Not right this moment, but sometime in the near future.
Yes, I realize that being 9 months pregnant is a little late for that revelation. I always knew what was going on, but it never really dawned on me that I'd have the joy of holding another teeny tiny baby again soon.
I just got caught up in the busyness of life and all that comes with it that the baby became a "one day" thing. One day he'd come, but not today. One day I'd need to start preparing, but not today. One day we'll add another member to our family, but not today.
Finally, just a couple of weeks shy of my due date, I came up with a basic birth plan. Wrote it out and everything, including wishes if a hospital transfer were needed. And we started to gather the items we'll need to take to the birth center - cloth diapers, onesies, nursing gowns for me, etc. Still have yet to put the car seat in, and the hubby is still traveling for work and working 12 hour days. Forgot to order the vitamin k liquid, so I hope I can find some in time (oops).
But it's finally starting to sink in. A baby. My baby. New baby cuddles. New baby smell. New baby milk drunkenness and milk breath.
I think everyone else has been more ready for him to come than we have. I keep getting the "you must be so ready!" "You're still pregnant?!" "He needs to come out already!" Etc. from everyone. I keep replying "he can stay in as long as he needs to! I'm not in a rush!" The gentleman we teach a bible study to finally told me "you know, you can't keep him in there forever."
I think that's what we've been banking in. That he'd just stay in. That way we could work more, teach more, do whatever else but focus on the fact that there's a baby coming. I guess we didn't want to entertain the possibility of another preemie.
But, thank God we're full term now! No worries!
Not saying I want him to come now. B is going across state for a 12 hour day and I don't want to have to get two kids ready and drive across the state the other direction while in labor. So, hang on a little more, dude. But, I think I'm finally getting ready for your arrival.
Procrastinator, much?
Monday, May 27, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Oi
I'm one of those lucky moms who has kids who have night terrors. Not nightmares. I laugh at nightmares. Hahaha Night terrors. If you've ever experienced them, you know the difference and how horrifying they can be.
Bonus: they're hereditary, so if you have one kid who has it, you've got a great chance of having more that will have it, too.
Good news is, they are outgrown, so at least they're not a forever thing. Auds started having them after she turned two and had they occurred regularly for about six months. It was awful to hear her give out blood curdling screams for what seemed like hours in the middle of the night. She also turned into the hulk, so we had to watch her soo closely to make sure she didn't hurt herself.
Fast forward: Now it's Tony's turn. Yay! Except his are worse coz 1) he's a boy and naturally stronger and 2) he gets them during nap time.
The believed cause is poor nutrition, stress, and lack of sleep which triggers the underlying genetic condition. My kids probably eat better than anyone in the town, so I'm not worried about poor nutrition. Drum is set to arrive anytime now, but he's finally getting excited an loves talking about "da Baby Dum." He doesn't seem stressed in any outward actions. But then there's sleep. He doesn't sleep at nap due to night terrors which cause him to be overtired and then not sleep at night due to night terrors which cause him to not sleep at nap... You see where I'm going.
And, of course, this is perfect timing for a completely exhausted pregnant woman who has still not installed the car seat or packed a birth center bag.
I'm also assuming that since we've got two who went/are going through terrors that we'll have another set to look forward to in about two years. Yay.
I have no idea what I'm gonna do to help him sleep. We have a pretty set routine, he's welcome to come cuddle in our bed if he's scared, he loves his construction bed set, there's night lights and white noise machine in the room at night. The stage is pretty much set for success.
One day I'll get sleep. When they're all married and settled down, I suppose. But, at least I still have my babies. My heart absolutely breaks for those in Oklahoma whose lives have been turned upside down. That's a real terror.
Bonus: they're hereditary, so if you have one kid who has it, you've got a great chance of having more that will have it, too.
Good news is, they are outgrown, so at least they're not a forever thing. Auds started having them after she turned two and had they occurred regularly for about six months. It was awful to hear her give out blood curdling screams for what seemed like hours in the middle of the night. She also turned into the hulk, so we had to watch her soo closely to make sure she didn't hurt herself.
Fast forward: Now it's Tony's turn. Yay! Except his are worse coz 1) he's a boy and naturally stronger and 2) he gets them during nap time.
The believed cause is poor nutrition, stress, and lack of sleep which triggers the underlying genetic condition. My kids probably eat better than anyone in the town, so I'm not worried about poor nutrition. Drum is set to arrive anytime now, but he's finally getting excited an loves talking about "da Baby Dum." He doesn't seem stressed in any outward actions. But then there's sleep. He doesn't sleep at nap due to night terrors which cause him to be overtired and then not sleep at night due to night terrors which cause him to not sleep at nap... You see where I'm going.
And, of course, this is perfect timing for a completely exhausted pregnant woman who has still not installed the car seat or packed a birth center bag.
I'm also assuming that since we've got two who went/are going through terrors that we'll have another set to look forward to in about two years. Yay.
I have no idea what I'm gonna do to help him sleep. We have a pretty set routine, he's welcome to come cuddle in our bed if he's scared, he loves his construction bed set, there's night lights and white noise machine in the room at night. The stage is pretty much set for success.
One day I'll get sleep. When they're all married and settled down, I suppose. But, at least I still have my babies. My heart absolutely breaks for those in Oklahoma whose lives have been turned upside down. That's a real terror.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
No baby yet
So where have I been? Well, after I finally got the rib back in place (yay!) we had a scare. Drum wasn't moving or responding, so we had a big day of midwife visits, nsts, BPPs, etc.
Come to find out little man was breech and engaged. He was so low he was stuck in my pelvic bone and couldn't move. It's like his little bottom was in a bucket.
So, I did all of the spinning baby techniques, went to the chiro everyday still and we got him out and flipped. Yay! Now I get kicks in my no longer displaced rib.
Since then it's just been trying to wrap things up with the business before I go on maternity leave. And trying to nest as much as I can without hurting myself. So far we have most of the clothes and all of the diapers washed. Next step: car seat.
Things have been crazy with both kids refusing naps now and my strong desire to take one everyday.
My water had broken with Tony at this point, so I'm halfway nervous that my water will break and halfway not in a rush to add a third into the mix. I'm cool with him staying in for right now. Lol
Tony is talking so much now (actual words, not just two-year-old gibberish), so there's always noise and chatter going on here.
And Auds and my husband have reached a compromise. Since Auds has been begging to be baptized for the past two years and has to be tearfully carried away from the baptistery at every baptism and Beau wants her to be a little older, Auds can get baptized on her 5th birthday. And she reminds him everyday, just in case he forgot their deal. I think it's the cutest thing ever.
If Drum holds off until this weekend, I'll be able to have the birth I want. Well, almost. I'd love a home birth, but our state is so weird that it's not an option for me. But, all natural and out of hospital is good for me. Now I just need to decide if I want a water birth or not.
Come to find out little man was breech and engaged. He was so low he was stuck in my pelvic bone and couldn't move. It's like his little bottom was in a bucket.
So, I did all of the spinning baby techniques, went to the chiro everyday still and we got him out and flipped. Yay! Now I get kicks in my no longer displaced rib.
Since then it's just been trying to wrap things up with the business before I go on maternity leave. And trying to nest as much as I can without hurting myself. So far we have most of the clothes and all of the diapers washed. Next step: car seat.
Things have been crazy with both kids refusing naps now and my strong desire to take one everyday.
My water had broken with Tony at this point, so I'm halfway nervous that my water will break and halfway not in a rush to add a third into the mix. I'm cool with him staying in for right now. Lol
Tony is talking so much now (actual words, not just two-year-old gibberish), so there's always noise and chatter going on here.
And Auds and my husband have reached a compromise. Since Auds has been begging to be baptized for the past two years and has to be tearfully carried away from the baptistery at every baptism and Beau wants her to be a little older, Auds can get baptized on her 5th birthday. And she reminds him everyday, just in case he forgot their deal. I think it's the cutest thing ever.
If Drum holds off until this weekend, I'll be able to have the birth I want. Well, almost. I'd love a home birth, but our state is so weird that it's not an option for me. But, all natural and out of hospital is good for me. Now I just need to decide if I want a water birth or not.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
PSA
Yes, this is a public service announcement. Slow down! Take it easy! Enjoy this stage in your life!
If you are pregnant, rinse and repeat. The nesting isn't important. Really, it's not. Coz if you push to hard, you may just dislocate a rib. And if you want to be in pain, that's the way to do it. If you want to really be in pain, do it when you're eight months pregnant. If you want chaos to ensue, have two other kids. Throw in a business and a preacher husband if you want some awesome sauce.
So, better safe than sorry. Take it easy. Trust me.
If you are pregnant, rinse and repeat. The nesting isn't important. Really, it's not. Coz if you push to hard, you may just dislocate a rib. And if you want to be in pain, that's the way to do it. If you want to really be in pain, do it when you're eight months pregnant. If you want chaos to ensue, have two other kids. Throw in a business and a preacher husband if you want some awesome sauce.
So, better safe than sorry. Take it easy. Trust me.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Nesting Will...
Nesting will make you do some crazy, crazy things. Like:
Scrubbing the toilet with sandpaper to get rid of nasty stains you inherited when you bought the house.
Digging up landscaping timbers, raking up mulch, and relocating plants because you no longer want to worry about the front flower bed getting overgrown when you can't weed it.
Reorganizing your studio and house and planning a garage sale that's six months away. You know it's excessive when your kids ask if you're going to sell something every time you pick an item up.
Hanging shelving in the world's oddest shaped closet. When the shelves prove too deep, find old 2x4s to make makeshift shelves until you can exchange the real ones.
Taping paint samples to the walls because you want to paint, but can't coz your eight months pregnant and also can't justify the expense.
Start buying foods based on if they will fit into the new storage containers you bought for the pantry to keep it neat.
Scrubbing the toilet with sandpaper to get rid of nasty stains you inherited when you bought the house.
Digging up landscaping timbers, raking up mulch, and relocating plants because you no longer want to worry about the front flower bed getting overgrown when you can't weed it.
Reorganizing your studio and house and planning a garage sale that's six months away. You know it's excessive when your kids ask if you're going to sell something every time you pick an item up.
Hanging shelving in the world's oddest shaped closet. When the shelves prove too deep, find old 2x4s to make makeshift shelves until you can exchange the real ones.
Taping paint samples to the walls because you want to paint, but can't coz your eight months pregnant and also can't justify the expense.
Start buying foods based on if they will fit into the new storage containers you bought for the pantry to keep it neat.
Friday, April 12, 2013
To Train Up a Child
I don't mean that in a pro-Pearl/baby wise/punitive parenting way. If that's your cup of tea, no judgment here. But I take a different approach to rearing.
And can I have a mini vent here? Golly, I feel like my high school AP English teacher Mrs. Hall. You rear children. You raise crops. If your kid ain't an ear of corn, use rear, not raise. That isn't directed at anyone in particular. I just see it all.the.time from moms and it drives me bonkers. Was I the only one taught that the proper verb to bring up children is rear? Is that really not something known? Or is is a specific/Pacific ask/axe thing?
Anyway, soap box put away now. I think that one of the scariest challenges I face as a mom is the spiritual well being of my kids. Yes, I know that we are all free moral agents and that they will make their own decisions. But how I rear them and teach them will have a big impact on how they decide to live. If not for the grace of God I would be in a very, very, very different place because of how I was reared.
We are instructed to help and to guide our children in their formative years so that they will not stray from the path God called them to in the future. That's scary. What if I screw up? What if I don't show them how much God loves them and they take Him and His Church as just common place and something that doesn't matter?
But what if I push too hard and make them want to leave God and His Church because they feel I didn't present it with enough love but rather too much law (not discounting the law)?
I find it a fine balance to show my children how vitally important His Word is and how amazing He is but to do so with so much love and compassion that they seek after God and don't feel it a burden. That's how God intended it.
But, let's be honest. Sometimes when parenting amongst endless questions and emotional outbursts that happen (toddler through teen and beyond) it's so much easier to just want to refute with "because" and to just want cooperation. "But why do I have to go to Sunday School? Why can't I sleep in?" Hearing that when you're already behind schedule and the toddler just pooped all over his outfit and you're trying not to throw up can make your heart sink. Not that it's an early sign of a future corner-dweller in the making, but it can be easier to just say "because!" than to sit down and explain that the Scripture says to "not forsake the assembling of ourselves" or "how can we be saved but by hearing the Word of God?"
Although we know it's not that easy, the temptation is there to just want ease for the sake of ease when you have a full plate -whether with one kid or 20.
And then there's preparing them to stand on their own two feet in a fallen world without sheltering them too much that they go crazy when tempted outside of the home. But you also don't want to present our fallen world in such a manner that grave sins are common place and no big deal.
I know God's grace abounds and He washes our sins- and we all sin. But if I can save my kids from the heartache the world, then I'm all for it.
However you approach it, it is a weighty blessing to rear our children and pray that we do so in a way that will serve them well in life. Am I the only one who freaks out about this sometimes? I want my kids to love The Lord but not to do so out of a sense of obligation to me. I want to help cultivate a genuine relationship.
I do, however, feel so much better when Auds comes to me and tells me she can't wait to be buried with Jesus in baptism. I definitely cried when she told me that. It gives me hope that I'm doing something right in finding a balance in cultivating their spiritual maturity and relationship with God.
And can I have a mini vent here? Golly, I feel like my high school AP English teacher Mrs. Hall. You rear children. You raise crops. If your kid ain't an ear of corn, use rear, not raise. That isn't directed at anyone in particular. I just see it all.the.time from moms and it drives me bonkers. Was I the only one taught that the proper verb to bring up children is rear? Is that really not something known? Or is is a specific/Pacific ask/axe thing?
Anyway, soap box put away now. I think that one of the scariest challenges I face as a mom is the spiritual well being of my kids. Yes, I know that we are all free moral agents and that they will make their own decisions. But how I rear them and teach them will have a big impact on how they decide to live. If not for the grace of God I would be in a very, very, very different place because of how I was reared.
We are instructed to help and to guide our children in their formative years so that they will not stray from the path God called them to in the future. That's scary. What if I screw up? What if I don't show them how much God loves them and they take Him and His Church as just common place and something that doesn't matter?
But what if I push too hard and make them want to leave God and His Church because they feel I didn't present it with enough love but rather too much law (not discounting the law)?
I find it a fine balance to show my children how vitally important His Word is and how amazing He is but to do so with so much love and compassion that they seek after God and don't feel it a burden. That's how God intended it.
But, let's be honest. Sometimes when parenting amongst endless questions and emotional outbursts that happen (toddler through teen and beyond) it's so much easier to just want to refute with "because" and to just want cooperation. "But why do I have to go to Sunday School? Why can't I sleep in?" Hearing that when you're already behind schedule and the toddler just pooped all over his outfit and you're trying not to throw up can make your heart sink. Not that it's an early sign of a future corner-dweller in the making, but it can be easier to just say "because!" than to sit down and explain that the Scripture says to "not forsake the assembling of ourselves" or "how can we be saved but by hearing the Word of God?"
Although we know it's not that easy, the temptation is there to just want ease for the sake of ease when you have a full plate -whether with one kid or 20.
And then there's preparing them to stand on their own two feet in a fallen world without sheltering them too much that they go crazy when tempted outside of the home. But you also don't want to present our fallen world in such a manner that grave sins are common place and no big deal.
I know God's grace abounds and He washes our sins- and we all sin. But if I can save my kids from the heartache the world, then I'm all for it.
However you approach it, it is a weighty blessing to rear our children and pray that we do so in a way that will serve them well in life. Am I the only one who freaks out about this sometimes? I want my kids to love The Lord but not to do so out of a sense of obligation to me. I want to help cultivate a genuine relationship.
I do, however, feel so much better when Auds comes to me and tells me she can't wait to be buried with Jesus in baptism. I definitely cried when she told me that. It gives me hope that I'm doing something right in finding a balance in cultivating their spiritual maturity and relationship with God.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Why I'm Glad We're All-Natural!
A long time ago a decided to make the switch from toxic cleaners to normal cleaners. This was a shock to my husband (then fiance) as it was all he ever knew. I put vinegar on anything standing.
Then we had our first baby and I couldn't handle the smell. But, I couldn't go back to the toxic chemicals. They made my asthma break out and my lungs had gotten used to functioning. I kept at it until I found a line of natural concentrated cleaning stuff and then I was thrilled.
With the exception of our laundry -the line isn't cloth diaper compatible- most everything that needs to be cleaned can be cleaned with the contents of two super concentrated bottles. One for normal cleaning (like what you'd use windex or other general cleaners for) and one for germy stuff (like what you'd use bleach and Lysol for). I can make various dilutions depending upon my needs. Heck, I can even wash my kids in it.
And this is the reason I'm so glad we made the switch (my husband says its the money, but that's him): my kids can join in on the cleaning and I don't have to worry about them getting sick. Now, I do keep the concentrated stuff out of reach and locked up. But the dilutions- no worries.
It's kinda peaceful to sit on the couch when you're 30 weeks and "supervise" the kids cleaning. Hey, they volunteered!
Then we had our first baby and I couldn't handle the smell. But, I couldn't go back to the toxic chemicals. They made my asthma break out and my lungs had gotten used to functioning. I kept at it until I found a line of natural concentrated cleaning stuff and then I was thrilled.
With the exception of our laundry -the line isn't cloth diaper compatible- most everything that needs to be cleaned can be cleaned with the contents of two super concentrated bottles. One for normal cleaning (like what you'd use windex or other general cleaners for) and one for germy stuff (like what you'd use bleach and Lysol for). I can make various dilutions depending upon my needs. Heck, I can even wash my kids in it.
And this is the reason I'm so glad we made the switch (my husband says its the money, but that's him): my kids can join in on the cleaning and I don't have to worry about them getting sick. Now, I do keep the concentrated stuff out of reach and locked up. But the dilutions- no worries.
It's kinda peaceful to sit on the couch when you're 30 weeks and "supervise" the kids cleaning. Hey, they volunteered!
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