THIS is the epic blog post you've been waiting for.

Sorry it didn't come yesterday like I planned. There were unforeseen obstacles to my ability to blog (like a complete lack of motivation to do anything productive).

And now . . . HERE COME THE UPDATES AND PICTURES!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!

First, please direct your attention immediately to the right of this post. Notice that big 'ole button that says "I'm a Mormon"? Well, that's a link to my mormon.org profile. Mike and I finally managed to make them (we did it for our FHE activity this week). I figured, if they're talking about it in General Conference and there's a full-on insert in the Ensign, they're probably serious.

Next, about this whole baby business. As of a week ago Tuesday (meaning December 14), I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. And that week, baby was still measuring long. This week, (December 21), I don't know how dilated I am, but baby has slowed down and is now "average-sized." I still have heartburn, sore muscles, hips that hate me a lot, sometimes nausea, dizziness, and Braxton-Hicks . . . but no Katie yet. I'll be 38 weeks on Sunday. For twins, that's the due date. But for just one baby . . . I have to keep waiting. Grr.

Yesterday morning, Mike was reading his book (I think he's on The Two Towers now) and looked up and said "I fully expect you to go into labor later today." When I asked him why, he said, "because you're nesting like crazy." It seems that without even thinking about it, I had cleaned off the table, organized Katie's room, cleaned our bedroom, remade the bed, put away all the dishes, folded Katie clothes and cleaned off her changing table, swept the kitchen, and vacuumed the whole house. Rather. So maybe I was sort of kidding about being unproductive.

Now, to some pictures. I caved: here's one of the two of us. I just realized we hadn't had a picture together in like ninety years. Because it's always just us without a photographer. So most of my pictures are . . . Mike. But here's us.

This crib bedding is what my mom gave me. I think it's the same stuff all of my siblings used. It also came with a lamp, but we have that up on the shelf. (I don't think babies like to sleep with lamps. That's why we left the giraffe and the Peter Rabbit books instead. Much more cuddly. Or . . . entertaining? I don't think books are cuddly either . . . I think we need to rethink our plan.)

This bassinet we also inherited from my mom. I love the pretty eyelet cover. Note: this bassinet has since moved from Katie's room into its designated place in our room, in an effort to encourage the little stinker to get born. The carseat has also been strapped into the car. Now if only she'd get the hint . . .

Along with all the big stuff, my mom also gave me a bin full of little girl clothes (some of which, yes, I myself did wear). Oh my goodness, all the frilly dresses made me giggle so hard my face hurt. We took them home and washed them all and Mike was a good sport helping me put them all away. Note: being an awesome dad and appreciating cute baby clothes does not in any way decrease man points. If anything, it enhances them. (He worried about me putting this picture up.)

This is me and some friends from the awesome baby shower that Sara (furthest right) threw for me at her house. The picture turned out a little blurry, but still good. They're holding up twine from the "guess how big around Brittany's belly is" game. I think it should be mentioned that they let me cut a piece without cheating at all, and I got it exactly. Like, exactly. No gaps and no extra. Everybody else cut off the extra from theirs to compare, but I had none. Because I guessed exactly right. Who wins the spatial reasoning award now, huh?

This one is less blurry, but includes the winner of the aforementioned belly competition. Jackie is second from left and only had, like, a 1cm remnant. It was super close. And she was winner because apparently the pregnant lady herself cannot win.

This picture is included because I think baby shoes are only the cutest thing that ever happened. The saddle shoes I got from my mom (again, I think I wore them), but the red ones I got at my shower. Oh! and the burp clothes my mom made. She said the BYU one is for Mike, so he can still look manly while burping a frilly little girl baby.

Can you tell we just really want Katie to get born? I have . . . (cough cough) I mean SANTA has . . . some cute little stocking stuffers, but she's not here yet, so I'll have to open her presents for her. Seriously. Come out, kid. I'm getting rather impatient. And my back hurts. That's a sure sign that you're supposed to get born soon.

You know, Mike and I thought Christmas would be weird just staying here with the two of us, but so far it's been really fun. We had yesterday (the 23rd) off and just did almost nothing, except nest. Then, in the afternoon, I got all baking happy. So far there are two kinds of cookies, and tomorrow after Christmas, there will be more cookies and pumpkin pies. I'm feeling all domestic.

Our Christmas eve itinerary: wake up after 10, eat leftover pancakes while watching It's a Wonderful Life (crying may ensue), take a shower, vote to get back into pajamas rather than get dressed, play some riveting games of Uno (I won, by the way), eat macaroni and cheese, take a nap, read some fun books, blog, watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town, read the Christmas story from Luke 2, then maybe another game or something before going to bed (where we won't sleep because we're all acting like little kids today). No, seriously. We both have been so excited about the presents we got each other that we're all super excited about Christmas. It's gonna be great.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!