Christmas

Well it was NOT fun. It started with me feeling kind of sick.. you know, like you are REALLY REALLY hungry and your blood sugar has dropped a million levels. I ate some cereal and it didn't stop. In fact, that feeling immediately switched to "Are you KIDDING ME?? You wanted to eat FOOD? What are you, INSANE"? And next thing I know I'm in the bathroom for the next 4 hours. A stomach bug had hit full force... Right in time for Christmas!! As a result we didn't go to see any family, we didn't have yummy food and I opened lovely and thoughtful presents from my husband in between bouts of losing whatever happened to be in my stomach. Which was not a lot.

I also did not get to cuddle or kiss my baby AT ALL since I was scared to death of passing this along to him. Instead I alternated between sleeping and being in the bathroom pretty much all day. The next day I felt weak and sick, but better. I kept down some dry toast. And thank God for this because the stomach bug had moved from me to Jeff and he was down for the count. Jeff, trying to be the considerate husband and father slept on our sofa that night, and boy what a mistake that was. He woke up in PAIN and feeling like he'd been run over. I took Nathan out for a little post-Christmas shopping at Target and came home to run our sheets and towels through the laundry. I also reconfigured our closet to hold the multitude of toys and clothing that Nathan now owns. Did I mention that Nathan goes through clothes like tissues?? I swear once a month I do purge of his bureau and start to move the "too big" clothes that are hanging neatly in the closet into the bureau and the clothes that he's outgrown into large rubbermaid bins. Clothes that he's never worn go into the donation box which is growing by leaps and bounds!

So today, I'm still feeling weak and tired, not completely like myself, and Jeff has managed to keep down some toast and jam (a small miracle all things considered). But it was definitely not the "Baby's First Christmas" I had planned. :-(

Adorable Baby Part Two

Nathan watching his first snowfall. And seriously, is he not the most adorable baby in the whole world?? Color me biased because I'm his mother but he is just cuteness personified!

Dislike for Yankee Swaps

I dislike Yankee Swaps. They are VERY popular this time of year and I just went to one last night at a company holiday party. Now my problem with Yankee Swaps is two-fold.

1. I never know what to buy. I always wait to the last minute and wind up getting something boring like a Dunkin Donuts gift card, or a trinkety item that I THINK looks cute when I buy it, and turns out NOBODY ELSE WANTS IT. That always happens.. always, and then I get annoyed that I had to shell out money for something that nobody wants/need/or even LIKES. It bugs me, and it bugs me even more this year when I've been so strict about cutting back. It's kind of like throwing money away.

2. It's hard to actually EXCHANGE a gift because you will invariably hurt someones feelings if you don't like what they've picked out for the swap. You can't open the present, smile, and say HELL NO as you look around at what everyone else to see if you can get something better.

Last night was no different, and I had spent my lunch hour at the Paper Store picking out a little gift. I wound up getting a sort of Christmasy style bracelet with matching earrings. Slightly over the $20 price limit, but I thought they were cute and somewhat kitschy and people might like to wear them over the holidays. Now what I SHOULD do is just pick my own damn gift. I mean... I already knew I wouldn't mind having the bracelet and earring set, but at the same time I usually go for a different present. This year I got a gingerbread kit and it's actually really cute - it's got all the trimmings to making a gingerbread house and I will actually try to make it, but now everyone at my work wants PICTURES of this house and I'm feeling a wee bit of pressure to make the blasted thing. No re-gifting here thank you very much!!!!! Though come to think of it.... I do have ANOTHER Yankee Swap to attend in a few days.. maybe I'll wrap this puppy up and bring it!! BUT.. my bracelet and earring set were deemed "lovely, but not my style" by the co-worker who picked it and promptly traded to someone else. Another co-worker who did NOT look pleased to get it. In fact, she looked so UNHAPPY with the gift I actually told her I had the receipt if she wanted to exchange it... How sad is that?? She said no, that she would be fine but it's very frustrating. I really should learn from this and just pick my own damn gift next time!!!

Addiction to The Company Store Catalog

Has anyone else gotten "The Company Store" catalogue in the mail?? I love this catalog with an unholy desire. I love EVERYTHING about it, and I always peruse the pages lovingly. Looking over each page of sheets and comforters and blankets, the color choices, the fabric choices... the patterns.... And depending on the weather outside, I change what fascinates me. Right now I'm interesting in anything that seems "warm". Down comforters, flannel sheets and fleece throws - I look over each page and examine the different "degrees of warmth" that they have, the "good" vs "best" pillows, and I ignore the insanely high price tag of everything I want. I know I've posted before how much I want the puppy dog flannel sheets, but right now I am longing for the following:


North Pole Flannel Bedding















Doesn't that look all lovely and warm and soft?? God I want to climb into the pages and get under the covers...

Down Blanket Throw

We already have one down blanket on the sofa and Jeff and I fight over it during the winter - we need another one.

Over-Sized Down Comforter

The description for the down comforter in particular is almost pornographic in detail:

Our exclusive Double Diamond™ comforter / duvet is filled with 600-650 fill power goose down for a more luxurious comforter / duvet.
300-thread count cotton cover is stitched through in diamond pattern.
Machine wash.
Made in La Crosse, Wisconsin, of fine imported materials.
What does supersize mean?We've taken our traditional comforter / duvet and given it a few extra inches to create a supersize, super luxurious comforters / duvets with a generous 15 in. drop (that's 4" wider and 10" longer on a queen size bed). As lofty and billowy as our traditional versions, only grander because you can never get too much of a good thing.

Doesn't that make you want to buy the comforter and curl up underneath it wearing some over-sized flannel pajamas and a nice mug of hot chocolate?? Because damn do I want to do that very thing. In the wintertime I LOVE getting into bed. I love the flannel sheets, the soft blankets, the thick comforters and burrowing under all those blankets until I am nice and snugly warm. Do I need to mention that Jeff HATES that I pile our bed with all those blankets?? He gets too hot and when we first started dating I had this SUPER thick comforter and Jeff would actually throw his leg OUT THE WINDOW because he was so hot. Out the window, and I lived on the THIRD FLOOR!! I also worry about Nathan not being warm enough... right now he's wrapped in his "Baby in a Bag" comforter thick sleeping bag and I worry that it's not thick enough. Maybe it's time to break out the fleecy baby footie pajamas as well?? Oh, and don't think we've forgotten Monty, because he just got his new fleecy jacket from:

http://www.nonudehounds.com/. So he's nice and warm too!

I've Come To Realize

I've come to realize...
1. I’ve come to realize that my chest-size ... is always fluctuating!
2. I’ve come to realize that my job …is sometimes just a means to a paycheck, and sometimes gratifying
3. I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving …I like to sing along to the radio, preferably Octane on Sirius
4. I’ve come to realize that I need …more sleep than I ever thought possible.
5. I’ve come to realize that I have lost …my sense of humor when I am bone tired
6. I’ve come to realize that I hate it when …people aren't straight up with me.
7. I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk …I've had one glass of wine and will really, really regret it at 2am when Nathan wakes up
8. I’ve come to realize that money …can bring freedom
9. I’ve come to realize that certain people …are not worth the effort.
10. I’ve come to realize that I’ll always …be slightly insecure
11. I’ve come to realize that my sisters....is an intelligent, funny, amazing person who I am blessed to have in my life.
12. I’ve come to realize that my mom …is human.
13. I’ve come to realize that my dad … is always there for me.
14. I’ve come to realize that my cell phone …is my lifeline.
15. I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook …I love reconnecting with people from my past.
16. I’ve come to realize that today …is over way too soon.
17. I’ve come to realize that tonight …is always going to be long.
18. I’ve come to realize that tomorrow …holds much promise.
19. I’ve come to realize that I really want to …write a novel.
20. I’ve come to realize that life …goes very, very fast and not always in the direction you would like.
21. I’ve come to realize that this weekend …can't get here soon enough!
22. I’ve come to realize that marriage …takes work and patience and laughter
23. I’ve come to realize that my true friends …amaze me with their kindness all the time.
24. I’ve come to realize that this year …was not what I expected it would be.
25. I’ve come to realize that maybe I should …have gone into the medical field
26. I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified …of being a bad wife/friend/parent
27. I’ve come to realize that I love …being a Mommy
28. I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand …why people can be so nasty
29. I’ve come to realize that God …is everywhere
30. I’ve come to realize my past …may not be perfect but is not something I would ever change.

Adorable Baby with Santa

And yes, we took Santa to the mall to get his picture taken. Jeff said that he wouldn't do it every year, but I definitely would. Nathan was very good too I must say. He smiled and let Santa hold him and there were no water works. Of course next year that might be different when he figures out that he's with a STRANGER and that Mommy and Daddy are not there - but for now he was perfectly content being held for his picture. In fact the hardest part was getting him to smile AT THE CAMERA. He was fascinated by all the other boys and girls waiting and kept looking to the side and smiling at them. Cute - but slightly frustrating as we tried to drag his attention back to us. Oh, and the photographer kept calling him a baby GIRL. Ah well... at least the picture is beyond cute!

Christmas Shopping for now

So my friends, for Christmas shopping this year, where have you spent the most money? For me, it's Amazon.com. I've been getting some pretty great deals on Amazon.com and I've even found promotional codes for that site - something that I never thought I would find, and I've USED THEM! By scouring the web and looking at tons of gifts ideas and deals I've really made use of my dollars this year, and made use of the internet. In fact, I've used the internet so much I can't even imagine what my life was without it! Remember when there was NO INTERNET?? When we would pick up the phone and call someone? Or put pen to paper and write a letter? A REAL letter that got sent through the mail with stamps and an envelope. It just blows my mind how acclimated we all are with the internet and shopping and reconnecting with friends and reading stories, I just love it! Anyway, where have you all spent the most money on presents to date? Amazon.com is it for me, but if we're talking clothes for me - Old Navy. It's all about the most bang for my buck!!

Day 4 of Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Remember how I couldn't do the "no take out" challenge? Well it's amazing just how well I can stick to a challenge when I have NO MONEY. My bank account has exactly $35.00 in it until next Thursday. Yes, $35. Yes, I realize the slight irony that I have my age in money in my account, ans the sad reality that as an adult of 35 I still have such a pathetically low balance. On the plus side - all the bills are paid. The bills are paid, Nathan has clothes and diapers and food and is EATING BANANAS!!!! I KNOW..that's like real people food and while he still seems to think that we're crazy for giving him something other than formula...he's actually kind of chewing it. But back to money.... I'm lucky that everything is paid for, there's gas in my car to get to work, and there is definitely food in the pantry. And it's been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day this week. I like peanut butter and everything, but it is getting a little old. Now the Katharine with more than $35 in her account would pick a day and perhaps go get chicken parmesean and ziti for lunch one day, or peking ravioli, or pick up take out one night. But this Katharine is BROKE..and still has some presents to get so it's been easier to "stick to the rule of no take out". But is it really sticking to the rules if I HAVE TO???

So I'll leave you all with this because even though I've seen it a million times I still think its highly entertaining: