So we had a good Christmas holiday here in Florida. The night before Christmas Eve, we went out to a very fancy Brazillian Resturant for Gary's work Christmas. You pay one fee and then eat as much as you can. They have 14 different kinds of meat, and bring it around to you to try. I won't say how much my husband managed to eat, but I will say that he was eatting long after everyone else had quit, groaning in pain. I think they were shocked, and believe me now when I say, there is no filling him up.

Christmas Eve we had lunch at the Varnum's Christmas. Gary's grandfather is one of 5 brothers, and they all get together with their families. There were somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 to 100 people there. We enjoyed alot of food, and swapped gifts. Then us girls sat around and talked while most of the boys played football. That night, Gary and I swapped gifts. He got some movies, that we laid on the coach and watched.

Christmas Day, after trying to have Britt, we headed to Mom and Dad's for Christmas. We had a great big breakfast, swapped gifts, and then everyone managed to get a nap, but me. As tired as I was I couldn't get comfortable to sleep. We made it over to Granna's around 3:30 and played Dirty Santa, and then ate a bunch, before going home to crash. At home we watched a little more of Gary's movies, and then went to bed early.

Saturday after Christmas we went to Busch Gardens. It was at least 85, and super hot, but we enjoyed the Christmas shows that they had going on. It was a nice day just the two of us, walking around and stuff.

Provided that we aren't having a baby tonight or tomorrow, and I feel up to it, we both plan to be at Little Union for Church and a sing tonight, and for our annual picnic tomorrow. I've told Gary to plan on going tonight, even if I don't feel up to it. Just to keep the phone on in case I go into labor. haha.

I hope everyone else is having a great time too!

So I'm either about to be 37 weeks or 38 weeks, and for those of you who haven't heard. We tried to have Britt on Christmas Day, but the hospital wouldn't keep us.

Last Tuesday night I got about 3 maybe 3 1/2 hours of sleep, and then on Christmas Eve I only got about 2 1/2 hours of sleep. I started having contractions at 11:30 but managed to sleep from about midnight till 2:30 and when I was still having them about 3 mins apart at 6:30 we called Labor and Delivery at the hospital. They told us to drink two cups of water and lay down for an hour and if they didn't stop to call back. (They wanted us to be sure that we weren't dehydrated first.) So at 7:30 they were 4 minutes apart, but stronger so we called back, and they told us to come on up there. We were there from 8:30 to 9:30, and after I got out of the car in the parking lot, I didn't have another contraction till noon. They said I was 50% effaced, but only 1 cm dialated and a wiggle. I was so upset to have had contractions that long and not be anymore dialated than that. The nurse said that she had short stubby fingers and with Dr. Lamoutte (who checked me last time) I might be a 2. I had some light contractions from noon till bedtime, and felt pretty lousy all Christmas day. I would have liked to just stayed home, but we went on to Gary's mother's house and then to his grandmother's for Christmas. Then on Saturday after Christmas we went to Busch Gardens and walked around for 8 hours hoping to trigger labor and it was 85, but felt so much hotter. I had some good contractions Saturday too, but they didn't last more than a few hours. Same thing yesterday after we went walking at the park.

So I think today might be the day, or at least I really want it to be. Looking at our to do list, there isn't much left on it.

1) Get Gary to put together some of the baby stuff still in boxes. (He put together the bouncer, all that's left is the swing and play pen, and they can wait.)

2) Install car seat. (This one is going to happen today I'm sure of it, and if not, I suppose that just means Gary will be tackling it before Britt comes home from the hospital.)

3) Finish typing up and get printed my Scotland Journal for a certain professor back home, who gave me an A on the promise that I would have that done. Sorry Dr. B, it's only been a year and a half. (This one isn't happening anytime soon, lets be honest here.)

4) Catch up the Scrapbook through Christmas. This is part of Gary's Christmas present, and he thinks it's better to catch it up now, than after Britt gets here. (This one hasn't happened either, maybe it will maybe it won't depends on how long till Britt gets here.)

So I did manage to at least knock off half of my list.

Have you ever run out of something, and rushed off to the store after it, because it simply can't wait? That happened to me Saturday evening. At 9:45 at night I realized that there was something missing in our house that simply could not wait till the next day. So off to the grocery store I dashed, only to discover that at 10 at night they are all closed. So truely desperate I headed over to Walmart. Where I quickly found the item that I was searching for and went to stand in the express 20 or less line, for approximately 20 minutes. Upon finally getting to the front of the line, I was laughed at by the guy at the counter. I had a half gallon of Cookies and Cream Ice Cream and a 2 liter Coke for Gary (hey, he needed something for letting me out that late without rolling eyes and laughing, and besides it was only 88 cents). He asked me if I was craving something, and I replied, "We were out, I needed ice cream." Which of course only made him laugh more.

So Tuesday at the OB's office they told me that I'm dilated to 2 cm and that whenever he decides to show up works for them. As a result I think I need to re-evaluate that to do list from a week or so ago.


1-4 and 9, I have knocked out. Yeah! That's practally half the list.


Then earlier this week we went grocery shopping (to take care of 6, and the fact that we were completely out of everything except some noodles and eggs). I think I have everything that I could need for a while. I figure anything else Gary can pick up coming home from work, or I might can recruit some sweet people to pick up if I really needed.


I spent a chunk of the day yesterday cleaning up around the house, and Mom has told me that she will come over tomorrow and we will do the deep cleaning stuff. I'm glad that she wants to help, but something tells me that she's not going to let me do ANYTHING. :) That will take care of 5.


From the orginal list that just leaves...


7) Get Gary to put together some of the baby stuff still in boxes. (Hopefully this will be taken care of by Christmas.)


8) Install car seat - this one can wait till after Christmas. (I still don't see him getting here before then.)


10) Do something super special for Gary for all his patience and hard work lately. (I'm still trying to come up with something for this.)


There are unfortunitely a few things that we have thought of that need to be added to the list.


1) Finish typing up and get printed my Scotland Journal for a certain professor back home, who gave me an A on the promise that I would have that done. Sorry Dr. B, it's only been a year and a half.


2) Catch up the Scrapbook through Christmas. This is part of Gary's Christmas present, and he thinks it's better to catch it up now, than after Britt gets here.


3) Still have to find something for my dad for Christmas, and finish my mother's gift.

4) Mail our Christmas cards.

5) Get addresses and mail this been finished pile of Thank you notes.

So eight simple chores. I can handle that.

So I've been telling everyone who will listen for about a week now that I'm ready to evict Britt. They all keep telling me enjoy every minute, you'll miss this, and he's not ready yet. I think a few of them have forgotten how tiring it gets to be at 8 months.

So I was very happy when I went to the OB yesterday. He told me that I am 2 cm dialated. Britt's at station 0, meaning he has dropped as far as he will/can before I start pushing. They verified that he is head down and stuff. I asked them about the odds of him coming early since I was 3 1/2 weeks early. They said that if I was 3 today after being nothing last week that they would say he was definately going to be early, but since I was only 2, he could come next week or I could stay at 2 for another 3 weeks. I suppose we'll just have to see. In any event, since I'm measuring 36 weeks and he is at least 6 lbs, they said if I were to go into labor tonight, that they wouldn't stop it. I guess I'm just waiting on him now. So see I'm not as crazy as everyone thinks for being ready for him to get here.

Mother was excited to hear and told me to keep them posted. Mom on the other hand flipped out, it's so funny but I think it's getting real to her. She kept saying that she's not ready to have another grandkid here yet. She's insisting that I not do anything - walk, move, vaccum, ANYTHING. I kept reminding her that this doesn't mean he'll be here tomorrow, but she's convinced that she needs to come and clean our house this week, and that I shouldn't do anything. My OB specifically said there is no reason to put me on bedrest or restrict anything just not to run any marathons or do areobics right now.

I still don't think he'll be here before Christmas, but just before New Year's would be nice.

I suppose that living in Florida has it's moments. For example, how Gary's family got together at the Beach this past weekend. I've never been to the beach in December, in fact in all I've been to the beach period, a grand total of 7 times (all but 2 of those since getting married). I'm not much of a beach person, but I do have to admit it's fun to remind the family that while they are freezing to death at home, that I was hanging out at the beach.

We had a good time visiting with each other, even if it was a tiring weekend. Friday night we spent hanging out mostly around a fire out on the beach, which was a first for me, and alot of fun. Gary told me that they roast marshmellows on palm leaves/sticks. Which I found funny, but we didn't get to try cause no one remembered to bring marshmellows. So instead we stuffed Brystal full of cookies, much to her mother's chargin.

Then on Saturday we spent some time sitting out on the beach. Most of the others went out in the kyack, but after watching James flip everyone when they got back, I opted to stay in warm, dry clothes on the sand. Gary and I found some pretty cool things out on the beach when he got back from working: a feather (probably from a pelican), a huge weird looking shell with stuff growing on it, two sea urchins (one was still alive, I'd never seen one before), a starfish (which might have still been alive), and bunches of pieces of sand dollars. We had a nice time.

Ok, I think I'm done with Britt's Nursery... for real this time. I made Gary move the beds around last night, and then I moved the dresser and my hope chest again this morning. We managed to knock a couple of things off that to do list last night (aka taking care of Britt's closet and my laundry closet).

So we are 33 weeks and 5 days along. That means at most Britt will be here in 49 days (cause they will only let me go 4 days over my due date), at best he'll be here in 3 weeks. I'm personally hoping for 36 weeks because he is starting to get heavy, and I just plain exhausted all day, most every day now. With that said if Britt is really going to be here in 3 to 7 weeks then I have alot to get done around here. So I thought I would make myself a little check list (thanks for the idea Kelly).

1) Finish wrapping Christmas presents - we are done shopping but seriously need to get them wrapped and put away under the tree.

2) Clean off desk in Britt's room - I need to get all that stuff in a filing cabinet so that we can get the desk out of there.

3) Clean out Britt's closet - right now I need to get some of that stuff to a new home, cause I can't get in there.

4) Get things put away in the laundry closet - Gary got my shelf put up, so now I need to get things put away on it, and out of my floor.

5) Serious deep cleaning - For some reason I really feel like the fridge needs scrubbing and the dust on the fan blades is unacceptable, etc. Not to mention the dust building up every where else, and the fact that my bedroom floor hasn't seen the vacuum cleaner in about a month.

6) Organize and stock up pantry - So that I don't have to go grocery shopping for at least a month or so.

7) Get Gary to put together some of the baby stuff still in boxes.

8) Install car seat - this one can wait till after Christmas.

9) Pack diaper bag - I've managed to pack my labor bag with my stuff in it, but I need to pack a diaper bag with Britt's stuff in it.

10) Do something super special for Gary for all his patience and hard work lately.

I want to have the Christmas tree put up as soon after Thanksgiving as possible. I suppose I got that from Mother. We usually put up our tree at home the first available Sunday afternoon, after Thanksgiving weekend that everyone was home. Generally around the first of December. I managed to get our tree put up on Wed. I always enjoy looking at the ornaments and remembering when we got certain ones, or a story about a Christmas that one reminds me of.

I always love going home, but I especially love going home for Thanksgiving. It's my favorite time of year. The one holiday that is about thanking God for all He's done, and continues to do for us, for everything that he gives us, for everything really. Unlike Christmas and Easter which have been taken over by Santa Claus and that giant chocolate giving bunny, this holiday is pretty much still the same.

We always spend Thanksgiving Day with my dad's side of the family up in Tennessee. We have all the normal food, but the best part is Mother's pumpkin pies, A. Cindy's chocolate chip cookies, and whip cream for both. We always spend time together, and often play Baulderdash and or watch movies (either the Santa Clause or It's a Wonderful Life). It's just a great time together.

Since I no longer live at home, and see my family less often, my mother's side of the family get together most anytime I come up, so we were able to spend the Friday after Thanksgiving with them. It was so nice. We watched football, and ate, and talked, just hung out together really.

This year we spent some time listening to family and Church stories from the past. We spent sometime in Tennessee (me and Daddy) visiting with Uncle Nob. He is actually my great-great-uncle, and had been in the hospital this past week. I always love hearing stories of him and Daddy Elwin when they were growing up, and all the things they did to Poppa Mallard. Daddy always speaks so highly of Daddy Elwin (his grandfather) who died when Daddy was 12, that I always love to hear about him. We visited with him for about 2 hours and heard all kinds of stories about them growing up and found out that Uncle Nob was actually one of three Noble Alfred Mallards in the family (him a great uncle, and a cousin - weird huh?), and how he considered Ma'am (his grandmother who smoked a pipe) and Aunt Tish (his sister) to be "Mothers in Isreal" how they knew as much scripture or more than preachers and could take them aside and lovingly correct them when they were wrong, and even the story of how he joined the church after trying so long to be anything else but Primitive Baptist (especially funny considering that he's been a preacher as long as I can remember).

Then I got Grandmother and Granddaddy to tell me how they met and what life was like on the farm growing up on Friday evening. I even got to video some of that. By all accounts you would have thought that Grandmother and Graddaddy would never have gotten married, every time there was something in the way, the first time she was 12, then they dated but Granddaddy went into the service, then he thought she was engaged, then she really was engaged. It's a wonder that they ever got married.

I love to hear those sorts of family stories. One of the things that I wanted to do as a historian, was put together oral histories. For example, find a bunch of people who lived through WWII and have them tell me about life at home or at war, their beliefs, what got them through hard times, etc. Then put all those stories together, and write about what you could learn about the times and past in general from many individual stories. They just mean even more when those sorts of stories are from your own family, or Church members.

It was a great Thanksgiving.

Saturday before I left to go home, Gary took me out for my early Christmas present. He really planned the whole thing out and I was very impressed. First he took me out to dinner over in Clearwater at Bellaire. Then we went to see Phantom on stage at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The view up and down the baywalk was beautiful.

I spent some time with my mother out at good old East Lawrence today. I got to see several teachers at the middle school and high school. Mother is not just teaching the kids of students anymore, but she has nieces, nephews, cousins, and younger siblings to people I knew in school, and even the grandchild of one of my teachers. I had forgotten just how talkative and fidgety 4th graders are. While they can be so annoying (read no one disciplines several of them at home), they can also be amusing too.

Female Student: Mrs. Mallard?

Mother: Yes?

Female Student: If hermit means to live alone, does that mean that hermit crabs live alone?

Mother: (trying not to laugh) Well, they do live alone in their shell.

As usual, most of them were amazed to see one of her kids show up in class. I suppose with all of us grown up and out of school, they don't see one of us in her room very often anymore. They then started guessing at her age.

Class: Who are you?

Me: Mrs. Mallard's daughter.

Class: (Lots of chatter) You are not! Yes, she is she talks just like her. How old are you?

Me: I'm 23.

Class: How old is your mother?

Me: I'll let you ask her that.

Female Student: She's 33.

Male Student: No, she's 100.

Me: My grandmother isn't even that old.

Male Student: Ok, she's 80

Mother: (walking back in to the room) No, I'm 95. Now get back to work.

Some were amazed that their teacher was almost a hundred. Others a little brighter, decided that she was definately 40 maybe 42. Like I said it was an amusing day.

Today we had our 4-D ultrasound appointment. The place that does these really encourages you to bring the entire family, so Gary and I had invited Mom and Dad to go along with us, and two special friends Kelly and Sara. Mom and Dad had to work and couldn't come, and Kelly was obviously elsewhere; so Sara, Gary, and I treked over to Lakeland today to catch our first glimpse of Britt. When we got to the place, there were tons of people. After a slight problem with paperwork, and a relatively short delay we were able to go back and oh what we saw! I can't tell you how amazing and clear it was. The best part, we paid for 20 minutes but got to see him for 45 (the hour package was twice what we paid), and while I have lots of pictures on a cd, my cd drive isn't working so 3 will have to do you for now.

Above, a little further out a view of the left side of the mural. Below, his crib. Pardon if these are a little bit fuzzy, I was having trouble getting clear pictures with the poor lighting.