Merry Christmas!

Yes, I know.  Once again I have been MIA.  But I've been oh so busy.  We went to Michigan to visit family and enjoyed the feet of snow they had.  We went to Christmas parties, and had friends over to decorate cookies, and Joe's mom came to town to visit, and we went to see friends for Christmas eve.  I've baked and I've eaten and I've failed to pass my 1 hour glucose test, so I get to fast tonight and take the three hour first thing in the morning.  But I'm afraid my dr's office never sent my chart to the lab so I'm foreseeing a problem tomorrow.  Sigh.

Here I am this morning, post gift opening.  I'll be 30 weeks on Saturday.  Eep.

Gifts galore

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?

Joe and I decided we weren't really exchanging gifts this year since we don't really have the money for it.  I insisted on going out to get a tree, since he has never cut down his own Christmas tree and I felt some weird nesting-ish need to start a tradition that will probably never live on.  And then realized that we would be spending money to buy and decorate a tree that would have no presents under it.  So I started buying Joe little gifts here and there and before I knew it I was doing some full on Christmas shopping.  Oops.  

I haven't bought him anything particularly expensive or exciting.  I'd say the most expensive item was about $25.  But still, I'm not sure how I went from 'no gifts' to 'just a few to open Christmas morning' to 'Santa's freaking workshop.'

I've also been amazed at some of the deals I've been able to find, and bought a ton of stuff at K0hl's yesterday for $100.  I mean seriously, two maternity shirts for me (have I mentioned I've begun outgrowing shirts I bought 10 weeks ago?  Awesome.); pajamas, slippers, and a scarf for my friend; two shirts for my brother; a shirt for my dad; and pajama pants for Joe.  $100 people!

In case you're in desperate need of other ideas for people, here is a list of some other random items I've purchased so far this year:

mini loaf pans and pajamas for my mom (mini loaves!  nearly as good as muffins!)

warm throw blanket for my sister-in-law in Vermont

body wash and lotion in my mother-in-law's favorite scent

clothes, clothes, and more clothes for my father-in-law and Joe

Boring, but hopefully everyone will get stuff they like and actually want.

My brother is also asking for a stock pot for making soups and chili, so I'm hoping to get him one and then fill it with some hot sauce and spices or something.  

God, I love giving gifts.

Do you know the muffin man?

People love to ask me what I've been craving and really, I've been pretty boring in that regard.  I wouldn't say I have cravings, per se, just things that I want occasionally, but not in any different way than when I'm not pregnant.  I went through a couple of weeks where I just wanted a damn baked potato, so then we had baked potatoes for awhile and I got over it.  I mean, if you offered me one I'd take you up on it but I haven't been begging Joe to make them lately.  

I've always liked milk, cold and skim being my preference.  I remember studying in France and dying for a glass of milk and thoroughly confusing my host mom as she bought powdered milk and a warm box of milk from the shelf (??) before finally realizing that 'lait frais' was what I was after.  And sure enough, there have been a few weeks here and there during this pregnancy that I have been drinking a gallon of milk in a matter of days.  Yet milk, like the baked potatoes, wouldn't be what I consider a constant craving of the past couple of trimesters.

Interestingly, after eating four (4) muffins so far this morning, I might have to own up to the fact that I have eaten more muffins in the last 6 months than at any time in recent history.  It isn't as if I constantly want muffins, or think nonstop about when I can get my next muffin fix or anything like that.  I guess it's just a combination of the season (pumpkin muffins), jiffy mixes (blueberry muffins) and being too lazy to dig out my loaf pans (banana muffins).  Then there are the mornings before work where Joe will grab me a snack and I'll eat a huge chocolate or blueberry muffin at my desk just hours after having my cereal.  

This morning I was getting ready to do some holiday baking and scouring my cupboards for any extra flour or sugar when I found a box of orange cranberry muffin mix that has been in there for lord only knows how long.  I pulled it out, mixed it up, and put the muffins in the oven without even realizing what I was doing.  I figured Joe would wake up in time to have some breakfast with me.  Then I got to folding laundry and sorting through sale flyers when I realized how many muffins I had already eaten.  Um, Joe is still asleep.

I'm not sure if just eating a ton of something is what people mean when they ask about 'cravings' but I think the muffins might come close.  Now if you'll excuse me I think I'll go back to the kitchen to find another muffin.  Er, and fill up my third glass of milk.