Merry Christmas! What a day it has been. I am always so happy to be in Minnesota over the holidays. This year has been the hardest I have ever had. I miss my mom and hate that she wasn't here for this. If this were a temporary situation I think I would be able to comprehend the enormity it, but the fact that I will never see her again in this lifetime is something I can't seem to wrap my head around. Matthew had a great Christmas, he got some wonderful toys and even a snowmobile. January and I cooked breakfast, well, I hovered and followed orders. Biscuits and gravy seems so simple, yet it will probably be years before any of us master it. My pregnancy is progressing without much incident, no more morning sickness for the most part.  I am ultra sensitive to smells right now though. Most people are saying girl,  I even got pink baby stuff for Christmas. I say girl too, but the truth is, I don't care. For every reason I can think of that I want a girl I can think of a reason why I want a boy. We'll have to see in mid January. I am very excited to find out.

Traveling with a toddler

Traveling with a toddler, what can I say? I try to pay attention to the controversy about whether children should be aloud to fly and I really believe the people who don't want children on planes at all are nuts. Don't get me wrong, I hate having the back of my seat kicked as much as the next person, but they are still human beings, and they still have rights. I have learned a few tricks to make the trip easier, and I ALWAYS try to sit towards the back of the plane.  I really hope my son never becomes one of the nightmare stories I read on travel websites. People do need to keep in mind that some parents are concerned and don't want to disrupt other peoples flights, we also can't help when our flight is delayed and we end up with an overtired toddler. Really, I feel like crying after 5 hours in an airport. How can we expect our little ones to feel any different?

12-13

Well, Matthews hand, foot and mouth thing WAS getting better, now his fever is rising and he isnt getting much to drink. 1 week until we leave for MN. I sure hope he feels better soon. I have had no time to work on Christmas gifts or packing for our trip or to put the house on the market. At least I am getting out of the 1st trimester. Hopefully the nausea will go away completely. I am looking forward to Christmas but I am so not prepared this year. Hopefully the Christmas cards I ordered will come on Monday so I can get those done.