Can I just say how much I love my husband? True, he can be somewhat of a pain in the butt sometimes, and we frequently disagree… but I just couldn’t imagine my life with anyone else. Even though I’m here visiting my family, it’s so nice to cuddle up in bed with him at the end of the day and whisper and giggle and talk. The best part of having a husband is just having someone who is always there – will always be there. He’s my second set of hands when I need something held, he’s my second set of eyes when I need another opinion. He’s my sounding board, my support system. And he rocks.

Christmas Eve is nearly upon us! How exciting! There was originally going to be 26 people at the Christmas Eve dinner, but the number has increased by 4 as some more of mom’s relatives showed up yesterday! It was supposed to take place here at my parent’s house, but after counting how many people were coming they decided to have it at her sister’s… they have a much larger entertaining space. I’m really looking forward to it this year. :) It’s been a while since I was able to come (three years ago was the last time), so I guess it’s been long enough for me to really miss it!

Pregnancy still going very well. Heartburn is frequent, so I’ve been popping Rolaids and Maalox chewables (should have gotten the liquid… now I know). I’m eating like a horse though. I’m snacking pretty constantly. Today sitting at the table before while mom cooked up some soup for dinner, I was snacking on celery and peanut butter, and she’s telling me what all she puts in the soup. I say between bites, “Can we have orange rice too??” She stared at me like I was an alien from outer space, and then laughed so hard she nearly fell over. She said she’s SO not used to me eating like this, she hardly knows who I am… and she finds it hilarious. (Umm, if you haven’t picked up on it, I have always been an extremely picky, light eater. Thus me being all of 105 lbs through highschool and college.)

Today we all went to the hobby/garden shop where my dad works so dad could show us around. It’s a pretty neat place! Lots of trains. Model trains is his big hobby… he works in the train section. I happen to be quite fond of trains myself… I never really thought it was more than normal, but Den laughs and says my eyes light up when I see a train, so I guess I’m more fond of them than I thought. Anyways, so dad and I have been talking about what to get Devin when he’s old enough. I’m quite excited to someday get him a neat set like I had as a kid. All Cory and I had was a small oval of track with two engines and a couple of cars, but we used to push that engine as fast as it could and still stay on the track until it went flipping off, rolling across the floor. (These are not small trains, about 4″ high and the locomotive was pretty heavy!) We’d howl and shriek with laughter and do it again.

So anyways, later today I was laying on my parents’ bed while they wrapped gifts on a table in their bedroom, just chatting away. I mentioned something about the baby moving around a lot, and my dad came over and put his hand up to my belly and said, “Think Lionel trains! Think Lionel trains!” Sure made me laugh. I really wasn’t sure dad was going to acknowledge my pregnant belly much at all, I know babies just aren’t his “thing” and he’s always been very… well, not un-enthused, that’s the wrong word. It’s not that he wasn’t happy for me to be pregnant, but my dad doesn’t get excited about much. When I told them I was pregnant he said, “Oh good.” That’s just how dad is. So for my dad to come up and talk to my belly? Craziness. But the good kind.

Even when I chat about my belly off-hand, like I go to lean forward to grab something and go “Oomph! Oops, can’t do that anymore…” My dad just chuckles and says, “I guess not!”

My mom is, of course, extremely thrilled that I am here, that I am pregnant, and that she is able to see the belly in person. She’s been stuffing me with food. I am hungry all the time so it’s a good thing, but she’s always asking me what else I want to eat. I’m going to gain 20lbs! lol But she is having a great time, and showing me off to everyone. She’s so proud! She’s going to be a fantastic grandmother. I really wish we lived closer. :( I’m trying to convince them to move to Ontario, but I highly doubt that would ever happen, especially with all of mom’s extended family around here. They’re so tied to this area in ways that I never was or could be, leaving would be extremely traumatic for them. So instead we’re just going to have to come up with transporters.

Jeez, Devin just kicked hard enough to shake my whole belly. He’s been so active tonight!