Christmas Is On Its Way!

My Christmas tree last year!

Maybe its a pregnant thing, because this year, I've been abnormally obsessed with Christmas music since the beginning of October! I've held off setting up decorations until now, but as soon as Thanksgiving is over, you bet your bippy I'll be hanging lights & setting up the tree! 

When I was a kid, Christmas involved so many fun traditions. On Christmas Eve, my family went to church in the afternoon, then drove around the neighborhood spotting Christmas lights & decorations. Then at home, we would eat fondue together, and then each kid would get to open one present. The next morning, my brother, sister & I would rush downstairs at 5am and sit in front of the glowing tree, mesmerized by all the presents, until we were allowed to wake my parents at 7am. 

At the time I met my husband in college, I assumed most families had similar traditions. I couldn't have been more wrong! He comes from a family of non-practicing Jews that eat ham & celebrate Christmas! My husband & his five siblings recognized Hanukkah with a brief celebration, but mostly looked forward to Christmas. He never went to church obviously, but his family traditions were more focused on gathering around food. As a child, his father was the head chef, making steak with bernaise for dinner and eggs benedict for Christmas breakfast. 

Now that we're pregnant, I've spent a lot of time daydreaming about our family's future holiday celebrations. I appreciate that my husband's family genuinely enjoys spending time together, and makes a point to be a family. I also love how food-centered Christmas was in his home. From my family, I appreciate filling the home with Christmas spirit - decorations everywhere, Christmas music playing all day, and watching Christmas movies together by the fireplace. 

I look forward to blending our family traditions together. I actually think I'm more excited as an adult for Christmastime, and especially watching my kids open presents and knowing that I brought them the joy & memories of Christmas that they will remember and pass on to their kids. :)

So to get in the Christmas spirit, I found some fun crafts & decorations that I've collected on my Pinterest for the holidays. Hope you enjoy! :)

 A booklover's lamp! So creative!

Scented Fir Christmas tree topiaries covered in cloves, peppercorns & coffee beans. I love these! I found them last year on Etsy, and I've been wanting to try to make them ever since.

My husband doesn't get it - bubble lights just remind me of home!

DIY Cinnamon ornaments. Great idea and would smell amazing!

German smoking men - another thing that just reminds me of home. They are so awesome!! But hard to find!

Dress up a mason jar with some birch, sticks & twine for a gorgeous, rustic candle. I love this idea for a cabin-feel tablescape.

Simple, clean, neutral entryway decor. 

As a kid, I remember our neighbors having a full set of rattan reindeer lit up with the sleigh in tow. My brother & I got so excited every year when they popped up in their yard! This set is from Pottery Barn.

Where is your favorite place for Christmas/Hanukkah decor shopping?! I've found some fun things on Etsy lately, but I'm always looking for new ideas. Check out my holiday boards on Pinterest for some ideas I've collected already!

What are some of your holiday traditions? Did you find it difficult or exciting when blending those traditions with your spouse?

xo kristen genevieve

Pregnancy Update: 19 weeks!

I can't believe I'm just one week away from being halfway through my pregnancy!! Retrospectively, I feel like time has flown by so fast. I'm so grateful to have this blog as a record of my experiences each week to remember how much has changed during this time. I hope you're enjoying it too! :)  

Something very exciting happened this week! A few hours after I posted my 18 week update last Monday, I felt kicks from the outside for the first time!!! Its made me more emotional than I ever expected. You read about the movements in baby books & online, and its all true, but feeling my baby physically move within me is such an indescribably emotional experience that I never anticipated to be so intense. I feel so deeply connected to my little one when he/she turns over or gives me a little kick. :)

Since feeling baby's strong kick for the first time last Monday, I've felt about one to two dozen movements throughout the day, with one or two strong kicks or punches, every day since! My husband still hasn't been able to feel baby move, and I think he's a little jealous! ;) But I know those kicks will be stronger very soon & he'll get a chance to feel our baby dance.

In other good news this week, my husband & I will (hopefully) get to find out the gender of our baby!! We have both had a strong feeling since the beginning that its a boy, but even if we're right, I feel like the answer will still be shocking. It's just an even deeper connection with baby knowing the gender & picturing what our new family will look like. I can't wait!! I'll update you as soon as possible!! 
 
Week: 19 Weeks along! Almost halfway!!

Gender: Hopefully we'll find out this week!! We can't wait another minute!! We have always felt that baby is a boy, but we will be so happy either way. :)

Total Weight Gain: I haven't had a chance to weigh myself this week, but I don't feel significantly bigger than last week, maybe 1 lb heavier. I eat constantly throughout the day so I honestly don't know why I haven't gained more at this point in my pregnancy!

Exercise: Having a cold this week, I took it easy. Squats & walking here and there, but nothing of great significance.

Nutrition: Lots of clementines & lemons again to aid my cold! I'm also trying to eat more bananas & organic apples as snacks. For breakfast, I mix it up between organic peanut butter on toast and organic low-fat plain yogurt with granola & frozen organic blueberries & raspberries. And okay, sometimes I have a bagel with cream cheese! Calcium, right? ;)

Food cravings/aversions: Clementines!! And mid-week I was craving a dish we used to make all the time in the summer: organic tomatoes with garlic, olive oil & basil over spaghetti. Don't forget the fresh grated parmesan or romano cheese on top! ;)

Signs of Stretch Marks: Not yet that I've noticed!

Maternity Clothes: I am only just starting to need some new clothes because my belly had a late start. Up until now, cardigans have been my best friend! 

Sleep: I sleep through the night, but I definitely need a pregnancy pillow! I've seen the Bump Nest body pillow on a few blogs but its way too expensive! Any suggestions on a body pillow under $50?

Feeling: Aside from my cold, I'm feeling great! Its been so wonderful feeling baby move! :)

Baby Movement: Yes! Baby has been practicing for kicking soccer balls!

Belly Button In or Out? In, but it has been looking a little different over the past couple weeks. Its hard to describe!

Wedding Rings On or Off? On. They actually feel more loose than a few weeks ago - maybe because it's finally starting to get cold out!

What I miss most this week: My little niece!

Best moment this week: Feeling baby kick, definitely!! Another great moment this week was the birth of my cousin's little baby girl! She was born last Monday and is just so adorable! :)

Looking forward to: Finding out our baby's gender!! Soooo excited!!

Any guesses on the gender?! As I mentioned above, my husband & I have thought it's a boy since the beginning. My Dad also thinks its a boy. Two of my husband's siblings think it's a girl though! Last chance to guess! 

xo kristen genevieve

Should I Make Everyone Get a Pertussis Vaccine?

Hi all! Today I wanted to do a different post on something that has been on my mind lately. As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent last week in Vermont while my husband was away. My 18 month old niece was sick the entire week, and at the very end, I caught her cold. Being sick while pregnant is no fun, but what I worry about even more is how I'll handle my newborn becoming sick.

I have seen public service announcements on TV over the past few years about the Pertussis vaccine. The PSA explains that whopping cough sends infants to the hospital every year, can cause brain damage and in some cases, can even be fatal. Can you just imagine feeling the joy of becoming a new parent and then standing by as your child turns blue and helplessly coughs for weeks on end? I'm sorry if that's a disturbing picture to you, but its just something that makes me really upset to think about.

The best way to greatly reduce your child's chance of getting whopping cough is to get the Pertussis vaccine. I know my husband & I will both be vaccinated, but babies don't receive their first dose until they are 2 months old. So my feeling is that anyone who wants to hold the baby and especially spend long periods of time around the baby within the first two months should get the vaccine.

Luckily, my husband & I don't have a ton of friends (don't feel bad for us, we like it that way!), but we have a lot of family. I come from a science family. My mother is a Registered Nurse and my brother studied biology, so I know they will all be on board with getting vaccinated.

However, my husband's family seems pretty resistant thus far, especially my mother-in-law. Its so frustrating to me, because I don't want to be rude, but I feel so uncomfortable. My husband has 5 brothers and sisters that live near us (plus their spouses & kids), most of whom will want to see & hold the baby within the first two months. Another thing complicating the issue is that my husband & I plan on moving back to Vermont when the baby is about 1.5 months old. Being between pediatricians and hospitals, plus traveling a lot during that time before we move makes me nervous. 

What do I do? I know my husband will help as an enforcer, but what if someone travels to see the baby and they haven't been vaccinated? Can I just say no? I honestly am not a paranoid person and I know that I can't prevent the baby from every sickness, but because baby doesn't get vaccinated for 2 months, it makes me worried. I'm just trying to do what I think is best for my baby.

Here are some articles on Whopping Cough & the Pertussis vaccine:
CDC Pertussis Fast Facts

Sounds of Pertussis Campaign

Pertussis epidemic: How Vermont's anti-vaxxer activists stopped a vaccine bill

**One last note: I understand that some people believe that vaccines cause other problems for kids, like Autism. I just want to be clear that I am not asking for feedback on whether or not to vaccinate my child. That is an entirely different discussion. 
I'm looking for advice from those who believe in the benefits of vaccination on how to deal with relatives in this particular situation. Are you/did you make family & friends get the pertussis vaccine? If you didn't, do you wish you had? As for that feedback, please comment and help me out!

xo kristen genevieve