Tackle It "Tuesday"

As previously posted, my MIL came to help me nest, since God apparently forgot to put that instinct into my gene pool. (My sister must have got all of those genes, because I don't think my brother got any of them, either).

Here are some photos which show what we accomplished:

This photo represents the "before", even though it was taken after. Except for the motorcycle and tools in the background, all of these boxes were cleared out during our tackle.

After:

Hubby and Dad-in-law moved the top 2 shelves up to the top notch, then bought and installed the mug and small-plate shelves. They worked with the holes that came in the cabinets.

Organized spice/seasoning cabinet.
The containers with the white faces hold packets, loose tea bags and other oddly shaped items which normally would fall out. Tech Mom found them under a cabinet at work, no longer in use. The used to hold prescription samples, before their filing went high tech. We covered the blatant drug logo with white contact paper. She also brought me the 3 tiered expandable insert for the spices.

The re-organized hall/kitchen storage closet.
The paper goods and griddle had been falling out every time I opened the door. We moved the tall glasses into their home in the kitchen cabinets after hubby and Dad in law added the extra shelves. That got rid of a box and created usable and greatly needed space.

"Bear" in front of the linen closet.
Table cloths and other miscellaneous linens packed away in the tote.
(Yes, I do brush her hair. Sometimes. She asked to be in the picture.)

Bear and Little Guy's closet.

Yesterday I managed to keep my kitchen clean, keep up with laundry as much as I can (I still need to go through my clothes), and organize the cabinet under my bathroom sink. (Hubby's is not quite the disaster area.) I also vacuumed the utility room, including behind the washer and dryer, which got rid of the mess of dust-bunnies and other debris that somehow accumulate so quickly.

And thanks again to the World's Greatest Mother-in-Law! (Who really needs to update her blog, by the way.)


So, those are the main tackles from this week. Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to visit the Tackle it Tuesday HQ by clicking on the banner at the top of this post.

i <3 craigs list

hubby reposted some things on craig's list over the weekend.... some of his old electronic "boy toys" that have been packed away, an antique-style sofa and chair set. in all honesty, we use the chair in our room, but the sofa is really more for piling pillows and blankets in the bonus room, and we could use that space for other things. we have at least 2 people who've expressed interest in it (there was a 3rd, but apparently i was too slow in getting back to her with a response... she e-mailed me during church yesterday, i didnt get it til last night, she found another one in between), and a while back we sold an old vhs vcr, and tonight we sold his amp. we are too lazy to mess with pay pal and e-bay shipping arrangements... so far the whole craigs list thing is definitely worth the time and effort. it certainly beats sitting out in the smothering heat for a yard sale.

are you my conscience?

or rather, is my mother-in-law my nesting instinct?

if you've read my blog, or know me in real life, i've made it pretty obvious that i am domestically challenged. at times, i am what you call a "defeated perfectionist" who suffers from "analysis paralysis." i made a spreadsheet of several nesting projects, room-by-room about a month ago. then i got so overwhelmed by the magnitude that i have really only done a few things here and there, the bare minimum. of course, getting sick didn't help, but i honestly can't blame my lack-of-productivity on just one week.

a few weeks back, tech mom asked if i wanted her to come help tackle some of the projects around the house. this weekend became the chosen weekend for our tackles.

today was our "tackle it tuesday", weekend edition. we:

• cleaned out all except 2 of the cabinets in the kitchen (one will be easy, the other, well, this pregnant woman won't be leaning into the corner cabinet any time soon)
• cleaned out and reorganized the hall "pantry" which is really a storage closet for kitchen stuff that doesn't fit in my cupboards because the floor plan is so darn open we have limited cabinet space.
• reorganized the microwave cart/cleaned out the microwave/threw out old phone books
• went through old baby clothes... set aside several boxes for goodwill, boxes to give back to sis in law to go through to see what she wants to keep in case they have a surprise 3rd daughter, kept several plastic totes "just in case", since hubby and i are open to the idea of more kids in the future, reorganized bear's dresser and closet
• threw out a bunch of junk... boxes, plastic bags, old gift bags, store hangers

not only did she help with all that cleaning, she brought a few things to help me utilize my space more efficiently... spice steps for the spice cabinet, lid baskets for tupperware/gladwarelids, and 2 small wire shelves.

plus, hubby and his dad took bear along on a trip to lowe's to buy previously mentioned totes and some shoe box-sized clear boxes. they also took one of the shelves out of the kitchen cabinets, bought 2 more just like it, and installed them. you see, our builder put in these nice tall cabinets for us, claiming they were an "included upgrade" but they should have put in at least one more shelf. so now some glasses which were in storage in their box on the floor of the hall closet have a home in my kitchen cabinets. we actually had more kitchen cabinet space in our 1000 square foot apartment than we do here.

bear was a really good girl all day. she kept trying to find ways to help, and as we sorted through her old shoes, she decided to squeeze into her squeaky shoes and run around the house in them. then she decided she did not like where mommy put her current shoes in her closet and set them up the way she liked them. she also helped carry good hangers from "ground zero" in the guest room back into her bedroom, which was actually a huge help so i did not have to squat to pick them up off the floor.

so, here is a list of projects left to tackle, hopefully before baby boy makes his appearance:

in the kitchen:

• clean out junk drawer in kitchen
• clean out cookie sheet cabinet: done Sunday (thanks, Tech Mom!)
  
• clean out big awkward pot/pan cabinet:done (thanks, Tech Mom!)
  
• clean off counter (begun)
  

in the nursery:

• put crib side back on toddler bed and raise mattress
• put batteries in mobile and set it back up
• finish washing little guy's clothes
  
• organize little guy's dresser a bit better (done Sunday)
  
• organize crib sheets and blankets in closet shelves (done Sunday)

master bedroom:

• clean off my dresser
• clean out my dresser... go through clothes, get rid of the size 6's which i will never squeze into again after birthing 2 children
• clean mirror on dresser
• set up mini pack and play (sheets are washed)

miscellany:

• put cleaned bouncy seat and car seat covers back on their respective homes
• put clean boppy cover on pillow (done Sunday)
  
• go to publix and use my baby club buy one get one free coupons on miscellaneous needs for little guy

bathrooms:

• thoroughly scrub/clean everything one more time (it's been almost 2 weeks... sigh)
• clean out and reorganize cabinets and drawers. (1 done, 1 to go, thanks to tech mom)
  

utility room:

• clean out and reorganize tall cabinet (done Sunday)
  
• "dust" top of dryer and washer again (just did it a couple of weeks ago) (done Sunday)
  
• vacuum and mop floor
• vacuum corners and behind washer and dryer

oh yeah:

• pack hospital bag for me and baby
• pack a "just in case" bag in the event we have to drag bear to the hospital with us to meet my parents there, in case there is not time for them to make it to our house before we leave for the hospital
  

there's still a lot to do, but i am so thankful for the help i had this weekend. and thankfully, if our little guy were to decide to come tomorrow, it will only take a couple of minutes for hubby to put the cover back on the car seat and set up the mini pack and play next to our bed.

thanks, tech mom, for all of your help!!!!! i couldn't have done it without you (and without tech dad and hubby keeping bear occupied)

so, today tech mom decided she was on a roll and wanted to get more done... did she ever. in addition to the things listed in brown on the above list, she reorganized my linen closet. we packed away some table cloths and other linens that we don't use very often in a tote in the bottom of the closet, which basically made an extra shelf on which to put the recently laundered baby bath towels.

after church and lunch, i also tackled a couple of things, listed in red.

mom's day out

my neighbor gina and i got to go out sans kids this afternoon, since our hubbies were off work. we got pedicures and then hit babies r us, which had an extra 20% off the clearance items. little guy made out pretty well, thanks to gina's knack for finding the good deals on the rack. (i typically lack the patience and move on before i come across the $2-$3 items).

belly shots- 37 weeks

outgrowing my motherhood tank (it has shrunk a lot, too)

cast your vote in the poll in the sidebar:
will my belly-button turn into an "outie" before little guy's birth?

Not-so Wordless Wednesday:
he's already spoiled (or maybe mommy is the spoiled one)


You have already seen the taggie blanket made by my friend Farmwife,
and the blanket a crocheted for our Little Guy,
These are some other handmade gifts which we have received.
Of course, all the clothes and other items we have been given are equally appreciated,
but I just can't take pictures of everything (believe it or not).

From top left, clockwise:
sling made by Tech Mom, blanket & burp cloth made by my friend Heather
blanket and soap from Mirella, and matching bib and burp cloth from Becca
(made by one of her online friends)

things that make you go hmmm... at around 37 weeks

I had some odd cramping today, and I wasn't sure if it was Braxton Hicks or my appendix or what. It was a tightening on my lower right side, which sort of went to my lower back, and it lasted for 15 minutes. I tried walking. It got worse. I sat down and drank juice. It stayed the same. Finally, I sent Bear upstairs to get our exercise ball, which she was happy to do. She usually gets scolded for pushing it down the steps. Sitting on that thing and bouncing was the only thing that provided relief. It will be coming to the hospital with us when the time comes. So I moved it into the room where I had been folding laundry when the cramp hit, and sat on it as I folded my laundry. Then, Bear took her bouncy ball in and tried to copy me!

I also decided today was the day to let go of my paranoia that the u/s is wrong and wash our little guy's newborn clothes and blankets... just in case.

No major weird cramps or contractions since then, but considering how close we're getting...
I should probably think about packing my hospital bag soon, too.

nesting

our mama bird is back. these photos were taken about 10 days apart. hubby had removed the old nest after the hatchlings flew away, but about 2 weeks ago i noticed one of the bird couples (wren) hanging around. the mama bird built the nest, the papa bird sat perched on the nearby windchimes as he supervised or protected, i'm not sure which.

since then, i think mama is working on laying her eggs. it's too high up to see if they are there yet, but she is acting like that's what she's doing... laying them or keeping them warm.

you didn't really think this would be a post about pregnancy nesting, did you?

well, in case you did...

i have the space next to my bed cleared and clorox-wiped the baseboards and night stand. the nook is ready for the mini pack n play which will serve as a bassinet for little guy. (which is sill packed away. the sheets are in a closet. not sure which one- bear's or the linen closet.)

i swept and swiffered the kitchen floor.

not what i call a nesting frenzy, but when have i ever had one of those? still, my medication seems to be helping significantly, so perhaps there is hope for the domestically challenged....

The meeting went well.

I am looking forward to having an extra encourager during the labor process, one who has attended several different births and shares what I see as a similar balanced view of childbirth... an appreciation for the science we have available when it's needed, with the recognition that every aspect is not always necessary. I've found that the whole birthing discussion can be polarizing... some people are sooo natural childbirth oriented, they come across as almost militant and unrealistic. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some women assume that because they are so common, the epidural and pitocin should just be standard fare because ,"why on earth would you want to feel the pain?" Of course, every woman has to decide whether or not the benefits outweigh the potential risks for her baby and herself, and when labor comes, what that threshold of manageable pain is.

I have a propensity for fear of the unknown. Sometimes the Lord takes away those fears without human help, but other times He provides people or things to assist in overcoming them. In this case, it looks like He's provided a doula to be there along with my Beloved.

36-ish week check-up

Baby's HB: 158 bpm
Fundal Height: "perfectly on track"
My BP: good
My weight: 166... up 4 lbs... it's the thick jeans, i swear! i wasn't wearing my thick, long jeans with big-ol' belly band last week.
group b strep: awaiting results
and since she was already invading my privacy, and my curiousity got the best of me, she checked for the following:

dilation- 1 cm
effacement- 50%

Those stats don't mean anything as far as when to expect our little guy to push his way out, but it is nice to know my body is getting ready for the big day.

I'm meeting my prospective doula in person tonight. :)

*A decent night and morning's sleep, even if it was in 2 distinct chunks.
* Waking to the sound of my sweet Bear playing quietly in her room.
* Same Sweet Bear giggling (as her diaper tickled her bottom when she walked into my room. Discovering it really was not that wet, so perhaps night time training is not too far off afterall....)
* Codeine- thankfully I'm not allergic. I will be careful not to get addicted. But after it stops working. ;)
* Gentle rain for my flowers (though I hope it stops so hubby can go on his bike trip this afternoon/tomorrow. He's been looking forward to it.)
* A cuddly micro-fleece blanket.
* Someone to cuddle in the blanket with me. (Hubby or Bear, preferably.)
* My spirited niece is turning 7 today. Happy Birthday, Emily!!!!
* FREE FONTS from ScrapnFonts! Some really cute kid fonts. Limited time.

have i mentioned that i love codeine?

no, really... i could get addicted to the stuff. i've actually gone 5 minutes without coughing. maybe hubby and i will get some sleep tonight!

If I could have coughed out my baby...
(adventures in pregnancy and upper respiratory distress)

it would have happened last night. My allergies have been in full gear again for a few days. I've been taking my meds as prescribed (ironic that I want to minimize meds during labor, eh? I figure after being exposed to the contaminants that enable me to breathe and supply oxygen, it's not a bad idea to minimize exposure to others meds). Anyway, nights have been really, really rough. And don't bother calling me, because I can't talk without hacking into your ear, as much as I might want to. Well, about 12:00 last night I awoke with another coughing fit. It lasted 20 minutes, and I spent much of that time hurled over the porcelain throne. My fast-acting inhaler just made me gag more with the taste. And all the water I had been drinking... well, let's say it does not seem like kegel exercises have made much of a difference. (Yes, I am sure I am not leaking amniotic fluid. I know what my bladder feels like.) there was a point where I did start cramping enough to thing maybe there was a contraction, but it was very short lived. Still, I called hubby, who was out of town 2 1/2 hours away or so for work, and asked him to come home. I feared dehydration more than anything.

Finally, the attack ended. I was able to keep down some applesauce and some water. The inhaler that previously made my gag took its' desired effect, and I stuck a mint in my mouth and laid down. Well, at a 80 degee angle. But for the first time in 2 hours, I got rest.

Hubby arrived shortly afterward, and he has been a trooper... he stayed home and got up with Bear, letting me rest. After I returned home from the doctor (who adjusted my inhaler meds and prescribed an antibiotic and really strong cough syrup), he headed into work....

Anyway, thankfully I did not cough my baby out last night. He still has time left to cook.
But most of all, I'm thankful that my beloved was able to come home and take care of things. I hope the cough syrup that my doc prescribes so hubby can get some sleep tonight, since he didn't get much last night.

another step toward NCB

I'll be meeting with a prospective affordable doula this week or next! (I'd do it today if I didn't have my stupid cough/allergies back in full force.) While hubby is supportive of my aspirations to deliver this little guy with as few interventions as possible but still in a hospital, getting a doula is something I have been pondering. I can't swing the $500+ fee that some of my friends paid for their doulas (and said it was well worth every penny), but through a serious of fortunate events, or perhaps divine intervention, I've received a contact who seems like she might be a good fit. Stay tuned...

Tackle It Tuesday


I really don't feel much like tackling things today. Bear and I were supposed to meet up with a Mom and daughter from her Kindermusik class, but my allergies complete with bark, I mean cough, have come back and I do not feel like going out into the smothering heat and allergens.

A couple of weeks ago, I began a master list of tackles to do before Little Guy arrives. I think I need to revisit that and get some things crossed off... or at least begun. Even if I don't feel like it. If Little Guy is as good a sleeper as his sister, I will credit it to learning to tune out my coughs while in the womb.

coming soon: Elisha's Bones
by Don Hoesel

Do you know someone who has chased a dream, prayed for the Lord to open doors, and then seen those doors open? I do. A couple of someone's, actually. First, some guys I know from college got a recording contract. Well, today I learned that a friend of ours from church has his first novel available for pre-order from Amazon.com and through his publisher.

Congratulations, Don!!!! We're so excited for you!

Because this blog needs something other than baby talk on it.....

1. Leave one memory that you and I had together, as a comment on my blog. Anything goes :)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll check to see if you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Thanks to Allison for this meme. :) Many of you are online friends, so maybe the memory could be a particular post or comment from past conversations/posts on either one of our blogs or message boards?

An old hymn- rediscovered.

The following lyrics belong to one of the many hymns we sing at our church. This was today's closing hymn, following Pastor Scotty's poignant message on prayer. It has been one of my favorite hymn arrangements for a while, but was especially meaningful following today's message and in light of a period of waiting and praying in which God has placed us.

Jesus, I am Resting, Resting

words by Jean S. Pigott,
music by David Hampton

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee
And Thy beauty fills my soul
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart

O, how great Thy loving kindness
Vaster, broader than the sea
O, how marvelous Thy goodness
Lavished all on me
Yes, I rest in Thee, beloved
Know what wealth of grace is Thine
Know Thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
I behold Thee as Thou art
And Thy love, so pure
So changeless, satisfies my heart
Satisfies its deepest longings
Meets, supplies its every need
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee
Brightness of my Father's glory
Sunshine of my Father's face
Keep me ever trusting, resting
Fill me with Thy grace

©1998 New Spring Publishing / ASCAP / a div. of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.

could it be?

is there the slightest bit of nesting instinct in my body after all. now, before you think i've been going crazy, scrubbing every single thing three times and the nursery is ready, do not be fooled.
however, progress is being made in our preparation for our little guy's arrival. yesterday's project was to thoroughly scrub the bathrooms. i ended up having to get hubby to scrub around the toilet in the 2nd bathroom, because all the squatting was taking it's toll on my back. not to mention my gag reflex. i am ashamed to say, both bathrooms were pretty gross... it doesn't take much for them to get that way. so now they are better, albeit temporarily. and should contractions hit and i need to rest in a warm bath, i can now do so without worrying about lingering germs in the tub (though the tub was actually in decent shape... it's just nice to know something is really, really clean.)

today's project was operation baby clothes. hubby pulled down boxes of bear's clothes for me to go through. i pulled out all the neutral things that i found suitable... and was reminded of how much pink we had. between the old clothes, what i have picked up gifts we have received, little guy is pretty well set in the smallest sizes, especially in sleep and plays and onesies. so if he were to make an early exist from his cozy home, he'd have clothing.

there's still so much to do, but it's a start...

i saw a 4 week old baby tonight!

i brought a meal to a friend from church and got to meet her little girl. their family dog seemed traumatized by the new addition, hiding out in his little house in the living room. poor thing. but the baby girl... oh, so sweet!!!

i can't believe how much time has passed since we first learned i am carrying a new baby. this pregnancy has been soo much different overall. with bear, i was sick-sick-sick for 2/3 of the time. once the nausea stopped, the heartburn began. i don't recall feeling like she was getting low until at least week 36 or so. little guy, or "lg"?, well he was much easier on me earlier on. oh, I still threw up once or twice a day, but that's nothing compared to 5 or 6 times a day i had grown accustomed to during pregnancy #1. bear was fairly tranquil in the womb, though i did not think so at the time. little guy is making his presence known several times a day. he may even be responding to his sister's voice. he definitely responds to daddy and sis's pokes and jabs, and sometimes kisses. he either loves or hates milk and juice, because he moves constantly after i've had a glass. or maybe that's his response to the cookies i ingest along with them. hiccups are common.

the idea of caring for a newborn again seems to foreign and mysterious, as i can barely remember when bear was that small. sure, i have pictures, but looking at my friend's little girl... so fragile, so tiny (and she's probably 8 lbs...)... so tender....

sigh....

about 35 week belly shot

Almost 35 week check up

Bear and I went for my check-up at the OB today. It was an uneventful belly check and pee-in-a-cup visit. The Group B strep test will be in 2 more weeks at my next visit, and after that I'll go every week until Little Guy decides he's had enough of being inside.

Mommy's weigh in: 162 lbs (up 2 from 2 weeks ago)
BP: 100/60
Little Man's Heartbeat: 156 BPM. He had Whole Foods' pure cane sugar ginger ale and some candy before we went in, so I think that got him moving. Gotta love mommy's strange cravings.

Dr. S said it feels like he's head down, but of course it's early enough that he could reposition himself if he wanted to. Still, based on the fact that I feel him at both extremes of my abdomen, I think I'll feel if he does a complete 180. So that means the hard thing at various spots I keep feeling between my belly and ribs must be his buttocks.

I went to print out my birth plan this morning, a FYI list of preferences for labor and delivery, and the printer was out of ink. Grrr... Oh, well, I've already verbally told the OB's my preferences, and hopefully well get ink between now and the next visit.

While we waited in the waiting room, a Daddy and his two beautiful daughters shared their toys with Bear while they were waiting for their Mom during her check-up. His younger daughter appeared to be around Bear's age, but was actually six years old. She has Down's syndrome, and will be a big sister to a little boy come October-something. They seemed like such a sweet family, and when I asked the 8 year old if she liked being a big sister, she said she loves it and can't wait to have a brother. Awwww... no mention of her younger sister's struggles, just her love for her. Bear did not appear to notice that the younger girl was different, either.

Friday Felicities- a day late

This was a good week for me. Steph at Punkin' Press participates in this meme, which keeps alive the memory of a dear W@H sister in Christ who God healed of cancer by taking her home to Him. Becky posted a reminder on the W@H message boards, and I thought I'd go ahead and jump on board for this week, even if it is a day late.

So here are my -Friday-Felicities-on-Saturday:

1) Celebrating 9 years of marriage with my beloved. He even made it back in town on Wednesday night, so we were able to celebrate our actual anniversary on Thursday!
2) Receiving a beautiful pair of earrings from my Beloved. When I feel especially frumpy, jewelry helps. He did good.
3) A sweet, affectionate 2 1/2+ year old who likes bugs, chalk, and cars as much as she likes wedding dresses and princesses. Sometimes more.
4) The same little girl is a great sleeper, so I'm getting all the rest I can before my days and nights are turned around with a newborn. Well, except when the insomnia kicks in from taking that afternoon nap...
5) My prenatal Yoga DVD. It helps me relax.
6) Mexican food with my Mom and Dad, who celebrated their 38th anniversary the day after our 9th.
7) Admiring classic cars in the K-mart parking lot... a little bittersweet because some of the cars reminded us of hubby's favorite uncle, who collected and restored mopars.
8) Hearing that a friend who had previously miscarried one baby heard new little one's heartbeat this week.

Visit Becky's blog to see who else had a Friday Feliz!

Are you missions minded?

I just wanted to point out a couple of blogs a read that belong to missionaries. I met both of these ladies online, one through my sister in law, and one through a meme (probably from 5 minutes for mom) well over a year ago.

Both blogs incorporate a touch of what's going on in their family life and their families' ministries, and I know they would appreciate your prayers!

Between Diapers and Dishes
The Arteaga Family

Baby prep...

Tonight, I finally emptied all but one drawer of the dresser we'll use for little guys clothes. The remaining drawer holds some miscellaneous gift-wrapping supplies which need to join the rest in a closet. Next step: line the drawers. I'm debating between splurging on scented drawer liner or just sticking with plain wax paper. I've heard of lining the drawers with wrapping paper from baby gifts, but these days most people seem to be using gift bags with tissue paper. (Including myself.) So, it will most likely be the wax paper.

Space is tricky. We have a bedroom set in our guest room which includes a wide dresser, a tall dresser, and a full sized bed. The kids' room has the crib (currently still toddler bed awaiting hubby's help), a small book cabinet, a dresser, and Bear's twin-sized bed. If we moved the book shelf upstairs, we could fit a small taller dresser in that corner, but then that would disrupt our bedtime routine of choosing stories and crawling onto the bed. So I decided to utilize the wide dresser in the guest room for our little guy's clothes and changing station. (I don't think I could manage to use the one dresser effectively for both kids' clothing. If you know me, you know why.) With so much of our family living out of town, we just can't afford to get rid of our guest room. And the sweet thing is that Bear already knows that the crib will be her brother's. She points it out just before laying down for a nap. Hopefully she won't think the laundry is supposed to be there all the time and dump clothes on top of him once he is here.

Wooden letters were purchased on sale at Joann's for 99 cents a piece, they just need a little sanding before painting.

Anyway, that's a glimpse of what's going on to prepare for our new addition. God apparently did not gift me with the pregnancy-long nesting instinct, so I am trying to be purposeful and do a little at a time before it gets too difficult. That means I need to stop taking that afternoon nap when Bear naps... and if I do that, perhaps insomnia won't be as much of a problem.

God is teaching me not to be a skeptic.


Those who know me well, know that along the way hubby and I became very disheartened with the SBC. Yes, my brother in law is a youth minister at a SBC affiliated church. My brother and his wife are music ministers and seminary students. I am very proud of them and thankful to see how the Lord has led them in their callings into ministry. But after being in one SBC-related church after another where building programs seemed to be top priority over the Gospel's impact on our lives, and polity more important than relationships, when we moved to Nashville we basically decided we no longer wanted to be members of a denomination that seemed to pride itself on numbers. That's not to say we aren't grateful for the good teaching we received or friends we made through our involvement in SBC-related ministries prior to the disheartening experiences, we just got fed up with the numbers game, church-marketing agendas, and top few sermon topics ... "Are you saved?" "Are you sure you're saved?" "Have you been baptized?" "What are you doing for God?" "What are you giving to God?"....not that these are bad, I mean Jesus did come to save us. But some of the teaching we heard went over the basics so much that discipleship, deepening our faith through God's word, was pretty weak. Maybe it was a problem in the city where we lived after we were married, because the preaching I heard there never compared to Brother Sing's teaching in college. Ironically, were it not for the college/career ministry at one of the building-program-pushing churches, we may not have met. And I cannot forget the fact that my involvement in the BSU and my college church made my college experience. Having spent some time in a fundy/separatist environment during childhood, God used the SBC- related ministries to show me Christian community within a secular environment, and opportunities to share Jesus' love in places as simple as the dorm hallway.

Gramma called to wish us a happy anniversary yesterday, and in our conversation she mentioned that the she met one of the Disaster Relief volunteers from the SBC.
Her hometown was flooded recently, filling basements and causing evacuation. Well, the residents have since returned to their homes, the Red Cross has moved on, and the SBC Disaster Relief Teams have apparently been there to continue assistance. The lady Gramma met was from Jackson, TN and surprised that Gramma knew where it was. The skeptic in me wonders if they were scouting for future church-planting locations under the guise of helping an area in need. But after a good smack in the head, regardless of any ulterior motives by the powers that be further up, the fact is that their help was greatly appreciated and the volunteers who went sacrificed their time. Although once the rain quit, I bet the Southerners enjoyed the break from the smothering heat that we have here. And I pray that the light they shared will encourage the small Bible church in southwestern WI to love their neighbors and love them well, so they might come to know Christ. I am amazed that the SBC somehow picked this tiny little town on the Wisconsin River to serve out of all the flood-ravaged areas. And grateful. And simply trying to trust that the mission was more than a statistical objective, which I'm sure it was for those directly involved. Having been involved in short-term mission trips, my top priority and my fellow team-members priority was to serve, first and foremost, and hopefully share the gospel in the process. So, this is one time where I must put my skepticism aside and simply say "thanks" to whoever responded to the short-term call North. Gramma and those around her appreciate you.

6 1/2 weeks

The OB's have me 1/2 a week behind the tickers. I've been defaulting to going with what the tickers say because it is just easier, and I couldn't get them to reconfigure way back in the beginning. I'm not about to start now. Anyway, that means if little guy hangs out patiently, we have 6 1/2 weeks until he joins us and we can feel just how hard his head, butt, and limbs really are. (They feel pretty hard with all the judo kicks going on inside me.) And Zann is technically within a month of her due date, if I am not mistaken!

Hubby was born by this point in his gestational development.

Our little guy is definitely sitting lower, and I hate standing or walking for too long as I feel like he's going to start pushing his way out of me. I don't remember feeling like this until the whole red-felt laying experiment about 4 weeks before Bear was due. But at least my heartburn is much milder than it was with Bear.

DH and his coworkers finished what they needed to do, so he got home this afternoon. That means he'll be home for our anniversary tomorrow. 9 years.

I just haven't been in the blogging mood lately...

the name game

In light of how I began my pregnancy and my current state of health, I propose the following options for names/nicknames for our little guy:

Azithromycin (Z)
Singulair(Sing... hey, it was my pastor's name in college. Well, the nickname was. But I suspect it was because he liked to sing, not after the drug).
Guafinasen (Fin)
Azamacort (Cort)
Xopenex (Xoe/Zoe)
Insomniac (Som)
Bronchiospasm (Bronco)

I am a walking pharmacy right now. It's apparently my bi-annual onset of the crud, as I went to my doc to make sure my misery was just allergies, and found out an infection was setting in. I was just trying to double check which meds were ok for me to take... I am only taking the inhalers as needed, the Xopenex if I have a coughing fit/asthma attack.

Anyway, I have a check-up later this morning to make sure all these meds aren't killing my little jicama (that's his approximate size this week). I need to pack for our weekend north, do some housekeeping that has been neglected, yada, yada, yada.... so hopefully this little spell of insomnia will end quickly. I need energy, which comes from rest...

cultural norms

While most Americans will at least give lip-service to the idea that breastmilk is best for our newborns/infants, if nursing doesn't work out, for whatever reason, formula takes over. That's our norm.

Bear and I were outside playing one evening last week, and one of the girls in the neighborhood talked about how excited she was to see her other brother. She picked up on my confused expression, and explained that her aunt had difficulty nursing her cousin, who was around the same age as her younger brother. So her Mom nursed him for her. The baby was born in the US, he could have had free formula from WIC. But in their culture the question is apparently, "Why wouldn't you give a newborn breastmilk?"

Now, I love my niece, but I don't think I would have nursed her. (Ignore the fact that I only nursed Bear for about 3 months.) For one, she lives an hour and a half away. Feeding an infant is a round the-clock-adventure. The reason the girl calls her cousin her brother is because while her mother fed him, he lived with their family. (I don't know if his Mom moved in, too, or what...) And quite frankly, even if it were something I was up to doing, I don't picture my sister as being one to go for it. It's just not normal here. Change a baby's diaper? Check. Burp someone else's baby? Check. Give a bottle to another Mom's baby? Check. Breastfeed someone else's baby? Ummm... second thoughts there.

I find the fact that this 9 year old girl talked about her "other brother" with no inhibitions fascinating. In her family's culture, what happened is normal. And though I am 99.999% sure I would not make the choice to let someone else breastfeed my child (unless they were severely allergic to formula, and then I would prefer the breastmilk to be given in a bottle so I could feed my baby), instead of thinking "ew, gross..." I find myself fascinated by the cultural differences.... and how even though they live in the USA now, some aspects of their culture are being preserved.

let the nesting begin

baby boy's blanket is done!
it's not perfect. if you are type "A", then just looking at the picture may drive you nuts because there are some obvious imperfections.
but it is the 1st crochet project i began and the 2nd to be completed.
i could easily name 5 people i would like to make blankets for... and those are just the pregnant ones! that wouldn't include the friends who have been there through thick and thin, family members, etc....

i am hoping this approx. 26 x 29 inch blanket will make a perfect carseat blankie. it's not as thick as the other blanket i made, since i only used 1 strand of yarn.

it sure feels good to have not just one, but two projects completed!!!
now to tackle that list of things to do before little guy makes his appearance....

Ahh... refreshed

There's nothing like a trim at the salon and a lip and brow wax to brighten my day. Bear has noticed the peach fuzz above my lip again for a couple of weeks. Every time she does, she says, "Mommy, get a haircut?!" Now, the waxing process is not particularly relaxing, but the end result is soo worth it. No looking like the Italian Great-Aunt or uni-brow. Vain, yes. I admit it. But if your hair were almost as course as a horse's mane, you would be self-conscious, too. Especially when your 2 year old points it out.

rose babies

Hubby dusted my roses with Sevin last week, and I bought some more plant food and fed them last night. (I just use the generic miracle gro powder stuff). I'm already seeing improvement.

i love the lavender hue in my "blue girl". Love it. And the previous 3 buds were eaten by something, so the Sevin is definitely helping, though it's not in perfect form.

the "gold glow" has rebloomed. ...

with several more on the way!

32 weeks



I'm in my 8th month! Where has the time gone? Fortunately, I have not spent as much of it hovered over the toilet as I did when Bear was inside. Even with outdoor temps in the 90's with uncomfortable humidity, I'm enjoying this pregnancy overall. The 3rd-time-expectant-Mom and previous-pregnancy-loss nerves have gradually been replaced by a wonder and joy. And our little guy's kicks and rolls. He's currently upset that my bout of insomnia disturbed his restful slumber. I'm hoping the peach, nutty bars & milk which I have just consumed will make him feel better... though the sugar level is probably not helping him sleep, either. Anyway, it's a vicious cycle. Bear still naps, so I take one, too. Then I either can't get to sleep, or wake up to use the restroom and can't return to sleep.

Yes, I am aware that my blog has been overtaken by pregnancy related posts. That's a central theme in my life right now. THE central theme. It's really a lot of fun, and if you are married and still of child-bearing age, you should try it. Again, for some of you. Not just the posting.
The miracle of life is even more amazing the second time around than the first. While I am still loving observing the process of becoming a parent the first time through, perhaps I am captivated by my 2 1/2 year old's curiousity. She seems very aware of what's going on, though she may not have a clue about the changes that will come with her brother's arrival. (Similar to the changes that her cousins could not foresee with the arrival of a new puppy and kitty in their house within a couple of weeks' time, perhaps? crt, I think you're exempt from the "you should try it" until things settle down at your place... ;-P) I know some people so desperately want more kids and for whatever reason, struggle with either getting pregnant or keeping their little babies growing. My heart aches; I can't imagine having to deal with that pain and heartache over and over. I am reminded that even each day of waiting for this little one is a gift in itself.

Little Guy's blanket is coming along. I do a couple of rows at a time. I kind of wore myself out tackling the gift for a friend, so I am finishing this one at a more leisurely pace. I loved making it, and it is all boxed up and waiting to be taken to the Post Office along with a gift (made by a neighbor, not me) for another friend's new baby girl.

Our Childbirth Education "Class" arrived in the mail this week.
We are foregoing taking the course at the hospital; hubby sometimes travels and committing to ANY 6- week course was pretty much impossible. So I ordered a video we can watch at our leisure. And instead of briefly skimming over the comfort techniques, etc., we can focus on those parts. Hubby has been told that unless he wants to fork out the money for a doula, he IS my doula. He can do it. He's wrestled drunks in the city, and he's seen childbirth before. (Don't tell me "just get an epidural," I might smack you through cyberspace. ) I'm all for medical interventions and help when needed, but they are not always required and do have risks when used unnecessarily. And from experience, something as simple as helping a first time Mom relax can be reason enough to choose them, depending on the Mother. The benefits definitely outweighed the risks with my previous induction, and given the same set of circumstances, I would do that again. When used because they're needed the interventions outweigh the risks, and I am grateful for the availability.

Ok, anyway... enough ramblings. Really, I would rather be sleeping right now. Perhaps if I get into a crochet rhythm I'll stitch myself to sleep... and catch a couple of hours before Bear awakes, ready drink a glass of "mealk" and hit the floor running. Or twirling.

pray for a grieving mommy, daddy & siblings...

Baby Genny had a stroke and they removed her from life support. She has now joined her big sister in Heaven with her Heavenly Father. Please, please lift KayCee (her Mommy) up to the Lord. She is a believer, and really needs to feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit right now.

Genesis Rebekah (Genny)

6-23-2008 through 6-25-2008

pray for baby Genny

A Mom on one of my chat boards had her little girl yesterday.

26 wks
1 lb 8 oz
12.5 inches long

After a VERY difficult pregnancy, the placenta abrupted and the cord was wrapped around Genny's neck. The good news is that she is breathing (with assistance, not on her own) and alive!

Please pray for this sweet little one to gain strength and for her Mommy as she recovers!

bittersweet

Yesterday and today ended up being busier than we had anticipated, in mostly a very good way. Tech Mom and Dad rode over from their house on their motorcycle yesterday, and left after breakfast this morning. They gave us just enough notice to make the main areas of the house presentable, and since I knew they were coming to see Bear, anyway, I didn't worry about the rest. I did manage to scrub some nastiness out of the fridge. You don't want to know how bad it was. Anyway, we relaxed with them, and Bear had fun climbing on them, playing with blocks, and demonstrating her newfound fascination with wedding dresses (blankets draped over her head.. thanks to the Little Mermaid). Before they drove off, she sat in front of Papa on the bike and giggled as he started the engine. Usually the noise frightens her if she is too close, but she held onto Papa's arms and grinned. She knew she was safe.

After they left for their 5 or 6 hour ride home (scenic route, on motorcycle, not interstate), we headed down to my parents as we had planned for dinner. Their house is on the market, as they are planning to downsize. Their property is 2 1/2 acres, and as they age and like to venture around the country visiting relatives and friends, it's a lot of upkeep. There are 2 water garden areas, fruit trees line the driveway, and all sorts of vegetation. They did not plant a veggie garden this year. We had a very nice visit. I love the fact that my daughter has been able to begin relationships with all of her grandparents, and she loves spending time with them.

Dad and I walked with her up the driveway, where we picked fresh granny smith apples which were within arms' reach. Bear laughed hysterically as Grandaddy shook the peach tree, trying to loosen out-of-reach peaches from near the top. She also tried to climb the trees herself. We saw bunnies, baby frogs, and of course, the ever-popular goldfish in the lily-pad covered pond. Bear also laughed as she heard the frogs "ribbit"... which I have decided sounds more like a burp.

In a way, I can't help but hope it takes a while for the house to sell. I want her to remember days like yesterday and today. There are connections being formed that I hope will grow stronger. I pray that we will always live near enough for those bonds to be strengthened more than once or twice a year...

Mission Completion!

I finished my 1st crochet project around 12:15 this morning.
Here's a picture of Bear inspecting it when she woke up this morning. (Pre hair-brushing).

Click HERE to see the pattern I sort-of used.
I started with 100 chain stitches instead of 62 and used a smaller hook.
Perhaps that's why it took me more than 3 hours to complete, and more yarn.
Even so, I'm pretty happy with the results, and hope my friend likes it!
Now back to work on our little guy's blankie...

It's done!

Tech Mom has been working hard on a special gift for me and baby, a sling. I sure hope he likes it. (I don't care if he likes the colors, I hope he is comfortable in it!) She just changed her status to say it's done. I can't wait to try it! A couple of my friends from church love their hotslings, and I am looking forward to having the option to "wear" my little one in something other than that awkward snugli thingy that my nieces hated so much. (It was an old design, and getting the babies into it was sheer torture for both Mom and baby if there was not a second adult to assist. Bear used it a few times, and after she was in, she seemed to like it alright... especially at the aquarium when she was 4 weeks old.)

Hubby says he won't wear a sling. But when he has the almost 3 year old tugging at him while he holds the little guy, I suspect he might find SOMETHING that works better than toting the infant seat. Even if it is the old snugli. Or perhaps Bjorn.

blue girl?

Here's what my 1st blue girl bud looked like yesterday. Unfortunately, it looked a little brown around the edges after last night's rain showers. It might have something eating it, too...
I'm glad I captured it yesterday. I may have to do some research on rose TLC.
"Caslon" can correct me if I am wrong, but I think I see a little hint of blue in it's shade of pink. Or perhaps it's the name of the rose that makes me think I see blue undertones.
Anyway, it WAS pretty... I hope the future blooms turn out pretty and it's not infested or infected by something!

A bloggy baby shower

Ok, so just the guest of honor and I blog, to my knowledge. We met each other in high school youth group, and have stayed in touch through the years. She and her husband are about to join the adventure called parenthood, with their baby due in early August, about 3 weeks ahead of me. The adorable cakes were made by one of the hostesses, and tasted as yummy as they were cute. I'll let Zann share more pics if she so chooses, but I had to share a couple.

zann & me

congratulations, zann and mr. zann!
i'll try to finish your gift before your baby girl makes her appearance!

PROGRESS

my 1st attempt at crocheting something... i gave up months ago

progress made on new project in less than a week!

1st crochet lesson

I've made a few unsuccessful attempts to teach myself to crochet, and so far my efforts have resulted in mere swatches. A sweet neighbor, who embroidered personalized burp cloths and a little snuggle duck for Bear when she was born, has offered to teach me on several occasions. So today, since hubby was off, I headed to her house during Bear's nap time.

Progress is being made. I'm sure it won't be perfect, but the pattern is forgiving AND makes the yarn softer than what I was attempting to do before. I've already worked on it longer than the 3 hour project estimate states and am just getting started (2-3 inches done), but maybe, just maybe it will be done before little man decides to come out. It should be a good size for tucking over him in his car seat. I decided to start small.

another sling to check out...

As our little guy's due date approaches, I can't help but wonder if he'll be naturally clingy or independent, and the idea of chasing a toddler and carrying an infant seat does not appeal to me. Someone on a birth board swears by the Lite-on-shoulder pouch/hybrid sling.
The price tag is certainly better than some... now to choose a pattern that isn't too girly... hmmm... these are my 2 favorites so far:

"Urban Garden"

"Sandcastle Stripes"

"Fern Batik"

... because little man is sure to spit up on the one Tech Mom makes for me using these fabrics,it will need to be washed on occasion.

Thoughts

I just learned that another blogger had a miscarriage yesterday. Or blighted ovum. Part of me hopes she doesn't stumble back over here because my blog has pretty much become a pregnancy journal, and I don't want that to hurt her to read. I hadn't been to her blog in ages, no good reason, I just hadn't.

But there was a time when I found myself in a similar situation, not all that long ago in the grand scheme of things. I felt the hope of our baby torn from my heart, and the emotional pain was far worse than the physical. And there were times I felt silly for grieving so much over something that was still practically microscopic.

Please pray for Kimberly as she recovers. I learned that the loss of hope of that one child is not easy. I went on to name my little one something that could be gender neutral, but it took months for me to feel at peace with what happened. No matter how early, blighted ovum or loss of embryo, the hopes dashed when a wanted and loved child is no longer a reality are still a loss.

I pray for all my friends who have lost children, now matter the stage, even if science says there wasn't a baby. I pray that each of you who have kids will hug them a little tighter when they wake up in the morning (or before the go to sleep tonight) and thank God more deeply for them. And for my still-expectant friends, I pray that you and your babies are healthy and well.

29 Weeks

These are my recent "mug shots", taken tonight.
Baby Boy is kicking like crazy today; but whenever Bear tries to feel her brother,
he does a nose dive away so she doesn't feel his elbow, knee, head, bottom, or whatever part had previously been protruding from my abdomen.

Wordless Wednesday

I don't feel like taking pictures of my mundane chores for Tackle It Tuesday, so here's the visual update on my flowerbeds:

salvia, impatiens, irises, scabiosa, columbine, clematis, stargazer lillies, acidanthera, sea pink...
not all blooming at once

gold glow rose and soon-to-be firecracker red gladiola (it's taller than my 2 1/2 year old!)

pink calla lillies- 1st blooms of 2008

asiatic lily buds, holly bush, hosta buds in background

Wouldn't you agree that these pics are better than photos of laundry? I did save a neat picture for tomorrow's Wordless Wednesday post... unless I get a better shot before then.

I just haven't been in a posting mood lately...

I did reduce the "tornado effect" in our kitchen, dining room, and living room today... it took 2 hours, and I cannot remember the last time I had dusted the piano and mantle. Apparently, neither could Bear. "What are YOU doing?" she asked. But that was better than yesterday's observation that the kitchen floor was so dirty that she could feel the grime on her bare feet... or today's later admonition to "clean the house, Mommy!" I had just spent two hours cleaning. I told her as much and that "Mommy needs a break."

My garden is coming along. I've decided planting seeds does me no good. Of the pack of lavendar I planted, I have one sprig popping up. One. Measley. Tiny. sprig.
I am not giving up on it yet, though. Thankfully, my bulbs/perennials appear to be thriving. 4 of the stargazer bulbs I bought at Wal-mart have poked through. 3 of the asiatics from last year came back, and they will have more blooms than they did last year.... one stem has 7 buds on it. Last year I had 3 on one, but only two actually bloomed. They are also twice as tall. Gramma's hostas and black-eyed susans are thriving. One of my gladiola stalks is approaching the blooming phase... the braided/woven looking stem is poking out above the spiky leaves, and I swear it will hit 4 feet tall by the time it blooms. I may have to stake it up from the weight of the flowers. The clematis has more blooms coming, the purple salvia are thriving, yellow day lillies are in bloom, AND my first calla lily bloomed today! Plus, my cherry tomato plants in the back pot appear to be growing well. I am hoping to see yellow flower on them soon, with fruit soon to follow. Or are tomatoes veggies? I can never remember their official classification. Anyway, Bear eats them like candy, so it will be nice if they produce regardless of their official classification.

Belly is getting tighter. Heartburn is kicking in, especially at night. I could sleep all day. But I am determined to start nesting, whether the instinct kicks in our not. (Knowing me, it won't, so I just have to push myself to get things done.)

There you have it... my blog update. Not much is new.

Back to the blogosphere!

Our family vacation snuck up on me so quickly that I don't think I even posted about it before we left. I am currently at a motel near Louisville, KY. We ate dinner with my brother and sis in law, after a nice long drive south from hubby's gramma's in rural southwestern WI. Bear is sound asleep on her really big bed in our room, and I hope tonight's sleep will be more restful for all of us. While in WI, we discovered that she and air mattresses are not the best of friends. She ended up in our bed with us every single morning or night. It was nice in the big beds we slept in... a little overcrowded in the full sized one.

anyway, we had a very good visit with hubby's side of the family, though I think the older Gramma gets, the more overwhelmed she gets by having her routine disturbed by us when we come to visit. Yet I know she also gets lonesome in that old farmhouse, and I think all of us who live so far away are equally grateful for the relatives and friends who drop in or go out with her. And though there are many gramma-isms I could share, her quirks that make her Gramma, those closest to her already know them and I will keep them between us. The young 'uns had fun getting a taste of country life... feeding tall grass to the cows, visiting a duck farm, riding a pony for the very first time. And of course, chasing Gramma's kitty around her sprawling front yard. Mostly, I think Bear was just happy to be with the older cousins whom she idolizes.

I haven't visited my regular haunts yet; it will take some time for me to catch up with my friends in the blogosphere and elsewhere online. But I did see that I won something from Carolyn's blog party over at Scrappin' Servant. Thanks, Carolyn! Now I really need to get back to that tackle I intended to do for the party in May. Better late than never???

My belly, and I assume the baby inside, have grown a lot this past week. It's tighter and rounder, and though Gramma's eyesight isn't the best, she says I am sticking out farther than someone who is due 3 weeks before me. Maybe that's because I had to ask her to push in her chair so I could squeeze past it. Baby Boy did not like the direct sunlight shining on my belly today. As we rode in the car, and the sun warmed my tummy, he kicked as if to say "it's hot in here already!" Is that a sign he'll have his father's internal temp gauge? (I hope not!)

We'll spend some more time with my brother and sis in law tomorrow, and head home on Friday. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family, as they mourn the tragic death of their 5 year old little girl. (click to see news story)

You can also visit the Steven Curtis Chapman website for links to a blog with some sweet moments with Maria.

26 week check-up

Mommy's BP: good
Mommy's weight: 158 lbs.
Baby's HB: 145 bpm
"He's definitely growing like he should!" Dr. M's comment after measuring fundal height.
Still waiting for the results of the Gestational Diabetes screening, but so far, so good!

4 weeks til the next appt, after that they will be every 2 weeks until he decides he is ready to come out.

100 days...

until the little guy is expected to make his appearance.
That doesn't sound like much time in the grand scheme of things.
He's a kicker... I wonder if that means he'll be a hyper boy. Given the nature of boys in our family, and girls for that matter, I would assume so. Thankfully his big sister is not a priss, even though she does like dressing girly in her flowered skirts and pastels.

It's National Scrapbook Month

Carolyn, over at Scrapping Servant, is hosting a blog party to celebrate. (See the button or her link in my sidebar.)
Now, personally, I enjoy scrapbooking, but am WAY behind. embarassingly behind. So this little blog party might just motivate me to get a few pages done. I have enough papers and embellishments to do some basic layouts, so I really have no excuse. They may not win an award from Creating Keepsakes, but something has got to be better than leaving my pics on the hard drive.

Anyone care to join me in dusting off their supplies and getting scrap happy? How about if we set small goals...

1) make a list of 10 pages to complete (or whatever # is achievable for you)
2) find pics in storage (online or printed stacks, whatever is your "pile up" of choice and organize them. If they are not printed, get them printed.
3) Design and create at least one layout a week for the rest of the month... the list of 10 will give us something to keep working toward.

Baby steps, people, baby steps...

Let me know if you are going to play along! And jump on over to Carolyn's to see what giveaways are going on for the par-tay!

four friends

two of us have known each other since high school.
the other two met in middle school, i think.
i was in the flag corps, they actually played instruments in the band.

we've been through a lot together, when we were near and now that we're spread out.
our friendship is a true blessing.

maternal instincts (warning, might be tmi if you aren't a woman, or one who has ever been pregnant)

It's funny how when you're pregnant, your body knows exactly what to do and when. Apparently mine has decided that it's time to start producing food, or the precursors to feed, for the little one, even though he won't be born for a while yet, Lord willing. I guess holding a rooting 3 month old in your arms (or being in the same room) does that. ;)

Some of our good friends came over tonight. They included two of my college roommates, the hubby and adorable daughters of one of them and another friend from college. I am so thankful that God has given me friends with whom to walk through life with, even from a distance at times.

Bear enjoyed playing with Caroline, and doted on baby Kimberly. She wanted to help put her paci in her mouth, and she even "held" her on the couch, with the support of a big pillow and myself. I love seeing her tender heart come out with the little ones. Though she was not an angel every second (and even showed some of her toddler temper at times), and did not want to share every little thing the whole time we had visitors, she did pretty well overall. I hope she is as gentle and patient with her little brother when he arrives.

Bear claimed the rose I received from our waiter at lunch today.
(All the mommies were given roses.) We enjoyed our time with my parents, sister and niece.

Mother's Day 2008-
25 weeks 4 days pregnant with our Baby Boy!

By the time I remembered to take a Mother's Day picure WITH my little girl,
she was ready to climb into the bathtub. Oh, well.

Happy
Mothers'
Day!

Wishing lots of love to all of you Moms with kids to chase at home, Moms in waiting, and Moms whose nests are now empty!
******