So Christmas came and went, it was by far the weirdest Christmas I've ever had and it doesn't even feel like Christmas is already over. I knew Matt had to work this Christmas all year long so I tried to prepared myself and scheduled me to work, but it still didn't feel like Christmas. But that's all in the past and now I get to look forward to next year....I can't believe this was our last holiday as a family of two! It warms my heart to know next year we'll have a little one to share the day with....and oh my gosh can't imagine the amount of gifts this little one will have under the tree. It's no understatement to say that this will be one SPOILED little baby!

Speaking of the baby, we had our first ultrasound on December 9....here's some if his/her first pictures:

I know, not much to see but still so amazing to see and hear that flickering heartbeat on the monitor. I didn't cry, which surprised me, but of course my entourage did. Yup, it was me, Matt, my mom (aka Gammy), Jessica, and Courtney (along with the nurse practitioner and nurse) in this tiny little dark room. But it was great and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

My pregnancy has been absolutely amazing, no morning sickness/nausea/vomiting. I was so tired the first few weeks, but I attribute some of that to my body adjusting to not being on my Adderall. I'd say the most difficult part of this journey thus far has been dealing with my eczema, since I can't use the prescribed steroids to treat it. The worst body site imaginable has been the toughest for me to deal with -my nipples/breasts (...yes sorry for those whom I just offended, but if so you might not want to follow my blog b/c I don't hold much back!) And the nurse practitioner's suggestion to help it...lay out in your backyard topless. You kidding me? I know we're in Texas and all but that's just not feasible lady! I'm just hoping I can get this under control before D-Day because I plan on nursing and don't want this to stand in the way!

The "big" sonogram where we will find out the sex (so I can start buying all these amazingly adorable outfits I keep finding) is February 16...... I keep checking my "Days Until..." app, which says 50 days till "Boy or Girl?" I had a dream that it's a boy, no not the first dream which was about the twin boys and a triplet sister! Matt of course wants a boy and wants nothing to do with talking about it being a little girl. But I know if it is she will have him wrapped around her little finger just like we did with my daddy! So he's naming a little boy and I am naming a little girl...that's what we've worked out thus far!

Gammy (my mom) gave us a video camera for Christmas and will get to try it out on our ski trip to Red River we've had planned all year, or should I say Matt's ski trip and my watch trip! We're going Matt's youngest brother and his gf, his parents, and their friends. The NP suggested I not ski at all and one of the OBGYN's I talked to at work said if I am going to do any skiing, to stay on the bunny hills and to just take it easy. I haven't made up my mind what I'll do, keeping in mind we do ski every year. In fact we ski so often we own our own skis/boots/poles. While I'm no Picabo Street, I am a fairly good skier and might fall only once during a 3 day ski, partly b/c I don't allow myself to get that fast or out of control. But I go for my next appointment the day before we leave (Jan 6), so I'm going to check with my doctor and see what she says. I'll have no problems with sipping hot cocoa and shopping if she nixes the skiing!

Ok, well my fingers hurt and I'm sure your eyes do too! Until next time...thanks for reading!

~Steph