bouncing baby boy

Our little guy is quite active this afternoon. It's so much fun to feel his movements inside of me, especially since he is not yet big enough to jab my ribs and hurt them in the process. Just when I get worried that I am not feeling enough movement, he starts doing those somersaults and using my stomach and bladder for kickboxing or some other exercise, as if to remind me that he is just fine.

Today has been better. we had our last Bible study group meeting this morning. It has been such a blessing to go through the Gospel Transformation study with a small group of ladies at our church. God placed each of us in our group for a reason, and each woman has become a treasure to me. Our small group co-leaders have such giving hearts, and their transparency about how the Lord has transformed their lives (and continues to do so) has been an amazing testimony of God's grace in their lives. The best part was that He gave us a group which learned to be honest and vulnerable as we shared our stories and sruggles with one another, knowing that there is no condemnation for those who know Christ Jesus as their personal Savior.

After GT, Bear and I went to Costco. When we pulled into the parking lot, she immediately asked, "See Granddaddy at the store?" The last time we were there, we ran into my Dad and a couple of his friends. She remembered. I am amazed by the things she remembers at just 2 1/2. She already values relationships so much, and is constantly asking to see someone in our family or a friend.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the toddler is napping. Too bad my chores won't do themselves.

just can't keep up

That's how I feel this today. Perhaps because last night's sleep was sporadic and I awoke feeling like a zombie, maybe due to Bear peeing a river through her training pants on the booth at the restaurant where we ate lunch with a friend AFTER previously asking to go to the potty but failing to "produce." (On the bright side, the bill had been paid and we were getting ready to leave, so embarrassment was minimized a little.)

Got home, got her into her room for nap time, and she took an hour to get to sleep. "I'm all alone and cold in my bed." Well maybe if she would have stopped squirming she would have had something besides a pull-up on. And she had plenty of blankets. When I went down to check on her, she not only said she wanted clothes now but she also needed to go potty. She did in fact use it before going back to her room where she proceeded to jabber and sing herself lullabies-a-la-toddler (at the top of her lungs) until she finally fell asleep.

Throughly exhausted and swearing off the so-called adventures of potty training (whether temporarily or indefinitely has yet to be determined), I checked my e-mail where I was reminded that I had signed up to bring a meal to a friend who had surgery a few weeks ago. Not having much on hand, on the verge of a breakdown, I called my friend and apologized, trying to comfort myself with the fact that I had seen her at church on Sunday and at least she is no longer in the immobile-doped-on-pain-killers stage but is well on her way to recovery. Still, I feel bad. But the prospect of figuring out what to make since I did not have the ingredients on hand to make what I had intended to and drive 30 minutes in each direction to deliver whatever it was I might come up with was not helping me looming breakdown. So ticked at myself, and with the noises through the baby monitor having ceased, I went downstairs to get a nap of my own.

It helped. Except I woke up with sciatic nerve pain that hit as soon as I stepped out of bed. It's too early for that in pregnancy! And Bear and I were supposed to go to the Supercenter with a friend to pick out flowers for her flowerbed... obviously that didn't happen, either.

Then there's the whole date mix-up/overbooking. Why does everyone want to have parties and cookouts on the same weekend? I was so excited when I thought we could actually make it to all of them. Then I found out one was actually not planned when we thought it was... oops.

I won't go into the things that I need to do around here... though I am keeping on top of laundry ok. At least we have clean underwear.

Thanks for putting up with my little tantrum in cyberspace without reminding me that I only have one child to keep up with. Now have a lovely evening.

For this week's Tackle It Tuesday meme, I'm bragging on my hubby. When he got his bike (motorcycle) a few weeks ago, he was also bit by the "organize the garage" bug. We began by throwing out a bunch of junk that had accumulated on the floor. Now, considering my parents' garage is 25' by 25' and at best has room for one car in it, ours was in pretty decent shape. But after almost 5 years of living here, it was past time for a little TLC. Here's an "in process" photo:



A lot of the junk was old flower pots, some of which were broken Then we went to Lowe's and priced out shelving and hooks. Our goal was to safely get as much up off the floor as possible without spending a lot of money. While Bear doesn't play in the garage, she does wander in there from time to time. While his Dad was here with the trailer this weekend, they went back to Lowe's and bought a couple of shelves and brackets to haul back to the house. Hubby had discovered that our drill battery does not seem to hold its charge, so Tech Dad brought his drill along, too. Together, they found the studs, made sure they were level, etc...


I went to take a picture of the "completed" tackle (to this point), and my camera batteries are dead. So after the charger does a tackle of its own, I'll post the "after" pic...

Maybe Caslon can post a pic of the jimmy-rigging Tech Dad did on our counter, or e-mail it to me... that was another tackle in itself.

As for my own personal tackles... I am trying to not let Mt. Laundry pile up and to be more conscienscious about gradual pick-up so I don't get overwhelmed. (I seem to live in a perpetual state of either overwhelmed-ness or denial of chores.) I managed to fold 3 loads last night IMMEDIATELY after washing them.

And I moved a mum plant because it was in the middle of the calla lillies which have begun to poke through. (scroll down a few days to see the spikes if you are so inclined.) Now it's at the very end of my flower bed, where it has room to spread out a bit. That entailed transplanting one of my purple salvia flowers, too. Hubby dumped compost into my big pots and I planted the basil plant in the pot with my perennial herbs (thyme and oregano). I also planted some green beans that I started from seed into one of the other pots. They were at least 2 inches tall and needed more space than the little 6" pot they were in could offer. Let's hope the HOA doesn't deny my retroactive "yard ornament/landscaping" approval request that I submitted for the pots.

If you would like to see other tackles, click on the Meme tag at the top of the post. You can also get the code for your own "Tackle It Tuesday" label from 5 minutes for Mom.


Update: After Pics

I am so glad to know the poisonous chemicals are out of our daughter's reach! But in hubby's zeal for cleaning up, he took a raft (that pink blob)out of a box that it needed to be stored in in order to protect it from punctures. Oh, well, I'll find another box for it.

family time

Tech Mom and Dad, caslon (the blogger, not the kitty) & camera man came to visit this weekend. Tech Dad helped hubby hang a couple of shelves in the garage and epoxy and re-caulk our kitchen counter where is was beginning to separate from the particle board underneath (the back splash and counter top are 2 pieces unlike the counters that have a back splash built in). Hubby FINALLY found the caulk that had been missing for 3 years since we had the kitchen painted, much to everyone's relief.

In the evenings, we hung out on the front porch, and the neighbor-kitty which has not been removed by the HOA or Animal Control came to visit/play with Bear. If it makes it down to the end of the cul-de-sac, its owners may not see it again.

Yesterday, us girls took advantage of the Spring tax-free shopping weekend and hit Kohl's. Meanwhile, the boys hit the road on the motorcycles, heading over to the Natchez Trace Pkwy for a scenic drive. In spite of Tech Dad's prompting that Computer Guy (Hubby's brother) would give Camera Man a good deal on his motorcycle so he can get a new one, Camera Man continues to contend that he would prefer a new camera. I can't say that I blame him, especially since a motorcycle won't really contribute to his livelihood.

Last night I even got to ride on the bike with hubby, and I have to say I prefer the full-face helmet that blocks wind from your eyes and bugs from your teeth to the "brain bucket" that leaves your face open to everything. Baby didn't seem to mind the bike ride in the least, though I doubt riding on a motorcycle will be a regular occurrence for us during the remainder of the pregnancy.

All-in-all it was a very good weekend. Bear will miss her company greatly, as will we.

23 weeks and 4 days belly shot
4/27/08

kissing the belly

do i have to kiss it again, mom?

once upon a time...

i ordered a prenatal yoga video from amazon.
i actually watched and attempted to do the exercises on that video.
i felt good and relaxed after doing said exercises (when i did them without a 2 1/2 year old underfoot).

it's time to be able to remember when i last did those exercises...

buenas noches, y'all!

Guess what these are?

(I am not referring to the pieces of mulch. Look closely.)

hint: a couple of weeks ago, I stated I did not think they were coming back this year.
I watered their location anyway, since I read that they like to be kept moist and not dry out.

And now I do the happy dance! Perhaps I should wait until they actually bloom.

the little purple tulip that could

As I've mentioned previously, most of the tulips which actually came up this Spring were the ivory ones from the batch. I'm guessing purple is a more difficult color to grow, because I haven't seen many out... lots of red, pink, and yellows, but no purple.

Well, I think I've had a total of 3 or 4 purple tulips actually bloom the Spring...
here is the most recent. I love how the ivory "siblings" tower over it.

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

(My friend Gina took this pic of our girls and their friend as we left the park today.)

Little Guy's 1st Mail!

I have to admit, I drooled like a puppy dog when I saw the adorable taggy snugglies/blankies that Farmwife has been making. (If you haven't seen them, go check out the collaborative crafty zone called Nudge-Nudge.)

This was one of them, or one like them. In case you're wondering "why the tags?"... the answer is "for baby to chew on and play with!" It doesn't take much to amuse an infant, and they love to explore textures, patterns, etc.

AND IT CAME IN MY MAIL TODAY!!!!

THANK YOU, FARMWIFE!

Giveaway Gazette

If you haven't been over to 5 minutes for Mom's 2 weeks of toys giveaways, you simply must. They have so many contests going on for some really awesome toys.

Plus, Stephanie over at Punkin' Press is doing a drawing for an awesome kids' book.

Just so you can't say I didn't tell you... they are clickable in my sidebar!

There's one less tulip in the flowerbed than when she stepped outside.
I just planted more daisy seeds so she'll have plenty to pick this summer. If they grow.

I've been in a cooking rut... forever

Last night I took a step at getting out of that rut:

shrimp scampi with bowtie pasta and sweet red peppers

I basically followed the recipe on the back of a 1 lb frozen bag of pre-cooked shrimp from-walmart. I added the peppers because they were on hand and needed to be eaten, and hubby doesn't munch on them raw. I also threw in some fresh oregano from my "illegal" herb pot in the backyard (which I am submitting an approval request for just to play nice). And lots of ground black pepper, salt, and fresh garlic... and 1 tsp more butter than the recipe called for.

Hubby liked it, bear liked it, and I liked it. It would have been better with fresh gulf shrimp in our beach rental home in Gulf Shores, but I am just glad to have something else to add to my meager selection of dishes. And I think it tasted at least as good as some dishes I've had in restaurants, at a fraction of the cost! It even looks pretty in my blue plates, unlike some dishes!

milestone for hubby

He drove his new ride to work today. He dropped his laptop and things off at the office on his way back into town last night after working "out west" (within state). I knew this beautiful weather had to be making him antsy.

No cops have come to my door to express condolences, so I'm assuming he made it safely.
***
I had to laugh to myself as one of our non-motorcycle riding guy friends tried to pick Hubby's brain about the appeal of bikes. Apparently the bug has never really bit him like it bites other men/boys.

Of course, when the exterminator sales guys were making their rounds, I got to come across as the cool wife as they drooled over hubby's toy while interrupting me from bringing in groceries. (They did offer to help, but do I look stupid? I don't let strange men into my house.) Still, I told them he found it on craigslist. But in my mind, they were younger college-age guys who haven't earned their bikes yet. Hubby waited a long time for his.

Woo hoo!!!

I have my summer maternity clothes back! They were in TX, then stranded at Steph's Mom's, then stranded at my parents'... they have returned home safely and I now have more than 2 pairs of maternity pants to wear.

(Celebrate the small things, right?)

22 week check-up

I can't believe I am OVER the halfway mark already! My doctor's appointment went well. I got to go by myself, since my parents came and played with Bear. I think they were pretty worn out by the time I got home. :)

Stats: Little guy's heartbeat- 144 bpm
Weight gain: 5 lbs since last check-up (151.3 total weight; about 1 lb per week)
Belly measured right where it should... not too big, not too small.
My blood pressure is good.

She confirmed that the u/s looked good, and as the mommy of a cute little boy, was happy to congratulate me on expecting a boy.

I was also able to finally ask some questions related to my birth "plan" (I use that term loosely)... namely, my desire to deliver naturally if possible. She was completely supportive, and encouraged me to take a Lamaze class for prep to build my confidence. She also said that since it's baby #2, my body should naturally handle the stretching better since it has been there and done that (not to minimize the pain), and from what she has observed the recovery after a NCB is definitely easier than with all the meds in your system. Of course, at this point who knows how it will play out in the end, but one of my biggest fears (though I suspected I was just being paranoid) was that I'd feel belittled for even considering NCB.

Insomnia strikes again...
and I am really missing the CD's I loaned to someone. At last month's A Mom's HEART, I was captivated by the lyrics and music of Jill Phillips. She came across as a very real person, one who is not afraid to let it be known that she does not have all the answers....

Anyway, here's a video someone put on you tube to one of her songs, I Am:

New Links....

If you haven't noticed, I have 2 new html links in my sidebar. Not only are they cute, I just thought some of my readers might be interested in playing along.

I have already entered the drawings for some of the prizes in the 2 weeks of toys contest.

I am hoping that Scrapping Servant's National Scrapbooking Month celebration will help inspire me to get some pictures printed and actually scrap again. My flowerbeds ARE running out of space, so pretty soon I'll just be watering and weeding... ;)

Hidden danger of parking close to the garden department

I initially began parking close to the garden center at the superstore last fall or winter, because there were always closer spots available. I would rather walk through the store than across the parking lot, a target for whomever might be looking for a victim.

Well, in addition to a few groceries/household items, tonight I left with 1 white/mauve centered clematis plant for my mailbox, a 6-pack of purple salvia, and 2 pretty pink columbines. Bear played with her bubbles and chased a neighbor's cat (which is going to get picked up by animal control some day if they continue to let it roam. or worse.) A couple of neighbor girls stopped to play with her, and one wanted to help me plant my flowers. I <3 purple flowers, by the way. Who am I kidding? I <3 flowers period. I justify it by convincing myself the flowers would have cost more at a fancy garden center, and that you have to pick the best colors before they get picked over. Anyway, I think it's time for a trip to starbucks to pick up a load of natural fertilizer (coffee grounds). (Some of my previous loads mildewed in their bags the garage, so the garbage can is REALLY heavy this week.)

Still hoping my calla lily plants come back... So far, there is no sign of them. It might be too early. I hope.

Another glimpse of the fearless leader of the HOA's "uncommon sense"

My friend was in front of witnesses when the HOA President told her that her husband could continue to park his police car on the curb. He denies it and says he has the whole meeting recorded on tape. (Breach of privacy, anyone?)

Last week, out of principle, her DH gave an honest effort at keeping the car in the driveway since the HOA is enforcing a "no parking on the street" rule. Keep in mind that when he is off duty, he can't so much as turn the car on without his precinct knowing. So logistics were tricky. Their main car, like ours, is parked in the garage. DH's other car is usually in the driveway. So with both cars in the driveway, anytime my friend wanted to leave with her 2 girls, she or her DH had to move her DH's other car.

After sending a letter of complaint to the board when witnesses confirmed that she was told the police car could stay by the curb, she received a response back. In that response, she as told the cop car was in essence nothing more than any other commercial vehicle and did not belong parked on the streets.

I don't know about y'all, but when my DH drove a cop car, I heard over and over and over and over how glad my neighbors were to see it parked on the street.

Apparently with all the enforcements the HOA has time for, they don't need police help.

I am seriously reconsidering whether or not I want to do the newsletter when there does not appear to be any budging on the issues that matter.


Have a great day, ya'll! I'm off to Bible study after I shower.

Progressive Tackle: Flowerbed around the mailbox

This tackle began over 3 weeks ago, when hubby sprayed grass and weed killer around the base of my mailbox per my request. Ok, nagging.

The weed/grass killer did not quite do the trick, so I sprayed straight white vinegar on it about a week ago. This past Saturday, after yet more begging, hubby tilled the patch using his Mom & Dad's Mantis:


So this morning, as the sun peeked out, y'all know I became rather stir crazy. I had to give Bear a bath to get her finger paint off of both of her forearms and hands. I did not wash her hair, knowing full well that we would be headed outside and another bath would be inevitable.

First I donned my trusty garden gloves which were a stocking stuffer from my parents at Christmas. Next, I dumped a previously purchased bag of compost over the area and roughed it up with a hand cultivator (rake-looking hand tool, for the non-gardeners). I pulled out clumps of grass/roots as I could, using the weed poker tool thingy (long pointy tool with two short fork-like prongs on the ends). I also chucked rocks onto the sidewalk as I encountered them.

Yesterday, a dear woman at our church who had taken us young Moms under her wing decorated our Mom's fellowship with flowers (along with the decorating coordinator for next year, I believe). I was able to take 11 impatien plants home, and they were the first flowers to be put into the flowerbed. I lined the street and driveway with them. Next, I dug up 3 of the acidanthera bulbs that I planted a few weeks ago. I had decided I did not like where they were placed. So I transplanted them to a new home around the mailbox, and planted the remaining 5 bulbs nearby. I also transplanted 4 or 5 daffodil bulbs, with greenery still attached to feed the bulbs with sunlight. I hope they take well. They were at LEAST 2 inches in diameter!!!! After the daffodils, I planted the iris rhizomes which a neighbor had dug up from her flowerbed well over a week ago.

By this point, Bear had grown tired of being outside and was not listening to anything I said. She picked off all the pansy flowers (thankfully they'll rebloom).

She kept playing hide and seek by running to the back patio. She refused to obey when I asked her to clean up her chalk that she had dumped all over the sidewalk. I tried a time out on the front porch, where her reflection occupied her for a bit. She finally helped me pick up the chalk, but then she refused to carry the box back to the garage where it belonged. So I stuck her inside the house, cleaned up as much of my mess as I could, and went inside to deal with a hungry little Bear. I put some Dora chicken noodle soup to simmer on the stove, then convinced Bear to help me water the newly planted flowers. I'm not sure if any of the water from her watering can made it to the flowerbed, but she was happy to "help", and stayed out of my way.

After lunch, Bear took another bath and got ready for nap time. I turned on her piano music CD (Jim Brickman), and she settled right down.

So back outside I went. I had one last little task. Well, three tasks, I guess. First, I planted some cosmos seeds in between the irises. I marked the seed locations with wooden toothpicks. Next, I planted a row of shasta daisy seeds along the sidewalk. I marked those with toothpicks as well. FINALLY, I sprinkled the remaining top soil (which I had mixed in with every plant, bulb, and rhizome I planted) over the flowerbed, mixed a final batch of fertilizer into my watering can, and watered my newly planted bed. The only thing left to do is mulch. If the HOA complains that it's not mulched yet, I'll ask them when they plan to have the landscapers mulch the front entrance to our neighborhood.

I really hope the irises are not planted too deep, and all the vinegar is out of the soil by now. It would be a shame to kill my plants after all this hard work. Hopefully the almost 80 lbs I added of compost and top soil will make up for any bad dirt.

The highlight of my day? While I was outside with Bear, a neighbor stopped by and asked if I wanted anything from her husband's deli across town. She gave me a few options, and I chose.
As I was planting the seeds after lunch (if Dora chicken noodle soup counts as a valid lunch, anyway), enjoying not having a toddler under foot, she returned with my order.... a chicken caesar wrap in a Spinach tortilla and a mango smoothie. I asked how much I owed her. "Nothing. You're our best neighbor." Now that's a way to make a pregnant woman cry. And I did not even have to share my smoothie with Bear!!!

BELLY SHOTS
21 weeks 4 days pregnant
Sunday, April 13, 2008
(warning- stretch mark/flesh alert)

Shh.... these pants aren't maternity pants. But they have TONS of stretch in them. Although they are starting to feel too tight. I think I got them from a home show at least 3 years ago at a neighbor's for Weekender's clothing. I have a matching jacket, too. I do have to say that they may have been pricey, but the return on investment has paid off. And the top.... well, that's a hand-me- down from crt. I can't wait til it's warm enough to wear the cute outfit my sis and her family gave me for Christmas.

My next appointment is the 17th, so I'll post another pregnancy update then.

FREE Concerts at CCC

Our church is hosting a "Worship of God" Conference later this week, and the Thursday and Friday evening concerts are open to the public.

I'm not sure if we'll make it to either of them yet, but both should be really good. Click on the link above for more info!

No veggie garden for me
See that dead patch? It was a great idea in theory. The Mantis did ok breaking up the grass and root system around the mail box, but when it came time to do the veggie patch... it didn't happen. Hubby tried, God bless him, but it's just too hard and clay-like back there. So it looks like it'll just be me and my pots for cherry tomatoes, herbs, and cantaloupe, if the seeds even sprout after the cold spell that's supposed to hit this weekend. And if the HOA Board doesn't tell me I have to get rid of the pots. If they do... I'll politely ask them them to come dump the dirt out for me, because they weigh at least 100 pounds a piece. Giving up on the whole veggie patch dream is probably not a bad idea since I will be very pregnant during the hottest part of the summer. And right now we are not willing to invest the money, time or effort into building a good raised bed. Hubby has already reseeded, since he had some extra seed and there were spots that were roughed up enough for the seed to get below the grass and weeds.

I'm not actually putting good dirt into the flowerbed until after this forecast cold snap. I am hoping the cold goes away quickly, so I can plant the iris corms which my neighbor Katrin gave me from her yard. I really hope they don't die on me. So far it looks like I'll plant the iris & my remaining acidanthera bulbs around the mailbox for height... I'm not sure what else, yet.

Before I go back to bed from my insomniac spell...

... when you wake up to use the bathroom and can't get back to sleep, sometimes you start thinking. At least I do. I've been wondering why I like gardening so much. I mean, it's dirty work. There are worms, slugs and all sorts of creepy crawlies to deal with.

As I felt Little Guy move around, it hit me. There are a couple of reasons. First of all , gardening is like being a parent. (Hence the reason I talk about my flowers more than my kids on this blog.) While I can't see the little one inside me, I CAN feel him move now, and my excitement grows. I can't wait to meet him. Similarly, I can't wait to see the pretty flowers that will bloom if all goes well. In gardening, you can do your best to tend the plants, weed, fertilize, etc..., and leave the rest to the Lord. Same with parenting. Second, both are reflections of our Heavenly Father. Gardening reflects His glory through His creation, and gives us a glimpse of what the garden of Eden must have been like before the fall. (For some of us, we might feel like our gardens' are post-fall specimens, but that's ok, too.) Parenting gives me a small idea of what it must have been like to send your only Son to Earth, and then to do the most difficult thing in the world. To watch Him take on the pain and sins and punishment of the people you created.... my heart aches when my 2 1/2 year old gets a boo-boo or her feelings hurt. I cannot fathom having the mercy and grace to let go of my beloved baby in that kind of sacrifice.

Ok, back to bed now. I have a morning date at Starbucks with my neighbor in just a few short hours.

It's been a while since I visited their site, but Sara linked to this contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom, and I had to go check it out! You can't win if you don't enter, right?

Here comes Spring!

Tulips... either the purple ones are harder to grow, or tastier to the rodents,
because only 2 bloomed. (Unless I gave most of them to my sis-the bag was mixed.)

L-R: Black eyed susans & sedum from Gramma's yard, tulips from costco last fall
& shrubs planted by builder

chrysanthemum, ? (maybe calla lily or asiatic lily?), acidanthera spikes, hosta

sedum planted by my mom shortly after bear was born

another hosta, more tulips (and daffodils that never bloomed), and if you look closely you can see a couple of asiatic lily plants sprouting up in the background... they are only about 1 inch tall, but they look like really tight clusters of grass, or kind of like the "hen & chick" plants you see in rock gardens.

gladiola spikes hiding behind the boxwood

Daffodil fronds ( I will probably cut them back a little bit to trim them up, but I want the bulbs to get fed so they will bloom again next year, so I'm in no rush.), gold glow rose bush, more gladiola spikes.

I can't believe some of you are expecting SNOW this weekend! It's supposed to cool off some here, but hopefully we'll be able to get the bed around the mailbox & the veggie patch tilled. (Naughty me, not waiting on an answer from the management. I already killed the grass. Besides, a friend gave me some iris from her yard that need to get into the ground.)

April showers bring May flowers

Does anyone else remember that saying? Well, it's April and we already have some flowers. The daffodils are almost gone already, but the pansies and tulips are blooming. Plus, my late-spring/summer plants(gladioli, asiatic lilies, day lilies, sedum, hostas, black-eyed susans, acidantherea (peacock orchid, but it's really related to the glads) are popping through, except for the Calla lillies. I really hope they come back. They bloomed last year, but considering they are one of the flowers that aren't guaranteed to last the winter, I supposed I should be grateful for what I got. Some of the blanketflower seeds appear to have taken well, too. Thankfully, the HOA rules don't say anything about flowerbeds from what I could tell (and the president told me that I didn't need permission to extend my bed like I did last fall when I asked him about it a couple of days ago), though the rules do mention shrubs, bushes and trees. I did e-mail the management company to double check to make sure it's ok to put a flower bed around my mailbox, and that I don't have to remove the rose bushes I planted. That sounds extreme, but the verbiage in the rules makes it sound like that's what necessary, so I'm just covering my bases.

I let Bear pick one tulip today, and she helped herself to a second.

the meeting's over

They can't say nobody tried to voice their opinions in a rational manner. 2 other homeowners were at the meeting, too. I've e-mailed the Board members' e-mail addresses to every neighbor I know in the subdivision.


There's no way on earth I could ever be a politician.... or a HOA Board member, for that matter.

It's done. With the help of my wonderful neighbors, and some people I barely know, I have put together a 9-page document which addresses the concerns that I am aware of in our HOA. I have sent it to some of them for final review. The document also includes proactive suggestions.

I decided just griping was not going to help solve anything, and I don't know if this will, either, but it's worth the shot...

Pray that I don't get attacked at the HOA meeting tomorrow night. It's not a public meeting, but I have been invited to come.

Quotes of the week, thanks to someone's e-mail signature:

• "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have!
• Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God."

(I have to work on the speak kindly part.)

I finally got full night's sleep last night!!

Perhaps the 2-hour vent to the HOA Prez helped. Having 2 of my best neighbors to talk to certainly did!

Today's "Tackle":

1. Finish my letter of complaints and suggestions, have trusted friends and neighbors look over it.
2. Work on finding donations for door prizes for A Mom's HEART at church.
3. Groceries
4. Find my old Finding Focus Project files on my hard drive.
5. Print out new potty chart for Bear.
   

Note to self:

God is bigger than the boogeyman! Or the power-hungry individuals who let agenda interfere with their responsibility to listen to neighbors. I initially tried to defend this person to neighbors who expressed the sentiments I shared in last night's ramblings. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, saying that he was just trying to enforce the letter of the "law". The problem is, a HOA President's responsibility is to try to look at things from the perspective of his neighbors as a group, not to make false promises that can't be kept and then later pass the buck. Anyway, enough of that.

God has a way of putting things into perspective when you need it most, and thankfully this morning's worship service did just that. We sang several of the verses to two classic hymns- "This Is My Father's World" and "How Firm a Foundation", not just the first and the last verses. The depth of the texts reminded me that petty issues like HOA dictatorship really aren't that significant in the grand scheme of things. Of course, the Pastors' message only added to that, as did our celebration of Communion as a church body.

I still can't sleep, though I desperately need a nap. Oh, well... one step at a time.

I want to move to the country to have space and freedom...

but be close to city conveniences. Then the only need I'll have for a stroller will be when I go to the mall or the zoo, because we'll have room to run around and get plenty of exercise. I won't have to worry about having to walk in the street because cars are blocking the sidewalks so their owners won't get warnings of being fined by a Nazi-like homeowners association for parking legally in the street. (Verbiage in the letter we received today said nothing about towing, just fines. They must have realized it is illegal to tow vehicles which are legally parked, as they did to at least one resident who parked on the street because his driveway is too steep for his big car to get up without scraping.) If I lived in the country, I could put a bird bath in my yard without getting it approved by the subjective rulers whose opinion apparently counts for more than homeowners' choices. I could leave up my Christmas lights until January 10th (THE date they are supposed to be down by) without getting a nasty letter that was written that same day telling me to take them down, or else. I could buy pretty fireworks and set then off without risk of setting a neighbors house on fire. I could make a bonfire out of HOA rules and regulations from my previous life in the suburbs.

In the meantime, I will plant a veggie patch on the adjoining property because said HOA will not take care of undeveloped land anyway, and the developer is "restructuring" so nothing's going to change back there anytime soon. There's nothing in the so-called covenants about borrowing land, and since they don't mow the weeds or trim the dead trees behind our house, anything I do is an improvement. (I actually like the woods and not having neighbors behind us yet, but don't tell them.) I will plant whatever flowers I want to because I like them, because thankfully there are no covenants that require me to get every single plant approved. I will not paint my front door turquoise just to make a statement, because I'm not fond of turquoise doors. I will not TP the HOA President's boring shrubs, though I may be tempted. (He probably has video surveillance set up, anyway.) I will resist the urge to call him Hitler, because apart from his so-called duties and tangents as HOA president, he seems like a nice person. I'd better resist the urge to have hubby shoot Mr. Woodchuck with his firearm (the actual woodchuck who had decided he likes our yard), since that's a sure-fire way to get us into trouble. Plus he's kinda cute. Not to mention I don't want to freak out the neighbors and cause HOA Prez to fuss. Forgive me, but I kinda like using that pseudonym. And it is (slightly) less mean than Judas.

Ok, time to scrub that kitchen floor. Yes, I know what time it is. But considering the fact that I have woken up to pee and not been able to get back to sleep for 3 nights in a row, I am hoping that I will sleep well when I finally finish the disgusting task that I've put off all day. Bear is healthy because she has ample opportunity to build immunity in our house, you know.

I could really use a ride on that motorcycle right now.

hubby and his new toy

last night

today

random tidbits & news

tidbits:
The Memory Keeper's Daughter is going to be on TV April 12th. Too bad I have no way of watching it at home! If you have not read the book, it is a MUST read.

We are supposed to have 2-3 days break from the Spring rains. While I'm thankful God has been watering my garden for me, I'm looking forward to spending some time outside.

news:
Hubby's new "baby" is here! A work buddy offered to help him transport it with his truck and trailer, and they retrieved it last night. I think I scared Bear a little when I warned her not to touch it unless Daddy sets her on top and holds her, but the last thing I want is a motorcycle crushing my precious daughter. She's pretty perceptive, I think she connects the fact that something that's so loud can also be dangerous. (And it's quieter than a Harley.)

This means it's time for me to shop for the new car seats and stroller, right? I think the Graco Nautilus looks good for Bear and the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller or Baby Trend Elite Sit n' Stand look good for both kiddos.... the Graco Quattro Tour Duo I'm still debating whether the higher price on the Joovy is worth it... we'll have to check them out in person side-by-side, if possible.) And then to find an infant carrier that is compatible with the new stroller. And lightweight. Consumer Reports seems pretty worthless in this shopping research, as they lack variety in their reviews, especially for 2-kid strollers.

Hubby felt this baby kick for the first time tonight!
Unfortunately, I couldn't get to sleep, so I got back out of bed.

Wordless Wednesday

Contest results are in!!!!


Congrats to Kristi, a friend I met on Baby Bear's birth board. I'll be sending her a $10 gift card to use at her nearest Starbucks.

While I would have been glad for anyone's name to be drawn, there couldn't be anyone he deserves a day brightener more than Kristi. She's been through so much the last few months, and I will always wish her precious Eli and our little guy would have been able to meet here on earth. So I am especially glad to send her a little something to brighten her day, though nothing could ever replace what she's lost. The faith and strength God has given her through her grief has been phenomenal.

Congratulations, again, Kristi! E-mail me your address, please!

Thank you to everyone who participated. It was fun!

gender prediction fun

pendant test:
1st try- swung back and forth= boy
2nd & 3rd tries- swung in circle= girl
I held my mustard seed marble necklace by the clasp and dangled it above my belly. I tried to hold it the exact same way each time.

Chinese calendar gender prediction: girl (a couple of days later would have been boy)

older sibling's prediction as of today:
me: "Is the baby in Mommy's belly a boy or girl?"
Bear: "Boy or girl."
me: "Which is it... are you going to have a brother or a sister?"
Bear: "sister."

blog poll
boy- 37% (12 votes, including mine)
girl- 62% (20 votes)

2-D Ultrasound at OB/Gyn office:

full profile with knees bent and right hand up by face

the goods- way different than what we saw at bear's u/s

"I'm doing great in here, mom!" (baby boy waves at us)

*******

I am breathing many sighs of relief tonight. Apparently the placenta is in front, cushioning me from our little guy's jabs and kicks. I think it was in the same position with Bear, too. We saw plenty of them this afternoon... he is definitely alive and kickin'. The tech said everything looked good. I guess if she saw something alarming, she would have to call the doc in. He was moving around, waving his arms and legs to cast shadows over in-opportune places... but our tech was able to get all the shots she needed to, and there was no mistaking the extra "limb" that we did not see 3 years ago at Bear's ultrasound. Or else God is playing a really good April fool's joke on us. His weight estimate is about 11 oz., heartbeat was around 136 bpm, and his estimated arrival date is 8/20. He's the first grandson on both sides. (Unless what we thought was an extra part was really the umbilical cord all bunched up just in the wrong spot. )

We're excited. We think we have a name picked out, but we reserve the right to change our minds so I'm not posting it yet. It is something that Bear can pronounce and she sounds so sweet saying it. Of course, we would have been excited either way, but I had a hunch this one might be a boy (I even cast one of the boy votes in the poll.) This pregnancy started out SO different, and I know that's not a definite indication, but I couldn't help but guess... even though I did have a girl's name I was growing more and more fond of.

Thanks for all your prayers... I'll post the winner of my drawing tonight or tomorrow.