Thanksgiving :)

Jon, Shanea, Celena, Jonathon, VaLynn, Alexis, and Sterling.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is over already :( The holidays are going by so fast. We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving! Jonathon, Alexis, and I drove up north Tuesday the 23rd.. and spent a whole week up at his moms house. Jonathon's cousins from California surprised everyone and made it for Thanksgiving! We ate really yummy food all week long :) The night before Thanksgiving we had a Thanksgiving dinner with just Jonathon's immediate family. We had his Mom, Dad, VaLynn, Shanea, Sterling, Jonathon, Alexis, and myself. Jesse had to work so he couldn't be there.. and of course Crystal is on a mission. Celena made the best dinner, and we all got to visit and go around the table and say what we are thankful for. I really enjoyed having the small Thanksgiving dinner with just Jonathons family that night!

After dinner we went over to Dennis and VaLynn's house and just hung out with everyone. Everyone was there except for Jonathon's Uncle Jimmy who lives in Oregon. Thanksgiving Day went great and the dinner was really good. Jonathon has a really big extended family and in the past Thanksgiving has been pretty chaotic. This year went much better and everyone got to sit down together. After dinner we went and played volleyball and basketball at the church. I didn't do as much playing as I would've liked too... but that's okay. Volleyball with Jonathon's family is always lots of fun! That night all the girls got ready to go Black Friday Shopping! I went last year with them for the first time.. and had a blast. I was worried this year because I can't move around very quickly right now. We went to Wal-mart at about 11:45 and most of their stuff went on sale at 12:01 a.m. I was able to get the things I wanted and then it was the waiting in line that was the worst part. We waited there for about 2 hours.. UGH! At least I had Jonathon's Aunts and cousins there with me so we could hang out and visit. After Wal-mart we went and unloaded all the stuff we got.. and headed over to Target. Target was INSANE. People were standing out in the huge line freezing to death.. for who knows how long. That night was extra extra cold, so we were not about to wait in that line. We waited till it was almost 4 a.m. and started walking towards the doors. The people in the line were yelling at all of the people that weren't crazy enough to wait in the line.. that were doing what we were doing.. But it didn't matter. At 4 a.m. when the line started literally running into Target we merged our way in! I didn't want to get knocked over or pushed and Jonathon's cousins were great about making sure I didn't. Jonathon's cousins helped me out and grabbed the things I wanted for me! Then I just went and got in line because the line was already crazy. At Target we probably waited about an hour in line. Afterwards my back was killing me.. so I just went back to Celena's. I had such a great time with the girls!! Black Friday Shopping is so crazy.. but it is so funny to see what people will do over a good sale :) I really like that it is a tradition in Jonathon's family to go. Jonathon was supposed to go with me.. but he wanted to stay and hang out with the guys.

Friday was another fun day of just hanging out and visiting. I slept in because we didn't get back from Black Friday shopping till about 5:30 a.m. I did some more shopping on my own that day, because a lot of stores keep their Black Friday going all day Friday and Saturday. Saturday we hung out and visited some more.. We also went and played Volleyball at the church again. Sunday was relaxing... and just more eating food! Alexis had such a great time with all the little cousins and didn't want to ever leave. All the kids were so sleep deprived and so were we. We probably stayed up till about 3 am. every night and then would wake up around 10 or 11 am. It kind of stinks because we had Alexis on such a good schedule before we left..

On Monday morning I had a doctors appt. at 8:30 am. Kinleigh's heartbeat was so loud!! And he said that everything looks good. My belly is actually measuring one week ahead of what I am... lol. I feel huge already!!! Alexis loved hearing the heartbeat and keeps asking when we get to listen to it again. I can't believe that I'm 29 weeks already. It seems like it is flying by. And even though I'm very anxious for her to be here.. I'm getting nervous. So far I have gained 25 lbs. That seems like so much. I know I'll probably gain another 10 before she gets here... and can't really imagine where it is all going to go. Oh well I guess that is part of being pregnant. I can however still button 2 pairs of my jeans I was wearing before I got pregnant so that is good. I never bought maternity jeans with Alexis.. and so far have not needed to with this one. Jonathon and Alexis are both getting very excited for the baby to get here :)

This pregnancy has gone pretty smooth so far.. and I just feel so blessed that the baby is healthy! It is still so surreal that we only have a couple months left :) My back hurts all the time.. and it is hard for me to sleep comfortably. I have to pee like every hour I swear. I have definitely gone through different cravings throughout this pregnancy. In the beginning I always felt like fruit and veggies. About a month ago I always wanted 7 Up. Then for a while I was on a Root Beer kick. Over Thanksgiving pumpkin pie was always on my mind.. and I don't usually like pumpkin pie all that much. Even though my back hurts all the time.. I love having my belly! I love feeling her move and kick all the time. I will miss my belly when she comes.. but of course I can't wait to hold her in my arms :)

We are all very excited for Christmas to come! I know it will be here before we know it. I am doing the same tradition I did last year with Alexis. I wrapped 25 Christmas books and put them under the tree, and every day she gets to open one. We then sit down and read it together. I actually got all of Alexis' Christmas presents while we were up there.. and have wrapped all of those too! Alexis helped my mom set up the Christmas tree before we left for Thanksgiving! I love love the Christmas trees and lights and music during Christmas! My dad and Jonathon put up the Christmas lights yesterday :) It is still so so crazy that it is already December. I'm going to enjoy watching all the Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music with Alexis!! She is at such a fun age. And this year she is understanding what Christmas is really about. I talked to her yesterday about what Christmas is really about. I think it is so important to stop and think about the real reason we celebrate this time of year. I think we tend to get caught up in the presents and all the other stuff that we really need to stop and think about why we celebrate Christmas.

I love this time of year! Hopefully time can slow down just enough to let us enjoy it :) I wish I would've taken more pics during Thanksgiving.. But I just get busy and don't think about it..