December in Review

12/1 I got up, got AJ ready, and fed him. I went to the gym while Matthew took AJ to daycare. After  eating and getting ready, Matthew and I went to Paris Baguette, Walmart, Trader Joe's, and Smith's. We unloaded everything and spent some time together. I put on Love, Actually, and wrapped presents. I picked up AJ and started making chicken chili for dinner. After bath and bed time, Matthew and I watched Bridgerton. I worked on my blogs for November and checked out Cyber Monday deals on TV. I am sad I missed opportunities to renew our zoo passes as well as the aquarium passes with Cyber Monday deals. 

12/2 I got up and did a short treadmill walk before work. Work was pretty busy with lots of meetings and catching up. I left after 4pm or so, took my rent check to the bank, and went to Walmart for my prescription. I picked up AJ and did all the normal evening hustle - checked mail, brought everything inside, did the litter box, did the dishes, and finally ate dinner. Matthew picked up our new TV. We spent some time getting it set up and logged in to some apps while our son ran around like a mad man. After getting AJ to bed, we started Bridgerton season 3. 

12/3 AJ woke up at 1:30 and 3:00am. He actually was sleep walking initially when I checked the monitor. He was standing in his bed and touching the side and the wall and crying. After comforting him those two times, I still got up at 5 for the gym. Work was decent--had a virtual class. I ended up leaving early because AJ's daycare closed early. I finished my workday at home. AJ and I met Matthew at Itto Sushi for dinner. I did bath, and an early bed time for AJ. We watched Bridgerton.

12/4 AJ woke up crying again in the early morning. I was up for a short walk indoors before work. Work was a fun day - ESL 1 party, lunch as a team at In-N-Out, a stop at Trader Joe's, and a baby shower for two team members expecting baby girls. I was off around 4, went to Walmart for a prescription, picked up AJ, got his dinner together, and started the cleaning and one load of laundry. 

12/5 I was up early to lift weights. It was our work holiday party, which made it so my workday wasn't a half day, though I got off at 4pm Tues-Thurs. I won a heated blanket in our gift exchange. I picked up AJ and spent time with him. We watched a bit of Elio and went to the ward Christmas dinner. We did bed and bath time. I build the gingerbread houses for AJ and I to decorate the next day. 

12/6 I trained with Taylor at 7am. We went to the Festival of Trees at 10am. By lunch time, AJ was toast. He needed food and a nap and was being a little monster. I cleaned floors during his nap, did laundry, and watched Bridgerton. I went to Sam's Club for gas, Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Smith's, which included Sub 4 Santa shopping. AJ and I decorated gingerbread houses. Matthew and I finished Bridgerton. 

12/7 I was up about 7:30 and started laundry. I made AJ and myself breakfast and took AJ on a walk. I wrapped gifts for our Sub 4 Santa girl. We watched Klaus and tried to drop off our pumpkins somewhere unsuccessfully. We went to Pirate O's and tried to go to Gardner Village, but it was all closed. We had Mooyah for dinner. I rewrapped some things separately for Kehlani. I did AJ's bath, and Matthew finished bed time. I prepped lunches and did vitamins for the week. 

12/8 I was up at 5 for the gym. I had a 1:1 new hire orientation that went fairly well and ended early. I picked up AJ and we went to meet a daycare lady for him to go to on 12/22 and 12/23. From there we went to my grandma's house for the birthdays of my grandma, aunt Lisa, and cousin Tyce. We got AJ to bed late without a bath. 

12/9 I got up and went on a walk outside. Work wasn't too busy. I picked up AJ, and we had a normal evening at home. 

12/10 I was up at 5 for the gym. I did tech support for a class and had a few other things to do at work. After work I picked up some local honey and picked up AJ. I made a Kevin's Meal for dinner. I did bath time, and Matthew finished out bed time. We watched Queen Charlotte. 

12/11 I got up and did a short indoor walk. Work wasn't too busy--just a few ESL meetings. I stayed till 5:30 helping with the Santa event, then went home to get AJ. We brought him to my work to meet Santa. 

12/12 I was up at 5 for the gym. Work wasn't too busy. I left early to get AJ and take him to the dentist; he did really great and has no cavities. We went to lunch at J Dawg's then went to Deseret Book, World Market, and Smith's. I unpacked groceries and started cleaning. 

12/13 I fed AJ, started laundry, and went to the gym. I cleaned floors while AJ got a hair cut. We walked through the condo to see how the tenants are treating it. Matthew sold our TV, and we went to get Thai food for dinner. 

12/14 I made AJ breakfast and went on a quick walk. I met Rachel for coffee. I met the boys at a house to meet a backup daycare lady for AJ to go to on 12/22 and 12/23. I spent time in the backyard with AJ, did lunch prep, and watched a new (to me) Christmas movie on Netflix (The Boy Called Christmas). Matthew made dinner and did a fire for us in the backyard. I did bath time, and Matthew finished bed time. AJ was very, very challenging this day, likely due to no nap. It was one of the hardest days we've ever had with him, I think. We finished Queen Charlotte. 

12/15 I was up at 5 for the gym. I had lunch with my manager for our 1:1 at Village Baker. I picked up AJ and drove to Matthew's work. We didn't have time to sit for dinner anywhere so we grabbed McDonald's, ate in the car, and went to Luminaria. AJ had a great time dancing in the tent and walking on the light pods. 

12/16 I slept in and did a couple of walks at work. Work was quiet, but I did get to spend an hour in another building at reception just to fill in for someone. I picked up AJ, and we went to Walmart. Matthew was catering that evening. I heated up dinner for AJ and myself. I made cookies for the cookie exchange with my in-laws. I gave AJ a bath and did bed time. 

12/17 I was up at 5 for the gym. Work was good--my first State of the Company experience. It was a well produced 90 minute video discussing all things company-related. After work I got gas and went to the Startup cookie exchange at my mother-in-law's house. 

12/18 I got up a little bit early and did a 10 minute indoor walk. Work was quiet. I picked up AJ, made spaghetti, and did a virtual HOA meeting where I got selected for the HOA board. I finished AJ's bed time since Matthew did bath time. 

12/19 I was up at 5 for the gym. I left work early to take AJ to the doctor to have his ears looked at. She said he has a double ear infection and wants me to take him to a pediatric ENT, which tells me tubes are probably the next step. We went to Smith's and then Walmart, but the pharmacy was on its absurd two hour lunch break, so I couldn't pick up his antibiotics. We got home, and I started laundry and cleaning. Matthew got home about 5:30, and we loaded up to take AJ to Canny Kids. We went to dinner at Garage Grill, wandered around Cal Ranch Store, and went to Crispy Cones for dessert. We picked up AJ and did a quick bed time. 

12/20 I slept in, fed AJ, and started laundry. I asked Matthew and AJ to make the sugar cookie dough for me. I met Taylor at the gym at 9am for coaching. After showering, I made some Trader Joe's gingerbread cookie mix and refrigerated it. I cleaned the floors and Matthew vacuumed. Matthew went to get me some butter flavored Crisco and picked up AJ's prescription. Then I started rolling, cutting out, and baking the sugar cookies, then did the gingerbread cookies. That afternoon my sister-in-law, her mom, and my nephew came over and left around 5. We went to dinner at Chili's, then did bath and bed time. 

12/21 I slept in again, fed AJ, and started making oatmeal coconut chocolate chip cookies. Then I made Chinese chews. I got ready for church, and we went for the Christmas meeting and a cookie exchange afterward. I assembled some goodie plates and dropped them off to some neighbors at East Town Village. We tried to put AJ down for a nap, but he wouldn't do it. I made frosting, and we decorated sugar cookies. We watched some Christmas movies. We skipped bath time and put AJ to bed at 7, but he didn't fall asleep until 7:40. Matthew went to dinner with his brother and SIL. I journaled, scrolled, and started watching It's a Wonderful Life. 

12/22 I was up at 5 for the gym. It was a quiet workday. I scheduled an appointment for myself at the U to address my sinus issues. I also scheduled an ENT appointment for AJ for January 2. I picked AJ up from a backup daycare in Midvale and took him to Walmart for a curbside pickup. Then we went through the car wash. We had crockpot chili and chips for dinner. I did bath, and Matthew finished bed time. We finished watching It's a Wonderful Life.

12/23 I was up at 5 for the gym. Work was quiet. I left at 4, picked up AJ, and took him to the library. We ate and watched The Grinch. We did bath, and Matthew finished bed time. 

12/24 I snuggled AJ in bed for a bit, made him breakfast, did Core de Force workout, showered, sat outside for a few minutes, and took AJ to see Zootopia 2 at the movies. I got boba and put AJ down for a rest, but he didn't nap. I watched Home Alone and face timed my dad. We watched Zootopia 1 until Matthew got home. We went to Dianne's for dinner, gifts, and games. We did bed time and Santa stuff. I did stockings, and we watched Elf again.

12/25 AJ woke up about 6:30. We were able to keep him upstairs until we were ready to record. He loved his stocking--the Flarp was a hit. We Face Timed my dad for those gifts. I used our digital camera to record the entirety of gift opening. Matthew and I opened last. I tidied and took out garbage. Matthew made bacon and eggs; the cinnamon rolls took several hours to rise (I missed the overnight directions on the bag). We went on a walk as a family. AJ took a nap, thankfully. I got ready and got to my mom's at 4 for AJ's gifts. We got AJ to bed and stayed up too late watching Stranger Things. 

12/26 I woke up at 6:50 for the gym and got home about 8:30 so Matthew could go to work. I showered and started taking down Christmas decorations. I did some laundry. I got decorations loaded into my car while AJ took a rest (but no nap). He played outside a lot to let his capes blow in the wind. We went to storage, smith's, and the car wash. I put food away and took AJ out front to help him with his UFO. We ate and did bath and bed time. 

12/27 I slept in until almost 8, getting almost 9 hours of sleep. AJ and I snuggled a little bit. I did laundry and went to the gym until about 10:30. I moved laundry, made a shake, and cleaned the floors. Matthew made us burgers for lunch. AJ did not take a nap. I put his clothes away. I got ready to go to Dianne's for dinner with Jacque, Steve, and Eli. We got home and got AJ to bed. 

12/28 AJ woke up crying at 5:42, so I brought him into my bed, and we did not go back to sleep. I made him breakfast and started to make sweet potato casserole. I took AJ to get donuts and drove through Starbucks. During AJ's nap I went to Walmart and the car wash to vacuum my car. I tried to clean the interior windows of my car. After AJ's nap we watched some shows. 

12/29 I was at the gym by 7am. I showered, ate, did dishes, and got AJ ready. We went to the bank and to Kohl's to return a gift and pick out something else. I stopped at Starbs, came home, and made AJ lunch, plus a small veggie plate for myself with my protein mocha. During AJ's nap I cleaned his bath toys and worked on this blog. AJ watched a movie, and I spent a few minutes outside. We met Matthew at Mo Bettahs for a BOGO dinner. AJ went home with him, and I went to Dollar Tree. We bed time and started Kill Bill Vol. 1. 

12/30 AJ woke up around 2am from vomiting in his bed. Matthew and I did our best to clean up the mess and get him back to bed, poor guy. He woke up not feeling great. I did a workout and got ready. We went to the zoo and had a great time--got to see the lionesses eating, the otter playing, and the seal interacting by the glass because he loved watching kids roll coins. It was so fun. We came home, and AJ slept while I did laundry, ate, watched Call the Midwife, and worked on this blog. We watched a movie, and I heated up some dinner for us. We did another bath and bed time. Matthew and I finished Kill Bill (1 & 2), and as we were about to go to bed, AJ threw up again at 11pm. So we cleaned that up and got him back to bed, poor guy. 

Our ridiculous amount of leftovers to choose from

Zoo day with AJ

12/31 I went to the gym at 7. We went to Paris Baguette, Walmart, dropped off dry cleaning, paid rent, and got popcorn at Megaplex. I started a crystal making kit with AJ (sort of). We made Lil Smokies, pigs in a blanket, and stuffed mushrooms. We did sparklers with AJ for New Year's. 

Books I read in December:

-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (audiobook)
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (audiobook)
-Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy (audiobook)
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (audiobook)
-How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin (audiobook)