Nesting Projects

Well, the due date came...and went by two days ago! Since only about 5% of women actually have their babies on their due dates, I guess none of us should be that shocked. In reality, I was wishing that this large one would come a wee bit early, but I know he/she will come when he/she is ready!


In the meantime, we have been getting several projects done in our house. Not just the deep cleaning of baseboards and walls (yup, I checked that off the list)...it's the things we talk about doing for oh so long, but just never got around to completing. I tell ya, this "nesting" thing really helps get those pesky projects that are at the tail end of the list done!


Project #1: Reupholster the glider
A couple of years ago, when Caedon was around two-ish years old, the poor boy got a nasty stomach virus and was sick in the night. I happened to be rocking him in the glider during one of his throw-up sessions, and the chair required de-cushioning and a washing. The cushions were never the same again. They turned into a mangled mess, especially the arm cushions, that could not easily be put back on the glider. In my laziness (and lack of sewing skills), I let it go and never fixed it.Until a few weeks ago. Our glider went from a cream-colored lump to one that I actually like.

Many thanks to the Jo-Ann's Fabric lady who talked me through the whole hot mess and gave me some confidence!) It's not perfect (I didn't measure anything...just lined it up and cut), but it fits and it works!



Project #2: Floor painting and area rug
We live in a house that was built in 1852. Yes, it's ooooold. So, the floors that haven't been touched over the years are a soft pine, splintery and in need of some help. Our bedroom floor is one that we talked about painting and putting a darker-colored area rug or bound carpet down. A few weekends ago, we realized we didn't have anything planned for an entire Saturday afternoon and evening, so we ran to Lowe's/Home Depot and got to work.

Before:

Room emptied:

A coat of B-I-N primer down:

After:

(Yes, that's clean laundry on the bed. A dose of reality for you.)

Thanks to my dear and talented friend Aimee, who recommended B-I-N and text-coached me while we picked things out at the store. She rocks!

Three.

My, oh my...how time flies by.



He would have been 3 years old today. Even after three years and lots of healing, there's still (and probably always will be) a small hole in our hearts that can't be filled. Even having another baby so close to Josiah's birthday doesn't change it. And that's okay.



He will always be missed, always be loved, and always be celebrated.

Happy birthday, my boy.

37 weeks. Game on.

With a little less than three weeks to go until the Due Date, I finally feel (somewhat) like I'm in the home stretch. Despite my feeling that I'd never get here, December flew right on by (hence, the lack of posts!).


Here - I'll provide you with some entertainment. Me, eight months pregnant, taken at the end of December:

Yes, eight months, not 9+. I excited many a stranger at Christmastime, who wrongly assumed I'd have a Christmas baby. Even today, I was asked how much longer I had to go. My response: a little less than three weeks. Her response? A disappointed "oh...I thought maybe you'd say a couple of days." I'm carrying a rather heavy turkey, who probably weighs in at 8+ pounds this week. So, since 37 weeks is considered full-term, I say bring it, child! The bassinet is in place (thanks, Janelle!), gender neutral clothing is washed, and we're close (somewhat) to finalizing names (yeah...you can pray about that one). Soon to be go time!

Cutting back

I did it. Took the plunge. Put on my big girl pants (well...actually, these days most of my pants are big girl pants, given my size) and let go.


I quit my job this week. (Well, one of my jobs, at least.)


Yup...I gave my five-week's notice to my employer of almost two years. After much prayer, husband discussions, and thought, we came to the realization that caring for a newborn and two kiddos, plus maintaining a lacrosse club from home, staying on the school board and with the youth group, and then working part-time outside of the home would equal PURE.INSANITY. Every mom knows how much time it takes to feed a newborn, and then to keep two other littles alive and happy...well, the time percentages just weren't working out.


And even though I have this crazy thing with staying busy and being Wonder Woman, I'm really okay with letting this job go. While I enjoy the work I do, I'm realizing that this is just the chapter in life that I'm in. And I'm embracing it.


On to a baby update:

I'm now 29.5 weeks along, looking like I'm 33+ weeks. No, for real...my midwife and the specialist are all confirming that the bambino within is a big one, charting in the 99th percentile and weighing over 4 lbs already. Surpriiise, surpriiise, right? He/She is tracking to be on the bigger side, trying to keep up with his/her siblings (our babies were all bigger, thanks to my husband). ;o) Also, while this child is hydrops-free and not showing any of the issues our last baby experienced, he/she is "throwing us some curve balls", as the specialist says. There are two minor issues that the specialist spotted a few weeks ago, and thankfully neither one of those have worsened. They are expected to diminish and clear up, but we are being watched as a precaution.


So, that's the skinny (ha...skinny...not quite how I'm feeling these days, but regardless...). Life is good, and everyone is doing well and looking forward to the holidays, followed by this child's arrival. It's an exciting time!

Seven {7}

I'm never sure where the time goes...

...but the memories are there. And they are precious.

Happy 7th Birthday to our daughter, Danae. First-born, fulfilling the tell-tale characteristics of such.

Artsy and loves to create things. Helpful beyond compare. Mature and so intelligent for a seven-year-old little girl. And oh, so loved!

She's enjoying cupcakes with her classmates today, waiting for her mama and brother to show up for lunch at school later, excited to open her gifts from us before small group tonight.

Happy birthday, my girl.

September Update

So, based on my lack of posts, I'm sure you can tell that life's been busy. With school and activities in full-swing, it never seems to be boring in our household.


We took our final beach trip over Labor Day weekend...something we did the past couple of years. I say beach trip as if it's a big deal...but growing up on the beaches of NJ and having my parents who still live there is definitely a plus! And while it wasn't crazy-windy like last year, the waves were a bit overwhelming at times (I won't rehash the story...let's just say that my sister-in-law and I will probably never, ever again swim and hold children at the same time. I had nightmares for a week, Christa!)

Danae is doing rather well in first grade. Let me just tell you, though - between the packing lunches every morning, remembering which cycle day we're on, figuring out the weather and outfits, scheduling meetings, homework, projects, dealing with the emotional breakdowns (both hers and mine)...I swear, having a child in school is like adding a part-time job to the Mama's workload! Thankfully I love, love, love planning and calendarizing (do you like that word?), so it just takes a few weeks for everything to fall into place. Danae is seriously such a smart little cookie...and just like last year, we are needing to ask her teacher to challenge her a bit more. She does love school, but complaints of "I'm bored" are trickling in, so we'll need to get that remedied.

Caedon is...well, Caedon. Still all-boy, with snuggles and love in-between. Recently, while out dove hunting with his father and almost in tears, my son informed his Daddy-O that he doesn't want to grow up and move away from us. EVER. While I love this boy's snuggles and affection, deep down I'm wondering if he will still be with us when he's thirty.

Life for us, the parents, marches on, with church youth group starting (Sunday nights are a BLAST!), small group, school/school board meetings back in full-bloom, elder meetings, school functions to be at, work remaining busy, etc. We are getting a few house projects done and planning some small ones for the fall, and I'm looking forward to the ever-dropping temps! Never thought I'd say that, being a lover of the warm weather, but I seriously felt like an oven this summer.


And me...well, I'm just large, and getting larger by the day. That seems to be the word I use when people ask how I'm doing and they can't see me - "I'm large. We are having either another big boy or a chubby girl. How's it going out there?"


Here I am, two days shy of being 5 months along:

 (About 90% of my wardrobe is courtesy of friend Sarah and sister-in-law Shila. No, seriously...)

The bambino is healthy and growing steadily, measuring about two weeks bigger then he/she should right now. I'm being told by our nice friends and family that I'm "all belly", sticking straight out the front, looking good. However, when I asked my honest and realistic almost-seven-year-old daughter if I looked pregnant from the back, she informed me that my butt is big, and that it's because I'm pregnant. Eh...the poor kid doesn't know she's been blessed with the Puerto Rican behind as well, so she'll have it someday, too.


More updates to come!

1st grade and more...

So many "firsts" this week...


Monday: The first day of 1st grade for my first-born. And the first time she is in school all.day.long. *sigh* I miss that kid.



Today: The first time Danae is buying lunch at school. She gets to pick a day each week and was SO excited to be a big kid and buy it today.

Tomorrow: We pick up our first minivan. Hello, world of minivan drivers! We tried to avoid it, but there's no way to slam three car seats across the back of our beloved Outback. So, we said goodbye to her and meet our new/used ride tomorrow afternoon.



Throughout the week: feeling light punches and kicks from the child within for the first time. Love this feeling. :)


Hope you are enjoying your last week of August! One more beach day for us, and then I say bring on the Fall!