AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!

5 family functions, 1 friend function, and 1 cousin move and it's finally over!! The holidays that is. I HEART Christmas, but this season has seemed to have kicked my ass. Not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that I'm in the middle of my 2nd trimester or not, but Oh.My.God. By the end of Function #2 on Christmas Day, I was B.E.A.T. Then we had 1 more to go, and 2 more the next day!! Now I am dreading taking down all of the beautiful decorations it took us 2 days to put up!! Thankfully, I am off work the rest of the week (after tomorrow) so we can stretch it out a bit.

We did manage to move all of the Christmas boxes out of the baby's closet and into the close downstairs. Then move all the crap from the downstairs closet into the "blue room" closet. We gave the queen sized bed from the blue room to my cousin, then moved the furniture (that was previously my great-grandma's that I refinished) from baby's room to blue room... So now we only have 1 guest room and Peanut's room is empty and ready to be furnished! Speaking of furnishing, I think we are going to try and register this Friday or Saturday - Babies.R.Us. (or We.B.Babies as Dean calls it) and Wal.Mart. I really like Tar.get but have heard and read so many horror stories on their "new" return policy (even if you have a registry)....so no thanks. Wal.Mart returns anything, receipt or not, and there's always one close by! AAAHH. This means more decisions to be made before Friday. I think we have the basics picked out:

Apoligies.in.advance.for.all.the.periods.between.the.words.but.I.don't.like.when.my.bloggy.blog.is.one.of.the.first.things.returned.in.Google.searches.for.random.words!!

• Baby.Trend - Snap.N.Go. Stroller.Frame
• Chicco.Car.Seat (Brand might change, as this one doesn't have the cut out to allow to sit carrier in grocery cart. It has to go into the cart itself - thus less groceries will fit!)
• Chicco.Caddy.Hook.On.Chair - leaves a smaller footprint in the kitchen and it's portable!
• Babi.Italia.Pinehurst.Single.Dropside.Crib (Tea.Stain) - I need the drop because when the mattress goes all the way down, I don't think my shorty arms can reach! And we don't want one that converts all the way to a full.size.bed. because we want the kiddo to be able to pick out his/her own "cool kid" furniture!
• Glass.bottles - still TBD on the brand...I heard some good things about Dr.Brown's last week...

And that's it!!! EEK! That really isn't too many things to have picked out before we turn into Scanning.Machines!!! Anyone have a good recommendation on a stroller - non-travel system?

And last, but not least....there's a new item above the baby tickers....The Baby Artall Game!!

Enter your guess for the baby’s gender, weight, length, and birthday. The winner will get a prize!!

To participate, click the banner above or the URL is:

http://www.expectnet.com/games/BabyArtall1

or go to ExpectNet.com and enter BabyArtall1 as the game name in the space indicated on the home page.

We look forward to seeing all of your guesses!!!

Love,
Mamma and Daddy Artall

Merry Christmas with some photos....

Merry Christmas to all!! I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you all know how much I appreciate you thinking of and praying for us during our crazy journey this past year. We have come so far since this time last year. 4 IUI's and lots of pokes and prods later, we are on our way to having our very own little baby in just a few short months. I am so thankful for each and every one of you plus my friends and family IRL as well....

Here are a few photos I have been delayed in posting..

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!!

Andrew's 1st Birthday

CAKE BALLS!!!

Cousin's Graduation cake including a pair of crutches made out of gum paste - he broke his kneecap about a month ago...

It's an Engineering book with a grad cap on top!

A plate full of Christmas mice! My contribution to the Cookie Exchange party!

Isn't he adorable!!

And finally....me @ 22 weeks

And 23 weeks....not much change that I can really see.

Happy Friday Before Christmas!

• I am 3/4 of the way through with the Graduation cake that is needed for TONIGHT'S graduation party. EEK! The cake itself looks like a book with "Engineering" written on the binding, then supposed to be another small roundish cake (I used my Pampered.Chef.Batter.Bowl) that is the base of a grad cap, then the mortar board on top of that. Well my black fondant to covered said bottom of cap was waaaayy to dry. Partly because (in order to make it black) you can add some melted chocolate and some cocoa. Well I used up all my chocolate making cake.balls (YUM-O by the way) earlier in the week, so I only added cocoa. This made it brown and then I didn't have to add so much black color and make everyone's mouths black. So because of the dryness, it kept cracking and would not lay smooth on the cake. So I had to chunk it. Luckily I had leftover batter that I made cupcakes with. So when I get home I am putting those on instead, with the mortar board on top.
• Tomorrow is our Cookie/Beer.Exchange. Last year I hosted a cookie.exchange, but Dean asked me "what about the boys?" So I asked him what he wanted to exchange....well you know what he said!! Everyone loves the idea so I can't wait for the party. We have yet to go to the store to get all of our ingredients (we're doing appetizers too) but we'll be making a late night run somewhere tonight after the Grad Party.
• I'm off next week - WOOHOO! Last minute hair appointment on Monday (the roots are KILLING ME) and gift purchasing. Oh and more food preparing I am sure.
• I wish people would start commenting on my belly. They are now just starting to look at my belly, and then look at my face, and then look at my belly and I guess just assume I'm getting fat because they don't ask if I'm pregnant. I should be happy about that, but I am FINALLY really pregnant and I want the comments so badly! I guess its still a small bump so people might think I am just gaining weight, that and the fact that 'TIS THE SEASON for getting large and in charge with all those hoilday goodies, right?
• Oh and I took a belly pic this week, but camera-dora is at home and I have the USB cable in my purse. DOH! I'll post that and cake pics when I have a moment....

Have a good weekend!

Cake Wrecks Christmas Nightmares

I couldn't resist. I regularly follow this blog called Cake Wrecks, but today's post made me laugh out loud. Check it out: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/12/seasonal-non-sequiturs.html

Christmas Songs for the Disturbed - HA!

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....
6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look,.. a chicken! Can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

On another note, since Peanut has started moving around last week (where I could feel it at least) she hasn't stopped!!

Recent Pics and an Update

This is Dean and I at Grandma's 82nd birthday 2 weeks ago. She's not as talkative as she once was, but when she does, she's still quick as a whip!! Love you Grandma!

Our House - Christmas 2008....I need to take another. The lights inside aren't on and you can't see either of the 2 trees!

The finished Tinkerbell (one of them) and the cake....well this pic was last night. This morning, both this Tink and my backup Tink broke to pieces. I had to rush to Wal-Mart to find SOMETHING Tink to go on the cake...

And here's the replacement....So sad. I wanted my icing Tinks to work. Oh well. I guess I need to practice more. She's going on the circle cake. But a bonus...press that little lady bug and Tink's wings flutter!!

And last, but definitely not least.....I have finally fallen into the Land of Belly Pics. This is me, 21 weeks, 1 day,sporting my Christmas watch no less!! And a way too tight tank top. Good thing you can't see what I was seeing because the girls were all kinds of pouring out of there! I am hoping to keep wearing this shirt for the pics so you can really see the belly and how much smaller the shirt gets!!!

So before this morning's Tink Disaster, we had an awesome experience. After hitting snooze twice already, I was laying there and felt a little bump in my tummy. Then the bumps started back to back - like Peanut is in a marching band!! I told Dean I could feel him kicking and squirming around and then he felt it too! It was so awesome. The first time I felt it, was the first time he felt it! I couldn't believe how much she was moving around in there. Also, lots of people refer to the feeling as flutters or butterflies or gas bubbles. It reminded me of a muscle twitch - you know, like you get in your leg, arm, eyelid, etc. but it was on the inside! So awesome! I had to snooze it again so we could feel it longer. YEAH!

Christmas Funnies!

Christmas Ornament Exchange Update

For those of you who signed up for the Christmas Ornament Exchange, the names have been drawn and emails have been sent. Instead of me tracking down your addresses, I just sent you their email addys so you can contact them about their home address. I look forward to hearing about your wonderful ornaments and maybe a pic or 2!!!

Thanks Martha, Stefany, FamilyofTwo, DeLenn, and Sandra for participating!

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO!! What a ride!"

Have a great holiday season!

Christmas.Scattergories

SCATTERGORIES - it’s harder than it looks! Play here or let Callie know if you play on your blog. (note to those new to the game: these don’t have to be actual truths. If it helps- replace the word “you” in the questions & substitute it with “someone”.) Play on & use your imagination!

Use the first letter of the answer to the first question to come up with answers for the rest.

1. What is the name of your favorite Holiday themed song? I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - it's a stretch, but there are none!


2. Something on your wish list. kooky fondant letter cutters


3. Something you plan on baking. Rice Krispies in Wreath shapes - well it's not "baking" but still...


4. Something you plan on giving. Kind Kookies - also a stretch :-)


5. Something you plan on avoiding eating. Kelp ???


6. Something you plan on adding to the chorus of ‘12 Days of Christmas’. 1 Knowledgeable RE


7. Something you plan on returning/ re-gifting. Ketchup - someone did it last year @ our party!


8. Something you wish was stuffed into your stocking. Kisses


9. Some place you wish you could travel to this month. Kissimmee -it's warm!


10. Something you will decorate with. Kissing Mistletoe

I

CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Fun

Santa’s Day

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

So, frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquor.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"............

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree...

Christmas Spirit

To get us into the Christmas Spirit, here's a little Christmas Survey. Respond if you want or repost at will...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. Those presents are so much more fun to open!
2. Real tree or Artificial? well...I own 2 artificial trees. That doesn't necessarily mean that I PREFER them though.
3. When do you put up the tree? It's all I can do to wait until Thanksgiving is over. They are up now along with the inside and outside decorations!
4. When do you take the tree down? Around New Year's. It makes me sad to take it down. But I do get to leave up my 1 Frosty the Snowman nightlight in the kitchen YEAR ROUND!!
5. Do you like eggnog? LOVE IT! Had some while we decked the halls this weekend!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The slot car race track. Me and Dad raced the rest of Christmas Day!
7. Hardest person to buy for? Dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom and Dean
9. Do you have a nativity scene? no, but I really need/want one.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I thought I was going save time and just do the email thing, but I love Christmas cards too much to give it up though! And PICTURE cards at that. I have to send out picture cards this year of the baby bump, and then next year it will be because I have to send out baby’s 1st Christmas…even though Dean reminds me that I buy Christmas cards on sale every year and never send them. DUH – because everyone loves picture cards!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Don’t recall…
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Elf. I LOVE CHRISTMAS MOVIES.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I started last year, but somehow I’m still not done? But I only have a few left.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not yet, but I think I am this year. Only because I haven’t even opened it yet and I’ve had it for a year!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? puppy chow, sausage balls, cookies, candy. I LOVE Christmas food!
16. Lights on the tree? Of Course!
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silver Bells, White Christmas, Let It Snow. I HEART all Christmas music. The blog’s music has been updated too!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? You know it!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a star this year. Dean said the snowman head was a little too creepy.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Eve, the rest on Morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people don't call it CHRISTmas.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? No particular one. We try to buy an ornament everywhere we travel to, then I write the year on the back of them. Then when we decorate the tree, we get to reminisce over each ornament. This year we have so many “special” ornaments, we didn’t have to use the balls to fill in the space!
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? All the leftovers!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A digital photo frame and lots of cake stuff!

Christmas Ornament Exchange

Anyone interested in doing an ornament exchange with fellow bloggers?
I think it could be fun and I can always use a new ornament!
Here are the rules:
1. Nothing over $10.00
2. Cut off date for signing up is December 10th!
3. Leave a comment on this post with your email address. After December 10th, I’ll email everyone so we can send our home addresses (so they are not posted online!)
4. I’ll then do a random drawing and send out the assignments.
5. Have fun and enjoy!