The twenty-third has come and gone. Christmas, also, come and gone. Today I am five days over my due date and it feels like a cruel joke. I’m convinced I’m never going to give birth and couldn’t feel more discouraged. When my water broke a week early the first time around it was an unexpected surprise, now I’m sitting around waiting for something, anything to happen. Don’t get me wrong I was thrilled to be home for Christmas but now we’re going on four days past that and I’m ready to get on with it. I’m sure I’ve gained at least five pounds in the last week alone. I’m turning into a blueberry like Veruca Salt or maybe more like a butter-cream filled chocolate. I’ve been hauling my ever growing ass out of the house to walk around, like everyone says I should, but still, nothing. The other thing is, it’s kinda scary. I’m thinking to myself ‘Why isn’t she coming out?’ I cannot wait to feel the relief. The relief of the huge weight out of my belly and the relief of knowing my baby is happy and healthy.

Today I go to the doctor for my weekly and if I haven’t dilated at all I’ll probably cry. I need to hear something that tells me this baby is coming out soon. Ideally the doctor would say I could be induced…today! That would be music to my ears. I need to move on from this stage. Lola is dragging her feet big time. Wish me luck!

This is the wreath I made for our front door. I got a fake wreath and weaved in some sticks and moss. Then I adorned the wreath with bright flowers and butterflies.

Our tree is a rainbow.

I was hellbent on making a topiary from scratch and came up with this design. The tree trunks are sticks from our yard and I got multiple burns from my glue gun making the felt mushrooms.

This is our lovely holiday place setting. My mom let me borrow her silver and gold plate chargers.

I stole this idea from Allison. A string of christmas lights can dress up any table!!

I can’t help it…I love this.

[Via TMZ]

Today is my due date. Still no baby. Lola this is your mother speaking ‘You better just stay put until after Christmas little missy’. According to my doctors visit on Monday I still had made no progress in the dilation department. She was pretty confidant that I would be giving birth in the not so immediate future. We made yet another appointment for next week and scheduled a forty-one week sonogram to check whatever they need to check at forty-one weeks, amniotic fluid or something. At this point I’m just glad that it’s looking like I probably won’t be in the hospital on Christmas. Besides all that we’ve been having fun in the snow and I’m keeping busy on the couch watching chick flicks and romantic comedies. Today we are bringing home the class Guinea Pig to watch for the holidays and Fritz is gearing up for Santa. Our home feels comfy, cozy and full of holiday cheer. Merry Christmas ya’ll!!!

So far we haven’t yet encountered any imaginary monsters or spooky guys that hide in the closet. Fritz seems to be a no fear kinda kid and when he does see something that is ’scary’ he just let’s us know ‘Yea. That’s scary’ in an animated kind of way. I’m assuming the day will eventually come when he sees something shocking on TV or conjures up a fantasy in his head and totally freaks out, so it’s great to know that this Monster Repellent spray from Fairytale Wishes is available. Their credo is ‘…A new naturally derived aromatherapy line that is designed for parents to help their kids get through common childhood anxieties.’ Genius! Fairytale Wishes also offers Sweet Dreams Spray, Super Hero Spray and Happy Camper Spray. Monster Repellent Spray available at Psyco Baby, $10.

Anyone having trouble with monsters under the bed yet? What age? What are you doing to soothe the situation?

Yesterday I was watching A Baby Story on TLC and saw something that no one who is about to give birth any minute wants to see. On the episode that aired yesterday a woman was giving birth to her second child, a boy. She was a trouper and I was identifying with her experience. She got the epidural and when It came time to push it only took a few grunts to get the baby out. I sat there envying her and hoping my second birth would go that quickly. There was the head, then the whole little squirmy package. When you’re about to go through this experience you find this moment sweet, joyous and comforting for any woman and I cry every time a baby pops out and is laid upon it’s mothers breast. Que the tears. They had Mom meet baby and she was overjoyed. The nurses then swept him away to be weighed and measured. Next they put the little guy in a bassinet and the cameras pan to Dad meeting his new baby boy. All of a sudden the look on his face went a little cold and then he confessed into the camera that he saw something that wasn’t right. The camera lays it’s lens upon the baby’s right hand, there were only nubs for fingers. The baby had his thumb but no fingers. Dad was the first to notice. The nurse brought the baby over to the mother and showed her the hand. They told her it was going to be ok. The baby’s hand had probably been resting in the same spot on her uterus for too long and the fingers didn’t develop properly. Something in my stomach dropped. It was devastating to watch a mother have to see and hear news like this after giving birth. My mood went from thrilled to be watching a show about what I am about to experience to utter fear about that experience.

I completely understand that there are a million worse things that can be wrong with a baby upon it’s arrival. It’s the fear you live with while being pregnant. But there it was, a family who had perfect sonograms and had no idea their child would have such a deformity upon coming into the world. It really freaked me out. I woke in the middle of the night thinking about it and couldn’t sleep. When you have a baby you want a perfect life for them. Their pain is your pain, from the moment they are born, forever and always.

What I saw yesterday is a reality. I’m nervous now. I want to see my little girl and know that everything is ok. I want her to be healthy and beautiful. I want to feel the relief of having her in my arms. I want to her her cry. I want to see her face and all her little parts. I want to get on with this and I don’t think I’ll be watching any more baby shows…ever again. That was a dose of reality I really didn’t need to see right now.

If you’re a fan don’t sleep on the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Christmas Special, it’s fucking bananas. If you’re not a fan go get all the episodes on iTunes stat and become one. Here’s a little fun fact for you: Did you know that Charlie and the waitress are an item in real life, as are Sweet D and Mack. Your welcome.

Here is our gingerbread house. We made is from a kit, Wilton’s Gingerbread House Kit to be exact. We got it a Michael’s. It was super fun to put together and a fantastic activity for a toddler. I’d slip him a little taste of icing ever so often and the construction and decorating of the house kept meltdowns at bay. Our snow is made of cotton. Fritz loves showing off his creation to holiday visitors and every once in a while I catch him licking it. Is it just me or does he look a tad bit elfin in this photo? Fitting.

Great stocking stuffer for ______ ???? [Via Etsy]