2012 Holiday Highlights...

I realize I have only posted one blog since returning from the blog break 4 weeks ago, but I thought that our baby girl announcement deserved a few weeks of screen time....or maybe I am just super busy, tired and pregnant and have no time to post...ya, that could be it!  Anyway, I want to avoid another Christmas in July fiasco so before I post any updates about the boys, I wanted to share our 2012 Holiday Photos. 

In stark contrast to last years stressful, just had a newborn baby and moved across the country drama-filled holidays, this year was super relaxing and lots of fun.  And Jack was at an age where he really "got it!"  He loved everything about Christmas this year and wanted to be a part of every little detail - from decorating to wrapping to baking...he just loved it all!  And he was very interested in learning all about baby Jesus and his mommy and daddy - very cool!  It was so amazing to see how magical and exciting it was for him.  He was absolutely adorable and really made it a special time for us.  Gavin on the other hand was his usual maniac self.  I would say he broke at least half a dozen ornaments and terrorized our Santa dolls and stuffed Christmas animals.  If they could talk I think they would ask to be moved to another home next year. But that's our Gav and you gotta love him!

As soon as Thanksgiving was over we hit the ground running to squeeze in all the holiday fun we could have.  We saw Santa and the boys did great!  Jack knew that he had to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas so even though he was a little scared and wouldn't touch him, he still stood near him and smiled for the camera.  Gav was all smiles too!  In the next few weeks we also went to Disneyland, looked at holiday lights, went to a Christmas party in our neighborhood and Jack had a performance at his school.  We also had tons of family time - we got to spend time with my dad and grandma Molly, Grammy Delora and the kids and of course my mom's entire side of the family and all of the boy's cousins.  We even got a special visit from Gigi and Papa who might as well have been Santa and Ms. Clause with all the cool stuff they bought the kids!  We capped off the season with a very family-friendly New Year's Eve with our friends and their kiddos.  A fun end to a fun month...and year!

Ok, I know that was a little long and wordy but seeing as how I didn't post anything about the holidays for the entire month of December, I figured I needed to document all of it in one blog.  Maybe next year I won't take the break at the peak blogging season! And I will warn you - I have a LOT of pictures to post - this could be a new record! So to spare you more unnecessary reading I will refrain from posting captions since you already had to read a novel.  I also need to add that the pictures aren't that great.  As usual, neither my boys or my camera cooperated with me (maybe this year Santa will bring me a new camera!).  But I did the best I could.  So without further ado, here are ouf family highlights of Christmas 2012...

New Year, New Beginnings...

Happy New Year!  We've missed you!  Hope you all had a memorable, joyous and safe holiday season. We have had a lot of wonderful celebrations with family and friends over the past few weeks and now we're looking forward to the many blessings that 2013 will bring. 

We're pretty sure the new year will be an exciting one for The David Family as we await the arrival of the newest Baby D!  Yes, that's right, we are expecting Baby #3 on June 25!  Either we're insane or blissfully naive but we're super excited to add another baby to the clan.  Oh, and I forgot to mention one small detail....IT'S A GIRL!!!  Maybe it was the combination of Baby Jesus' blessing and Santa's magic...or that fact that the baby gods knew that if I had another boy I would be institutionalized...but I don't care how it happened because we are finally getting our little princess!! I feel so blessed that I get to experience mothering boys and a girl.

Christian and I were already so thrilled that we were expecting.  But to find out it was a girl was literally the surprise of a lifetime.  Don't get me wrong, I ADORE my boys.  They are my world.  But let's be honest, boys are boys...busy, dirty, gross farting machines!  Christian and I have both always wanted a sweet, precious little daughter.  But we fully expected to have another boy since that's all we have known for the past 3 and a half years.  So when the doc told us it was a girl, we were both in shock.  Christian shot up out of his chair and I just covered my face and cried.  I felt like I was in a dream....the best dream in the world! But we were so terrified that he was wrong that we didn't tell anyone until we got 2 more opinions - another ultrasound AND a chromosome test!  Now we are 100% sure we'll be buying a lot of pink!

It has been so awesome telling everyone the great news over the holidays.  We are so lucky to have 2 amazing families who adore babies so everyone has been beyond thrilled for us.  The love and support this little girl will have is immeasurable.  And even though my boys are crazy and wild, they are also loving and affectionate. And I know they will shower this baby with tons of hugs and kisses....well, I know that Jack will.  Gavin, might hit her a few times first and then kiss her.  I think they both know something big is happening in our family - Jack asks every day when he can see the baby.  He's so happy it's a girl and he wants to name her Lola (probably not going to happen).  Gavin always wants us to put a ball in his shirt so he can have a baby in his belly like mommy.  They are going to be amazing big bros! We are a very blessed family.

I'm 15 weeks along now and after a horrendous first trimester, I am finally feeling good.  Still really tired but no more nausea!  The next 5 and a half months should be an awesome journey - I can't wait to share them with you!  Here's a look at how our little adventure began...

We're pregnant!  We always take a picture of a newspaper the day we find out we are pregnant so we can see if there is anything else more exciting happening in the world.  Obviously, this year our baby topped the news.  With Jack it was a tough one because we found out we were expecting the day Obama was elected for the first time in 2008....it was a great for us and the country!  

 

It took two tests to convince me!  At 37 it's never a given to get pregnant so we are so blessed that it happened so quickly for us.  It was definitely meant to be...
 

Christian and I normally take the tests together but I was feeling pregnant and dying to know for sure.  He was out of town so I took the test alone and then had to wait til he got home later in the day.  So I dressed Gavin in the Big Brother tee shirt and waited for Christian to notice.  It took him forever to "get it." Not very perceptive!

Is this really happening?  I think it finally sunk in after we saw the ultrasound at our first OB appointment...

9 weeks along and already a bump!  With baby #3 my stomach just gave up on me the minute I took the test....

Big mama at 14 weeks!  I seriously look like I'm 5 months pregnant here.  And it really is true what they say about baby girls - they suck the pretty right out of you!  With the boys I had a nice rosy glow and gorgeous thick hair.  With this one, I feel like my skin is gray, I always have dark circles under my eyes and my hair is dry and brittle.  Ugg!  She'd better be a model because her mama will have aged 10 years after this is all over...

Celebrating New Year's Eve at 15 weeks along.  It's so fun being the only sober person at the party...

The boys and their "baby bellies!"  I know this isn't a great picture but it's the best I could get.  They are like moving targets...

Holiday blog preview!  My next blog will be a holiday highlights photo montage.  Here's a sneak peak at my adorable boys with Santa...