You Know I Get More Thoughtful This Time of Year

It's traditional in my Family of Origin (what a term, right?) to bring out the Christmas music on Thanksgiving. I follow that tradition in my own family (of two for now, well four counting Lucy & Pasqua) to some extent, but I get restless and round about my birthday (which was Monday) or a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, I pull out the music. I don't subject B to it until Thanksgiving, because he'll be patient with me enough to listen to it nonstop until December 25. Then it gets lovingly packed away and he makes a HUGE deal of putting in secular music and listening to it with an all-too-pleased look on his face.

Anyway, this year, I brought out the Christmas music two weeks ago. I've been listening to it while I have visitors, while I'm reading and while I'm just lying about being the Woman of Leisure that I am these days (hah hah hah hah ahhhhhh). The following is a Christmas song with which I have bonded this year. I am particularly fond of the lyrics, and Frank Sinatra sang it - which makes it even better in my mind. So, I looked up the lyrics and realized that it is a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow! Imagine my delight to find that this song that I've listened to over and over again is actually a poem by one of the best poets in the world!

I particularly love the second to last stanza, so pay attention! Enjoy your Christmas or Hanukkah Season (or both). And I hope that your Season is as hopeful and joyous and blessed as ours is!

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Alas, No Video

I wish I could show you what I look down and see all the time. These babies are getting so big and so active all the time that my belly is constantly changing direction. Andre is in town for November and is babysitting me while B is out of town. She has been absolutely fabulous! Andre has cooked meals three times a day - and three snacks - and generally taken wonderful care of me. I'm very very lucky to have someone so nice doing nice things! I'm getting a little spoiled! But that's not what I'm writing about.

Andre is here. Andre has a voice like no other voice in the world. For being right at 6 feet tall, Andre has a very high voice. She was reading to me about something on Monday night and the strangest thing started happening. The babies started shifting my belly all around! When Andre starts talking, they start kicking and playing. I truly believe that they like her! A Lot! Andre kept reading and Barbarosa (who was in town for this occasion) and I just sat there and watched them kick and turn and play. The Boy (for that's what we've named him) has a crush on Andre, we've decided. He's the one that starts all the kicking and then The Girl (for that's what we've named her) joins in after. He's an instigator.

I wish I had video of the belly to share. Perhaps Someday I might share some. But in the meantime, Go Team Beaker!

What happens when B starts nesting

When we started, Brett had a Man Room. The walls were dark blue (not our choice, but we left them when we moved in) and covered in posters of concerts he'd attended. He had a desk made of pieces of plywood that had been hot glued together. His room was a catch-all for anything that wasn't in the playroom (which has since become our shared office and guest room). Note the stain on the carpet.

We let my oldest big brother have his way with the closet and the floors and this is what happened! We have gorgeous hardwood floors in there now and an expanded closet to fit all the baby clothes and supplies.

After getting the office done, and taking a break for a week, B started painting. The new color is a beautiful spring green that is cool and soothing for our little Beans.

Then came the construction of the cribs. CribSSSSS. Two. Brett obviously had help in the form of The Little Blond Bombshell. She was really more management than anything. B built the cribs in under three hours, there was minimal amounts of cussing and he only lost patience with Management (Lucy & Pasqualina) two or three times. He's really good at putting together cribs. I might be willing to hire him out.

And there's the first one finished! He did a great job! He's very handy with an Alan Wrench. Allen Wrench? Cribs, check!!

And here's the almost finished product! The bumpers are in(ish), though they won't be staying once the Babes arrive due to SIDS and my terror of that awful tragedy. We'll put them back once they've outgrown the risk of SIDS and we lower the mattresses to past infant size.

Didn't he do an amazing job? He's so Smart!!

Now we just need some babies to go in those cribs!

GROW TEAM BEAKER!!!

Bed Rest.

I went to see the OB today (we'll see the specialist tomorrow) and he has officially put me on bed rest starting today. Part of me is relieved - the extra weight has been really making me knees and feet hurt and I get really tired really quickly. But part of me realizes that I'm going to be stuck in bed for a long long time! I have lots of activities to keep me busy: books, scrapbooking, crossword puzzles, magazines, movies... I'm so happy that there are lots of people who want to come visit while I'm resting also. That will help kill the boredom. Some.

I'm happy though! The Babes have been kicking and playing and having a good old time in there! It's so nice when I get to feel them on a regular basis. I enjoy feeling them - it's nice to know that ultimately, I'm not alone!

My Little Beaker Team. GROW TEAM BEAKER!