I actually slept last night. I have been waking up every thirty minutes trying to get comfortable for many weeks now. In fact, I had been feeling so pregnant that it hardly seemed possible I was only in the first trimester, and it was terrifying to think how much longer I would remain in this state, getting larger and larger by the day. Over the weekend, either my morning sickness returned with a vengeance, or I had a stomach virus. Whatever the cause, I was miserable and throwing up for two and a half days. But, today, I woke up and felt normal and well rested. And hungry.

Today was also the first day I was allowed to pick up some of my regular activities. So, I was able to return to yoga. It felt so good to be back at the gym, and all my nice yoga friends were sweet and lied and said I was tiny and didn't even look pregnant. They all swore they looked my size when they were six weeks along with their second babies. I appreciated their deception.

Today, Hayden was extremely well behaved. After the gym, I took him for a haircut and to pick up a few things at Target. He was polite and cooperative all day. When we got home, we read the copy of Polar Express we had just bought. Our special package came with a little silver bell and after we finished the story, I handed him the bell so he could shake it to see if he could hear the sound...the sound you can only hear if you believe in Christmas. His reaction made me burst into tears, and I cried for quite a while after. I cried because today, I absolutely appreciate

• not feeling sick today
• being hayden's Mom
• Neil
• how having children makes the holidays infinitely more meaningful
• my family
• looking like I'm pregnant and not just pudgy
• hearing that tiny baby's heartbeat
• living in Southern California where I can swim in November
• sleeping through the night
• making it to twelve weeks in this pregnancy