Here is a really cute pic of hubby on vacation relaxing in the sun. Enjoy!

I'm taking a little pole on gliders - do you have one? Do you love it?

I'm shopping for one for the nursery (a glider is the baby version of a rocker - it moves in a variety of directions very smoothly, hence the glider name), and looking for input. I've talked to several girls at the office, and of course my girlfriends who have recently had babies. Everyone seems aligned on the need for one, as well local options to find one (Lazare, Beautiful Beginnings, Galt). But I'm gathering any additional input you may have before pulling the trigger.

Seems like I'm going to be spending the better part of the next year in this chair so it should be comfortable and asthetically pleasing. And microfiber. Can't hear enough great things about microfiber. I think I've found one but appreciate any thoughts you care to send my way.

Busy week ahead, not sure how much I'll be updating but I'll do my best!

Happy New Year!!

Hope everyone had a great time celebrating last night and returned home safe and sound.

I have to tell you, sober NYE is pretty brutal. We aren't big NYE people in general and obviously my current state only further limits the potential for a rockin' beginning to 2009. The last few years we've had some folks over to the house and then headed over to a local pub. It is two blocks away so easy to walk, no worries about getting a cab home. But being sober on one of the biggest drinking nights of the year is tough. Hard to hold a friendly conversation b/c no one wants to make real conversation three sheets to the wind, hard to engage in the funny drunk conversations when you're not.

I made it later than I thought I would - 1:30 (whoa hoo) and rang in the NY with copious amounts of soda water :)

BUT, what I did learn today is that stores are open on New Years Day. Did you have any idea? In all my years I've never made it off the couch on Jan 1. I thought everything was closed and never ventured out far enough to prove otherwise.

This morning I thought I'd just check and see. I still had a few returns to do and merchandise credits gathering dust in my wallet. And what do you know? They were open! And not surprisingly, I was one of only about a dozen other people in Chicago who had any desire to leave the house, so I breezed downtown, easily found parking, made my way through the stores without any trouble, and got tons done!

I bought a few baby necessities -- newborn onsies and socks. Boy, they are really small. It is hard to imagine there is going to be someone so small living in the house soon.

And I was home in time to enjoy some solid couch time too, a perfect start to the New Year!

Time seems to be flying by with no opportunity to stop and smell the roses. A quick update in the meantime...

Xmas holidays were wonderful - thanks to all the family members who made it extra special. We had so much fun giving this season, lots of fun things people really wanted. Except for poor hubby who really wanted socks and got what he asked for - athletic and dress :)

We seemed to return back to Chitown faster than we left, and the big bonus was all the trecherous snow and ice melted while we were away. An xmas present in and of itself!

This was to be a quiet week of work but has turned into a busy time here too - good news is lots of projects and plans getting knocked out. Thankfully b/c I have a short week next week -- we are off to the Dominican Republic for a long weekend.

Not before we celebrate the New Year, visit WI, have another doctors appointment, take a class on breastfeeding at the hospital, and meet with the financial planner and accountant. I'm also trying to get baby-ready now that I can't use the holidays as an excuse anymore. I cleaned out the nursery, organized gifts received, am making invite list for shower.

Phew. No wonder I feel so busy. Lots going on.

Hope everyone has and continues to enjoy what is left of the holiday season this week. Relax and enjoy. That is what I plan to do next week!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day, spent with family and friends.

We are home and enjoying a great visit, with more days ahead.

xo

Super Husband!

As I sit down to share this big news, I realize it is possible that I've not yet mentioned my biggest craving during the pregnancy. Anyone who has spoken to me live in the last four months would undoubtably be able to tell you in one guess, but somehow I've neglected a blog mention yet.

Peanut Buster Parfait.

Have you had one? It's a dessert from Dairy Queen (you know I work for the King and defer to him on most things but here the Queen has him beat), and I haven't had one in, um, say 15 years. But somehow I got the idea in my head about three months ago that I needed one.

Since then every craving starts with the PBP, but b/c I never actually get one, evolves into something else (cookies, cake, choc pudding, peanut m&ms). I'd guess not a day has gone by that I haven't mentioned it at least once.

So imagine my surprise when hubby came home with not one, but TWO yesterday! (Actually I may have said "don't come home without one" when he left, so it wasn't exactly a huge surprise, but I was still extraordinarily grateful). Obviously I ate one straight away (it was everything I thought it would be) and in his brilliance, I now have one saved in the freezer for a rainy (or snowy as it may be) day.

THANK YOU DEAR!!!

The funny part about this craving? I don't typically do sugar. My sis always makes fun of me b/c my xmas stocking candy is always still in my fridge in June. I'm a salty snack girl, and can always take a pass on dessert. But now, save the soul who gets in the way of my final course. I rarely leave the table without it.

And, in a second heroic feat, hubby also remedied a tense kitchen situation by bringing home xmas cookie cutters, after I unsuccessfully spent the day looking for them in my own house, at Dominicks and with friends in the neighborhood.

I'm SHOCKED, and frankly a little disappointed in myself, that I didn't own them and plan to soon call myself a MOTHER. What the heck?!? Anyway, I have a cookie exchange tomorrow and really wanted to make some festive cookies. It is way too cold to go specifically shopping for them and I was left to ponder hand-cutting or just using a bowl to make circles and decorate my way to reindeers (scary proposition for all involved).

And then, out of nowhere, he comes in from the blustery cold and drops off all different kinds of holiday shapes and sizes.

YIPPEE!!!

Is there anything better than nesting (and my super hero hubby)??

Let the baking begin :)

Oh glorious, lazy, pre-child, winter Sunday.

After braving the traffic, crowds and slush yesterday to check off the majority of my remaining holiday shopping, I'm thrilled to have done so. The thermometer on the porch is registering -5 degrees, without incorporating the blustering winds, estimated to drop the temp to somewhere south of -30. Yuck.

We knew it was coming and when I heard the wind this morning I just tucked in further under the covers. I read a little, went back to sleep. Basically just laid in bed a ridiculously long time. And it felt great.

I'm going to bundle up, run to the grocery for ingredients to make cookies, return to a toasty fire and hopefully not leave again today.

Enjoy the day, stay warm and stay inside!