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.