"This is how I see you, in the snow on Christmas morning..." -Sarah McLachlan

So, I will follow on Borrego's cue of sharing her holiday decorating. I was inspired by her blog this morning to share what I have accomplished this past weekend!

This year, we opted for a more artistic tree (skinny 7.5 ft) as the nine-footer, full, pineconed tree we usually use was going to be a bit big for me to manage (Think of me climbing on a ladder 37 weeks pregnant= probably will fall, not to mention when would either Brian or I want to think about taking it down with Creighton here by then?!) So, I bought this little tree back in October when they went on sale and I am happy with it.  I will say that it can't really support many heavy ornaments, so it has become more of a woodland animal styled tree this year, and I think I will be looking for a few more lightweight bird ornaments to add to it!

Our little tree!

The squirrel I got from a sweet first grader named Halle years ago.  I LOVE this ornament!

Super cute pinecone hedgehog!

A little bitty cardinal

A pheasant for Brian b/c he loves to hunt them...

And my hooty owl up at the top!

I also put up the nativity set in the entryway:

I also put out the advent calendar that I finally found last season (I had been searching for a good one for a few years!)

And of course I had to add the Chirstmas Wreath to my wreath stand.  I did not make this holiday's wreath, instead, I purchased it at 40% off in early November from Michael's!

I really like the leaves!

So that's about it on holiday decorating at our house! I will do a centerpiece for the dining room table soon and I did add a sweet welcoming angel to the front porch, but it is too cold to go out and take a pic this morning!  I will have to update that at a later date!

The Belly!

So, I went with my great friend Kelly, who I teach with and who is also starting her own photography business to get some maternity shots.  We had such a great time!  Her sister-in-law Erin came along and helped (thank you for taking control of my clothing/hair when it was being funky!)  Brian came toward the end of the session and got in on a few shots!  All in all fabulous experience!  I highly reccomend using Kelly for your photography needs!  Here's her info: http://kellyrhodes2005.blogspot.com/ and her blog is on my list to the right as well!

Here's a few of the pics! (And you can see just how red my hair looked after the trip to the salon a few weeks ago!)  I'm 36 weeks pregnant in these pics!

I'm awake...again

Well, I am up at 4:00 am...again. I usually wake up about four as my hips cannot take being laid on anymore at that point...as of 3 or 4 nights ago!  I have been waking up at four to use the restroom (thank you pressure on bladder), but now it's like I have walk around a bit and get a drink or eat some oatmeal with pb.  I just read everything online about being in your 37th week of pregnancy b/c I officially am now!  Those sites make it sound like labor is just around the corner.  I mean, maybe in relation to the total amount of time spent pregnant it is, but, it sure doesn't feel like it!  I also read that you can expect to be 2 days to two weeks later than your due date! NOT what I wanted to hear!  One site said, "don't be surprised if you have a burst of energy, that's just your nesting kicking in...really- I've had that burst I'd say...I seriously was contemplating if I should go wrap Christmas gifts right now...really at 4:37 am? Maybe not!  I have done a TON of stuff around the house, and my to do list is getting shorter and shorter.  Brian really wanted me to pack my "go bag" last night, but alas it did not happen. I don't know what my hold up is, but I am just not inspired to pack it.  I will try to get there tonight...

Speaking of tonight, my Mom is coming to help me start to get ready for Thanksgiving!  I am so excited that my extended family is coming to our house this year!  Brian has almost finished the deck- read no stairs, but the rest is prettymuch done, and I have started to think of writing a list to the grocery store as well! I'm so glad we will get to see everyone so soon! I thought Thanksgiving would never come!  I'm also really looking forward to having my mom around for a few extra days! So great!

Ok, time to go attempt to sleep again.  From this point on, I usually wake up pretty frequently until I finally decide to give it up and just get ready for the day...perhaps this is prepping me for when Creighton needs to be fed...we'll see!

"Awww, Bless your heart hon." -Baylor Representative basically trying to sell me a husband

*Sirena recently posted a link to our Singletons of 211 community blog http://singletons211.blogspot.com/ that we started back around Senior year of college.  That would make it 2003/2004 when we started it.  This blog entry is one that I posted post-graduation when we were still keeping up with the blog from our various cities.  I sat down and read like oh the ENTIRE archived blog this evening and laughed outloud MANY times.  This post was just too funny...talk about PRESSURE to get married/couple up!

Posted by me on 10.24.2005

Actual convo. with a Baylor Representative
I had this phone converstion this past Sunday afternoon
Baylor rep: "Hi Laura, we're just calling to check in and see how life after college is going."

Me: Great :) Thanks for calling.

Baylor rep: So, are you still in the Austin Area, lets check your address

Me: Ok

- we check address/contact info, then oh so casually thrown in is the following:
Baylor rep: So are you still enjoying teaching?

me: yes, very much so, it's a great job

Baylor rep: Still with Leander ISD?

Me: yes, great district

Baylor rep: Are you still teaching first grade?

Me: I sure am

Baylor rep: So, have you had a chance to get married since you've graduated?

Me: No, I haven't (thinking in my head...wow they must do some sort of statistical average- % ring by spring, % first year after college, % post first year out)

Baylor rep: Aww, bless your heart

Me: stunned silence

Baylor rep: Well laura, we're putting together a directory for all of the recent baylor grads...blah blah blah, coffee table quality directory...blah, blah, only 69.99 if you act today...only twenty dollars more if you want the cd-rom to go with it...blah blah blah

Me: I don't really need a directory, but thanks so much for offering.

Baylor Rep: Well let me give you the number for when you change your mind.

I "copy down" the number

Baylor rep: So Laura, is this your only contact number

Me: yes

Baylor rep: Ok laura, so have you had a chance to get engaged yet?

(ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!! lol)

Me: No, I sure haven't

Baylor Rep: Oh, bless your heart hon. Well, you have the number

Me: yep, thanks, have a good day

Baylor Rep: you too hon, thanks now, bye.

Me: bye
So...they really must keep tabs...neat...sic 'em bears
lol, bundy

Hair cut

Time out- how could I leave this off the last post?  I got my hair cut and colored today.  I've been with a new gal since mine "no longer works at SASS" ie- I think she was fired :(  I've been to see my new gal 2 times.  The first time, she did not make my hair red enough in my opinion, but when I got home Brian LOVED it and it ended up being a great nutmeg/red tinged color.  I really enjoyed it! The second time I saw her I simply got my hair shaped up and she really listened about the layers I wanted and took care of it- I loved my hair!  Now, I went this morning for the third trip and told her- let's do exactly what we did last time on the color.  :)  I reminded her that we kept it more nutmeg than red.  I told her how much my husband liked my hair color last time, and how I ended up loving it!  I also asked her to take a bit more off of my hair length wise b/c I wouldn't be back until at least a few weeks after Creighton was born so I wanted to have some room to grow it out....yeah we agreed on an inch instead of the usual 1/2 inch.  Let me tell you...she took mroe than an inch.  :(  Boo.

I am hoping that tomorrow when I do it on my own and mess around with it that I will be happier with it, but I am just not sure how it is going to go.  Brian asked me why I keep going to her if she keeps not doing what I like.  I told him I am giving her a chance.  SHe told me today that if I still don't like my hair in a week to call her and she will fix the color for me- which I appreciate.  So, we'll see what happens.  It's just not the natural subtle shade of red I was going for...it's more Miranda on Sex and the City style red hair. SOmething my friend Borrego wanted me to try since college...so now it's accidentally been done. 

I did notice that an actual AVEDA hair salon is opening in Harker Heights and I just might have to move my hair care to that new establishment.  How I have missed my organic honey phomolient from Aveda.  They are my first love when it comes to hair products.  I'll post a pic of how the hair turns out tomorrow.  I don't even want to take a picture tonight.  You'll just have to look at the side shot of me with Daisy below for an idea of what it looks like now...

Daisy...

So...Daisy is excited about Creighton coming soon too! Tonight, she kept putting her paws on Creighton.  Not pushing, just placing them there. Brian and thought this was pretty funny.  A couple of times Creighton kicked or moved, but it didn't seem to phase Daisy.

Here she is checking out Creighton's crib...or perhaps she's after the cute teddy bear...

That's all, just wanted to share these cute pics!