It's a......

LINEBACKIN, SMELLY CLOTHES WEARIN, DEER HUNTING, STAND WHILE PEEING, BUG CATCHING, BALL LOVING, HEART BREAKING

BABY BOY!!!!!!

I thought this news deserved it's own mini-post. And, yes, we waited until Christmas morning to open our bundle of news. There was no peeking before Christmas morning even at the request of much of my family. We are so excited about this first child being a boy. But, what do I do with a boy???? Someone mentioned a "peepee-teepee" and I thought that word alone was enough to affirm that I am clueless when it comes to little boys. Anyway, all is well and the little kiddie-poo is growing a few days ahead of schedule.....8 ounces as of Tuesday. Brad's already researching little league football in the area for his studly son!

Boy or Girl???

We'll have a little envelope in our hands in two hours with the big secret! I am drinking a gallon of sugary apple juice and eating chocolate for breakfast. Oh, please little baby...dance around today and wiggle and move freely. We want to see you!

We plan to not open our envelope of news until Christmas morning so you'll have to refrain from asking until then. I have every hour planned for the next 48 so I am not tempted to peek at our Christmas present. Happy anatomy day! Wear something pink or blue!

I love surprises! My husband and my mama.....

spent Saturday morning in bed.

This is what mama said to me as she was later explaining the planning of their biggest of surprises. This is just what every daughter longs to hear I am sure.

You see I headed out to start my most usual and most favorite of Saturday mornings. A Pilate's class at 10 and kickboxing at 11. I'll watch umpteen hours of football or help repair a car or clean toilets or go sit in a deer stand all day with my hubby as long as I first get to do my favorite of Saturday routines. I know...I should give unconditionally and on many things I do but rarely do I give in on my Saturday rituals and if I do Brad says he always has regrets. Even though my belly is growing and my body is getting soft everywhere I still like to try to kick and punch my way to increased endorphins on my Saturdays.
Brad was extra anxious this particular Saturday to get me out of the house. Usually, B-rad pulls at my t-shirt to get me to stay just a little longer and soak in the lack of routine on the weekends but as I mentioned I rarely budge. Not this morning. Brad was up and at 'em and tying his tennie's like he has somewhere to be. This is when my suspicion began. Brad loves nothing to do on Saturday as much as I love hitting the gym. He said he may be home by lunch and gave no further details. This was clue number uno for me. Brad rarely leaves me guessing especially when it comes to his whereabouts. Maybe it is that we are still newlyweds but Brad and I do not suffer in the communication column...if anything maybe we over communicate. Last month I had nearly $200 of cell phone overages. When I did my inquiry to find the problem for this unwanted surprise I saw that Brad and I used 852 minutes last month just talking to each other and that doesn't include the hundreds of text messages. And we LIVE TOGETHER!!! Ultimately, this lead to Brad getting a new blackberry as we figured it was time to be on the same network since our last names our the same. Anywho, this morning Brad left me hangin.
So on my usual way out the door I rang mama as I usually do. If there is another person that maybe I talk too much too though I would never dare admitting that - it's my mama. Luckily, we can make unlimited calls to each other...anytime - anywhere, baby! Well, mama had planned to meet me later to look over baby clothes at a friends "baby clothes" party (I didn't know in my pre-pregnancy days that they had these). Mama was extra quick on the phone this morning and with little explanation said she probably wouldn't meet me later.
I sort of start to add up all the weird behaviors of the morning but luckily I was late to Pilate's and quickly jumped into my Series of 5 and soon forgot about Brad and mama's where abouts.

After about 800 calories spent and the little endorphins dancing all through my head I headed home but was stopped by hubby who says I have to call first. WHAT??? Then I get a fun text saying there are surprises for me at home. I really didn't want to start guessing about these surprises because the truth is.....I LOVE surprises but I can NEVER be surprised. I was going to let Brad have this one...mostly for my own enjoyment. I did have a thought or two though that started to get me nervous. What if Brad went and bought my 4 new tires that the Explorer needs? I am not sure how this would have gone over and I didn't even want to think it through. Knowing that we are on a tight budget right now I then thought maybe my "surprise" was a clean guest bedroom and a freshly vacuumed floor. I was okay with that but trust me - I was expecting nothing more. Expect little and then be surprised much, right?

As the elevator door opens to our floor I run into Mr. Brad stuffing some sort of large trash down the trash chute. He runs ahead of me and comes back out the door with a scarf. He ties the scar around my eyes and asks me to trust him. I am never good when someone says that....I am fairly independent especially when it comes to my body and my sight - I like to rely on no one! As we walk through the door Brad turns me into the guest bedroom slash office slash soon to be nursery slash storage room. Who knows what he could have been storing away in this room? All of a sudden I run into a plush wall or something and I rebound back. I pull off my blindfold and see a beautiful KING size mattress leaning against the wall. WHAT??? OH MY GOODNESS??? AGGHHHH!!!! NO MORE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? These were just some of the emotions taking over my body. Apparently mama and Brad had been conspiring all morning to go try out mattresses to put an end to my nights of no sleep. Go ahead and pity Brad but the truth is I can't sleep if Brad even breathes heavy in bed. I need complete silence and complete stillness. No squeaks, no deep breaths, no creepy toes touching my leg....nothing. Don't worry - I cuddle too but the rule is cuddle and divide. Now in our new bed we can do mattress angels and still not touch eachother! Oh, this is such a dream come true and such a perfect early Christmas surprise from mama and daddy. I told her she was just wanting to protect my marriage and the hope of more grand children as I think she thought soon enough I'd be sleeping in my own room if another elbow hit me or wondering toe woke me up. So mama and Brad spent the whole morning in bed they say. They found the perfect mattress and more so, pulled off the perfect surprise.

Off to a splendid night in my new bed with my cute husband and a good foot of space in between! Sweet sweet dreams.....

On the 4th day of Christmas...

My mother gave to me.....4 rolls of cookie dough, 3 extra pounds, 2 tired legs and really really fun memory!

Mama and lil sis and I have picked up an old tradition. Of course, my rose colored goggles remembers us doing this every week before every Christmas but I am quickly reminded that it's been a while since we spent a day baking with the mother hen. And she is just that in the kitchen! You see, she doesn't normally like me in the kitchen. She has always fed a family of 6 every meal for 27 plus years. She easily entertains a crowd of 10 or a crowd of 75. The one rule we all know though is to not linger around the kitchen 'til she is ready. So, a day of cooking was certainly a stretch on sweet mama's patience. Maybe it was the Christmas tunes in the background and the perfect smell of Christmas in their home but mama was especially calm through this cooking experience.
Mamas' mama aptly named mawmaw had originated this perfect pinwheel cookie recipe. Maybe it is because I grew up nibbling on these things around Christmas time or my baby's recent love for chocolate but I love these perfect wheels of chocolate and orange flavored shortbread! I have now had about 3 after every meal. Yikes! I am sure my doctors appointment on Tuesday will confirm some weight gain and I don't think it has anything to do with a baby! Needless to say, mama handled the chocolate filling while I tackled much of the yummy cookie dough. Mary....well, she was mostly moral support but that is necessary when you spend 4+ hours in the kitchen just preparing the dough...not including baking time.
Anyway, I had such a fun day in the kitchen with sweet mama and ML. We talked over babies and colleges and marriage and Christmas traditions. We had flour everywhere and ML looked especially stunning in her apron (see picture). I am just happy we brought back an old family tradition (or started a new one!) My baby's happy that I like to eat cookies all day long. Amos is happy that I keep dropping crumbs on the floor as I eat and type. See....when the girls get in the kitchen - everyone comes away happy!

My little turnip green!

First....you vote on the side.....Do you think this little thing will be a mini-Brad? (A boy) or a mini-me (a little girl)???


Your pregnancy: 17 weeks

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
(**Again, they say "she" but I am not sure why???) We find out the big news December 23rd but we won't actually read the results until Christmas morning with the fam'!!!

I am so anxious! (PS....last week it said it was the size of an avocado. Isn't a turnip smaller than an avocado or do I not know my veggies?)

Love,
Betsy and turnip!

TAG! I'm it!

My favorite person living on an island has tagged me for some Holiday fun. I love anything cheesy having to do with the most splendid time of year so here it goes.....6 quirky things about me during the Holidays.....

1) Even before there was a bun in my oven I loved to walk over to Phipps Plaza across the street and see all the little toddlers scream on the real Santa's lap. Did you know the Phipps Plaza Santa is the real Santa? Last year for my first Christmas as a Bagwell we walked over with our Starbucks and sat on the spiraling steps above Santa's chair just watching the 5 years olds leap onto Santa's lap while the little 2 year old pig-tailed girls wailed and kicked their legs as long as it would get them away from that scary man. It was sad.....we couldn't leave the spectacle despite the embarrassment of the young parents.

2) My mom used to truly dress us in puff painted sweatshirts that I had made and attempted to sell at a garage sale..with no luck. We would also pack some eggnog and grab a candle and hit the streets of Oaklanding...our neighborhood in Tampa, Florida. Now, I was in the choir and I sang in the shower thinking there was promise in my ripe new voice but soon I would discover that singing was not a talent I had been given. Nonetheless, I would carol along with my younger siblings and our next door neighbors. I won't lie....every single year I have the itch to round up some buddies and knock on the doors in Brookhaven. I loved this tradition with my mama....and maybe it only happened a time or two but it has stuck with me! Fa la la la la la la la la!

3) My memories of my childhood Christmas's are all seen through rose colored glasses. Last year my sweet brothers quickly put out the fire in my eye as I told stories to Brad of our lovely Christmas traditions. I remember mommy singing all season long as she baked cookies and pecan pies while dad hummed to the "winter wonderland" as he hung the gleaming star from the tree. Meanwhile, the kiddos and I were playing happily with our train set and watching the 18th hour of a Christmas Story. CRASH....BAM! Ruined......Last year the boys truly tried to ruin any merry memory I had stored in my happy memory bank. They recalled our hatred for going to mass as a family Christmas morning. They reminded me of my grumpiness in the morning when I was old enough to know a thing or two about Santa and they were busy leaping for joy in their onsie pajamas with feet on them. They said I pouted when I didn't get what I wanted and that the beautiful breakfast that I remembered dad making every Christmas morning was really the result of mom and dad arguing over who made better grits. Ouch! This year I will leave my memories tucked happily inside let them warm my thoughts and my heart. No more bah humbug for me!

4)Wassail. 9 out of 10 of you do not know what I am talking about. You'll have to find out. All I know is my sweet granddad used to have himself a cup or two and sit with a huge smile in his big chair. Wassail is dad's concoction. He never really tells the exact measurements of all the spices but he says he is the perfect wassail maker. I loved the smell even when I was a mere tweenager. I knew there had to be some "happy sauce" in the steaming pot of joy and I knew a 12 year old probably should stay clear but I never did. And that's the thrill of a big ole family.....no one ever knew and I guess if they did they never cared. Dad used to sing (or maybe this is one of those "rosy" memories....) "Here we go a wassailing - a wassailing we go!"

5) I am anal about Christmas lights on the tree. Last year we had an 8 foot tree and I think we had 20+ strands of lights. This year our tree is a little shorter (and for some reason doesn't smell like last year!) and we probably only have about 15 strands. The little lights aren't twinkling, Russ! I like to wrap each branch with lights and then stuff them back in the back and wrap the next one. I want you to see my tree from across Peachtree and think wow, that tree has a whole lotta lights! This year I was feeling a little first trimester queasiness so I wasn't as involved with the lighting of the tree. I left these duties to my little elves, Brad and Amos. I can't complain because I was half present during the tree trimming but everyday I wonder if Brad would notice if I stuck another 10 or so strands on the tree?? And I don't like colored lights. Will I have to have a tree with colored lights that blink when the little ones come along? Is that a necessity?

6) I secretly have a hard time not spending the night with my family Christmas night. More so, I have an even harder time knowing I won't be here most of Christmas day this year. And, even more secretly, I was bummed that my fam left me out of the Christmas picture this year! I am sure this "quirk" will drop off the list next year as Brad and I have our own little family but for now I just can't let myself think about Christmas lunch without me and Christmas day without me! I thought Christmas doesn't go on if I am not there! You see.... I love watching the boys play with their electronic toys and watching ML as she changes into her new outfits throughout the day. I love watching pieces of a Christmas Story throughout the day while dad sneaks in a nap in the background. I love picking at the leftovers from breakfast until mama gets her perfect lunch on the table. I love going to the movies that afternoon or night and I love seeing all the mess and the paper and bows lie around the whole day while mama attempts to straighten our new things into our own happy piles. I will miss dad's video taping of every possible embarrassing look and I will miss more ML's eyes rolling as dad makes "dad type" comments. Many of my friends know this....I have not been your model wife for learning to "leave and cleave." I have my foot in my new family but I just hate to pull the other one out of my family. This gets easier, right? They say kids help. I am hoping this is true. Luckily this year Brad and I will go over to mama's for breakfast and then hit the road to South Georgia so I'll get a little taste of a Nicholson Christmas.

Thanks, Katie! Love you! The sad thing is I don't have anyone to tag because I don't think too many people but the three of you (who have already been tagged) read this blog (and have a blog, too!) But I'll try....give it a whirl CHARLSIE. (No one make fun of me if she never reads and chooses not to participate.)