Santa...we know him!!!!!!

We went to San Francisco and met with Jace for our annual cousins visit to Santa. Gia asked again this year for Hot Chocolate. Getting two toddlers (Gia is still a toddler to me) is more difficult than one would expect. Santa looks pretty good from this angle. Up close? He wears Uggs and is a serious long term smoker. But his beard is real. Really, really, really, real.

Christmas frenzy.

Gia and I have been feverishly baking, creating and caroling.  I am thrilled it is Christmas time.  Exhausted, but thrilled.

New York City.

A few weeks ago, Ralph and I dropped off our ever growing football (the G, we decided to keep Baby T with us on this trip- simply for logistical reasons) off in Houston and after a delicious but comical (think two old people singing Kenny Rogers- Michael Bolton style in a smoky Mexican restaurant) dinner with my parents and the G boarded a plane and headed to the Big Apple.

Originally we were going to Miami. But seriously, who wants to see the backside of a thirty some odd week pregnant woman. Certainly not the thirty some odd week pregnant woman. So we went to NYC. Where in theory you can wear leggings and tights and scarfs and coats.

We stayed in two separate places on Wall Street and they both had awesomeness. If you are looking for the most amazing experience go to the Hotel Andez. If you want some chilling views of Ground Zero, head the the Millennium.

We walked the Brooklyn Bridge, ate, ate and ate some more. Watched a fight at Jay-Z's club, had lunch with dear friends and discovered Eataly.

Don't ever go to the 40-40 club to be wowed. RT wants to have a bromance with Jay-Z and made sure preggers had a place to sit.

View from our second hotel room. Creepy beyond belief. I just kept thinking about what the occupant on 9.11 must have been thinking.

Walking to Eataly. It was such an amazing day. The weather was unseasonably warm, sunny and delicious.

Brianne and I. It was such a treat to connect. We have not seen each other since our wedding. CRAZY. It can not be that long until our next meeting.

Next year we plan on tossing the Baby T football and taking Miss G to NYC for her first time. I think she can hack it. The city that never sleeps seems like it is her kind of town.

Teacher gifts.



Ridiculously fast and easy.

 Gia has some super fantastic teachers.  Some of them are serious saints.  SAINTS I tell you.  I wanted to do something fun but when there are six you don't want to break the bank.  So what can you give six ladies that have constant patients with my precious but often boisterous, never naps four year old?  Something that can provide them downtime. 

I have seen lots of "organic milk baths" on etsy.  After some internetting I found a few recipes and gave it a go.  Here is the recipe that I used:

• 1 cup corn starch
• 2 cups milk powder
• 1/2 cup baking soda (increase if your water is hard)
• 1/2 cup finely ground oatmeal
• Optional
• 1/2 cup dried rose petals, lavender or rosemary, and/or a few drops of matching essential oils.

1. Process oatmeal in the blender until finely ground. Add milk powder and process until well mixed.
2. Pour into a bowl, add corn starch and baking soda, mixing all ingredients very well.
3. Grind herbs finely with a mortar and pestle (RIGHT- like that is going to happen), or in the blender, and stir into the powdered mixture. If desired, add a few drops of essential oil and mix well.
4. Add three tablespoons (or more, if you like) to your next bath to soothe your soul and soften your skin.

Then I put in a canning jar and added a tag.  Placed it all in a basket with a box of tea and some home made treats (also super simple and fast) and viola!  Teacher gifts checked off the list.

All done while finishing wrapping the presents, mailing the presents, having my Christmas cards mailed (thank you Hallmark) and submitting four proposals to prospects. 

Nesting?  Yep, I think so.

Advent mania.

This year I am trying to help Gia understand that Christmas is about giving and not just getting. I swiped this idea from the amazing Laura Mayes. She rocks.

The supplies were easy enough. I went to the Dollar Tree and grabbed some pre made envelopes, angel cut outs, kelly green grogain ribbon and double sided tape.

Then comes the hard part- thinking of all the simple things that we can do to put the giving back to our community and world. All in all it has been a great project. Gia loves the calendar and we are really enjoying the season of giving. My only gripe....my double sided tape does not seem to be sticking. On the upside- it is not ripping the paint off my pantry door.

UGG's for U-G-L-Y.

Now I must admit that I have owned two pairs of UGG boots, a pair of UGG clogs and a pair of UGG flip flops. The boots are now gone (one I gave to my mother and the other I am not sure what happened to them) the clogs I gave away and the flip flops I wore until they fell apart.

I think UGGS are precious on little girls. I covet a pair of slippers and the ballet flat that they currently have on the market. But I must say there is a serious truth to the "elephant foot" description.

This kind PSA just stopped me from making another purchase of UGG boots. My swollen extremities were begging for them but I have been realigned in my rightful thinking. Now for the ballet flats....not so much.

Weight checks.

I have this theory that when you are pregnant and go in for your first appointment that when you step on the scale it should read zero.

Then every appointment there after you are given a number up from that. Giving you a total for amount gained.

If you are a masochist or something you can feel free to look at the real number at any given number on any other scale in the universe. Otherwise, you can just have a number....say 20. 20 is so much more bearable than that daunting number.

Everyone here is healthy. Everyone is right on schedule. And the number would be much more digestible as 20 vs.....oh please. I am not posting that on the internets.