Did I Mention?

By the way, blog...I forgot to mention something...

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I'm pregnant! With another baby! That's the plan at least...

I'm currently somewhere between 17 and 18 weeks along putting this baby's arrival at the end of May. Which also means that Finn and peanut here will be 20 months apart...

...yikes...

I keep reminding myself that my mom did it with twins.

I haven't broken the news yet to Finn, though. I think that the concept of a living being growing inside of his mother might be a liiiiiitle too abstract for the guy. Heck, it's a little abstract for me.

I'm sure he'll understand in a year or two when he realizes that the small person following him around all the time is his brother or sister :)

(We find out in 20 days what we're having! Start the countdown!)

This is what I look like today:
Things that have been different this time around are: I've only gained 10 lbs so far (I'd probably gained 20 by this point with Finn...whoops!)...which means I can still wear my normal jeans even though I choose not to...stretchy pants. are. so. comfy.

It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm working out a lot, still. When I found out I was knocked up with Finn I stopped working out asap because I was like, "hey! I'm pregnant! it's lazy time!"...you know the drill.

But somehow this doesn't stop the fact that I'm way bigger in the belly area this time. I think I looked like this at 21 weeks with the monster monster.

Things that are the same: I'm still awesome, and I'm pretty sure this baby is, too :)

Christmas, Chanukah and Llamas

Christmas/6th night of Chanukah* at the Rebarchik's this year was probably the greatest event to have ever taken place ever. Just kidding, it was mildly unremarkable, but anything that involves presents is pretty great by me.

In any case, we did the whole "open presents" business which took a grand total of 20 minutes, and then had my madres fantastico Christmas dinner/lunch in Cedar Hills. Finn was very confused by this new "having dinner at lunchtime" concept. He kept looking around forlornly for his peanut butter sandwich and banana that he is so very used to. Cute :)

And since we all got such awesome presents, nobody had to go elbow their way through a mall to do any exchanges. As such, we went to the Hare Krishna Temple and Finn had a blast with the Llamas and Zebus. No joke, I think it might have been the happiest day of his life. He loves animals, but Llamas! LLAMAS! Holy crap, are they amazing. He was running up and down the pens exclaiming his love for these camel-derivatives and throwing hay at them so they'd come over...which they didn't. They were rightfully wary of the knee-high banshee yelling at them.

Want proof of all these festivities, Llama and otherwise? Here you go!

We tried our luck at a family picture...this is the best your gettin'

Sandwich, please?

Llooking for Llamas...

Finn harassed this particular Llama extensively..

Found 'im!

* Did you know half of my family is technically Jewish? As a result, those "Happy Holidays" cards that people get all up in arms over, work just great for us. "Merry Christmas" makes the Jewish half of me feel sad and neglected, while a "Happy Chanukah" card...if they exist...would make my Christmas celebrating half feel equally as left out.

Best Christmas...Every Single Time...

Christmas, Chanukah, general holiday-ness is basically upon us (heck, Kwanza is probably around there somewhere) and I've got the secret, people. THE secret to having a totally groovy holiday of your choice. Want to know? Read on, friends:

So, every year it happens. I go on a mega shopping spree, for myself, and then give all the peeps in my family what I bought to wrap up and give back to me.

It's awesome.

This year has been no different. Let's just say that I may or may not have replenished my wardrobe (my Christmas presents this year consist mainly of new pants with elastic waistbands and t-shirts with expandable sides. But don't worry, these clothes are as fabulous as they get. Mostly because I make them fabulous. Shoot) and graciously doled it out to various people to give back to me on that wonderful Christmas morning.

Traditional? No way. Practical? Yes! I don't need to return anything!

This Christmas present strategy gets better...

Mostly because I then get to tell everyone, 'Hey! Since I picked out my gift, you should go buy yourself something nice and say its from me!'

Everybody. Wins.

In reality, I may be killing the holiday buzz by taking away that Hallmark moment of gasping in faux surprise/glee as you open a present that you either already guessed what it was when you shook it earlier or are going to have to exchange in private because the person who bought it for you wanted to be flattering so they got you a size too small.

But Hallmark moments are for idealists and those people are crazy.

This guy ain't got nothin' on me!...except about 150 pounds.

P.S. As usual, I also buy my mom something that I really like so that I can 'borrow' it 364 days out of the year...another good strategy!