NaBloPoMo

Apparently, Liam decided that sleep was a very, very bad thing last night.? Why?? I honestly don’t know.? I think a little bit of gas was in play, which led to some discomfort.? Which, obviously, leads to screaming bloody murder.? I, for the record, had no issue with sleep.? In fact, I was gleefully anticipating sleep.? I wanted it and needed it.? About 10 last night, I started to fade fast, having a hard time holding my eyes open, etc.? I had to pump at 11 though, so I held on.? So once I could finally (FINALLY) go to bed last night, I hoped for sleep to the fullest.

Not exactly what I got.

Pretty much instantly, the fun and excitement started.? Liam, who had been fast asleep up until then became wide awake.? I wish I knew why.? So I fed him a little, which was fine until I fell asleep while doing it, causing the bottle to fall out of his mouth and soak the both of us.? FUN.? Oh, and him to scream bloody murder probably because sleeping in wet clothes isn’t really anyone’s idea of a good time.? So Kile changed his sleeper, I changed my shirt and so began the night of switching off between the two of us, while we frantically sought brief snatches of sleep in between the screaming.? Some of the time, putting him on his belly on our chests worked.? Sometimes he wanted to be snuggled in the crook of our arms.

All I know, is that 8 am came way too early for my taste.? I feel like night of the living dead here.? My fingers feel heavy, my head hurts, my arm hurts, I can hardly think straight. I would have loved to have slept in some more.? Except Liam decided that the charade was over and he wanted to be up for good.? And we are determined to go to church today, if for no other reason than to get out of the house for a change.? And 8 am is sort of like the point of no return.? If we’re not up by then for church, we may as well forget it.

So here I sit, pumping away and trying to fight the exhaustion.? Should be a great day, no?

On this gloriously long (and, as it would turn out, lazy) weekend, I’ve (re)discovered some very fabulous things that all add up to a heavenly sort of existence. Tell if me you don’t agree with at least some of these. And then I’ll tell you that you have a heart of stone.

• Eating turkey sandwiches. I like mine simple: bread, turkey breast and mayonnaise. OMG, yum.
• Sitting in a comfortable recliner with a sleeping baby after having said sandwich and watching “Moulin Rouge”. I love that movie, though I can’t help but wish it ended about 10 minutes earlier than it does.
• Sleeping with the down comforter and flannel sheets. I’d forgotten what a deadly combination that was until I literally could not get out of bed this morning.
• Enjoying our Christmas tree. I love it so. I don’t know which I like better, the ease of setting it up (it has the fold down branches instead of the branches you have to attach one by one) or the fact that it’s pre-lit with about a zillion lights. Or maybe the fact that we got it last year for CHEAP.
• Knowing December is just around the corner. While thinking about Christmas and how unprepared we are makes me feel like bugs are crawling under my skin, I do love this month and am honestly looking forward to everything.
• These cheeks:

So yeah, we may be flat busted at the moment, but this here proves you don’t have to leave the house and spend money to really enjoy some of the little things, right?

It sounds so… bad, doesn’t it?? Like something bad has happened or will happen or is happening.? Like the stock market crashed or something.? But nope, it’s all about Christmas shopping which… is sorta silly when you really think about it.? When I was younger and living at home, my friends and I always hit the mall the day after Thanksgiving.? Why?? Why not? It was, dare I say it, fun.

Yeah, I don’t know what we were smoking either, but it must have been marvelous.

Now that I am older and wiser (okay, maybe just older), the thought of getting out of bed before 7am unless someone is bleeding or dying (and then only certain people) is just unheard of.? Get up at 4:30 so I can be one of the first 200 people in line at Sears, just for the special privilage of getting a freaking $10 gift card?? Seriously?

Okay, I must confess.? Part of the reason we’re not partaking in the mad shopping rush today is the fact that we’re dirt poor right now.? Even then, if we had $$ we’d probably be going out to lunch and seeing a movie (hmm, “Flushed Away” or “Happy Feet”?), and not shopping.? I haven’t started my Christmas shopping yet, I’m not about to break that thrilling trend now.

Bah, humbug.

Whether you live in the U.S. or not, giving thanks for the blessings in your life is something we all need to take time out to do. It’s just us Americans have a national holiday devoted to that very purpose.? Well, at least that’s what we tell ourselves but somehow it becomes “Turkey Day” (I’m guilty of this as well) and is all about the monster feasts we prepare for ourselves.? But, such is Western culture.? Still, I like to take time out of the day and just GIVE THANKS for the blessings in our life.

Sure, right now we’re strapped for cash.? But that is probably the only thing I could find to complain about right now.? I have an awesome family here with me to enjoy the holiday with.? Last year, I was newly pregnant and glowing with the secret of my pregnancy at a family gathering.? The only ones there who knew were me and Kile and that was sorta exciting.? I didn’t know where that pregnancy would lead.? It was still so new.? And now, this year, we have another member of our family.? He’s sitting in the bouncy seat right now, chewing on his fist and cooing at the ceiling fan.? How miraculous is that?? How awesome.

Right now I’m pumping and Harry has put in “Toy Story” for us to watch (later on we’re going to pop in the obligatory “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”).? Kile is upstairs puttering on his desktop for the time being and there’s a big eyed chick in our oven.? Soon as I’m done pumping, I’m going to baste that bad boy.? I’m also in charge of the mashed potato casserole (YUM) and the stuffing (we prefer “out of the bird”).? All in all, it’s a pretty calm, peaceful sort of day.? That’s the way I like it.

So here’s to you and yours (*lifts virtual glass of wine in a toast*), may this holiday find you safe and warm at home with your loved ones, anticipating a fantastic meal and thinking back on the things in your life that you are supremely grateful for.? I know I, for one, have plenty.