We had a really great First Christmas with our little man.  So much to be thankful for, so much to celebrate.  If you want to see the newest pictures in the Christmas Gallery, click HERE, otherwise you can just check out the whole thing from the beginning.

Kieran’s first Christmas was really lovely.  Grampa John, Great-Grandma Cat and Uncle Oin came out to spend time with us.  We enjoyed Christmas Eve at Grampy & Grammy’s house with Aunt Cassie, Cousin Grant and Great Grandma Nonny.  (Uncle Kurt was still stuck in Belgium due to a horrific series of winter storms.)  It was a lovely evening that ended with family pictures in front of the Christmas Tree.

Christmas Day was a casual affair at home.  We watched football and hung around the house.  I made lasagna for dinner, and Grammy, Grampy, Nonny Aunt Cassie and Cousin Grant joined us here to partake.  We had munchies before dinner, which Kieran thought were fascinating.  (One of many clues that he’s probably ready to start solids any minute now.)

After dinner, Kieran entertained us all by playing with his blocks, showcasing his newly developed ability to sit up unassisted.  We’re loving his ability to do this, as it opens up myriad other toy and playtime options.  There’s not terribly much you can do when you’re always on your back!  Of course, it helps when there’s someone there to help you re-stack your blocks if you ask nicely.

Daddy however, has a mean streak on occasion.  I have to admit, we had to stop laughing before we could help him up.

And then sometimes, Kieran gets a little *too* excited about his blocks and knocks himself over!

We ended the evening with pictures around the tree, once we showed Kieran the pretty lights and what Mama did with all the handprints and footprints she made two weeks before.

Kieran seemed to approve of Mama’s craftiness, and was happy to gift Grammy & Grampy and Grampa John a set of handprints and footprints for their own trees.  Family pictures commenced directly because both babies were about at the end of their good moods.

Then it was a big hug for Uncle Oin and a snuggle for Daddy before heading to bed.  Presents from friends would have to wait until Boxing Day.  (And another blog post…)  It was a wonderful day filled with laughter and love.  A perfect first Christmas for our little boy.

But we have received baby things from two good friends, so it’s kinda like the critter already has had a Christmas!

Kelly & Caroline both had their first babies this October. Kelly (Gnome around these parts) was a co-worker who abandoned me to go back home to her beloved Philly. I tease. I miss her terribly, but am comforted by the fact that she’s eminently happier back in her hometown than she ever was here in Vegas. Caroline is a current co-worker here in LV. Funny how they both got pregnant within two weeks of each other.

So I am very lucky to have two friends who are a WEALTH of recent pregnancy knowledge. I can e-mail them with “OMG, what is happening to me?!?” questions and get immediate reassurance that I’m not about to explode or anything. Kelly has been great about giving details of what it’s really like to live with a kidlet – Paul has been especially glad to read her e-mails about that.

What this also means is that I am the prime recipient of hand-me-downs already! Kelly & Peter sent a care package as soon as I told her the good news (yes, she knew well before the rest of the world – sorry, but not everyone could know at once!) with a couple of books, a DVD on how the heck to care for the critter and the first baby blanket we’ve received. We’re looking forward to digging into the “What the heck you really need for this kid” book. Caroline’s little girl has outgrown her size1 diapers already, so Caroline gifted me last week with a big bag of packages of diapers, some pacifiers, and other random baby stuff that isn’t needed anymore.

It’s really very neat to already have baby stuff. Granted, I have nowhere to *put* any of it yet, but it’s still neat to have. And if it turns out I’m having a girl, I’m already signed up for hand-me-downs aplenty! :)

Thanks, girls. I really appreciate everything.

Today I was off work, with only plans of a quick errand or three and making the Gorman Family Christmas Eve Traditional Northern Italian Lasagna. I made the Bolognese sauce on Sunday, so it wouldn’t be all the huge of a production to make the lasagna today. But for some reason, I was pretty nauseous all day. Making the lasagna (looking at and smelling the sauces) was almost more than I could handle. But I got it made and baked off beautifully in the oven.

Paul and I arrived at his parent’s house with piping hot lasagna and ready-to-be-baked garlic bread. Dinner was served within 30 minutes, to everyone’s great delight. By all accounts, this year’s lasagna (which Cassie had really been looking forward to) was a big success. I wouldn’t know. I took a tiny bite and could barely choke it down. I managed to eat my salad and drink my milk, but that was it. I’m pretty disappointed. I really want some of my lasagna – but it ain’t happening tonight.

I was feeling so crappy, we begged off going to midnight mass with the family. So on the way home (after taking Nonny home) we stopped at the store for more milk. If nothing else, I figure I can get some Raisin Bran down. But while wandering the (surprisingly busy at 10pm) store, I come to the realization that a frozen pizza might work.

So here I sit, typing this post 20 minutes later as the oven bakes my cheese pizza. Here’s hoping.

Merry Christmas Eve, folks. Maybe I’ll leave a slice or two for Santa. He’s probably sick of cookies by now.

We’re really excited about everyone knowing, and being able to talk about it with anyone we want. :)

So if you’re here because you got a Christmas Card from us: WELCOME! We’re so glad you know our happy news!!

Merry Christmas!

I told my work at our office potluck on Wednesday. They were pretty shocked, but everyone seemed genuinely happy.

I ended up taking today off of work. After a rough night of very little sleep, there was just no way I could go to work. I managed to get a bit of stuff done today but not terribly much. There’s so much I wanna do (like decorate the Christmas Tree) but I’m just too dang tired. I’m really hoping that once the 1st trimester is over, I won’t be so freaking exhausted. I don’t mean to complain though – I just do what I can and am doing a pretty good job of not stressing about what doesn’t get done.

I tried to muster up good thoughts about the leftover meatloaf from last night and just could not do it. So I stopped at Subway and got my usual sub: tuna with bacon on honey oat. Thankfully they hold up well in the fridge, cuz I'm positive that if I tried to eat anything right now I'd seriously hurl.

Also, I'm frakking exhausted. I'm fairly certain I'm pregnant.

oy.

(On a positive note though, I'll be spending as long as I can before I pass the hell out addressing Christmas card envelopes. I picked up the cards this afternoon, and now I'm just impatiently waiting for the santa hat stickers I had to order online to arrive. I REALLY hope I can get these suckers out this weekend.)