We do the traditional spritz cookies at Grandma’s most years, and last night we decorated frosted sugar cookies at home. Not everything I’m gaining is baby weight… 
Decorating Cookies at Grandma’s December 6, 2009
Baby on the Way December 4, 2009
So this baby is due in a little over a month, and I have yet to do much of any preparing for his/her arrival. The plain truth is, I haven’t had time! I dug out the Boppy and have put a few of Anja’s neutral-ish newborn clothes in a bag in her closet for quick access (some of which are seasonally inappropriate, but I figure I can just plop something warmer over them, right?).
What did you do to prepare for your second (or third, fourth, etc.) child? I hope to have time to pre-cook some meal starters (ground beef, cubed chicken, etc.) and freeze them. And I have a list of a few things we will need (double stroller, smaller diapers), but what am I missing? Help!
Disney on Ice Princess Classics – Giveaway! November 13, 2009
When my firstborn turned out to be a girl (I thought she was a boy—and was I ever wrong!), my main concern was, “What if she’s really girly and I can’t relate?” Turns out she IS quite girly. She’ll ask for a tutu so she can dance if I have music on, she grabs my makeup brushes and puts “pink on her cheeks,” and just yesterday she asked if she could wear a pretty dress to “be like a princess.” I don’t really ever talk to her about princesses, so I have no idea where she gets these ideas!
That said, we’ll be taking her to the Disney on Ice Princess Classics show when it comes to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul December 10-13. And you can take your family, too! I have a package of four tickets to opening night (December 10 at 7:00 p.m.) of Disney on Ice to give away to one blessed reader! Simply leave a comment if you’re interested in winning, and I will randomly select a winner on Monday, November 23. If you’d like an additional entry, blog about the giveaway and leave a link to your post (not your blog home page, but the actual post) in the comments.
Additionally, if you would like to purchase your own tickets, here is a chance for a discount. Use the coupon code “MOM” to receive four tickets for $44 for weekday shows Monday-Friday and $4 off all tickets for weekend shows. The discounted tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster by entering the “MOM” code in the “MC promotion” box. Small print stuff: Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply. Here are the showtimes:
Thursday, Dec. 10 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11 – 10:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 – 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 – 1:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.
I’m looking forward to taking in this event with my family (Husband? Aren’t you going to just LOVE it?), and I hope you can make it, too!
Sunday Sunshine 11.01.09 – Rotund Edition November 1, 2009
This is the first time I’ve posted any pregnancy pictures anywhere this time around…I’ve gained about the same amount as I did with Anja, but I’m decidedly more rotund (as discussed earlier). I’m 29 weeks along. We don’t know what we’re having. The pregnancy has been much the same as it was with her, just more water retention (lay off the carbs, said my midwife), more hip pain at night, and I’m carrying a little lower. Could be a boy, could be a girl, and I can’t wait to meet him/her!
I’ve been really bad at updating this baby’s pregnancy journal. I had so much more time when I was pregnant with Anja, though. I was only working 4 days a week at my construction job, one at home, and I didn’t have a toddler to run after. These past couple months I’ve been working 20 hours outside the home (plus about 3 hours per week of commute and picking up at daycare), 30-40 hours a week at home, plus watching Anja full time on the days I’m home. Sleep has been lacking and stress has been plentiful—not the best conditions for growing a baby!
Speaking of which, this past Thursday was my last day at my construction job. After many months of prayer and a unique opportunity, we have decided to take the plunge into having me home full time. My photography business has pretty much supplanted my construction income, so it was either return to work full time when the baby arrives to be able to afford two kids in daycare or take this step of faith. I’ll miss my co-workers, but they’ve invited me to visit anytime, and having me home with our kids is something Husband and I have wanted for our family since we got married.
Any prayers for my sanity are much appreciated! Though it is wonderful to have 23 more hours in the week to be taking care of things at home, I don’t anticipate my photography workload slowing down much until close to Christmas (and the baby is due just a couple weeks later). I think I will savor my maternity leave this time SOOOO much more. :)
Happy Halloween 2009! October 31, 2009
This was the first year Anja went trick-or-treating, and she enjoyed herself immensely. She loved her costume (a candy corn, in case you can’t figure it out), and has had it on several times prior to Halloween.
She would say “Trick or Treat” about 15 times before each person would get to the door, and then when they opened it, she had to be coaxed to say anything. But as soon as they put something in her little bag, she would do a happy dance and say, “Thank you. Happy Halloween!” Fairly charming, if you ask me.
We just went up and down our street, but she had quite a haul when we got home. That turned out to be a good thing, since we ran out of candy at our own door and actually had to give a piece of hers away! Here she is with her bag, pleased to pieces.
And though Grandma has already seen this outfit, here’s a little shirt I got her at Old Navy.
Excuse the cheesy smile (grimace?). That’s about all we get from her in front of a camera these days. :)
Yikes October 16, 2009
This video made me cry. I can be quite emotionally volatile when pregnant, especially when it comes to babies. Thank goodness the baby survived!
Sunday Sunshine 10.04.09 October 4, 2009
Gack! September is a goner! But it produced some lovely things, including this post by Beck. She is, I think, and at risk of offending others whom I like so much, my favorite mommy blog. Almost every post she puts together resonates with my mother heart, the dissonance between holding on and letting go. Mothers never achieve that balance perfectly, do we?
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If (more like when) I decide to paint furniture, this is where I will go for reference. Her dining set looks amazing! Maybe I should’ve done that instead of order the new table and chairs. Mmm…nope.
“Baby Eating the Mommy?” September 21, 2009
That was Anja’s question when she saw a picture of a baby breastfeeding in a book Husband read to her tonight. Ha ha! He quickly explained that, no, the baby was getting milk from the mommy, not eating her. Oh, little minds!
And that will probably be my post of the week.
The Birthday Party September 11, 2009
September is quietly one-third over, and I, knee-deep in other processing duties, haven’t had time to touch my daughter’s birthday photos until today.
We kept it simple again this year, a light meal shared with family. Her theme was Circles, since she’s very into shapes right now. We planned most of the food and decorations around this theme: meat and cheese buns (homemade by Grandma!), grapes and banana slices, veggies and dip, chips, and cupcakes.
Circle decorations, for the most part: lanterns, balloons, flowers, a new “Happy Birthday Anja” birthday banner (thanks, Daddy, for all your time meticulously cutting out letters!).
Anja was spoiled rotten (again!) with all her gifts. The last one she opened was a little play kitchen. She immediately started cooking and astounds me with her continued talent for it. She must pay much closer attention to Mama when she cooks/bakes than I realized! Another favorite is her vacuum cleaner. I know this passion for cleaning and cooking probably won’t last into her pre-teens, but I intend to take advantage of it while I can! :)
Hope you enjoy being two, dearie!
