scenes from my Christmas

I look like death.... totally blaming it on the newborn!

Christmas was definitely different this year, thanks to my angel baby! Instead of going out for Christmas eve breakfast, Eric and I took Mia to her first doctor's appointment. Instead of spending the holiday at my parents house, my family stayed at mine. We didn't open presents until after noon. Mia had more Christmas gifts than Eric and I did (but they were just as fun to open, ha!) And there was the sweetest feeling around the house because we were celebrating Christmas with a brand new baby, my daughter! Eric and I have never been more blessed.... we are so grateful for our perfect Mia. And we are also extremely grateful to my family for all of their help, and for being patient enough to let Mia run the show :) 
I'm definitely looking forward to celebrating this special season next year. Teaching Mia about the birth of our Savior, playing Santa, having my life together again (this mom thing is quite the adjustment, ha) to start new traditions and continue with old ones, etc... I'm so excited to experience all of it with my growing Mia!

one week

She loves to play the kissy game with Daddy...

...and hates taking pictures with Mommy :)

How is my baby a week old already?!

This has been the fastest week of my life!

Also the most exhausting, rewarding, happiest, and craziest week of my life :)

It's so easy to get flustered and feel like a failure as a mom. But Eric and I could not feel more blessed to be Mia's parents! We're slowly catching on to this parenting thing and loving every second of it.

We could not be more in love with baby Mia!!

Merry Christmas

Mia wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas :)

SHES'S HERE!!

Mia Marie Brinkerhoff

12-20-2012

5:21 PM

7 lbs 19 1/2 inches

We are in such incredible awe that this bundle of perfection is our daughter!

We love baby Mia!!

40 weeks

picture taken at 40 weeks 2 days

- Baby Girl has missed her due date! It was Sunday, December 16th :( I'm so ready for her to be here!!

- Still no stretch marks! I hope my belly can hold out until she comes, ha ha.

- I haven't talked about my weight gain because I think it's silly. Every body and baby is different, so I don't like the comparing of weight gain. And I'm not even sure the exact amount I've gained (I don't remember what my start weight was and I don't care to ask my Dr) but it's at least 30-35 pounds. One of my clients about had a heart attack when I told her that.... "REALLY?? THAT MUCH?!" she asked me, so shocked. "You don't look like you've gained that much!" Did I want to shave her hair off? Yes. Did I? No, unfortunately.

-  Other than needing a serious foot massage (ha!) I am feeling really good! Squished, but good :)

- I'm still a walkin' fool! Don't ask me why.... I'm convinced this baby won't come until she's good and ready (or I get induced) regardless of the amount of walking I do each day!

- As excited as I am to finally be able to hold my baby, I'm still super nervous for labor and delivery. Eric and I would appreciate any and all prayers for the safe arrival of our baby!! We can't wait to introduce her to you guys :)

lights, camera....

Always so happy to take a picture :) ha ha

39 weeks 4 days

It's no Temple Square but I'm grateful we got to stroll the St. George Temple grounds and enjoy the beautiful lights! Listening to the nativity story warms my heart so much.... especially as we are waiting anxiously for our baby girl's arrival (today is my due date, but I'm thinking she has other plans and won't be joining us today). What a special time of year!! I can't wait to celebrate Christmas with my brand new family of 3 :)

P.S. She needs to hurry up so we can give our poor baby a name!!

P.P.S. We're pretty sure she got more Christmas gifts from my parents than we did, ha ha :)

39 weeks

picture taken at 39 weeks (on time for once, too bad this post is like 4 days late)

- As Eric and I were headed out for a walk earlier this week, we passed the stroller on our way out the door. Eric said, "I can't WAIT to take this stroller out on a walk with us!" It was just the cutest little statement... I love how excited he is to be a dad!!

- The swelling has been relentless this past week. I am constantly drinking water and doing everything I can to keep the swelling down, but it doesn't seem to help. I guess my body is just done being pregnant?

- I retired my wedding ring on Sunday :( I'll be wearing a fake one until baby is born. It's better than running the risk of not being able to get my ring off because of the swelling, right?

- Here's something FUN... I sprained my jaw Tuesday evening. SERIOUSLY! Anytime I lay down it puts quite a bit of strain on my body considering my tummy muscles are useless because my full grown baby has taken over. Tuesday night I took a bath and the strain of laying back in the tub transferred pressure to my jaw and sprained it because the ligaments are so loose. Ha ha... it's just so ridiculous! Those loose ligaments better mean that baby girl is poppin' out ASAP ;)

- My due date is SUNDAY! (I know, I'm always late with my weekly updates...) Say a little prayer that baby girl makes her arrival in the next couple days :) I really don't want to be overdue, ha ha!

snickerdoodle cookies {a recipe}

You know how there are certain treats that just scream "Christmas time" to you?? Snickerdoodles are just that for me! Oh how I LOVE these cookies! I have an amazingly yummy (and easy) recipe to share today!

Snickerdoodle Cookies

1 1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Shortening

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 cup Butter {I use unsalted}

--BLEND FIRST 5 INGREDIENTS--

2 3/4 cup Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Baking Powder

--BLEND REST OF INGREDIENTS--

Chill dough in refrigerator for 1 hour

In a bowl mix 2 tsp Sugar and 1 tsp Cinnamon

Roll dough into balls {any size you want}

Roll dough balls in sugar/cinnamon mixture then place on cookie sheet

Bake at 400 degrees 8-10 minutes {I pull mine out as soon as the cookies start to crackle}

Don't overcook :)

ENJOY!

weekend review

 We only got one crappy cell phone picture of the whole weekend! This is at our church Christmas party.

Eric and I had a great weekend together! It's the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday we got to spend together with NO work in..... months! I can't even remember the last time we had a whole weekend together. It was amazing :) We were hoping to be in the hospital with our brand new baby but of course, she has other plans and baby girl wants to cook a little longer! So we spent the weekend with friends celebrating Christmas! Friday night we went to Cafe Rio (I can't WAIT to be able to stuff a whole salad or burrito in my body again.... I'm ready for baby to get out so I can have room for food again ha ha) and watched A Christmas Story with friends. That movie never gets old :) Saturday we went to our church Christmas party and spent more time with friends. And Sunday evening we got together with friends again just because it might be the last time in awhile we are able to do that :) Or I guess I should say it's the last time we'll easily be able to pick up and go hangout with friends... baby girl is going to be a lot of work! But we can't wait to have her here! Hopefully this was our last weekend as a family of 2!

38 weeks

picture taken at 38 weeks 2 days

- The process has started.... I'm dialating :) (And that's all I'm sayin' about that since this subject can totally gross people out, ha ha.)

- A cute old man came up to me at the grocery store and told me I shouldn't wear this shirt (the one in the picture) because it makes me look pregnant, ha ha. He was trying to be funny and make conversation when he told me his granddaughter is probably a little further along than me, and she's due the end of January. Gosh, it felt SO good to tell him I was due in about a week and a half :)

- Baby girl is getting restless it seems like. Her movements feel like she's searching for a way OUT! :)

- I've been a walkin' fool these days trying to help the process along. It's actually really painful to walk so hopefully it's worth it!

- I don't sleep at night... like ever. Tuesday night was an especially bad night for me and Eric. The next morning Eric asked if I was going to be okay traveling to and from work (I work 45 minutes away) with my crazy schedule because I was up ALL night! I told him I'm up all night like that EVERY night.
He asked, "not like that?!"
"Just like that! I've already told you this plenty of times."
"What can we do to fix this? You don't get enough sleep!"
I told him, "I don't think there is anything we can do. It must be mother nature's way of preparing me for a newborn."
"Mother nature suuuuuuucks!"
Yes, yes it does :) And Eric only had to endure 1 night of little sleep. I've been doing it for weeks now, ha ha.

- My updates are really boring each week but we're pretty much waiting on her arrival to make life exciting again :) So anxious to meet baby girl!!

insta-life

Eric sent me this picture when he finished setting them up and I got butterflies in my tummy! Can't wait to bring baby home!

LOVE!

My sis in law got Eric and I hooked on waffles + peanut butter + syrup. I could eat these morning/day/night 24/7. YUM!

Baby Girl was gifted this adorable ornament! I have the sweetest friends :)

I can't wait to have my instagram fill up with pictures of our baby girl! If you want to follow this new, exciting time in our lives my username is courtbrink. Hopefully you won't get sick of seeing baby girl plastered all over my social media outlets ;)

weekend review

 Eric and I finally had a day off together! Life has been so crazy since Thanksgiving and we've been on opposite work schedules.... so spending a day together was the BEST :) We were able to relax and enjoy each other! I have a feeling we won't have one of these days again for quite awhile, ha ha.
Eric has been wanting to see the new 007 movie so we hit up the matinee (and had the theater to ourselves... perks of going to a matinee on a Monday!) We made sure to stock up on candy before the movie, but I promise we hardly ate any of it :) Life is about to get real crazy and I just might put myself into labor by the weekend with the work schedule I have. Either that or I won't be able to walk for a week... the things I do for my beloved clients :) Wish me luck, ha ha!

'tis the season

Crystal binky ornament! One of baby girl's ornaments!  

Christmas tree lights are on, Christmas scentsy is burnin', and Josh Groban's Christmas cd is playing as I'm typing this post.... and I have butterflies in my tummy! Yes, baby girl is moving around as well, but the butterflies are separate from her movement :) I have been daydreaming about this day ever since I found out my due date was in December. I am 38 weeks today and so grateful to be expecting our baby girl any day. What a special Christmas for us, the most exciting one of our lives!
I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the Christmas season! Anticipating the arrival of my baby has made me appreciate Christ's birth more than ever before. What a wonderful time of year to be reminded of all the miracles in this world! Baby girl is the most special miracle to our little family... I couldn't possibly ask for a better Christmas gift! It feels like I've been waiting forever for this season to arrive and now that it's finally here? I'm going to soak up every second that I can :) And pray for the safe arrival of our perfect miracle!
What are you looking forward to this season??

Does it get anymore glamorous than wearing the hubs shirt and sweats? :) This is what happens at 38 weeks!