Thanksgiving Weekend

Dear Elliot,
Going into this year's Thanksgiving, all I knew was that it had to be better than last year's. Last year, my Thanksgiving consisted of eating boxed stuffing in bed and watching Bones on Netflix, all by myself. My family was out of town visiting my grandma, who was dying, and I was just didn't have it in me to spend the day with the in-laws. Spending that first 'big' holiday without your sister was absolutely awful.

Well, I am very happy to report this year was much, much better. Of course she was still on my mind, and I missed her like crazy (just like every other day), but this year I felt like I had a lot to be truly thankful for. The biggest thing being you, of course.

Anyway, Thanksgiving weekend actually started out with a bit of a scare. I had been experiencing some fairly frequent (like 5-6 times a day) tightening of my uterus/lower abdomen for a couple of days. Dr. Google told me these were probably just Braxton Hicks contractions, and nothing to worry about, but of course I was worried anyway. I spoke to the triage nurse at my doctor's office on Wednesday morning about my concerns. She basically reiterated everything I'd read online and said everything was "probably just fine." Thing is, I don't trust the word "probably" anymore, so I asked if I could come in and get checked out, just to be sure. They were able to fit me in for that afternoon.

My regular doctor wasn't in the office that day, so I saw a new person. She was very nice, but I kind of felt like a total idiot because everything was completely fine. She said my cervix was super long and high and closed (like it should be), and that unless the contractions I was feeling started to become more regular/consistent, or if I was having more than four in an hour, that they were a normal part of being pregnant. It was honestly a less than five-minute appointment. I tried to apologize for wasting her time, but she said, "no need to be sorry--that's what we're here for." That made me feel a little bit better. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

So anyway, it was nice to go into the long weekend knowing everything was all well pregnancy-wise.

Thanksgiving morning Dad got up super early to run in the Turkey Day 5K that was going on downtown. While he was out working up a sweat, I was sleeping in and taking a nice long bubble bath. :) Around lunchtime we drove up to his parent's house for the big Thanksgiving meal. Can I just say I love being pregnant on Thanksgiving? I ate until I literally could not fit another bite in my stomach, and it felt great.

The girls also ate until I thought their little tummies were going to explode. Here they are, begging for food:

And again:

And again:

In addition to all the amazing food, it was also really nice to spend some time with Dad's side of the family. Both of his sets of grandparents were there (one set all the way from Colorado!), and your Auntie Katie (Dad's little sister) got to spend some good quality time with her 'nieces':

Later that evening, we headed to my parents' house for Thanksgiving Part II. We took you to see your first Muppet movie, and it was awesome. I have been excited to see this movie for almost a year, since I found out Jason Segel was behind it, and the guy from Flight of the Conchords was writing all the music. Judging by the way you were dancing right along to 'Ma nah ma nah' and all the other songs, I think you liked it as much as I did!

After the movie, we went back and had a pretty epic spread of appetizers (sushi, crackers and dips, pasta salads, chicken wings, cheese, etc etc) while we played Trivial Pursuit:

Over the course of the weekend, we played seven games and Dad and I beat your Grandparents four of those games, making us the Trivia Pursuit World Champions. Considering my parents have like 30 years of experience on us, and are pretty well-known as the team to beat, this is a pretty big deal. I'm already looking forward to the rematch on Christmas Eve!

Since going out shopping the night and/or morning of Black Friday sounds about as appealing to me as, I don't know, scrubbing my toilet, we slept in the next morning and had leftovers for lunch (the best part of Thanksgiving, if you ask me!). Later that afternoon we did hit a couple of stores, but they weren't crowded by that point, and since I'm trying to make this year a "handmade-only Christmas," I didn't buy anything.

That is until we went to Joann Fabrics. 50% off all beads and beading supplies! 60% off all canvases! 50% off fabric remnants! 40% off my brand of yarn! I was in craft heaven. For under $60 I got everything I need to make presents for everyone on my list this year.

One thing I've been making for a lot of the women in my life are these mother 'nest' necklaces:

I've seen them all over the place to buy, but they are super easy to make (thanks again, Pinterest!). The beads/eggs represent the number of babies. I think they are just so sweet. I made the one below for your Great Grandma (Dad's Grammie)'s 80th birthday and gave it to her yesterday. Three eggs for her three sons, including the one who died shortly after birth 50 years ago. I know from experience how special (and rare) it is to have those babies included. I think she really liked it.

Over the weekend we also hit 22 weeks. I feel like I am getting bigger and bigger every single day at this point. I love that I'm at the point where I look obviously pregnant. When I walked into an elevator the other day, the lady standing in it took one look at me and said, "I sure hope that's not contagious!" 

Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with an asthma specialist. I've had pretty bad asthma almost my entire life, but it's getting worse and worse as this pregnancy progresses--like to the point where I can't make it up a flight of stairs without feeling out of breath and in need of my inhaler. I am really hoping this doctor can help me get it better under control. This is probably the understatement of the year, but feeling like you can't breathe is not fun!

Well, happy belated Thanksgiving, little E! I am so beyond thankful to have had a part in making and carrying not one, but two perfect little babies. I love you more than you'll ever know.

Always,

Mom