1. It’s always nice to have a moment of reflection, a quiet time to access the situation. Things have been very busy for us the past couple of days, but this morning I was given a beautiful moment in time of absolute stillness. Around 8:30 this morning, having gorged herself on mother’s milk, Bailey was out for the count. Ben and Chloe were silently sawing logs across the way. I imagine my nurses were doing morning charting. As Bailey lay snuggled in her boppy beside me in bed, I looked upon her resting face and felt a peace fall on me like rain. I knew where it came from and was actually really grateful to have this time to tell Him thank you. Whenever we are blessed, we usually remember to say a quick “thank you Jesus!” But it is so nice to be able to set apart an actual chunk of time to truly express thanksgiving for all the little things that weaved together a symphony of perfection for us over this weekend. I never want to be so caught up in my blessings that I forget to count them as such.
2. For me as a breastfeeding Mom, the experience contains so many emotions, challenges, and benefits that you could almost base an entire sitcom around it. When they are first born, that immediate skin to skin contact is as memorable as the end of Gone With the Wind. Then you begin the nursing relationship which usually initially starts a little rocky. It’s kinda like a good blind date. You like the way the guy looks and you’re pretty sure it could go somewhere, but in the back of your head you’re like “what if he has a head in his freezer?” Then all the sudden it just clicks with you and baby and you feel like you just won a Gold medal at the Olympics. You walk around proud as a peacock saying “look at me, I can walk around nourishing a tiny human in the crook of my arm while making myself a snack and fixing the broken toy of a toddler!” “I would like to thank the Academy…” Then you decide to remove your little bundle from your bosom and place them in their bassinet only to discover you’ve create a little milk monster! The moment you put them down that little head starts turning to the side, sniffing with open mouth, searching for the lost boob. How can they still be hungry?! Now you feel like the character of Cinderella. You scoop up the screaming little vampire and grab another large ice water to help rehydrate the shell that’s left of you. As you sit down with your bundle and let out a sigh, you see those tiny little lips and smooth, rosy cheeks. A small hand curls it’s perfect fingers around the strap of your nursing bra and you melt completely, like a perfect first romance. Let the story begin.
3. We came home today! I am going to be honest. The past year, moving from our larger home into a smaller one, has not always been an easy transition for me. I miss the extra space, but much prefer the extra time a smaller mortgage allows you. My point in saying the above is that today, when I walked into my perfectly cozy little home, I might as well have entered into a dream mansion! Dorothy was so right. There is no place like home. Everyone at the hospital was fantastic and I only have good things to say, but I missed our happy home. I’m sure hospital beds have come a long way, but my back feels like I was on a medieval rack torture device. Ladies, you know it’s bad when your back hurts worse than where the baby exited. The staff was great, but even they couldn’t keep up with my never ending thirst for more ice water!! I think that if we would have stayed another night Chloe would have grown up to be a serial killer or something. The confines of a hospital room to a two year old will certainly drive them crazy. Ben kept trying to figure out how to open the window and that had me a little concerned too. So needless to say, we are home and we are happy. I’m sure there are challenges ahead. You know I’ll tell you all about them in the coming days. Until then, I am so good! That is all 🙂

   

1. As some of you may already know, I had quite the eventful night, last night. We welcomed a beautiful bundle of beyond joy to our precious little family. Bailey Noelle entered this world at 3:05 this morning weighing 8lb 4 oz, 20 in long. After laboring for 13 hrs at home, when I arrived to the hospital, she was ready to join us. It moved very quickly from that point. She emerged with a single push and actually debuted before her Dr. arrived. Quite the eager little lady! Her first cry brought tears to my eyes. As I held her against my chest and nursed her, I knew she was mine, and I was hers. Mother/daughter, bond beyond words.
2. Despite the early hour, I was joined by many family members. I am so blessed and feel so loved. My Mother-in-law was present for delivery. She is like a birth mother to me and I was grateful for her presence. My Aunt, my Mom’s sister, was by my side, holding my hand and wetting my brow. She has always taken care of me. My wonderful, loving husband was ever present, brushing my cheek with a tender kiss and telling me how proud he was of me. I was blessed enough to have my own personal doula or birth coach! My sister-in-law was there with her L&D experience to help distract me through the worst of the pain and that was such a wonderful and much needed thing at the time. My sweet little girl was there. She was such a big girl! She also lent some comedic relief to the situation. When they put a ID bracelet on Bailey, she said,”Look, she’s got a watch like me.” Her narrative of how “the Dr pushed Momma’s belly and made the baby come out” is also amusing. Before I left for the hospital, I put on the earrings of my Mother’s that she left for me. I wanted to have a piece of her on, as well as in my heart. I know she was there and proud of me.
3. It’s been a great day. I’m very tired working on just a 3 hr nap this morning, but I still feel good overall. Every time I look at Bailey’s sweet face, touch her soft skin, smell her newborn fragrance, hear that sweet smacking sound as she nurses, my energy level presses on. I nursed her, burped her, rocked her to sleep, and put her swaddled perfection down for a nap. Chloe had been waiting, somewhat patiently, for her turn. Daddy’s lap just wouldn’t do. I rocked her to sleep and as I did, I looked over at Bailey and thought “yeah, I can do this!” I felt pretty pleased. Then Bailey woke and cried out. Chloe’s eyes popped open and she said “Baby!” Well, I’m getting there anyway. That is all 🙂

   

1. At 7:50 this morning I began having contractions that were 5 minutes apart. I timed them for about an hour and walked around before I finally woke Ben to let him know it was time. By the time we were getting ready to leave the contractions were stronger and 3 minutes apart, so I felt pretty confident we were doing the right thing. Long story short, I was contracting every 2-4 minutes and had dilated to 3 cm, but my contractions weren’t intense enough to progress things at a steady pace. They suggested I go home! I was stunned. See, I’m a very analytical person. I google everything. I research everything. I have every pregnancy and parenting book around. According to my reading, I thought it was time! Ahh, isn’t it difficult to be humbled, to realize you’re not always right no matter how much you study up on a subject. I can just see God smiling down at me, like I do Chloe when she thinks she knows more than me. Just like Chloe has to realize her Mommy knows more than her, I have to release control of knowing what in the world is going on. Thankfully, He knows exactly when is the best time for Bailey to join us. I’m still contracting every 5 minutes, even as I write this, but I’ve now been humbled to wait until it’s His time, not mine.
2. Chloe has been a doll today. She’s been with us all day and taken it all in stride. I’ve seen no tears or tantrums. She knows something is up. Just last night she was stuck to my hip and as I went to the bathroom, Ben told her to stop following me or she would get a spanking. She tried to tiptoe to the door with a little smirk. I said “Don’t make Daddy spank you.” She broke into real tears and wailed “Mommy, I miss you!” Such a sweet little doll I have. She deserves plenty of hugs for being such a big girl today. She’s a big sister in training for sure.
3. My dear husband has been so wonderful today. He came over to me a moment ago and placed a tender kiss on my cheek and I could just feel the love radiate off him. He has been so patient, calm, and supportive. He’s helped me put on my shoes and brought me any little thing I ask for. I don’t even grow tired of him asking “How’s it going baby?” Maybe that’s because the contractions are still tolerable! Well, here’s to the beginning of a new journey for us. That is all 🙂

   

1.  First, I offer an observation.  Many interesting things happen when you become a parent.  I could probably just write about those things for the rest of my life.  I think this one is definitely worth mentioning, though.  When you become a parent, your snack is no longer your own.  Follow me, now.  When you were a single chick living in the dorm or at your parent’s house, whatever, you got hungry, you made a delectable snack, then you sat down and you ate it, all of it.  Oh, the days.  No more, I tell you.  When you have a child, snack time changes.  First, you can never make your snack when you want to.  You may think, I would really enjoy a bowl of popcorn right now.  But then you look down and realize you’re currently wiping poop off someone’s butt, and it may need to wait.  Secondly, the snacks you used to keep in the cabinet, may not be there.  You go looking for those lovely baguette chips to dip into some fresh hummus, and when you open the cabinet you are assaulted by the sight of fruit snacks, puffed oats, and box after box of mac and cheese.  So finally you settle for a discarded bag of tortilla chips that are really just a bunch of broken pieces.  You find a jar of salsa at the back of the fridge with a tiny bit left in it if you shake it upside down really hard.  So you bring your pitiful snack into the living room and settle into your favorite chair, ready to get your grub on.  Out of nowhere comes these little fingers grabbing a handful of the few remaining whole pieces of chip and they scoop up a monster load of precious dip in mere seconds before you can even say a word.  Kids sweep in for your snack like buzzards to roadkill.  Perhaps that’s why Mommy’s butts get big, cause they have to wait until kiddos are asleep to savor a late night caloric enjoyment.  Keep that in mind Daddies.

2.  This pregnancy has truly amused me in this 3rd trimester.  This morning I woke up after a full, 9 hours of sleep.  Let me start there.  Amazing how on some nights I can’t sleep more than an hour at a time for a total of 4 hours period, then other nights I’m like Rip Van Winkle.  When I did wake up this morning and passed by the mirror, I was taken aback by the sight of the swollen woman staring back at me.  My eyes looked like I had been a victim of a pepper spray incident.  My nose looked like I had either gone a round with Mike Tyson or was an Irish man in his 60’s who enjoyed partaking in the whiskey on a daily basis from the age of 11.  Yesterday, I looked fairly normal.  I could see my ankles and everything.  Some days I feel so much pelvic pressure I begin to wonder if I’ll make it till the end, then the next day I would wake up and feel like I could run a marathon.  Granted, now, at this point, I’m feeling the pressure every day and couldn’t run to the front door.  It’s just kinda funny how the past 3 months have gone.  I really think it’s God’s grace.  It’s like stuff is gonna happen.  You’re gonna have pregnancy symptoms.  Some of you may suffer from chronic pain.  You may be going through a problem with a relationship.  You’ll have a day where you think “I just can’t take this anymore!”  Then the next day, you wake up and things have settled down just enough that you can take another day and more importantly you see some hope and light, knowing that every thing has a season, and all things change.

3.  As I was driving back from the store today, I looked in the back seat at Chloe via my rearview mirror.  Ben laughs at me for putting it on her seat instead of the traffic behind me.  What can I say.  Guilty as charged.  As I looked back at her, I could see her little eyes wanting to shut.  She also had this goofy little grin on her face and there’s really no way of knowing what amusing thought was running through her head at that moment.  She was simply stunning to me at that time.  It’s no secret that I think my child is beautiful.  Anyone who knows me, knows that.  What I find amazing though, is how something so beautiful came from me.  Her father and I made something so precious.  I look at the pregnancy books and see how the cells first formed together to create her in my body.  She grew inside me then came out as a precious little baby.  Then, every day she grows more and more beautiful to me.  It’s miraculous.  I find it amazing how I feel about her.  Then I think about my Mother and how she saw that when she looked at me.  Then I think about how God sees that when he looks at us.  He created us and as He watches us grow, He is so proud.  Isn’t it a special feeling to know that you were created, you were formed in your mother’s womb and made into something so special and beautiful.  It’s just the way it is, that even if you don’t know it or don’t feel that way, that someone is watching you in the rearview mirror and is filled with joy over how wonderfully made you are.  I think we can all feel a peace in knowing we’re beautiful to the one who created us.

That is all 🙂

1.  Today, my Mother-in-Law bought a stocking for Bailey for us to hang by the chimney with care.  It was funny to me the impact that seeing that stocking hanging from my mantle had on me.  I’ve got all her drawers stocked with tiny sleepers.  Her new bedding is on the crib.  I pretty much have the nursery completed and ready for her arrival.  But for some reason the stocking seems different.  I have been putting off getting one, thinking to myself, she’s not even here yet, you still got plenty of time.  Well, as the day grows closer, I realize just how little time is left.  I went to see my Dr. again today and he confirmed that things are progressing down there and Bailey will be with us soon.  I certainly feel that way.  I feel like I’ve been doing the russian splits with no prior stretching.  I feel like Kid and Play are having a straight up House Party in my cervix.  If you get that reference, then bless you companion child of the 90’s.  The point is, it’s coming.  Ready or not, it’s coming!  Seeing an additional stocking hanging from the mantle, nestled between our other stockings, surprised me at first.  Then it brought a warm feeling of joy and contentment to be adding another precious child to my already pouring over with blessings life.

2.  I have been so happy today to have received so many phone calls and texts from family members checking on me.  My precious Daddy called as soon as he got up from his night shift slumber.  I could hear the sleep still dripping from his voice, but he wanted to see how his baby girl was doing.  Yep, I’m the baby girl I speak of.  I found it wonderfully amusing but was not surprised at all when my two sisters texted me the almost exactly same phrased text within minutes of each other.  Us girls tend to do that all the time.  It’s like some mental link we share.  I can’t wait to see that cultivate in Chloe and Bailey.  My Mother-in-Law was with me today for my appt. and I noticed my other in-laws checking in with her to see how I was and the latest update.  That was so appreciated.  My sister-in-law checked on me and it just lifts my spirits and makes me grin like an idiot over her shared excitement for my pregnancy and the impending arrival of baby girl.  My Aunt is always a 1/2 a ring away from arriving at my door with anything and everything of herself to help make things easier for me.  I’m gonna have to mess up some dishes just so she can come wash them for me.  I don’t base my self worth on others’ opinion of me or their actions towards me.  I base it on God’s view of me.  But it is a wonderful mirror of His and His Son’s character when we see the love of family so evident that it is a splash of brilliant light in your life.  I am so thankful and so full today.

3.  This year’s Christmas Season is especially exciting.  Of course, cause I’m getting a baby for Christmas, but I’m speaking specifically right now about Chloe.  We all love Christmas, but it is super cool to see the joy of it on a 2 year old’s face.  She can understand so much more this year than she could last year.  It fills this Mommy’s heart with pride when she says in her cute little voice “Jesus’s Birthday.”  I love the way her eyes open really wide when she sees Christmas lights.  I’m really digging that she is all about this Santa thing.  She told me she loves him.  And I am so taking advantage of it!  Normally a kid sees a toy in the store and it’s a battle to make them leave it behind.  Now I get to say, “Put it on your list for Santa.”  You get to say stuff like, “You gotta be good if you want Santa to bring you toys.”  There’s that tiny part of me that feels kinda guilty for using it like I am, but then there’s that other part that is like, “This is freaking awesome!”  Finally someone else to take some parental responsibility.  Being a parent can be tough, so I think Santa owes it to me to take some of it.  I mean, there is plenty of times he didn’t bring what I asked for and I know I was good.  Well, pretty good anyway.  Either way, he owes me after all those cookies and milk I left out over the years.  And I’m taking full advantage of his reputation and clout.

That is all 🙂

1.  I do believe that today’s post, instead of 3 facts for the day, should be titled “Diary of a Crazy Pregnant Woman.”  Seriously.  Man!  I woke this morning and just felt a case of the blues.  I was finding myself being upset over nothing or tiny things that might as well mean nothing.  For example, I had helped my stepdaughter pick out an outfit for picture day last night.  My husband got her ready this morning while I slept.  When I woke up, I noticed the outfit we had picked out still on the hanger.  My feelings were hurt.  Did she not like what I picked out, but didn’t want to tell me?  Then I thought about a multi-text I had sent out the day before and thought of the people who had not responded back.  Did they not care how I was doing?  I suppose you can see the irrational pattern of my thoughts here.  Then I got a sweet text from my father-in-law checking on me and how I was feeling and I just broke down bawling.  My poor husband asks why.  “I don’t know!” Oh me, then I get a call from the insurance people, an automated recording telling me my claim amount that had been awarded.  Their figure was nothing like I was expecting, so of course, more tears.  I think poor Ben was probably secretly glad he had to leave for work.  Bless his heart.  He has since checked on me by phone.  He’s such a sweetie for putting up with me.  And then there’s my poor child.  I think we are somehow connected hormonally.  She has been whiny all day.  Earlier I actually heard her cry/singing the theme song to her favorite TV show.  I never knew that little joyful tune could sound sad.  Perhaps I’m just starting my postpartum blues a little early so they won’t be so bad later on.  Right?!  Insert wishful thinking here.

2.  I truly thought it was on last night!  Labor, that is.  At around 11 pm I started having contractions.  They were mild, didn’t hurt really bad, but I knew what they were.  They continued till around 2 am.  I just rolled with it since they weren’t bad and didn’t get any worse, but in the back of my mind I was just sure it was go time!  After 2 am, they tapered off and I began to feel exhausted, but have you ever tried to fall asleep after you’ve gotten in your head that you’re gonna go have a baby?  Around 3 am, I finally had to take a Benadryl.  I knew Chloe would be awake early and if I didn’t get some sort of attempt at sleep, I would be done for.  Of course, I’m exhausted today.  I’m also nauseated and all sore and achy from all the practice of my uterus last night.  I’m really looking forward to Chloe and I taking a nap.  I’ll probably try to get her down after writing this post.  Then I’ll be ready to go if tonight is a repeat of last night.

3.  I think my little girl knows something is going on.  She has been stuck to my side like glue.  I mean, I never get to go pee by myself, but usually she stands beside the toilet.  The past 2 days, she’s climbing in my lap as I sit on the toilet.  She’s stepping on my heels and I’m beginning to think she has regressed with her speech and the only phrase she knows is “hold me.”  The funny thing is, I’m embracing it.  I mean, it kinda gets on my nerves at times, but overall I’m just caving in to the “hold me’s.”  I’m trying to soak it all in while I can.  Last night we read a total of 6 bedtime stories, then I reread a few of them.  In fact, she just strolled up to the computer and turned the chair around and said “come in the living room and hold me, then we go ride horsey at Walmart.”  So I shall end my post here for now and I’ll see you all again tomorrow.  Who knows, it may end up being a post made from my mobile phone as I sit in a hospital bed.

That is all 🙂

1.  Well, I am 38 weeks today.  I have felt like things may be drawing closer for the past two days.  Today I went to the OB-GYN and my exam revealed I am dilated 2 cm and effaced 50%.  So things are definitely heading in the right direction.  There’s the one part of me that wants to go do circuits around Walmart then come home and have copious amounts of sex with my husband to try and hasten the process along.  I see the beautiful face of my daughter now and can’t wait to see my other little girl!  Then there’s the other part of me that wants to lay around and take it easy, soaking up the last few days I may have left of only having one child.  I am excited, yet I’m scared.  I know these feelings are normal, but it doesn’t change the fact that it makes me feel a little bi-polar to say the least.  As I lay Chloe down for a nap a bit ago, her immediate reaction in her sleep was to slip her hand down my shirt and grab hold of my breast.  Even though she hasn’t breastfed in over 9 months, she still remembers that relationship.  Ben was in the room and said, “What’s that?!  You’re dilated 3 cm and she’s still got her hand down your shirt.  Way to be a team player boobies!  Before this is all said and done, you’ll have 3 people yanking on them!”  So, I suppose things might get a little tricky around her pretty soon.  I’m sure there’s enough of me to go around.  After all, your love doesn’t become divided, it multiplies!

2.  I did something quite miraculous last night.  I slept from 11 pm until 9 am!  And I only got up twice in that time to use the bathroom.  I don’t know if it was complete exhaustion that led to the lack of insomnia or if my body is resting for the big debut.  Either way, I was grateful and needed the energy for my little tornado of a two year old to suck out of me.  She’s the one who woke me up this morning.  Not unusual.  The first words out of her mouth. that pried my eyelids open, were “I want chip!  I want chip Momma.”  I replied with still closed eyes, “You mean the chips you spilled out all over the bed last night?”  Chloe, “No Momma.  I want Daddy’s chip, in the cabinet.”  So out of bed I roll, with her already waiting for me eagerly at the bedroom door.  So many little requests for first thing in the day.  It occurred to me how different children are, that they can pop their eyes open, ready to eat, ready to play, ready for the day!  And then there’s the Momma, who just wants to start the coffee maker.

3.  I was a little frustrated at myself when I woke up this morning.  I know, I should have felt awesome after so much sleep, and no, it wasn’t my kiddo’s energy level that was leaving me frustrated.  I felt an overall sense of defeat and discouragement first thing this morning.  I found myself worrying over upcoming bills; asking myself if my check would come before they were due, would I be in the hospital when they came due and if so, who would know what to do but me.  Asking myself how much would come out of that check in taxes and would there be enough to get the Christmas presents out of layaway and pay the bills.  What is most frustrating about these thoughts is that there is nothing I can do to change any of it, yet I still find myself worrying.  Oh, why do we humans do this?  Why do we worry, why do we dwell?  You can know the truth in your heart, yet you still fall to your own doubts.  So silly.  And that was what frustrated me.  Psalm 121:1 “I lift my eyes up to the hills-where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”  I honestly tell you all about my struggles with my inner self and my weaknesses so that perhaps if someone out there finds themselves falling into the same trap, we can know it’s normal and it’s ok.  I ask forgiveness for my “doubting Thomas” self, then throw my hands up once again and say “I give it to you Lord.  I can’t do anything with this by myself.”  Then something magical happens.  I feel that heaviness lifted from me and hope fills my spirit.  I guess sometimes we just have to do that on a daily basis, huh?

1.  I awoke this morning at 3:21 am.  For those of you who know me, this is nothing unusual during pregnancy for me.  Between the stuffy nose and apneic breathing, movements within my belly by a 7 lb baby, and whirlwind of thoughts that ping around my brain like that old atari game, it’s no wonder that I awake on a nightly basis.  As I made my way back to bed from a much anticipated bathroom trip, a Bible verse came to mind.  Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  I proclaimed that verse over myself as I lay back down.  I was physically weary and all those pesky pregnancy symptoms certainly felt like a burden, but I am so blessed to know that I can also receive rest for the most bothersome thing that keeps me awake during these times; my own thoughts.  It’s so wonderful to be able to give your worries about things over to someone who is more able to take care of it than yourself.  Financial burdens over things that are beyond your control can be given over to one who has complete control.  As I had been waddling back to bed, I noticed my toddler daughter asleep by her daddy’s leg.  She had her arm curled around it and on her face I saw complete and total peace.  There is so much we can learn from children.  We too can embrace our Heavenly Father and feel that total peace if we will only allow it as a child does.

2.  I’ll call this fact, “praying for a king size bed!”  As some of you know or may surmise from my writing, our child sleeps in the bed with us.  She is over 2 years old and has never slept a night outside of our bed.  At around 6 months of age for her, I had concerns over if this was the right thing.  You will have many well meaning advice from others on the subject.  I remember googling it and being so pleased to find Dr Sears and other professionals who embraced co-sleeping or a family bed.  Then as time went by, I learned as a parent, that it doesn’t really matter what this one or that one may say.  What matters is what me and my husband found to be right for our family.  We truly enjoy a family bed.  It gives us peace of mind.  It has never interfered with our relationship as husband and wife in any way.  I tend to believe it has actually made our physical relationship closer and more exciting as we have to be very inventive in finding time together just the two of us!  I remember putting Chloe in her crib a few times to try it out and Ben actually went and got her while she was still asleep and brought her back to our bed.  He said he missed her and I was glad he broke first, cause I missed her there as well.  As we get closer to D day for Bailey’s arrival, I must admit some concerns over the space in the bed.  I asked Ben about it the other night and he replied, “I guess we’ll be crowded.”  So for the past couple of nights, I’ve said a little prayer for a king size bed.  It would certainly take some rearranging of our room, but certainly it would give some much needed extra space.  I’ve ordered a sleeper you can put in the bed so Chloe won’t roll into her, but I’m pretty sure Ben will keep her corralled on the other side of him anyway.  Whether you agree with our choice of sleeping arrangements is of no concern to me.  We are the happiest little family ever and certainly the closest, emotionally and physically!  So if you know of a good deal on a king size bed with mattress and box springs included, let us know!  Either way, I know we’ll work it out.

3.  This fact can be titled, “morning mumblings.”  Having my little munchkin in the bed with me allows me the ability to hear those first words that escape her mouth as she exits dream land and enters the real world with the rest of us.  They are always cute, sometimes strange, and other times simply hilarious.  Some tend to center around a usual theme:  “puppy, the puppy is running, the monster is chasing the puppy, there’s a monster outside the window.”  Others center around her needs:  “chocolate milk, cookies, juice, I’m wet.”  While others melt my heart:  “where’s mommy, I love you mommy, mommy is my best friend, I like your eyes.”  Some seem way out there:  “baby jaguar, where’s the girl, go get her, soap.”  I’ve never been a morning person, but I find it hard to be cranky when I wake up to morning mumblings, a hug, a kiss, and the most beautiful smile in the world.

That is all 🙂

1.  I think we could all learn a lot about perseverance and dedication from children.  I personally am quite astonished at the drive and determination of my child to perform dangerous activities or chaotic destruction of our home right under my nose and within mere minutes.  This morning while putting on my make-up, my daughter Chloe, as usual, wanted to put on “makeups” too.  She grabbed my chap stick and I didn’t think too much about it.  First mistake.  After finishing my simple routine of powder and mascara, I went into the living room to check on her.  She had disrobed and covered her entire body with the greasy lip balm in true fashion of a long distance swimmer preparing to tackle the English Channel.  I cleaned her off, got her dressed, and began preparations for our lunch.  She came into the kitchen to help and chose a pouch fruit drink from the fridge for herself.  I quickly prepared our lunch and made some sandwiches as well to take to her Daddy at work.  When I called her into the kitchen, I peeked around the corner into the living room and was not really surprised to see that she had emptied the purple colored drink all over the front of the outfit I had just put on her and the sofa.  I placed her at the table with her lunch and began to clean up the spilled punch.  This is when I discovered she had somehow gotten ahold of a crayon, even though we have learned to keep those put away unless immediate supervision is present, and had colored all over the coffee table.  It’s quite impressive what all a child can accomplish in such a short amount of time.  I think what impresses me more though, are the characteristics I see it bringing out in me.  I never raised my voice or felt more than a mild, humorous irritation at the above scenarios.  This is completely out of character for my former self.  Isn’t it beautiful to see how love changes perspective on life?

2.  I am definitely in my 9th month of pregnancy.  I think I sometimes forget that, though how I could, I have no idea!  Last night, around midnight, I made another of my frequent trips to the bathroom.  As I was leaving, I noticed the tube of the above mentioned lip balm discarded on the floor by the sink.  I knelt down to pick it up.  At that moment a very sad realization hit me.  A days worth of fatigue in my thighs and the added weight around my midsection had taken its toll.  I then realized that I wasn’t sure if I could get back up!  All I could do was laugh out loud.  My spouse, Ben, was at the computer and offered a hand, but being hard headed as ever, I declined.  I felt that I had to prove I wasn’t completely invalid and hoist my own girth out of that floor.  I did.  Then I waddled back to the bed and took a tiny sip of water from my bedside glass, knowing I would be repeating my trip to the lavatory soon enough.

3.  Many years ago, as a young woman, I went on a mission trip overseas.  While there in a discipleship school, I remember a man giving a prophecy over me.  I do believe that God gives spiritual gifts to people and also that you should individually weigh in your mind, heart, and spirit how these are presented.  That being said, yes, I do believe that man was of God and received a spiritual gift of prophesy.  Anyway, I go back to the point of what he said to me.  He said “You have always felt out of place.  You have felt like you didn’t belong.  You are like one of those square pegs trying to fit into a round hole.”  This was and is all very true.  I never could seem to fit in as a kid.  I had a tough time in school and suffered my fair share of bullying.  I’m glad social media didn’t exist back then or I might have been one of those sad stories you see on Oprah!  But there’s more.  He also said something I will never forget.  He said, “God made you different for a reason.  He has a special plan for you.  He will place you into a square hole where you fit perfectly.”  As I’ve gotten older and my relationship has grown with the Lord, I find my differences much easier to accept.  I am truly happy with myself.  I am loved by so many people and I think my personality does draw people in whom God would have to be a part of my life.  I am thankful for my differences.  I am thankful for those who love me despite them.  Most of all, I’m thankful for a God who made me, me!  I pray today that everyone may feel that peace about themselves and work to cultivate it in your children and those whom you love.

That is all 🙂

1. I love that while I’m doing laundry, cleaning a toilet, or making dinner (don’t worry, not necessarily in that order) that my 35 inch tall, blond haired, blue eyed little angel will come up to me, tug on my pants leg, and say “come hold me.” She does this even while her epic series “Dora” is on, no doubt at a pinnacle moment judging by the accompanying musical number. She wishes for me to share in her cinematic adventure. I love that I stop what I’m doing and go sit with her in my lap. I love that hours before Ben is scheduled to come home from work, that Chloe begins to react to every sound outside with an excited exclamation of “Daddy’s home!” I love that she crawls into the nook of her Daddy’s arm for comfort in the middle of the night and then climbs into my arms in the morning hours, even if it is because she knows I’ll be the one to get up and retrieve chocolate milk when summoned. Parenthood is a special gift that I savor every moment, hoping that I don’t allow a drop to hit the floor unseen.

2.This morning was one of those small special moments in life. Ben went into work an hour later than usual. One hour is not a lot of time, but for some reason it seemed very special to me. We didn’t do anything special. Normally I am still groggily waking up when he is getting ready to leave, but this morning we woke up together. We just stayed in the bed being lazy with coffee and a wonderfully entertaining preschool tv program in the background. I took my turn and rested my head in the nook of his arm. I could feel his bicep muscle and it made me feel very protected and taken care of. It’s the small moments in life that you can take hold of and cradle in your heart throughout the day to make you smile.

1. I feel like God is doing something new in my life. He’s constantly helping us to grow and become what He desires for us to be, but sometimes He may change your dreams and the desires of your heart to lead you into a new direction in life. This can be an exciting time, but also scary. New is almost always scary! Lord, how will I make that change? Will that be what’s best for my family? How will that provide financially for them? Then you may say, ok God, if that’s what you want then provide the way. I think He does, but perhaps not always in the way we as humans expect. We expect a huge neon, blinking arrow sign pointing to a winning lottery ticket that will allow us to easily step out and perform this new task we feel led to do without even breaking a sweat. When it doesn’t go down that way, we may become bitter like a 16 year old girl who didn’t get the brand new dream car for her birthday. But when you can have faith in His provision, His timing, His will for your life, you will find that your eyes are open to so much more. You can see the tiny moments in time where His hand intervenes and changes the course of your life. It may not be a miracle knock at your door with a big check, but rather a new idea brought to your mind in the middle of the night, one that can change the course you were taking on your own. It’s such a peace of mind to know that it’s not all up to me to make it happen all on my own, but that the Master Painter is using His brush to create the landscape for which my story will play out on the great canvas of my life. That is all 🙂