Getting Ready for Baby!

The past couple weeks have been very fun! Yes, this means I've been neglecting some of the homework I'm desparately needing to complete...I've been too busy.

A couple weeks ago I hosted a baby shower for my friend Heather. In case I haven't mentioned it enough times-- we're due on the same day, with boys who we're already planning will be best friends. A week or two after Heather's party was my own baby shower given by my friends Toni and Pat and Pat (both Pat Kings). Where has time gone?

This weekend we FINALLY got the baby gifts put away, washed all the newborn clothes, put them all away, painted the metal stars for the wall decor, painted white frames for decorating the opposite wall, and got everything hung. Once everything was put away I even packed my bag for the hospital! I figured it's about time I do that. Overall it was a very productive weekend. However, somehow I'm still feeling overwhelmed at all that I still want to do before baby arrives but I know that if he came today I'd be ready enough to be fine.

I still hope to send thank you notes, wash all the bedding in the upstairs rooms and tidy and dust the downstairs rooms, along with washing that bedding as well. There are other projects I'd like to get to but they'll probably have to wait.

For Thanksgiving we're having the feast at our house. I love to do that! Shaun's parents will come over. They are now planning to bring a ham (and I'm sure a few side dishes as they always do). Shaun is planning to fry a turkey (YUMMY!). I'm planning to make most of my traditional side dishes, using my favorite recipes of course. I'll probably make my cranberry-nut salad, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy (Shaun usually makes the gravy), green bean casserole, my yummy homemade cornbread stuffing, and, uh, whatever else I usually make. I still need to get to the grocery store to buy ingredients for the cranberry-nut salad and the stuffing. I'm pretty sure we have everything else. Oh, and we need more potatoes.

Our friends the Hendrick family will be joining us as well. Michelle plans to make the pies and rolls (I can't wait!). The Kroll family may be joining us but we're not sure yet. I've told my friends that they are welcome to come early and help me make the sides. :) That's the best part of Thanksgiving- cooking together in the kitchen. If I don't die of exhaustion I'm going to LOVE that day. It's always one of my favorite days of the year.

After Thanksgiving I'll be hitting the books again, writing a 40-page paper, finishing a few shorter papers, and giving a presentation (which I've not yet prepared). Fun, Fun. I also have a couple final exams scheduled for next week...I hope to be done with this semester by the end of next week, unless our baby arrives sooner.


Here's a Happy Thanksgiving email I received:

BE SURE TO CLICK ON PUMPKIN PIE
AT THE END.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

"Click" on PUMPKIN PIE


I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving as much as we will. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!