday. That was fun. Munchkin went down to my parents' house for the day. She loves it there. Lots of room to run, and a swing hanging under the deck, and two suckers who will take her outside or downstairs or whereever whenever she grabs on to their finger and gives it a tug.

We stayed over night because my folks were taking an early flight and wanted a lift to the airport. Munchkin loves it there so much, she woke in the morning asking for "Oma" instead of "Moooooommmmmmmy." Hmm. Its nice to have a break, but still, aren't I number one??

Sunday, I had to work for hours--hate working on weekends. DH painted our bathroom during Munchkin's nap, and then we both did the second coat after bed. I'm having flashes of my parents. This is how they worked. Toiling on house projects after getting home from work. Nightmare.

Couldn't sleep initially, so it was after 12 before bed, and then I overslept, natch.

Munchkin has taken to full sentences. I still can't believe it everytime I tell her to do something and she does it.

"Pick that up."
"Put that back."

But not so much "don't touch that." Oh well.

Here it is!

Boy, I've got the "blahs" and big time. I have absolutely nothing charming to say, so I'll let Munchkin do the talking. A few of my recent favorites:

"Wain, Wain, Go" (Her version of Rain Rain Go Away)
"doo...wee...doo...wee" (her way of counting, no "1" just "2, 3")
"ooola" (umbrella, see "wain, wain" above)
"eetsa, where?" (A tuneless song I made up when she was eating pizza: I love pizza, pizza is great! Where is the pizza? Here it is! (which is when we take a bite))
"where'd it go? I don' know. Here it is!" (repeated over and over about anything at anytime)

Happy Day!

Joy, Joy, Joy! A strong, conservative, gun-owning, hunting, fishing, beautiful, mother as VP. Love it. Finally, something to get excited about.

Today, Palin said:

"I didn't get into government to do the safe and easy things. A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why the ship is built."

Brilliant.

Pampapes

Nod is on a trip. So when my alarm went off this morning I knew I had to get up even though I was sleeping perfectly (for the first time in ages). I had to get up because I had to get in the shower and get as far along in the "get ready" process as possible before Munchkin woke up. She's not entirely predictable, that one, but wake-up time is usually between 7:15 and 7:45. I hope for 7:45 so I can be completely ready, but you never can tell.

Today, she slept right on through and I even ate breakfast, like a human being, on a plate and with a fork and everything. So, at 8:15 (late, late, late!) I decided I had to go in and wake her. And there she was, lying in her crib, my blond beauty, completely awake and smiling. Just quietly smiling. She must have slept well, too.

After she was dressed and we were in the kitchen, she walked over to the freezer and, very excitedly, said "Pampapes!" Oh, her little voice and little words are so darn cute it makes me want to burst. Too bad we're out of pancakes, and "waffles" is just a bit harder to say.

Certified Mail

As I pulled into the driveway last night, I saw a little brown paper stuck to the front door. Wedged in, half-way in and half-way out, was a slip from the post office. Nod has a certified letter. It must be picked up or signed for in person. We know what it is. We don't have even have to read it (but we will). Nod is being furloughed. Laid off. Sacked. He has about two weeks left. Wonder how much sick time we can use in those two weeks?

Good news: we get to keep our travel benefits.

Munchkin likes to spend her mornings with *. * takes her downstairs and lets her watch Wonderpets or Backyardigans while they cuddle. Then he makes her pancakes (by which I mean he warms up some frozen mini pancakes) and she eats breakfast by pulling her tiny chair up to the coffee table/ottoman. Eventually they wander upstairs and pick out an outfit and get dressed, and then come to me with a come and a couple of rubber bands for a hairdo.

When *is on trip, Munchkin only gets to cuddle for a few minutes with me while we sit on the rocking chair in her room and read a short story. Then I dress her right away and come with me to my room. She gets to watch Elmo videos while I finish getting ready. She likes Elmo OK, but she HATES getting dressed before breakfast. She wines and moans and fusses and cries. Afterward, she pulls on my legs and dances around me so that I trip on her every time I turn around. All morning she does this with only intermittent moments of sweetness and happiness. Today it was when I handed her a giant, peeled banana to eat while watching Elmo, and when I handed her a cracker with peanut butter on it that she had been begging for. Why this child begs for saltine crackers with peanut butter I will never know, but she loves to get them. When she does, she'll eat a little bit of the peanut butter and none of the cracker, so pretty much the whole episode is just a messy waste. Then I heat up her pancakes, toss them in a Ziploc baggy with a little syrup and we get in the car to head to work.

Mornings are better for everyone when * is home.

* Don't have a blog name for DH yet.....

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe;

Sailed off on a river of crystal light into a sea of dew.

"Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.

"We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea.

Nets of silver and gold have we," said Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe.

And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.

Now the little stars are the herring fish that live in that beautiful sea;

"Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!"

So cried the stars to the fishermen three - Winkin', and Blinkin', and Nod.

So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam.

'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home.

'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be.

Some folks say 'twas a dream they dreamed of sailing that misty sea.

But I shall name you the fisherman three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

Now Winkin' and Blinkin' are two little eyes and Nod is a little head.

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle bed.

So close your eyes while mother sings of the wonderful sights that be.

And you shall see those beautiful things as you sail on the misty sea,

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.