Six Years of Wedded-ness

Yesterday, D and I celebrated six years of marriage. Every year, we take it very seriously to hunt down a gift that follows the rules for the traditional anniversary gift. I don't know why we went down that path - maybe it's because we crave instilling traditions in our lives, because we don't really have any larger family traditions. Anyhow, we started it out that way with our first anniversary, and we've kept to it each year.

For six years, the traditional gift is candy. Okay, this was a bit of a bummer, because any other year, that would be a great gift. But for me this year, well ... candy is just not a luxury item. So, I tried to think of a creative way to make a bigger gift out of candy. My lovely sister offered to make her babysitting services available that day, so it hit me. D and I rarely get to go to the movies. One of the things D loves the most about the movies is the concession stand. What do they sell at the concession stand? Candy! It was perfect. I was able to keep it a surprise until Saturday and he was completely shocked.

We decided to catch an afternoon movie, mainly because Sunday's are the day for preparing for re-entry into work mode on Mondays and I'm pretty tired by the evening. So, we went out for lunch and then went to see The Blind Side. It was a great movie, and we both laughed and teared up as appropriately as we could. But the most touching moment of the whole date was something my husband said to me on the way home.

"Don't you think it's just great that at the time we are reflecting what we are most thankful for, we celebrate our wedding anniversary?" Okay, D is a spectacular husband on most fronts, but this sentimental expression took me a little off-guard (other than me pointing out that we chose when we got married.) So, yes at this time of year when reflecting what I am most thankful for, it is a great and caring husband and fantastic son, with son number two joining us early next year!

Where Did November Go?

Okay, I have to apologize for the delinquency in my blog posts for the month of November. It was a bit of a crazy month in all and I can't believe it escaped so quickly past my finger tips.

With less than eight weeks until our family grows by one, I think reality has truly finally hit us that we have a lot to do. Of course, the room is already set up, but I need to go through all of K's packed away clothes to see what baby may be able to re-purpose. Good thing that babies don't care much about their clothing that we can get away with reusing most stuff. (However, I am learning three-year-olds have very strong opinions on their clothing.) Closets are organized (woohoo!!) and we've started our gift-purchasing for the Christmas exchanges.

It's different this year, with D being at home, he's a lot more involved in the little intricacies around the holidays. For example, the advent calendar. Now, typically, I take this on and fill it with delectable treats for the three of us. With my gestational diabetes, I was counting myself out on the treats this year (but let me tell you, I am relishing having pie for dessert every night - that was the best suggestion the dietitian gave me, yet!) So, I was just planning on filling it with treats for the two men in my life. But D decided he wanted to help ... and pick out some of the advent goodies. He went a little overboard, and now K will be surprised with a mixture of sweets or toys (small enough to fit in the advent calendar, but big enough not to be concerned that they will be lost in the carpet.) It was kind of fun to watch my husband take this on as a personal mission and I think he is going to savor each night when K opens a door to take out his surprise. I think that's the best part. We both know that K will provide so much excitement when he sees what is in each door.

That's the great thing about kids, they truly appreciate little things and make them out to be bigger than life.

Nesting?

With less than ten weeks to go before our family grows a little bigger, it's finally hit me that we have some serious things to get in order. The biggest item, putting in a new closet organization system for our three-year-old. One, because I want the dresser for the nursery and two, to give him a little more room in his bedroom.

So, it's really all about trusting my gut. I did the research and suggested we go with the simple expandable closet organizer things you can get at Home Depot or Lowe's. They're not cheap, but they are a lot more reasonable than, say, California Closets. He's just got a reach-in closet, so our options are some what limited to begin with. D instead insists we go with a more extravagant (read more expensive) system from Ikea (yes, Ikea's solution was more expensive than Lowe's). So, I agreed to give it a try. Alas, it doesn't fit in the closet. After much sweat (D's, not mine) and trying to get it to fit, it's worthless, you cannot use the drawers. The closet is too odd shaped to accommodate the cookie-cutter, non-adjustable closet solution. Fortunately, we have a few other closets, where I think it could work and I won't feel like we completely wasted our money.

So, now it's back to my solution idea. I'd really like to get the closet thing done before December. I'll keep you posted if we make it there.