We have had an eventful December, here. Cousin's baby has continued to do well after her surgery and is now at home with a very happy family. My aunt who has been battling lymphocytic leukemia is in remission, though she seems to be hitting a low point in her recovery. Her holiday wish was to have an old fashioned Christmas with the WHOLE huge family, and she got it in spades. Over 70 people turned out to celebrate! I think it gave her the lift she needed.
The Naughty Norwegian and I were fortunate to be able to spend a second Christmas in a row in Norway with his family. I really love the traditions they have for the holiday there! It is such a wonderful time, although I did miss being able to partake of the more 'spirited' aspects! The champagne, beer, aquavit, and cognac were flowing...but not for me. Luckily, though, non-alcoholic beer is very common there - and it actually tastes good too. This was a working trip with a very long layover due to the reduced holiday schedule. We both worked the flight in, arriving on the 24th, and worked it out on the 27th. The only sad part: it was my last working trip. I'm starting maternity leave, and will now be out until May 2009. If I resume flying then, it will be a -greatly- reduced schedule, and I'll probably limit it to domestic flying without overnights. It's the end of an era.
And now for the big good news.
NN and I took a big trip earlier in the month; our last big one before we are three. We left the Brooklyn cruise ship terminal on NN's birthday, set for 10 days to the Caribbean and back aboard the Queen Mary 2. Fab. U. Lous. Perfect vacation for those in the family way, as we were totally pampered AND escaped with a tiny little bar bill at the end. As wonderful as the staff and the ship were, they couldn't hold a candle to my awesome boyfriend. We shared a much-anticipated champagne split (my first indulgence since August!) on the observation deck as we departed between the Manhattan skyline and the lights of Brooklyn (where he was born 41 years ago that night). It was a beautiful clear night, and luckily for us it was also quite cold - we were alone up there. The Naughty Norwegian, romantic fool that he is, seized the moment and proposed. Lady Liberty was our witness. 
But I'm not changing my handle.
