Christmas. Once and For All.

I hate technology. I spent forever trying to do this dumb post and then it got erased. And now I can't figure out how to turn the underline off. I think I am going to take a break or I might

Well I am back. As you can see I took a break. And the underline magically disappeared. I was having real technological difficulties yesterday. Everything seems to be broken around here. Phones, car, cameras, lap tops....

I have been meaning to catch up on Christmas and almost gave up because I could not get my Christmas pictures off my broken camera, but alas, happy day, I got them off the broken lap top. As you can see by these pictures, they are high quality. I got lazy Christmas morning and only took a few pictures. Goal: get a new camera before baby comes. Because the one I have chaps my hide.

So here are some pictures of Christmas morning. I can barely remember Christmas. I mean it was a month ago. I can barely remember what happened yesterday.

I do remember we ate breakfast first. Don made his famous chorizo and egg burritos and this year we did things a little differently and had crepes. Stuffed crepes are my all time favorite breakfast food.
Then we opened presents. which I can also barely remember. Chloe handed out presents at lightning speed and opened a lot of presents that were not her own. I think I already talked about her ballet shoes in a previous post...and she got a pink ballerina skirt, the other thing she asked for.

Her big gift was a doll house. And I wrapped all the furniture separately to give her more things to open. She seemed pleased with her doll house. I was hoping it would be a self playing type of toy. But as it turns out when she wants to play with it, it usually involves some poor soul who ends up having to tell some endless story about witches, snow white, bony legs, cars, and whatever strange figurines happen to be lying around. Last night I was putting her to bed and telling her a story, and you know what, I fell asleep in the middle of it, but I was still talking, because when I woke up, Chloe said, "Thas a good story Mom." And then I thought to myself, what was I even saying? And I honestly could not remember.

Chelsey got a Wii. And when I say "wii" it is definitely not a "we" toy. It is an "I" toy. Good luck getting her to let you play. It is like negotiating with the Russians during the Cold War. My Dad let the cat out of the bag before she opened it. He was telling us how he had to even all the gifts out because he got Chelsey a Wii. And that is how Chelsey found out she was getting a Wii.
And I really raked in the goods this Christmas. Chelsey gave me my very own VHS copy of "It Takes Two." I found out later she had 2 copies. I was happy to take one off her hands. I love the Olsen twins. They are terrific actresses.

After presents we watched a documentary about the Disney resurgence in the 1990's. Which was very Christmas-ish. Okay it wasn't but it was interesting. And then we took naps. And then later we went to my Dad's house and played the card version of Monopoly, which I actually like, and then the insane ones stayed up until after Christmas to finish Settlers of Cataan. So Christmas was nice, and I was a little sad it was over, but this year my Christmas is coming in February. And this gift is going to be just a little bit better than my very own copy of "It Takes Two."

PS Funny Chloe quotes as of late:
I heard her make believing with her Snow White and Alice figurines and I heard Snow White say, "Ya, my Kings a good Kisser."

My Dad asked where Don was, and he had gone to the bank.
Chloe responded, "Uh....He went to the piggy bank."

Things I need:
1. Someone who can lift more than 20 pounds. (Don and I are both out of the running. Me, for obvious reasons, and Don because of his hernia thing)
2. Lots of money.

And then I would able to turn my spare room into a nursery/guest room.
Oh well.
I'll just move some crap off some shelf or something to make room for some diapers and call it good.
Sigh.
Second children sure do have a different life experience don't they.
But I was 3rd, And I turned out splendidly.
So I'm not worried.
Just wish I didn't have so many eye sores in my house.

So I like these little headbands.
Maybe cause they are called "Chloe."
And the baby is quite nice too.
I can't believe I am getting my own!

This is kind of cute too.

But who am I kidding.
Babies don't keep things on their heads anyway.

I am afraid Chloe might be smarter than me.
Well not now. But eventually.
It is a good thing I have Don.
He got a good score on his ACT's.
I am still a little bit bitter about that.
But you know...I have street smarts, and that is what is important.
Oh wait. I don't really have that either.

Anyway, some Chloe statements I want to remember as of late.

"Mommy. Sometimes the moon is small. And sometimes the moon is big."
I didn't even know how to try and explain that one.
Like I really didn't KNOW.
I knew it had to do with the earth and the sun but that is as far as I got.
But Don showed her a you tube video of how it works.
And I still am confused.

"Mommy, remember when Lizzy gave me this pillow blanket? In California?"
Me: Oh you mean the place where we saw Lizzy for a little bit?
"Yes."
It was then that I figured out Chloe thinks Liz lives at the airport. She had a layover once and we stopped by for a few minutes.

"Mommy. Why are some signs green and purple, and why are some signs green?"
She has observed the signs around our house and noticed that some street signs are green and purple and some are green.

"Mommy. Why did you say you hate birds?"
I said this a week prior to a friend when Chloe was feeding ducks and had no idea she was even paying attention.

She also while I am driving is always pointing out cars and telling me who has a car like that.

This morning she ended up in my bed as she usually does. When she officially woke up, she told me, "Mommy I slept in my bed all last night! But magic put me in your bed!"

I am very excited.
At my Doctor's appointment today they told me they will induce me at 39 weeks.
Which is approximately 4 and 1/2 weeks away.
Maybe taking 2 shots a day is worth it after all because doing such means the powers that be, want to have more control over my delivery.
You see the meds have to be out of my system for them to give me my epidural.
Also they don't want me to be on my blood thinners for delivery because well...well there is a lot of blood when you have a baby, and it is probably a good thing to clot.
Anyway, there is an end in sight!
And I am so happy because my back hurts.
And I am tired.
And I hhhhhhhhhhhhate taking my shots and having a bruised belly.
And sometimes I feel like I ran a marathon and all I did was walk across the room.
And most of all, I just want this little lady in my arms.
And I think I have a name. But I am keeping it mum. Because the worst thing is to say the name and have people give you a yuck face.
People have an easier time lying to you when the baby is already named and then the only appropriate response is, "Cute!" or another adjective.
Chances are if they say, "Oh that's nice" what they really mean is, "Poor kid."
And that is my update.

And in no particular order....

Hello Blog. I am grateful for you. Because today I couldn't remember whether something was a year ago or 2 years ago. Thank goodness I have my blog to keep me straight. Does that freak anyone else out when they can't remember whether something was 12 months ago or 24?
So this week I have been playing Nurse Melissa. Don had hernia surgery Wednesday morning. He had hernia surgery 15 years ago which was a horrible experience so he was not looking forward to this one. But I am pleased to say this has been much more pleasant for him. Well I probably shouldn't use the word pleasant. I should say "bearable."
And to tell you the truth, selfishly it has been kind of nice having Don chained to the house. We have watched a lot of (dumb) movies and I get his undivided attention when I talk because he can't move very fast.
Also, I kind of enjoy him on Percocet.
This morning he asked me, "Melissa. Is there like a title in the Police Force called "Calihan". Cause there is always a Calihan in Police Movies."
I find his sense of humor even drier on Percocet. And I appreciate a dry sense of humor.
Anyway, I have enjoyed babying him. He deserves it. Although I do have some ulterior motives. In a few weeks time, the roles will be reversed and I will be needing a good nurse.
I told him this. And he told me, "Oh. Well just so you know, I can't live up to your standards."
So then I told him he would be getting his own darn medicine from now on.
I didn't really say that.
And yes, Don is a good male nurse.

Okay now onto catching up again. I am too lazy to try and get pictures in the right order.
So I am just going to do what I do best, ramble.


Christmas Eve was at my sister in law Leonore's house. And as usual, we had Mexican food, better than any restaurant, a musical presentation (I sang "Gesu Bambino"), telling of the Christmas story by Don's dad, and a visit from Santa. I think this was the 4th time Chloe saw Santa. I believe she told him she wanted "ballet shoes and a pink skirt."


After Don's family party we headed over to my Aunt Mary Olive's house for a little bit. And then we made our way back home and remembered that we still had to wrap everything and Don had a doll house to put together. And since I was so tired I did what any good Mother would do who wanted to make Christmas morning special for her children; I went to sleep. And Don got up in the middle of the night and spent 2 hours putting together her Doll house. I did however get up early enough to wrap all the presents before she woke up.
And since I don't have the Christmas morning pictures downloaded yet, I will save that for another time.
Oh, New Years Eve (morning) we went to the Fiesta Bowl Parade. Chloe loved it. She especially loved riding the Light Rail 1 mile to get to the Parade.
After awhile she complained of being tired and hungry, which I was glad for so I didn't have to do it, so we left.
The most entertaining part of the parade was watching the people in it avoiding the horse poop. Some unfortunate soul eventually stepped in it, and the pooper scoopers got the biggest applause of all.
I believe Chloe said, "Attention Sir, there is horse excrement, watch your footing."
Or she might have said, "Horsie!"
I can't remember details.
Okay. So the ballet shoes. Christmas morning Chloe opened up her package of ballet shoes. She was not impressed. They were too small and they looked like slippers. Silly Santa was not smart enough to realize that when she said ballet shoes, she meant toe shoes. Like the ones Aunt Lizzy is wearing in her picture as a little girl and in old dance videos. The ones that make you stand on your toes and oh, kill to wear. I was on toe shoes for a year. I was too chubby to actually get up on them very well. Also, I have a low pain tolerance. That is why I did not become a ballerina. Oh, and I was pretty much crap at it. But Liz...she was awesome.
Anyway. I told Chloe that I would tell Santa he got the wrong one and she said, "Silly Santa!" So I bought a bigger pair and then sewed some ribbons on them and she was much more impressed. However, she still is confused why she can't quite get on her tippy toes in them. She still prefers Aunt Lizzy's shoes, and she actually puts them on and stands on her toes. So who knows, I might have a ballerina on my hands. She is very captivated by ballet, and every pink fluffy dress or skirt she wants because she thinks it is a ballerina dress.

Oh and Chloe took this picture of me, I think it really captures my radiant pregnant self.

And last but not least for this post, look at what I got.
My friend Katie surprised me with a replacement Crystal mistletoe.
You might remember a few posts back how heart broken I was it had disappeared.
She read my blog and actually bought me a new one.
It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.
In fact I think I will keep it up for awhile longer because it makes me very happy every time I look at it.
All those non-subliminal messages to my husband about gifts to buy me, and it was my unintentional post about my mistletoe that got me a new one.
Katie. You made my Christmas!

New Years and Such

I am going to go backwards with this catch up thing. In fact, I don't know why, but journaling for this past month is making me less than enthused.
Not that anyone is making me do it, (except for Don who sits by me with a taser gun until I finish), I just have this guilt if I don't record things because I know my memory is so bad, I will never remember one year from the last.

So New Years...
Since we are very popular, as you well know as evidenced by ALL the comments I receive on this here blog (do you hear the tumbleweed blowing in the wind? I do.) we had 2 parties to attend.
The first one was with the kids and we had a fabulous time eating pizza and pizookies and setting off fireworks in the backyard. I am pretty sure it was illegal, but this year is the 1st time you can buy fireworks in Arizona. But I think there are stipulations on where you can use them. And all I can say to that is, well, don't sell them on the side of the road then.
I stayed away from the sparklers as I have a tendency of burning myself, falling, hitting my head, spraining my ankle and other unfortunate accident events that befall uncoordinated individuals such as myself.

Then we dropped Chloe off at my Dad's house and went to the no kids party with our "young" friends. You see our spryness and youthful appearances allow us to fit in with all ages. Don was almost kicked out, since he was turning 34 the next day. I being only almost 30 allows me to fly under the radar.

Anyway, we took a picture with the other pregnant gals. Don was opposed to me posting this. He thinks I am ruining my reputation and showing the youth a bad example.
And all I have to say to that is, what reputation?

**No actual harmful substances to fetuses were used for the making of this picture. Unless you consider Martinelli's and rolled printer paper dangerous. However the firecracker was real. But as mentioned before, I stay well away from lighted exploding things.

We arrived in time back at my Dad's house to ring in the New Year with Chelsey and Times Square and thank goodness we did, otherwise we would have missed that fantastic music video of Mariah Carey singing a techno version of "Auld Lange Syne" in front of a blue screen with fake fireworks, flipping her hair and showing off all of her lady assets. Terrific.

And then we made our way home and realized yet once again, that we are too old for New Years.
New Years Day was Don's 34th Birthday and as usual, we vegged around most of the day, oh I take that back, we did some cleaning. And I put the Christmas decorations away and got really mad at the fake tree because it was so large and heavy to put back in it's bag and my huge belly kept getting in the way. And my back hurt.
And then I realized, I might be too old to celebrate Christmas too.
Next year I might go the way of my elderly aunt and just have a tree that I sit on a stool in the corner of the room.

Anyway, we got take out Pei Wei's (thanks Liz) and we got a couple Red Boxes, one of them ("Salt") was decently entertaining, the other one ("The Other Guys") we watched halfway and then said let's go to sleep.
So we did.

Chelsey vs. Chloe

Chloe was sitting listening to my Dad play his harp in one room.

And Chelsey comes walking in and says:

"Chloe. Why don't you come and sit in front of the tv. That's what the average kid does."

And Chloe replied, "No!!"

And Chelsey stomped off and said "Fine!!"

I hope this brightened your day as it did mine.

Today was Chloe's first official day in Primary. (tears)

I watched her from the back of the room and she looked so cute sitting politely on her little chair with her curly red hair sticking out from her blue Dora Backpack.

I love that girl.

And I wish I could freeze time and keep her little and all mine forever.

I have cherished every moment we have had together. (Minus the times I have almost lost my mind with exasperation, but we will not mention those)

Even with this new baby coming and knowing I will be watching a baby grow and develop into a child all over again, I know that I can never get all those wonderful moments I have had with Chloe back. There is only one Chloe. Now they are just memories and videos and pictures...and blog posts. (sob)

I know she is only 3 going on 4 too soon, I am bewildered at how fast it has gone. I look at video from just a year ago and am amazed at all the growing up she has done.

I want it to slow down.

I am sure you other Mothers out there know exactly what I am talking about.

So I looked at my little Chloe in her new Sunbeam class, and almost cried.

How in the heck am I going to send this kid off to kindergarten.

Hmmmm...maybe if I don't love her so much. Ya, I will try that.

I think my sentimentality is at an all time high with the new baby coming (soon, please SOON!) because I realize that Chloe is not my baby anymore. Okay, I know she hasn't been a "baby" for awhile, but she is my baby, and I am not sure if I am ready to change perspective.

Look at me, all boo hooing over here.

You understand don't you?

No wonder my Mom cried when she dropped me off at my college dorm.

I will probably have to be dragged away with a leash and a shock collar by Don. "C'mon Melissa, wipe your raccoon eyes and lets go."

Anyway, the funny part of this diatribe, is that when I picked Chloe up from her Sunbeam class she told me, "Mommy, they didn't have snacks today...I was weally, weally, hungwy!"

That's my Chloe.

You can see why I don't want her to grow up, can't you?

Okay well I am going to go look at pictures of kittens and babies now and cry.