So, anyway, because of all this sickness, we missed two gatherings with extended family. We were, however, able to make it to my mom and dad’s on Christmas Eve and to Steve’s parents on Christmas Day. (I did sound real great coughing the whole time, though!)

One thing about this Christmas, though, that really makes me smile, is that I know we’re loved. Not because people got us presents (I can do without those, really) but because those people that bought those presents really took the time to listen to what we wanted or might want and took the time to find those things. For example, my sister-in-law got me some dish and kitchen towels. I know that sounds funny, but I ASKED for those. Seriously. It’s one of the things I listed when she asked what I wanted. I really needed some and always forget to buy them myself! :) She also got me some earrings and a matching necklace and even with that she apparently had listened to me the one time I mentioned that I like blue and brown together.

So things like that really make it all the more special, you know?

I don’t usually like to spell out all the things we got for gifts and I’m still not going to list everything, but I wanted to say that I hit the mother lode with my gift card from my parents LOL. Due to sales I was able to snag two (plain color) maternity shirts, three pairs of awesome undies (heehee), two pairs of earrings, and a suede purse! Well, I went $15 over my gift card but that’s not bad. Also took a stop at Motherhood Maternity and grabbed three shirts on sale there one of which I absolutely absolutely love and it fits me great. The others fit me, too, but you get the idea. I really need maternity clothes, last time around all my friends loaned me stuff and some stuff did a disappearing act to other people (long stories) so I only have two pairs of maternity jeans left and those don’t even fit anymore. I more than I wanted to on those three shirts at Motherhood, though, but I really am in need of clothing. One article I thought the tag read $9.99 (they were all clearance) but it was really $19.99 but by that point I was sold, ha.

We also ended up with 3 gift cards to Walmart and while we hate that place, who’s not going to use a gift card? We got ourselves, for the most part, a blood pressure machine. I know that sounds nutty for people our age, but with my pregnancy with Elijah I had high blood pressure and that ended up to basically bed rest and then him being brought forth 3 and a half weeks early. This time I’m going to keep a much better eye on all of it. Not to mention I think Steve is kinda borderline — he’s ok now but wants to keep an eye on it and keep it where it should be.

Some other instances of people listening to us include my brother who got me A Christmas Story on DVD (which is awesome because Steve hates that movie and that I make him watch it lol), my in-laws got me a chronological Bible and got Steve socks (my mother-in-law laughed but that’s what Steve wanted!), etc. Heehee. We’re easy to please! :)

But Elijah… oh, boy, that kid made out like a bandit! Toys, toys, toys. And only one article of clothing: a coat from my in-laws. That little butt, though, kept saying for weeks that he didn’t want clothes for Christmas and I kept telling him it doesn’t matter what you get, you are happy and you say thank you. Of course he threw a fit when he opened it. I was so embarrassed but I think everyone understands that he’s a kid and in that absolutely selfish and rude stage (that some people never get out of). But he got so many new toys, oy! So hopefully he’ll be plenty of distracted for many months to come (at least until his birthday, haha).

He was also kinda mad today when I bought him four pairs of jeans at K-Mart instead of toys! But can I help it if all his jeans are starting to get holey in the knees and these were mucho on sale??
Oh one gift my in-laws got him isn’t really a toy but it’s totally cool and he loves it. It’s a floor puzzle, 2 feet by 3 feet (big pieces) of the solar system. On the reverse side, it’s a drawing of, I think the same image (maybe slightly different) and he can color it with crayons and then wipe it off and do it again!

Anyway, we all know STUFF doesn’t really mean anything in the long haul and that it’s certainly not the point of Christmas, but boy is it fun. :-)

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Eh?

These took all of five minutes, by the way. Despite looks, he was only being about 40% cooperative, too. I didn’t get the location I wanted either, wanted to use the big rock wall at the cemetery but people were there doing landscaping and I didn’t want to get in the way even though I don’t think they were working where I wanted to shoot. Ah well. These little steps were off the sidewalk at a local bed and breakfast with a nice garden, so we went for it!