1) Misc Cruise Tidbits
- There was a baby born on our cruise! While you aren’t allowed to cruise if you are past your 22nd week of pregnancy, a woman who was just over 5 months pregnant (so probably right around the cutoff mark) gave birth to a baby on Tuesday, November 29, and then was transferred to the hospital when we reached Jamaica the next day. The baby was just over 2 lbs when born, but everything appears to be fine. They kept the baby’s body temperature stable by wrapping him in Saran wrap (from the kitchen!) and used their normal medical equipment to keep his airways clear. Isn’t that just crazy? Apparently, mom and baby are doing well still!
- When Mom and I were in Haiti, we were sitting on a bench and this couple walked over to the trash can near us to throw something away. There was a lizard on the trash can and the couple was just MARVELING at this lizard. Living in Florida, lizards are very commonplace and not something to even point out. They pointed the lizard out to us and we were like, “Yesss?” And that’s when they said they were from Canada and don’t usually see lizards hanging out on trash cans where they live. Haha… after getting that context, this little story just warmed my heart and made me think about all my Canadian bloggy friends.
- It’s always hit-or-miss if our cabin is going to be set up with two single beds or one big bed together. Obviously, we prefer to have single beds but it’s not a huge deal if we have to sleep in the same bed. This time around, it was one big bed and I’m happy to report that my earplugs still worked great even though my mom was snoring right next to me! Sometimes I could hear her, but the sound was muffled and not too distracting.
2) Christmas Delivery
I was so excited to get my mail this week and find a package from my beloved Kim! Kim is beyond generous and so thoughtful when gift-giving (like most enneagram 2s I know!) I was particularly charmed by the set of keychains, one for Ellie and one for Lila, and the cute rock she painted for me. I now have a nice little collection of Christmas rocks from Kim, and I’m determined to find a fun way to display them with my other holiday decor! And, of course, Kim added a fun toy for the girls to play with. Ellie immediately started batting it around the apartment once I gave it to her. They go nuts for those catnip toys, I tell ya!
3) San’s Secret Santa Mug Swap
A second piece of exciting mail this week was getting my gift from San’s Secret Santa Mug Swap. This was the first year I participated, and I do not think it will be my last. It was so much fun to get a sweet gift in the mail from a dear blog friend. Anne fully outdid all of my expectations: I literally gasped when I saw the mug she sent me. Is it not the most perfect mug ever?!
She also gave me a delicious sample of coffee (called “chocolate nirvana”) that I can’t wait to brew, the cutest little gnome ornament to hang on my tree, and some presents for the girls. The little squid has already gotten batted around the apartment a bunch, so I know that will be a much-loved toy for them.
I’m so glad I participated in the mug swap this year!
4) Christmas Shopping
On the drive home from the cruise port on Saturday, I saw a billboard that proclaimed there were only 22 days until Christmas. 22 days? I hadn’t even started Christmas shopping yet! OY VEY. Thankfully, I don’t have too many people to buy for. We don’t do gifts with our extended family so I only buy for my mom, my brother, my SIL, my two nephews, my stepdad, and a few friends.
This year, I got my family to use an app called Giftster. Usually, we just text each other our lists (like, texting one link at a time) and it’s very inconvenient. With Giftster, you just add your ideas/links to items to a list and people can shop right through the app. Then, when they buy something off the list, they mark it as “purchased” so that other people who have access to the list know it’s been bought. Genius, right? I’ve been really happy with it and it’s made Christmas shopping so much easier this year.
By the end of the weekend, I had finished shopping for my brother, my SIL, and my older nephew. On Monday, I did about 90% of the shopping I needed to do for my mom. Yesterday, I finished shopping for a friend. I still need to get something for my stepdad, my younger nephew, and another friend, but I should be able to get that done this weekend. So I’m very nearly done, whew! I’m feeling good about where I’m at, and it’s been fun to start getting packages delivered. I can’t wait to sit down and wrap all of the gifts soon!
5) Weekend Plans
It’s going to be a busy, busy weekend over here. But that’s just how it seems to go in December, isn’t it? Today, I have a day to myself and I’m hoping to get over to the library to pick up a book and to Target to pick out a few lingering Christmas presents. I may also pop over to Homegoods to check out their selection of 2023 planners. Saturday, I have a writing date with Mikaela and Eleni at 9:30am (I haven’t seen them in weeks!) and then I’m meeting up with some coworkers to have lunch and decorate gingerbread houses. In the evening, my friend Amber is taking me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. Sunday, thankfully, should be a low-key day where I will watch football with the fam. My brother requested I make peanut butter blossoms for our get-together, and I am more than happy to oblige.
How’s your Christmas shopping going? What’s something fun you’re doing this weekend?
Shopping is DONE. I’m just waiting for all of it to get delivered. Whew!
I am SO STRESSED out about this preemie baby being born on the cruise. I do hope he ends up doing well. How very stressful for the parents! The lungs aren’t fully developed! Were his eyes even open yet? Argh. I’m going to be thinking about this baby all day!
Those are some AWESOME gift packages. The library card ornament is amazing and that mug is spectacular! What great gift givers!!
I know – I was so shocked when I heard that a baby was born on the ship! How scary! It’s amazing that they were able to keep him alive until they were able to transfer them to the hospital. I can’t imagine how stressed out that mom must have been!
I totally marvel over lizards!!! That would have been me for sure.
OMG the baby! How scary for that woman! I’m glad to hear they are doing okay.
I totally thought of you when the couple said they were from Canada! I could see you marveling over a lizard. 🙂
I thought the room steward could separate the bed into two?
I’m glad the ear plugs worked!
Yes, we could have had our attendant separate the beds, but it’s not something that bugs us that much and it seems like extra work that we didn’t actually need! Just an interesting observation. 🙂
I was so excited that you signed up for the mug swap this year and so happy to hear you received such a thoughtful package from Anne! She picked out the perfect gifts. And Kim’s package was wonderful as well. How fun it is to get some nice packages during the holiday season, amirite?
Oh, and did you find a planner at Home Goods? I bought my 2023 planner there last week – for $12.99. It’s the same planner I had for the last couple of years and I am so happy that had it again.
My Christmas to-do list is coming along… I’ve crossed a few things off my list today already and have some more things to do this weekend (including getting out the Christmas tree!).
Anne did such an amazing job with my package! I GASPED when I saw that mug. There has never been a more perfect mug for me!
I did end up finding a planner at Homegoods! Mine was only $8, so what a nice little surprise!
Oh goodness, a baby? Scary when they are so small! I’m glad they were well taken care of on the ship and are now getting the care they need. Phew!
That mug is absolutely perfect for you!
I am so relieved the baby was okay and they were able to get him to the hospital in time! How stressful for that mother!
Oh gosh, a baby that early! I hope the baby is ok… that is very very scarily early. Yikes. Glad they were doing ok so far.
I am done shopping but we buy sooo few gifts so get off early. Well I should say I am done except for finishing the calendar that we make for my MIL. I need to finish December and order it. Might have to do that in Mexico!!
We had book club on Friday night and did a book exchange and picked our 2023 reads. I’m excited about what we have planned to read! And now we are at my parents to drop the boys for the week. We will leave after lunch. I asked Paul how he is feeling this morning and he said ‘I’m excited but I am going to be a little sad because I will really miss you’. Awwww. I will miss them dearly but really need this time away so am mostly excited!!
How scary, right? As far as I know, the baby made it safely to Miami where he could be admitted to the NICU, where I assume he’ll be for a while. That is so early and he was so tiny – 2 lbs! I can’t imagine how stressful and scary the mother had to be. It’s amazing they were able to keep him alive until they were able to transfer them.
I’m glad you were mostly excited and not too nervous about leaving the boys!
A premature baby born on the cruise?!?! Oh my goodness! I am so glad the baby and parent are doing okay — jeez, what a story!
The Giftster app sounds amazing! Doubtful that I could ever get my in laws to participate though LOL.
Yay for being done Christmas shopping! I think I am done? My husband and I are tossing around ideas for one last gift for the kiddo, so we’ll see. Beyond that, all is good!
What a story, indeed! As far as I know, Mom and baby are doing good, although I’m sure the baby will be in the NICU for a while. That is just SO early to be born!
I have a few more little gifts to buy, but am mostly done. Thank goodness because at least one child has been sick nonstop for the last 1.5 weeks and I am SLOWLY LOSING MY MIND! I’m having a hard time feeling festive, but I’m so grateful that I had a lot of gifts purchased in advance/got the decorations up a bit earlier than normal, so it hasn’t been quite as stressful from a holiday planning point of view.
And that baby – yikes! I’m so glad it is doing okay, but that is a very traumatic experience for everyone! What a story that will be for generations to come!!
Nicely done on getting a lot of the Christmas stuff done early since you’ve been dealing with sick kiddos this month. Eeks!
Having a baby on a cruise ship sounds like a nightmare! I am just so, so glad he was born safely and was able to be transferred to a NICU in Florida. I hope he continues to thrive! What a story.
Omg that baby was so small! I am so glad they are going okay! Phew.
I would be the same way about the lizard! Do you know our Aussie friends are that way about squirrels? LOL. So cute.
Aww, thanks so much for the shoutout for my gifts! I am glad you liked them! I had a lot of fun looking at all the keychains at CatCon and finding the ones that looked closest to your babies!!! I need to send you a non-holiday cat rock you can keep out year round! 🙂
Anne’s package is so so fun! That mug is just perfection. I kind of want to paint it. I wonder where she got the squid! Our cats loved felted toys like that too!
Someone was recently telling me about Giftster! I would love my family to get on board with something like that. And I am so glad you have so much shopping done now!
I hope your weekend was fun! We had a lunch date with friends and had a good time! I am mostly done with shopping and wrapping!
I will accept any and all cat rocks you want to send me! Haha.
Let me know if you want me to send a good picture of the mug so you can paint it!
You did such a good job picking out my gifts! The keychains are perfection.
Sounds like the lead-up to your holiday went well. Hope the day itself was just as joyful!
Oh, thanks for the shout out – and so sorry for my late late late reply. Sigh. I think I told you the origin of the mug but if not, let me know, okay? I’m glad to hear that the girls loved the squid, too. And the gnome just makes me smile every time I look at it. <3
And ps on the preemie. So. Dang. Scary. That is far too early and I'm honestly surprised they did as well as they did not in a NICU for what sounds like 12+ hours. I hope that the baby continued to do well.
I don’t think you told me the origin of the mug, unless I’m having a massive brain fart! I’d love to hear it. <3