This weekend was my parents’ annual Christmas visit and our annual holiday party. As always, it was lovely. On Friday afternoon, we took a drive up to Ventura County and went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree. My folks had never done that before, so it was a lot of fun. I LOVE the tree we got, I think it’s the most beautiful one we’ve ever had. It is so green and smells amazing.
Last evening we had our party, and mom and I (mostly mom) spent yesterday morning preparing two bries en croute – one with carmelized onions and one with raspberry preserves baked in. YUM. They were both a big hit. The party was great, just about everyone we invited was able to stop by. It made for a busy, full house, but it was very lively and everyone seemed to have a good time. Plus, we ran out of booze at the end, so I think that signals a successful shindig.
I realized this weekend that Hawk and I had managed up until this point in my pregnancy to not have any pictures taken of the two of us, so last night my friend Christine was kind enough to take this shot. I love it:
The general consensus among partygoers last night was that I have reached “giving birth to a basketball” status. I am pretty big. I’m outgrowing most of my maternity clothes and have worn nothing but Uggs for the last week because my ankles and feet are so swollen. This week is t-minus about four weeks left of my pregnancy and I can’t believe it’s almost over, that Áine is almost here! She really could come any time now.
The approaching end of my pregnancy is so bittersweet. On one hand, the bigger I get, the more uncomfortable I get, so I want her out out out. Plus, I can’t wait to meet her, look into her little face for the first time, hold her little hands and feet, play with her teeny fingers and toes. There’s also a part of me, given my history of pregnancy loss, that won’t believe this is all real until I’m holding her in my arms and the doctor tells me she’s healthy. On the other hand, I know that this is the only time in her life that she will truly be all mine, where’s she’s safe inside my belly and only I get to really feel her moving – the little lazy nudges, the little “tics” when she has the hiccups, the gigantic rolls and thumps when she really gets going.
It’s a very exciting time, and very surreal. I can’t believe that within about a month or so, I will be a mom and Hawk will be a dad. Life will never be the same. Am I ready? I think so. I certainly hope so!
