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 :)