This time around...not so much.
We had a lovely time at Hilton Head (not that you can tell from Mack's expression--he looks like he's in the final scene of "The Blair Witch Project" there) but all good things must come to an end, and now we're back. We've already booked our stay for Spring Break next year (taking a little bit of a gamble, in that I don't know precisely when Spring Break 2013 is going to be yet, but historically for the Atlanta Public School system it's the first week of April, so I guess we'll just sit on that week until there are indications that we have miscalculated). I don't think that we've had any real family time off since Thanksgiving, and it was very nice just to be in a quiet sunny place where the kids could have fun and we could just...sit. Sit and be. And poke dead jellyfish with sticks.
Anyway, we got back to Atlanta Thursday afternoon, and Friday I took the kids to Target with me to load up on Easter stuff for our third annual celebration of Easter Sunday since I decided in 2010 that we were going to start celebrating Easter Sunday in the purely sacrilegious, secular sense. All the candy, none of the guilt and boring church bits! And I only had to re-hide the eggs once this year! (I thought Mack would be all into the "hunt" aspect of the Easter egg hunt, but once he figured out there was candy inside them, all he basically wanted to do was open them directly into his gullet.)
Joe's parents are with us, so we're going to have a big family dinner tonight for the holiday, in which a spiral-cut ham will play a prominent role. (I think this is traditional? For Easter? Or maybe just traditional for big family dinners. DON'T ASK ME, I'M NEW.) So I should probably head on down there to see if I can help arranging the cutlery or what have you, but I'll leave you with these past three weeks of belly shots. (Not to be confused with Jell-o shots.) Sharp-eyed readers will note that I don't have a photo for 23 weeks, but that's because I was very busy at work that week and kind of forgot to take one.
24 weeks:
25 weeks:
26 weeks:
As an added bonus, you too now know the secret for extremely cheap but marginally cute non-maternity maternity wear, which is elastic waisted skirts from Forever 21. They are awesomely easy (if not, you know, masters of cut and drape or high-quality fabric) but come on, they only cost, like, $6 each! So just get them, who cares!
From where I grew up, the public schools always decided to hold spring break the week prior to Easter. I hope that gives you some insight into next year's vacation planning.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Michelle! It was at 25 week when you have finally surpassed my own girth, which is solely from too many burritos and the fight me and my spin bike got in about 2 months ago.
ReplyDeleteAmen to elastic waisted skirts! huge difference there in your 24th and 25th. Lovely boys, btw. Looks so much like their dad. :)
ReplyDeleteOMG Michelle - could you start looking pregnant already??? You're killing me!!!! So glad you had a great vacation BTW. Jealous much.
ReplyDeleteForever 21 <3 :)
ReplyDeleteWhat do you tell your children when they ask what Easter is about? Do you tell them that it's about candy, Easter egg hunts and eating ham? Or do you tell them that it is the most sacred, holy and important day in the Christian religion, the day when Jesus rose from the cross and through his sacrifice and resurrection, saved us all? Have you taken Jesus Christ out of the holiday that focuses exclusively and importantly on HIM and what He sacrificed and did for us? And have you replaced him with candy bunnies and "Easter" egg hunts? I understand that people want to celebrate holidays and even can somewhat understand that religious holidays have become somewhat mainstream, even for non-religious people. I cannot, however, condone or encourage the complete secularization of the holiday which you then dare to still call "Easter" while celebrating your godless and atheist ways. Why not call it "Spring Holiday" or something having no relation to the Lord God?
ReplyDeleteWhoa. Chillax, other anonymous.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you tell your children when they ask what Easter is about? Do you tell them that it's about candy, Easter egg hunts and eating ham? Or do you tell them that it is the most sacred, holy and important day in the Christian religion, the day when Jesus rose from the cross and through his sacrifice and resurrection, saved us all? Have you taken Jesus Christ out of the holiday that focuses exclusively and importantly on HIM and what He sacrificed and did for us? And have you replaced him with candy bunnies and "Easter" egg hunts? I understand that people want to celebrate holidays and even can somewhat understand that religious holidays have become somewhat mainstream, even for non-religious people. I cannot, however, condone or encourage the complete secularization of the holiday which you then dare to still call "Easter" while celebrating your godless and atheist ways. Why not call it "Spring Holiday" or something having no relation to the Lord God?
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle- question from your "durable goods" post. What nipple/rings did you use on the Milkmate system to feed directly from the bottle? I have the system, but can't seem to find a brand of nipple/ring that fit without leaking.....
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 02:26, you do realize that Easter was usurped by the Christians from the Pagans, right? What do you think the egg and bunny symbolize, they were sacred fertility symbols that Christians were more than happy to steal away for their own purposes. You do realize the historical significance of placing Easter around the Spring solstice, correct? Please review your history before lecturing Michelle on how she chooses to celebrate this holiday. You will find a HUGE plank in your own eye.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, you are ridiculously cute when pregnant. :)
-Sarah
As a non-Christian (non-anything) who celebrates Christmas and Easter, I treat them basically as the red-and-green Halloween and the pastel Halloween. Candy? Get-togethers? Home decorations? Seasonal outfits that no one would otherwise wear? Check, check, check, and check. And if my kids ask, I will tell them that some people believe _____, but we like to celebrate because we like to have a good time with our friends and family and be a part of the community. Done. Michelle, you are cute. @pedsdoc, at first I only skimmed your comment and got a bit confused about a nipple ring question here, but then re-read it :)
ReplyDeleteThis kind of clever blog work and coverage! Keep up the very good works.
ReplyDeleteThe information you provide has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted with new updates. its was really valuable
ReplyDeleteThere are some great ideas above. Thanks for providing this good stories
ReplyDelete