pix from the last month

a birth remembered, and a birth awaited

When pregnant (sorry, another preggie post) with my first, I inhaled pregnancy books, magazines and literature. I wanted to be fully prepared for the big event.
What is recommended, maybe especially the first time around is a Birth Plan.
I always wondered if birth plans are followed or do they all go out the window when the pain hits hard. I suppose I had a birth plan back then, but as is my usual fashion, I adjusted it accordingly.

8 years ago today our firstborn Chase made us a family of 3. On the day that I labored I visited my Dr., went to Value City, and played cards with Dan and my parents, all the while Chase was preparing to meet us. When we got to the hospital, we walked the halls and looked at each other, like "how did we get here, and now what do we do?" I vividly recall the moment I received the much anticipated pain relief and observed my husband nap, snack, and take a bath in MY jacuzzi tub. Was this a vacation for him? Certainly this was not part of the birth plan.

What a day, and night, early morning, and finally late morning of great excitement. When Chase was born at 10:38am we rejoiced, we had a son! A precious gift according to God's plan. Happy Birthday Chase!

I suppose I have no real birth plan for this 4th time around. If I did, it would go something like this:

--Wake up on a Tuesday or Thursday from an excellent night's sleep
--Send the boys off the school with a hug and kiss
--Shower, shave
--Eat first breakfast, read an inspiring bible verse such as Philippians 4:13
--Labor begins.
--Call Dan who WILL NOT be working in Indiana.
--An hour later, drop off Joy and head to the hospital.
--Be greeted with open arms by the anesthesiologist
--Push a time or two
--Meet our baby gal.
--Actually have a name to give her.

It could happen, maybe with a few minor adjustments.

Sell, Salvage, Donate, or Dump!

An old friend, and I use that term lightly, has returned to haunt me these past couple weeks. An old friend named Pack-Rat. I have tried to ignore him, but it just isn't proper to ignore an old friend now is it?

Remember this post of almost 2 years ago? Did I not learn a hard lesson from my pack-ratty ways?

Once again I have a storage room full of clothes, housewares, and junk that needs to be purged.
As previously mentioned, the my Nesting Instinct is in full swing.

Nesting Instinct --according to pregnancy weekly

Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the "nesting" instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world.

Fifth month? No one told me that! I was supposed to take care of all of this in the 5th month, and somehow I am nearing the 9th month with pack rat still hanging around!

I ask you now bloggers, what to do.

Shall I save it for a garage sale in the summer? Donate it all to the thrift store?
Toss it out? or simply stand paralyzed at the thought of it all and close the door to it. Do I need to tackle this kind of project so late in the game?

please advise

strange

all my organ systems are complete and being finalized...

I just noticed that is what the little baby ticker at the top of the blog says. What exactly am I growing inside? A robot baby?

so long ol' trusty.

After 7+years of living in a "bag of Skittles" as Dan would say, we have made a few changes in the house.
After many spills, spit ups, farts, and what have you on the old , colorful couch, we shipped her off to the second hand store. Kind of sad for me, exciting for Dan.

Thumbs up to Danno and his willingness to spend some time appeasing my nesting instincts. He has a list a mile long of "honey -dos" before the baby arrives. Including the most dreaded...crib assembly.

Here are a few photos of the new neutral color scheme. Now, rather than a bag of Skittles, I would say we live in a coffee cup. Mmmm...coffee with cream.

that is all.

brain bender...sort of.

So I was driving past a local Costco the other day and saw lines of cars, some 6 long at their gas pump.

Odd, I thought. Does Costco has super excellent gasoline? Is there some oil shortage I didn't hear about on the news? Why are all these people wasting, I mean, waiting in line for gas?

Considering I could see 2 gas stations from where I was located I wondered why folks would prefer to:

1. waste time (and probably gas, it was a cold day) in a long line at Costco.
2. not just go to the station across the street where they would be first in line.
3. drive to Costco from who knows where, just for gas. It's not like Costco is on every corner. You know some of these folks drove a considerable distance to wait in this ridiculous line.

It's all about the washingtons & lincolns. At these gas prices, the jacksons and the benjamins too! Costco must have el-cheapo gas. But after doing the math, does it really save that much $$ over the Quik-E-Mart across the street or conveniently placed Fill-R-Up on the way to your destination?

Maybe that was you in line for gas that day, I judge not.
I am severely about convenience these days, prolly to a fault. If I need Milk and it costs me 4 bucks a gallon but is on my way home from somewhere I will grab it and go rather than drive to some obscure place to get it for $3.19.

blogger nation, what do you think?

Grace in an unexpected place.

Many Friday nights following what seemed to be a long week I drift off to sleep with grand visions of the perfect Saturday morning. It might go something like this:

I roll over, wake up slightly to notice my clock says 6:30. I realize it's Saturday and doze back to sleep. I awake again as I hear the kids playing nicely at 8:00am and think to myself, "oh, what precious loving angels." As my husband is right there keeping the bed warm on the cold morning, I enjoy the fact that he is home on a Saturday as those days will soon come to an end when Spring arrives. With everyone awake, we congregate in the kitchen to enjoy artificially flavored blueberry pancakes and anticipate the day ahead. No fighting, no whining, just glee.

The above did not occur today.

Instead of describing every last detail about how this particular Saturday stunk, I will share the one redeeming quality for this Saturday morning filled with fighting , whining, and non-glee.

All 3 of them were playing with Joy's doll house, ironically called the Loving Family Doll House.

Snarling and gnashing of teeth ensued. I stomped into the room. Well, I waddled as fast as I could and sighed heavily as to let it be known that heads were going to roll.
Joy had thrown the picnic table at Dewey's head "for no reason!" Off to my bed she went to sit, cry and hopefully prepare her apology. She screamed for her blankets , Dewey cried in pain, and Chase felt altogether satisfied that he had no part in the debacle. As she continued to cry, I saw Dewey do the most unexpected thing, and this is what gives me hope for my children, heck, for humanity.
He went to Joy's room, found her blankets (dee-tees), opened the door just enough to slide them through the crack and hand them to her.
Let me tell you, I was shocked. I stood there in my robe with my mouth wide open.
My children actually care for one another? My children can actually see past themselves once in awhile.
God's great grace and the Holy Spirit works in little hearts!
Now, just how do I apply this to my own life when someone throws a picnic table at me...

This just In...Mini-Van Mega-Fun returns!

Since I have not blogged for nearly 3 weeks, I have received much flak and inquiry as to where I went. I did not disappear into some blogger's abyss. Thank you for your concern and/or mockery. If anyone still checks in, well, why I haven't blogged doesn't have much to do with anything except that life gets in the way and days turn into weeks and so on. Excuses, excuses.

February was a month of snow, winter fun, illness, and sadness. March has arrived and we celebrate a new month of birthdays, "a birth-day", and my yearly itch (let's blame the hormones) to paint the interior of the house (yes, again).

I am putting together a little photo show of recent events that I will post soon.

For now I can sum up the last few weeks with numbers.

• pregnant now for 240 days, 40 to go
• 32lbs. and counting.
• different colors my kitchen/living room area has been in 6 years---6
• number of times my daughter told me to "stick a sock in it" ---at least 10.
• Joy turned 4
• I welcomed in 32
• Hugs given and tears shed in sadness and in praise---many, so many.
  
• 56 candles for my parental units.
• pink diaper pail purchased---1
• 111 miles traveled to IKEA for house goodies where Dan consumed the 15 pc. meatball plate.
• number of solid contenders for the name of our little bun in the oven--ZERO

Well, I guess that counts for a blog entry, sketchy as it is.
More to come.
Just for giggles, a photo that never gets old.

Winter can be FUN!

A few photos for grandparents, cousins, aunts who are far (south africa) and near (across the driveway)

2 years of Blogging Excellence!

I just noticed that my first Blog post was 2 years ago today.  That is all. 

Just an observation.

where o' where has the time gone?

10 weeks to go!

or 70 days, whichever seems longer.

I just looked at the little ticker on this blog and there is was in black and white. 30 weeks have passed, 10 (ish) to go! Um, that can't be right. Since it took me 20 weeks to fully realize I was pregnant, I feel like this thing should drag out a little longer so I can mentally, emotionally, financially, and so forth prepare for this new arrival.

At this rate, I am going to be one of those unsuspecting ladies that gives birth on the toilet or wakes up and realizes a baby is in my pants!

Time for me to wake up and smell the poopy diaper, don't ya think?

For the sake of my own memory keeping, I would like to document things I relish about pregnancy but also things I will be glad to retire when it is all done.

RETIRE

• peeing in my pants when I sneeze, tmi?
  

• well meaning folks asking if I am due any day since I am so large and in charge.

• tipping over when trying to don my socks each morning.

• stretch marks and square back

• MOOD SWINGS and my constant urge to nit pick everything . Dan has felt the brunt of this one. Don't even ask him about the how many minutes are proper to warm up the van on a cold day or how I demand dishwasher loading perfection. Honestly, someone needs to duct tape my mouth closed.
  

• Maternity clothes. Not cute, not flattering, and worn so often, sometimes not clean.
  

RELISH

• feeling the baby move in response to the kids talking to her

• laughing at a frustrated Dan every time he tries to feel the baby kick and she completely stops...until he walks away...then she happily kicks away again.

• breakfast at 6:30 and 10:00am
  

• sharing pregnancy with friends and family who are also expecting
  

• sleeping through the night without interruption (most of the time)

• having the kids bring me the phone, pick crap up off the floor, etc. because I think I'm getting too big to accomplish such lofty tasks.

• day-dreaming about what kind of unique child God has already planned for her to be, and how she will fit into our family.

• the simplicity of having the baby inside. All of her needs for being met, no crying, screaming, fussy times.

Snack Attack

Let's face it I come from a family of snackers.

My father would eat a full meal for supper and have 2 nightly snacks before bed. One was almost always a huge bowl of cereal.

My brother would try to get away with the same, claiming one was a bonafide "bedtime snack", but he also needed a "treat"

I have now produced an entirely new generation of snackers.

"Mom, can I have a snack?" at 7am of course

"Mom, I am so hungry only for fruit snacks."

"That was not a big enough snack"

"I ate my sandwich, now can I (immediately) have my snack?"

crying and rolling on the floor just as supper is about th begin "But I forgot to have my afterschool snack!!!!"

The icing, or whip cream on the cake, if you will, was last night when Drew came running up the stairs with the ultimate idea for a bedtime snack.

"Mom, I just want whippy do for my snack, in a bowl, with a spoon!"
(whippy do is Dan's weird name for CoolWhip)

For many reasons, which only made sense to me at the time, I let him scamper off with a bowl of coolwhip...and a spoon.
Oh , what has become of me?????????

Out with the Old...In with the New?

With a new year upon us this is our mantra. Everyone seems to be cleaning out, repairing, resolving, planning, evolving, changing. A few weeks back I noticed something rather unchanged as I sat in a Sunday morning worship service at my church. Allow me to share.

The worship style at my church is blended. From traditional hymns, to contemporary praise songs, we usually have a combination of styles on any given Sunday. I assume this is not an easy task for the worship leaders in a church with varying musical tastes and this post is not my attempt to choose sides in a debate about worship style. This post is about the transcendence of music.

We began to sing the hymn of 1826 Holy, Holy, Holy. You may have heard of it.
I guess I'll have to admit that I am at times be one of those folks that "looks around" during church. I'm not taking a mental roll call, but I just enjoy seeing the faces of those I am worshiping with and the expressions on their face as they worship. As I scanned the crowd I noticed a precious Senior lady of our church sitting lovingly next to her husband. I know this lady has Alzheimer's Disease and I have a special place in my heart for her. She reminds me of my grandmother who also lived with Alzheimer's.

What struck me so greatly that day again as well as when I worked in the nursing home is the power of the old hymns to an older, by that I mean a senior citizen, Christian. I looked at this elderly lady and watched as her mouth sing the words to Holy, Holy, Holy. She may or may not have known where she was, or why she was there, but she knew that song and she was singing to her God. It was beautiful to me, it is beautiful to God.

I am simply grateful that we still sing hymns, that we have not swept out the old , solely in favor of the new. I am inspired to see God's Word through music still touching the life of and elderly lady.
I wonder what song will always get me singing, even into old age.

Mmmm...indoor S'mores

Bringing the outdoors in.
Dan received a indoor S'more maker for Christmas this year, what fun it is for the kids on a regular Tuesday night.

A Fresh new batch of Crazy.

A new year and the pregnancy hormones are a pumpin'

Fighting the urge lately to re-paint my house, clean behind the frig, and oddest of all, I have not once, but twice, attempted to pack my hospital bag for when I go into labor (in April, mind you.)

Other oddities include dreams about Toaster Strudel and having Dan make a Monday night run to McDs at 8pm for Chocolate Shake!

I am also obsessed with the need to buy a pink diaper pail, and soon. A pink pail will make diapers more girly and smell better of that I am sure.

Of course a packed bag and a pink diaper pail will bring me no closer to my due date or even for deciding on a name for this baby. I prefer to drift about waiting for the perfect name to come in the mail, ring my door bell, or call me on the phone.

Happy Winter!
More crazy to come...

BTW, Braaaaad

The Christmas Tree and all it's decor came down last Saturday---chew on that!!!!

"This Little Piggy...

went to Target."

The Girl's own version of the ever popular,

This Little Piggy Went to Market.

Place your bets.

This year, just how long will it be before we take down our Christmas tree?

Our previous personal record is January 25. That is two full months of Christmas tree delight. One year we had lights on the house until Valentine's Day.

Why is it so hard to take it all down and store it away?

Dust more, whine less.

I have now decided that New Years Resolutions are bunk. At least they are for me.

Reviewing my resolve for 2007, I did not "tone up" (gained 20+lbs. yes it is pregnancy weight, but I only did Pilates for about 2 weeks last January), read the entire New Testament (got through Mark), and finish my laundry every Monday before I lay my head on the pillow at night (yeah, right)

Personal failure at its most obvious comes this time of year. So I challenge us, fellow bloggers to think about what we did accomplish in 2007. Think hard. Please share.

This year I will dust more and whine less.
Starting... now.

Merry Christmas!

Favorite Ornaments

As my siblings will attest, as youngsters we had a little competition regarding a certain Christmas ornament on our family tree.

It was a beautiful glass (or was it plastic?) ornament that had a Nativity scene etched in of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. It is transparent and in the shape of an octagon. It had to be hung strategically in front of a tree light to look it's best.

Each year it was the coveted ornament to hang on the tree. I, being the eldest would usually go to certain lengths in making sure I was the one to hang it. My best effort was the year I dug it out of the huge box of Christmas decor many weeks prior to the tree trimming. Oh Yes! You should have seen their faces.

I asked my kids to pick out their favorite ornaments from our tree and to explain why.

"I like this 'cuz I like it"

"uh, because I like the pictures"

"This ornament reminds me about Buddy"

This is my favorite on our tree. It's a cozy, little pillow ornament. I'm not sure of it's origin, Did you make it, Mom?

What's your favorite?

Guuuuyyy!

The blog police are after me. Yes, it has been awhile. But what is a procrastinator like me to do when I have to wrap practically every single one of our Christmas gifts yet. Blog or wrap? Wrap or make baked goods? Balance the checkbook or go shopping? Perhaps I will just sit and relish the thought of the beautiful gift of God's own Son.
So much to do and time is shrinking.

On a different note, I think last night it really hit me that I have another baby growing inside of me. It took me 23 weeks to figure this out?? At least I noticed it before delivery day as not to be shocked. No progress on a name for this girl, suggestions are welcome, but may not be used. :)

I'll leave you with a couple cute photos of the kids from Katie DeBoer Photography

Joy does not looked thrilled to be in the middle of this Boy sandwich.

Picasso she ain't

This is what happens when a very tired daddy stays home with little girl and mommy is out for coffee.

Daddy falls asleep on the floor, little girl gets creative.

Future tattoo artist?

Think Pink.

We found out today there is 95 percent probability that our little one will be a girl!
Since Dan couldn't make the ultrasound appointment, I had the tech write it down and seal it in an envelope for future reference. Tonight the kids broke the news to us.

May I have the envelope, please?

Drew was less than thrilled.

Her wish came true.

This was the first time we find out prior to birth what gender our baby would be. I had mixed emotions about finding out. I guess I am a little old fashioned about some things, but it was a really cute-sy family moment having the kids discover what their sibling is going to be.

20 weeks down, 20 to go.

Paul knoweth.

We read this verse from Romans in Coffee Break a couple weeks back. If you wondered, Coffee Break is a women's ministry at my church and we have been studying living in God's Grace.

from Romans chapter 7, the good ol' New International Version

15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
umm...kay. Confusing? I had to read it through, and read it again even slower to get the gist.
The words struck a chord with me, sort of.

Then I read the same verse in another version-- The Message--stick with me here.

14-16I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

17-20But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

21-23It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

24I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

25The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

I read this and thought, "Paul is in my head!" He wrote these words and he should have just said, "Michelle, this one is for you." It can be a helpless feeling when my Christian intentions get fouled up by sin.
I have often thought, "Oops, I did it again" That is putting it mildly.
More accurate would be, "Crap! Why do I keep boofing it up like this?!"

Jesus Christ can and did set things right in this life of contradictions...HIS victory over sin is the Grace that frees us from our sinful actions time and time again. As our coffee break lesson reminded me, I can always dip into the well of forgiveness, it is unlimited, even for the same darn mistake I continue to make.

It shouldn't, but sometimes it amazes me how relevant the Bible is. This time it took a different translation to bring it home for me. Thank you, Bible Gateway.com

I WANT THAT!!!

Lately my children have been exclaiming this at all the TV advertisements for various junk toys and quite possibly lead contaminated play things.

It brings me back to the days when I was a kid living in the country and my neighbors would do the same. We would be watching some cartoon and during the commercial they would shout out,

"We're gettin' that!"

and most of the time, they did. Including but not limited to an above ground swimming pool.

I'm sorry to say that things have not changed much since what was probably 1984.
Toy companies still peddle their goods during children's programming at what is I'm sure an even more obnoxious level.
I follow the blog of a gal trying to simplify her lifestyle. Part of doing this calls for her to try and ban all TV commercials from her home. She does not enjoy all the character themes found on so many kids items. You can hardly buy a box of cereal or even a pair of shoes for a kid today without it screaming SpongeBob or Disney Princess. She does not want her children to be advertisements for a big company.

Do I agree with her? Not so much. While I'm not thrilled that young consumerists are developing within my household, I can't completely avoid (read:shelter) kids from all the goodies the world has to offer. Teaching moderation and gratitude in a real world context, not granting their every wish seems more realistic than a complete wipe out of all temptation.

Yes, it is Christmas time again and kids are bombarded with what can be theirs if only they ask (and be really nice, not naughty). A hot issue here? Surely it is.

So what do I do when my kids scream out "I WANT THAT!" ???
I just tell them, "Go ask Grandma."

I'm kidding. Don't get your undies in a bunch.

I'm still alive & kickin'

rather, I'm the one getting kicked.
The past two weeks our little one has made his/her presence known by wiggling and kicking. Coming soon we will have the opportunity via ultrasound to see if it is a boy or a girl. (although we haven't decided if we want to know) My kids have been offering up some name ideas most of which have not been great. Angel, Blossom, another Dewey, Bunny, Almanzo to name a few. Chase can only come up with names of kids in his class, and Joy's suggested names, well, sound like a stage name for an exotic dancer. sigh.

So the name game continues.

Much to be thankful for this season. Work for Dan, health, community, family are just the tip of the iceberg. Happy Thanksgiving and I pray you will enjoy the upcoming preparations for the celebration of Christ's Birth!

I hope to blog more frequently this month as there is always much going on in my mind and in my heart!

Love to all this day!

the Internet. Friend or Foe?

Yes, this is another post on the ever tantalizing topic of food.

I have a habit of checking the ingredients list of foods I eat. I understand some of the ingredients and additives, others I can hardly pronounce. I recently explained to Dan that high fructose corn syrup is really just another sugar. He was amazed yet unaffected.
We all know the bad stuff:
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Aspartame
MSG
But they are all acceptable for human consumption as regulated by the FDA.

Today I was struggling to put together some kind of lunch. I spotted Ramen Noodles. High in yumminess, higher in MSG.

I decided to hop on the ol' information super highway to see just what all the fuss is about. One website said avoid MSG all the time, another stated after scientific research, MSG was not found to cross the placental barrier, therefore no worries to your unborn baby.

Huh?

Sometimes internet information is more confusing than it is helpful.
I decided to eat just the noodles, not the broth.

What is a misguided, pregnant, hungry girl to do?

A Day for Dental Decay.

Halloween time is here. My kids are really excited this year, I am afraid they may just keep a closer eye on their candy and I may not be able to dip into the bounty!

The horror!

Pumpkin math at School:




Some photos of the pumpkin carving extravaganza:




Good Times.

Family Tree

This is my new thing.

Just the other night I was talking with my Dad about our roots. What is our blood, the national heritage of those gone before us. I am, as are many Americans, a mutt. You know, a mixed breed. This information I already knew. I am English, a tiny bit French, and a lot Dutch.

What I did not realize is that my one set of my Great Grandparents immigrated from jolly 'ol England. I guess I assumed they were farther back that--the original immigrates. Anyway, I was intrigued with the fact that my Greats were English, drank tea, and were Catholic prior to moving to the jolly midwestern US.

Later that evening I hoped online and started to do some research and started a family tree. I have a long way to go but I hope to learn about my ancestors, uncover photos of these folks, and most importantly see with new eyes God's grace from one generation to the next.

Has anyone done this before? I could sure use a few tips. Just think of what I may discover...