The irony of it...

On Friday evening, the same day I posted about my frustration with my rollarcoasting emotions, I read this on the "Baby Bump" summary of "Week 30 of Pregnancy". 

"...For many women, as your due date approaches, it's a common and very normal time to feel more emotional than usual. You'll experience more frequent mood swings, and very likely some anxiety over the coming baby and the new responsibilities that lie ahead." 

I just had to laugh at myself...and enjoy God's sense of humor in allowing me to read that precisely on that day! =) 

One of those days...

Ugg...this is starting to feel like a perpetual cycle. One day I feel energetic, optimistic and inspired, then the next day I dragggg, don't feel like doing anything, don't get much done, and then am grumpy at myself because I feel lazy=) I do not know if this is just the way I should expect to be when pregnant, or if I "overdo it" on the days I feel good and then have to recover the next day. Yesterday was great and today, not so much. 


It is hard for me to distinguish between physical tiredness (that I should listen to) or emotional tiredness (that I should ignore). Am I feeling blue because I am tired or tired because I am blue? And then I am annoyed with myself that I "feel down" when there is nothing wrong! Oh, the emotional swings of pregnancy! 


Now I should stop talking and go get some more cleaning done....Friday is cleaning day! =) But  I am glad I stopped to talk about this. Somehow putting feelings into words helps dissipate the gloom and confusion. It brings clarity to a formerly jumbled mess. 


I know that everyone's experiences and temptations differ somewhat but any words of wisdom/encouragement are always appreciated. ;)

Summary of December =)

Wow! December and January have been a whirlwind! Between Nate turning one, his birthday party, making and buying gifts for Christmas, my family being here for several weeks (not all of them at the same time for that entire length of time=), and all the end-of-year office work that I am finally getting wrapped up, blogging has just not happened. 


When I went to look over my pictures I realized that there were many events that were not captured on film. So sad! However, here are a few from the month of December...

 Playing guitar with Papa!

 I love Nate's face in this one=)

 We had the chickenpox!! Thankfully it really was not too miserable. 

 Nate's birthday cupcake!

 He was not quite sure what to make of the flame. 

 Mom had to help blow it out!

 After some initial hesitation, he dug right in!

 And then offered to share some! I wish I had some pictures from his birthday party, which was later in the week. 

 I spent a lot of time knitting in the weeks before Christmas. In all, I've made six pairs of slippers so far. The picture above shows what they look like before they are felted. They are knitted with wool and then washed, causing the wool to shrink to the appropriate size. This pattern was easy and fun! If you have a ravelry.com account (it's free!), the pattern is called "Duffers, 19-row felted slippers". 

 And this is what they looked like after they were felted...

 Lol, notice all the wrapping paper in the background. I literally finished these at the last minute, late on Christmas Eve. =)

 This was our first Christmas morning with the Hawkins! What a glorious pile of presents! One of my many favorite parts of being in a big family!

 Nate probably received the most presents of anyone...

Nate discovered his big present from us while it was still wrapped and under the tree. He kept hitting the buttons that make noises through the wrapping paper. Finally Brett helped him unwrap it!

 And he loves his car! Even though it was missing a part and we could not put the wheels on for a while.

 The Tuesday after Christmas, my whole family, except little Ben who stayed home to run the business, came down for a week long visit! Sadly, I did not get many pictures of our time together but we had a wonderful time of fellowship. 

 Uncle John sitting with Nate and his cousin Ella while they watch a "Classical Baby" DVD before naptime. 

 Ella and Nate did well together. Ella was much more interested in Nate than he was in her. But at least he shared his toys=)

 My sister Samantha and her husband Nick brought their dog Tucker. Tucker never wanted to play as much or as long as Lexi did, but they got along pretty well despite that.