Hey There 2012!

Hey there! We're still alive and kicking (kind of) in my corner of the world. We've done some serious celebrating over the past few weeks with Christmas and New Years and my sister's birthday, too. We had some incredible times and made some precious memories. Lots of fun has come and gone and I'm so, so, so grateful for all that the season brought us.

We've also been snotty and boogery and all-over-sickly since the week BEFORE Christmas. It seems that we've passed the same head cold around a few times each and even had a bout with a stomach bug in there, too. This, I'm not so grateful for. Fingers crossed that we're on the road to recovery soon.

I've got about a million pictures that I need to edit and upload from all the holiday gatherings. I also have about that many thoughts going through my head right now that I really need to get out. I don't really have time just now to write it all out or think it all out right now...GRRR. I think I'll just lay a few things out here bullet style if ya don't mind. It'll help clear my mind. :)

*We're finally 'All Done' with nursing. We were already going down that road but all of the chaos of the holidays sped us along to the end quicker than I anticipated. Preslie doesn't seem any worse for the wear, though, so I guess that's okay. Once or twice in the past week or so she's asked to nurse but before she'll settle down to actually do it, she's forgotten or gotten distracted or fallen asleep. The first day that we didn't nurse at all...and that she didn't ASK to nurse at all...I cried. A lot. She'll occasionally pat my breast when she's drifting off to sleep and say, 'All done nurses." So bittersweet. But all's well that ends well, right? I officially have a 'Big Girl' now.

*The fact that we no longer nurse is probably going to be a good thing, though, as I'm going to start earning my keep around here next week. Me and P are going to be babysitting a friend's 3 month old daughter a couple of days a week. Should be good practice for us both...for me to see if I could really handle two kiddos at once (maybe one day!) and for PJ, to see about the whole jealousy issue and having to share her mama. It will mean a little extra money will be floating around, too. Woo-hoo!

*I've got plans for that moola, too...it's going in the 'Another Baby...Maybe' fund. Since we're seriously thinking about getting back on the crazy carnival ride that is Infertility...or Subfertility...or whatever I'm classified as now, we've gotta get some bills payed off and get a little money in the bank, ya know? It's also going to pay for a gym membership for Yours Truly. That's right!! Fat Kelli is going to sweat it out with all the skinny folks who are working on their New Year's resolutions at the local gym. Awesome. Really, I am kind of looking forward to it. We have a place here that doesn't require a monthly membership and is cheap...just right for me. :) Not only will it help with my weight loss/baby making goals, it will get me out of the house without a child. Double woo-hoo!! :D

*Speaking of getting healthier, I started back taking Metformin this week (Holy Hannah, that stuff is killer! Why did I ever stop taking it!?) and my body does NOT like getting back into the swing of things. That also means that we're back to eating Low-Carb. Between the Met and the dietary changes, my GI track isn't thanking me just yet. I do believe that I'll be waiting for my system to level out before I hop on an elliptical machine at the gym. ;) Wouldn't want to embarrass myself more than I already will be.

*In other baby news, a cousin announced his wife's pregnancy today. They are both super people who will be wonderful parents and they are so excited. And I'm so glad for them. Really. So, I couldn't tell you why I cried when I read their announcement (on Fa.ceb.ook, of course) and felt incredibly, horribly jealous of them. I am a terrible person. Here I sit with my beautiful, perfect baby girl...my very own miracle...and yet I felt that same gut-wrenching feeling that I used to feel before she came along. I have absolutely NO reason to feel ill toward them or be jealous of them or their blessings. It makes me wonder if I'll ever be 'normal' in that respect again or if IF has scarred me in yet another way. I totally didn't expect to feel that way and it stinks.

*And speaking of babies yet again, my house seems to have been invaded by them. Preslie Jo got 6, yes S-I-X, baby dolls for Christmas (not counting the ones that she already had), along with a baby changing station, baby pack 'n' play, a baby stroller, a baby carrier, a baby high chair...and all the requisite baby gear and a baby sized diaper bag to put it all in. It looks a little like the baby doll aisle at the toy store threw up in my living room. :) She loves her babies, though, and has given most of them names. She talks to them and tries to change their diapers and wipe their faces and feed them. It is so sweet...and another one of those things that I didn't ever think I'd ever see happen in my life. I love it...mess and all!

*Preslie will say absolutely anything these days. ANYTHING. She repeats everything and doesn't seem to forget anything. My personal favorite, of course, is "I lub (love) ew(you), Mama". PRICELESS. Some of the less priceless ones include 'feet stink', 'booger', and 'toot'. :D It's the best! She really is so much fun right now. Even though I sometimes miss the sweet, tiny baby stage (but not the screaming, bleary-eyed lack of sleep stage...er, year), I wouldn't trade where we are right now for anything in the world.

Well, it seems that I've vented my spleen for tonight and now my mind's a bit clearer, even if my post is all over the place! :)

It's past my bedtime, especially since I had planned on going to bed early. Oh well...there's always tomorrow night for that. ;) Hope you all had a wonderfully blessed holiday and that the new year finds you happy, healthy and well. Adios!