Surprise Date!

 I woke up Thursday to find the cutest note from Juan telling me that through all my tireless efforts, it's time I receive a gift! And that I should be ready by 5 pm, dressed in my finest, for a surprise date! I had the biggest grin on my face and was crying at the same time. That's pregnancy for you.

He had set up our friend Lindsey to babysit and so we dropped off Amelia and headed downtown. I still had no idea where we were going, but as we got closer I was able to guess: Hopdoddy's! This is a burger place that all our friends have been talking about and Juan and I were both dying to try. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I can't say it was my best burger ever, but it was good. And Juan's, his was better and close to my best burger, juicy, hot sauce, it was delicious. And the shakes, they tasted like Christmas.

 Next stop, UT Austin campus. I was confused, we were dressed up, obviously not for the burger restaurant. And last time we were at UT was for a football game. So I was thinking Disney on Ice or the Nutcracker. Then we get to Bass Concert Hall, so then I'm thinking orchestra or opera. Ha ha, which neither of those sounded like Juan and me. And then I saw the sign:

And I cried again. Beauty and the Beast! It was so good and the voices were amazing. Beast was hideous but you know, he's supposed to be. It was such a good night. Thank you to Juan, it feels extra awesome to be pampered like this when I am so big and pregnant.

 And we've been busy doing other things too. The weather has been beautiful some days, dark and rainy most days. I like it. On the good days, Amelia can eat on the porch, play at the park, in December! And on the bad days, she can wear her cute coat and we can get a taste of a winter that isn't chilling us to the bones.

 My mom sent a package with a gift for each 12 days of Christmas! She is so cute and sweet, and of course thank you to Crystal as well who definitely helped. And can I tell you, best part of staying home for Christmas is all the packages! I love getting packages.

 Last night we went to a Live Nativity in the next town over. This was the real thing people, the whole town of Bethlehem was set up and they acted out the whole Nativity. Amelia wasn't being an angel while we were waiting in the chapel, but once she saw Mary and Joseph, and then all the animals, she was super into it!

Juan and Amelia with the donkey. This picture looks so vintage Juan. I'm pretty sure he looks identical in a picture I took of him at 16 years old. Ageless.

 

We are just making the most of the Christmas season. Maybe I am almost 37 weeks pregnant with plenty to get done before this baby comes. And maybe my house is falling apart and the laundry and dishes are horrendous, but guess what? I don't care! I'm not going to pause for one second and let Christmas pass us by.

And one more happy thing! Baby #2 flipped. She is head down and ready to come! We are still deciding on the name, ugh. Each day I switch between Lucy and Maya. And when I decide on one, something in me starts defending the other. Maya is Juan's pick and Amelia loves it too. She can't say L's yet so she can't say Lucy, and when I ask her to say Maya, she says it with such gusto: Ma-a!

Profile shot of the Baby. If you can make it out. I think she's pretty adorable.