Week 24: ‘Tis the season to be pregnant

I’ve been waiting to post about Christmas for at least a month now. I’m sitting here on the couch, watching the Saturday Night Live Christmas special and writing while gazing at our beautiful tree. I just love Christmas. I’ve always loved Christmas. And I know that doesn’t make me unique or special—there are MANY people who love Christmas. But this blog isn’t about them—it’s about me!
As you know by now, I am a big fan of lists (see: Week 18), so I decided to list a few of the multitude of reasons I love Christmas.
5) The music
Yes, I admit it. I am one of those people who absolutely adores Christmas music. However, I am NOT someone who starts listening to Christmas music in October. I have rules. I have standards. And mine is to wait until Thanksgiving has passed. It’s only fair to Thanksgiving, after all. I enjoy the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, eat my fill of turkey (especially while pregnant!), watch some football and visit with family. But once Black Friday hits, all bets are off. My radio is fixed firmly to our local Christmas radio station, and if you happen to pull up next me at a stop light, you may just hear a few bars of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” In fact, I’m fairly certain Baby P. may enter the world expecting Mariah Carey songs as lullabies every night.
4) The food
Holiday food is amazing. But with the way I enjoy my food while pregnant (everything just tastes better—see: Week 10), it’s downright dangerous for me to be pregnant during the holiday season. For some reason, I seem to have convinced myself that it’s OK if I overindulge here and there because it’s for the baby. Gag. I never wanted to be the person who blamed her lack of self control (see: Week 21) on her baby, but here I am, sneaking a cookie (or four) “the baby” wanted. I simply love the food—the Christmas cookies, the candies, the meals made completely of appetizers. It’s all fabulous. And filling. And for the baby.
3) Santa (and all of his little helpers)
We brought our daughter Olivia to see Santa two weeks ago. She went to see him last year, too (for her first Christmas!) and did great. She didn’t smile, but she let him hold her and was a good sport about photos. This year? At 16 months, it was a totally different story. Of course, it didn’t help that we had to wait an hour to see him because silly mommy forgot to check what time Santa takes his break. She didn’t mind him from a distance, but when I placed her on his lap—oh boy. The bright side? When I picked her up again, she was able to wave and give him a high five through her tears. And we got a fab photo for posterity.
2) The spirit of giving
I’ve always loved watching people open the gifts I give them much more than I enjoy opening gifts myself. But it’s not just that kind of giving I love at this time of year. Our always adopts a family in need for Christmas. Shopping and buying gifts from the family’s wish list is so much fun, and being able to deliver them in person is even more rewarding. Add to that the general good will people feel. Take today, for example. A woman heard Olivia crying and complaining in my arms while I was attempting to load groceries into the car. She came right over and offered to help me put my groceries away. Even though I told her I was fine, she insisted and helped load them anyway. Good will toward men!
1) The true meaning of Christmas
I am extra excited for Christmas this year because I am pregnant. Being visibly pregnant makes me feel closer in some way to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Thinking about the origin of Christmas, how it all began with the birth of baby, makes me feel incredibly grateful to be pregnant again with a baby of my own. And being pregnant means the emotions I always feel at Christmas will be even stronger. So this year, when I’m packing the diaper bag full of toys, books and snacks to keep Olivia content during Christmas Mass, I’ll be sure to pack a few extra packs of Kleenex!
Thank you so much for being loyal blog readers, and for joining me on my pregnancy journey. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Joy-filled New Year!