Now that Thanksgiving has officially ended, I am in full blown Christmas mode. I absolutely love this time of year! In fact, I think I prefer the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas over the actual holiday days themselves. I look forward to the holiday parties with friends, the traditional events with family, and just the cheerier mood of many people. Plus, its less hectic than how we spend our holidays bustling from my family’s time together to Peter’s family. Then again, I love that our days are so filled with loved ones. I don’t think I would have it any other way. 🙂 Yesterday was perfect…and today continues to make my heart flutter with holiday cheer.

The day started off nicely with Makenzie actually sleeping in for a change. I needed it too. Apparently the day after holidays, birthday parties, weddings, etc leave me hurting…badly. So I had to forego my original plan of starting the day with a kickbox DVD and got in a different workout instead. Tree decorating!!!

All while listening to Pandora’s Christmas Radio. I adore Mariah Carey Christmas music and now Michael Buble’s versions of songs as well.

While decorating the tree, Peter snapped a shot that had me feeling like the jolly old guy Santa…

…so I spent another good chunk of the morning finishing up organizing toys for Braedon and Makenzie’s playroom. It’s a lot of work sorting through what deserves to stay out when you have to make room for baby and toddler stuff!

It feels so good to finish! I still have quite a bit to do for their bedrooms though. The midwife sparked a fire under me after saying they mainly hope to get me to Christmas with all of the Braxton Hicks contractions I have been feeling. Now, resting most of the remainder of the day sounds like a plan. Questions for you --

What is your favorite holiday? Like I said above, I love the whole season! For the meaning of the holiday, Christmas certainly wins in my book. As far as how we spend the day? I think I prefer Thanksgiving because it purely focuses on time spent with family without all the “what gifts did I get” hoopla. Plus, the food rocks!

My Thanksgiving Lunch plate of ham, sweet potato, squash, and green bean casseroles. I love my Thanksgiving casseroles!!!! It is my favorite meal…so whoever asked that for the Q + A series. There’s your answer – Thanksgiving meal!

Do you have a favorite Christmas ornament? I have two. A “Peace Angel” that we got as the first one in a special tradition we started last year. Also, a special ornament my parents gave me that used to hang on their tree…with a picture of me on my first Christmas.

I know many posts around the blog world will focus on the traditional “things I am thankful for” topic. I certainly agree with many of those statements. I too feel incredibly thankful and blessed for my family, friends, health, safety, God, food, etc. I want to share a different set of thanks. I finally found some reasons to be thankful for this pregnancy…besides the whole baby blessing at the end. Read my top 5 and be jealous. Oh, so very jealous. 😀

1. Stretchy maternity pant waist bands. ‘Nough said. I don’t have to feel uncomfortable after eating my Thanksgiving meal. Neener neener neener.

2. I can call cooking my work out. Being on my feet a good part of the day helping prepare food or play with the kiddo totally counts as a full fledged workout at 8 months pregnant. Yes, yes it does! All you Turkey Trotters ain’t got nothing on me!

3. No comments from the peanut gallery on how much I eat. With everyone eating way more than normal I don’t have to hear statements like “Oh, Braedon must be hungry with as much as you’re eating” or “How can you fit all that in there?” or “I never see you eat this much”. Yes, I hear things like that time to time. They shut it on Thanksgiving.

4. Dishes, what dishes? Remember how hard I worked to help cook? No one expects a pregnant lady to do the dishes too. “Put your feet up and rest”. Don’t mind  if I do. And, honey? The decorations need to come down for tomorrow, too. 😉

5. That crazy appetite is going towards something more important. At least some of the excess calories will go towards his growth and not only the growth of my behind, hips, or thighs.

I hope my little IN JEST thankful post gave you a little giggle. For those celebrating, remember to keep the day joyful. Focus on loved ones and forget about any guilt, worry, frustration. One day won’t throw off your healthy lifestyle. Yet, one day can give you many beautiful memories. Focus on those and not the calories.

• Instead of the age old “what are you thankful for” question, I instead ask what memory will you create today? Whether celebrating or not…make a memory today you can smile over. 🙂