Random thoughts on Sunday night

So, I can't promise this post will have much meaning or a theme or be terribly entertaining for all of you, but I just have so much on my mind right now and as I use this blog as my journal, I figure I better write them all down. I forewarn to any and all ramblings and tangents. 

First off, I am so stoked for Christmas. I love Christmas time. I love the warm, comfy sweaters. I love the flannel pajamas. I love knee high boots (More on these later). I love ankle boots. I love fuzzy, colorful socks. I love hot chocolate. I love the lights. I love the snow. I love how the lights glisten in the snow. I love the music most of all maybe. Did you all know that FM 100.3 is playing Christmas music? I love it. I have had fun singing the songs to Keldrie over the last few days. No wonder she can't remember that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. 

Second of all, being pregnant at Christmas rocks. Well, it rocks so far. If you happen to be struggling through your first trimester with all day morning sickness, it probably isn't too fun. I've not had the pleasure of experiencing that yet. How stupid of a name is "morning sickness"? Like you are only going to puke your guts out in the morning. Yeah, right, if only. Wouldn't it be great if when the clock hit noon, your nausea disappeared. We need to come up with a new name for it. Any suggestions? Anyway, back to why being pregnant at Christmas is fun. This is my second go around. Last time I was in the middle of my second trimester, but man was I swollen. I was a bit chunky too, now that I look back at it, but mostly I was just weird looking. My face was so swollen that I actual had decent size lips. Sure, other body parts were swollen. Well, all my body parts were swollen. Fingers, feet, collar bone. Okay, not collar bone, but you get my point. This go around I've managed to stay somewhat un-swollen and un-chunky (At least so far, I do have 12 weeks left). But being pregnant at Christmas is so fun, because at all the parties and such, you don't have to look like a big fat pig having a second roll (I love any and all bread), and you feel so cute with your round little belly getting attention and you don't have to worry about fitting into anything. Your pants are elastic on the top, for heaven's sake! Plus, you don't get cold. At least, I haven't gotten cold. Poor Matt has to share a bed with me and I'm kicking the covers off when he's trying to keep them pulled over his head.  I do, however, have one problem with my pregnant body so far, and that is this, my boots won't zip up over my calves. Apparently they are at least a tiny bit swollen. I was so bummed when I went to put my boots on for church today and I couldn't get the top 2 inches to zip up. Stupid. 

I did mention this was going to be quite a bit of rambling, right? Okay, good.

Third: I've finally learned a system that helps me keep my house cleaned up. We've been in the house about a year and a week and for about the last month, I've finally felt like I have some control on the housework. It has been that if I was caught up on the laundry, then the sink must be spilling over. Or if the kitchen is clean then the family room is in chaos. But lately, I've just been learning how to stick to it and not let any one thing overwhelm or consume me. I'm quite proud of myself. Now I understand that in the next 12 weeks or so, a HUGE complication is going to arise and throw everything back out of balance, but until then, I am going to feel accomplished in my house-wife-hood. 

Fourth: Having a second baby has been more fun than having the first. While I was pregnant with Keldrie, I looked forward to every new stage of the pregnancy and enjoyed it for about 1 day and then was ready for the next milestone to come. This time, I have learned to enjoy each part of the pregnancy and tried to be a bit more patient with it all. It has also been so fun to get Keldrie ready for the baby. She has been so fun with it all. Each morning when she gets up, she wants to kiss "Baby Russell". She likes to go shopping for him too. Of course, she just likes to shop. She is my little shopping friend. Being a second pregnancy, I know a little bit more what to expect. I now know that the reason I have quick visits to the OB is because he is growing well and there are no complications. So a quick visit means a healthy mommy and a healthy baby. I know that whenever I get a chance to sit down, I should try and put my legs up, so as to avoid the before mentioned swelling. I know what is normal for my body and what a baby's kicks mean. Not that this pregnancy has been an exact copy cat of the first. With Keldrie, I has restless leg syndrome at night. I would wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep until I walked circles around the apartment for 20 minutes. By the way, it was a super small apartment.  This time, I don't have RLS, but I do have quite the cramps in my calves. Each night I have to stretch them before bed and then have Matt rub them so I can sleep. I am much less worried and anxious, but I think I am just as excited. 

Fifth: I am so happy to have Matt. He is such the man I always dreamed of. He has such a strong testimony of the Gospel and he tries his very best to live it each day. He is an example to me in that way. He is also incredibly honest. Like, possibly the most honest person I have ever met. Which is saying something, because I know him the best of anyone and I can still say that about him. He is also a worthy Priesthood holder and for that we have been especially thankful for. In my post about Halloween, I told you about the "Scary Man" encounter. Well, that night Keldrie woke up several times before Matt and I even got to bed. She is such a good sleeper that I knew something was wrong. After the 3rd time before 11 PM, she was just so sad and so scared that I asked her if she wanted her daddy to say a special prayer for her.  She said yes, and so Matt was able to give her a Father's Blessing. What a special thing for a dad to be able to do for his daughter. He has given her blessings before, but this was one that she could actually understand to some extent. As soon as it was over, she just looked at me and smiled and I was just so grateful for the perfect faith of a child. She had no doubt about the blessing she was able to receive from her Heavenly Father through her earthly father. She was happy and calm and went right back to sleep with no more waking up. So precious. It is in moments like this when I am so happy with my choice of a husband. All the money in the world could not replace the happiness that living the gospel has brought to our little family.


One last story before I wrap this up. Tonight we went to visit Greg and Amanda in the house they are now living in.  As we were getting back in the car to go, Keldrie said, "Mommy, I want a snack." Now about 45 minutes earlier, we had finished eating a big dinner over at Steve and Elaine's house, so Matt's reply of "Kid, you can't possibly be hungry, can you?" wasn't very surprising. What was surprising and hilarious was Keldrie's answer to his question. "Yes I can!"


Well, there you go. A nice long, rambling post. If you made it this far, congratulations! Hope everyone had a great Sunday and here's hoping for a great week!