Time Travel Tuesday~ Sweet 16 Edition!

I was 16 in 1993.

The album of the year was Unplugged by Eric Clapton.
Song of the year was Tears in Heaven.
I listened to rock music when I was 16. bands like Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana were some of my favorites.

Movies that I watched in 1993 were Jurassic Park, Mrs. Doubtfire (love this movie!), Sleepless in Seattle, The Pelican Brief, and Schindler's List.

My parents bought me a 1987 red Jeep Laredo the summer of 1993. It was awesome!
I remember having a very fun summer with my best friend, Emily. I had a job working as a cashier at a small, family owned grocery store. I remember taking my first paycheck and spending the whole thing on clothes and a bottle of Mackie perfume.
I still love the smell of Mackie!

I can’t talk about my “Sweet 16” without mentioning my oldest daughter. When I was 16, I had a serious boyfriend, too serious. My oldest daughter was conceived when I was 16 and born when I was 17. Most of my memories of being 16 involve that boyfriend and my pregnancy. It was a heartbreaking year for my family and a challenging year for me. But we made it through and God blessed me with a baby girl!

My daughter is one of the greatest gifts of my life. God took that little girl and helped me turn my life around because of her.

Hubby's First Day Back to Work...

Hubby went back to work today. I am feeling semi-normal this morning, so hopefully I will manage today well. The hardest thing right now is not being able to pick Baby Girl up. She is still so little and I need to be able to pick her up and put her in her crib, car seat, high chair, etc.
Yesterday I decided to just go ahead and pick her up because I took a week off from carrying her and picking her up. Dh did not agree. He wants me to not carry her or pick her up until I am completely healed, which I guess will be around 6 weeks postpartum. I'm not sure if that's realistic, but I am trying.

He took the big kids to school for me, so I just have to pick them up later. I am really ready to get back to normal and get out of the house. But nursing is still taking a lot of time and is inconsistent, so I had better hang out at the house for a bit longer.

This morning we had smoothies for breakfast. They were so good! Go to www.askdrsears.com and get his recipe for Schoolade. That is the recipe I follow. I leave out the tofu, but I use everything else.

Beauty in the Common Things: sleep
Listen In: Baby Girl whispering to Baby
Supper Plans: Sandwiches and Salad
Today I Plan To: survive
View From the Kitchen Window: trashcans by the curb

Please Pray for Baby Will Today

Will's circumcision is this morning at 11:30. Can you please pray that everything will go smoothly and that he will experience as little pain as possible? Mommy is stressing out about this so pray for me as well! : )

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Grilled Chicken, baked potatoes, corn on the cob
Tuesday: Sandwiches and salad
Wednesday: Chicken Fajitas, refried beans, chips and salsa
Thursday: Sandwiches and salad
Friday: Hamburgers and hot dogs, mac and cheese
Saturday: Gyros
Sunday: leftovers or "Breakfast for Dinner"

Beauty in the Common Things: families
Listen In: boys squealing and Daddy sending them outside
Supper Plans: Chicken Fajitas
Today I...took care of Baby, called nurse about his jaundice, took a nap with Baby, enjoyed being with my children and hubby
View From the Kitchen Window: trees blowing in the wind

Annie has tagged me to complete this meme.
Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I have a 4-day old baby boy who is wonderful!
2. My hubby is home with me this week and next week and we are having fun just doing nothing all day long.
3. My favorite colors are pink and green. This is funny because when I was younger (late teens, early 20s) I only liked black. I wouldn't even put pink on my first daughter because I just hated pink. I didn't like anything with flowers on it either. So it is funny to me and to those who know me that pink is one of my favorite colors!
4. I am named after my aunt who lives in California. She is my mom's oldest sister.
5. I am a scheduler/organizer at heart. I love to make plans ands schedules and lists!!!!
6. I enjoy managing my home. I love to try new recipes and to cook for my family. I also like to try new things with my children...new routines and activities. I don't really enjoy cleaning my house, but I love the result when I take time to clean it well. This is my dream job and I don't want to be anywhere else doing anything else with my life. I can't think of a better way to spend my life than taking care of the husband and children God has given me.
7. I am an introvert. I recuperate when I am alone and I crave alone time. ha! Doesn't God have a sense of humor? an introvert with 7 children (5 boys!!)

Now I must tag 7 people...
natalie
christina
leslie
cheerful

okay, I really can't think of 7 people who have blogs and who I think will want to do this meme. So i am going to leave it at 4 people and if I think of any more I will add them!


Beauty in the Common Things: velvety newborn skin
Listen In: Baby Girl and Daddy discussing babies
Supper Plans: Chicken and Rice
Today I...took a shower, went to Wal Mart, took a nap, walked around outside with Baby Girl and splashed in puddles

More pics of Baby Will!!!

Look at that sweet little face!!!

Proud dad, mom & baby Will

Welcome Baby Will!!!!

This is Annie, hijacking Julie's blog to announce the birth of...

Baby Will
8 lbs.
20 inches!
born today at 6:19 p.m.

Another Baby Update
My mom is on her way down here to stay with us for the weekend, and maybe until the baby is born. Hopefully that will happen this weekend!

I have been having lots of contractions but nothing too serious. The contractions are not very strong and they are not very close together or consistent. They are stronger and more painful than Braxton Hicks contractions though.

I have been reading birth stories online. I want to write out my birth stories so I will have a record of them for my children but I am not sure if I want to put them on my blog. Putting my birth plan on my blog was a big deal to me because it is so intimate and graphic. A birth story is even more graphic and intimate than that. A few y ears ago I would have written out my birth plan and birth stories and shared them with whomever wanted to read them, but it seems as I get older that I am way more modest than in the past. When I think about some of the things I have said and shared with people in the past it shocks me! :)

Summer Survival
Today my children are out of school. It is a snow day that wasn't used. Having them here all day makes me fear the summer. Seriously fear the summer. I probably should start praying about this now and hopefully God will give me wisdom on how to handle 7 kids home all day every day for 2.5 months.

I searched "summer survival form moms" (because we all know the children will survive, it's me I'm worried about) and I found this cute article. I have only read the first few paragraphs, but I like it so far. I like that it stresses that moms need to savor the moments of summer. I know summer can be a fun, sweet time for our family. I just need to figure out how to control the chaos, for the most part, add some fun activities here and there, and keep the peace between siblings.

Prayer
Will you please pray for the birth of this baby to be uncomplicated and "normal"? I do not want any surprises. I am also praying that the baby will be born in God's perfect timing. At the same time I am praying that God's perfect timing will be this weekend. :)
Please pray that the other children, especially Baby Girl, will adjust to Baby without a lot of problems. When Baby Girl was born, ds4 was 2 years old. He had a very hard time with anger toward me. He wouldn't let me near him for a few days, and then he still had anger toward me for several weeks. It hurt my feelings, but he got over it and everything was fine. Baby Girl is such a drama queen already. I hope she doesn't add more drama and tears to her already dramatic personality.
Dh is taking one week off after the baby is born. I am nervous about him going back to work and leaving me here with a newborn, a toddler, and a preschooler. I am mostly concerned about the toddler. She is hard to manage anyway, without a newborn to take care of as well.

Can you please pray about all of these things? I know God is able to take care of all of these concerns I am having. And I know He cares about every detail of our lives.

Beauty in the Common Things:Spring sunshine
Listen In:Boys talking and playing, Baby Girl saying "hurry, hurry"
Supper Plans:Beef Gyros
Today I Plan To:Try to hold on till Mom gets here, then rest and relax while she and dh take over

Baby Update

I saw Brenda, one of my midwives, this morning. She said the baby will be here any day now. I won't give you the intimate details of my visit, but I will just say that in her opinion I am very close to having this baby. I have a nonstress test scheduled for Monday and an ultrasound scheduled for next Wednesday. She doesn't think I will need to keep those appointments because she thinks I will have the baby before then.

She did give a suggestion for a natural "labor starter." Let's just say my hubby will be very happy if I follow her suggestion.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday:Ham, veggies, dinner rolls
Wednesday:beans in crockpot with leftover ham, cornbread
Thursday:frito chili pie with leftover beans
Friday:hot dogs with leftover chili
Saturday:Beef Gyros

Happy Monday!

Hi everyone,

I am glad it's Monday! I feel like I have lots to catch up on around here after our weekend. It wasn't a busy weekend, but we can make messes very quickly, especially when all 6 kids are home for 2 days. They clean up their stuff but the house still looks like a tornado hit it. I feel like a "stuff bomb" went off in our house!

I can't believe our baby is due in 6 days. Wow! He or she will be here very soon. I have to keep telling myself that this pregnancy can't last forever. The baby has to be born sooner or later, hopefully sooner. : )

I have been having contractions since Friday evening. They are not regular and they are not strong enough to count as real labor. But, they hurt! I have heard of women being in labor for days, even a week, and I wonder if this is what they experienced. I don't feel like doing a whole lot, and I want to be at home, but I know this is not true labor yet. My husband is getting more impatient than I am. Our 4 year old was born 2 weeks early, so we think every baby should be 2 weeks early now. Baby Girl was 2 days early. Dd12 was 8 days late and ds8 was born on his due date, or maybe 2 days early. I can't remember.

With dd12 I tried the old castor oil method to try to make myself go into labor. That was not a good idea. It did not make me go into labor. In fact, I was hoping I didn't go into labor because I was so miserable. My mom says she tried it with one of us and it worked. My aunt also says the castor oil method worked with one of hers. But I am not that desperate yet.

My midwives said they usually will let women go to 41 weeks, 6 days. That would be May 12th, which is a Saturday. I doubt they would induce on a Saturday, so they would probably want to do it on Friday, May 11th. That is my 5 year old niece's birthday. Ds8 and another niece (from the same family as the May 11th niece) share May 13th as their birthday. If I have to be induced I want it to be on Friday, May 4th or Monday, May 7th. Hopefully it won't come to that and this baby will arrive on his/her own in a few days.

Beauty in the Common Things:early Spring mornings
Listen In:Dragon Tales
Supper Plans: not sure yet
Today I Plan To:clean up house, do laundry, take a nap
View From the Kitchen Window: a misty morning

Are More Babies Born During A Full Moon?

My sister-in-law and I talked on the phone this afternoon and she was asking when my due date was. I told her April 29th and she asked if that was near a full moon. I didn't know, so we looked it up and there is a full moon on April 30th. She believes that more babies are born during full moons. All 4 of her daughters have come at a time when there was a full moon. Her OB nurse with her 2nd child said that she believes this theory and, according to that one nurse, more women come into the hospital in labor when there is a full moon. I looked up my babies' birth dates and 1 of mine was born during a full moon. The others were not.

I decided to research this a bit, just for fun, and see if there is any truth to it. I have found lots of articles on both sides. This one says there is truth to this moon theory. This one says there is no truth to it.

I found this website, which talks about when babies are actually born, based on the date of conception. It says 2nd or subsequent babies are due roughly 269 days after the date of conception. According to my due date of April 29th, this baby was conceived on August 5th. That means Baby will be born on May 1st. This lady does not believe that there are more babies born during full moons.

Here is another website that explains the reason more women have their water break during a full moon.

According to the full moon theory and the date of conception theory, Baby will be born either April 30th or May 1st.

Things That Need To Change Around Here

There are several things around here that I want to change. Those of you who know me know that I love routines and lists and schedules. I wrote a couple of months ago about needing to get a schedule or routine going for ds4 and Baby Girl. Well, it never happened. I wrote out a schedule or routine, but it was too perfect. There was no room to just do nothing.

So, I am going to try again. The reason I want to do this is because there are some things going on that I don't like. First of all, Baby Girl is into everything. It is chaotic because she has very little structured time. Meals and naptime are her only structured time. The rest of the time is playtime which means destruction time to her. Another thing is that ds4 is watching way too much TV. It is so easy to turn on the TV and let him sit there all morning while I chase Baby Girl around and clean up after her.

When we homeschooled, I did not let the kids watch nearly as much TV as I let ds4 watch now. I read to my kids more, we went to the park more, and they did their share of the work around the house. Of course, I was stressed to the max which is why the big kids are in school now. I want to find a way to have the kids in school and have a new baby and a toddler and a preschooler and still do the things I think are important.

I think it is important to do certain things with children while they are little. Things like teaching them to work around the house, playing outside with them, going on walks with them, reading to them, making sure their meals are nutritious and balanced, teaching them scripture, singing with them, and doing fun stuff like picnics and park days, fingerpainting and coloring.

This is what our day looks like now:
~Get big kids ready for school
~Take them to school
~Come home and eat breakfast, then ds4 watches cartoons while Mommy does chores and Baby Girls gets into stuff
~Mommy on computer and kids watch cartoons/get into stuff and have unstructured play until lunchtime
~Eat lunch
~Go down for nap/rest at 12:30-2:30
~Pick up big kids from school
~Play, eat snack
~Help big kids with homework
~Big kids do After School Jobs, Baby Girl and ds4 run around unstructured and make messes and fight until Daddy gets home

What do I want our day to look like?
~Get big kids ready for school
~Take them to school
~Come home and eat breakfast with little ones
~Do morning chores together (Mommy does Survival Morning Routine)
~Take a walk (ds4 and Baby Girl in double jogging stroller and new baby in baby carrier)
~Watch 1 cartoon (I will probably nurse baby during this time)
~Play outside/go to park/do something fun together until lunchtime
~Eat lunch while Mommy reads aloud (they LOVE this!!)
~Naptime/rest from 12:30- 2:30
~Pick up big kids 2:30-3:30
~Snack, play till 4:00
~Big kids do After School Jobs and homework (Assign a big kid to Baby Girl and ds4 while I help with homework- the twins do not usually have homework so they can help with them while I help the older ones with their school stuff)
~One more cartoon
~Daddy gets home and helps : )

My babies nurse every hour the first few weeks and then every 2 hours until they are 1. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but that is how all of my nursing babies have been so I just expect it.
I know I will have to tweak the routine a bit when the baby arrives but I think it will still work for us.

Weekly Schedule
I used to have a job assigned to each day. Monday was Laundry Day, Tuesday was Kitchen Day (clean kitchen and cook stuff to freeze), Wednesday was Office Day (clean up desk, file papers, pay bills, etc.), Thursday was Town Day (run errands), Friday was Cleaning Day (deep cleaning), Saturday was Gardening Day (any outside jobs around the house), and Sunday was Rest Day. I didn't always stick to this schedule, but it was nice to have a focus for each day. I got the idea from Kim at Large Family Logistics.

(I have decided not to have a weekly schedule like this right now. It is one more thing to think about and I don't feel at peace about it. That may sound weird, but I am just not feeling like it is the way I am supposed to structure our week right now.)

Laundry Schedule:
Monday: kids' laundry, uniforms
Tuesday:Mom and Dad's laundry, uniforms
Wednesday: kids' laundry, uniforms
Thursday: Mom and Dad's laundry, uniforms
Friday: kids' laundry, uniforms
Saturday: towels, sheets, Mom and Dad's clothes

I have used this system for a few years. Occasionally (like last Fall until now) I try other systems, but this one always works best for our family. I always come back to it.
Part of my Morning Routine is to do laundry. If I consistently follow this schedule, I will only have 3 loads per day~ lights, darks, and uniforms. The loads are small and it is very manageable that way. I fold the laundry and then the kids put it away when they get home from school. That is, if Baby Girl doesn't get to it first and then I have to fold it all over again.

Of course, this is my plan. It is the ideal. I know kids, and especially babies, do not follow plans very well. There are interruptions and illnesses and all of that. So, this is what I am going to strive for and if it doesn't happen, then that is fine. At least I will have a goal to shoot for.

Another thing I want to change is the amount of time I am on the computer. I have email and blogging time built into my Morning Routine. I am going to take 30 minutes there and then check email again before bed. It is like being on the phone~ my kids get into stuff and bicker when my attention is on the computer.

I do so much better when I have a plan and a goal for the day. I used to feel very guilty and like a failure if I didn't get it all done like I planned. I have gotten over that in the past year. I now am able to be happy and content with what was accomplished. I am able to look forward to the next day without thinking I have to do all the things that didn't get done the day before.

I am more flexible than I used to be. That is what having 6, almost 7, kids will do for you. It will build patience and flexibility! I know that my routines and schedules are tools, not taskmasters. I am able to be flexible and go with the flow more, even while following a routine.

Thank you, Annie!

I love my new look! Thanks, Annie! You're so sweet. And very good at fancy-ing up blogs. :)

Shredded Chicken Burritos

I made these burritos last night and they were very good. Here is the original recipe. I was rushing around yesterday morning trying to get out the door on time, and I forgot to put it all in the crockpot. So, when I got home, in the evening, I modified the recipe.

I put olive oil in the bottom of my cast iron skillet. Then I put 4 semi-frozen chicken breasts on top of that. I sprinkled about half a package of taco seasoning on top of the chicken and then put a can of green chilies on top of all of that. I covered the skillet and cooked the chicken breasts on medium-low heat for 30-45 minutes. I really am not sure how long they cooked. I just left them there for a while and came back to check on them periodically. At one point they seemed fully cooked, but not tender enough yet, so I let them cook longer.

I shredded the chicken and added the juice from the skillet to moisten them a bit. Then we ate the chicken on tortillas with cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream. Yum!

Pregnancy Update

I saw Sue, one of my midwives, yesterday morning. It was another non eventful visit. Nothing exciting is going on to tell you about. Well, I am having prelabor stuff going on~ lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, backache, nausea, pelvic pressure, etc. Nothing major and nothing unusual for 38 weeks pregnant. I see Nancy next Wednesday and maybe by then something exciting will be happening...like, labor!

This morning I returned some books and videos to the library. Ds4 wanted to put the videos in the outside book drop, so I told him he could. Then I realized he didn't have shoes on. I carried him over to the book drop and held him so he could put the videos into the drop. When I got back in the van I noticed a sharp pain in my right lower abdomen. By the time I got to Braum's (needed to get milk, eggs, and bacon for Breakfast Casserole for dinner) I was in lots of pain. I got my stuff and started to walk out the door to go back to the van. I literally could not move. It hurt so bad to even take a step. I managed to hobble back to my van and crawl in. I sat there for 10 minutes or so, trying to relax so the pain would stop. I felt like my tummy was ripping apart.

Anyway, I finally relaxed enough that I could drive home. I got home, parked in the driveway and suddenly I was paralyzed with pain again. It was bad. I couldn't get out of the van. So I was just sitting there in the driveway crying. I called Corey to come home and get me into the house. He has a 30-minute drive from work to home, so I planned to just sit there until he got home. Then I decided that was not a good plan, so I drug myself into the house and crashed until he got here.

He's here now and I am resting. Nancy, one of my midwives, thinks I pulled something (ligament?) and she told me to lie down all day with a heating pad. So that is what I am doing.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Cream Cheese Chicken (Thanks, Michelle, for this recipe), mashed potatoes, a vegetable or salad
Tuesday: Crockpot Morning Casserole (Thanks, Sandra, for this recipe), cantaloupe, biscuits
Wednesday: Shredded Chicken Burritos, toppings
Thursday: Spinach Lasagna, salad, garlic bread
Friday: leftovers

Haley's Contest

Haley is having a contest and giving away a very cute Coach purse. Go over and join in! Maybe you'll win the bag. Better yet, maybe I'll win the bag! :) hee hee

Beauty in the Common Things: sunshine
Listen In: Jay Jay the Jet Plane
Today I Plan To: get kids prescriptions filled, work on Home Management book, pack hospital bag (this is getting to be a joke~ maybe I'll wait and pack it when I am in early labor), clean my bedroom
View From the Kitchen Window: sunshine

Slow Cooker/ Crockpot Recipes, Please

Hi everyone,
I am going to start making crockpot meals three days a week. To do that, I need lots more crockpot recipes! I have searched through all of the Slow Cooker Thursday recipes and copied the ones that look good into a file. But I still need a few more.
Can you all email me your favorite crockpot recipes or post them on your blog so I can copy them down?
Thanks!

I know it will be easier to use my crockpot in the Fall and Winter because hot food tastes so good when it's cold outside. But there has to be a way to use my crockpot during the Spring and Summer. I am going to try new recipes that don't sound so "wintery" and see how we like them.

I will post the recipes as we try them. I am also going to use the crockpot recipes that I already use, like Annie's Garlic Chicken Spaghetti and Roast.

Thanks for helping me out with this!

Strep Throat and An Update On My Life

I spent the morning and afternoon at the doctor's office and then the hospital with Baby Girl. Basically, she was up all night again with a high fever, then this morning seemed to be even worse, so I called her pediatrician. The nurse said to bring her right in.

Our pediatrician sent us over to the hospital to have all of Baby Girl's labs done. We spent 4 hours there getting blood drawn and getting a urine sample. It turned out to be strep throat. No urinary tract infection and no other infections. I am so thankful it is something that is easily treated and that we caught it fairly early.

Tomorrow morning I am taking ds6#1 and ds4 in to the pediatrician's office to get their throat tested for strep. They had a 24 hour thing that included high fever, sore throat, and vomiting. The dr. said they could have had step throat and it could have spread to another part of their bodies. I would rather be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to my children's health. My sister knew a boy in her high school who died from a strep infection that started in his throat and spread to another part of his body. Since hearing that, I have taken strep infections very seriously.

I missed my midwife appointment and my ultrasound this morning. I rescheduled the ultrasound for Friday and I am just going to skip the other appointment. I am going to get tested for strep on Friday just to be sure I don't have it. Today I have had a sore throat, but I dismissed it as allergies. I would hate to have strep throat and go into labor while sick. So I am going to see the dr. so we can treat it early, if I do have it.

Hopefully our family life will improve in the next few days. It has been a stressful week! And it's only Wednesday! My parents want to come down to visit us this weekend. That will be wonderful! I really hope no one else is sick and they are able to come down. My dad hasn't been to see us since we moved here last July. We haven't seen him since Christmas and we haven't seen my mom since early January.

I am excited about watching American Idol tonight. My sister Christina and I have decided that we need to get a life because we get so excited about American Idol. ha ha

But then we decided that we do have lives, very busy ones in fact, and we can watch whatever the heck we want and get excited about American Idol if we want to. So there ; )

Mommy's Losing It

You know those days (or hours) when you really feel like you are losing it? This evening has been one of those. Very little sleep (Baby Girl had a high fever all night and I was up with her, worried sick), plus no nap today for ds4 or Baby Girl or Mommy, plus a bunch of hungry kids after school, two million questions, finally getting Baby Girl to sleep and having her brother wake her up, then neighborhood kids ringing my doorbell after I had told them twice to go home and not come back (it really didn't sound that mean when I said it)...

All of those things set me off a little bit and I have been on the verge of a nervous breakdown all night.

But I have a plan!! My plan is to go to bed at 9 tonight and wake up dh if Baby Girl gets up tonight. Hopefully sleep will help my attitude and tomorrow will be much better. Prayer will also help me and I plan to do that, too, tonight before bed.

Tuesday, April 10

Beauty in the Common Things: sleeping in
Listen In: Baby Girl working on taking all of my Target purchases out of the bag
Supper Plans: Well, we're not having chicken fajitas because I forgot to buy tortillas and I don't feel like going to the store. We'll have pork chops, mac and cheese, hot rolls, and a vegetable
Today I Plan To: Work on laundry (first priority), deep clean my bedroom (we'll see if that actually happens), pack my hospital bag (yes, I am going to get this done eventually)
View From the Kitchen Window: overcast sky

Like my new signature?

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:Garlic Chicken Spaghetti, garlic bread, corn on the cob, salad
Tuesday:Chicken fajitas, guacamole, Spanish rice, chips and salsa
Wednesday:Pork chops, mac and cheese, hot rolls, vegetable
Thursday:Oven Stew, cornbread
Friday:leftovers
Saturday:Hubby cooks

Beauty in the Common Things: sisters
Listen In: Kids talking about Easter chocolate, Baby Girl crunching Cheerios
Today I Plan To: do laundry, rock Baby Girl (she has a fever and is puny), pack hospital bag and put it in van
View From the Kitchen Window: it just looks cold out there

The Good News!

Jesus is alive! He is risen!

Many blessings to you as you celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on this chilly Easter Sunday.

Praise God!

I'm Dreaming of a White Easter...

okay, just kidding, I'm not really dreaming of a white Easter. But we just looked outside and noticed that it is snowing! www.weather.com says it is 40 degrees, but it also says the high for today is 39. Go figure.
Tonight it is supposed to drop pretty low and we are supposed to get a wintry mix overnight. So much for that sleeveless, cute Easter dress I bought! I did buy a sweater to go over it but it sounds like I will need a big coat. Guess those sandals won't really work either...

It's very different for us to get snow on Easter weekend. I remember one time getting snow on my mom's birthday, which is April 16th. That was years ago when I was a little girl, so April snow is rare around here.

The kids are already outside, bundled up, enjoying the snow! How fun!

Happy Easter!

Saturday, April 7

Beauty in the Common Things: dd12 cooking breakfast for our family
Listen In: Baby Girl saying Dada over and over again :)
Supper Plans: Taco Meatloaf
Today I Plan To: pack my bag for hospital, take a nap, dye Easter eggs, send dh to the store for groceries
View From the Kitchen Window: the wind blowing the trees and trashcans outside (word for word from ds6#2)

Annie chose me as one of her 5 to give the Thinking Blogger award to. Thank you, Annie! Now it is my turn to nominate 5 bloggers who make me think.

First of all, let me tell you about my blog. I began this blog a little over a year ago. I really started it just for fun, for family and friends to read and see what was going on in our lives. Then it became more of an online diary for me. I like writing about my days and knowing that one day I am going to have my blog bound so I will have a hard copy of it . Instead of journaling in a “real” journal, I write on my blog. One day my children will have a record of my life (at least this small part of it) and they can read it. Hopefully they will laugh and learn from it! I enjoy reading other blogs, mainly to see how other people live and think.

The first blog I read and my absolute favorite blog is Large Family Logistics. Kim Brenneman, a mother of 8, is the owner and author of this blog. She makes me think and evaluate my home and life each time I read her posts. I first came upon this blog when my 6th child was a week old. Kim has given me so much godly advice through her writing, and I still read this one daily.

Annie’s blog always makes me think. Annie’s thoughts challenge me in several different areas. My spiritual life and the way I view God, scripture, and truth is the main area Annie makes me think. I also love her recipes and menus and all of that fun stuff! I have learned a lot from Annie over the years, most recently from her blog. Did I mention that we have been very close friends for 13 years? We met when my first child was almost born and her 2nd child was a couple of weeks old.

Natalie’s blog is another one I love to read! Nat writes about all kinds of different things, and they are usually things I would not have thought of if I had not read her blog. She is a very gifted writer and I love to read anything she has written. Natalie is my oldest sister and we have obviously known each other for a while.

You’re Doing What? is the blog of Melissa Nelson. I met Melissa through an online group of Christian moms called MOMYS (Mothers of Many Young Siblings). I met her a few years ago via MOMYS and then we emailed a few times. Then Melissa, her husband, and their 9 children moved from the city out to the boonies J and they started this blog to chronicle their adventure. I love reading about the challenges they have encountered and how they have learned step by step how to live this new life of theirs. I recently went back and read their blog from day one and it is so interesting and funny! You should check it out. Go back to the beginning to get the full story.

Organizing Junkie is a blog I found through Annie’s blog. I love this blog! Laura is the author of Organizing Junkie. She truly is an organizing junkie and is very talented in organizing her home and others’ homes. Laura makes me think about my home and the different ways I could organize this or that. I have never actually “met” Laura through comments or email, but I do enjoy reading her blog and she does cause me to think!

There you have it!

Moses Basket or Bassinet?

Here is a picture of a Moses basket. I have decided, after looking at Moses baskets on the internet, that mine is a bassinet with handles, not a Moses basket.
This is what mine looks like, minus the basket on the bottom. You can see the handles if you look closely on the sides.

So, mine is actually a bassinet. But it is portable, so I can move it from room to room like a Moses basket.

As soon as I put the bassinet together today, Baby Girl tried to climb in! She can now climb baby gates and open doors. We have some babyproofing to do in the next week or so.

Thursday, April 5

Beauty in the Common Things: Spring wildflowers
Listen In: the ceiling fan going really fast
Supper Plans: meatloaf, baked potatoes, broccoli
Today I Plan To: go to 3 Easter parties, pay bills, go Easter clothes shopping, close credit cards accounts that I paid off in March
View From the Kitchen Window: dark

An Update
Today I saw Brenda, one of my midwives. I think she is my new favorite. She is super sweet. She sat and talked with me and went over my birth plan for about 30 minutes. Everything was agreed upon except the external fetal monitoring. I requested to be monitored for 20 minutes maximum in the observation area and then no more. But it is hospital policy that they have to monitor me for 20 minutes in observation and another 20 minutes in labor and delivery. Ugh! I hate having that belt around my tummy. It makes it so difficult to relax and be sane through hard contractions. I have decided to make the best of it and use my birthing ball during that time instead of lying down in bed like I have in the past. Maybe being upright will help.

I asked her about inducing if I go past my due date, and she said the longest they let mothers go is 41 weeks, 6 days. That would be May 12th. I told her I am not comfortable going that far past my due date and I would probably want to be induced right at 41 weeks. She agreed to that, so we know this baby will be here by at least May 6th! Of course, I am not planning to go past my due date at all. We'll see if Baby has a different plan. ;)

I borrowed a Moses basket with a stand today from my friend, Jill. It is so cute and I am excited to have it. I have never had a Moses basket and I like the idea of taking it from room to room with me if I want to. With the stand, it looks like a bassinet, but it has handles and it lifts off easily. I will take a picture of it and post it soon.

The baby is doing great. The heartbeat is normal, I am measuring within normal range, and I lost 2 pounds this past 2 weeks. That makes me happy because it means I am getting closer to birth day. I always lose weight the week or two before my babies are born.

I still feel patient and content. There are times when I wish this whole thing would hurry up and be over, but they are few and far between. I am trying to focus on the children I have right now and enjoy time with them and with my hubby. Last night we went on a mini-date to Chili's for dessert. It was very relaxing and we got to talk about nothing in particular. Actually, we talked about blogging and the different blogs I read. He wanted to hear all about it. Isn't that sweet? He really is the nicest, most loving husband and daddy in the world. :)

Another Adorable Picture!

Menu Plan Monday

Today is going to be a restful, slow day. That is my plan, anyway! The only thing I need to do is check our infant car seat for an expiration date. Did you know they actually have a date that says "do not use after this date..."? We have used the same car seat for our last 2 babies. One is now 4 years old and the other one is 22 months old. I think we need a new car seat for this one, but dh doesn't think so. :)

***I checked the date and it is Dec 2007. Looks like we're not getting a new one.
Aren't there lots of factors involved to determine the safety of a car seat? This one has been stored in our shed (not climate controlled) between babies. The one I want to get is the one Consumer Reports rated the highest in their latest study. I know their study was recalled, but I want to follow the recommendations of that study anyway. The reason it was recalled is because the tests they did were done at a speed of 70mph. They were supposed to test the car seats at a much slower speed, 35mph, I think. It makes sense to me to test the car seats at 70mph since that is closer to the speed we actually drive on interstates. ***

Beauty in the Common Things: getting things accomplished
Listen In: PBS cartoons
Supper Plans: see Menu Plan below
Today I Plan To: see above
View From the Kitchen Window: a cloudy, windy morning




Monday: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup
Tuesday: Chicken and Pasta with creamy sauce (crockpot), salad, rolls
Wednesday: Spinach Lasagna, green beans, garlic bread
Thursday: Meatloaf, baked potatoes, broccoli
Friday: Garlic Chicken Spaghetti (crockpot), mixed vegetables, rolls
Saturday: Chicken Fajitas, Spanish rice

Bluebonnet Pictures!

Here are our Bluebonnet pictures! Yes, in the picture of all of the children, Eric is crying. But he was crying in all of the pictures with the children together. There was a bee in his vicinity and he didn't like our advice ("Be very still and the bee won't bother you").

We took these at a park close to our house. Cheerful took pictures of her girls, too.
Maybe she'll put her pics on her blog so we can see them. hint, hint, Cheerful!

ABC's of Your Life~ A Tag and A Meme!

Thanks Annie for the tag!

1. A is for age: 30

2. B is for beer of choice: none

3. C is for career right now: SAHM

4. D is for your dog's name: Smokey, a full-blood beagle

5. E is for essential item you use everyday: hair dryer

6. F is for favorite TV show at the moment: American Idol

7. G is for favorite game: I am not a game person AT ALL. I have to force myself to play games with my kids. Monopoly with my husband is fun, though.

8. H is for Hometown: Broken Bow

9. I is for instruments you play: used to play piano, now so much now

10. J is for favorite juice: not sure. I really like cranapple juice and orange- pineapple juice

11. K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: the mean girls in my daughter’s class at school who are making her life miserable

12. L is for last place you ate: home sweet home

13. M is for marriage: June 5

14. N is for your full name: not telling!

15. O is for overnight hospital stays: 7

16. P is for people you were with today: my hubby and kids

17. Q is for quote: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13

18. R is for Biggest Regret: too many to count, but lessons learned from all of them!

19. S is for status: Happily married.

20. T is for time you woke up today: 7

21. U is for underwear you have on now: my favorite old comfy ones that my husband hates. Hey, I am 36 weeks pg, I can wear the old comfy ones if I want to!

22. V is for vegetable you love: artichoke

23. W is for worst habit: spending money eating out when we need the money for more important things

24. X is for x-rays you've had: hmmm…I’ve had several x-rays. The last ones were on my back last Spring.

25. Y is for yummy food you ate today: I ate a delicious veggie burger. I am craving them right now for some reason.

26. Z is for the zodiac sign: Sagittarius


I am tagging Cheerful!

Baby's Bedding

I bought the bedding! Here it is. Okay, now that I got it home, it no longer looks like giraffe print. It looks more like cheetah print. What do you think?
I really want it to be giraffe print, so I am going to just pretend that it is.

My Garage Sale Dilemma

I drove by this GREAT garage sale this morning. All you could see was pink, pink stuff everywhere! Yes, this lady was selling all of her baby girl stuff, including an adorable baby girl crib set. I want it!!!! It has flowers on one side (not too flowery though, just a touch of flowery) and giraffe print on the other side. Now, you must know that giraffes are my favorite animals. So, I could decorate with giraffes for this little girl (if the baby is a girl of course). This is really the cutest bedding I have seen. The lady designed it and had someone make it for her baby who is now 10 months old. Why is she selling her 10- month old daughter's bedding? I have no idea. But I really want to buy it. Thing is, it's $50 and I don't even know if this baby is a girl or not. So I feel foolish and wasteful spending $50 on something I may or may not use. And I already have boy bedding and girl bedding, so I really don't need it. But the last baby I actually bought bedding for was dd12. Everything else has been given to me. For ds8's bedding I picked out the fabric and a friend made it. That is what I am going to use if the baby is a boy. It has a picture of a big teddy bear reading to all of the other stuffed animals in the nursery. It also has a giraffe or 2. Very cute!

But the baby girl bedding is SO CUTE!!!!!!!

What should I do?

She also has a car seat that looks like the one I was planning to buy next payday. Maybe I could get a bargain for the car seat and bedding. I was planning to spend $100 on the new car seat.

And the clothes! Oh, baby girl clothes are so cute. She has all Baby Gap, Gymboree, etc. I want to buy her out of all of it, but that wouldn't be smart, would it?

I am glad this is all I have to worry about this afternoon.

Beauty in the Common Things: baby girl clothes
Listen In: ds4 trying to figure out how to get the microwave door open
Supper Plans: spaghetti, salad, bread, green beans
Today I Plan To: clean up Baby Girl's mess that she made in every room of the house this morning while I helped dd12 with a school project, repack diaper bag and emergency bag in van, take ds6#2 to a birthday party at 6
View From the Kitchen Window: rain

Oklahoma Library Legend

Go to Natalie's blog and read her post about my mom. We're all very proud of her!

This Evening

Beauty in the Common Things: a spring storm
Listen In: Children chatting and playing
Supper: Chicken pot pie, corn
Today I...did basic home maintenance (laundry, dishes, etc.) and took a long nap. I also made a decision to concentrate on resting these last few weeks and focus on enjoying this special time while we wait for Baby. It is fun to have people running to get me whatever I need at any given moment. I know this attention won't last long! ;)
View From the Kitchen Window: wind, rain, lightning

Happy Birthday, Christina!

Today is my sister Christina's birthday. Happy Birthday, sis! Love you!

Beauty in the Common Things: baby talk ("Daddly", "kittly") and 4 yr old talk ("The angels came and dug up Brownie with a shubble and took him to heaven")
Listen In: Veggie Tales theme song
Supper Plans: Roast Sticky Chicken, rolls, big salad with lots of goodies in it
Today I Plan To: clean out van, call credit union about pin number for debit card, get my stuff done then lie on the couch for remainder of day
View From the Kitchen Window: gray sky

I am getting very little sleep at night. It's strange because I am super tired, exhausted really, then when I get in bed to go to sleep, I lie awake for hours. It's very inconvenient. Last night I tried sleeping in the recliner and then on the couch and then finally got back in bed. I don't remember this from previous pregnancies, but my husband would probably tell me it's normal for me at this point. I don't ever remember being this tired, but he tells me this is normal for me at this point in my pregnancy. Maybe so. I am going to research pregnancy insomnia and see if there is something I can do to help it. I don't like being this tired and not being able to sleep.

You know how at the end of pregnancy, the whole thing just consumes your thoughts? Maybe this is just me. I keep thinking of different scenarios and how we would handle this or that and what if it's a boy or what if it's a girl and do I have everything I need and how in the world am I going to get the kids from school if I am in labor, etc.
Oh, did I tell you that we have narrowed our name search down to 2 girl names and 2 boy names? Yes, we have finally selected a few names for this child. We are going to take out list with us and decide once we see Baby.

Baby Girl just went potty on her little potty for the first time. I know this excites all of you as much as it does me, right? ha ha
She loves her little potty and she always wants to take off her clothes and sit on it. This is the first time she has actually used it for the purpose it was intended for. Yeah, Baby Girl!

Survival

Remember that journey I was on called Beyond Survival? Kim at Large Family Logistics started this bandwagon to help those of us who struggle with home management and she called it Beyond Survival.
Anyhoo, I have been following my routines the best I can and it has been going very well. The house is looking great on a regular basis and I am very happy with it.
HOWEVER, now I am 4 weeks away from Baby Time, and I am very very tired. So, I am reverting back to Survival. I will pick up Beyond Survival when Baby is about 6 months old. Maybe one year old.

Here is my Survival Morning Routine:
Wake up
Shower, get dressed, etc.
Help kids get ready for school, get their breakfast, etc.
Start laundry
Take them to school
Eat my breakfast, take vitamins and aspirin, feed little ones
Check blogs and email
Dishes
Switch laundry
Lie on couch until lunchtime

Survival Bedtime Routine:
Make kids do their bedfore bed stuff
Take vitamins
Get in bed

I did start After School Jobs for the kids and that is going really well. They are helping me so much.


Beauty in the Common Things: thunder
Listen In: silence
Supper Plans: I don't know yet. I need to make a menu for this week like Annie does. I missed Menu Plan Monday.
Today I Plan To: go to the library to get dd12 a book about Saving the Earth for her ecology report
View From the Kitchen Window: a wet, soggy yard

I decided to go ahead and make a menu for the rest of the week.
Tonight: Pizza Hut (tonight is fundraiser night for the twins' school)
Wednesday: Sticky Chicken, homemade bread, vegetable or salad
Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie, salad, corn on the cob
Friday: spaghetti, garlic bread, green beans or green peas
Saturday: leftovers or sandwiches

Saw this on Annie's blog, gotta love a good meme

1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:15 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls?
diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
I don’t remember
4. What is your favorite TV show?
american idol
5. What did you have for breakfast?
cereal, banana, dr pepper
6. What is your middle name?
maxine
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
american- hamburgers, fries, steaks, etc.
8. What foods do you dislike?
raw onions
9. What are your favorite chips
cool ranch Doritos or cheese doritos
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
john mayer
11. What kind of car do you drive?
minivan
12. Favorite sandwich?
chicken salad sandwich from jason’s deli
13. What are characteristics you can’t stand?
meanness, bossiness, judgemental
14. What are your favorite clothes?
anything comfortable that is flattering (yeah right)
15. If you could go anywhere on vacation where would you go?
Europe, countryside... off the beaten path...
Where is sixteen? Would I want to be 16 again?
no way
17. Where would you want to retire?
where my kids and grandkids are
18. Favorite time of day?
bedtime!
19. Where were you born?
idabel, oklahoma
20. What is your favorite sport to watch?
watching my dh and sons watch OSU basketball- they are way more fun to watch than the actual game
21. Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
22. Beavers or ducks?
hmmm…not sure
23. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
neither
24. Pedicure or manicure?
pedicute
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
a veterinarian, a model, a pediatrician
26. What is your best childhood memory?
Playing until the sun went down
27. Ever been to Africa?
No
28. Ever been toilet papering?
no
29. Been in a car accident?
a few but nothing major
30. Favorite day of the week?
friday
31. Favorite restaurant?
county line,
32. Favorite flower?
roses
33. Favorite ice-cream?
chocolate
34. Favorite fast food restaurant?
sonic
35. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?
I passed the first time
36. From whom did you get your last e-mail?
Annie
37. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Dillards or Macy’s
38. Last person you went to dinner with?
my husband
39. What are you listening to right now?
Dragon Tales on PBS
40. What is your favorite color?
pink, green, yellow
41. How many tattoos do you have?
one
42. How many are you sending this Email to?
None
43. What time did you finish this e-mail blog entry?
9:20
44. Favorite magazine:
Real Simple
45. Coffee or tea?
tea
46. Do you tan easily or burn easily?
I burn then tan
47. Do you color your hair?
highlights
48. What was the first car you ever purchased without the help of your parents?
2000 Ford expedition
49. What is your most dreaded household chore?
sweeping and mopping any floor
50 Who do you tag to complete this meme?
Cheerful, Natalie, Christina

Today, March 26, 2007

Beauty in the Common Things: Monday mornings
Listen In: Dragon Tales
Supper Plans: Taco Meatloaf, potatoes, vegetable
Today I Plan To: finish up the laundry (it has gotten WAY behind lately- you wouldn't believe how much dirty laundry there is!!), lie on the couch and rest, wash baby clothes, look for a bassinet (online, friends, etc.)
View From the Kitchen Window: cloudy sky, green grass

I'm Back!

I'm back after one week of no internet! Did you miss me?

I am exhausted tonight so I am not going to write much. Tomorrow I will hopefully get a chance to sit down and write more.

I'll Be Back!

Hi everyone,
My internet has a virus. Dh is working to get it fixed. I'll be back in a few days!

Today is the last day of Spring Break. Am I sad about this? Not really. We didn't do any of the fun things I had planned this week, but we have gotten to spend LOTS of time together, just like the old days of homeschooling. I must admit I am looking forward to Monday.

Ds4 came down with a fever last night, then stomach pain, then a sore throat, and finally a headache. We just got back from the doctor and he has bronchitis and a cold. He has an array of prescriptions getting filled right now at the pharmacy. This means he will miss a much-anticipated birthday party tomorrow evening. He hasn't quite figured that out yet and I am dreading the moment he does.

I saw our first bluebonnets of the season yesterday! I am so excited about this. In 2005, we took bluebonnet pictures of the kids and then last year we were experiencing a drought so there were no bluebonnets to speak of. I am looking forward to taking pictures this year.


Beauty in the Common Things: Texas bluebonnets
Listen In: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (ds4 got to pick out a movie to watch)
Supper Plans: Hash Brown Soup
Today I... stressed out about ds4's illness, took him to the dr., and that's about it
View From the Kitchen Window: My van parked in front of the house, sunshine, my Spring flag blowing in the wind

Beauty in the Common Things: time together as a family
Listen In: Baby Girl pushing buttons on the phone
Today I Plan To: finish chore charts, maybe take kids to park, read my book (Child From the Sea)
View From the Kitchen Window: dreary sky

A gift & a menu!!!

My dearest GIGI...

This is the header I have designed for your template... I haven't quite finished it yet so I reverted it all back to original... sometime soon it will change though... in the meantime, here is your menu for this week... enjoy!

love, me

Monday... (day is over)

Tuesday...

empanadas
veggie of choice

salad

Wednesday...

chicken spaghetti in crockpot

french bread

salad

Thursday...

Gyros

salad

Friday...

taco soup in crockpot

with chicken rather than gb...

corn bread from mix

Saturday...

mom's day off (Corey gets to cook or get carry-out!)

Spring Break!

This is Spring Break week for us. Spring Break is a new concept for my kids because, when we were homeschooling, we were always a little behind our schedule, so I never took a Spring Break. They are very happy to be getting a week off!

I made plans to do some fun things this week while they are home. I checked the forecast last night and discovered that it is supposed to rain until Thursday. So...that puts a damper on a few of my plans, but we can still have fun!

This is what I planned:
1. Farmers' Market- there is an awesome farmers' market about 30 minutes from us. People come from all around to visit this market. I want to go check it out with the kids.
2. Arboretum- like a huge park with beautiful flowers, a lake, picnic sites, fountains, etc. I have read lots of great reviews on this place.
3. Zoo or Aquarium- I have been debating on the zoo or the aquarium. We have not been to either of these. We have always visited another zoo that was closer to our previous residence.
4. Letterboxing- We were going to go letterboxing at several parks around our house this week. Don't know what letterboxing is? Check it out here.
5. I have several projects around the house that I want to get finished. Chore charts (our kids do very few chores now that they are in school and with this many people in the family, they need to help out more), make Brownie's memory stone (Brownie died in August and we are just now getting around to making his memory stone), Baby Girl's first handprint stone, de-cluttering projects in bedrooms.

It looks like the arboretum, letterboxing, and the zoo are out, if it continues to rain like the forecast says. We can still do the farmers' market, the aquarium, and the projects around the house.

I found 30 rainy day crafts here. If I am brave anough, we may do a few crafts. I am not a crafty person, so doing crafts is a huge stretch for me. Cross stitching and scrapbooking are my thing, but kid crafts are not.

Have a great week!

A Neat Calendar

Here is a neat little calendar I found! Enjoy!

Kidnapped Newborn Found!

I have been praying that this baby would be found and returned to her mother. God has answered my prayers and the prayers of so many others! Here is the story.

Isabelle's Story

You really need to go over to Annie's blog and read Isabelle's story.

Isabelle's life and the story of her accident is a story of hope, a story of God's grace and healing, and also a story of the tragedy of drowning. Hopefully, you will read it and become more aware.

This is one of those things that we think will never happen to us. Bailey, Annie's 13 yr old son, who was 10 when Isabelle nearly drowned, said to me the day after it happened, "This is something you see on the news. It isn't something that happens to us." I remember feeling that way as well. I couldn't believe this had actually happened to Izzy and her family.
But it does happen all the time. Summer is getting closer and we will start hearing more and more about children drowning.

Please read Isabelle's story and learn from it.

Beauty in the Common Things: painted baby girl toenails (painted by her sweet older sister during "Beauty Shop" last night)
Listen In: Excited boys talking LOUDLY
Supper Plans: BLTs
Today I Plan To: work on my desk for 30 minutes, ask dh to fix laundry room door (it won't latch), take dd12 to a lock-in at school (her first lock-in), play catch up on house and laundry
View From the Kitchen Window: Dh's truck, which needs to be washed

Beauty in the Common Things: the smell of freshly mown grass
Listen In: Ds8 and ds4 playing with Cars toys (Lightning McQueen, Doc Hudson, etc.)
Supper Plans: Taco Salad
Today I... took ds8 to the dr. (woke up wheezing and coughing, he does not have asthma, he has a viral respiratory infection), ate lunch with dd12, got oil changed, got prescriptions filled, got caught up on laundry, wished I was sleeping. Tonight I am going to take dd12 to Girl Scouts (if her homework gets completed :) get dh's oil changed in truck, go to library and sit alone for a few minutes with a book!!!
View From the Kitchen Window: droopy daffodils (I don't think they like the heat)



One thing I have noticed lately is that it takes me a long time to recover after a busy day of running around. So when I have 2 or 3 days of running around I really start to wilt. Yes, I have flowers on the brain.

Speaking of flowers, ds4 truly thinks we are naming this child Flower, if the baby is a girl. He is serious. Poor kid.

I recently purchased a CD series from Walk Thru the Bible/ Living on the Edge Ministries called House or Home? It is 8 lessons presented by Chip Ingram, president of Walk Thru the Bible and Living on the Edge. He is also the pastor at Santa Cruz Bible Church. Anyway, these lessons are so, so good. It is all about having a godly marriage and a godly home. Basically, the message is: "The world has gotten it all wrong and gotten everyone messed up. This is the way it is done God's way." I want to make copies of them and send them to everyone I know. I may do that. Watch your mailbox. You may get a package from me soon. :)

Today

Today I saw Nancy, one of my midwives. She is really sweet. Nothing exciting happened at this visit, which is a good thing at this point. I had to get a rhogam shot, she told me that baby is head-down and weighs a little more than 3 pounds, and everything looks great. I have 2 more 2-week visits and then I start going every week. Isn't that weird? I guess we're really going to have a baby and this isn't a dream. I honestly can't imagine having another baby in my house. I try and try to visualize what life will be like with one more and I just can't! I am not stressing about it or anything, and we are all very excited about this baby, but it doesn't seem real to me. I know when the first contraction hits, it will feel VERY real. Usually at this point I am super ready to have the baby and am already getting impatient. But this time I feel very content and very happy to just stay pregnant for a while longer. :)

We left the house at 7:30 this morning and got home at 3:45. I was pretty much running from place to place that whole time. First we took the kids to school, then filled up with gas, then stopped at Chick fil A and got a drink :), then took the kids to a friend's house, then rushed to see Nancy, then drove across town to get my hair cut, then back to get little ones, then drove an hour back to get the kids from school. Whew! I was so tired this evening that I just put my jammies on at 6 and crawled in bed. Dd12 had to get in bed with me to get help with her homework and I kept falling asleep. She didn't need help from me anyway, she just wanted to be in the same room with me. It's a very good thing she didn't need help because I was no help at all. I did manage to keep my eyes open long enough to watch American Idol and to write this update. Now I am going to bed.

Goodnight!

Oh, one more thing. Thank you for all of the baby name suggestions. However, we still have NOT ONE SINGLE NAME PICKED OUT FOR THIS CHILD. Just thought I'd put some pressure on you guys to keep thinking of names. You are going to have to name the baby because my brain has quit working properly and it is my husband's fault. You see, he thinks it is hilarious to get his pregnant wife upset by throwing out names like Belvedere and Poppy. I give up.

Goodnight again.

Beauty in the Common Things:
Listen In: ds6#2 and ds4 squealing and running from Baby Girl
Supper Plans: The only thing that sounds good is gyros and we had those last night. They were a HUGE hit! Tonight I may make burgers.
Today I Plan To: take ds6#2 to the dr. (asthma re-check), MAIL MOM'S BOOKS TO HER!!!!!, catch up on laundry, work on de-cluttering my desk for 30 minutes, make dental and eye dr. appointments, call hospital about my January bill
View From the Kitchen Window: A robin pitter pattering around my front yard :)

Beauty in the Common Things: a clean, smiling baby face
Listen In: Baby Girl and ds4 munching Pringles
Supper Plans: Gyros! (Annie, I'll let you know how they turn out)
Today I Plan To: Shop for baby stuff at Target, finish grocery shopping, call in ds6#2's inhaler refll, mail Mom's books, call hospital about January bill, plant ds8's cabbage (yes, several of these things have been on my to do list for days. Hopefully, I will get them done today)
View From the Kitchen Window: sunshine and wind

Beauty in the Common Things: can't think of anything beautiful this morning :) I'm a little overwhelmed!
Listen in: six kids and a daddy talking at once
Supper Plans: not sure, something with ground beef
Today I Plan To: take Girl Scout cookie $ to Melody, mail Mom's books, build raised garden beds, grocery store, plant ds8's cabbage (school project), call in refill for ds6#2's inhaler, play catch up on house and laundry :)
View From the Kitchen Window: a sunny, windy day



This is my raised garden bed frame.



Here is the finished project! It is layered with newspaper, manure, humus, leaves, and then topsoil. You can see that there is an unfinished frame connected to the finished one. We are going to finish the other one next weekend. We're going to plant ds8's cabbage plant tomorrow.

Beauty in the Common Things: Happy mornings
Listen In: Baby Girl saying, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy."
Supper Plans: I don't know yet; nothing sounds good
Today I Plan To: Work on decluttering my desk for 30 minutes, eat lunch with dh, put glass back in china cabinet, put dolls and hats in china cabinet, turn in Girl Scout cookie money, mail Mom's books back to her
View From the Kitchen Window: birds flying past

Our Children's Baby Name Picks

dd12:
Girl Names-Allie, Olivia (Liv)
Boy Names- Tyler (Ty), Abel

ds8:
Girl Name- Lacey
Boy Name- Mason

ds6#1:
Girl Name- Christy
Boy Name- Noah

ds6#2:
Girl Names- Rapunzel, Lillie
Boy Name- Jack

ds4:
Girl Name- Flower
Boy Name- Jackson

Baby Girl:
Girl Name- Baby
Boy Name- Baby

There you have it! If our children got to pick the name, this would be our list to choose from. I personally like Rapunzel and Flower. What do you think?

Baby Names, continued

Girl Names
Star
Landon or Landen
Belle* my absolute favorite, although I can see potential teasing from peers
Sage
Sophia or Sophie
Chloe
Eden
Piper
Faith
Reese
Annie Rose
Julia
Ella
Catherine
Mia
Caroline

Boy Names
Samuel (Sam)
William (Will)
Finley
Reece
Benjamin (Ben)
Landon or Landen

This is my list. Dh does not like any of these names. Oh wait, I take that back. He likes William. But I'm not so sure I LOVE that name. I want to LOVE the name before I name my baby that.

Beauty in the Common Things: smiles
Listen in: Baby Girl digging through my desk drawer
Supper Plans: Chicken Pot Pie
Today I Plan To: eat lunch with ds6#2, read Odd Girl Out
View From the Kitchen Window: bare trees

Baby Name Suggestions

We have not agreed on a name yet. We don't even have any names in the running. We haven't found one single name, boy or girl, that we even like.
HELP!!

Please give us suggestions. Dh wants the name to come after N; I really don't care where the name falls in the alphabet. I just want this child to come home from the hospital with a name.

I'm serious, send us lots and lots of name suggestions!!!

Leo
My sisters were right; I was wrong. We actually got Leo when I was 4, so that would have made him 28 years old on his upcoming birthday of March 9th. That also happened to be my Meema's birthday.

Just thought I'd clear that up.


Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny. ~Kathryn Carpenter