The Maternity Mug
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I definitely (do not) need this
Since Facebook knows that I moonlight as a doula, this is the kind of thing I see in the sponsored ads.
The Maternity Mug
The Maternity Mug
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rob Your Neighbor...The Fun Rules
It seems that just about every holiday party includes some incarnation of Rob Your Neighbor (or Dirty Santa or White Elephant or whatever), but frankly, none are as fun as the one we play with my dad's side of the family at our annual Christmas gathering. And since I want you to have fun at your next family Christmas party, I'm gifting you our rules. I'm not claiming any ownership on this version. This is just what my aunt started us on several years ago and it works for us. Bookmark this for next year.
1. No little kids. They get their feelings hurt and complicate things.
2. The gifts should be real, not gag gifts. Our range is usually $5-15 and each adult should bring at least one, though most of us bring extras. Often they are very practical. Sometimes they are regifts, which is fine as long as it is not a gag gift. In the past we've seen toilet paper, candy, popcorn, coffee/cocoa, board games, DVDs, lottery tickets, and car accessories.
3. Make the packaging interesting as this is what makes a gift desirable. Last year, we used the box from Noa's mattress to wrap a broom (see picture). We save interesting shapes and sizes of boxes throughout the year.
4. No unwrapping until the game is over! The game is fun because of the stealing and because of the potential humor in the fact that the most elegantly wrapped gift might be the most undesirable once it is opened.
5. There are no limits on steals, ever. Gifts can be stolen more than three times. They can go back and forth between the same two people. You don't have to clear the pile in the middle before you start to steal.
6. No hiding gifts. And if you do, be prepared to be called out...Dad.
7. Someone sets a timer for an unknown amount of time (I think ours is 20-30 minutes).
8. Players take turns rolling two dice.
9. Players get a gift (either from the pile in the middle or stolen from another player) for every 6 that they roll. If they roll double sixes, they get two gifts.
10. If you roll a double of any number, you roll again. If you happen to roll double sixes three times in a row, your turn is over (this results in six gifts so you shouldn't be sad).
11. In the past, I'm fairly certain we played a lightning round. When the timer sounds, the host resets the clock for another unknown period of time (2-4 minutes) and players roll as quickly as they can for their last chance at their favorite gifts. This step is optional.
12. When the final timer sounds, the gift distribution will not be even. Some players will have one gift, some will have five. For players with ZERO gifts, they can pick one gift only from any other player, so if there is something they really want, ending with zero could really work in their favor.
13. After all the gifts are open, the trading starts. At our party this year, it turned into a live auction with my brother negotiating trades between players. Some offers were accepted, some not. I traded a mini chopper (which I already had) for some water guns.
With these rules, I'll guarantee that everyone will have fun playing and go home (relatively) happy with their gifts!
1. No little kids. They get their feelings hurt and complicate things.
2. The gifts should be real, not gag gifts. Our range is usually $5-15 and each adult should bring at least one, though most of us bring extras. Often they are very practical. Sometimes they are regifts, which is fine as long as it is not a gag gift. In the past we've seen toilet paper, candy, popcorn, coffee/cocoa, board games, DVDs, lottery tickets, and car accessories.
3. Make the packaging interesting as this is what makes a gift desirable. Last year, we used the box from Noa's mattress to wrap a broom (see picture). We save interesting shapes and sizes of boxes throughout the year.
4. No unwrapping until the game is over! The game is fun because of the stealing and because of the potential humor in the fact that the most elegantly wrapped gift might be the most undesirable once it is opened.
5. There are no limits on steals, ever. Gifts can be stolen more than three times. They can go back and forth between the same two people. You don't have to clear the pile in the middle before you start to steal.
6. No hiding gifts. And if you do, be prepared to be called out...Dad.
7. Someone sets a timer for an unknown amount of time (I think ours is 20-30 minutes).
8. Players take turns rolling two dice.
9. Players get a gift (either from the pile in the middle or stolen from another player) for every 6 that they roll. If they roll double sixes, they get two gifts.
10. If you roll a double of any number, you roll again. If you happen to roll double sixes three times in a row, your turn is over (this results in six gifts so you shouldn't be sad).
11. In the past, I'm fairly certain we played a lightning round. When the timer sounds, the host resets the clock for another unknown period of time (2-4 minutes) and players roll as quickly as they can for their last chance at their favorite gifts. This step is optional.
12. When the final timer sounds, the gift distribution will not be even. Some players will have one gift, some will have five. For players with ZERO gifts, they can pick one gift only from any other player, so if there is something they really want, ending with zero could really work in their favor.
13. After all the gifts are open, the trading starts. At our party this year, it turned into a live auction with my brother negotiating trades between players. Some offers were accepted, some not. I traded a mini chopper (which I already had) for some water guns.
With these rules, I'll guarantee that everyone will have fun playing and go home (relatively) happy with their gifts!
Monday, January 2, 2012
2011, The Hardest & Best Year: December Edition
At the beginning of December, my mom, Jenni, and I got to visit the newly reopened Peabody Opera House to see the Nutcracker. It was a great way to kick off the Christmas season. I promise that's Jenni's head in the picture.
Jon's grandad came to stay with us for a few weeks. Here he is learning how to use the iPad.
Just before Christmas, my parents took us to Branson for a couple of days. Most of the attractions and shows were closed for the holidays but we were able to a few things and we had a great place to stay. The Titanic museum was actually a really cool attraction, although of course a little sad. And we had a good time being there for my parents' first trip to Lambert's, home of the throwed rolls.
Noa celebrated his first Christmas and was spoiled by everyone.
We had some I family photos taken by the talented Laura Sohn.
And we found out we are having a girl. Still getting used to that idea. We are pretty immersed in blue around here. Both grandmas have started shopping in the pink section so I try to sneak a peek at the ruffles and dresses already hanging in the closet whenever I can.
In the final moments of 2011, I felt Baby Girl move on the outside for the first time instead of just the internal flutters I'd been feeling occasionally. She kicked my hand!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2011, The Hardest & Best Year: November Edition
November started with a hugely generous gift from a very special friend. My dear Kelly made it possible for Noa and I to fly to Texas to spend the weekend with her and Sarah (it was Noa's first plane trip). While the three of us had seen each other individually over the past two years, it was the first time we were all together since our weekend in Tucson in January 2010. I also got to spend a little time catching up with Vernon and Amber.
We brought back a really fun souvenir from Texas - a stomach virus. Noa was sick for a total of about 12 hours but when it finally hit me, it took me a few days to start feeling better. A few days and a trip to the ER for IV fluids.
Later in the month, Jon and I got to have a real adult date night with a trip to the Fox to see Jim Gaffigan. Hi-lar-i-ous. For example...
On November 20, we celebrated our 3rd Rayiversary. Here he is picking out his treats. I'm so glad we brought you home with us three years ago, buddy! Can't imagine our little family without you.
Noa got off to a good start with Santa.
November ended with a very nice Thanksgiving (except for the part where Kim's face was broken), two family birthdays (Maverick & Papa), and a wedding.
We brought back a really fun souvenir from Texas - a stomach virus. Noa was sick for a total of about 12 hours but when it finally hit me, it took me a few days to start feeling better. A few days and a trip to the ER for IV fluids.
Later in the month, Jon and I got to have a real adult date night with a trip to the Fox to see Jim Gaffigan. Hi-lar-i-ous. For example...
On November 20, we celebrated our 3rd Rayiversary. Here he is picking out his treats. I'm so glad we brought you home with us three years ago, buddy! Can't imagine our little family without you.
Noa got off to a good start with Santa.
November ended with a very nice Thanksgiving (except for the part where Kim's face was broken), two family birthdays (Maverick & Papa), and a wedding.
2011, The Hardest & Best Year: October Edition
In October, we had a huge 25th anniversary and homecoming weekend at the church where I now work and where I attended from age 12 to about 30.
Robin Jones Gunn, one of my favorite authors of Christian chick lit, came to town for a women's conference and I got to meet her for the second time.
We traveled to Memphis for Brad (Jon's cousin) & Amanda's beautiful wedding. (Hope it's okay that I stole this picture from your Facebook profile, Amanda.)
There was a little event called the World Series which, in case you haven't heard, the Cardinals won!
On Halloween, we celebrated my mom's birthday with a petting zoo in her backyard. My dad outdid himself with this one.
Robin Jones Gunn, one of my favorite authors of Christian chick lit, came to town for a women's conference and I got to meet her for the second time.
We traveled to Memphis for Brad (Jon's cousin) & Amanda's beautiful wedding. (Hope it's okay that I stole this picture from your Facebook profile, Amanda.)
There was a little event called the World Series which, in case you haven't heard, the Cardinals won!
On Halloween, we celebrated my mom's birthday with a petting zoo in her backyard. My dad outdid himself with this one.
2011, The Hardest & Best Year: September Edition
Oh, September. The day after Labor Day we were completely shocked to find out that we are pregnant again. Without going into awkward details, I will just say that this was highly unlikely. For one thing, it took us two years and a miscarriage to get pregnant with Noa. Well, whatever was broken seems to be fixed because I am now a baby factory. It took us a while to get used to the idea of another baby and we felt a little sheepish having to tell our families our news, but everyone has been very supportive and now I am really excited about having two kids so close in age (15 months apart).
A few days later, we noticed Noa's first tooth (7 months old) and a day later, we saw number 2! (As of today, 1/1/2012, he has six.)
In the middle of the month, I attended my first birth as a doula. Thankfully, I had a wonderful experience doula to watch and be coached by. The whole experience was really amazing. The mom made labor look so easy and beautiful. It was hard work, yes, but this mom knew that the payoff at the end was getting to hold her beautiful baby. It was lovely and this is the birth that I hope will be my inspiration when it is time for me to give birth again in May. Oh, I forgot to mention, our due date is Mother's Day.
Noa because a stair climber in September, as in never paying any attention to them one day and scaling them from bottom to top the next.
I closed out September by attending a doula training workshop. This was a huge step towards becoming certified. I learned a ton and met a bunch of fantastic women.
Again, no pictures this month but here's a cute video from Labor Day weekend.
A few days later, we noticed Noa's first tooth (7 months old) and a day later, we saw number 2! (As of today, 1/1/2012, he has six.)
In the middle of the month, I attended my first birth as a doula. Thankfully, I had a wonderful experience doula to watch and be coached by. The whole experience was really amazing. The mom made labor look so easy and beautiful. It was hard work, yes, but this mom knew that the payoff at the end was getting to hold her beautiful baby. It was lovely and this is the birth that I hope will be my inspiration when it is time for me to give birth again in May. Oh, I forgot to mention, our due date is Mother's Day.
Noa because a stair climber in September, as in never paying any attention to them one day and scaling them from bottom to top the next.
I closed out September by attending a doula training workshop. This was a huge step towards becoming certified. I learned a ton and met a bunch of fantastic women.
Again, no pictures this month but here's a cute video from Labor Day weekend.
2011, The Hardest & Best Year: August Edition
August was quiet. I played Bunco for the first time. Noa made it to the six month mark and became really mobile. That's about it. I'll leave you with this cuteness.
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