An unfortunate side effect of pregnancy: insomnia. It’s starting to occur more and more, as the belly gets bigger and I officially enter into my third trimester, as of a week ago. This morning I woke up at 4 am and could.not.get.back.to.sleep. So I decided to make use of this time and get up, take a shower, and am now contemplating getting my morning coffee going.

Vann and I had a long talk about our (hopeful) future plans the other day and I find that I am starting to feel anxious about it all. I so want to enjoy this sweet season of anticipation and special one-on-one time with Charlie. I don’t want to wish it away!! I HATE having to downplay Christmas and keep it low-key, but the truth is, if we are moving in the spring it just doesn’t make sense to continue to accumulate things (that’s my practical side talking). I absolutely adore Christmastime and always want to do it up big. I even contemplated NOT doing a tree/decorations this year to keep things simple but thankfully Vann talked me out of that. This will be the first year I think Charlie will “get” some things about the season and it’s important to us to have those experiences!

I do think I *overdid* it last year (I do love giving gifts) so I’m going to *try* to keep things at a manageable level. We have a budget for stockings and usually do one or two bigger gifts for each other…but this year we are “giving” each other our “slice of heaven” recliner…and stockings will be on a smaller scale. I do think we will do a “Santa” for Charlie (actually, it’s a non-negotiable) but what I really want to get for her is a kitchen, and we will definitely wait on that. I LOVE wrapping gifts and having things to open, so I am trying to keep an open mind about this year. I already told Vann that next year we would be making up for what we don’t do this year…I’ll be saving up my “nice” points for that Gucci, right honey??

Anyway, don’t know how I got on the topic of the holidays BUT I do know that I will not scrimp on candles and Christmas music. I think that’s why I’ve gone overboard on the fall decorations because I know we will be spending a lot of time here between Thanksgiving and New Year’s and I just want to be comfortable and cozy in our home. Aside from family activities we venture out for, I know my homebody self (thanks, Vann, for turning this self-professed “Party Girl” into a hermit who loves staying home in her pj’s) will want to nestle in and spend time with my girls, welcome guests, and hang with Mimi (who you know will be staying here for two weeks!). I hope our friends will come and visit and try out our new chair and stay for a cup of hot chocolate.

After all, by then, I’ll be able to eat chocolate-covered marshmallows, one of my favorite holiday treats. Maybe I’ll even share one with you…