Christmas in KY pt. 1

We have completed the first leg of our two leg Christmas journey. These aren't my photos- I stole them from Facebook- once I have my own I will post a few additional photos.

We had a nice restful stay at my dad's place. We were able to just relax and come and go as we please. On Christmas Eve we went to Central Park and looked at all the Christmas decorations- I have those pictures on my camera. It was a lot of fun. Jack ran around everywhere and had a great time. The only drawback was that it was so so windy- one of the wooden reindeer fell over and broke his leg. On Christmas Day we went to the movies, as we usually do when we are at my dad's, and Pete stayed behind to watch the two grandkids (Jack and Khloe). It gave him plenty of experience in dealing with an infant while managing Jack. I heard that it went well, he even got everyone to the Chinese restaurant for dinner that night. Thanks Pete. For Christmas Jack got some awesome toys!! He got some John Deere tractors, John Deere hat, John Deere tool belt, and a Home Depot tool truck that is pretty awesome. He was so so excited to get all of these new tractors and trucks! Oh, and on Christmas we heard the best homily ever, the Lithuanian priest at my dad's church apparently enjoys the Twilight series, he based his homily on New Moon. Pete does a wonderful impression of this- just ask sometime.






While we were there my niece was baptized. She looked very pretty and precious in her baptismal gown. She was so good and barely even cried when the water was poured on her head. Below are a few pictures of us after the baptism. I am glad that we were all able to be a part of her special day. Also, godfather Will did great too!

Our Christmas and other happenings

We've already celebrated our intimate little family Christmas. We thought it was pretty much a perfect day! It snowed all day- even though none of it stuck. We opened presents, played with them, had eggs and bacon, and then Jack and I took a nap while Pete went to study. When he got home we got to play with more toys and ordered Chinese food- the perfect Christmas meal!





I got a new water pitcher from Bybee Pottery. When we lived in Louisville this pottery store was right down the street from us, sadly when we moved here my water pitcher broke. I was so happy to get a new one. I also got a Garmin- now I can't stop singing the Give a Give a Garmin song. Pete got cribbage and a brand new cell phone. I think he was very surprised and pleased with the new cell phone! Jack got a few different things but the only presents he really seems to care about are the two matchbox cars that were in his stocking!!! Hahaha! I suppose that is how it goes. Since stockings were first it took a lot of effort to get him to even unwrap the presents under the tree.

In other news from around here: we finally know what is going on with our car. There was more damage done to it then we originally thought. They pretty much have to rebuild the whole back end of the car. It will be ready for us to pick up the beginning of January. We still think that we will buy a new car while we are in KY. We found one online that is what we are looking for and about $2,000 cheaper in KY-so we will at least check it out and see if the dealer still has it.

In Jack news it should be noted that the only music he will listen to is Billy Joel especially- It's Still Rock and Roll to Me. So family be prepared to have Billy Joel going on while we visit.

Just when I was trying to be stress free...

My goal for the rest of my pregnancy was to be as positive and stress free as possible. I knew I was dragging people down with all my complaining, but then that day there was an incident that has brought some stress back into our lives. However, I hope I am handling it well and putting it in perspective because it could have been far worse than it was and we were/are the least affected by it.

Pete went to study and parked our car on the street across from the coffee shop. After a bit there was all this commotion outside. It turns out that two young teenage boys stole a car from a bar parking lot and went for a joy ride. The cops began to pursue them and the boys began to disobey all traffic laws in order to flee from the police. This caused them to t-bone a couple's car at an intersection. The couple ended up hitting a cement pole of some sort and both were critically injured. The car the boys were in then began to flip and came to rest upside down on the trunk of our car. They were treated with minor injuries and are now in custody. Here is the news story- car wreck.

So obviously, we came out way ahead in the situation because Pete wasn't in the car and it was just the car. Still it is frustrating because now our car is not only wrecked( to what degree we don't know) but it is also in police custody since it is part of a crime scene. We haven't been told yet when we will get it back ( it could be 2 weeks- 6months)so at the moment we are carless. However, we are very lucky that we are surrounded by so many kind people. There is a couple in the math department with two cars, so they loaned us one of their cars for the week to get stuff done. How amazingly generous of them! It has been helpful because we needed groceries, to do laundry, finish a few Christmas things up, go to appts., and get a new car seat for Jack. What a wonderful blessing to have them offer. Then we had another great family offer a car seat for a few days. This has been another wonderful gift because to run all these errands with no car seat would be impossible. So thank you Tate family for the car seat!!

We have a voucher for a free car seat from the Transportation Department, but after calling numerous times and getting in touch with no one, I finally called the number for the state wide program. Turns out the number on the voucher is the wrong number. So luckily, we figured it out and tomorrow Jack gets a new car seat.

We have plans over Christmas to visit family and again so many people have been so generous to us. The Allen's offered us the use of their car for the whole trip- which is unbelievably kind but something we just didn't feel comfortable doing. My sister offered to drive here and pick us up and my other sister offered to drive us halfway to our next destination which is so so kind as well. However, I think we will be going with the renting a car option that my wonderful in-laws offered. It is truly great to see so much kindness.

After the Christmas season we will just buy a new car so that we have reliable transportation since Big Baby will be making his appearance in a couple months. We were planning on buying a new car anyway, but this just makes it more needed.

Even though Jack was not part of this crash and did not see it or the car he has been somewhat traumatized. When he learned that we didn't have a car and that he didn't have a car seat he was very confused. Pete then decided to re-enact it with his matchbox cars. Jack has been obsessed with doing the same thing ever since then. He either does it with the matchbox cars as well or he uses the green push car and his John Deere. The first night we had the borrowed car Pete had to go some place, and Jack just completely broke down. He cried and cried and told Pete not to take the car. He told him that he could walk or take the bus but not to take the car. I had no idea it would bother him so much. He ended up sleeping in our room that night because any time he was alone he would just cry.

This is Jack's take on the situation now that it has all calmed down some:
Hello people: our trunk is bumped and my car seat got in a wreck. We are borrowing a jeep.

I think that about sums it up.

Taking time to de-stress

I have looked back over the last month and realized I have been stressed and pretty negative in my outlook. It is time to snap out of it and enjoy the Christmas season. I need to take a lesson from Matthew 11:28-30- "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Jack and I have gone to the library and discovered a few new favorites- at least for now:
Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Red Light, Green Light by Margaret Wise Brown
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

Today we have been watching these children's Christmas movies since it is very cold-
A WowieBOZowee Christmas
The Very First Noel
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Frosty the Snowman

We made slow-cooking some habanero chili and are about to make some peanut butter cookies and perhaps hot chocolate.

Jack is in love with our Christmas tree. The first thing he does every morning is plug it in and as soon as we get home he plugs it in. At night he just stares at it and says that it is awesome.

Last weekend I was able to have a few friends over to watch a movie and this weekend Pete and I get to go out together, so we are excited about that. I hope I don't feel too rushed since a friend is watching Jack while we are gone( it was very nice of him to agree to do it.) We don't often have people watch Jack, so it always stresses me out a little because I feel like we should hurry back. However, I am looking forward to our night out.

family pictures and random stuff

We had family pictures taken and here are a few we like.
















In other news:
I met with the diabetic people and got my monitor and very own set of "pee sticks". I had some sort of reaction to my shot last week, so we will see if it happens again or if it was one time deal. I am in my third trimester, and feeling pretty good overall.

Pete was awarded a research grant by the faculty. This means that they are going to pay him to do research next semester, and no teaching, grading, or office hours will be involved! It is not through his adviser, which means, someone at school thinks he is pretty smart- I tend to agree. Plus on a completely selfish note- it will be great to have him accessible for doctor's appts. and the actual birth of Big Baby.

Jack is Jack-- still making up words, singing songs, hiding in 'caves', reading books, exploring, and emulating daddy more and more everyday. We are having a pretty good time right now.