Kickin' off the Season

I loooove this time of year!  This year has been especially fun already because a) I'm not working so I can enjoy it and b) Westin is into it too :).  I have all sorts of plans of things I want to do and know there's no way it will all get squeezed in to the next few weeks!  That's okay.  

In my mind, Christmas starts with Thanksgiving.  Some people seem to be very offended by that, thinking that Thanksgiving is too overshadowed by Christmas.  I, however, think it's great-- what a better way to start off the "holidays" than by focusing on what we're thankful for?  The day before Thanksgiving we got to "see" our new baby and hear it's fast, tiny little heartbeat for the first time.  I was immediately thankful for a strong heartbeat and another active little baby!  It's still amazing to me how such a small little person that we haven't even met yet can be so very loved.

On that note, I never did get to finish by "new baby post" last week!  Here's the reader's digest version: 
* I'm due June 16 (currently 12 weeks along)
* If I'm guessing, I'm guessing it's a girl-- just because everything has already been so different! Disclaimer: my entire life is different, which could be the actual reason :)
* Yes, we have agreed on names.  It's a lot easier the second time around!
* I was silly enough to take a pregnancy test while Kreg was on a 2-hour flight.  Longest two hours of my life :)
* We are using a midwife this time around and planning a home birth.  I am SO very excited! And already love my midwife.
* It was Kreg's idea to have another summer baby :) I would have waited for a winter one. Ha! Now of course, I think it's perfect and can't wait for June.

Okay, back to Christmas! We spent Thanksgiving at my parents' house with all of my mom's side of the family, Kreg's cousin Tiffany & her husband, Todd, our Chiropractor and his wife, and a friend of my sister, Kortney's.  It was a full house with all the yummy foods I look forward to every year! Of course, after the meal was cleaned up we attacked the Black Friday ads and planned out our course of action! We nearly went to Toys R Us at 10pm that night but there was no way I was going to make it... after heading up there Friday, I'm sure glad we decided not to!

We started our Black Friday shopping just before 6am... a little late, I know, but I took my 18-month-old :) Pulled him right out of bed, didn't even comb his hair!  He did fantastic-- we spent 12 hours shopping (and made a great big dent in our Christmas lists) and he lasted the whole time, with catnaps here and there.  

 Westin & Chief... about 6 am at Walmart

 No, my dad is not selling my son for $58

 Westin & Daddy... still trekin' that afternoon

 Still enjoying his new book from Mimi

Mimi bought him a book to keep him entertained at Kohl's and he entertained everyone at Kohl's with his little dance :) I tried several times to upload the video of it, but it's not cooperating with me-- oh, well!

Westin loved the tree last year, mainly he loved playing with the ribbons and watching the lights.  This year, he was very active in helping Kreg set it up and putting his ornaments on the tree.  The trouble is getting him to LEAVE his ornaments on the tree!  We're still working on that.

He loves Santa, whom he calls "Ho-Ho" and can spot one a mile away!  I don't think he quite understands what all this excitement is building up to, but he will :) And it's going to be AWESOME! In the mean time, I'm enjoying all the fun little traditions with him that I remember being so excited about when I was little.  Yes, the cliche, it makes me feel like a kid again-- hehe :)


I hope you all are enjoying your traditions with your sweet families and keeping in mind all the things that you are thankful for!