All of my contributions to Thanksgiving Dinner are complete. All that is left is to pack up the car and head down to my sister’s house this afternoon.
I made four pies: Apple, Pumpkin and two Pecan.

And last night I whipped up a batch of Cranberry Orange Relish (so easy) and Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta and Balsamic Vinegar (hoping it’s ‘yummo’).

I am sure it will be a crazy day. There will be 20+ people there, mostly under 18, which will only be my parents and their children and their children’s children. And even though there are so many, we will still be missing at least twelve family members. It is difficult to explain what it is like to have eight brothers and sisters during the holiday season.

I have had an underlying worry over the past few weeks. I feel huge. My belly is shaped differently than with the Zerker, but I am obviously pregnant and I really do think I look way bigger than last time at this gestational period. Still, I do not feel anything moving. I know I am only 16 weeks, but I feel so big, it seems like I should feel movement. I thought I felt butterfly wing movements at around 12-13 weeks. I do not feel those anymore, but Holy Moses the kid is growing.

All of this worry caused me to look back at my posts with the Zerker. I feel better now, knowing I had the same worries then and nothing was wrong….
I have a doctor’s appt on Monday. I hope my fears will find some peace for a few more weeks then.
Our big ultrasound is scheduled for the week of Christmas.

Now, I turn to giving thanks….
I am thankful for:
My husband.
My daughter.
The Blobbles.
Our furry kidlets – Gus, Starbuck, Grace and Mittens.
My parents and brothers and sisters.
My job.
Our house and cars and stability.
The grace of Providence.
And big big smiles…..

I committed a second year to the Providence Associates this past weekend. In some ways I didn’t feel like I got the full experience last year because of timing, I couldn’t go to any of the retreats, but in most ways I have never felt more connected to the Woods since I graduated. I told my friend Ellen that I think I have visited there more over the past two years than I have for the ten years since my graduation.

Like the way I said ‘ten years’ since my graduation?  Ugh! And you know what else? I am going to be either a new second mommy or nine months pregnant right around the time my ten year reunion comes along. It is somewhat disappointing, because I didn’t get to go to my five year reunion due to my best friends wedding. Both are excellent excuses, but darn I really want to go back and get wildly drunk with all my old college buds without fear of being caught by an RA. Oh well, life happens – and weddings and babies are blessings. That fifteen year reunion is going to be a doozy!

Also this past weekend Nadie and I became the godparents to my niece DeLainey Marie. You might remember she was born at 26 weeks in April of this year. She is doing great. She is off of oxygen and at home. She looked so precious in her little baptismal dress. I am very honored to be her godmother. I have never been a godmother before.  For her present we did give her a cross that said ‘Bless this Baby Girl’, but my favorite was that I got Delainey and the Zerker BFF necklaces. Granted they will not wear them for a while, but I think it is special.

Oh – and I am really excited because I am cantoring at my church this Sunday.  If you aren’t familiar with the term, the  cantor is the song leader at a catholic mass. I have done a lot of cantoring in the past, but I hadn’t been so bold at my new church to volunteer until a few weeks ago. Today the music director called and asked if I would be willing to step in. The thing is that I don’t sing nearly enough these days – and I sort of feel like if I don’t then I am not doing what I am called to do…It is a month of ‘Time, Talent and Treasure’ in the diocese and we are expected to give where we can…Now Nadie can have fun holding the Zerker all mass long!

I was talking to Nadie this morning. This time before the big ultrasound is  so exciting/frustrating. I can think of great reasons for either gender. If we have a boy, that is great because then we have a boy and a girl! If we have a girl, that is great because then we have two sisters – and I think that having a sister is an amazing experience. Either way – we win!

Gratuitous happy baby picture…..

The Zerker took full advantage of her first Halloween. She stayed up partying with her cousins until 11 o’clock. Oh my! I am guessing she will be taking two naps today….

She was THE cutest Yoda EVEH!

And she was accompanied by Obi Wan Kenobi and a Storm Trooper….

Next year I am thinking the Zerker can be Princess Leia with the Blobble being Luke Skywalker. (That way Nadie can wear his new Jedi Cloak and Light Sabre again.)

Friday’s OB appt was uneventful. I forgot how simple those things are. BP check, weight check, Urine sample and a listen to the heartbeat on the doppler and we were good to go. The heartbeat was easy to find (unlike this appt with the Zerker) and a good strong 150 bpm. I feel ok now to ‘come out of the closet’ with the pregnancy now.

Happy Halloween!