So, there are a lot of things on my mind that I have been meaning to blog about: my obsessive nesting issues, the pregnancy, the silly 2 year old, the never-ending household projects, the flooding aftermath issues, trying to get the house ready to be on the market, the move to SC, etc.., but somehow I just haven't gotten around to it.
Life has been interesting lately. Not bad, actually pretty good, but definitely interesting. There are so many changes coming at us that I have a hard time processing through them all as I organize and obsess and nest, nest, nest.
This is Seth's last week of school. Hallelujah! I survived and it wasn't horrible and I missed him and I felt lonely, but it is now coming to an end. I am so THANKFUL that things worked out the way they did and that God's grace is truly at work in my life.
I quit my job. 10 months with 2 kids 14 months apart. Wow! It was the biggest challenge I have every taken upon myself. And yet again, God's grace was there. I made it through and I learned SO MUCH through the process.
We are moving. To South Carolina. Or so it seems. That is just a lot to chew on for me. There are still some official things in the working, but we are headed in that direction. I am thankful that God gave us the peace to make such a huge decision for our family at this time.
I am totally having a baby in like less than 12 weeks (I hope). 28.5 weeks pregnant and I am feeling so great. I thank the Lord daily for the strength I've had during this time and for a healthy pregnancy so far. Everything has been so much better this time around and I even love being pregnant in the summer though everyone tells me that it is so much better to avoid it. I know I still have some hot months to get through, but with things going this well, I am ready to take them on.
My sweet little boy is so grown up. And he won't stop talking. I am constantly blessed by his presence and sweetness. He has definitely gotten much easier to manage in the last few weeks and I am again thankful that the Lord has been holding my hand through this parenting journey. I am so incapable on my own strength.
Did I mention I have a great husband? Well, I do. He has been sensitive to me through these past few months and even though he has been absent a lot, he has been very present when I need him to be. I have seen him grow as a father and a husband and for that I am truly grateful. I am so blessed to have a good marriage and looking forward to more together time in the future.
So happy. So blessed. So thankful.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The belly grows...
First pic was taken in Branson at 26 weeks. Second pic is 27 weeks.
How Far Along: 27 weeks, 1 day
Size of baby: About 2 pounds, 14 inches
Total Weight Gain: 10
Maternity Clothes: I can still wear most of my regular clothes. I have a few maternity things that I love, but the summer makes it so much easier and the low weight gain has helped too.
Gender: Girl!
Total Weight Gain: 10
Maternity Clothes: I can still wear most of my regular clothes. I have a few maternity things that I love, but the summer makes it so much easier and the low weight gain has helped too.
Gender: Girl!
Movement: She loves to move at night for about 10 minutes before I go to sleep and will move throughout the day when I am sitting.
Sleep: I have been getting great sleep still. Started using extra pillows, but no getting up to pee in the night at all this pregnancy! Symptoms: Big belly, moving baby, started to feel anemic, but taking iron helps a lot. I am slowing down a little I think, but trying to just enjoy these last couple of months.
Food Cravings/Aversions: Love to eat anything sweet, especially ice cream! I crave snacks, but nothing really major. I like my carbs as well and have been baking a lot lately.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting this little baby girl!
Monday, June 14, 2010
After the Storm
Last night took us by surprise.
We made it home close to 5 pm after a weekend in Branson with my family. The trip was relaxing and Aidan was an excellent traveler. Stuff was scattered all over the house after the initial unpacking of the car, and because I was a free woman (this being my first week without Oakley), I was happy to leave the mess for the morning.
I had found myself really pondering my life: my age, motherhood, my identity, my confidence, my marriage etc... after noticing some young (college age) girls at a gas station we stopped at. I looked at them as though they were my peers. I forgot my role for a moment and mentally fell into place with that stage of life. It didn't last long. How could I feel like a college girl while holding a squirming 2 year old propped upon my protruding belly? It struck me how distant I was from those days, yet not so far away at the same time. I struggled with this for the remainder of our journey as I sought a place of contentment and understanding of myself.
Around 10:15pm Aidan cried out. I went to him, scooping him up as he desperately clung to me. I thought the thunder from the sudden onset of the storm had woken him, so I rocked him as he cuddled into me. I could feel the strong kicks from our baby girl as I rocked and at that moment I found myself again. I remember thinking that life could definitely not be any better than this. I was truly blessed.
10:30pm Aidan cries again. This time he is more desperate and I think he is frightened by the increasing storm. I comfort him again and then collapse into bed.
11:00pm I hear Seth calling me loudly. My reverie interrupted, I rush in to Aidan's room to find both of them covered in vomit. The night shifts suddenly.
I don't mind admitting that I am almost useless when it comes to the cleaning up of such things, for it is true. But, I was the only one, so I began the job. As I ran downstairs to find some towels and to begin the laundry, I notice a small leak in one of our pipes. I rush back upstairs to report my find and finish the clean up.
We stick Aidan back in bed as the storm reaches its fiercest moments. I leave the door to his room ajar and Seth and I march down to the laundry room to assess the pipe situation. No sooner do we arrive than a gush of water floods in from under the door. Neither one of us are amused at this turn of events as we worry about our sick child while trying to assess what needs to be done about the water.
Seth goes outside to try and stop the flow. The rain is torrential. Aidan is up and down for the next hour. I find myself feeling like I am having an out of body experience...surely this is not happening. This is just a very intense dream due to my extreme exhaustion from our trip.
My father and father-in-law arrive to help. Aidan finally sleeps. The rain does not let up. I find our crawl space is now a swimming pool and water is pouring in. We begin to move everything. It is now almost 2 am. Was that a Braxton Hicks contraction? The piano is mounted on bricks. We do not wait long for the room to begin flooding. Our beautiful carpet is soaking. What hard work it was to put it in. Thank you Lord our bedrooms are high above the ground.
The mixture of emotions and adrenaline keep me awake until nearly 3am. The baby kicks endlessly tonight. Seth climbs in bed soaking wet and exhausted. I try not to think about what awaits us in the morning. We have done all that we can.
Morning comes to soon with cries from Aidan. He is not any sicker and seems to be doing better. I am in a fog. We timidly look downstairs. It is not as bad as it could have been had we not caught it and moved our stuff. Thank the Lord for vomiting children (may I never have to say that again).
The day is long. The coffee warms me and makes me function more normally. We pick up the mess. Our carpet is pulled up. Such melancholy feelings. Thankfulness. Wonder. We feel less crazy as we reach the calm.
The calm after the storm. Seth goes to class, Aidan and I visit the park. We settle into routine. Tomorrow will be a brand new day.
We made it home close to 5 pm after a weekend in Branson with my family. The trip was relaxing and Aidan was an excellent traveler. Stuff was scattered all over the house after the initial unpacking of the car, and because I was a free woman (this being my first week without Oakley), I was happy to leave the mess for the morning.
I had found myself really pondering my life: my age, motherhood, my identity, my confidence, my marriage etc... after noticing some young (college age) girls at a gas station we stopped at. I looked at them as though they were my peers. I forgot my role for a moment and mentally fell into place with that stage of life. It didn't last long. How could I feel like a college girl while holding a squirming 2 year old propped upon my protruding belly? It struck me how distant I was from those days, yet not so far away at the same time. I struggled with this for the remainder of our journey as I sought a place of contentment and understanding of myself.
Around 10:15pm Aidan cried out. I went to him, scooping him up as he desperately clung to me. I thought the thunder from the sudden onset of the storm had woken him, so I rocked him as he cuddled into me. I could feel the strong kicks from our baby girl as I rocked and at that moment I found myself again. I remember thinking that life could definitely not be any better than this. I was truly blessed.
10:30pm Aidan cries again. This time he is more desperate and I think he is frightened by the increasing storm. I comfort him again and then collapse into bed.
11:00pm I hear Seth calling me loudly. My reverie interrupted, I rush in to Aidan's room to find both of them covered in vomit. The night shifts suddenly.
I don't mind admitting that I am almost useless when it comes to the cleaning up of such things, for it is true. But, I was the only one, so I began the job. As I ran downstairs to find some towels and to begin the laundry, I notice a small leak in one of our pipes. I rush back upstairs to report my find and finish the clean up.
We stick Aidan back in bed as the storm reaches its fiercest moments. I leave the door to his room ajar and Seth and I march down to the laundry room to assess the pipe situation. No sooner do we arrive than a gush of water floods in from under the door. Neither one of us are amused at this turn of events as we worry about our sick child while trying to assess what needs to be done about the water.
Seth goes outside to try and stop the flow. The rain is torrential. Aidan is up and down for the next hour. I find myself feeling like I am having an out of body experience...surely this is not happening. This is just a very intense dream due to my extreme exhaustion from our trip.
My father and father-in-law arrive to help. Aidan finally sleeps. The rain does not let up. I find our crawl space is now a swimming pool and water is pouring in. We begin to move everything. It is now almost 2 am. Was that a Braxton Hicks contraction? The piano is mounted on bricks. We do not wait long for the room to begin flooding. Our beautiful carpet is soaking. What hard work it was to put it in. Thank you Lord our bedrooms are high above the ground.
The mixture of emotions and adrenaline keep me awake until nearly 3am. The baby kicks endlessly tonight. Seth climbs in bed soaking wet and exhausted. I try not to think about what awaits us in the morning. We have done all that we can.
Morning comes to soon with cries from Aidan. He is not any sicker and seems to be doing better. I am in a fog. We timidly look downstairs. It is not as bad as it could have been had we not caught it and moved our stuff. Thank the Lord for vomiting children (may I never have to say that again).
The day is long. The coffee warms me and makes me function more normally. We pick up the mess. Our carpet is pulled up. Such melancholy feelings. Thankfulness. Wonder. We feel less crazy as we reach the calm.
The calm after the storm. Seth goes to class, Aidan and I visit the park. We settle into routine. Tomorrow will be a brand new day.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
May 2010: In Review
May was a busy month for us!
First off, I went to a ton of garage sales. I now have almost everything I need for this baby girl. Amazing!
Mother's Day weekend was fun. We had a nice little breakfast outing with my family, watched the movie "Babies," and spent the evening relaxing.
The next weekend was my birthday and my little sister's graduation. I received a gift certificate for a 1 hour prenatal massage from my extended family/husband and I am so excited to use it! The graduation itself was rather long and boring, but I was so proud of Steph for her accomplishments. Her party was the following weekend and we spent a long night there visiting with friends.
Seth spent one whole long weekend and 1/2 a Monday working outside on our brick patio, and successfully finished it! We have a little bit more landscaping to do outside, but the patio looks great and we are hoping to get some patio furniture soon.
This past weekend, Seth's sister Courtney was married and Aidan was the little ring bearer. He was so cute! It was a busy time for us, but it was nice to have a long weekend off from work. Here are a few pictures from that day.
We have been so blessed by spending time with family and celebrating all these events this past month.
Seth has only 2 weeks total of school left before he is done and I am done watching Oakley on June 11th. Seth is also still working towards this new position at his current job, but we still have another month until we make a final decision about our future.
Aidan has been growing up so fast and we are enjoying listening to him talk more and more. He jabbers constantly and is starting to talk in sentences all the time. He is really excited about swimming this summer and talks about it a lot. He also enjoys talking about eating cake, cookies, and ice cream cones. He loves to help me bake "dough" and wants to be involved in every project that I do. He rarely plays alone, but follows me everywhere around the house. He has finally stopped being so obsessed with Elmo and his new favorite thing to watch is "Super Why" and "Pooh Bear". He has started singing little tunes lately and will "sing" the ABC song with random letters and noises. He still loves to play his guitar and sing in his "mic". He enjoys his friends and playing with other kids and he is really independent and brave when playing at parks or in new groups. He has started liking his class at church now that he is older and they do little stories and play outside. He is very affectionate and loves to give hugs and kisses. He will give hugs to almost anyone and is rarely shy. He does not like animals anymore though and is extremely fearful if dogs are not on leashes or at the goat pen at Deanna Rose. He talks about Mommy's baby a lot and will kiss my tummy. He is going to be a great big brother!
We are excited to see what this next month will bring and ready to spend lots of summer days outside at the pool.
First off, I went to a ton of garage sales. I now have almost everything I need for this baby girl. Amazing!
Mother's Day weekend was fun. We had a nice little breakfast outing with my family, watched the movie "Babies," and spent the evening relaxing.
The next weekend was my birthday and my little sister's graduation. I received a gift certificate for a 1 hour prenatal massage from my extended family/husband and I am so excited to use it! The graduation itself was rather long and boring, but I was so proud of Steph for her accomplishments. Her party was the following weekend and we spent a long night there visiting with friends.
Seth spent one whole long weekend and 1/2 a Monday working outside on our brick patio, and successfully finished it! We have a little bit more landscaping to do outside, but the patio looks great and we are hoping to get some patio furniture soon.
This past weekend, Seth's sister Courtney was married and Aidan was the little ring bearer. He was so cute! It was a busy time for us, but it was nice to have a long weekend off from work. Here are a few pictures from that day.
Seth has only 2 weeks total of school left before he is done and I am done watching Oakley on June 11th. Seth is also still working towards this new position at his current job, but we still have another month until we make a final decision about our future.
Aidan has been growing up so fast and we are enjoying listening to him talk more and more. He jabbers constantly and is starting to talk in sentences all the time. He is really excited about swimming this summer and talks about it a lot. He also enjoys talking about eating cake, cookies, and ice cream cones. He loves to help me bake "dough" and wants to be involved in every project that I do. He rarely plays alone, but follows me everywhere around the house. He has finally stopped being so obsessed with Elmo and his new favorite thing to watch is "Super Why" and "Pooh Bear". He has started singing little tunes lately and will "sing" the ABC song with random letters and noises. He still loves to play his guitar and sing in his "mic". He enjoys his friends and playing with other kids and he is really independent and brave when playing at parks or in new groups. He has started liking his class at church now that he is older and they do little stories and play outside. He is very affectionate and loves to give hugs and kisses. He will give hugs to almost anyone and is rarely shy. He does not like animals anymore though and is extremely fearful if dogs are not on leashes or at the goat pen at Deanna Rose. He talks about Mommy's baby a lot and will kiss my tummy. He is going to be a great big brother!
We are excited to see what this next month will bring and ready to spend lots of summer days outside at the pool.
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