She IS my daughter!!!

Oh goodness. Lovely IS MY child. We went to the library just now to get a book club selection on reserve for ME (ended up being the wrong book - I needed the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God and instead I accidentally requested a commentary book on it) and at Lovely's insistence she checked out Old World Civilizations: The Rise of Cities and States, Vol III (Illustrated History of Mankind) from the Non Fiction Adult section. She looked at it all the way home and still is.....awesome! I even got some pics - OF COURSE!!

Oh, why is she MY child? I'm a history geek and taught history for 7 years at the high school level!




hehehe....love it!!

**UPDATE** hahaha! Lovely just came and told me "Wow, neat...after Pharaohs are done being leaders, they 'retire' and become Mummies. Can I be a Pharaoh so I can be a mummy one day TOO?"

Hmmmm.....

hehehe!!

***Another Update*** as Hubby came home from work, she told him the above but added that she "is worried we would not have enough toilet paper for that." (becoming a mummy...) I. LOVE. IT.

It's MAY 11th!! The Due Date!!!

And I'm happily still here. We're doing well. Just waiting. I know the timing will be perfect!

I hope everyone had a great weekend and Mother's Day!! Much love!!!

Quick Pics From My Quiet Mother's Day

The below pic is fuzzy (old camera) but a sweet moment of the girls playing together
I LOVE when they bond like this!

The below pic taken through the window screen as I prepared their dinner. They were
playing with bubble wands and chalk.

Just some pics from my perfect Mother's Day. Not that I've ever had a bad Mother's Day, but they ebb and flow (BTW - my hubby would totally agree with this!). Today's was actually 'better' (is that a good word when referring to Mother's Day? ) than years past - everyone seemed into it this year. Maybe the anticipation of a new baby on the way? Or, Daddy had slightly more energy since Val is older (I think it honestly helps when you have more independent kids for Daddy to deal with during the day LOL). In any case, it was a day of the girls helping Daddy make a pancake breakfast, roses collected by the girls from the yard, homemade cards and gifts, computer made cards full of treasured pictures (my husband's tradition), lots of nap time for mommy, church, and then a cool evening watching the girls play outside with their bubbles, balls, chalk, etc. After the girls went to bed early with snuggles and stories with me, Hubby and I had an "in home" date night - he brought home take out from a restaurant, and some dessert. It was a restful and wonderful day!!! I feel renewed and loved, and I'm pumped for Father's Day!

Oh! Just in time for baby - I was also given a new camera - the one I use (and will still keep around) has a broken screen and it can be hard to use these days....so the new camera (still charging) will be so wonderful to have with the new baby and all the shots I'm addicting to taking!!

So, over all - a special day. A great prelude before our next baby arrives.

Thank you, wonderful family. I love you and appreciate you back...thank you.

For A Special Woman...

If you nurture anyone and comfort their lives - today is for you. Happy Mother's Day. I'm nothing without you.

To so many of my friends who are praying to become mothers - I love and treasure you today. You care so much for others that this day belongs to you. God Bless you. I'm praying.

To my mother - thank you. I love you.

To my sister - an INCREDIBLE mother - I love you and am thankful for you.

To my sister -in- law - So many hugs to you and so much love on this special day.

To the women who inspire me as mothers and call me friend - I'm nothing without you.

May you all grasp the love that abounds for you today, and that the honor you deserve does touch your heart. You are all amazing women.

God Bless You!

Can't Sleep - Maybe time for a Friday Five?

I woke up a bit ago, and I'm the girl who loves SLEEP. I'll sleep in, I'll go to bed early and sleep in, I hit snooze.....I have no idea why I'm awake at 5am when the house is still asleep. ANNOYING!!!

So, I'll distract with a little game of Friday Five:

1. Had a good midwife appt. yesterday. It was good, but painful. LOL!! Everything looks great (I'm a 3- 3 1/2 centimeters dilated - good!) , sounds great, and she offered (mind you, I'm cycled through the practice, so I see many midwives, and meet a few OB's as well) to strip the membranes. I've had this done before, and while it is not a party, it isn't that bad, and can help some women. Since we're so close to the weekend, and knowing it could help Hubby be off work if I had the baby this weekend, I said "SURE!!" Ummmmm.....this midwife takes membranes seriously - har har. I learned later from my girl M (baby boy's godmother and fellow patient at SAME practice) that it wasn't my poor memory at thinking my past experiences were "not that bad," but that this particular midwife just goes for it. So, I was kinda hoping I'd be in labor now so as that not to be in vain - but I'm not. Bummer. I can still wait...it is just because of this appt I'd love to already be in labor HAHA!

2. Lovely is VERY excited about today at school - FIELD DAY! The whole walk home yesterday she talked about needing her water bottle, sun screen, sneakers, hat, sun glasses, special team T-shirt....LOL. I'm glad that I can get her going today instead of being in labor - I didn't know to pack those items (aside from the shirt) so I can send her off without stress for another family member or caregiver. See? Hidden blessings!

3. Tomorrow is a big festival in our town. Lovely is thrilled to march in the parade with her school. I love that "small town" feel our little area has. We always love this special day - and spending it together will be nice before baby arrives. Lovely is set for such a fun weekend!

4. Lovely will be walking home with my parents today and then headed to sleep over at their house. Val is not scheduled for this sleep over...maybe that means we'll go into labor and have to rush to arrange for her...I bet if she went with Lovely and my parents, that would mean NO labor, cause that would just be TOO easy to have them both already set and at their condo - hahaha!!

5. If nothing happens this weekend, a quiet Sunday for Mother's Day would be nice - but....I think I'd better PLAN something for my mom and sister, etc. It dawned on me we've ALL joked I'd be in the hospital or have a baby by now (3rd baby ='s early delivery, right? WRONG!) so we wouldn't be doing much. Now, I'd better show some effort for the women I love and am in debt to on a special Mother's Day!

I wish everyone a great Friday (TGIF!!) and a Happy Mother's Day early!!! Have a FANTASTIC weekend. If anything more happens here, I'll let ya know....

Much love!!!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday: "Prepping Edition"

Morning!!!!!

It's so hard to stay in bed this morning (usually I am hitting snooze). I'm so excited to have my 39 (and 3 days) weeks midwife appt this morning. I would just love to know where we stand. Last night, and this morning I've had "discomfort" - but nothing to write home about, or call a midwife about. I'm just hoping that "discomfort" is doing SOMETHING "checkable" today lol! I'll be 40 weeks on Tuesday, and so many friends have said "oh, you'll be sooner than that." Well, I know TWO lovely ladies that with #3 they were on time, or late....10 days late!! ACK!! The suspense... :)

So, I'm trying to think of a success list. It feels so repetitive from last week, since we are in that "baby anytime" mode. But I'll let you know what I got...

1. As of last night, all laundry is done and folded. Adult clothes are put away. I can put the girls' stuff away in a bit when the house is more "awake".

2. With Hubby's help, the house is also straight enough for me to relax some. Every room is cleaner, though I feel it just isn't good enough yet. Nesting? We also did more to the guest room in case we need someone to sleep there in the middle of the night. It's full of the boy's stuff (as he has no bedroom or closet or furniture yet - he's co-sleeping with us in a co-sleeper attached to our bed for a few months, so we haven't rushed the room situation yet) so we have to move stuff around for anyone to get by in there. It's now "passable" for someone to stay there.

3. We had an enjoyable evening last night. Lovely and Val were already eating dinner on the patio again, and were joined by their cute little "BFF's" girls next door. It was a menu every mother could love - hotdogs, mac n cheese, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, green beans and carrot sticks lol. Hubby and I enjoyed eating on the patio too. The girls all played a bit in the backyard, then came inside for some Wii Resort before bedtime. It's so nice to enjoy the cooler evenings with great people!

Bonus 4th - my book and companion journal came for a refreshing morning meditation! I love the books I have (scriptural, meditative, Catholic, Christian, etc...many forms) but I sometimes get burned out, or just run out of time. I have always loved the "Lenten Meditations" Elizabeth Foss and Danielle Bean co-wrote - simple, small steps to ponder for the day - and these ladies have now turned those ideas into a 356 day book and journal!! I can't stop glancing and talking about it. It's so fast, yet really effective for the mind and heart, and I get small goals to work on during the day vs big references, or long passages, or what not. Check it out!! (Even the journal is short, easy, and 1 entry per month). This will be great with a newborn - it might be one of the few things I can read and comprehend for a few weeks or months, haha!


Bonus 5th - whether with S next door some, or me on my own - I have walked everyday and sometimes walked AND done our workout DVD! I love feeling healthy by doing it, the extra energy I get, AND the hopeful effect it will get this baby to come out, hahaha!


How is your week!! Good or bad?

Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for....

1. this precious boy inside me, moving, kicking, and HICCUPING.
2. the pressure and discomfort of late....maybe it means he is coming soon?
3. TV dinners and easy pastas or prepared meals to heat up. I miss my real cooking, but this week, it's been a staple for my afternoon/evening energy. Tonight though, if no baby, I will be cooking a fresh meal...HAHAHA!
4. my wonderful hubby and his help. We've had a better week this past week with communication, patience, moods....I'm very happy.
5. my girls. Lovely came into bed this morning and whispered "the baby will be here soon, May 11th is almost here" LOL. I'm so excited she is excited, and even Val points to my tummy, says "Baby" and kisses it. I LOVE this!
6. my incredible friends. So many have offered their help. I love them!
7. our home, and neighborhood, and cherished friendships like family.
8. Our boy's Godparents - for being such special people!!!
9. good health!
10. a fantastic God!

Many blessings, much love!! Check back for updates on BABY!!!

Wordless Wednesday: "Big Sister Reads Bedtime Story" Edition