Preparing: Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!!!!  We are excited!!  Despite colds all around, Eric's lasting for weeks now and Annabel adding in some teething pain today, we are preparing.   After a couple fairly sleepless nights, we all slept well last night, but Annabel must be catching up as she has slept all morning.  It has allowed Eric and I to at least clean the house to enjoy a relaxing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Tonight I am reading a poem at the Christmas Eve candle light service.  They wanted a pregnant woman to read it.  I was joking that I guess they just want me for my body and not my skills!!  We plan to Skype with my parents after church so Annabel can open her gifts sent by them and then do our own openings in the morning.  Our pastor has invited us over for Christmas Day supper. He has kids our age who have kids Annabel's age, so it has been nice getting to know their family.  No traveling this year for us, as we realize we don't have a million dollars if we had to deliver in the U.S. 

I've never done yoga at home, so I have no idea where she learned this, unless it's instinct.  Or, she learned it at day care.....which seems to be my answer for everything she does lately.  

Ready for a coworker friend's Christmas party.  Eric stayed home ill, but Annabel was telling him "We're going to a party; they have a kitchen."  She was so excited and had to go back twice to give Eric goodbye hugs.  

She played with their awesome kitchen for hours and hours.  It made for a nice evening of visiting for me too.  It's an impressive homemade-by-dad kids' kitchen, which he said he's pretty sure he'd have to charge $8,000.00 if he adds up all the labor hours.  Funny.  We had already planned to get Annabel one for Christmas, so based on her enjoyment at the party, it's safe to say she will like it.  The reviews on the one we bought (on bestbuy.ca of all places) says 'do not wait to assemble on Christmas Eve.  What do you think Eric is doing right now?   

Annabel was home for an entire week from day care due to Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease, with Eric and I taking turns staying home.  Luckily the disease didn't seem to bother her much so we kept busy during the days baking (only for us!), painting, and playing outside.  But after 7-10 days of quarantine, we were ready to leave the house.

Her face took the brunt, with not many markings on her hands or feet.  I think at least 4 out of the 8 at day care got it (and one parent)!  

Cranking popcorn.

Annabel really loved decorating the trees.  We have our big one and two little ones.  She calls the big one Daddy's tree and she and I each have a little one.  She claimed this one and did this star idea on her own.  It's an ornament and I would have never thought to put it on the top like that.  So creative! She had to go get her #1 possession, her stool, to help -- "First, I need to get my stool."  After work and in the mornings on weekends, she runs to each one, not exactly with our approval, to plug them in.... just slightly enough to get the juices flowing.  She has since put a few presents that she knows are for her under her tree and one for me under mine. I'm so excited for Christmas!   

We have loved having a big real tree this year.  We had one a couple years in Illinois when I had to work Christmases, but not lately since we've traveled for Christmas.  

A little bump on the chin from falling off a chair.  Playing with her favorites in our bed. 

The other night I said "It's almost bedtime."  Annabel responded, "It's almost Christmas time."  I said, "it is and what does that mean"  She said, "Santa's at mall."  She must have heard us talk about going because we hadn't seen Santa at the mall yet.  She wanted mom to sit with her, but she high-fived him at the end.  She didn't want tell Santa her wish list, but earlier she said she was going to ask for a new car.  And so it begins!

 

It's been a bit mind-boggling preparing for Christmas and baby this season, but we are getting excited for all.  

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends.  We are sad to miss all of the gatherings this year, but, as you can see, have a lot to be thankful this year.  Love to you all!!