Hello 2011

This was our view out the window on Christmas morning. It got ALOT heavier by the end of the day--no patches of ground were left uncovered.

However, inside was as cozy as ever. I had a red Yankee candle burning (candles are everything you need to make a home, says me). John also started a fire, which is something we don't do very often.

This Christmas was truly a special one, and I can't point to one reason why. I had my cousins in town, which was wonderful. We got to see alot of family on John's side as well. It was a white Christmas--something I haven't seen since my childhood in Indiana. I guess the biggest difference this Christmas was that the tree had presents for someone extra this year--Eva's gifts were so much fun to open, even though I wrapped them myself. She got a Shirley Temple movie, an Olivia pig book, and a cute outfit from me. She was very spoiled by family and friends. I can't imagine what next year will be like--she'll be around 10 1/2 months old, so she'll probably be crawling around crunching the wrapping paper. What a precious thought!
     Well, the corner has turned now. The holidays are over, and it's that bleak time of winter when nothing goes on except my husband returns back to work and school over-full-time, and I sit at home with a severe lack of motivation because I just want my baby here! It's been very hard lately. I still need to finish some projects for her--a cross-stitch stocking I haven't begun yet, an almost-finished crochet blanket, and a 1/16 finished baby quilt. I only have 5 weeks until her due date! But I have zero desire to do anything. I've been pretty sore and uncomfortable. I can't wait to meet her--literally, I can't seem to wait. Also, I am SO DONE with maternity clothes!!!! I have stuck to my original plan to not buy maternity stuff (except pants and camis) and just wear long shirts and sweaters as well as loose-fitting attire, which is actually in style these days. But still--my choices are SO limited, the area in my closet where I hang the "unwearable" items is getting larger and larger. I don't want to go buy more clothes since I'm due so soon, but switching between 2-3 outfits is rather miserable for me. On the plus side, I have avoided wearing sweat pants or sweat suits out in public. I've still managed to somewhat be put-together. When I couldn't wear my heels anymore, I just got some really cute boots without a heel. I just don't wear sweats and tennis shoes in public, no matter how comfortable they are. It just isn't me.
     I pray that this big transition from having a baby in our tiny apartment with John being gone ALOT goes smoothly. Only by His grace can it be done, because the thought of John being so overloaded kills me, and the impatience of being a very expectant mommy is also getting on my nerves. Overall, we're truly having an eventful, stressful, and exciting beginning to 2011!