Pregnant & the Holidays

I had assumed this would be a great time! Think about it! Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with a pregnant appetite?? I already have the belly, whos to stop me from pigging out? What I forgot was that I would be spending the holiday season at home since I'm too far along to travel. That means the cooking and cleaning and decorating fell upon my swollen sausage fingered hands.

Thanksgiving went smoothly enough. I had to keep it simple.

(clockwise) broccoli & cauliflower, mashed tatos, cranberry sauce, stuffing, asparagus and of course turkey

the food turned out great even though I was nervous cooking. I always get nervous when I have to make a very large meal. I gained back any weight that was lost from sweating in the hot kitchen. But eating pregnant is much different from non gestational ingesting. The trick is to eat smaller meals more frequently. Simple enough but very hard to put into action when staring down a holiday dinner spread.
cooking this was exhausting but I got through it and had high hopes for Christmas. Lets not get ahead of ourselves though. Way before we think about Christmas dinner, we decorate. well most of us.
I LOVE holiday decorating! From Halloween all the way till New Years Eve!! However, pregnant me does not share in the enthusiasm. In fact I could barely get pregnant me motivated to put anything up! Just retrieving the bins with the decorations in them was a hassle, then opening them and unpacking.... soon my beloved nutcrackers became a beyond irritating nuisance! Everything that was put high up became a death defying feat even though it just required a chair to stand on. Ridiculous! but I managed to put out some stuff. Again following the motto: Keep it Simple!

I originally had my heart set on a real tree this year since we finally have the space. Then I thought about the upkeep and the energy to have to pick one out... so yea we got another faker. But this is an upgrade from the 4footer that we used before. I was so tired after decorating that B****! LOL.I also Put out some mistletoe, garland and those damned nutcrackers but the pictures aren't very flattering.

Then came the lights. I had been dreaming of what kind of lights I would do for the outside decorations. I imagined the nativity story all lit up, Santa and his reindeer smiling and sleigh riding in the middle of the front yard, a giant snow man and elaborate illuminations upon the roof that would make Clark Griswald drool jealousy.
(if this reference confuses u, see National Lampoons Christmas Vaca.)
anyways.. this is all I had energy for

Dont get me wrong though. I think it came out wonderful :) Special thanx to my husband!!

And i went simple on dinner too. Just ham and roasted red tatos with asparagus. Not so exhausting but my growing belly made it a little more difficult to digest everything comfortably!  
speaking of, heres a holiday belly shot

Thank Goodness for holiday maternity sweaters :P

Behind that smile is one exhausted lady. And im no idiot. I know nxt year will be just as tiring for different reasons. I will be chasing gummy bear around in her little holiday dress while she wreaks havoc on my decorations and tries to pull down the tree. She'll likely make cooking waay more difficult and be a picky eater... but honestly, i can not wait for that! Sharing the holidays with her and making new traditions and seeing her face while she absorbs everything.. well thats motivation enough to endure the end of this pregnancy, labor and the inevitable delivery.

I hope everyone had happy holidays. Heres to nxt year which will be a whole new adventure!


before I end this post I'd like to give a shout out to my Legacy Theater friends for incorporating me into the cast party. I cant remember if I included it in my Last entry. During the cast party they gave me gifts for my little one. Like a second baby shower. It was very thoughtful and I am very VERY thankful for it! I have to get the list of who gave me what so that I can thank them personally.
ok thats all for now :D i'll close with a picture of the Christmas Carol cast.