2 posts in 1 day!

Wow, 2008 was a great year. We accomplished a lot of our goals: paid off the credit card (and we are one month away from paying off my student loans!), got pregnant (wahoo!), and focused on our relationship growing and thriving. Brian was transferred to a different center which is unfortunate due to the increased commute, but he still has a job and loves learning new things. My job and work environment became so much more pleasant and I am incredibly grateful for that, otherwise I'm not sure I would have survived.
Obviously, the most exciting event in 2008 was getting pregnant and finding out we're having a healthy baby girl. We are thrilled beyond words and can't wait to meet our little one, only 8 weeks until my due date! 2009 represents the year our little family grows by 2 feet.

Here is 2008 is review:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Got pregnant

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I'm not really into making new year's resolutions so I didn't have any. Unless you consider paying off the credit card a new year's resolution. Next year: be a good mom.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friend Brandi-to her adorable son, Austin.

My friend Tiff-to her precious little girl, Maggie.

My friend Shauna-to her angel baby girl, Aria.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My grandmother-she passed away in April and although I miss her terribly, I am happy she is with my grandpa again. I also like to think she helped send little Bria to Brian and I.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A baby, lol. Patience (I think Bria will probably help me with that).

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 20th-Found out we were pregnant!

October 2nd-Found out we were having a healthy baby girl!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting pregnant, that was hard work :) Also, surviving my job and Brian's crazy peak season.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not staying active during my pregnancy.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Does the food poisoning episode count?

11. What was the best thing you bought?

We love our Murano-although we hate the car payment.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Brian's, he works so hard and never complains (I complain though!).

Lance's, he joined the Navy Reserves and I'm so proud of him.

Sara's, she joined the Army and is so brave.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The mean co-worker of mine.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Towards debt and our mortgage.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting pregnant! Also the election, so happy Obama won.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

"I want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" for some reason I absolutely love that song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter, no question
c) richer or poorer? Richer (that is soon to change though!)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercise

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worry

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With our families.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Yes, with my little one growing inside me :)

22. What was your favorite TV program?

The Office, Amazing Race, and Survivor

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Nah

24. What was the best book you read?

The whole Twilight series, duh!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I don't have one.

26. What did you want and get?

Impregnated.

27. What did you want and not get?

A good tan this summer.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Twilight

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I woke up to a beautifully wrapped box and inside were adorable shoes from my sweet husband. I believe we went out for ice cream that night. We had just gotten back from Shasta so we laid low-plus I was pregnant so no boozing ;)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Paying off ALL our debt, that is my favorite day dream.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Simple.

32. What kept you sane?

Brian-he's definitely my rock. Also getting pregnant and knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel (SAHM).

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Robert Pattinson

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Just the election in general, those who spout off facts they hear on the internet but don't bother to research the actual truth. All the judgment was hard to listen to, can't we all just get along?

35. Who did you miss?

Brandi, I would've loved to have her here through the pregnancy and just in general. Plus I miss little Austin.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

All my fellow TTC girls, who says you can't have great friends on the internet?

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

It helps to sing your argument when you are fighting with your spouse, this alleviates your anger, makes you laugh, and you can talk rationally. This was Brian's idea by the way, he's a genius.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas 2008

Our last Christmas just the two of us (3 including little MJ), next year is going to be so different and so fun with little Bria here.
We had a good Christmas this year, although Brian working up north all week was a bit of a drag. He didn't get home until around 9 pm Christmas Eve and that was a big bummer. While he was up working hard to deliver people their Christmas presents, I was enjoying a church service with his family. Usually we go to the 11 pm service but this year we went to the 5 pm service and we all really enjoyed it, partly because we were more awake ;) Afterwards I spent some time chatting with them as they prepared dinner, before I left I opened some presents and oh boy did little Bria get spoiled, her Aunt Heather is filling her closet and I couldn't be more excited! She is good about getting a variety of sizes which is awesome. Aunt Sara got her an adorable Beaver onesie and we definitely can't get too much Beaver gear for her!
I headed to my mom's house to spend time with the kiddos before they went home to bed to wait anxiously for Santa to visit. Brian joined me there and I was thrilled to death to see him, you'd think it had been weeks the way I hugged him. I was just happy to have him there, it had been an emotional week to say the least. It was of course so much fun spending time with the family and going over our highlights/lowlights and goals for the new year. That's always my favorite part-it's fun to see what we put the previous year and to hear everyone else give their updates. We opened gifts and chatted until we were all yawning and decided it was time to call it a night.
Thursday morning we headed to my Dad's for presents, breakfast, and games. The girls had a blast opening up all their presents and did not protest to us taking pictures of them with each of their presents, so funny. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and then played some Wii games. We got my Dad and Anna a new Wii game-tennis, which proved to be frustrating for me who had only ever played Wii sports. But after I gained a little more patience I realized I actually may like this game better as it's more realistic than the Wii sports. Either way we had a blast and in the end it came down to Lance and Brian-Brian put up a fight but Lance was victorious in the end.
Then we headed up north to Brian's Dad's house for yet another delicious meal and family time.
Once we arrived home that evening I realized the Holidays were over and couldn't believe how fast they went by.
I do have pictures but I've been too lazy to upload them, I seriously have not gotten on my computer at home in over a week! Spending all day on the computer at work makes me despise them so I don't like to sit in front of one when I get home. I'll try and muster up some motivation tonight-we'll see.

Brian has been up north this week again as they are still behind from the storm. Usually today is not a full operating day but this year it is since they want to get caught up. So it's just been MJ and I in the house, very quiet. I have taken her for walks which I know she enjoys and it's helped me feel a little better.

Tomorrow marks the first day in the year 2009, the year of Bria! Well, that's what Brian and I are calling it anyway :)

Pretty Snow

Look how pretty it is at my work:


Someone took a picture of our building last night, I love how snow makes everything gorgeous.

Today's Plan:
Try and accomplish something at work even though my mind is already on vacation.

Christmas Eve Eve Eve

Christmas is just 3 days away and I am looking forward to spending time with family. This peak season (as it is referred to in the UPS world) started out pretty darn good, I should have known it was the calm before the storm.

With the weather in the Portland area worsening, they fell quite far behind and required the help of other supervisors-Brian being one of them. Friday he drove the 2 hours up there in the horrible conditions, delivered up in the hills until he broke down. The tow truck that came to get him was sliding down the hill and had a heck of a time getting out. Needless to say he didn't get home until 12:30 am that night after he had left at 5 am that morning. Over the weekend conditions up in Portland worsened and they are requiring chains-they still wanted Brian to come up this week. Can they do that? I cannot tell you how mad I was yesterday, it just feels like they are not concerned with the safety of their employees. But I tried really hard to turn the whole crappy situation around and be thankful that he has a job, especially in this economy. So as much as I would like to complain and continue crying, I need to stop and be grateful that Brian has a job, UPS is a good company, and it allows me to be able to stay at home once Bria arrives. I am incredibly thankful for his job and UPS is a good company, I'm just a little frustrated right now, I'm sad I can't spend time with him and more importantly I'm scared to death of Brian being in the horrible Portland conditions-driving. So he's up there today and again tomorrow-staying the night of course. I'm praying he'll be able to come home tomorrow night, otherwise it won't be until late Christmas Eve- and with my pregnancy hormones that may just send me over the edge.

Anyway, on to a more positive note, we finished our Christmas shopping yesterday before Brian had to leave. It feels good to get it all done. The snow stopped this weekend (for our city) and it rained all weekend long, there is now no trace that snow was ever here. Crazy how fast that happened, and how different it is in Portland. Actually, the city I work in is covered in snow, but not us. I wouldn't mind a little snow for Christmas, but definitely don't want what Portland is getting.

Saturday I went to my mom's for our annual baking day :) I absolutely love these days. We made muddy buddies, rice krispy treats, and lots of sugar cookies. The kids had a blast decorating the cookies. Ok, I did too. Jaime and I went crazy with the frosting this year, we made a lime green, a purple, a turquoise, and a red (pink). The cookies were pretty fun (wouldn't you know I took my camera but didn't take any pictures?) and full of color. Jenny was with Kyle's family so she wasn't able to come, hopefully next year we can plan a day that we can all be there.
Later that night we went to our 2 Christmas parties and both were a lot of fun and had lots of good food.

Alright, I better go, I need to work on getting in the Christmas spirit :)

We've got snow people

I am very excited that we have snow-it arrived yesterday evening and kept coming down all night. Brian and I went for a little walk with MJ last night to take advantage of the pretty white dust, holy cow was it cold outside. Brian is rarely cold, in fact, I can probably count the number of times he's been cold on one hand. So last night when he started speed walking home-leaving his 7 month pregnant wife trailing, I knew he was freezing. When he got home and realized I wasn't with him he sent MJ out to look for me since he was too cold. Ok, that didn't really happen, but needless to say he was cold. It was actually a nice walk though and when we got home we plopped on the couch with some hot chocolate, the fire going, and Survivor-it was a perfect Sunday evening.

Both of our commutes this morning were slow going-but fortunately we made it safely. However, it's suppose to be sunny today (high of 30) and then get down to 15 tonight, I'm not a 100% sure I want to risk it out there, especially since I ride in a vanpool and I'm putting my life in the driver's hands...and my daughter's. We'll see how it is tomorrow morning. I just hope it doesn't all melt by next week, I'd really like a white Christmas :)

Speaking of Christmas, I can't believe it's a week and a half away, I'm so excited! This Saturday my mom and sister's and I are doing our baking day. Every year we get together to bake Christmas goodies and I always enjoy these days, and not just because of the good food ;) It's so fun getting together with them and talking for hours on end, which we can do quite easily. I will be making muddy buddies as they are my absolute favorite. Some people call them reindeer poop-it's the chocolate and peanut butter covered Chex-to die for.
Saturday evening we have 2 Christmas parties: Mom R. (Brian's mom) is having her annual Christmas party and Tiff and Eric are having the annual friend one. We are going to make it to both, just trying to decided which order to go in. Hopefully the weather allows for safe traveling!

Lance arrived safely! We had a little family dinner party for him and it was a lot of fun. Thanks to Jenny (and the Tegner family!) the house was perfectly decorated in red, white, and blue, we had face tattoos, and Navy hats. It was very festive and we were just so glad to have him home.

Here he is showing his big guns off:

It sounds like he had some great adventures and it was fun to hear him talk about it all, he's definitely grown up, although he'll still always be my "little" brother.

That's pretty much it on the Holcomb front, we're just plugging along, enjoying the Holidays, and thinking about how different next Christmas will be when little Bria is here with us-so excited!

Christmas Tree

It's Christmas time, yay! I am thrilled to pieces that the Holidays are here and in full swing. We decorated the inside of the house and our tree this week, I like how everything turned out.

Brian wouldn't let me capture a picture of him and the tree since he was still in his UPS uniform.



I love our stockings. Jenny and Kyle got those for us for Christmas one year and they are just gorgeous, I'll have to order another one for Bria :)
This year I took off Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas off so I'll have a 5-day weekend which will be wonderful. Usually I don't bother taking time off since Brian can't, but I know I'll enjoy having extra time to relax and get stuff ready for Bria's arrival. And it'll allow me to help with Christmas Eve dinner and not be so rushed. Plus, I had to work the day after Thanksgiving so I deserve this :)

Brian finished up his class on Sunday, thank goodness. Now he has a few weeks off which is perfect since it's starting to get busy at work for him.

So I haven't seen Lance yet since he came in last night at midnight, but I get to see him as soon as I get off work and I'm so excited to give him a big hug. I guess this means he'll want his Office DVD's back, dang. ;)

Tomorrow is my baby shower and I'm really excited for it. It's at 12:30 so it's brunch style and I think it'll be a lot of fun. Tiff is doing all the games and Sara is doing the food so everything is going to be awesome.
Tomorrow night we are going to a work Christmas party for Brian and I know he is really looking forward to it. I am too, I just know I'll be exhausted. But it's not the Holidays without lots of parties and being tired right?

I think that is all the updates for us right now, have a wonderful weekend.

Temporarily in mourning

I can't go in details, but the Beavers lost the big Civil War game on Saturday- Brian and I are still in mourning over the horrible and tragic loss, ugh.

Anyway, here is what has been going on in our world:

• Thanksgiving day was nice and relaxing-the food was unbelievable, so delicious
• Friday night Thanksgiving was also incredibly scrumptious and we had a wonderful time talking and taking pictures of MJ
• Brian finished his final yesterday! Now he has a few weeks off before winter term starts, yay :)
• We got our Christmas tree yesterday- I'll decorate it tonight
• Brian helped me decorate the house in Christmas stuff yesterday
• While Brian worked on his final at the dining room table, I played Christmas music and baked banana muffins-it was a nice evening

Lance is coming home on Friday! I cannot wait to see him, it's going to be so nice to have him home.

Alright, that's all I can muster up for now, I'm going to go cry about the Beavers some more.