Preparations

For the last few weeks I’ve been trying to design our Christmas cards this year. I also started putting together a list of recipients, and addressing envelopes. It was something I could do when I wanted to feel useful but jr-in-my-tummy made it difficult to actually do anything. I came up with a great design – at least, one that I like. It’s hard to imagine outdoing last year’s cards…but nevertheless, I’ve decided to be happy with my idea this year.

I also got birth announcements ready to include with the cards. And we have family pictures I can put in, but they are pre-jr. Next week I’m going to try getting some newborn photos taken of jr and maybe some shots of the Bwun. Wallet-size photos are my favorite!

Of course, Christmas isn’t for well over a month…I should be ready to send cards out when it gets closer, though! I’d give you a sneak preview except the cards are just too fun to see online. You’ll enjoy getting yours in the mail – many weeks from now!

Opinionated

Do you like country music?

I didn’t. Then I came to college and my fabulous freshman roommate got me hooked. The first song I remember liking was “Speed” by Montgomery Gentry. Sometimes I need a break from country, but I have 3 country stations programmed on the car radio.

While we were in North Carolina there wasn’t much to listen to besides country music. I think even the Romgi started enjoying it a tiny bit, since he listened to the radio on his way to and from work every day. In fact, he started telling me about new songs that came out. He mentioned “Farmer’s Daughter” once, and we heard it so many times on our trip – and despite how ridiculous the song is (no offense if you enjoyed it!), I associate it so strongly with spending time with the Romgi in North Carolina that I’ve come to love/hate it. It helps that I imagine the singer (Rodney Atkins) is actually saying “dotter” (to rhyme with “hotter”), being very Southern.

I can’t ever decide if I like Jerrod Niemann’s song “Lover Lover” – a cover of the song “You Don’t Treat Me No Good No More” by Sonia Dada (thank you, Wikipedia). Sometimes it seems catchy, and other times it’s way too repetitive and annoying. Typical country, right? But it’s another that will always remind me of our trip back east.

Same with “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band. Aside from the fact that I really don’t understand why he says “chicken fried” instead of “fried chicken” (ok, for rhyming, I know, but seriously?), the song is a little too…perky. And optimistic. Wow, I sound grouchy when I say that.

I will admit to thoroughly enjoying Trace Adkins’ “This Ain’t No Love Song.” Mainly because it says “gee-tar” and how can you resist something like that? I keep meaning to buy it on iTunes, but I never get around to it…

Do you remember Hootie and the Blowfish? Of course you do. Their lead singer, Darius Rucker, went country. One of his recent singles was “Come Back Song,” which I personally find hilarious because he declares (in the song) that it’s his “‘my bad, come back’ song.” Tee hee. Do people still say “my bad”? Anyway, Darius Rucker also has an older song called “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.” Pregnancy hormones may or may not have played a part in the song making me misty-eyed.

Another pregnancy-made-me-do-it song that I heard about two weeks ago (just days before jr was born!) is Brad Paisley’s “Anything Like Me.” It’s been on the radio a lot lately, and now that I’m not pregnant anymore, the song just makes me smile – it’s cute, and fun, and silly, and parent-y. The days of being weepy are apparently over (but I’m still avoiding watching this Google commercial, just in case*).

And now…an update on my house! I spent about 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening trying to tidy up. Keep in mind that I still have the Bwun causing chaos everywhere he goes, but the room is definitely getting better. Progress! All we need is progress, not perfection, yes?

The Bwun was taking a "nap" on the floor.

*I had to link to the commercial, and it started playing before I could copy the link and close the window…I might have watched the whole thing, and I might have been wrong about that one being pregnancy-related. Yep, still a little misty.