Lucky Me....

I get to ring in the New Year like a fat girl.

Yes, these chubbies are what I get to look at when I "kick my feet up".

What's nastier? The chipped toenail polish that I can do absolutely nothing about (except hope that it totally chips before my delivery date?) or the fact that it was about 10 minutes earlier that I took off my socks, and the lines are still imprinted in my legs.

Here's to swollen feet, legs, hands, face, & every other body part in the year 2010.

Let's hope 2011 releases some of this water.

Traditions

Bart & I decided a fun Christmas tradition that we wanted to start this year, was to have a fun evening as a family and stay in a hotel. We had a good experience with Priceline for Spring break 2010, so decided to try our luck once again. Who knew? We got the same hotel at the same rate. Crowne Plaza, here we come, baby!

So, on the 23rd, we went out to Olive Garden and then over to our Hotel. Whitney was SO excited to swim and stay in the hotel. I have a feeling she was envisioning Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. Sorry, sweetie. This one is just a pool.

The best part was that Lexi got to join us. (And James & Molly too!) I must apologize to the Heatons because they had to see me 37-weeks pregnant in a swimsuit. I'm no supermodel, gang.

The girls loved swimming in the pool and hot tub. Molly and I froze our tails off in the pool and then stuck our legs into the hot tub. Whitney loved jumping off the edge of the pool into her Daddy's arms.

That night was sort of eventful. We had a pull-out couch and a king-sized bed in our room. Whitney started out on the pull-out couch, and then in the middle of the night ended up in between Bart and me. All night long Bart was being kicked in the back while I was being slapped in the face. What is it about kids being so wild when they sleep?

Please no comments about how tired I look. Yes, I was VERY tired.... but no worries... I look much worse than I feel.

Christmas Dress

The Sunday before Christmas, Whitney was "crafting" before Church. It's messy, but it keeps her occupied. She looked so cute in her little red and black velvet outfit. Her little black top had "teddy bear" arms. That's what she thought anyway.

If you look closely at her upper lip, you may notice some black lines. While I was doing my makeup she got ahold of my black eye liner and thought it was LIP liner. It wouldn't really come off very well.

Dog Bite

About 2 weeks ago, I was just dying to get out to go on a walk. It has been really cold here, and pretty snowy. Being almost full term, the cold doesn't really bother me as much as the thought of trying to ice skate in tennis shoes. Kendall was a sweetheart and was up for joining me while our hubbies watched the BYU football game. Oh, Whitney watched the game too.

About the halfway point of my walk a little (and yes, I mean little) black dog came charging (yes, charging, barking, growling) out of a garage. I like dogs, but not nasty little vicious ones with mean faces. I tried backing up to get out of it's way, but before I knew it, the little thing jumped up and bit me (through my thick-fleece pants) right below my bum.

Ugh. Yes, it's annoying being 36 weeks prego and having to deal with a dog bite. But it's more annoying to hear what the owner had to say when I asked him for his name and his phone number.

"You're not going to press charges, are you?"

Wait? Didn't YOUR dog, just bite ME? Thanks for your concern, sir.

No, I'm not going to press charges.

But, did you know, in Columbus, if you are bit by a dog, you DO need to call Animal Control to report it? I called my doctor's office to see what I needed to do for the bite, and they were nice enough to get Animal Control's phone number.

The dog HAS had it's shots so everything is okay.

I tried getting good pics of my battle wound, but they were all sort of fuzzy. Here's one that isn't showing "too much skin" on the back of my thigh.

Silent Night

On Sunday, the closing hymn in Sacrament Meeting was Silent Night.  This is a favorite of Whitney's.  She sat quietly with her very own hymn book singing the words in her cute, off-key voice.   Just after the song ended, she looked up at me and loudly said, 

"Now let's do Jingle Bells."

Lately

Here's what we've been up to:

1. Chuck E Cheese:

So being a germ-a-phobe, you probably would think that Chuck E Cheese is one place I would certainly avoid. However, when it is 6 degrees outside (luckily, that is WITH the wind-chill at this point of the year), we've got no other choice for evening activities. Whitney loves this joint. Maybe it's the smell of greasy pizza, or the sound of you literally throwing your money away into tiny slots. I'm not sure. Either way, she loves the rides, the games and the hectic noise. Not a place you want to be if you are prone to migraines.

2. Gymnastics: Whitney can't get enough of this class. Here she is just this past Friday, enjoying her last class of the 2010 year. She can walk across the beam all by herself. I'm so proud.

And she LOVES taking the class with friends.

2. Christmas festivities:

Although you wouldn't know it by my lack of posting, Christmas is in full force around these parts. Here we are at the ward Christmas party. Whitney has this love/hate relationship with Santa. She loves him from a LOOOONG distance, but not so much up close.

What do I love?

That really lovely sweater Bart is wearing.
3. Being with Daddy:

We enjoy as much time with Bart as possible. He just finished his last set of finals for Dental School and is now studying for his fourth-year boards. So when he's home with us, it's a real treat. Whitney LOVES her Daddy. Every morning when she walks into our bedroom she says, "Where's Daddy?"

The answer: (Either) "School or studying"

Lately she's been blowing me kisses and saying, "Bye! I'm going to school!"

Guess who's 30?

That's right...

This guy:

Last night while Bart was out playing basketball, I wrote a post with a really HOT picture of Bart right after one of his P90X workouts. He totally vetoed it and made me delete the whole thing. (Secretly, I think he loved it, though.)

So, instead I am putting on some of my favorite pictures of my man.

I can't believe he's already 30.

When I asked Whitney, "How old is Daddy?"

She replied, "Thirty months."

When I said, "How old is Mommy?"

She said, "Thirty-teen!"

We love Bart. He is a wonderful Daddy, and great hubby and so very patient with these two crazy girls.

Hope your birthday is the best. I love you so much!

Love,

Bunny

Thanksgiving & Other Events

While Cara & Dad were here, we did a few more activities.

• One WARM evening (seriously, it was about 65 degrees! Heavenly!!!) we headed over to the Zoo's Wildlights. It was a lot of fun and very beautiful. I had never been before, and was so grateful it was warm outside.

Cara, Dad, Whitney & I went on the Anthony Thomas Chocolate Factory tour. Pretty sure I can give the tour myself now. (It was my fourth tour.)

We visited one of Whitney's favorite places. The pet store. Apparently this is one of Cara's favorite places as well. Cara held this cute little puppy for about an hour. Can you say, 'Love at first sight?' How 'bout it Dad?

We showed them Fancyburg Park. One of my favorites. Cara & Whitney both enjoyed the swings. Dad collected all sorts of nuts on our walk:

Here's Whitney on the "her" swing. She thinks she owns this thing and will be sorely disappointed with the real owners move and take it with them. Katy & Allen were nice to take her on it for a very long time on Thanksgiving afternoon:

Whitney LOVED LOVED LOVED being around Cara. When Cara was sitting on the couch, Whitney saw an open opportunity and loved to sit on her lap.

Here we are just before eating. Whitney was down for a nap & Bart was playing photographer.

This also counts as my 32.5 week pregnancy shot.

Just as Whitney woke up from her nap, Mom & Dad decided to "go down" for their naps.

No, this isn't posed. It's very real:

And on THIS Thanksgiving I am grateful for the following:

1. My husband, daughter & kicking baby boy

2. My Savior, the Gospel & it's many blessings

3. My family members everywhere.

4. Temporal blessings: food, home, clothes, good health, and on & on...

5. Wonderful friends

6. Exciting things to come!!