Maggie's first pics!

Daybook...

A couple of the blogs that I follow do daybooks, usually on mondays, and I have thought doing one myself for a while.  I think it would be an excellent writing exercise, as well as a wonderful guide too.  But whether I do them weekly is yet to be seen.....

DAYBOOK

Outside my window:

2 three year old girls playing in the dirt, rocks, and leaves.

I am listening to:

These same girls laughing and giggling.

I am wearing:

A brown maternity shirt and yucky old shorts.

I am thinking:

How wonderful it is to stay home with my girls, even though it's not always financially ideal.

I am thankful for:

My husband, who does everything in his power to ensure that I can stay home with our girls.  The support of my mother, who helps in every possible way that she knows how: financial, emotional, mental, etc.  The support of my mother-in-law, who makes sure to be available whenever possible for the girls, and myself.

I am pondering these words:

"The sanctuary in which every living person grows, woman has a more alert sense and a more profound respect for the individual person and for his characterisitics.  She is a better judge of character.  More easily than a man, she is able to bring to flower the seeds of goodness, which lie hidden in every soul."  Dans Le Cadre, 1976

I am reading:

A bunch of what Elizabeth Foss refers to as twaddle (basically junk reading)... it's about all my exhausted brain can handle right now.  Also 1 Peter for bible study, as well as Prayerfully Expecting.

I am creating:

Life.... it's about all that I can handle right now.

We are learning:

Patience.

I am hoping and praying:

That my dear husband gets what he wants, and that our outlook on things will improve soon.  That we will learn whatever lesson God is trying to teach us.

Around the house:

Just preparing for the holidays, especially the Advent season, and for the birth of little Amanda Margaret, aka "Maggie."

On keeping home:

Keeping it simple.  It hurts to do too much, so my philosophy is.... it'll keep.  It will all be there for me to do when I am no longer pregnant.  But Trey is being SUPER helpful :)

One of my favorite things:

The weekends..... mainly because I get to see Trey and have family time.  But also because I get to rest more because he is here to help with the kids!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

bible study, school for Jace, baby sitting plans, doctor and various other appointments.

A picture thought I am sharing:  

need to upload some pics.... I'll get back to this :)

A lovely read

here's an excellent post at a blog that I love to read.....

take the time to read it.... 

Mission Accomplished....

There was a meltdown of titanic proportions this morning (JACE).  It's been a week coming..... and I boy did I feel like the meanest mom ever!!!

I told her she wouldn't be able to play, watch tv, go outside, color, that I wouldn't read her a book, or that we wouldn't go to the park tomorrow unless the screaming / crying stopped!!!  It was LOUD!  Jace definitely has a set of lungs, and little Roar is starting to catch on and grow into her nickname.

Well..... I made her sit on my bed and she SOBBED (dramatically, I might add) for the better part of 30 minutes...  "MOMMY!!!  LET ME OUT OF HERE PLEASE! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!" (note to reader = I had the door OPEN.  She was NOT locked in a dark closet or anything!)

She finally quit.  And I barely heard another whiny, crying peep out of her today.

Mission Accomplished.

I'm hungry....

Here's a conversation I've had several times today with Jace:

Jace, "Mom, I'm hungry!"  (Note =  serious whine in her voice.)

Me, "well, what would you like honey?"  (the first few times nicely.... the last time VERY         exasperated!) 

Jace, "NOTHING!  I don't want anything....."

Me," Well, sorry.... I can't help you then."

AND she really doesn't want anything....  sigh.

Blood Volume

Did you know that the blood volume in your body is essential to fetal growth?  I didn't.... not really.  It's one reason why they put pregnant women on complete or partial bedrest....  Because the more YOUR doing the more work it takes for your body to pump blood to your extremities and organs in order to function.  That means, essentially, that the fetus is not getting enough blood volume to develop, which is one reason they ask some pregnant women who are at risk for slow fetal growth to "take it easy."  Which, in reality, means you just have to quit doing everyday activities that others have, and you have, taken for granted.  I, myself, am okay with this as long as I can maintain survival maintenance with the girls, making sure that they are clean, fed, and hydrated.  It's making other people recognize and UNDERSTAND that you're not being simply lazy, but doing what is necessary for your pregnancy.  Because the reality is, this length of time that you are pregnant is very finite.  The rest of it will be there, but the choices you make now, during pregnancy, can have effects that can last a lifetime.  

CK Chesterton

Saw this quote on a blog I follow and I loved it so much that I wanted to share it......

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." ~

For the Graces of Motherhood

"Powerful is your intercession with God, Mary, for you are His mother.

Tender too is your love for us, for you are our mother.

Confidently, then, I come to you as a child, poor and needy, to seek your aid and protection.

In every trial of motherhood, I beg your aid.

For the grace of happy delivery, I come to you.

For your holy assistance in guarding and directing each tiny soul with which God entrusts me, I call to you.

In every sorrow that comes to me in my motherhood, I confide in you.

That I may have strength to bear cheerfully all the pains and the hardships of motherhood, I lean on you.

That the sweetness of motherhood may not, through my neglect, be embittered in later years by pains of regret, I trust in you.

That the will of God may always be fulfilled in me through each act of my motherhood, little and great, I beg your aid.

Never forsake me, dear Mother, my hope, my consolation, my confidence, and my trust, but ever be at my side to aid and protect me, your needy child. Amen.

Mother of love, of sorrow, and of mercy, pray for us!

Thanksgiving

Mary, I am so happy! I, too, am a mother. Thank you for joining me in my petitions to your Divine Son, dear Mother of Happy Delivery.

You were with me in my Bethlehem, thank you. I know you are with me now in my Nazareth, thank you, thank you.

Amen."

This weekend has been a fun-filled fest of pure yuck.  But that's life, right?  The good news is that the girls weren't too cranky over it so that made it easier for us (the helpless adults who could do nothing but clean up and comfort the best we could) to deal with...

Another source of good news...... ONE month into a new school for children with autism and my sweet nephew is like a WHOLE NEW CHILD.  It's amazing the difference when a special child is with people who are trained to educate them.  I thank Jesus for little mercies every day.

Things are still looking up around here (for me personally anyways).... I love when the Lord gives you an answered prayer.  He's always looking out for me.... rationally I know this.  But, still, it hasn't stopped a period of spiritual lows for me lately.  A personal issue to be sure, but still, it's there.  The fact that it's coincided with my pregnancy makes me feel guilty to a certain degree, but I'm slowly working through it.  That I give to the Lord as well.  

Prayer to Achieve Inner Peace

"Slow me down, Lord.

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations - of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines of a good book.

Slow me down, Lord."

Pumpkin Carving 2009

Condi's new bed and nap spot :)

More to say....

I gotta tell you.... I feel like I should have so much more to say then I really do.  I mean my life is pretty full, right?  I am so incredibly busy ALL the time.  Who wouldn't be with 2 busy, BUSY little girls and another angel on the way.  Oh, that's right.... I haven't even taken a moment to say that we are having another beautiful little girl :)  And we COULD NOT be more EXCITED over her!  We have decided on a name too.  Jace wants to name her Maggie.... thus in a few short months you will all be able to meet our very own, Amanda Margaret, aka "Maggie."

I keep getting this one question though.... "are y'all going to try again for a boy?"  I feel like people are implying that in no way could 3 beautiful, vivacious daughters ever be enough for Trey and I.  And I've been having this feeling for weeks now that our family is complete...  and I don't know how I feel about it honestly.  I feel guilty thinking that Trey and I may not have more children... doesn't that sound strange???  It feels strange too me...

Oh, and why can't the stork bring my babies I ask.....  cause I know pregnancy is suppose to be a beautiful thing, but truthfully I abhor it.  BUT, I do so like what pregnancy brings me---- my children.  Who would I be without them I wonder sometimes?  I was born to be a mother.  I honestly feel that way.  Other people dream all their lives about being a doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.  I dreamed about having children.  There was nothing that I wanted more... and I feel that a mother's value has slowly been undermined and lessened over the years.  And I am saddened to think that because I am not out punching a time clock that I have less value in some people's eyes, or that they think they are better than me because they have been "MORE" than "just a mother."

whatever.  eloquent, right? yep... that's me.  I'm just a mother and I'm better for it.  I'm doing exactly what I was born to do, and exactly what God wants from me.

Prayer to keep the Presence of God

"Lord, God Almighty, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Defend us today by your mighty power, so that we may not fall into any sin, and that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed as to be always just in your sight. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Babies 2008

Rory Beach 2009

St. Ignacius Loyola

"Teach us to be generous,

        good Lord;

Teach us to serve You

     as You deserve;

To give and not to

    count the cost,

       To fight and not

     to heed the wounds,

To toil and not to seek for rest,

        To labor and not

     to ask for any reward

Save that of knowing we do

Your will.

Amen."

Agatha Christie

"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable... but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." ~

A few things....

Well, the beach was fun---- for the 2 days we were there!  We went on Sat. but Monday morning I started bleeding.  I though I was having a miscarriage because there was so much blood.  And in the few hours before I knew the baby was okay I was almost inconsolable.  I realized then that you can always say you empathize with someone who's lost a baby, but you can never truly know how they feel- the utter devastation, loss, and heartbreak.  I thank God that I didn't lose my baby.  Even though I wish I knew why I had bleed so much....  I didn't do that with the girls so it really scared me.  Vicki brought Trey to come get us and bring us home early after I got back from the ER.  I am thankful for them and for Michelle and Jennifer, who helped me enormously then.  I know they thought I was having a miscarriage too, and that I scared them.  Sorry, girls :)

Jace was NOT happy we left the beach early, but it was good for me to be home.  And it was nice to know that others were praying for us, and thinking of us, Lauren brought us dinner the night after we got back---- thanks Lauren.  Of course we were home a week and the flu hit our house :(  Trey got it first.... and then the girls.  I gotta tell you.... I am not one who runs to the Dr over every runny nose, cough, or fever, but the girls fevers wouldn't come down and were getting higher.  When I took them to the Dr Jace's was 103.6 and Rory's was 102.4 :(  Not too mention they spent the majority of that day laying ON me, Jace curled up in my side under my arm, and Rory laying on my chest.  Hours were spent this way.... and anyone who knows my girls KNOWS THEY ARE NEVER STILL!!!  So a little scary indeed.  But took them to the Doc (where Jace threw up :(..... and found out they had the flu, and got some tamiflu.  Which helped them tremendously!!!  Which it should've since it cost so much!  LOL  It still took a few days to get their strength back and appetites but they're great now!  And thanks be to God that I never got sick!!!  And also during this time we saw the power of prayer too,  from our family and friends.  I think their prayers really helped the duration and all of our abilities to deal with being puny!  Our friend Stephanie even brought us dinner one night for which we were enormously grateful, so thanks Stephanie :)

We went to the girls' open House at Frazer last week to meet their teachers.  I am so pleased with Frazer and the teachers that the girls will have, especially Jace's.  I really think I have made the right decision in putting Jace in this year, and I think she is going to have a TON OF FUN!  We went thursday for her one hour introductory class... she was all for going to school---- until we got there and she saw all the people.  Then she decided she wanted to go back home instead :)  But we ran into Presley and Sharon when she was starting to cry and Presley gave her a hug and told her not to be scared.  That she was going to love Mrs. Kohn and have so much fun.  I think that helped enormously, although she still cried when I left and her teacher had to hold her.  But when I came back Mrs. Kohn said she quit crying immediately and did great!  And Jace was so excited and said she had so much fun and really liked Mrs. Kohn.  So I feel good about it.  She'll probably cry for the first few weeks when I drop her off but it's only for 3 hours and I think in the long run she's really going to love it!

Yesterday was my mom's bday!  She's coming to visit on tuesday---- Yaay!  She'll be here for a week for a visit and all her check ups that she has to do every 6 months.  She got some news on thursday that could potentially not be wonderful.... so if we could all just add a general prayer for her to our lists that would be wonderful :)  I'll share more when it's appropriate too!

My poor husband has been working so hard and so much that it's barely left him any time to do anything at home.  Especially because when he is home he wants to play with the girls NOT do boring routine household chores.  But it can't be helped today..... he's got some stuff that he's got to do, especially before my mother gets here :)  But first we are going to a pancake breakfast for a fundraiser for Emily's (Michelle's daughter) dance team!  That'll be fun!  Then we are going to come back here and do some stuff.... my ever industrious MIL, Vicki, is going to come and help us.  It's nice to have someone who LOVES to clean, and is just simply generous with their time :)

Look what 10 minutes can get you with a 3 yr old and 1 1/2 yr old......

I was only doing some laundry.....

this area's not TOO bad......

ah.... here it is...... the crowning glory of their destruction.....

the oldest culprit..... man... she's just POOPED after her unbridled chaos.....

the youngest culprit.... she's hiding her face in shame...... (NOT!  she's really laughing at me under those little hands.)

Speaking of the name Silas....

Apparently Jace REALLY likes this name :)  She wants to name her baby "bruder" Silas.... I tried explaining that Silas is her friend's name and that we're not sure if we are having a baby "bruder" yet.  She very adamantly explained to me that she has 1 baby sister and that is enough sisters.  No more sisters are desired by her and it's now time for a "bruder"..... she is going to be one MAD little girl if this baby doesn't come out a boy!  And I have a feeling it's going to be another girl!!!!  LOL

The fish....

If our fish lives to see tomorrow it will be a miracle!  Today alone.... Jace has shared her yogurt with it..... and Rory (my new little climber) has taken out it's fishbowl decorations AND attempted to pull it out of the bowl!!!  Poor Silas the fish....  

The great escape

I always though Jace would be my strong willed, free spirited child.  Well, guess what my second born did?  She UNLOCKED the front door  (the chain is still off from when we painted the inside of it) and just went outside, closing the door behind her.  Needless to say.... my heart is still in my stomach and there is a brand spanking new lock up at the very top of the door to lock  my precious escape artists in the house with their Momma!!!!!  Did I mention that Jace was at least 2 1/2 before she attempted this!?!  And she knows how to work the chain, thus the new lock at the TOP!

Big Helper

I had to explain to Jace that I couldn't pick her, or Rory, up very much.  I'm not quite sure she understands but she was quick to make sure that I don't pick the Roar up too much...  she's been carrying her around all over the place all morning long.  Literally down the hallway for each diaper change, and now for nap time.  It's actually pretty cute..... Toys / books may be EVERYWHERE but at least Jace is being a big helper with her little sister.  What more could a Mommy ask for really!?

Name calling

Jace to Rory, "You're a stinky pot!"  Much giggling ensues....  "You're a STINKY POT and I"M a BANANA!"  Apparently this is the funniest thing said or heard ever!  They are still giggling over it....

This blog....

I have been thinking about the point of this blog lately.  I started it mainly for my mom to keep her up to date with the girls because she was getting so irritated with me "forgetting" not to email her pics :)  But then I started reading some seriously excellent blogs... this always makes me want to be a better writer myself.  The truth is  I don't have the energy to put myself out there like that...  so returning to the original point of this blog seems best.  I just need to get better at relaying stories of the kids and pictures of them for those who like to read about our day and see my girls!  However redundant and boring it may seem :)  The truth is very little "change" goes on around here but we are very rarely bored =)  We are going to the beach soon so hopefully some fun stories and pics will be coming soon!!!

video uplinks....

still trying to figure out to upload videos from our flip ultra.....  anyone know how?

St. Columbanus, 7th century

"True love is not in word only
but in action and truth."

 

 

legos...

seriously.....  I should just pack up and get rid of ALL the other toys =)  

If you haven't gone out and gotten your kids legos yet then I HIGHLY recommend them.

mom

haven't been blogging much lately.  But here's a prayer request for my mom.  She spent the majority of last week in the hospital.... they are still not sure what was wrong with her.  She's been released but they are still running tests and the Dr is not letting her go back to work for a few weeks.  It was very scary for all of us, especially her.  We didn't know what was wrong, or how serious it was really.  And with her being so far away from us in CA it's not like I can hop right over to her in 20 minutes or less...  So please pray they figure out why she got so sick and that it doesn't happen again.  Thanks!

Back

okay.... so I fell in the front yard this past weekend.  I must have twisted my back funny to keep from landing on my tummy, thus I think I've pulled a muscle or something.  I tried to ignore it all day on Saturday and even into Sunday.... Yep.  I can't ignore it anymore :(  Call me a wuss.... call me a pansy.... call me anything.... I must admit now that it hurts to move, or walk, or even sit.  So only the bare minimum will be getting done around here for a while.  But that's okay, right, as long as mouths are fed, cups have milk, tushies are wiped, and hugs are given!?!

On patience....

I read a great post on Conversion Diary about choosing patience.  Everyone should read it....  I have definitely not been consciously choosing patience today but willingly admit that I need to work on it :)  And she talks about it in regards to her children, which I definitely needed to read too, but I think it could be applied to all relationships in your life.

4th of July pics

literally a flash of the camera later

my little drama queen

Roar was so HOT!

she LOVED the fireworks!

Replaced...

So it seems that I have been successfully replaced in what use to be my bible study and small group of friends.  For a while I was a little emotional about it.... but funny thing happened---- God's granted me an enormous amount of peace over it.  I love my life, my girls, my family, my friends.  And by letting myself get caught up in despair over not being wanted, or considered, by some, I was missing out on those people who DO want me around and in their lives.  And as important as people are to your everyday lives, it's equally as important to surround yourself with those people who you  are as important too as they are too you.  The truth is I have so many people who love me; me, my family, my girls.  And my life's too short to be slighted.  I don't think that is what God wants for me or intends for me.  That's what I am thinking about lately.

P.S.  I promise pics of the girls are coming.... we are going to the beach soon so I should plenty then.

Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Just as love begins at home, so also peace and the woman being the heart of the family--- let us pray that we women realize the reason of existence is to love and be loved and through this love become an instrument of peace." 

I've been thinking...

.... now that I am having a 3rd child (feeling another girl here), what am I going to do about the blog's web address?  It only has Jace's and Rory's names in it...  it'll probably be something the next baby grows up to be resentful about and will discuss in therapy that from the beginning her mother loved her sisters more than her!  lol

Little Thief

Here she is looking cute and angelic...

I turn my back for one second...

Not too thrilled with the strawberry slushie.....

But she comes back for more :)

The Hard Way...

Like everyone else in this family, Rory has decided to do things the hard way.

See how proud she is of herself.

Nevermind she could have just gone round

the other side and used the door :)