What I Really Want for Christmas

'Tis the season for a million different gift guides for every different type of person on your shopping list. Unfortunately, none of these seem to capture exactly what I want for Christmas this year.

Here is what I want, what I really, really want for Christmas this year:

Overhead Lighting for Our Living Room:

Brian would never let me go for this, but I like it. From Pottery Barn

Our living room is the most used space in our house. We watch tv in there, play with Charlie in there, and, until our dining room chairs finally arrive, we eat in there. The only light we have is single bulb lamp and our Christmas tree, which just don't cut it. Santa, send me some light!

Perfect Vision:

Orange County Lasik

 

For the majority of my life, I have had terrible vision and must rely on contacts and glasses to see anything at all. One day, I would love to wake up and be able to see my surroundings perfectly. Ideally, my eyes would magically correct themselves without the need for surgical intervention because the thought of a laser in my eye is frightening and expensive.

Absolutely No Tchotchkes:

Marketing Tango

After packing and moving all our Earthly possessions this year, I have come to the conclusion that we have too much crap. Unfortunately, we both have family members that believe in giving presents just for the sake of having something to open. At this point, I would rather open empty boxes than have more useless stuff in my house. I know our families love us and they mean well, but we don't have the space!

So, what's really on your list this year?

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! I'll be back next week after some much needed time with our families!

Charlie: 22 & 23 weeks

 I'm finally catching up with Charlie updates after my hiatus! And, lucky for you, this update is full of adorable pictures!

 

Likes: snow! Ice! Omg, they're delicious! And all over the ground! I'm going to stop  doing my business outside entirely and just eat all the snow and ice I can thus compounding the problem because now I am full of water!! Best thing ever!!! (seriously.)



Dislikes: birds, snow plows/salt trucks, nice little neighborhood kids that deliver plates of cookies to my people...they're up to no good, obviously.

He learned how to jump over the baby gate so we had to improvise, which resulted in this

 



 

New to him: growling and barking at said birds, snow plows, and cute little neighborhood children, giving high fives

Post bath fluffy pup

Looking forward to: our 12. hour. drive. to Tennessee, destroying packages under the Christmas tree, hanging out with bitches in Tennessee (not being derogatory, they're female dogs)

 



 

Happiest of holidays from Charlie!!

Charlie: 20 & 21 weeks

Just as I've been a bit absent from blogging, I've also been a little lax on my Charlie pictures. It didn't help that I sold my slr so I could finally upgrade to a new one and was without a "real" camera for a while. Most of these are from my cell phone, so I apologize for the quality.

 

In dog jail at Thanksgiving

Likes: long holiday weekends, houseguests that play and take him outside often, playing with the Christmas tree!

Dislikes: getting his nails clipped. He never really like having them cut, but it's like we are torturing him whenever we try to clip them now.

New this week(s): losing puppy teeth! He lost his first on Thanksgiving and has been steadily losing them since.

 

  sleepy puppy

Looking forward to: more naps ;)

Happy Tuesday from Charlie!

 

Life, Lately

It has now been pointed out to me by more than one person that I haven't posted anything in quite some time. Trust me, it is not for lack of things to talk about  (house projects! new furniture! Charlie!!), but I just needed a break.

The last month has been extremely exhausting emotionally and mentally as we continue to deal with the effects of the accident that left my brother in law with a traumatic brain injury. Although he is doing so much better than we could have dreamed (he's home!), the reality is that he needs a lot of support as he continues to improve. As the big brother, my husband has taken on as many responsibilities as he can from four hundred miles away. In turn, I've tried to be supportive and understanding, knowing that my brother in law needs it right now. 

Yesterday, we had a snow day and it was so welcome. Charlie and I hung out, lazed on the couch, and finally started our online Christmas shopping (we are so behind this year it is driving me crazy). Life will still be pretty crazy and stressful, but the break yesterday was a much needed refresher for my mental health and I am now ready to embrace this blog and the holiday season with open arms.

Much love, Jess