29 weeks +2 days...

Whoops, I guess I missed a few weeks there of pics and updates! Christmas was such a whirlwind but now we're finally home. Today's activities will undoubtedly comprise of a lot of cleaning and putting away and trying to get this house in order...I feel tired already!

We started our Christmas holidays with picking up our kids from school and heading to a hotel in Regina. We had a blast water-sliding with the kids (yes, I was brave and not only got into my 2-piece, but flaunted it down the slides!!!) and watching America's Funniest Home Videos until midnight. The next morning we met up with an old Bible College friend for breakfast then took the kids for yet more swimming before we packed up and continued on to Mom and Dad's

place. We made it just in time to relax a bit before a yummy supper and presents with Mom and Dad and my Sister and her family! I would like to introduce you all to the new love of my

life...my red Kitchen Aid (professional series)Mixer!!!

The boy cousins had their first sleep-over in Nana and Papa's family room and the next day

there was much playing. It's so nice that everyone has grown up a bit and the adults can actually get in a little bit of visiting now while that kidlets entertain themselves. We spent a few days relaxing at Mom and Dad's, doing a little shopping, exploring, playing in the snow and going for walks (ok, ok, I only went for one walk!)

We left Mom and Dad's in the wee hours of the morning to brave the Saskatchewan roads back home. What a day that was! The roads were crazy and icy and full of cars, trucks, vans and Semis in the ditches. I'm so thankful we made it home unscathed and that Mark did most of the driving!

We had one night at home and then it was off to Falcon Trails Resort with the kids for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Oh, that was glorious! It just snowed and snowed and snowed.

We made fire after fire in the wood-stove, ate ourselves silly,

watched The Lion King with the kids for the first time, went tobogganing on the ski hill (where Trinity tobogganed by herself for the first time and Riker tried a GT snow racer for the first time)...so much fun!

Boxing Day we drove up to Gimli for Christmas with Mark's parents. More food, more presents, more fires in the wood-stoves and just a great relaxing few days with them! The kids got all dressed up in their Christmas clothes for church on Sunday, it was so nice to see lots of familiar faces there! We even squeezed in a game of Sequence, men vs. women. The guys won but the girls had a great time!

Yesterday, down to Steinbach we went for the great Funk Christmas gathering. Oh I love those gatherings! There was so much loud talking and laughing and teasing and eating and hugging...it was awesome! I have such a great family!! I honestly wish that our gathering could last a few days instead of just a few hours. Plus, I got a great set of kitchen knives in our little gift game that we play, which I wanted REALLY bad! Sorry Brooke for stealing them from you!

And finally here I am, 29 weeks pregnant, looking good, feeling good, loving all the crazy moves that this kid is doing, 142 lbs ( I think that's 13 lbs gained now). I must say though, after seeing/holding a really adorable and fairly new baby in Mark's parents church in Gimli, I'm just itching to find out who's been hiding all these months! I can't wait to meet him/her!!!

"Shoulding" myself...

In the last few weeks Mark and I have been especially diligent about catching ourselves and the other person using the word "should". Mark has been concentrating on this with his clients as well. When we "should" ourselves and others really what we're doing is putting irrational expectations on them/us. The result? Guilt, anxiety, sometimes depression when we "should" ourselves. Anger, rage, and controlling behaviors are often the result of using "should" with others.

Mom's does this sound familiar? We are masters at "should"ing! I "should" on my family all the time. Just last night Mark wasn't home when I thought he should have been and boy was I upset. He was still on time for small group at our house, so why was I so upset? I'd given myself way too much to do, a result of "should"-ing myself, and was physically sore and emotionally exhausted. I'd been "should"-ing the children all evening too. I was angry at them, they were angry at each other and hurt that I was so upset at them. It was absolutely horrible! In my anger and upset-ness I had reasoned that Mark "should" be there to help me. Didn't he know how hard this was?? Well, no, he was at work, doing what he was scheduled to do. I really didn't need to make all the hor d'ouvres that I did. The house didn't need to be as clean as it was (since the small group never went into the basement anyway) and I didn't need to make the elaborate supper that I did either. I would have been much better off to take a low key approach and not get so upset with everything.

That was one evening though. On average I think I've been quite good at re-wording things when I catch myself "should"-ing. The amazing thing is that it really has made a difference in my Christmas holiday preparations this year. I've been so much less stressed out just realizing that I do not have to impress everyone. I can do what I can do and the rest will wait or I can ask for help with it. I'm trying to give myself permission to do things out of order or skip steps altogether for the sake of my health and sanity. I've enjoyed finding Christmas gifts this year because I didn't tell myself that I "should" find the perfect gift. I just found something that I hope they like or that they need. Even today, I was tempted to tell myself that I "should" get all the wrapping done today, then I sat down and thought about it. Why "should" I? Would it really ruin everything if I didn't get it done today? How else could I do it? I realized that our presents would get to their destinations just as well unwrapped and I could just wrap them there if need be. It's ok, I don't have to be Superwoman! Or SuperMom, or SuperWife.

So, today I will get done what I can, leave the rest, and hopefully pour some love onto my family and enjoy this Christmas season for what it is. The wonderful, miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

With Bells On...

I'm not much of a country music fan but every year when Christmas rolls around Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' A Christmas to Remember album is always one of my favorites. I think part of it is just that my parents had the record for as long as I can remember (which I now have) and so it's so nostalgic for me. As soon as I hear them singing I can almost feel being home. I can picture my Dad making a fire in the fireplace while Mom puts the finishing touches on whatever amazing creation Dad has chosen and she had cooked. My sister and I would be trying to concoct some sort of special drink to have in our wineglasses so that we could have a drink as special as Mom and Dad's wine. Candles would be lit, most of the time the table would have been dragged to the space in front of the fireplace (thanks Dad!), the presents would be stacked and waiting and Dad's big Bible would be on or beside his plate just waiting to be read before we ate. There would be love and laughter and fun and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! The funny thing is that the day actually didn't matter. After we moved to Alberta we often had our "Christmas" on a different day, once as early as the 16th. And it really didn't matter, the feeling was the same, the routine was (mostly) the same.

This week I've been listening to a lot of Kenny and Dolly again and every time "I'll be Home with Bells On" plays I could just jump in the van and start driving! I can hardly wait!!!

How cute are they???

My Mom loves to shop for her Grandkids and Christmas is no exception. Trinity has been the bearer of many a beautiful dress, which she adores, and Riker always looks handsome in his new sweater or shirt. This year though I think Nana got a little busy and the concerts crept up on her unawares. With growing grandkids it's really hard to choose clothes from 2 provinces away, so this year Mom did the next best thing...she sent a gift card! Trinity and I had a ball on Wednesday going to the Bay and picking out clothes! Bonus: everything in the kids department was on SALE! And we all know how much Jobina loves a good sale! Trinity is pretty easy, she wants a dress. A big fancy party dress. And new tights. And hair pretties. Riker is usually more practical and casual. He wants something comfy and warm.

Ah, but this year, my little man made my day. He asked for a shirt, tie and dress pants! I was so excited! So first Trinity and I picked out about 8 dresses and headed for the change room. She was in her glory parading around in dress after beautiful dress. After trying each dress we would decide which dress was the "Winner" and that one would get hung up on a special hanger. Once we had hers picked we went to the boys section and managed to find the very last size 8 dress shirt and a cute tie that happened to go very nicely with Trinity's dress. The pants we found are fantastic quality and fit him perfectly. We had actually bought him a belt too but really it's for show, he doesn't even need it.So today was concert #1. The kids got all dolled up and they look smashing! I just think they are so adorable! Here they are at home after and the tiredness is definitely kicking in!

26 weeks...

...and I'm actually posting on the right day! Wow!

This week I got a real "kick" out of something. Every time someone talks to me the baby is squirming and kicking like crazy. It's so funny! I have a hard time keeping a straight face or not making little surprised noises (because sometimes it catches me totally off guard!). It's like a little secret that the baby and I have. Very cool.

Even at this stage in my pregnancy and showing as much as I do, I still have days when I wonder if everyone just thinks I've put on weight and they can't tell that I'm pregnant. Those days suck. But then the next day I'll feel like I couldn't hide it even if I wanted too! Everyone can tell! Apparently, from what I read anyways, this is totally normal. Whew!

A few weeks ago I ventured into the world of nursing bras and have been enjoying them ever since. The "girls" get a little squished in the regular bras after a while and them it's time to move on. So I bought ones a bit bigger than usual and voila, it worked! And let me just say that Breakout Bras rocks! No shipping charges and gorgeous nursing bras. Gotta love it. If nursing goes well, I'm definitely shopping there again!

This week another pound gained, up to 140lbs. Right on target. The ravenous appetite is slowing down. I still like food and crave things sometimes but often I actually have no clue what I'd like to eat. I think part of that is tiredness though. Sleep is not as easy as it used to be. Here's the pic...

December 5th, 26 weeks, 140 lbs.

Dinner conversation regarding baby names...

Mark- you know that if you actually gave in and said, "ok" to the name Geronimo that I would actually use it?

Jobina- yes, and that is why I must always keep my wits about me!

...

Trinity- (in a sing-songy voice) Geronimo is a good, good name...

...

Jobina- this is like a form of abuse or something!

A little Christmas Decorating...

It's that time of year again! December 1st is Mark's and my agreed upon day to begin all things Christmas. I may have stretched that agreement this year a bit when I decorated the night before. Oops! I wanted the kids to be able to start the advent calendar in the morning, so what else could I do??

(this is in my kitchen)

(Basement family room)

I went pretty minimalistic this year decorating only the shelves,

(living room, this one was for Mark who doesn't really like Christmas decorating)

putting out Christmas pillows

(basement family room couches and pillows, I found these great cases at Jysk on sale!)

and displaying our nativity play set.

I had bought a Bing Crosby Christmas record at a Thrift Store a few weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed singing along while I decorated.

Fun times!