tifi

May your year be filled with love and light!

Well, I hope everyone reading had or is still having a fabulous holiday. Mine was mostly great. I did not have a baby yesterday, but our two families did gather together for the first time since we got married 11 years ago, so that was something.

And I hosted my first (and probably last, lol) Christmas dinner. Best part of that was I did almost none of the cooking. All the presents we gave were hits including these I made for my brother’s dog.

Finch came down with a little fever and cough, but he seems to be doing o.k. in spite of that. Today, I’m going to go spend some gift money and buy a new hand/diaper bag for the baby that’s never going to arrive, hehe.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Wishing you and yours the best of the season.

So I finished those booties and have moved on to mittens. I’m convinced the baby won’t arrive until her matching mittens are finished. I’m on the second one. I’m also convinced that she won’t arrive until after my parents and brother leave after Christmas. Of course. I’m so excited, this is the first year we will all be together for Christmas in my home. My mom and bro have visited for Thanksgiving, and of course, we’ve all been together for Christmas in New York, but never this!

I got my eyebrows done…by someone new again.I finally found someone I liked a few months ago only to go back last week and learn she was no longer working at that particular salon! I went back today and had someone else do them because I just couldn’t take it anymore. I feel ungroomed without my brows done. It’s my thing. And you know what? She did a great job, I love them. Oh, and I painted my toenails, by myself tonight. With some sparkly Wet N Wild 99 cents polish. Because…why the hell not?! And while I was watching water birth videos on youtube last night, I noticed someone else’s painted toenails and thought…ooooh pretty.

I’m reading Your Best Birth right now (you’ve seen The Business of Being Born…right?) although this being my fourth time and all, I think I’ve gotten to the stage where I’m pretty confident about my ability to have the birth I’d like, regardless of location and barring an emergency. I’ve always been slightly paranoid that I will have a birth that will get out of control and things will turn out the complete opposite of what I’d like. Hasn’t happened so far, so I don’t know why that is. Anyway, the thing that sucks most about this birth is that the kids won’t be able to be there b/c the birthing center is in a hospital and our area hospitals have a ban on visitors under 18 due to swine flu concerns. DD really wanted to be there. Ah well. Oh, and one thing freaking me out: I’m supposed to do an enema when I’m in early labor b/c according to the midwives “the birth tub is not a toilet”. Right. I’ve never had that particular problem before, and have never done an enema. I am trying not to think about it too much. Yes, TMI, I think this is a good place to stop!

My husband bought me a chair for Christmas, and I hated it. I’ve been wanting a chair like the yellow one I used to have, but somehow better. I don’t know how this “new” chair would be better, but I would know it when I saw it. Some time in mid-December, Luis called me up at work and made a big spectacle over the phone about how he was going to the thrift store. And he was going to pick up something big, and blah, blah, blah. Well, I put two and two together, but then thought, nah, no way. He knows I am way too picky and would never pick a piece of furniture for me on his own. Some women love having a man who knows how to pick gifts they love. I love having a man who knows better than to try. The last time I let him decide on anything for our house, we ended up with a fugly plaid couch which I hated.That night when I got home, the kids were quite excited to show me something. I went upstairs and sitting in my room was a chair with a big red bow on it. A pale yellow chair. An armchair. A reclining armchair. A reclining armchair with a mallard duck pattern all over it. W.T.F.?The children were so happy and asked if I liked it. I couldn’t lie. I told them immediately how horrible I thought it was. Since they didn’t pick it out, their feelings weren’t hurt and they moved on to climbing all over the thing and showing me the features. Like the matching arm rest covers. Lovely.Luis was in another room the entire time, and so I went to find him. I am, for the most part, not a person who can pretend I don’t feel anything when I am upset. And so I asked him how the hell he could’ve possibly thought of me when he picked that chair. Then he launched into a bit about how the other chairs were too pricey, or not my style, and on, and on. Another thing about me, I can wait for anything that I truly want. I waited 3 years for my new camera. I would rather wait, and get the thing I’d really like than settle for the quick fix.Next, he started to tell me how this was just one part of my gift. And how he ordered the book I really wanted to go with the chair so that I could have a new reading corner. Oh. Oh. And then of course, I felt like an ass, which is how I usually feel when I fly off the handle first and then think about it later. See: new year’s goal, patience.In the end, the chair ended up in the kids room because really, it wasn’t my style. But I definitely appreciate that in his own way, he was giving me exactly what I wanted and needed. A place to sit while I read to the children and maybe a little humble pie?

We are part of a multi-belief family. I’m an agnostic married to a practicing Buddhist. I have a Catholic mother and a Jewish step-father. So my kids saw a Christmas play, had a menorah at the table every night and talked about Winter Solstice, too during our holiday.

I think this was Christmas Eve. We baked cookies later that night.

Christmas morning, getting ready.

Christmas evening.

Since my trip this time was short, I concentrated on doing the things I wanted to do while I was in Brooklyn over the summer, but never got around to.

My brother* decided to wait till the last minute to send the kids’ gifts, so I was stuck indoors most of Christmas Eve waiting on the damn box. About 5 pm, I got tired of waiting and since my stepdad was home, I went out. I left with no idea of where to head. I called my husband (who was in Queens with the kids) and he suggested I pick up some cheesecake at Junior’s**. I got on the subway*** and headed downtown Brooklyn. After waiting on line to get in the door, I got to the counter and was told no more strawberry cheesecake…wtf? So I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to eat cherry (yick) when what should magically appear but a man rolling a cart of strawberry cheescake. Hooray! I bought mine and then walked around downtown for a bit eavesdropping. Yes, I love listening in on other people’s convos…and? Tomorrow…Christmas Day.

*
Said annoying little brother with my kids outside the Georgia Aquarium this summer.

**You can buy Junior’s Cheesecake in the frozen foods section of my local Kroger! Madness!

***My husband hates taking the train, but me? Never. Subway is in the top 5 things I miss about city living.

Heading to New York to spend some time with my family. Enjoy your time with yours.

I’m just so busy right now with everything. I did finally get into Christmas a bit and pull some favorite things out of storage. Maybe I’m not into it much b/c we are traveling for the holiday? I dunno. Anyway, I found this link with wonderful, simple handmade holiday ideas and thought I’d share.

Cheap gift ideas

Now why didn’t I think of tape? Girlie uses it constantly! I think I’ll put some in her stocking, I know she’ll be thrilled.