A Christmas Tree!

So I haven't put up our Christmas Tree or any decorations for the past two years. Just been too busy or too lazy, I guess. 

Ben had a day off yesterday and we decided to get the tree out and decorate it since we were both home. Chloie helped us put it all together (meaning, she took the branches I had laid out of the floor and put them back into the box when I wasn't looking. Then when we asked where they all went she'd say "I dunno!") Such a good helper!

We put the lights on and plugged it in {Chloie's reaction "Whoa! It's Hots!"} Then she helped me put on the ornaments [Which she calls "da Balls"]. She is now obsessed with the tree!

It's nice to see her excited about it. I don't think she understands why we have a tree in our house but she's enjoying it.

I'm excited to see her open her presents on Christmas morning this year. Last year she wasn't really into it. 

I'll admit, with my due date being so close to Christmas I've been worried that her Christmas would be ruined but Ben offered to do the Christmas Shopping if the baby comes early, to be santa and make Christmas fun for Chloie even if I'm in the hospital. Which make me feel a ton better! And honestly I think he's excited to go buy toys for Chloie.

Here's a few pictures of our tree and a few decorations!

 Chloie saying "Whoa ma! It's a twee!"

She touches the lights and says "ouch it's Hots" 

and the last of the decorations, I'm still working on making my wreath. :)

Thanksgiving 2012 and Month 9

Our Thanksgiving was really laid-back and fun this year. It was the first year for my family that we didn't go to a grandparents house or have half of our extended family with us (not that we didn't want them to come). It was just us, my parents, siblings and nieces. Small but nice. I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do, pregnancy brain... but I got a couple with Chloie and Jayce at least. 

Jay was sliding across the kitchen floor on his skate board and Chloie decided to join him. It was pretty funny.

Then Jay decided to play dress up with Chloie.... This is what happens when your 9yr old uncle wants to play dress up... :) 

Then we went to have dinner with Ben's family, once again a nice small group of people. :) Ben had to leave right after he ate to go to the fire station for the night. But Chloie and I stayed for a little while. 

Chloie danced and sang with her grandma. 

 She fake cried a little bit every now and then... just because. :)

 Then, being about as graceful as her mommy, she somehow went from twirling around the front room to chipping her tooth on the computer stand by the TV. :( 

  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with your families as well!

And I just had to add this one last picture of Chloie, I was cleaning the house this morning and found her on the floor in front on the tv with my shirt around her waist like a skirt, sucking her thumb, and surrounded by her various stuffed animals watching Aladin. She is just too cute sometimes, for those of you who had to endure crying, screaming, angry yelling Chloie yesterday I'm sure you can understand why I had to take a picture of her like this today. :) The little moments of cuteness really do help make up for the hours of orneriness. I love her!

Onto the NINTH month!

We have 3 weeks and 4 days left until this next little girl is due! YIKES!

I am now officially nervous! I'm gonna be a mommy of two in a month! Less then a month... :S

I am also VERY VERY EXCITED :) I will no longer be pregnant in a month (insert happy dance here!)

and I will have two cute girls to snuggle with, two bums to change (not exactly what I wanted but... oh well Chloie's just not ready for the potty :( ), two little girls who will most likely be snuggling in to bed between Ben and I often, two little girls to play with, two little girls to dress, to feed, to love, and to tickle! I seriously cannot wait! THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER! :) (assuming she doesn't come late, in which case it could be a very uncomfortable Christmas... ha)

We are now at the point where we are going to Doctor every week, which is the best cause it makes the last few weeks go by so much quicker! I have been measuring about two weeks ahead up until this week and I have now stopped growing. I measured 35 1/2 weeks three weeks ago and as of last week I am measuring 34 weeks... odd, huh? but I guess it happens. My doctor said that the braxton hicks contractions I've been having this past week might actually be early labor which could be why I "shrunk" and he says that I've probably topped out and I most likely won't get any bigger even though the baby will continue to grow. ( I think that if he hadn't also been my mom's doctor he wouldn't be as laid back about me not gaining weight and not measuring bigger then 34 weeks... thank goodness he dealt with my abnormal mom :) )

I have been trying VERY hard to enjoy this pregnancy, I LOATHED being pregnant the last time (probably because I wasn't ready for it, gotta love surprises!) So I'm focusing on all the good things this time around, being that it will most likely be my last (babies are expensive, I dislike being pregnant, and Ben and I are more then okay just having two girls), and I am trying to just be grateful that I have been lucky enough to be able to have kids. :)

So here are my positives: I didn't start showing for awhile (which was nice), I haven't been sick, my clothes still fit (a little tight but still do-able), I haven't been overly exhausted, only a couple "mood swing" moments, all in all I've felt pretty normal though out this pregnancy. I'm just starting to get uncomfortable and I only get heart burn when I'm trying to clean or picking Chloie up.. haha. And Ben has been really sweet and interested in this pregnancy which has made it a lot easier on me. :)

So minus the hip pain and back aches and the pregnancy induced carpal tunnel syndrome this pregnancy has been great! :)

And since I probably won't get much bigger this is the last picture I'm taking of myself until after Baby #2 is here. :)

36 1/2 weeks pregnant. 

Learning Lessons

Lately Chloie has been throwing these temper tantrums when ever I have to do anything for myself... like shower, do my hair, eat, go to the bathroom, clean the house, really anything that takes my attention away from her. It's starting to worry me, especially with only 4 weeks and 6 days til my due date.

I have tried ignoring, consoling, time outs, and even bribing her with otter pops to get her to calm down, but she just gets more angry the more I try.

 The other day she slammed her bed room door and tore her room apart, bed unmade, clothes, and books thrown every where. So I sat outside her room and waited  for the yelling and crashing to stop then opened to door to find one very sad little girl. She came RUNNING over to me and tried to hug me. I decided to try something I haven't before, I said "not until you help me clean up." ( I usually just hug her and clean up after her) She said ok and started putting her socks back into their box and put her pillows back on her bed and books up on the shelf. Then when she was done putting all the clothes back in to the boxes she turned to me and said "pwease" so I helped her put the boxes back into the cubby. 

Once everything was done she climbed into my lap and hugged me. 

Then, with out being told to, she said "I sorry".

My little girl, who isn't even two yet, said sorry not because mommy told her to but because she was sorry.

She then said sorry to her bed and to her boxes and to her books and even to her sister's crib (which I'm guessing got attacked at one point during the tantrum).

So even though I felt like the MEANEST mom ever, I actually feel like she learned a lesson and so did I.

Watching her pick up her mess made me realize that I don't have to do everything for her, she is getting so big so fast that I think doing everything for her made me feel like I could keep her little for just a big longer, she can pick up her own messes. And at this point with another baby coming so soon I think it's time I start letting Chloie be responsible for some little things around the house. I don't want her to feel left out when the baby gets here. She is attached to my hip 24/7, she still needs me so I need to start showing her that I need her too.

So we've been working on helping mom make the beds in the morning, brushing her own teeth (I still help a little with that one but can ya blame me?) :) , putting away her toys when she is done, and helping mom in the kitchen. She LOVES to help, it seems to make her happy. We haven't had a tantrum in couple days and it is SO NICE! She doesn't freak out every time I have to do something for myself as long as I give her a job to do.

 I was so proud of her for picking up her room all by herself with out whining I had to take pictures to show her daddy.