For Christmas this year we hosted James and Bonnie, Justin's brother and his wife who live in Georgia. They have a little boy just a few months older than Emmett, and those two hit it off! They had so much fun playing together. I have some really cute videos of these two playing together.
We had a Christmas miracle this year with snow beginning Christmas Eve and a white Christmas! We played in the snow the next day. We did some other activities with the Roses like going to the new Star Wars movie, playing wally-ball, going to a kid play zone, that kind of thing. On the 23rd we all got together for food and games and Justin's parent's house. Christmas Eve we hosted everyone and I made Mom's Christmas dinner (ham instead of turkey) and we did her program PLUS we do Christmas songs with chimes. Christmas day we went to Jon's house to open gifts and had Christmas breakfast. That night we opened our gifts for each other - I got Justin some home lifting weights which is perfect now that he's not going to the gym at his work every day, and I also got him a new outfit. Justin got me some new exercise shoes and a new phone. I switched to iphone and have really hated it but am more reluctant to go through the hassle of returning it than to deal with its inferiority to android **sorry not sorry apple lovers - you just don't know any better ;)
Somehow we managed to stay entertained for the week between Christmas and New Years - New Year's Day we went to Seattle and it was so beautiful and clear! I don't think I've ever been when it has been so pretty - the Olympics were to die for!
Justin has started his new business venture and is doing well. He is very busy, but I am loving our new life! I love that he doesn't get up AS early anymore - he still gets up early and I would normally love to get up early with him but man I am growing brains and lungs over here and I need my sleep! - and I love to take short breaks here and there with him to take Emmett to the park or go for a walk. I also love to leave the napping baby at home and go run errands! That part is pretty sweet. And it will be nice to have him home when baby boy comes in just 6 weeks (whaaat?!).
We decided to plan a trip to Idaho because with the Christmas season in December I was really missing my family. My niece had her farewell for her mission planned in January, so we booked our flights. We also booked the same hotel my parents stayed at so we could get some good quality time with them. Friday morning we BARELY made our flight. It was so stressful. We totally cheated and moved when we were half-way through general screening to pre-check and made it to our gate with just 4 minutes to spare before they closed the cabin door! I kept saying to Justin "We are not going to make it!" and I am usually the optimistic one - he even said he'd never seen me so stressed! Well we most certainly would not have made it if we hadn't used my "pregnancy privilege." Mitzi saved the day by meeting us for breakfast and kneaders that morning before Mom and Dad showed up. We had lunch with the Cannons plus Mom and Dad, then dinner that night with The Brats and Mom and Dad. I got to meet Keaton's little girl Violet and she is soooo cute and super chill. He is moving to Illinois for a new job so it was great to be able to see him and Amanda before we hardly will ever see them!
We flew home Saturday night because I had already booked my flight to Atlanta a couple of months before for Leadership. So after getting home at midnight, Justin (bless him) turned around the next morning at 3:30 to drive me back to the airport. It was a long day of traveling for me, but I got lots of extra sleep with the time change. Our conference went Monday-Wednesday. We ate at Pitty Pat's one night which had the most amazing ribs EVER, and James and Bonnie came in to Atlanta to have dinner with us the 2nd night. Wednesday everyone's flights were either canceled or delayed due to the weather, and I was grateful to be part of the crowd to just have a delayed flight. Getting through security was the craziest experience ever. They had lines all the way from the screening area, through the food court, and around the baggage claims. It was insane. After some stomach-churning turbulence, I was so grateful to finally be HOME! I came home to a sick baby however, and at 8:30 he had a fever of 104. Thankfully the medicine brought his temp down so I could go to sleep without worrying about taking him to the emergency room.
The one thing I love about long flights: lots of time to study/read. I was able to finish and start two books I got for Christmas by my favorite author John Maxwell.
So yes! Lots to update on. Baby boy's head is down as of last week, and I am having lots of contractions - way more this time around than what I remember with Emmett. My legs are also experiencing lots of pain similar to the pain I remember my legs having while I was in labor with Emmett ... so something wonky is going on with me because sometimes I can hardly walk. My guess is something is pushing up against a nerve somewhere because sometimes it only affects the top of my legs and other times it's shooting all the way down. Not fun! But other than that ... we are doing well and are so blessed and grateful to Heavenly Father for our amazing life!
