Christmas break update

Chris and I have had a great time off together so far. One great thing about working for the school system and for a public university is all the time you get off at Christmas. I can't complain. This year I got two extra days, which gave me two and a half weeks off! Chris got two weeks. We both go back to work on Wednesday, which is going to be tough. I've just been able to sleep in the last couple of days.
Sleeping in has been tough since I've been pregnant. I just have a hard time staying comfortable. I wake up on my back a lot, and that's starting to become uncomfortable.

On the first Monday and Tuesday of my break Chris was still working. I worked to try to finish up some Christmas shopping, baked a lasagna, relaxed with my puppy on the couch and visited my friend's new baby. Baby Jack is pretty sweet. Later we met up with our friends for dinner and to purchase some gifts from our small group for the kids at church.

On Wednesday, Chris and I made pancakes for breakfast and then went our separate ways to really finish up Christmas shopping. Then, we met up at home for a quick lunch and headed out to my doctor's appointment to check on this little baby. I was 17 weeks and one day on the day of my appointment. My blood pressure was up a little compared to last time, but still normal at 120/60. I had put on about four pounds since my last appointment (5.6 total), which my doctor said was what he would expect to see. The baby's heart rate was 163. Chris finally got to hear it! We scheduled the mid-pregnancy ultrasound, which I was hoping would be at 20 weeks, but I figured it wouldn't be since they're seeing me about every four weeks. Even though it's usually almost five weeks between appointments. It was as I expected. He wanted to see me back after four weeks, and they couldn't get me in with an ultrasound and appointment back to back until January 22. I'll be 22 weeks on that day. I am very excited to hear about how this little one is developing and the gender. I've been feeling flutters for about two weeks now. Some days it's really consistent, while other days the movement is so light and inconsistent that I find myself wondering if I've really just felt something or if I am imagining it!

Wednesday night we went to church to help out with the children's Christmas party, which was fun. We got to give out the gifts from our small group, which was a lot of fun!

Thursday we grabbed some stuff for goodies at the grocery store, cleaned the apartment, wrapped some presents and then relaxed while watching part of the first season of Modern Family- thanks, Niki! Our small group got together that night for a little Christmas party, which was more or less a meal and a game or two of Scattergories!

Friday we finished wrapping presents, went out to lunch and did all our laundry in preparation for going out of town for four days. Niki stopped by on her way up from Jackson for some dinner and then continued her journey to Elizabethtown. I stayed up to make a few treats to take with us to Elizabethtown.

Saturday morning we pack up the car to head to Elizabethtown. We set our cat up for being out of town- thanks to Jared for coming by over the weekend to feed him, scoop his litter box and set up his food timers while we were gone.

Presents for my family.

Presents for Chris' family. The big one underneath is for me.

Pooped out after all the wrapping and packing!

Saturday night I went out to a fancy dinner in Louisville with the girls in Chris' family. Chris hung out with his dad while we were gone. After dinner we went to see the Louisville ballet perform the Nutcracker, which was great! I had never seen a professional ballet before, so that was a real treat!

Sunday we went to church with Chris' family, made some more treats to share and vegged out on the couch a lot!

Monday was Christmas Eve. Lori made a wonderful brunch and we opened gifts with his family before his stepsister and stepbrother had to go to their dad's. Chris and Niki played music at their friend's church at the 11 p.m. service, which was neat because when it was over, it was Christmas morning!

Joshua enjoying his gift from us. Penelope knows he's under there!

She finally got her gift!

17 weeks and 6 days!

Penelope pooped out after all the presents! Too many bows and wrapping paper to chew on!

Chris making pecan logs!

On Tuesday, which was Christmas morning, we headed off to see my family in Henderson as the rest of the Carters headed out to see family in northern Kentucky. We spent the day visiting with my little brother and parents and preparing for the party that evening. We made lots of great party food! All my siblings, their spouses and kids arrived that evening prepared for the snow storm that was due to hit around midnight. They were calling for blizzard conditions, 8-11 inches of accumulation! The siblings that live close by were all planning on going home that night if at all possible, but came prepared to stay the night just in case the storm came early! We all ate too much and opened gifts. It was pretty much chaos as it always is, but we're talking about celebrating Christmas with a family of 17! It's bound to be a little crazy with that many people in one house! It's funny to think that they'll be at least 18 by next year!

Sorry, Dad! I think you're the only one I didn't get a picture of. You were really sick those two days, so you're probably glad. Plus, you never want your picture on the internet anyway!

sisterly love.

Massive amount of gifts! Before the kids tore into it!

Fiona on Christmas!

Nieces with Uncle Jason.

On Wednesday morning, we woke up to about four inches of snow with a little more on the way. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast while waiting for the roads to clear with one of my sisters and her family, my two youngest brothers and parents. By the time we got ready and packed up the car it was almost noon and the main roads were safe to drive on. We made a quick stop at my sister's in Evansville to pick up some of her maternity clothes that I wanted to borrow. Then, we went to see my grandparents before heading out of town. We stopped on our way back through in Henderson to see my step-grandparents and pick up my brother who was having his car worked on and needed a ride back to Bowling Green. Somehow we were able to fit him, his laundry, our gifts, the dog and all those maternity clothes in our car! I am still not sure how!

We got home on Wednesday night and finally got to open gifts from each other. Chris got money for the guitar he's building and I got a study bible and a fancy maternity pillow. We each gave each other some other little gifts and stocking stuffers. It was a good Christmas! Thank goodness it's over! I am beat!

I spent most of Thursday trying on maternity clothes and organizing my closet. We also went to the Bailey's to visit, have lunch and for Chris to meet their new baby.

Friday we ran some errands together, went out to lunch and did a little post-Christmas shopping. Today has been lounging, laundry and more closet organizing. It's tough fitting an extra wardrobe in your closet! Sheesh!

Just a few more days of break left. Not sure what else I can squeeze in!