Christmas Traditions 2010

I know I kind of missed Christmas but I wanted to document a few highlights from this past year. 

We love our wood stove and our amy-knit stockings.

Miss McKinley loves Rick.  They were matching this day.

Rick surprised me with early Christmas decor using our dying IKEA tree.

Our "real" Christmas tree that we picked up and decorated on X-Mas eve, our new family tradition.

Christmas Eve also included wrapping presents, eating chinese food, and making mudd pies...mmmM.

Week 26 going on 27.

I haven't updated for quite some time.  I have a couple blogs I hope to post soon about my trip back to the East coast and this year's New Year's Resolutions.  However, I felt like I needed to make a quick update to document the growth which has been steep lately.  My last prenatal appointment was around 20 weeks.  Seven weeks went by before we returned to see our midwife.  At 20 weeks I had only gained 8 pounds which included some wait I regained after losing some in the beginning.  Weight gain was slow.  Well over the holidays, I may have munched on some extra treats but I also felt as if all of a sudden my stomach and baby grew.  Even in the last week I have noticed the movement of the baby changing a great deal.  It is obvious it is getting tighter in there for him.  So needless to say, my weight went up considerably in the last 7 weeks.  It was a quite shocking.  However, my coworker who documented her entire pregnancy read me an excerpt from her 25th week.  She said she all of a sudden felt huge this week.  This put me at ease some realizing I am in the real growing period. 

According to books and website info, the baby would be around 2 pounds at this point and about 14.5 inches long from head to toe.  Now for the picture update.  Notice Rick running out of the room.  I try and strategically place him in pictures and he just isn't having it.

And he's running for it...

thankful on Christmas eve

I have missed quite a few days of thankful posts but some it up here is what has been on my mind a lot...
I am extremely grateful for my husband. He loves me so well and listens well to what my needs are. He also is a really good gift giver.
I am thankful for new friends in Oregon. They are so generous and I feel blessed they consider me their friend.
I am excited and thankful for friends and family back east that I get to see very soon. They are the best because even though we are apart a lot these days, I know nothing will have changed when I get home. Can't wait to see everyone.
I am thankful and extremely blessed for my Oregon and Washington family. Both dodgie And ricks family have loved me too well. I would be a lot more homesick if it wasn't for them.

Merry Christmas!

Little Bruinwear

 My Intern gave me a pretty sweet Christmas present.  She said she couldn't resist when she saw these items in the George Fox bookstore.  Apparently, he will be a bruin. 

"Little Bruin" bottle

I think this is my favorite. 12-18 month fleece jacket.

 

10 days until Christmas

I am thankful for friends and making cookies.

Week 24 and baby sized goods

I am entering my 24th week this week and feel like I am continuing to grow.  I have officially crossed over to the land I have never been before - I weigh more than I have before (at least to my knowledge).  The baby weighs at least 1 pound by this point.  He is starting to move a lot and you can now see it from the outside which is fun.  I am starting to learn his pattern of when he is alseep/inactive and when he is up and moving.  A look at my growth (I forgot that the sign would be mirrored):

With four months left, I am starting to think about what we will need.  Well, I guess I have been thinking about this for a while but it is hitting me now that 4 months is not that long of a time.  We have a small pile of baby goods and I wanted to share a few:

The .50 cent hat I bought when we found out we were pregnant.

Our good friend and Mom of Lissa (Forbes) - Shelley Stuewe gave these to us.  Thanks!

I am preparing for next winter I guess...a little big but I couldn't resist. 

Our good friend Sonya gave this congrats gift to us. I love it!

I just like toys. 

I know a couple of folks have asked about our registry.  I have mostly finished our registry but it is very flexible and fluid.  If you are interested in seeing the list you can find it alternativegiftregistry.org and search for "Christine McNeal."

15, 14, 13 and 12 Days Until Christmas

I obviously got a bit behind over the weekend.  I still am thankful for a lot.  Here are some thoughts on the weekend.

Friday - I am thankful for rest.  I sleep a lot more these days and I am very thankful when the weekend comes and I get to sleep a little bit more.

Saturday - I am thankful for celebration.  We went to the GFU employee celebration where we got to eat all kinds of yummy food and hang out with friends.  This may be my favorite time of year!

Sunday - I am thankful for our church especially how supportive everyone is of Rick (and me).  I appreciate our Pastor and everyone else's support of Rick's desire to lead worship.  They have allowed him an amazing opportunity and have really been such an encouragement to both of us through their unending support.

Monday - I am thankful for Rick's creativity and ability to love me according to my love languages.  We made a deal which will probably be revealed on one of our blogs sometime soon.  The deal involved Rick giving me 1 gift for all 25 days of Christmas.  I am very thankful for his thoughtfulness as well as simply getting a gift everyday.  I can't say I don't enjoy it.