Here’s my list.  I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this past year. I’m glad to put it behind me, but alas, the things I will remember most (even if I don’t really want to!)

Kari’s Best and Worst of 2005:

Best Hang-out:  Starbucks

Best Gracie sayings:  “That’s how my roll” and “My not a baby, my a teenager!”

Best TV shows:  “My Name is Earl” and “Medium”

Best Gracie and Mommy Moment:  Planting “mawigodes” (marigolds) in the flower bed, playing games and dress up together.

Worst shock:  Chris being fired from the church.

Best sound in my house:  Gracie’s laughter and her little voice when she prays.   

Best Big Surprise:  Getting pregnant again!

Best Chris and Kari memory: Blowing over $100 at Nikz for our 5th anniversary dinner. 

Best products I’ve discovered pregnant women shouldn’t live without:  Oil of Olay Moisturinse In-Shower body lotion, the Belly Bra (men–don’t bother asking on this one) and Victoria’s Secret Pink brand panties in a size bigger than you’d normally wear.  Maternity undies?  Yuck!   

Worst Sad Moment: feeling helpless after the Tsunami and the Hurricanes, Matthew leaving for Iraq

Scariest Moment: The visit to the ER when I thought we were losing the baby.

Best Happy moment:  being in our new house, having loving family around all the time, seeing our healthy new baby on the ultrasound monitor

Best life change:  Chris going from ministry to AOL, leaving First Church for Northview

*EDIT* Most impressive thing about my motherhood experience:  I can be in a full out deep sleep and the slightest noise or sweet whimper from Gracie’s room will have me fully awake, ready to calm, rock, pray away fear, or refill a “milky” and put her back to sleep.

*EDIT* Biggest fear of the future:  That I can’t handle two children.  That I won’t be as organized with two–that the house will be a complete mess about 90% of the time once this baby comes.   The thought of this gives me nightmares. 

Best Big realization about God:  He is faithful, regardless of where you are. I can trust Him through anything–and the thing that I am holding onto so tightly–if I would just let go He will replace it with something far better, His plan!

New Year’s Resolution:  To slow down and enjoy every second of my life as a mother and wife.  To chill out a little when it comes to schedules. 

Well, that’s it, kiddies.  Everyone have a safe and fun New Year’s Eve and I’ll catch up with you all after January 1st.  Muah!

Gracie and I played Candy Land at least a million times today, and then Memory and then Hi Ho Cherry O.  She LOVES board games!  We played over and over and she got so mad once when I won!  LOL  She wanted to keep playing so she could “win” Haha!  She has so many new toys and games, we are keeping quite busy!  She is wearing her Cinderella big girl panties that Da gave her…lets hope I don’t have to clean up pee off the floor later today.  Thank God we have hardwood floors/ceramic tile in most of the house! 

The baby is kicking like crazy!  Especially at night, just like Gracie did.  I swear some times she’s using my bladder for a pillow.  I feel bad that I don’t have as much time with her scrapbook or room preparation or anything–I haven’t even journaled anything for her–but who has time when you’re chasing a (almost) 3 year old around?  I can’t wait till Mother’s Day Out starts back up so that I can have a minute to sit and reflect on this pregnancy.  Until January 6, though, she’s kind of well, ignored.  Except at night when I feel her kick and think what a wonderful thing it will be to have two princesses in my life.  I really, really regret giving all Gracie’s cute, expensive newborn-through-two-years clothes to hurricane Katrina victims. But God will provide and someone else needed them more than I did at the time.  I don’t know why I worry so much. 

Say a prayer for Chris today.  His new job is still great, but it’s high pressure and I just want him to be happy and do well.  He provides for us and he is so strong.  *Love* 

Happy Birthday to a special man in my life! When he was my age, he had three young kids and a perm.  (Oh man, I wish I had a picture to scan!)  Well, you’ll just have to take my word for it–dude had a white man’s afro. Gotta love the 80’s! I love you, Daddy.  Happy Birthday!

Gracie and Grandpa at the birthday party

Ah, she’s learning well!  Her new camera’s much cooler than mine though.  Hers is not only pink, but it talks!  Wow!

Two posts in one day! That’s right!  Chris retrieved my memory card from the poopey old camera (see previous post) and got them on the computer. Now I can share with all of you!  There’s more in the gallery.  If you want in, comment me and leave your email addy and I’ll let you in there.  

Gracie poses with her “fancy purse” from the Franks.  It’s fancy because it has a pink stuffed kitty inside it.  This was before our Christmas Eve experience at Northview.

This one’s a little sad in a way…these cookies were made by Ma and Gracie, a Christmas tradition in our family.  Chris’ Meme used to make them every year before she passed away. Gracie was so proud to help…Meme would be so proud of Little Miss Gracie! 

Leaving cookies for Santa.  Gracie didn’t remember this tradition.  She was all excited about leaving cookies and milk until…

…She realized they weren’t going to be eaten by her!  Haha.  SO glad the camera was still working!

But Santa did come, and he ate the cookies and filled the space under the tree with all sorts of wonderful gifts! (that odd shaped one is the bike. You know how hard it is to wrap a bike, Uncle Matthew? LOL)

Alright, well.  I guess I should never promise anything I can’t be sure of.  I know many Gracie fans are anxiously awaiting a picture post of the adorable toddler destroying gift wrap and sticking leftover bows to her head.  However, I don’t have a whole lot of Christmas pictures.  Why, you ask?  Because my beloved camera crapped out on Christmas Eve!  Boooo!  It is a few years old (we got it when Gracie was born) but it was still nice and I loved, loved, loved my Kodak EasyShare camera. I was sad.  So we opened gifts and videoed Christmas morning at our house, then proceeded over to Dick and Janie’s house for yet more gifts and festivities.  Chris wasn’t worried, but I was so sad about my camera.  HE wasn’t worried because he knew that I was getting a NEW KODAK EasyShare camera and dock/printer!  It’s so much nicer than our old one and it prints pictures for me RIGHT here!  Yay!!! It’s just what I wanted! So thanks to Chris and everyone who helped buy this for me! 

The best I can do right now is ONE Christmas morning pic.  Here’s one of Gracie in the front room with her new baby and her Hello Kitty flashlight:

We all ended up with super nice gifts (cleaning out the house to make room for all Gracie’s new stuff!) although that isn’t the reason for any of this anyhow.  It was nice to go to the Christmas Eve Experience at our new church and worship the king that came so long ago.  It was a joy to watch Gracie open gifts on Christmas morning–to watch her face and her excitement and to just love her with such overwhemlming love and know that God feels the same way about me.  I am thankful for all that God has done for me and for my family.  Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas everyone! Here’s the first couple pictures in a series of picture posts of our family’s Christmas celebration.

Gracie with Grandmommy and Grandpa and Aunt Brooke before going to look at Christmas lights. Our tree, by the way, is only decorated with what you see.  I never made it to the ribbons or other decor like I planned.  But Gracie kept bringing home crafts from church and school, so they’re all up in the tree instead.  Definitely a “mom” thing. 

Daddy takes the opportunity to put together a very special Christmas gift while Gracie’s out of the house. 

Everything’s ready to go, as long as we can keep Gracie out of the extra bedroom.  Santa’s using it right now as his workshop!  There’s gift wrap, bows, and all the unwrapped Santa gifts everywhere.  I can’t WAIT to see her face tomorrow morning!