Miscellaneous

Most people are making resolutions...... me, nope -- not really making any resolutions.

I'm not sure if I'll be up until midnight..... I think I'm passed the part of this pregnancy that compels me to get to bed at 7:30, but...... midnight -- well, that might be a bit much for me this year -- last year we had a newborn..... the year before it was a teething 6 month old and this year..... well, this year I'm 18ish weeks pregnant.

It used to be that the focus of New Years Eve was when, where and with whom I'd be drinking my face off. Some years the answer was Ireland, Vail, the Bahamas, Martha's Vineyard, Boston, New York........

This year? Well, this year my energy is being spent on how to convince a two-year old that Christmas is over.... Santa won't be coming again 'til next year and we can stop watching The Polar Express.

My how times change.....

Christmas..... the aftermath

We've now done Christmas 3 times..... my family on Saturday, Big Dubya's family on Sunday..... and then our own little family on Tuesday, with special guest star Aunt P.

Aunt P did not have the Norman Rockwell Christmas she dreamed of...... I'll give her another day or two to post about it, if she doesn't then maybe I'll attempt it.

As if we didn't have enough shit already, our house now looks like ToysRUs threw up --

We did a pretty good job of hiding the majority of the toys...... each of the kids kept 2 or 3 out and the rest will go into a closet..... kept in reserve 'til I'm desperate some rainy day. My cousin who has twins 14 months older than the 'lil Dubya told me that she's returning a lot of the presents her kids got -- but, I just can't bring myself to do that...... so, I'll just rotate them in and out of the closet.

Santa brought the kids one big toy to share and then a few smaller supplemental items. One thing that the Dubya and I didn't anticipate was that our Type-A, anal nature would compel us to spend more time with their kitchen than they do. See, the 'lill Dubyette just loves pulling all the dishes, pots and pans out and leaving them strewn all over the floor -- we end up picking them all up and then instead of just tossing them into one cabinet or whatever, we actually spend time arranging them in the cabinets, etc. -- ensuring all the food is in the refrigerator and all the dry goods are in the cabinet...... dishes are in the dish rack and the cups and the salt and pepper shakers are in their spot. It's absurd, and we keep catching each other doing it -- not to mention pulling slinky dog out of the oven twice an hour.

Oh well, for a few minutes each day...... I am treated to the sight of the 'lil Dubya and 'lil Dubyette "cooking" happily together and it makes me happy that Santa splurged for this gift that takes up too much space.

matching Baby Gap PJs courtesy of Aunt P

Belated Merry Christmas to all!

This year's outtakes

I'm sure the Big Dubya will be posting our Christmas Card on ye 'ole mantle this year..... some of you have already received it (or are about to) the old fashioned way. I'm always very hesitant to post pictures of the kids...... I know I don't really have many readers, but.... I worry about the sickos in the world -- so, the Big Dubya and I agree to post photos only on rare occasions and because Kara asked so nicely........ some of this year's Christmas Card outtakes for your enjoyment.

The day began innocently enough..... the Big Dubya and I getting the kiddies dressed up and trying to obtain just one decent photo of them sitting/standing/kneeling/lying next to each other.... looking in the same direction and/or smiling -- because, well.... both would be too much to ask.

After a while, it became clear that a photo of the two of them was not in the cards.... so I told the Big Dubya to try to get a decent one of each of them on their own.... we'd cobble them together somehow.

Easier said than done....

She eventually cooperated...... him, not so much

After a while, the 'lil Dubyette was just fed up with his antics -- and in true Diva fashion demanded that she be allowed sit in her trailer 'til her brother was ready to behave -- a hug from Daddy would have to do....

Apparently, ruining the family Christmas Card is tiring for the 'lil Dubya.....

110 shots later and we still had nothing good enough for the Christmas Card..... so we picked the best of a bad bunch and out they went. I don't think next year's experience will be much better..... next year there will be 3 of them

In case you are wondering how the photo shoot went....

The 'lil Dubyette got so fed up with her brother's lack of cooperation.......

She turned to her Daddy for comfort.

What a boob!

Oh good God, isn't his 15 minutes up yet? Does anybody else find this despicable?

Request for Prayer

This is "the" weekend..... we are going to attempt the annual Christmas Card Photo.

In the event you need a reminder of last year's fiasco..... here are a couple of the better ones... ones that almost made the cut

Fortunately, I'm not doing this 10 days post-partum like I was last year -- so although their may be some crying...... I'm hoping that it won't be uncontrollable sobbing by me. Unfortunately, I am on the wagon -- so no matter how stressful this gets -- the only comfort I'll be able to get is watching the Big Dubya get intimate with a bottle of Jameson.

I'm not sure if you all pray..... but, if you do -- please pray for me. If you don't pray, please send me positive vibes or whatever you do..... it would be really pathetic if the Dubyas had no card for the mantle

Random Thoughts

I wonder how many of McDonald's breakfast customers are pregnant women who are driving to work and need carbonation in order to keep from heaving.... just wondering.

For those wondering.... my breakfast selection of choice adds up to 12 Weight Watcher Points -- but it helped me stop puking on the ride into work.