Operation Preparation
Thanksgiving is at our place this year. We are looking forward to the echoes of footsteps, the sound of the kids laughter, and time with hubby's side of the family for a few days. Hubby and I are fighting sinus stuff, but that did not stop him from kicking into gear and helping to prepare the house. I helped Buddy pick up his room, Daddy helped sissy with hers (the more difficult of the two). I then tackled the bonus room... which is also know as the playroom. I am so thankful for that space, because we can just shut a door and ignore it from time to time. (Which I do.) However, it will be the girls' slumber party room again in a few days, so I had some picking up to do. Buddy helped clean up blocks, Bear occasionally brought in a few things from her room to add to the collection. I really should have taken pictures, because even though they are not perfect, all 3 rooms are so much better. Grandma and Mom and Dad T. will arrive on Tuesday, the rest of the gang comes on Wednesday.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I have a secret.
Except it's not really a secret because I have told a handful of friends and my sister. This post shall remain in my drafts until I decide to not make it a secret anymore, but I am fighting a little bout of insomnia and decided to post some thoughts.
A week and a half ago on a Friday afternoon, I took a little test. According to prior experience and www.peeonastick.com, The Dollar Tree has these little tests that work better than some of the more expensive tests. I THOUGHT I saw the tiniest pink line, but it was hard to tell if I was imagining things, in spite of the fact that my cycle was a week late. So I retested the next morning. And the line was slightly darker. At this point, I still didn't believe it, so on Monday 11/7 I called my doctor and asked them to add "pregnancy test" to the list of topics to discuss at a check-up scheduled for the next day.
Apparently their test was also positive, because they asked how I felt about this baby. Being a practice made up of women and one man who was not in the office at the time, I loved their honesty and caution. Once they knew I was excited, they shared in my excitement and congratulated me.
"Cautiously optimistic." Though we were not technically trying yet, one instance of not avoiding pregnancy is all it takes, so the parents tell their unwed teenage daughters. Turns out, the same holds true for married couples. I should know by now, Buddy was conceived the first month off the pill.
So yes, we are cautiously optimistic with a healthy dose of excitement. I couldn't resist and even told the kids, and big sister is ecstatic. She keeps bringing me water or milk for the baby and rubs and kisses my tummy, which seems to be growing.
However there is a part of me that is anxious, scared perhaps. Not because of the added expense and logistical issues of having more kids than you have hands with which to hold them. But because of what happened early in 2007... I finally believed the positive pregnancy tests and then the cramping bleeding started. We never met that sweet, teensy tiny little person.
Other than some extra fatigue and occasional spells of nausea, I feel fine. And I know it's early, at 6 weeks 4 days or something like that, but that scares me. I keep reminding myself that I didn't start feeling pregnant with Bear until closer to 8 weeks, and then it hit like a bad storm. "IT" being the nausea and puking... lots of it.
So I pray. A lot. And wonder if I can make it to Thanksgiving. Hubby wants to surprise the family.
I am excited that our nephew who is due early next year will have a cousin relatively close to his age. I am excited that our son will get the opportunity to be a big brother. (Though he keeps asking of we are going to the baby store at the hospital to get a baby.) I am thrilled that my daughter keeps asking to watch a video on babycenter about the first 9 weeks of development. I have avoided the "how does the baby get in your tummy?" question and am open to suggestions on how to tell the truth without telling more details than a 6 year old needs to know.
So there you have it. Our little secret. If all is progressing well, baby should be about the size of a blueberry this week. The intricate details of the human design amaze me more every pregnancy, and I just pray that we get to meet this little one.
Except it's not really a secret because I have told a handful of friends and my sister. This post shall remain in my drafts until I decide to not make it a secret anymore, but I am fighting a little bout of insomnia and decided to post some thoughts.
A week and a half ago on a Friday afternoon, I took a little test. According to prior experience and www.peeonastick.com, The Dollar Tree has these little tests that work better than some of the more expensive tests. I THOUGHT I saw the tiniest pink line, but it was hard to tell if I was imagining things, in spite of the fact that my cycle was a week late. So I retested the next morning. And the line was slightly darker. At this point, I still didn't believe it, so on Monday 11/7 I called my doctor and asked them to add "pregnancy test" to the list of topics to discuss at a check-up scheduled for the next day.
Apparently their test was also positive, because they asked how I felt about this baby. Being a practice made up of women and one man who was not in the office at the time, I loved their honesty and caution. Once they knew I was excited, they shared in my excitement and congratulated me.
"Cautiously optimistic." Though we were not technically trying yet, one instance of not avoiding pregnancy is all it takes, so the parents tell their unwed teenage daughters. Turns out, the same holds true for married couples. I should know by now, Buddy was conceived the first month off the pill.
So yes, we are cautiously optimistic with a healthy dose of excitement. I couldn't resist and even told the kids, and big sister is ecstatic. She keeps bringing me water or milk for the baby and rubs and kisses my tummy, which seems to be growing.
However there is a part of me that is anxious, scared perhaps. Not because of the added expense and logistical issues of having more kids than you have hands with which to hold them. But because of what happened early in 2007... I finally believed the positive pregnancy tests and then the cramping bleeding started. We never met that sweet, teensy tiny little person.
Other than some extra fatigue and occasional spells of nausea, I feel fine. And I know it's early, at 6 weeks 4 days or something like that, but that scares me. I keep reminding myself that I didn't start feeling pregnant with Bear until closer to 8 weeks, and then it hit like a bad storm. "IT" being the nausea and puking... lots of it.
So I pray. A lot. And wonder if I can make it to Thanksgiving. Hubby wants to surprise the family.
I am excited that our nephew who is due early next year will have a cousin relatively close to his age. I am excited that our son will get the opportunity to be a big brother. (Though he keeps asking of we are going to the baby store at the hospital to get a baby.) I am thrilled that my daughter keeps asking to watch a video on babycenter about the first 9 weeks of development. I have avoided the "how does the baby get in your tummy?" question and am open to suggestions on how to tell the truth without telling more details than a 6 year old needs to know.
So there you have it. Our little secret. If all is progressing well, baby should be about the size of a blueberry this week. The intricate details of the human design amaze me more every pregnancy, and I just pray that we get to meet this little one.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
parenting is heart work
I think it's time to dig through my boxes of books and find our copy of "Parenting is Heart Work" to read again. About halfway through Bear's 5th year, sassiness began getting stronger and stronger and stronger. now that she is 6, her strong will is also strengthening.
The challenge as a parent is not to just punish, but to teach consequences for actions. Punishment without somehow conveying the reason for the punishment is futile and, in my opinion, will only lead to rote feigned obedience and sneaking around as they get older.
Helping a 6 year old learn proper behavior is not as easy as just telling her the golden rule. It forces me to examine my heart as I choose the best form of discipline for the situation.
Some days, like today, it's really hard to fight anger and frustration (on both sides).
Parenting IS heart work... on my part as the parent, then on my children's. Or maybe I should say also on my children's, as only God can truly change our hearts.
I think it's time to dig through my boxes of books and find our copy of "Parenting is Heart Work" to read again. About halfway through Bear's 5th year, sassiness began getting stronger and stronger and stronger. now that she is 6, her strong will is also strengthening.
The challenge as a parent is not to just punish, but to teach consequences for actions. Punishment without somehow conveying the reason for the punishment is futile and, in my opinion, will only lead to rote feigned obedience and sneaking around as they get older.
Helping a 6 year old learn proper behavior is not as easy as just telling her the golden rule. It forces me to examine my heart as I choose the best form of discipline for the situation.
Some days, like today, it's really hard to fight anger and frustration (on both sides).
Parenting IS heart work... on my part as the parent, then on my children's. Or maybe I should say also on my children's, as only God can truly change our hearts.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
observations....
My daughter and I have some personality similarities. I have a hard time remembering my early childhood. I remember bits and pieces, some highs, some lows. I remember some toys and activities, etc., but I don't remember what "I" was like as a person. So I asked Mom this weekend, shortly after a confrontation with my non-cooperative 6 year old. She said I held things in more than my girl does. Later on during the weekend, Dad mentioned that they were harder on us than we are on our kids. Hmmmm... in light of the fact that I now have a tendency to share too much, perhaps THAT's part of why I held things in.
Parenting is tough. You have to make decisions about discipline, etc... in areas that are far from black and white. YOU have to decide when to extend grace or mercy, or when to be strict and what some might call just.
One of my goals is to make sure that my kids know that our relationship is more important than the hierarchy. Respect is important, but I want them to trust me as well. I don't want them to be afraid to talk about things, and when the need for discipline arises, I want it to be productive, not demeaning. Finding that balance is hard.
My daughter and I have some personality similarities. I have a hard time remembering my early childhood. I remember bits and pieces, some highs, some lows. I remember some toys and activities, etc., but I don't remember what "I" was like as a person. So I asked Mom this weekend, shortly after a confrontation with my non-cooperative 6 year old. She said I held things in more than my girl does. Later on during the weekend, Dad mentioned that they were harder on us than we are on our kids. Hmmmm... in light of the fact that I now have a tendency to share too much, perhaps THAT's part of why I held things in.
Parenting is tough. You have to make decisions about discipline, etc... in areas that are far from black and white. YOU have to decide when to extend grace or mercy, or when to be strict and what some might call just.
One of my goals is to make sure that my kids know that our relationship is more important than the hierarchy. Respect is important, but I want them to trust me as well. I don't want them to be afraid to talk about things, and when the need for discipline arises, I want it to be productive, not demeaning. Finding that balance is hard.
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