The Countdown

Just under 2 months and Christmas will be here...I love Christmas and can't wait to start doing Christmas baking, shopping, decorating, etc. I'm hoping that I can get into the swing of things in mid November. I just need to get through a super busy period at work over the next couple weeks and then hopefully I'll be able to start handing things over at work and start prepping for baby and Christmas. We still haven't really thought about names and I have to get the baby's room done and fix up Annika's room with her big girl furniture (which I haven't purchased yet).
My little helper went into work with me today (which as you can imagine, wasn't that helpful). But I couldn't arrange childcare today and I had to do a few things in the office, so in she went with me. She was really good and i got a couple things done. I'll still have to work this weekend, but that's ok. I've decided I'm not doing any more work this afternoon/evening. I'm going to get some other things done like laundry and maybe some cleaning. Work will still be there tomorrow when Daddy can take the munchkin off my hands. Oh, and one countdown I'm very happy about is 28 more work days in the office. Then i have a few more that I'll be working from home, but nothing too crazy! Yay!
We picked up a couple small pumpkins, so we'll be carving those at some point this weekend. Perhaps after A wakes up from her nap. She's going to be a strawberry fairy this year for Halloween and is very excited about her costume. It'll be cute, that's for sure.
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Penny

Leaves

Isn't my girl precious?! She's getting so big.

Got some leaf raking done today! Bagged the leaves in the backyard, but didn't quite get around to bagging all the leaves in the front yard. I ended up raking the same leaves a few times over because little muchkin was having a blast running through/jumping in the nicely piled leaves! I didn't mind...she had a good time and that's what kids are supposed to do in leaves, right? I'm just glad I got a good head start. Now I'm too tired to go out and bag them, but if the weather holds this weekend I will try and get out there later on this week. Or Scott may head out and do them after supper this evening...we'll see!

Speaking of supper, I'm waiting for my wonderful hubby to come back from the grocery store right now with some stuff for us to cook up! I can't wait...I'm starving!! ;) My appetite has increased tremendously with this pregnancy...at times I wonder how I fit it all in. But I'm hungry often and I can definitely eat a lot. I will get the results of my 2nd gestational diabetes testing this week (I failed the first) and I'm certain that I will have it again with this pregnancy. I don't look forward to pricking my fingers 3 times each day, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. In this case I have to lay off all the unhealthy stuff I eat (bye bye chips..sniff) and start chowing down on more veggies. This evening I plan on making a meal plan for the next couple weeks, so hopefully that helps me sort out my meals. I really wish I didn't have to work any more this year so I could do other things that I have on my list. Work is such a nuisance...haha! But the money in the bank sure does help with the bills, doesn't it?

Hope you all had a great Sunday. Enjoy the sunshine while it's still here!
Look at that - two blog posts in a row. Wow.
Penny

Fall Days

It's been a lovely, busy, full month so far. We're halfway through October and the leaves are slowly accumulating on my lawn, waiting for me to head out there and rake them up. And of course for Annika to play in them and mess up anything I manage to get into piles! I am hoping to get a bit of yard work done tomorrow while the weather holds up. Before we know it the white stuff will be falling and that'll make it tough to do any yard clean-up!

We've had a couple weddings over the last 3 or 4 weeks...our good friends Jamie & Sandy got married the first weekend in October and it was such a beautiful wedding. The couple looked stunning and the love they have for each other and for their families/friends was so heartfelt and really touched me. I admit I had leaky eyes a number of times throughout the day. Annika went to their outdoor wedding as well and of course decided to throw a lovely, well-timed 2-yr old tantrum right in the middle of their vows. Yikes. We were so embarassed. Scott did his best to rush her away, but it's hard when you're outside...especially when your daughter has an impressive set of lungs with a piercing shriek.

There has been a lot going on in our home over the last couple months. Work has been busy for me...I'm on a project that is getting super busy, so that's been sucking a lot of energy out of me. I get tired pretty easily these days...(by the way, we have baby #2 on the way)! I'm just in my 3rd trimester now and I'm feeling it. We're in the home stretch now! Time to get the baby's room ready and do my nesting! ;)

What else? I've been surfing the net and checking out a bunch of yummy looking recipes. I was tossing around the idea of making cinnamon rolls tomorrow...mmm. But then I came across a delicious looking pumpkin cinnamon twist pancake recipe and I think I'll try that out.

Hope you've all had a fantastic start to fall. I've got a list 5 miles long that i need to get going on before this baby comes. Here's some stuff:
1 - get Annika some bedroom furniture so I can set up the baby's room with her current set
2 - get winter tires on the van (I hear it's going to be a brutal winter...ugh!)
3 - decide about our stroller situation - do I get a double stroller? stay with one and just let A walk? I dunno. I may wait this one out and see how things go
4 - finish setting up my basement with all my craft stuff...need my outlet!
5 - start-up my sewing night with a good group of ladies
6 - figure out some names for the little bun in the oven
7 - make my own pumpkin spice latte as a treat
8 - do some serious meal planning for the next few weeks
9 - plan our annual Christmas open house (although I confess I'm probably going to be lazy this year and do it potluck style...I know, it's shameful, but a lot less tiring)
10 - repaint baby's room?
11 - book family photo session...this needs to be done ASAP
12 - start Christmas lists/shopping

Ok...I am going to try to get back into the swing of things blog-wise. Work sure does get into the way of life, doesn't it? ;)

Happy weekend all,
Penny