Can't believe it's December.

I just thought I would post up some photos of the last few weeks. Even though we are getting extremely close to baby time, I've been trying to take full advantage of the season. Also--I have an official "induction" date and I will tell you what it is at the end of this post!

We have had the ground "dusted" with snow a fair few times since October, but never enough for Jake to go out and play in it. He would get so excited every time it started to snow, and then was totally let down when he wasn't able to do anything fun with it! So when we finally got a few inches, I sent the boys out. (I would've gone too, but I don't exactly fit into my snow clothes right now ;) ). I just sat on our deck and watched them play.

This is Jake's "I'm being put on the spot" face. He does it all the time...when strangers talk to him, when I ask him to smile for the camera..etc. so funny.

Jake admiring his "Charlie Brown" tree.

Sugar Cookies--Yummm.. I should probably be baking something more useful (like making/freezing casseroles for the weeks ahead)..but it's Christmas, and I'm keeping my traditions alive! In the past two weeks I've baked several "Stollen" (a german christmas bread), chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and tonight I'm doing "Lebkuchen" (another german one). I love that my mom had so many wonderful Christmas traditions and recipes that I can continue with my own family now! and besides--who doesn't love a little extra sugar this time of year? (And no, I don't feel bad at all--I've been working out everyday to burn off all the yummy goodness)

Quick story: Jake is a little bit of a neat freak, and panics when he spills or breaks anything. I've been trying to help him relax a bit, and will always say "It's ok Jakey, it happens." Well, while we were cutting out cookies, Wesley came over to join in, and broke the cookie he had just cut while transferring it to the pan. Jake looked up at him and said "It's ok Daddy, it happens." What a sweetheart!!!!!

This year we finally purchased an artificial tree of our very own! When we first got married, I told Wesley I would always want a real tree each year--I love the smell and the fun of going out to pick one. The last couple years we went to VA for Christmas, so we didn't end up even doing a tree. And this year, with a baby coming, I decided that I didn't want to deal with vacuuming up pine needles, and worrying about remembering to water it..so we decided to finally go artificial, and I LOVE my new tree!

Jake loves it too! he will turn off all the lights about 6 times a day, just so he can go "OOOOOOOO!!! Christmas tree!!!!!!"

Another quick story--Jake loves to go see the Christmas tree display at Costco, and has been watching a lot of Christmas cartoons lately. During Thanksgiving week, I put up the first of my decorations (a garland on my deck rail, and my little forest of fake mini trees) during Jake's nap. When he woke up, I carried him outside so he could see the new decor. He stared in wonder for a few seconds, and then said in this little voice, "Wow, my own Christmas tree in my own home!" I love watching Jake discover all the magic of the holidays!

Since half the ornaments on our tree are fragile and off-limits, we thought it would be nice for Jake to decorate his own little tree. We let him do it exactly how he wanted, and he has been rearranging his ornaments every single day. :)

I just loved Jake's outfit last Sunday--He picked out his own "christmas tie" at the store a few weeks ago, and actually kept his hat on too!

Thanks for reading, and if you got this far on the post, you get to hear my baby updates! I went to the doc for my second to last appointment on Monday, and he decided that baby girl is pretty much ready to roll. So we are forgoing the last checkup, and just scheduling my induction for next week instead! Unless I go into labor on my own in the next few days, we will be welcoming baby girl hurst on wednesday December 15th! I'm feeling so anxious/excited/relieved/nervous/all around emotional--but I think mostly I feel ready :) Stay tuned for more updates!