Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful blog readers! How are you celebrating? What I love about holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter is that they are celebrated by people across the world, each with their own traditions. It’s just really neat to me to think about millions (if not billions) of folks from different countries and backgrounds, although thousands of miles apart, all focused on the same thing at the same time.
This year, Mr. Handsome and I are on baby watch. Perhaps our son will make his appearance tonight or tomorrow. Although he still isn’t due for another two weeks, I have been having quite a few contractions. We haven’t decided for sure what our plans are for the day, but we are going to make homemade deep dish pizza for dinner, which is something that he always did with his family growing up, and we are planning to watch The Sound of Music later. (Mr. Handsome isn’t a huge fan of Christmas movies.)
Juliet
Merry Christmas to you as well. Praying for y’all!
Ellie
Thank you so much, Juliet! Merry Christmas to you, too!
Ellie
Anonymous
Millions (if not billions) of folks from different countries and backgrounds, although thousands of miles apart, all focused on the same thing at the same time could be Ramadan/Eid al-Fitr, too. Or Vaisakhi. Or Diwali. My friends and neighbors celebrate those. We must remember and respect that Christianity isn’t the only religion in the world, and that Christians don’t have the only religious celebrations.
Anonymous
Why? For me, it’s impossible to be constantly aware of the religion, culture/customs and traditions of every group of people on the planet. Whether or not we’re well versed on those things, we can still be kind and supportive to the people around us, no matter our differences.
Someone
Did she say anything dismissive about other religions?
No!
It just so happens this is the time of year Christmas is celebrated.
Anonymous
Happy Kwanzaa, too. That began yesterday and will run through New Year’s Day.
anonymous
There’s a half a foot of fresh snow in the long drive way. I’m debating shoveling by hand or being a hermit. Maybe your baby is debating if or not to go out too! Best wishes!
Ellie
Thanks for the well wishes. How fun to have a white Christmas. I would love to have a half foot of snow on our driveway. Not always fun to shovel, but it sure is pretty to look at. It’s 50 degrees and sunny here, so not too Christmasy.
Ellie
Anonymous
For that reason alone you are fortunate that your folks moved you to the USA.
Stacey
Merry Christmas Ellie! Hope you have an easy labor, delivery and recovery!
Ellie
Thanks, Stacey. Merry Christmas to you, too!
Ellie
Candi
Yes, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and we will be “baby watching” on here as well! I really hope you can have the baby soon for your sake.
Ellie
Thanks, Candi! I hope so too. 🙂
Ellie
Amanda
Ellie, I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas, and hope the new year brings you all kinds of goodness. May your sweet baby boy make the smoothest possible appearance, and may his life be filled with love and happiness.
Ellie
Thank you, Amanda! Merry Christmas!
Ellie
Anonymous
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year Ellie! Will be celebrating Christmas with my family… Jane
Ellie
Thanks, Jane. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Ellie
Anonymous
Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
PS. Don’t listen when people say the 1st baby always comes late. My son was born 5 days early.
Ellie
Merry Christmas! That gives me hope. Thinking about another 3-4 weeks…yikes.
Ellie
Anonymous
I have another 22 weeks to go until baby number two is here. I feel like this pregnancy is taking so much longer than my last.
Ellie
Hang in there! My last several weeks have felt like an eternity, so I how you feel.
Ellie
Anonymous
It’s all worth it, the pain, heartburn, sickness. Right now I’m just looking towards Jan 10th so we can find out it it’s another boy or a little girl.
Ellie
What an exciting day that will be! 🙂
Marilyn
Merry Christmas and blessings in 2019. Hope you have an easy delivery .God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Ellie
Merry Christmas, ladies! I’m blessed to have you three as readers.
Ellie
Glenda Rainbolt
The pizza should do it. My daughter thought she had heartburn related to pizza…. no… labor!!
Ellie
LOL. Unfortunately, the pizza didn’t threw me into labor. Might have to eat some spicy food. 🙂
Beth
Merry Christmas Ellie & Mr.Handsome ! I already celebrate Christmas with my sisters over the weekend.
Ellie
Merry Christmas, Beth!
Anonymous
Sound of Music is my favorite movie!
Ellie
It’s a great movie. We watched it last night and then watched the bonus feature this morning. It was a 2015 interview with Julie Andrews about the making of the movie. Really neat.
Ellie
Anonymous
I was in Salzburg not long after that movie had been in the theaters. I was able to see some of the places where they filmed. European cities are charming. There are few quite like them in the US.
Ellie
That’s very neat! I went to Europe to visit my cousins as as child, but we didn’t make it to Salzburg. Would love to go sometime.
Ellie
Aine
Merry Christmas Ellie to you and Mr Handsome. Hope you’ve a swift and safe delivery.
Ellie
Thank you, Aine. Merry Christmas!
Alison
Merry Christmas to You, Ellie And Mr Handsome. It is a damp and cold Christmas morning here in Scotland. I hope you have a relaxing Festive season. Good luck for the birth of your son- may he have a healthy and happy life with his wonderful parents. Best wishes, Alison.
Ellie
Merry Christmas, Alison. Glad to have you as a reader in Scotland. It’s damp and cold here too, but we’re going to go outside to rake some leaves (they are damp and cold, as well, lol). Thank you for your well wishes!
Ellie
Anonymous
Dear Ellie,
I´m a long time reader of your blogs and I enjoy all three of them. Usually I don’t comment, but I would like to let you know that I´m thinking of you and that I´ll keep my fingers crossed for a safe and healthy delivery.
Merry Christmas to you and Mr. Handsome! Wishing you and your baby boy a lifetime of love and happiness together.
Ellie
That’s very kind of you. I’m blessed to have you as a reader, and I’m touched that you commented. Merry Christmas!
Ellie
Benita
Merry Christmas to everyone. Most of my family is home; missing a son and a brand-new daughter-in-law. We grilled steak and smoked pork chops. I pray you have a safe delivery.
Ellie
Thank you, Benita. Merry Christmas to you, too. Sounds like a tasty meal.
Ellie
anonymous
There was just a post on my fb from someone and it said an overdue woman took caster oil to induce labour. It cause the fetus to pas a bowel movement too. Then it breathed into its lungs fecal matter. After birth this was a cause of sickness and the baby did not survive long. These remedies could have tragic side effects. Be careful of your choices and do no harm. God bless you in the days ahead.
Margaret
I’m a registered nurse. The castor oil would in no way pass through the placenta or uterus to the baby. The fact that the child in your tale passed meconium in utero means it was distressed. Castor oil won’t cause distress in a baby. Hearing horrific tales like this are not helpful for a woman about to give birth.
anonymous
I had problems with braxton hicks contractions and panic attacks too. I guess with expensive medical care it is very challenging to hang in there, is accurately perceive at home what is going on. It is so exciting and one wants their child to finally arrive, that having a clear unbiased comprehension is just a vague area. It is nothing one can ever ‘specifically’ achieve. But it is all about love and care, don’t be scared to love and care and don’t apologize for doing that! Spending a few extra dollars and it isn’t delivery day just yet should be ok. Just be feeling for the baby’s number of movements and any signs he needs to be delivered asap. There’s no absolute rules.
anonymous
If you want a fun movie that is hilarious and wholesome watch ‘Move Over Darling’ with Doris Day from 1964. I recommend it, it’s really a laugh. Have you seen it?
Ellie
Haven’t seen it, but I have heard of it. We will definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Ellie
Zania
Merry Christmas to you all, Ellie! :)I spent Christmas at home with my family and baked a Christmas vanilla roll cake. Wishing you a Happy New Year and safe birth! 🙂
Ellie
Thank you, Zania! Sounds like a tasty cake. I’m a big cake person.
Ellie
Margaret from Saskatchewan, Canada
Happy New Year, Ellie,
Although I don’t comment often, I do wish you well in your delivery and pray for a happy healthy baby and mama. My two came exactly 1 week before their due dates, with natural deliveries for both in 1986 and 1988. Have you thought of having a little lottery for the actual date and time, and baby weight?
I guess January 2, 2019 10 a.m. with a birthweight of 8 lbs 4 oz.
Ellie
Thanks so much, Margaret! We appreciate your prayers. The lottery is a fun idea. I’ll see if I can get that going in the next couple days if he doesn’t arrive.
Ellie
Margaret
I guess my guess was wrong lol. Keep on trucking. You’ll do good. You’re in good health and strong.