my fig-sized baby.

I decided to start reading some info about this little one growing just beneath the surface. I was astonished to read that at the beginning of the second trimester, so much development has already occurred. As I have been going about my daily routine God's gift of life is growing. I'm not doing anything, it is just happening! I feel as if I am experiencing this for the first time. Here is some info about what is happening inside a busy uterus.

How your baby's growing: Your fig-sized baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing in at a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing many of his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden, and tiny toothbuds are starting to appear under his gums. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's already busy kicking and stretching, and his tiny movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. These movements will increase as his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. As his diaphragm develops, your tiny tenant may also start to get the hiccups. Because he's still so small, though, you won't feel any of his workouts or intrauterine gulps until sometime between weeks 16 and 20.

How big is a fig anyway?

Tag. I'm It.

Many thanks to Dana for tagging me. Hear the sarcasm.

The rules.

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

2. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog for the rules.

My middle name is LYNNE, the middle name of my dear Aunt Pat.

L ---LIFE COACH--- Don't laugh now. Apparently it is a real profession. Tell me a mom that doesn't feel like a life coach for her kids? I also have this tendency to give advice to others as if I have some type of training or experience. I don't know why, I just feel the urge to "coach" people--exception--anything to do with sports, now that would be laughable.

Y ---YOUNGISH---not quite old, but not feelin' too young lately. After walking thru my high-school halls yesterday, couldn't believe 13 years have passed since I ruled that place. ;)

N ---NIGHT OWL---Staying up late is fun, productive, relaxing for me. I am looking forward to doing it again. Also, Owls terrify me to my core.



N ---NERD---Let's face it, I am a uber-nerd for all things APPLE, Mac, or i- whatever it may be. I hope to someday work at the APPLE Store and get all kinds of sweet hook-ups.



E ---EMBOLDENED---I feel emboldened by God's grace on a daily basis to try and live a life of gratitude and servitude. His mercies are new every morning!

And done. I tag: Cara Mom D. Carl
Sassy Trip Mom Tami

I'm busy, I'm still here, and I shall return.

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LOVE EACH OTHER ?!

My mother cried out circa 1987.

Twenty years ago my brother, sister and I (primarily my brother and I) got into a real knockdown drag out fight. Kicks and punched were exchanged.
I like to think I won the battle.
Perhaps that was the day my mother cried out in utter frustration,

"Why can't you just love each other?!"

It stopped me in my tracks. I don't know if it was what she said, or how she said it. Rarely do I remember my mom being that upset, that fed-up with us. I remember struggling for some mouthy come back to her loud rhetorical question. I had nothin', I was speechless. She was right. Why couldn't we just act liked we loved each other? Why did we have to argue, kick, and scream? What was our problem?

Fast forward to 2007. This month has been a long one. Adjusting to pregnancy with all the hormones it brings, kids in school and soccer, busy work schedule for Dan (thank God!) have all combined into a whirlwind of activity and moments of mania. My kids have felt the stress and have been fighting more than usual. In a particular moment of desperation I searched the file cabinet of my memory to find a good motherly statement that would surely stop my children from practically ripping each other's hair out.

"Why can't you just love each other?!" I exclaimed (yelled)

It had the same effect 20 years later. They looked at me unable to respond, and they stopped fighting. I like to think then and there they knew that God created them as family not mortal enemies.

Use it. Love it. Thank Judy for this little thought provoking phrase.

This photo is from the 80s. No, my mother doesn't sport the sweet southwestern blazer anymore. ;)

happy birthday brother.

My little brother Ross never looked better.

yum.

I have to eat these in private so Dan does not ruin his diet.
Really, someone stop me.

10 for 10 dollars at Thriftys this week!

What an ironic twist that exactly the same time I found out I was preggers, Dan was forced to change his unhealthly eating habits. What do you make of this, O bloggers?

Dan the Man.

I thought it due time I sing a song of praise for my husband.
Often I joke about him, post silly photos of him and he is such a good sport about it.

This time I will tell you how proud I am of him.
About 2 months ago, Dan was told that he needed to make a few changes in his diet and exercise routine. Two months ago his diet consisted of eating whatever he wanted and mass quantities of it. Two months ago Dan's exercise routine included walking from the couch to bed at night. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but his day to day job is exhausting and rarely left any energy for exercise at 9pm at night. It was a challenge to say the least.

After his blood tests along with a family history concluded that his cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar was elevated to a point unhealthy for a 30 something man, he decided to take action.

With the accountability of our Bro-in-law Scotty, Dan began running! He gave up fast food (still enjoying an occasional burger) and started eating breakfast. Cutting his portions considerably he as now lost about 12 pounds!!!

It was a rough first couple of weeks but it has been so good to see him commit to this. I am so proud of him. In no time he will be the poster boy for healthy construction workers.

Props to Dan today! (I'll try to get a better photo of him real soon)

Caaaan't Sttoppp Eattinggg!

One of the many early pregnancy symptoms that I apparently forgot about---
INCREASED APPETITE

I have told myself that it is all in my head. That I just think I need to "eat for two." But I am telling you, I want to eat for two, or three, or four for that matter! What is going on? Why would a baby the size of an inch cause such a change in my eating habits?
Come on, who eats two breakfasts? And why do I act like I have never been through this before?

This is going to be a long pregnancy if I can't stop thinking about my next meal and my next nap!

yikes.

Farm Girls

This is what my daughter Joy calls the classic show Little House on the Prairie.

Since I have been worn out and prone to nausea lately Joy and I have made a new habit of sitting down and watching the "farm girls" in the afternoon.

Why is this show so timeless? Why do I wish that I lived in that simpler time even though it was probably anything but.

I didn't grow up on a farm, but lived in farm country complete with farm smells and the dirt road on which my parents bought their first home. For some reason I have tricked myself into believing that country life=easy life, or better life. After all you do not have the temptation of retail stores galore only a short 10 minute drive away. In the country there were no perfect lawns, no Starbucks, no keeping up with the Jones's because the Jones's were just as poor as you. Ok, now I sound like a Country song.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live outside of suburbia, away from the land of AYSO, car-pools, and mega-churches? I do.

The simple life is not exclusive to farm girls, it is a lifestyle I think anyone can adopt. One that seems more prudent to me as the years go by.
Look Dad, I'm growing up.

Do enjoy the Little House Clip---The Richest Man in Walnut Grove

5 out of 5 pregnancy tests agree...

We hope to add another car seat to the Mini-Van next spring.
After years of discussion and prayer God has blessed us with another pregnancy. We are all slowly adjusting to the idea.

The first few weeks went a little something like this:

• I was excited that Dan & I had made a decision, regardless of the outcome, we (finally) left it all to God instead of ourselves
• I found myself thinking about baby names while sitting in the chair for a dental procedure---weird, I thought.
• I began bawling in Toys R Us when I could not find the right triplet baby dolls for my nieces.
• Other symptoms (moms, you know what I mean) began to appear.
• I began eating like it was my job---still am
• I did a test and tried my best to keep the positive result a secret, but to no avail.
  

I was in a bit of denial for awhile as I made it a weekly activity to buy a pregnancy test (Mom D. , remember when you saw me buying one?) thinking somehow I may have just imagined the symptoms I felt.

So here we are, on our way again. We covet your prayers that God blesses this little life with health and strength , and that we all can make adjustments as they come.

Oh, and that I will stop being so IRRITABLE!
That's all for now!

4 days down, 176 to go.

Some first day of school photos.



Joy has Mommy all to herself