I have a 9 month old!

I absolutely cannot believe that I have a 9 month old! A year ago tomorrow, I was 6 months pregnant and I fell on my stomach. I rushed to the hospital when my OBGYN said I needed to be checked out, Christine rushed from a sound sleep to sit with me in the ER...everything turned out fine (obviously!), but it's so amazing to look at how far you've come sometimes. I was worried I wouldn't know what to do at any stage or age with Brady, but I've realized that I'm actually REALLY good at being a mom and I'm so proud of myself for making the right decision and having Brady in my life. I can NOT imagine what my life would be like without him (or George) and I know I bitch about George and I arguing a lot, but he is where I feel I am at home. The Army can move us anywhere in the world - as long as I have George and Brady, I will always be home.

George and I are getting ready for our trip to Ohio and Virginia. We sat down and made our Christmas lists of what we're getting for our family members and what we're planning to spend. This is where I really start to hate Christmas. It's become all about budgeting, lists, and commercialism. What happened to just getting together as a family and enjoying each other's company? What happened to just celebrating the MEANING of Christmas - Christ's birth?

I get so downright SCROOGE-like during the weeks before Christmas. I boycott radio stations that play Christmas music nonstop. George's commute has become an hour longer each day because fewer people are carpooling so they can go shopping for Christmas presents after work. It means that I get less time with my husband, it means Brady barely sees his daddy during the week....it's just tough. I'm usually fine by Christmas Eve, Christmas is always wonderful....but then it's like the magic of the holidays wears off and it's back to the hum-drum real world again. I enjoy the hope of the season, but not the inevitable exhaustion at it's end.

It's been raining for 4 days in Hawaii, so we've come up with the bright idea to go to the beach tomorrow. We'll see how that plays out when we wake up and see the weather. We may end up just taking Brady to see Santa. Of course, that means we'll HAVE to buy him a Christmas outfit. DARN. :)