All I want for Christmas is...

my husband home safe and for good.

After a six-month stint of working in Calgary, he flies home for the last time tonight. I get to keep him this time!

And now that I am closing in on the 8-months-pregnant mark, I will be even happier to have him around. I'm starting to worry about the baby coming early - four babies have already arrived in my online February birth club, and one more mama is in hospital trying to slow down her baby's impending early arrival.

I am, and am not ready - the nursery is pretty much ready (though she'll sleep in our room for the first few months), I have only finished three of the eight pregnancy books on my bedside table (I know, I know. But I like to be informed!), I am excited and terrified at the same time! I am confident that we can do this, and do it well - but I worry about how the lack of sleep is going to affect our coping ability in the first few months. The birth, I am not as worried about. I may be crazy, but having read so much and feeling good about going with a midwife whom I trust, has made me a little complacent about it.

Cadbury will also be a happier dog when my husband is home. He's gotten even needier than usual over the last few months (which has been really annoying), and that's got to stop - because we're soon going to have another priority over him. He's very well-behaved, but he can be incredibly demanding at times. So I guess I'm hoping for a more laid-back version of Captain C for Christmas, too.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season, and I hope all your Christmas wishes are granted!