Christmas Time!

It's that time of year again.....the time for Christmas shopping stress, fighting people for parking places, and trying to calm down your screaming kid while waiting in a 30 minute check-out line. I actually started my Christmas shopping early in hopes of finishing well before the 'deadline' of Christmas Eve, but this pregnancy is starting out similar to my last one....full of nausea and fatigue.

I wake up feeling sick, I go to sleep feeling sick....and that's basically how everyday goes. I feel so tired all the time, but I don't know if that's from being pregnant or if I've just gotten used to laying around more since I'm always at home. Reguardless, I can't seem to get out of this "rut." I used to love going out shopping, but now I get exhausted after taking a shower, getting ready, getting Ryan ready, hauling everything into the car, and finally arriving at our destination. Whew! Maybe it'll be over soon....we'll just keep hoping...

As for Ryan, she is growing like a weed! I can't believe just a year ago she was a little infant that did nothing but eat and sleep. She wakes up everyday so happy. She's becoming a little bit of a daddy's girl, but being a daddy's girl myself I don't mind. I love watching them together. Jarrod is such a good dad and I'm so thankful to be one of the lucky ones to have found such a great man :)

I just finished up another class and now have a 3 week break....which I plan to throughly enjoy! I want to start some holiday traditions with Ryan.....maybe some holiday baking and going to church on Christmas Eve (I've actually never done that). We're planning on taking her to see Santa on Saturday and I hope she doesn't cry. She's pretty good about going to other people, but a big grey bearded man dressed in red may seem a bit creepy.

We have a busy schedule for the holiday's but we're excited about it. First up is Christmas with Jarrod's dad and family on the 23rd, then Christmas with my dad and step-family Christmas Eve, next is Christmas morning with my mom, sister, and brother, followed by Christmas evening with Jarrod's other family. The weekend of January 2nd and 3rd we'll head up to Rome, Ga. and have Christmas with all of my extended family! Whew! Are you as tired as I am from reading that??

A Thanksgiving Rant

Thanksgiving. I always look forward to it and yet it never plays out like I have in my head. I visualize lots of hugs, laughter, playing games, and enjoying time with family. Well, every year seems to surprise me and disappoint me a little. Family drama. Enough said.

Probably every aspect of Jarrod and my family has drama. Both of our parents are divorced so we have 4 families and not just 2....like normal people. There's always one family member who has to act out and be disrespectful. There's always one who seems like they don't care. Someone always seems to be in a bad mood. Ugh! Come on people!

I'll be honest, I've had some past friendships that I've had to 'let go of' and move on from, but when it comes to family I think that everyone should work to dissolve whatever kind of conflict there is and not just let it continue on because of their own precious pride. Nobody ever wants to take responsibility for their actions. Everyone always puts the blame on someone else and how it's "their fault." I'm so sick of all of this. When a few family members have conflict it affects EVERYONE! My Thanksgivings will never be the same due to other people's pettiness. My daughter will never know what it feels like to spend Thanksgiving with all of her family at one time and it breaks my heart. Growing up everything seemed so wonderful. My sister, brother, and I always looked forward to the holidays and seeing all of our family. Everyone used to hug each other and just sincerely love spending time with one another. What's happened to that? Why are things so different? How can people change so drastically?

If this blog hurts anyones feelings then I'm sorry but this is how I feel and I think everyone should try and make amends for THEIR actions. There's not just one person at fault. Let's move on and try to get back to how we were as a family before.

Oerman's 1st Camping Trip....plus a little surprise!

We finally went on our first family camping trip in our brand new camper. I didn't realize how much actually went in to organizing and packing everything. I was exhausted before we even got to the camp site.

It was dark by the time our friends got to the camp site (they took their own camper) and we ate some yummy chicken noodle soup that they made. Roman built a fire and we all got busy making the much anticipated s'mores!

Ryan was starting to look tired, so I went and laid her down in her bed. I guess I'm used to letting her fall asleep on her own at home, so once I laid her in there I just went ahead and went back outside and turned on the monitor. Wow, was that a mistake! I don't know if it was because she was in a different environment or what, but she screamed for hours! Jarrod and I were up all night with her, which was rough. I had not anticipated her acting like that. At about 5 a.m. we finally decided to just get up and make breakfast.

That afternoon the guys went fishing while Celeste and I did what we do best....scrapbooking! That's right, we scrapbooked while camping! I put Ryan in her pack n play outside beside me and she finally fell asleep. Poor thing had been up almost 24 hours with no rest.

Ryan finally gave in to exhaustion.

That night we grilled chicken and salmon and had a nice little feast outside on the picnic tables. We sat around the campfire and I taught Ryan all about s'mores and how they are a staple item on camping trips. I was able to get Ryan to sleep that night in the camper, which was a huge relief. I didn't think I would be able to handle another night like that last.

We set up a tv outside by the campfire and watched Will Ferrell's 'The Land of the Lost.' All I can say is that was the wierdest most obnoxious movie I've ever seen. The beginning was okay, but then it was as if all the characters were high on something and kept going to different "rooms" in dinosaur land. Very strange.

1st family camping photo

The next morning we packed up and headed out.....I'm making sound a lot easier than it was. I stayed cooped up with fussy Ryan in the camper while Jarrod packed up the outside.

Once we got home I ran inside to use the restroom and decided to take a pregnancy test (I had been feeling very emotional and tired). I didn't even watch it because I just knew I wasn't. I went back out to finish unloading boxes and then remembered the test. I went back to check it and was shocked to find a little "+" sign...not a "-". I just stood there staring at it with my mouth wide open. I don't know how long I stood there but it felt like forever. All I could think of was double strollers, having to get a minivan, and how I was going to handle a new baby and a one year old.

I walked outside and told Jarrod to 'come here.' I looked at him, showed him the test, and simply said "I think I'm pregnant." I thought he would have had a similar reaction to mine, but nope....he kissed me and said, "that's awesome! I really want a boy!"