I have to tell you, I adore holidays. From the very first leaf I see changing color up till around New Years, I am completely in heaven! There's something that's so warm and comforting about this time of year for me. Part of it is that it reminds me of holidays when I was little, and part is making holiday memories and traditions with my family.

This year's a little different. Probably because I'm nine months pregnant with my third baby (a little girl!), and that is taking up a good bit of my thoughts. It will be a definite adjustment, since I haven't dealt with a newborn for about five years now, excluding my best friend's eight month old. But, I worry about already unfairly divided attention, jealousy, etc... all normal thoughts for a mom with two school agers bringing a baby into the house. For me, though, I worry about Jake coping with a new person in general, and about Alyssa dealing with less attention than she has now.

We are trying to keep them as informed and included as possible- Lyss is lined up, excited to help and finally have a sister. So far, Jake feels the same.I think they both may reconsider the first time their sister cries through the night, LOL. And the holidays are still a huge topic of conversation- mostly because they're excited to show the baby all the stuff we do around here. So far, so good...

The 15th is when I go in... 3rd C-section. I'm a little nervous, but anxious to hold my baby (and have my body back to myself, too, LOL) and be back at home, planning Thanksgiving and Christmas. This will be the second year that Jake's looking forward to it- the first three years were chaotic and a little scary for him. His second Christmas was the year we learned not to buy him things that sang, danced, talked.. any noise at all immediately produced a tantrum and a dead toy. That's changed, and so has his outlook. He's ready to write to Santa, to leave cookies.. all of which, before, was impossible for him to deal with and accept.

So, despite the worries, I am still raring to go. This year, with two kids anxious to toss tinsle all around, and a new addition that will learn about tradition from her big brother and sister. Blessings all around... and as I'm learning, they come in all forms.