Christmas in New York + 19 Week Bumpdate!

19 Weeks, 2 days 

Sorry, no belly picture this week. But I have something better! :) 

Size of Baby: Heirloom Tomato. About 6 inches long and 8.5oz. I REALLY don't understand these size pictures....doesn't a tomato seem smaller than a sweet potato?? Hmm. 

Symptoms: STILL nauseous.... Jeesh. Feeling little flutters and kicks lots today! :) So exciting! SUPER tired...but I'm sure our babymoon/Trip to NY has something to do with that too. Having some more round ligament pain lately too. With all of the walking in New York City over the weekend, my hips got pretty sore and my knee. I can't imagine how sore I will get once I'm actually huge :/ 

Cravings: Potato Salad and Jelly Beans! I have been wanting jelly beans for awhile now but just kept telling myself I would have to wait until Easter. AND THEN! Jim and I were walking through a store in New York and BAM! There were jelly beans :) Best day ever!! I was also really craving potato salad on Thursday night (right before leaving for NY and didn't want to have it go to waste in the fridge). But my wonderful hubby brought me home a single serving from the deli at Cub Foods :) Best Christmas present ever! Or so I thought at the time :) 

Something I miss: Have I said I miss clear skin? And feeling good? And having control of my body? ha ha 

Milestones: Getting to see our little BOY for the first time!!!!!!!!! :) Jim and I went to New York City for a little "Baby Moon" before going to spend Christmas with Jim's family in Upstate NY. Since we got engaged in NYC just over a year ago, Jim decided to surprise me with an ultrasound for finding out our baby's gender. We had really been hoping to do this with our Doctor before Christmas but couldn't get in until January 2nd. Jim gave me a card with clues in it on the air plane Friday morning. I didn't take me TOO long to guess that we were going to have an Ultrasound THAT NIGHT!!! We went to the ultrasound and got to watch our little man stretch and suck his thumb. This mama is in love :) We both left the scan pretty sure that it was a boy, but we asked the technician to not tell us. Instead, we had her write "It's a ______" on a postcard of the tree at Rockefeller Center. We then took the postcard and all the ultrasound pictures and looked at them under the tree at Rockefeller Center by the ice rink...where we got engaged. Sooo amazing! Christian James will be here before we know it! Can't wait to see his little face and count all his fingers and toes! BEST. CHRISTMAS. EVER. :) 

Christian sucking his thumb :) 

The big reveal at Rockefeller Center!! 

Looking Forward to: Seeing Christian again at our ultrasound on January 2nd!!! :) Starting our baby registry and getting the nursery set up! So many fun things to come! 

Pictures and post about our baby moon coming soon! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Exactly 20 days until Christmas! I can't believe its even December let alone getting so close to Christmas! I just finally finished decorating yesterday, but I started before Thanksgiving! I guess I'm moving a little slower these days.

While Jim and I were home for Thanksgiving, my mom was so nice as to help me make a tree skirt for our Christmas tree! I may have bought the material and planned to make the tree skirt LAST year...but lets just say I never got to it...must have been the wedding planning! :) ha ha

How do you make a tree skirt you ask? Well, I asked the same thing! Luckily, my mom has made a few in her days and she was a pro!

Step 1: With your fabric folded in half, cut out the shape for your skirt...tracing a previous tree skirt really helps here :) I added a ruffle on the bottom (later) so you can trace right to the edge of the old skirt there, but at the top, you will want to measure a little out so you have extra to make a hem.

Step 2: Let your mom hem the top of the skirt...this is kinda tricky so she is less likely to mess it up :) And of course, pin it first before you start sewing :) 

Step 3: Measure the circumference of your skirt and multiple it by 3. Cut strips (as wide as you would like your ruffle to be) to total 3 times the circumference. 

Step 4: Sew all of your ruffle pieces together. 

Step 5: Pin the hem on one side of the ruffle pieces and sew it. 

Step 6: Sew a basting (not sure if that's how you spell it...) stitch on the other side of the ruffle strip.

Step 7: "Ruffle" the ruffle by pulling the basting stitch to tighten it and cause the ripple effect. 

Step 8: Pin the ruffle to the edge of the main skirt piece and sew it on. 

Step 9: Find a good Christmas tree to fit your tree skirt! And make your husband cut it down :) 

and put it on your car to haul it home...

But first make him pose for a fun picture together! 

Once you get home, pretend that you are cutting it off and taking it off the car :) 

But then let your husband do it for real... 

And bribe him to carry it inside the house too...

And then you have a beautiful tree, all ready to decorate and add your tree skirt! 

Perfect! :) 

To add the finishing touches on Christmas decorating, we even hung our stockings...

Set out a cute little snowman candle thing...

Added garland to the stairs...

And set out our Advent Candle on the table. All ready to burn each night until Christmas is here! 

You may even want to let your cute puppy help you :) How can you not love that face!?!? 

And when you are all done, take a nap on the couch! 

What are you doing to get ready/decorate for Christmas?