Oh What a Christmas : aka The Longest Blog Ever!♦

Yes, it was a pretty amazing Christmas this year. Ken and I got the most amazing gift, the news we were expecting another little one. I am due September 1st, 2009, so Ariel will have just turned 3, so its a nice age gap. I am loving the new ticker, hee. Baby!!!!

Here are the details, I started feeling off and decided to take a pregnancy test. I got a light positive, and was around 9 days past ovulation when looking at my chart, so still 5 days till my period was due. That was very much the same way I found out I was pregnant with Ariel, a very light test that Ken didn't believe was a positive, haha. This time, rather than tell Ken, I wanted to surprise him. I didn't get that opportunity with Ariel because I was so excited that I was finally pregnant. So over the following days I kept testing, getting darker and darker lines. Then last Friday, Ken got home late from his work party, and I played the video I made that was in the previous post. Needless to say he was surprised and THRILLED! He was shocked I managed to keep it a secret, sometimes I surprise myself too.


Then came the big decision, do we tell or wait till Christmas. Well, it was just too close to the big day, so we waited and it was so worth it. I can tell you I am glad its out, I can't stand keeping it a secret. Yes, we are not ones to wait the 12 weeks. My view is, if something 'heaven forbid' happens, I don't want to suffer alone, especially with something so heartbreaking. Thats just me, everyone is different, but both Ken and I felt this was the right decision, as it was with Ariel.

How do I feel? Well, so far tired, sore and a bit nauseous. My morning sickness didn't kick in with Ariel until 7 weeks, so we shall see if that happens again. I started craving OJ, and I am allergic to it. Sure enough I am drinking it every morning, with no side effects, the same way I did with Ariel. Crazy, apparently my allergies disappear when I am pregnant. I will enjoy this, since I think this may be my last baby. I won't get to see my doctor until January 6th because of the holidays, and then she will refer me to my baby doctor that I had last time. Works out well since they usually don't want to see you until 8 weeks anyways. Woot! We also will be finding out if the baby is a boy or girl again. I get too anxious not knowing and I would like to keep my blood pressure normal, haha.

Ok, lets get back to Christmas! The snow continued to fall this week and come Christmas eve I was worried if we would be able to drive and get to our service at church. Thankfully after I took a walk out in it, I saw the roads were pretty good on the main drag, so we would have no problem, yay!

In the afternoon, Ariel helped me bake a birthday cake for Jesus, a tradition I am starting. She was so excited to help and even had to wear her apron. Too cute!


When finished, we sang happy birthday and had a slice. Blowing out the candles is always fun!


Ariel surprised us by singing along, and when I tried to tape her did pretty good but forgot a line, which actually was pretty funny.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

When it was time to head to church, we left early since we had to get the scans of the pictures for the story on the computer and test them. I got a few pictures of our little princess in her pretty dress. She even wore her special cross that her Aunty Trudy gave her when she born. Such a little angel.


She was also glad to see Aunty Kara who was there early to practice her dance. Then Ariel proved there is no such thing as a tired girl who missed her nap. She ran around until the service started and then Ken had to take her to the nursery to play since she was too hyper. Gack!


The service was BEAUTIFUL! Simply lovely and so special, the worship team really did a great job. The story was a hit and Gayle and Roy were thrilled with the illustrations we did. We made our way home, in the falling snow. Sadly our annual drive around town to look at Christmas lights didn't happen, couldn't chance getting stuck in the snow filled side roads, oh well.

We got home and I prepared 2 warm dips to snack on while watching Christmas specials. Ariel went to bed (sort of, she didn't fall asleep until we came up at 11pm) and I played Santa putting out the gifts under the tree and stuffing the stockings. The tree looked so pretty in the darkness, glowing away.


Looks like Ariel got an overstuffed stocking again this year. Actually, I hung extra little things that I was too tired to wrap up, haha.


The next morning we were up at 6am bright and early... the snow was still falling. We had our online video chat with Ken's family back in Michigan. Ariel got into unwrapping presents pretty quickly haha.


Ariel got some lovely gifts, an American Girl Bitty Baby doll with stroller, a HUGE HIT, can you tell? A Mickey Mouse story reader, also a hit, she loves Mickey! Also some cool board books and a beautiful outfit (will get a picture of her in it soon!) Ken and I got a flip video with a tripod, so cool! Will be handy when we have the new baby, Ken won't have to haul the video camera around. After all the presents were opened we shared our news about the baby, and everyone was very happy! Whee!


We said goodbye and then called Ken's dad who was at his Aunt's place. Had a nice chat then let Ariel open her stocking. She was loving the chocolate inside, the dance ribbon which she had to use right away and all the other little surprises. Daddy tried out the flip video while she was busy checking everything out.


Then she got to have a gift from under the tree while we waited for the family to arrive. The Mr Potato head parts I got in Disneyland were awesome, she loved them and it kept her busy until Mike and Jo arrived at 9am.


By far the CUTEST picture ever of Ariel with her Aunty Jo and Uncle Mike. I love it!!!


Dad and Rita arrived bringing Nana and Papa. The present opening then started once everyone had their coffee. Haha. Ken was ready with the flip video for when Nana opened the card. We kept it on the down low so it didn't seem like anything important. Haha. Check out the awesome moment when Nana read the card about her gift. (We got her and Papa the next season of Matlock on DVD but it wasn't coming till next month, so I had to make up a card telling them that... and added our news as well).

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

After all the announcements were made and the last gift was opened we relaxed and ate breakfast. Ariel was loving the overnight sticky buns, yummy!


We all got some lovely gifts, Ariel got a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Tinkerbell Movie dvds, big lego blocks, clothes and some cool little toys. She spent a good time with her new blocks from Grandpa and Rita (which were the one I saw at the consignment store and told them about. Such a great set - and a real bargain compared to the ones in the store).


I got a new piece of Cranberry Pottery and some Christmas money from Dad and Rita, Momma Mia dvd from Mike and Jo, an Old Navy gift card from Nana and Papa (which will be great when I need to get some maternity clothes, and a beautiful new bracelet that I had been eying at Fancy This Gifts since summer and earrings that match my favorite necklace I wear all the time from Ken. Speaking of Ken, my hubby got lots of dvds, Prince Caspian from Mike and Jo, Wall-E from Dad and Rita (along with some coffee and Christmas money) and SNL season 2 and Donald Duck vol. 4 from me. He also got a Starbucks card from Nana and Papa, so he was pumped, my coffee boy. Haha.

Dad and Rita took Nana and Papa home and went to start cooking the Christmas dinner at their place. Mike and Jo hung out for a bit with us which was really nice. Mike was on hand to help us with our computer when it started not wanting to reboot all the way through. Turns out if our webcam is plugged in during the reboot, it won't work. CRAZY! So we need to remember that, but its going to be hard to forget since its caused so much grief and stress that morning. I hate computer issues.

When Mike and Jo left to head to Jo's parents place, we stayed in our pjs and cleaned up the house. At 3pm we drove over to Dad and Rita's so Ariel could get another sled ride. She wasn't so thrilled this time, most likely because the road was more bumpy this time and snow kept getting in the sled.


Ariel was eager for turkey... she is never late for dinner that's for sure! Dinner was really yummy and I took full advantage of eating for 2 by having 2 very full helpings of turkey goodness. Oh I was soooooooo full and skipped dessert... but it was worth it. I love turkey, and I am glad I was able to enjoy it because I remember I couldn't eat it once I was well into my pregnancy with Ariel.


Ariel is still a little small for the paper hats, and eventually were all shredded to pieces anyways.


When we headed home we nearly got stuck on the unplowed street in front of the house. Thankfully our snow tires are awesome and good driving on Ken's part got us free and home safely. Thus, it ended our amazing Christmas Day.

Boxing day was very mellow. We all slept in till 10am, didn't go shopping, but watched the snow fall ALL DAY AGAIN! Yes, it seems to keep coming, and I am hoping it doesn't ruin plans I have for dinner out with Dianne and Robyn on Sunday night. Eek! We then got word in the afternoon that my cousin Kyle popped the question to his girlfriend Lindsay on Christmas Eve! I got to chat with Kyle briefly online and the wedding is planned for 2010 in the summer. Congrats you guys! We are so happy for you both. Well, if you are still reading, you get a prize! That was a long post, but I hope it was entertaining and fun.