Oh really...

While watching The Tigger Movie today...

Tom: "I've decided I'm the Tigger of this family."

Me: "Then who am I?"

Tom: "Rabbit."

7 Quick Takes

~~~1~~~

Me: "She's naked."

Tom: "Who?"

Me: "Your eldest." (Although, technically, I guess his youngest is naked as well. :)

Tom: "Why are you naked?"

Isabel: "I'm a gorilla. Gorillas don't wear clothes."

Oh.

~~~2~~~

As you can see from Wednesday's post, we have a little construction going on. Tom is finishing the basement. When all is finished, we will have a storage area, guest room, Tom's office, and a play room which will include a spot for me to do scrapbooking and other crafts. I've been amazingly hands off, except for some consulting in the carpet and paint departments, and I'm kind of okay with that. I have missed my hubby though, as he has spent all of his free time down there. It has been a little humorous as well, watching my cool, calm, unstressable husband feel a little bit of urgency to get this all done before the baby comes.

~~~3~~~

Speaking of baby, my appointment went well yesterday. My weight and BP were good which was a relief after a little (self-induced) scare earlier in the week. And this appointment marked the beginning of the end, so to speak, with the signing of some forms, the scheduling of my LAST 3 appointments, and receiving my "Stork Parking" pass. The nurse-midwife even took a little peak with the in-office ultrasound to see if baby's head was down. It was! As I told Kristina last night, I guess that means that things are moving in the right direction. :)

~~~4~~~

I found Michelle's post very funny, considering I have been asking myself all week why Alexis' ever growing vocabulary sounds as if she has a French accent, especially when she says "weasel" (as in Pop Goes The...).

~~~5~~~

We've had some hints of spring here, with some beautiful weather, animal sightings, and a definite increase in chirping birds. I am fighting hard not to get my hopes up though, as I know March is known for lots of snow. I am definitely ready for spring, though!

~~~6~~~

I've been surprised lately, to find that some of my most inspiring moments for what to blog about have been in the shower. I guess, even though it is still noisy with the water running and fan on and everything, you can kind of chalk these up to background noise, which don't require any brain energy, versus the constant use of brain energy involved with the care of small children. I definitely hear what I'm thinking much better in the shower. Why don't I post more then, you ask? Well, I'm still working on that whole from the brain to the computer concept.

~~~7~~~

You know you are near the end of your pregnancy (and look it) when your husband sees you squatting down to speak eye-to-eye with your child and says, "Get up! I don't want you popping anything out yet!"

Check out Jen's blog for more Quick Takes.

Small Successes-Vol 1

I figured I'd give this a go this week, so you don't think I'm totally negative about everything right now!

1. On Monday I washed every piece of regular laundry in the house (not the special hand wash stuff). This was badly needed after two weeks of illness and being just too tired to get to it.

2. See this picture.


This pile of socks has been sitting on my dresser for months. I kept thinking that I will find the matches to all of them. After #1 above, I realized this was a lost cause and I finally threw them all away! Aaahhh...detachment!

3. I had a good check-up today for the baby. Normally, I wouldn't take credit for that. But my wonderful husband continuously tells me when I'm feeling like I didn't get enough done and too tired to do anything, that of course I am doing something, I'm building a baby!

Wordless Wednesday

It is Wednesday, isn't it?

Quick Takes - The "I'm tired" Edition

I'm tired...

~~~1~~~

...of being sick and not being able to function at full speed.

~~~2~~~

...of forcing myself to eat even when I don't want to, just so I don't throw up.

~~~3~~~

...of unsuccessful potty training efforts.

~~~4~~~

...of being disappointed by people, especially when it's my fault for having unrealistic expectations.

~~~5~~~

...of childrens' irregular sleep habits these days. I will be glad to have my bed back.

~~~6~~~

...of worrying about the arrival of the new baby (when, where, how, names, godparents, announcements, etc...).

~~~7~~~

...of being in such a crummy mood all of the time and feeling like a horrible mother.

Visit Jen for more Quick Takes.

On my Mind

Exhaustion, nerves, depression, and the sense of disillusionment are not peculiar to the present age. These things are probably more acutely felt at the present time than at other times because everything in our highly developed society conduces toward them. If living in the senses and for the senses has produced the civilization in which we exist, it seems peculiarly futile to turn for relief and escape to those very senses that have been at the bottom of all the trouble.

A more sensible course would be to look in precisely the opposite direction and try to bathe the over-materialized spirit and not in the things of matter. Weary bodies, frayed dispositions, broken hopes, dampened enthusiasms, and so on are not likely to get much good out of excitement. That is what they are suffering from - the hollowness of a departed thrill. They will find their fruition in God, not away from Him; not in distraction, but in closer union.

If we were to realize that God is our true rest, we would waste far less time running around looking for somewhere peaceful or pleasurable here we could throw off all our cares and enjoy ourselves.

"I set the Lord always in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be moved."

-Holiness for Housewives And Other Working Women by Hubert van Zeller

(emphasis mine)

Mother Teresa's Words of Love

H/T Abigail's Alcove

Quick Takes

~~~1~~~

I think the girls and I are finally on the road to recovery from our illnesses. They definitely had a resurgence in energy yesterday afternoon. Mommy, not so much.

~~~2~~~

My baby appointment went well yesterday. I'm measuring well and the heartbeat sounded great. We even started talking a little bit about details for the birth. (This will be my first time delivering at this hospital.) The excitement is definitely building.

~~~3~~~

Of course, getting closer to the due date is adding a little stress because we have not settled on a name yet, or godparents. We are definitely praying for the good Lord's guidance in these areas.

~~~4~~~

Another prayer of ours was answered this week, however. We went to two different Catholic pre-school open houses and it was very obvious to both Tom and I which would be better for our family. I wrote a little bit about this here, and am still wondering about what our school choice will be for Kindergarten (Catholic/public/home), but for now, I think we have settled on sending Isabel to a Catholic pre-school next year to see how it goes.

~~~5~~~

Due to Isabel's cold, and a little bit because Alexis and I aren't well either, I kept Isabel home from dance class today. It was surprisingly difficult for me to do this. Isabel LOVES dance class and I love watching her learn. But I had to remind myself of the misery that comes with having a sick child and how I didn't want the other mothers to have to deal with that.

~~~6~~~

I came across the site, String of Pearls, thanks to The Bodman Family blog. This site will truly touch your heart. Please visit it and while you're at it, say a prayer for all of the families who have to deal with this difficulty.

~~~7~~~

I think all of this illness has been a big whack on the head to slow down a little bit. I have SOOO much to do, still, the house isn't completely moved into, the girls' room isn't completely decorated, the baby's room isn't completely finished, tons of things still need to be done before the baby gets here, not to mention projects I want to do that aren't urgent. But I've also realized that there were some hidden blessings. I've seen what a wonderful caretaker my husband is. I actually rocked Alexis to sleep in the glider a couple of times. I haven't done that in over a year. I've been able to just sit and cuddle with BOTH of my children. They usually don't stop long enough to complete a hug before they are off again. Not only have I been able to reminisce a little about their time as babies, but I think it has also prepared me a little bit for the coming of our newest blessing. I'm just grateful that I was able to recognize this as the gift it is, and stop stressing over all of the other things I "should" be doing.

Wordless Wednesday

And The Diagnosis Is...

...an ear AND sinus infection for my poor, sweet baby girl. Alexis has pretty much been sick since the new year. She and Isabel had colds right away, but Isabel seemed to burn right through it, and Alexis never quite got better. After waking up screaming last night with a fever, and being difficult to console, we said enough is enough and took her to the doctor's. The following things are going through my mind:

~relief that we know why she is sick and that we have some medicine.
~guilt that we may not have taken her in as soon as we should have.
~frustration at the boys next door because they have had multiple ear infections this winter.
~more guilt for taking pride in the fact that "my kids don't get ear infections."
~exhaustion and worry because I, too, am feeling under the weather and hoping it's just a little head cold.
~and a little bit more guilt that I am not keeping my kids healthy enough.

Here's praying for a healthier February!