Here is a picture of me taken yesterday. I am 37 weeks now! Almost to the finish line. I have found that having a baby due on Christmas Day certainly rearranges your holiday plans. I am definitely a planner and like to have things all laid out, but this year we have no definite plans. Everything is up in the air depending on when little man decides to make his arrival. This is helping me be more flexible and go with the flow :) I am scheduled for my c-section on December 21st so we have no plans to go anywhere Christmas which is fine with me. We have planned some get togethers early and said if we make it then we make it and if not oh well!We also aren't decorating the house this year :( I was bummed out at first, but the thought of putting up a tree and keeping Danika away from it and then having to take it down while recovering from a c-section and trying to adjust to having a new baby in the house just seemed like way too much work. So I gave myself a pass on the decorating this year and now I am glad to have one less thing on my list of things to do! I love having a tree up and decorating but my least favorite part is putting it all away so now I don't have to worry about it.
I also usually make tons of different kinds of cookies, but this year I am only making a few favorites. I expect we will get some cookie plates from friends and family when they come to see the baby too :)
The holidays may be completely different around here this year, but that is okay because we will have a new addition to the family! I have learned that being flexible and really considering what is important helps to cut down on the stress of everything. It is okay not to put up a tree and to skip baking cookies. It is being with your family and enjoying each other that is most important!
I will keep you updated on baby! We will see if he decides to make an early arrival or not :) If you are pregnant (and even if you aren't) give yourself a pass this year and do what makes you happy! Sometimes we find the things that make us happiest aren't what we thought they were to begin with.
12 comments:
Working in retail my entire life we planned to have our first baby (which turned out to be twins) around 4th quarter so I could have the holidays off- it was total chaos! There were so many days I would have rather been at work than dealing with the endless parade of out of town family, not to mention the flood of parties and gatherings that are required. We couldn't establish any sort of schedule (December 26th we had 17 feedings in one day- insanity!)and we were both at our wits end by January. I think summer babies will be on the horizon for me in the future! We also had no decorations up and our gifts all went into what my husband lovingly referred to as the "tannen-box". This year they boys have a lovely tree to look at. Good luck!
CONGRATULATIONS!
our little one is tentatively due right after the new year ushers in. we're adopting domestically, and will be out-of-state for 2 weeks after birth.
so i'm glad to know someone else is passing on Christmas decorations. it feels so weird not having anything up, but when i think of the madness/chaos/sleeplessness that will ensue after we return and with baby's arrival, i did not want to deal with putting everything away too.
ENJOY your decoration-free holiday!
Wishing you a happy, healthy little baby boy and how sweet to have a lo so close to Christmas.
Congrats!!
Early congrats to your entire family. I'm glad you gave yourself a break and didn't decorate with tons of stuff you'll have to take down when recovering from the C-section. You'll have your hands full enough with the little ones.
HUgs to you & your family during this doliday time! good luck with everything. We have an 9 month old that is in to everything and we will be traveling back home (Ohio & Indiana) for the week of christmas. I LOVE decorating for the holidays but have decided that it isnt worth it this year. We will get back to it next year when she is a little older and there is a little less of the chance of her knocking down a real tree!! for this year we will just let her enjoy everyone else' tree LOL
and BTW you look sooo cute all prego :o)
Mine was born 12/20. My heart goes out to you, as it will never be easy. One thing I always struggled with was separating Christmas and Birthday. I read somewhere it is important for the child not to mix the two, and I agree. But you end up having to throw up Birthday decorations in the middle of Xmas decorations and it's an odd mix. Then it all has to come down pretty quickly so you can get on with Christmas. I always had a special bulletin board (which I put on the floor when he was little) where I put his Birthday cards, and I left that up for a while so he could continue to enjoy being a year older before that special feeling was eclipsed by Christmas hubbub. The one good thing is, when your child is school age, you can have the birthday party that week after Christmas when the kids are off of school, and bored. Sometimes we even did it in January, well after Christmas. Forget about having a full fledged party on 12/21. No one will come. Just make it the immediate family party day, nice and simple. Don't regret any shortcuts you take this year (or hereafter). Grab as many opportunities to make life easier that you can get! Good Luck.
I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only mommy not putting up my tree this year! I also worried about separating his Birthday and Christmas. I feel bad for him already! I love all of your tips and support! Keep them coming! :)
-Sarah
Congratulations Sarah! I didn't know you were pregnant. You are so right about giving yourself a break, and what's really important. I think we get ourselves worked up pretty easily and feel pressure to perform, and place demands on ourselves that we really don't have to. Here's to everyone making it through, and enjoying the Holidays! Cheers!
Courtney
Sarah- Congrats on your little one on the way! I was due January 3,08...but our little guy came into the world on December 24th, 07. He will be 2 this year!!!
It was the first year I wasn't with the other kids for Christmas morning. I thought it would be hectic, but we made sure everyone knew the new baby came first. And everyone was wonderful.
We decorate for Christmas, but on Christmas Eve morning, we put up birthday decorations all over. This way Tater knows it's his day, not just the day before Christmas. I wish you a healthy baby and an easy birth experience. Happy Holidays!
Rebecca
Our oldest daughter was born on the 22nd, a few weeks earlier than expected, so while it was nice to be nursing her late at night by the light of the Christmas tree, it was certainly a headache to put decorations away. Good choice to pass this year. Some cinnamon candles or some balsam room spray might help trick your brain into thinking you've decorated too! Best wishes for a smooth birth!
Well you definitely deserve a break from decorating, I think you'd be hard to find any mom who would disagree :) You look amazing, hope all goes well with the delivery and can't wait for the next update.
You look great ! Take care of yourself because there will be plenty to do once your beautiful baby boy arrives!!
Happy Holidays
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