stopped up

I have a nasty cold.

Nice timing, I know.

And do you know what? I've come to the conclusion that it's really hard to sound authoritative when one's nose is utterly stuffed up.


Doe, son, that's not okay!

You need to sid and ged your body under condrol.

Uh oh. This is so sad, I see thad you are fidished with breakfast.


Ugh. Gross.

But I'm sure you'd take me seriously...right?

late, for a very important date

My babies are always late. Really late.

Although to tell you the truth, I bristle at that term.

See, I'm in the camp that believes that the baby will come when he or she is good and ready. And while there are legitimate medical reasons to induce labor, I believe that in most cases, the benefits to waiting outweigh any drawbacks. Happily, my midwife shares these beliefs. So we're cool.

So while I'm technically past my estimated/LMP estimated due date (EDD), I'm still three days from the date we settled on: February 1st.

Better to focus on February, anyway. Really.

The world seems to be fixated on due dates, and I tend to be no exception. There's something about the countdown, being able to put numbers to it. 10 weeks left. Then 4 weeks. Well, here we are at 3 days, and I find myself trying to ignore those numbers altogether. When it comes to childbirth, due dates have never been kind to me.

See, my first baby was born 11 days after his EDD. First time? Not too surprising.

Then my second son arrived at 5 days after his EDD. Great!

Naturally, I assumed that my third child would continue the earlier-each-time trend.

Silly me.

My darling Owen, the apple of my eye (until he hit the harrowing age of 1 1/2), was the latest of all. After a long and inexplicably emotional wait, he arrived a whopping 15 days after his EDD.

This time around, I'm trying to bide my time. There's a tricky balance to be found, though, because I want to be prepared. I'm that girl who likes to have all of her ducks in a row. I want to be caught up on things, have a nice supply of easy meals in the freezer. Have my hair recently trimmed, a store of extra toiletries. And I tend to be a person who thinks in terms of "last times."

This is my last haircut before Baby arrives.

This is the last time I'll trim Owen's fingernails before he's a big brother.

This is the last time I'll clean the bathroom before the birth. I'm certain they won't have time to muck it up too badly before I go into labor...

But that kind of thinking can drive a person a little batty. Trust me.

So, I'm attempting to be as ready as I can...but to go with the flow. To enjoy sleeping through the night while I can. To get a few more decorations up on the walls, a few more boxes of books unpacked. To relish quiet evenings spent alone with my husband. To plan a few more family activities that will be tricky to accomplish once Little Bit arrives.

All the same, I'm so very eager to meet my new little one. I'm dreaming of gazing at that tiny face, feeling baby's sweet breath on my cheek, getting to know one another on a whole new level.

So, while I firmly believe in patience...bring on the Babymoon!

Psalm 84

~for Riley Jordan~

Psalm 84

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. ^a]">[a]

¹ How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!

² My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools. ^b]">[b]

⁷ They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

⁸ Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Selah

⁹ Look upon our shield, ^c]">[c] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.

bottling it up

(Note: This is Jeff writing. I used to have my own blog, but I wasn't posting much. So I asked Mindy if I could join hers and post every once in a while. I'll never be as consistent or eloquent in my posting, but I'll pop in every once in awhile. Now on to the post.)

It's hard to let go of my kids. I know, I know! Ben's just barely 7, but I am already feeling the tug of giving up control of certain things. Realizing that there are things that he and I will never experience again. My boys will never be this age again. It makes me wish I could bottle those things up, stop time in those sweet moments. But at the same time I don't want to miss all the new joys. If I'd have frozen time in 2003, I wouldn't have gotten to see Ben be a big brother, or if I'd frozen it in 2006, I wouldn't have seen Kyle grow into such a giving boy.

Ben has grown into such a mix of little boy and young man. Watching him at dinner the other night, I saw a young man: passing things, eating all that was served with very little or no complaint, asking politely for more, serving himself deftly and without making a mess (even the honey!)

It feels like just yesterday that we spent a night at the birth center with him trying on the names Mama and Daddy for the first time. He is such a great big brother for Kyle and Owen and I can't wait to see how he grows as a big brother to this new baby. Maybe he'll start changing diapers! ;)

Kyle is all boy and all passion. And he's got a heart big enough to match. Kyle runs at full speed from morning until night and has the bruises and scars to prove it. He's a voracious reader (for a 4 year old) reading everything he can from labels to street signs. He wants to be just like his big brother Ben and he has no lack of energy to run and play with Owen. It's very sweet.

And he loves to share. He gives so much of his stuff away to his mom and I or his brothers. And he's very excited about the new baby. I can't wait to see how he'll love on this little one with his huge heart.

Owen is an adventurer on par with Ferdinand Magellan or Christopher Columbus. A scientist in the vein of Pierre Curie or Isaac Newton. Ok, maybe I'm overstating, but his world is growing by leaps and bounds lately. He washes his hands (looks like playing with soap to us, but you can see his intent.) He wants to tell us all about things in words that are more intelligible every day. He is very diligent about making sure everyone has their stuff. If you set something down, he's quick to grab it and hand it to you and say "Ee Go!" (Here you go!)

He has no idea what's coming as far as the baby goes, but he sure knows what he wants. He's the first one in his chair most nights at dinner, he lets his older brothers know when he wants to play with what they're using... He's been patient long enough! He's taking our world by storm.

And what will this new baby be like? Only God knows. Little Bit has been very entertaining lately with morphing Mama's belly. Seems very assertive that he/she doesn't like it when you push or poke a particular way. Will Little Bit be as loud when they're born as our first 3? Will he/she sleep well like Ben? Eat well like Kyle? I'm so excited to meet this little one.

We've all heard it said: "This too shall pass." Most often as an encouragement in a dark time, but I think as parents it should be a continual reminder. When you're changing a diaper while you fight back the nausea from the stench, don't forget that "This too shall pass." And when your buried under a dogpile of 3 squealing boys during wrestle-time, don't for that "This too shall pass."

I've been reminded lately from various places that I need to focus on being present in the moment. Not to worry about the future or fret about what is past, but just enjoy the moment. Whatever that may be. That's how I can capture those memories in a bottle.

Don't forget... This too shall pass

belly draw

At my midwife's visit this weekend, it was time, again, for a belly draw!

It's something that my midwife has come for me in the weeks before each of my children's births, and it's become a sort of a dear ritual for us.

Besides, I figure it's about as close to a blessingway as I'm gonna get.

Just check out those tubby legs! On the baby, I'm saying...

come on in

Would you like a little tour? A peek? A walk-through? Here I have a few carefully selected photos of our new home, since we moved into it...

My kitchen!


Ben and Kyle at the far end of the dining room (it's not done yet, we have a few more plans for that area...but these things take time).

The master bathroom! See my lavender Wood Wick Candle(s)? They're all ready for labor time. The wicks sound like a crackling fire as the candles burn.


And now, lest I grow prideful, here is the pile o' cardboard and packing paper that takes up half my living room...

Most horrible of all (after the den, which I am definitely not posting here), our playroom. It looks like it's been hit by a tornado - and this is actually better than it looked on Friday afternoon! Can you even see the child in the photo?

I am....

Totally exhausted.

Pooped.

Wiped.

Spent.

I am sore in places I haven't been sore since weeks 40 and 41 when I was carrying Owen. Last night I actually lay in bed whimpering because of ligament pain. My hips are killing me. I recently had to will myself to pivot, just so that I could walk into my new bedroom.

Moving at 36 1/2 weeks pregnant? Is a whole different animal than moving at 14 weeks.

Yet, I am supremely happy.





Because this morning? I found my maternity sweaters.

home

working hard

Oh, yeah. We've been working hard.

comfy, cozy Christmas jammies!

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!

never thought I'd say THAT

Here are a few little tidbits I never expected to hear flying out of my mouth~

1) "No. No! Absolutely no lightsabers are allowed at the dinner table."

2) "Because I want to eat my lunch, and I don't really feel like being Emperor Zurg right now."

3) "Pretend there's glue on your butt. Now sit on your chair."

4) "Owen? Why don't you go see what your brothers are doing? They've got a video on..."

5) "Butt. Glue. Chair. Now."

6) "Yes, I know you guys are playing the Buzz Lightyear movie, but I'm going to call him what I called him when he came out of my vagina, thankyouverymuch."*

(*Gee, can you tell we've been reading childbirth books lately?)

36 weeks pregnant

a new year

I know, I know. This is a few days late. But I'm sure you'll all get over it. Somehow.

We celebrated a quiet New Year's Eve. Our family enjoyed an evening toast with sparkling cider, but we headed to bed at our regular hour. I knew I stood very little chance of staying awake until midnight, and besides, Owen is relentlessly consistent about waking up around 6:30 AM. And this mama is a much more cheerful soul when she's had a good 7 or 8 hours of sleep.

I know, I'm boring. It's okay. I've known for a while.

This must be said, though: I can't remember ever seeing a year out with quite so much glee. It's true: 2009 nearly did me in. I can't remember a more difficult year. But through it all, the Lord was faithful. And praise His name, we made it through.

The new year looks promising from here. I'm welcoming it with open arms.

Speaking of promising, don't count on hearing from me much this week. I may throw up a few little nuggets here and there, but I imagine I'll be pretty busy. Once again I'm living in a cardboard jungle...but this time, with joy. We're expecting to sign all those closing papers (I'd better rest my hand up, if memory serves correctly), get the keys, and move in over the next weekend. We are excited, to say the least. It's hard to believe that in a week, we're planning to be sleeping in our new bedrooms, having breakfast in our new dining room, etc.

I'm thankful for the help we'll be receiving throughout the moving process. We have wonderful friends and family. The boys will be spending much of Saturday at a friend's house. (I did give Ben and Kyle the choice of being at the new house with us, but when they heard where Owen was going, they got excited about the possibility of going over there, too.)

In other promising news, I had another wonderful visit with my midwife (Sonya Esme) yesterday. And guess what? Little Bit is head down! I'd suspected that might be the case, but it was so wonderful to have it confirmed by people with experience. We also got to meet another midwife who'll be helping Sonya. I'm delighted to say that I really like her, and felt very comfortable with her. Such an important thing for labor!

I'll close with a short list of goals for 2010.

Hopes & Dreams for 2010~
1) Learn to make cheese with my new mozzarella and ricotta kit. (Thanks, Jamie & Trish!)
2) Figure out my problem with making sourdough.
3) Find a rhythm with homeschooling as it relates to having a new baby in the house.
4) Remember to call people more.
5) Learn to love people better.
6) Be a better housekeeper.

...and last but not least,

7) Avoid complaining about the apartment dishwasher any more while we still live here. It's a good thing I only have a few more days to make it through, though. That dishwasher makes me nutty...


Happy New Year!