It never fails that the week after Christmas I get sick. This year, I am once again SICK! It was bound to happen with the schedule I had been keeping and the running myself ragged trying to get everything done. My immune system is always worse this time of year anyhow. I dont think the girls are well either and I have an appointment at the pediatrician to have them checked as well. I am suspecting an ear infection for Hannah as her behavior has been quite unruly and so unlike herself the past several days. (In her case, I truly hope it is an ear infection or we are going to have to start really coming down on her and her attitude) Layla has had an on an off fever so best to get them both checked before we go into the New Year's weekend. As for me, I will have to stick this one out. No antibiotics with the little one growing inside of me!
Christmas was wonderful this year! Mostly because Billy made it home for most of the festivities. We were finally able to meet up with him at his parent's house Christmas Eve at around 8:00pm. The girls were so excited to see him that we ended up letting them stay up much longer than we anticipated. I dont think they got to sleep before 10:30! Thankfully, I was organized enough that Billy and I had everything out and set to go by 11:30 pm. I cant tell you the many Christmas Eve's that we have been up well past midnight putting everything together. This year was so much easier! Christmas morning was spectacular and watching the girls wide eyed with wonder and amazement was truly magical. Layla is at such a fun age this year that she was completely enthralled with all of her gifts. Hannah was so excited to receive her pink hockey stick from Santa and she too, still makes it all magical! We spent the day with Grammy and Grampy and then the evening with my family and all went nice and smoothly. The rest of the weekend was spent visitng with family and celebrating the holidays.
And now, here we sit, with it all over. I always hate this feeling.. the after Christmas letdown. It has affected me ever since I was a kid. It is so depressing. I absolutely despise taking down the decorations. You might think I would be ready too since we have had them up since the beginning of November this year! Nope, I still dont like it. Poor Hannah began to cry when I started putting some things away. My heart broke for her because to be honest, I wanted to cry too! There is still so much more to do and the house is quite the mess these days with the kitchen repairs in full swing. I will be thankful when it is all over and I have my house back! Next on the agenda is figuring out how to take the tree down without Billy. Not sure if I am going to be able to hack that one.
Sleep has been on the "not so much" list these days as well. Which I am sure is contributing to how terrible I am feeling. The girls have had a tough time sleeping as have I. Although, the other morning I woke to Layla crying at 4:00AM and then had a real tough time getting back to sleep because for the first time, I could feel the bean moving all about! He or she was having a boxing match in there and as tired as I was, it is still such a wonderful feeling to be able to actually feel your child moving around inside of you. I really am trying to take it all in and hold onto it for as long as I can. I know all too soon that there will be a day when I will miss being pregnant and being able to bond with my child in such a special way.
What I wouldnt do to have Billy back home today! Hopefully he will get out early enough to make it back home at a decent hour tomorrow. I pray that he stays safe driving. It is always a worry of mine. Hopefully only a few more weeks of him working up North and then we will have him back. Oh how much more I appreciate him these days!
Yesterday we had an appointment with baby doctor! I was able to take the girls and they behaved so well! I was really excited to see their reactions to hearing the heartbeat on the monitor. Hannah was enthralled! It was such a cool moment to experience with them. I still think I need to pinch myself to understand that I will be in several months, a Mom of three!
I have to thank my dear friend Sara who sent me these lovely preggo pops that are supposed to help with the nausea. It was so nice of her to send, especially since she is going through the wonderful nauseas state in her pregnancy as well. I am just thrilled for her though as this is her first! It was so fun to come home to a package from her and so very thoughtful!
I am hoping I can be productive this week as I still have so very much to do to prepare for the Holiday. There is more shopping to be done and I really need to just get organized! I feel like there is so little time and with Billy being back up in NH it is so very hard to drag the girls everywhere. Moreover, I cant have them with me when I am shopping for them! I know it will all get done as I somehow always manage to fit it all in. Hence the staying up past midnight last night to clean the house. It had been a few weeks since it had the attention it needed. In my defense, I had halted the cleaning thinking our kitchen would be getting fixed. Before Thanksgiving, my tub drain upstairs gave way and send the water crashing through my kitchen ceiling. We lost the ceiling and every single light fixture as well. It took over a week to get the drain fixed so I could finally give the girls their baths and that is all that has been fixed since. We are still fighting with the insurance company over the estimate. Bottom line is I want it fixed! I was originally supposed to have Christmas, but with no electricity in the kitchen, it makes it a little tough to put on the holiday. Moreover, by 5:30, it is completely dark and you cant even see to cook! Fingers crossed we get it resovlved and soon.
I am happy to say that as of yesterday, I am officially in my second trimester! I may even possibly be feeling a bit better, or it could just be my mind playing tricks on me. Although, there are definitely some periods that the nausea still completely sneaks up on me. That being said, I am also EXHAUSTED! Now I can't entirely blame this all on baby bean because I definitely havent made things easy on myself with my crazy schedule. Between carting the girls two and fro, working job one and taking on the photography as a side business, I have had little time to get and R&R these past several months. Have I mentioned that Billy has been working in New Hampshire since Tuesday? Thankfully the girls have been wonderfully behaved and they have been really easy to manage while he has been away. Also, now that Christmas is almost here, I had my last shoot yesterday so this too, shall remain a bit quiet for the next few weeks. I am honestly looking forward to finally taking a step back and enjoying the season.
Today we took the print that I shot of the four grandchildren to a framer. He was wonderful. He knew we had to work within a budget and he did such a wonderful job picking something out that my parents are just going to adore. I have to say, I really was proud of how this portrait came out. Thinking about it being displayed in my parents house knowing that it was me who took the photograph, really makes me feel good. I can't wait to see it all finished and I just know my parents are going to LOVE it! It's huge, 30 x 40 to be exact and it is just lovely. All of their darling expressions captured! Thankfully the framer said that we could reuse the frame each year as we take new portraits, with new added beans! (wink wink)
And now I am off to get my #1 girl at school. I am going to try and get my errands done so that we can spend a cozy night at home together RELAXING! Completely looking forward to it! Stay warm!
Here is a picture of baby bean growing inside of me! This was 6 weeks ago so imagine what he or she looks like now! AHHH I am so excited!
Well I believe that it is certainly about time that I take a moment to post! Things have been such a whirlwind the past several months that I have had barely 2 seconds to myself and I have missed my writing on here.. my therapy! LOL Thankfully, although quite busy, the Murphy household is doing well. The kids have been healthy the past few weeks (knock on wood). We did get hit with the Swine Flu, however, we all survived and I am surely glad we got it over with prior to the Holidays!
Work has been extrememly busy. From the office to photography, I have been running around like a nut trying to keep up with everything. I am completely grateful for the Internet as it has been my only savior in getting any Holiday shopping done! Thankfully though I am managing to keep it all in check while enjoying the season with my girls.
My how they have grown. Hannah is doing wonderfully in school and I have noticed how very much it has matured her. She is not my little girl anymore! At the same time, I am truly enjoying our relationship with her being older. She is so bright and so caring. She is still dancing and excelling at hockey. I love being a hockey Mom! I am so very proud of her! She skates so well!!!
Layla is growing like a weed which is wonderful to see! Her clothes are beginning to fit her tightly which is a dream come true! I think she will be in a 2T before the winter is out and I cant tell you how happy that makes me! She is eating so much better these days! Now if we could conquer her sleep habits we would be all set! Her vocabulary has totally grown and she is such a caring and cuddly little darling. She is always making sure everyone is alright and her little voice just makes everyone laugh.
We do have a bit of exciting news to share! We are expecting #3 this June! I am thrilled! I cant believe how very blessed we are. This was a dream for me and I really didnt know if it would come true and now that my belly is growing by the day, I couldnt be happier! The girls are beside themselves with delight. Hannah is so excited she talks to the baby all the time and waves to my belly! Layla is enthrolled with kissing my belly at least 5 times a day. The Lord has been good to me and I just pray for a healthy baby. We wont find out this time as it is our last and I want a suprise til the end. Either way gender wise, I could care.. again just HEALTHY! I am finally coming out of my terrible morning sickness phase and hopefully in the next few weeks I will have my energy back as well. I am looking forward to savoring every moment of this pregnancy!!!
Wishing all a very Happy, Healthy and Safe Holiday Season!!!
