Christmas morning

Will and I have said that this is the first season we really feel like parents at Christmas time. We have a kid who is anticipating Christmas day. She doesn't really get it all, but there is definitely lots of anticipation there. She is slowly learning the Christmas story of Jesus and His Birth. And she is still trying to figure out all the details of Santa. To try to make even Santa be a reminder of Jesus, we said Santa would bring her 3 presents, just like the Wise Men brought Jesus three presents. The above is what our tree looked like Christmas morning. Anna-Kate saw that Santa ate her cookies and then said, "Santa want more?" She has asked me that a few more times since then too! We showed her the full stockings and presents. She said, "Ooohhh!" Then walked away, like she didn't realize she could open them right away.

We carried everything over to the couch so this pregnant, excited momma could be more comfortable.

This was the face that Will got when asked how excited she was about Santa's presents.

Anna-Kate reached into her stocking and first pulled out a candy cane, and said, "Wow!" Gotta love the enthusiasm over the small things!

She definitely enjoyed opening her presents, but...

...this was our reminder to not go overboard with presents for a 2 year old (and she only had 7 total to open). She opened all but the last 2 presents from mommy and daddy, and decided she was ready to play with her presents instead of keep opening new ones.

Will felt like this was a rite of passage too: Daddy getting out the pocket knife to help open and put together his kid's new toy!

After about 10 minutes of playing, we were able to convince AK to open her last two presents.

Then it was back to playing with her toys. I was excited about this gift. She has seen us take pictures for her life, so lately she's started saying, "I need my own camera." This is a Fisher Price we stumbled upon that looks like a camera but has a view finder with 24 different pictures of real animals. We wondered if she would get it. Uumm, this picture says not really.

But, she surprised us and figured it out!

"Daddy, do you see the toucans?!"

I admit; I loved all the excitement this season!! I loved taking AK to the Christmas Eve service at church and watch her try to sing along to carols like "Away in a Manger" and "Joy to the World." I loved hiding presents. I loved shopping for things that I thought she would enjoy. I loved seeing her excitement and wonder in those first moments of Christmas morning. I loved hearing her say "Happy Birthday Jesus!"

And, I loved that when she has been asked, "what did Santa bring you?" Her answer has consistently been, "I got a new cat." Yes, a $1, 1-inch tall, wind up toy that was randomly bought for her stocking.

a Simmons Christmas

We had a Miller Christmas the weekend before. We had a Simmons Christmas the weekend of. Once again I get no pictures of the food. Amazing food! (probably better to hide the evidence so no ob in my life can see what I ate!) 2 days of eating: turkey, dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, broccoli, bread, and lots of desserts. So good!

2 days of hanging out; the grandkids eating up the attention from their Oma and Opa! Evelyn is taking the seat that was always AK's favorite at that age.
I love the way our nephews eat up attention from Uncle Will! Balancing a book, coffee and 2 toddlers - that's talent!

Oma and Opa spoiling all of us!

By now, AK has opened presents with my family and Santa's. She is quite the expert at showing excitement for the sweet gifts she received!

Simmons, I loved our weekend together!! Can't wait to do it again!

our Christmas card to you

Merry Christmas!

We hope you are enjoying this season of fun sights, yummy treats, and songs of Christ!!

Remembering the reason for the season

And
the angel
said to them,
"Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news
of great joy that will be
for all the people. Today
in the town of David a Savior
has been born to you; he is Christ
the Lord!"
Luke 2:10-11

a Student Quote

With my pregnancy with Anna-Kate, I taught until 8 days before my due date. One of the most fun parts of the pregnancy were the student quotes. Like, these. Since Anna-Kate was born, I have tutored one or two nights a week. This school year, I tutor 2 nights a week, 2 hours each night, 5 boys total. Tonight I got my first student quotable quote of the year.

"Mrs. Simmons, are you due over our break?"
No. I am due Jan 30. I should be able to work with you through your first test after the new year.
"Whoa! Can you really get any bigger?"
Yes, I will get even bigger than this.

Don't you love the candor of 17 year olds?! I do chuckle at these comments (including even the basketball comments of last week :).

P.S. I need to mark this on my calendar. 34 weeks means Cankles are here! Swollen legs begin and end my day. Luckily they are only sore at the end of the day.

a Christmas story and a basketball

Anna-Kate has enjoyed the books that only come out at Christmas time. We have read them so much to her that now she can "read" them to us quite well! Since Will and I are both readers, we love seeing her love of books!
"Grinch doesn't like Christmas.... I like Christmas!!" But, typical toddler, she does not always like eating her supper. This night the Grinch won over supper.

And, I include the next picture, because last week was the week for "you carrying a basketball or a baby," as well as, "looks like your basketball is about to fall out," or ... fill in the blank with any other basketball-belly comment. When I saw this picture, I had to give in. Okay, that is one stinkin' round belly!

a Miller Christmas

What a great weekend with my family! We did our Miller Christmas for the first time in Raleigh this year, and it was a blast! Of course, look at this crew...
...how could we not have fun?! I love my family!

My brother worked the first part of the day, so my parents, sister, and my family of 3 went to the Science Museum. It was a nice, different way to spend a few hours. We all had a great time! Anna-Kate loved it! (Though my camera did a really bad job of pictures, so won't post those.) Will was the popular one, though, when a butterfly landed on his head and stayed there for a couple minutes!

I should have taken a picture of our Christmas dinner. It was soooo yummy! My sister-in-law and I treated my mom to not cooking. So, she and I double-teamed supper. A roast with a tomato-parsley sauce, mashed gruyere potatoes, roasted green beans, baked apples with cranberry, and baklava for dessert! I am hungry again as I type this!

It was finally time to open presents! It took Anna-Kate no time at all to decide that she likes this part of Christmas!

She became quite the ham, laughing and talking about her presents as well as everyone else's. Do you see the nice little stash already building behind her?!

Thanks for spoiling us, family!

Anna-Kate, save some of those giggles grins; we've got round 2 next weekend!

32 Weeks

32 Weeks! We are under 8 weeks 'til this little guy's due appearance! I can not believe we are really to this point in the countdown. Here are some random facts since my last pregnancy post:

- Apparently weeks 29-32 have been the projects week. I am bound and determined that Christmas and my birthday will be enjoyed without huge get-ready-for-baby things still hanging over our head. Will installed shelves in AK's bedroom closet to help organize her closet which allows cleaning out the nursery's closet. We ordered his car seat online yesterday and bought his sheets last night. (Super cute jungle-themed sheets! Fun having a boy!) I have finally started piecing together the top for B's quilt. Maybe, maybe, hopefully, maybe it will be finished before January ends.

- B's mobility is fun right now. He likes to use my hip bones as monkey bars and push his foot under my ribs. I still have decent energy until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Then the major pregnant sway/ lumbering walk really sets in.

- I have taken seriously the borderline gestational diabetes. So, I am watching my carbs and sweets. I still eat them, but not nearly as often. I definitely miss my grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch. They have been replaced with salads and soups. Lots of apples, carrots, and nuts for snacks. I ate ice cream for the first time in more than a month and oooh, it tasted good! I am hoping these dietary modifications are actually helpful and not just to drive me crazy! (I may have been indulging more than I realized. With just cutting back -not cutting out- my carbs/sweets, I have lost half a pound in 4 weeks instead of gaining. Of course, ladies, you know that means that I am now worrying that my baby is not getting big enough. Crazy pregnant woman!)

- For you Atrium girls, I have to say....I love our new doctor!! Dr. Breazeale is wonderful! Will called when the appt was over to check on his girl and baby boy, and I think the first 3 minutes I just kept saying, "I love my ob!" He helped encourage me through my fears of giving birth to Rex Hospital's next 14 pound baby. Easy bedside manner, encouraging a slightly nervous pregO woman, ... my favorite qualities in my o.b.

New Enjoyment

Anna-Kate has a new love... ...coloring!

Anna-Kate has enjoyed bringing out the coloring books. If she is on her own, she scribbles on at least 12 pages in 8 minutes. If we are coloring with her, she starts to concentrate and color (or scribble smaller) with more focus. How fun is it to watch Will concentrate on coloring a picture of Cinderella?!

Little Creek Ranch, Take 2

I have to brag again! Will, Anna-Kate, and I went back to Little Creek Ranch (remember our excursion in the hurricane) with a couple friends of ours. The meat we had from our first visit is long gone! and it was delicious! About 55 min to an hour drive from here, it was well worth the drive for that yummy, wonderful quality beef. Once again I recommend it for anyone that is looking for local, grassfed beef.

http://www.littlecreekranchnc.com/OurRanch.aspx

We are also so impressed by their hospitality while there. Here is our adventure yesterday:

We got out of the car, greeted by their two dogs. Anna-Kate said, "That's my dog!" about the black and white dog. We took care of getting the meat first. AK kept saying, "I need to see the chickens." They let AK have a fresh egg, straight from the chicken house. She did not put that egg down the rest of our adventure.

Mrs. Teague offered to take us into the pasture to see the baby calves. From Oct to Nov, more than a hundred calves were born! The five of us got in the back of her truck and rode into the pasture. Look at the grin on AK's face; can you tell she thought this was the coolest way to ride?!
We got to see Mommy cows...

...and the so-cute baby calves!

Looking at this picture, aaaahh, doesn't it make you want to do something out of the ordinary and special for your child every day?!! I can not get enough of that amazing and sincere smile!

When we got back to where our cars were parked, Anna-Kate said, "where is the daddy cow? I need to see him.......I want to pet him."

Daddy gets to help make that dream happen. Of course, once she is close to the daddy cow (ahem, large bull), she is not nearly as brave as her demands imply.

Can't wait to start cooking our beefy recipes! and always look forward to our next visit to the farm!