Katiedid prep for Christmas.

Christmas time is truly my favorite time of the year!

And again, this year has been full of so many sweet memories surrounded by family and friends. 

Definitely different. 

{Only hoping Santa brings accessories for mini-Martin and minus a few of my favorite alcoholic beverages!}

Nonetheless, it has been extra special because this is our last Christmas without a kiddo. 

Next year all of our traditions will need a little "tweaking."

{Which we are totally thrilled about!}

However, I will be soaking up every second of this last Christmas Eve and Christmas morning alone with my hubby and family. 

{Mini-martin just jabbed my right side to remind me he/she is here, just not visible. Little stinker!}

Now, to begin this years Christmas prep work...

For the past 3 {married} Christmas's we have put up our Pottery Barn "peace tree."

I absolutely love the white flocked tree with all the white lights and sparkly ornaments. 

Simple elegance.

Want to take a trip down Christmas tree memory lane?

 The beginning of our peace tree tradition in 2009. 

 Super similar peace tree in 2010. 

And this years peace tree.

I had to add a little pink and blue for our precious mini!

Every year my mom, sister, and I bake sugar cookies and fudge together. 

This year, Holls was sick.

{Bummer.}

But, Glamma, Pappa, and I baked it up one Thursday night. 

 We frosted them a few days later. 

Nothing fancy, but oh so delicious!

A few nights ago we had dinner and hung out at my MIL's house. 

{And mini-Martin got most of the attention!}

Yesterday afternoon I indulged in a merry little manicure and pedicure. 

 Then last night we hosted the annual "cousin's" Christmas party.

It was a blast!

Our family tends to adopt people quite easily...

So, even if you are not a true cousin you are still invited!

I only managed to snap a few pictures. 

And no party is complete without a little game of LCR. 

I have never had so much fun with $3.

My hot hubby and I are headed out to make a quick pre-holiday gym run this morning.

 And then we are off to afternoon Mass and the Netzel family Christmas Eve celebration at my Aunt Donna's this evening. 

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

Katiedid bare the belly. {4}

Hey, hey, hey! 

Here is your fair warning...

That personal parts {belly, booty, and the other "b's"} have been growing, growing, growing!

{Procede to the pictures with caution.}

Week 23.

Week 24. 

{Moving week. I completely forgot about the bare belly shot amidst the all the boxes!}

Week 25.

Plus a Thanksgiving Day family picture. 

Week 26. 

{Goober Grace wanted in on the picture taking action!}

Week 27. 

{And I truly think she is figuring out something is up with her Momma.}

Week 28.
{My belly loving sista got a little snap happy and took all of these pictures. I just had to post each of them because my belly is getting so darn big!}

And here are some more fun pregnancy facts that I might as well put down for the record!

Laughing is perfectly acceptable. 

1. I have an outrageous "outie" and a fancy little line {linea nigra} down the center of my belly.

It cracks me up each time I look in the mirror. 

To be perfectly honest, I was a little self conscious about it at first. 

But, I've decided to "embrace" it.

See.

2. I despise over-the-belly pregnancy pants. 

Really, who wants to wear pants halfway up to their neck?!

And the pressure they put on your epigastric area {medical term} makes me want to pop. 

After being miserable for days and trying to cover up the outie, I just gave up on them. 

Now, ALL the preggo pants get folded down just low enough to be comfortable AND cover my "love handles." 

3. Did I just say "love handles?"

Yep. 

Got those too. 

4. I failed my first 1 hour glucose tolerance test. 

The cut off blood sugar was 130. Mine was 131. 

So, I endured the torture of the 3 hour test. 

Here is the brutal run-down:

1. Draw fasting blood sugar at 8 am.

{Yes, a 45 minute traffic filled drive to the Med Center happened before 8 am.}

2. Drink a sick super sugary drink. 

3. Get a kinda nice sugar high. 

4. Draw blood sugar at 9 am. 

5. Sugar high goes bye-bye.

 {You now crash and feel like death.}

6. Draw blood sugar at 10 am. 

7. Continue feeling like death. 

8. Draw blood sugar at 11 am. 

{That is 4 different blood draws.}

9. Continue feeling like death. 

10. Speed to McDonalds and get a Happy Meal. 

{Happy Katie.}

I did PASS the 3 hour test!

Hooray, no diabetes for this duo!

5. Rolling over in bed is becoming quite a task. 

I literally have to heave-ho myself onto my other side. 

Apparently, I do it repeatedly in my sleep and never realized it until now. 

6. I can not eat enough Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. 

They are most definitely the reason why I have love handles. 

And probably why I failed my first glucose tolerance test. 

7. Mini-Martin has become quite a little mover these days. 

He/she always just "pushes" on my tummy too.  

My heart flutters with happiness after every little squirm!

It is by far the most incredible and indescribable feeling EVER. 

These little kicks and squirms make me completely forget about #'s 1-5.

8. It's crazy how much 6 months and a growing baby belly can change a girl.

I find myself repeatedly daydreaming {and crying happy tears} about becoming a Mom and seeing our little one for the first time.

This beautiful face is the background on my phone. 

I just can't keep my eyes off of it!

I am POSITIVE I love mini-Martin more than shopping, the gym, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. 

9. I love my husband more than I ever thought was possible. 

Pregnancy would be unbearable without him. 

He is so easy going and just lets this crazy person do/say/get emotional about whatever. 

10. Each day I pray we are grow to become incredible parents, just as ours were to us. 

If we even get remotely close to their awesomeness, I will be happy. 

They provided the perfect amount of guidance, freedom, and responsibility to raise fun, loving, yet hard working and successful individuals.

I hope to instill the family values and closeness that are prominent in everything we do. 

We live less than a mile away from the majority of our family.

And that seems like the perfect start!

Enough of all the pregnancy talk...

We are having a "cousin's" party at our house tomorrow and Christmas is THREE days away!

Gotta get my Santa like booty and belly out and about to finish a few last minute errands. 

Have a merry day!

Katiedid hang at the ranch. Round 2.

A few weekends ago the Grz. fam made another trip to the beloved ranch.

This time sissy and her boyfriend {CJ} came to tag along too!

The weather was pretty cold and dreary, so we all stayed snuggled up in the house most of the trip.

 Mini, MM, and I did manage to go out for one afternoon hunt on Friday. 

And hello, little outie!

{It's just too hard to hide the bullseye on my big ol' belly... So, I am embracing it!}

I see some significant baby bump growth in 1 month!

Glamma lovin' on the belly. 

Hunting family. 

Best Pappa-to-be ever. 

We all can see who is the REAL hunter in the stand!

Sissy and CJ made a late evening arrival.

MM getting cozy with the MIL...

...Then playing hard to get with the wifey...

Losers Snoozers after an early Saturday morning hunt. 

Cute couple in the hot tub. 

{You couldn't pay me to put on a bathing suit.}

CJ and his rifle. 

Watch yourself. 

Pregger pic. 

The family went shooting. 

We opted to stay in the car.

Action shot.

{See the bullet casing in the top right-ish corner of picture 2?!}

Boys, boys, boys. 

Avidly playing our favorite ranch game, Rummikub!

This was another trip of MM only killing hogs. 

And this one was pregnant!

I will spare you the poor baby/fetus pictures.

{They make this momma-to-be tear up a little.}

Boys playing their nightly game of poker. 

And one pooped puppy!

These family ranch trips {full of uninterrupted family time} are one of our favorite parts of fall!

It's crazy to think the next time we head up to the ranch an EIGHT month old mini-Martin will be tagging along!!

CAN NOT WAIT. 

A {BIG} bare belly post is coming at you next!

It REALLY has been SIX weeks since the last one.

My goodness, where has the time gone?!