New Years Eve 2009

Since I was now at the beginning of my sixth month of pregnancy, going out to party for New Year's Eve was out of the question. Dennis had just returned from Denmark the day before, and I just wanted to spend time with him. We made some last-minute plans with our friends Dennis and Kristin, another Danish-American couple, to go out that night. Since meeting in 2007, this was actually Dennis and my third New Year's Eve together. The first was spent alone at his parents' summer home in Denmark, see Danish blog for information on that place, and last year, we took a cross country skiing trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota for New Years. Both were wonderful and romantic times alone, so this would be the first time we would actually be spending New Year's with other people.

After calling around to find some place to go and have dinner, we finally made reservations at a local restaurant at Edgebrook. It was a nice place, and I was also looking forward to going out. Dennis and I hadn't really gone out much in December because I was sick for most of it and because he was gone for a week and a half. I was really looking forward to it, though I knew I would be a bit sad not to be able to toast the New Year with a glass of wine. I had been so good my entire pregnancy for not drinking any alcohol, even though I knew other women who would. I didn't want to take any chances, so I would be drinking water all night! :)

The dinner was very nice, and the atmosphere was equally wonderful. All had a good time, except for the other Dennis who wasn't too excited about how his food was cooked. That was the only downfall of the night. Of course, I ended up eating way too much, but it very hard to know when I'm full until about a half an hour later. My stomach is not only a different shape now, but I think it might be in a different place in my body due to my big belly. I had to take frequent walks around the restaurant to help my food digest, so I would be able to breathe. Sitting was very uncomfortable at this time because I was so full. I don't want to say I was miserable, because I wasn't. This was just another part of being pregnant that wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't the worst either!

After dinner, the four of us went back to Dennis and Kristin's house to play games and watch the ball drop. My Dennis had used a gift card he'd gotten for his 30th birthday back in October to buy a new board game called Apples to Apples. I had heard about it from the kids at school as being a lot of fun, so we thought we'd try it. Low and behold to us you needed at least 3 people to play, so tonight would be the first time we would get to play. Everyone got a drink, of course while I drank water, and we had some light snacks of chocolate covered almonds, which I am in love with. Even though I was so full at the restaurant that I had to walk around to make room in my belly and though I was still extremely full that I had to lay down on the couch for the first part of the night, I still indulged in having some of the tasty chocolate. I have no will power.

We started the game at the same time as we turned on the TV to find a channel that would show us the ball dropping in Times Square. For the most part, they were showing bits and pieces of live concerts in different US cities, but we weren't really paying much attention. We spent more time laughing and playing the game. We had a really good time, and my food eventually digested so that I could breathe again! :) When it came to midnight, Little Dennis popped the cork off of some sparkling wine, and we all celebrated by counting down from 10 to
welcome the new year. I, of course, toasted with my water glass. Shortly thereafter, it was time to go home, and being the sober one of the two, I ended up driving us home. :) It was a fun way to celebrate the New Year, though I was very pregnant. I thought to myself...this is going to be a great year!