December Overview

Hard to believe that December is already almost over...not to mention 2007. Where does the time go?

Here's a run down on December since I didn't keep the blog updated.

Gerhard was swamped with work due to the end of the year sign-ups. Each January 1st in the insurance business makes everyone a year older & the rates a bit higher. This causes people to remember they put off singing up for retirement or other things the whole year through & now it's crunch time before the deadline. Gerhard's schedule is flexible, so that works out good for everyone.

Mom arrived on the 6th for a week visit. She stayed in the next town with Christie, Roland and Tyler. Tyler really looks forward to Grandma's visits. It managed to rain the whole week she was her, though the temperatures managed to get up in the 40°'s F. We made it to the Weil der Stadt Christmas Market and the Stuttgart Christmas Markets when there were breaks in the rain. Still, I managed to pick up a horrible cold midway through her visit that kept me home bound. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos during this visit. Mom made it back to Charlotte safe and sound on the 12th, loaded with candy and chocolate.

My cold managed to stick around a couple of weeks, wearing me out. Maybe that is why, even though it's week 18 in the pregnancy, the nausea still hasn't past. January 3rd is our next Dr. visit, where we should have confirmation if the baby is actually a boy. Still no progress on boy names. My 'round ligament pains' have been getting worse now that we are into the 2nd trimester. This happens with coughing, sneezing and changing position after sitting or laying for a while. It's like a knife stabbing me in my side due to the ligaments holding the uterus stretching and growing. They don't last too long, but they are a shock and quite annoying. Still no major belly expansion yet, though I can only fit into stretchy pants. In the next weeks, there should be more growth & then it will be time to go shopping.

Ever since mom left on the 12th, there has hardly been a day with the temperatures above freezing. Every morning, it's been around 15°F with frost on the ground. Anywhere the sun couldn't reach, the frost would remain and build up each day till it looked like snow. We put my car in our barn/garage in hopes it would survive the freezing temps. Due to my nauseousness and then cold, I didn't drive for weeks. When I finally was able to drive on the 18th to finally make it to a hair appointment, my poor Ka's battery was dead. We've still not tried to jump start it...how lazy is that. Fortunately we've got Internet and Amazon.de, where I did most all of my Christmas shopping.

Christmas Eve we went to Gerhard's parents house. Christie made meat, cheese and veggie trays. Tyler had a blast opening his gifts from us. He had to wait till Christmas morning like a good American kid for the rest. We gave him a Doro canteen CD player & a Little Einstein CD which he was trilled about. We also had a gift from mom since the box from Charlotte wouldn't make it on time in the mail. It was a Bosch tool type flashlight that made several colors. He had a blast with that and watching Bella (their boxer dog) chase the light on the floor. She would even jump on her hind legs to try to reach the ceiling when the light was pointed up there. Totally crazy.
Here's Christie teaching Tyler how to use his new CD player.


Gerhard singing Christmas carols.


Tyler opening his Bosch flashlight...looks just like Papa's tools.


Tyler saying "Cheers!" with some yummy punch Christie made.


"More presents please!"


Christmas morning, Gerhard & I opened our gifts to each other. Since we keep our Amazon wish lists updated, we got exactly what we wanted. We spent the day at home relaxing. In the evening we watched the Nativity Story on DVD. It is very well made. I highly recommend it.

On the 26th, Roland, Christie and Tyler came over for lunch. We had a German dish of cubed veal in rich gravy poured into & over a pastry cup. Very yummy! During dessert, of chocolate pudding, I told Tyler, who had started to play with his pudding, that afterwards, he could open the last couple of presents. Immediately he turned his head, pushed his bowl aside, said "dessert finished!", and slid out of his chair. We got a book and a wooden train set for him to add to his toy basket over here. He's gown out of most of his toys here, so the train set was a huge hit. After a little bit of playing, it was time for him to go home to take his nap and had to be bribed with gummy bears to leave the train set peacefully. He is too funny. While they were visiting, it started snowing and naturally stuck since it's been so cold. It was just enough to cover the ground, but not cause trouble. Guess we had a white Christmas after all, with the built up frost & then the snow!