35 weeks down...

I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has gone by. I guess it shouldn't surprise me either. Not long after I discovered I was pregnant Aaron applied for the job with the State Department. He interviewed for it right before Christmas, interviewed again right before New Years, then got the job offer January 8. The next few months was a whirlwind of finding a new home, getting our 1st home prepared to attempt to sell in Michigan (still working on that one), packing up, getting the kids prepared and excited, phone calls, internet searches, finding a preschool, etc. etc. All of a sudden it's May 21 and she'll be here in just a few short weeks.
I headed to the doctor today and am not quite 1 cm dialated. I'll take it...it's something. In 2 weeks I'll want to see a lot more progress! I also talked with the doc about inducing. I would love it if I could schedule so that someone from our family could be here with Max & Molly. I am really nervous about leaving the kids. I know that they would just be fine with one of our neighbors...they are just my Max & Molly. I keep thinking about how I felt when I was pregnant with Molly and how unfair I felt it was to bring another little person into his world. The kids seem very excited about her. They keep asking, "Can we let her out yet momma?" I tell them that she needs to gain a little more weight before we let her out. Max then asked, "How about 10 pounds?" I don't think so!!! I was think adding a few to 4 lbs. and call it good. I do often wonder what their 2 little minds think about this person inside of their momma? We shall soon find out.
We spent the morning at the doctor and then played bubbles outside. The pic is from this afternoon. I love it when Max shows just how much he loves his sister....b/c I just don't know how much longer that's going to last. Hopefully forever, but I'm sure that there will be a few years in between where they don't like each other so much. Somedays they really remind me of my brother and me. Just as long as they end up being as close as my brother and I are now I'll be ok with the in between stage.

A few prayers for tonight...
Lord, please be with my grandpa tomorrow as he starts his first round of radiation. Please let him feel how much you love him while he is getting his treatment and alone with his thoughts.
Please be with my dear friend as she sits and waits as patiently as she can on you and your plan for her. You are the true healer....please be with all of those who need to feel your love and arms. Amen.

"I'll pray about it..."

This little dialougue is exactly why I've started this blog...so that I don't forget times like this.

Max has been such a good boy the last couple of days...obeying, saying "yes, ma'am & yes sir", cleaning up when I ask him, and choosing the good choices vs. the bad choices. His sister...not so much. I love her to pieces, but today I had no idea what to do with her and felt like an awful mother at the end of the day. My goal in life right now is to raise kind & respectful children. Today I felt like I failed with Molly. Oh, I digress...back to Max. Tonight Max, Aaron, & Molly played "Agent Secret" from Backyardigans. They had so much fun. I hid the 3 secret containers (2 sippy cups and Max's yellow cup). Max was Tyrone, Aaron was Pablo, and Molly was the Lady in Pink. After they were done playing they crawled into bed. I was working on organizing my special scrapbooking room (the hall closet next to their bedroom) when I heard Max tell Aaron that it was too hard to go to sleep because he wanted to stay awake. Aaron told him to think about what he wanted to do tomorrow and when he got home they would do it. Max thought about it for a second and said, "ok daddy, I am going to pray to Jesus about it". I almost started crying. My sweet boy. He and Molly only talked for about a minute or so and then they were both fast asleep. All of the crazy sassy stuff Molly did today just melted away when he said those words. I'm pretty sure that one of the reasons he has been so good lately is because he sees what a little snot his sister is being. I'll take what I can get. And God only gives us what we can handle right? So this little creature inside of me has to come into the world with a halo right? I think my mom is getting her wish that I have a daughter just like me.

Enjoying our KY weekends...

Our trip to Holly Bay Recreation Area was a hit after we actually found it. Aaron said he knew where he was going and that I didn't have to look it up on-line even though I had already googled it. So we packed a lunch, some wipes, a diaper, and an extra pair of Max's underwear and we were off. I soon discovered that Aaron really had no idea where he was going. He couldn't believe that I didn't seem annoyed at all at the fact that we just kept driving an driving...I was actually a little surprised at it myself. I must of known that something good was going to happen that was better than any lecture I could have given him about researching directions. A few seconds later Molly told piped up from the backseat, "Daddy, my tummy hurts". My kids don't get sick very often, but when they say that their tummies hurt you better watch out because something very bad is about to happen at one end or the other of their bodies. A few short minutes later Molly barfs all over herself. At least it was all over herself and not the entire backseat. I figured that Molly regurgitating was enough punishment for Aaron. So we pull over and I use every single wipe to clean her up, pull off the shirt she is wearing, and send Aaron into my giant mom bag for a new shirt. OF COURSE, there is no shirt in there. I have 2 pairs of pants and a pair of underwear. SO...her hero, daddy, takes off one of his tees and puts it on her. He even tied the side knot for her. I actually had some string in my bag and we tied the sleeves up on her shoulder. It did the trick for the afternoon and besides a good sunburn on her right shoulder (the t-shirt didn't stay up that well on that side) all was right with the world. They had a terrific day...eating lunch, playing on the playground, throwing rocks into the water, playing ball....Aaron and I even threw around the softball.

Today we headed to Lexington to try a new church. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this one, I think we just more at home at the last one we visited. I would really like to start a bible study here and the reason (excuse) I can come up with for still not having done it is that I am having a baby soon. I know that that is probably a good enough reason, but I still feel I'm using it as an excuse. Maybe once the baby is here and on a bit of a routine I'll feel better about it. Of course I have the fear working in me too. Maybe if I would just pray about it like I am supposed to, He would give me the answer I'm looking for.

Our afternoon was then filled with planting flowers and seeds. I definitely don't have the green thumb like my mom, but I usually try every spring. The kids had a good time and I most enjoy taking pics of them and have every intention of scrapbooking their every move. Oh and speaking of scrapbooking, I am on a mission to create my own scrapping space in our tiny hall closet. I just need a few more shelves and I should be all set. I can't wait to start working on everything...no if my kids would just give me the time to scrap I'd be all set!

how many baby clothes can actually fit into the washer?

It's amazing to me how many newborn clothes actually fit into our washer....then our dryer...and then the folding....it's never-ending. Pulling those onesies and bibs out of that bottomess pit we call a laundry basket....I think it took the entire episode of General Hospital today. However, since I am doing my best to honor God in everything I do...I truly thank him not only for blessing us and entrusting us once again with one of His children , but thank him for all that we are able to provide to the three of them.
A few prayers for tonight...
Lord, please be with my mom as her knee heals and help her get around quickly and safely. Be with my dear friend as she again tries to have a baby. I know you have a grand plan for her God...please reveal it to her soon. Especially be with my grandparents as they head down this new path of radiation. Please let them feel your arms around them both and keep my grandpa free of any pain. In you Lord, Amen.

and the rain just keeps coming...

Today it seemed as if it was 7 o'clock at night all day long. We went to bed listening to rain and woke up the same way. It rained all day long. We set off for the farmers market in London, but since there was so much rain there was one lone guy out there with a few flowers. We then headed to the Redbox to get a movie and McD's to get lunch before heading home to have an indoor picnic and watch Stuart Little. We went through some baby clothes. We didn't get very far before the kids started discovering their old clothes and started putting them on themselves. I couldn't help but snap a few pics of them.

Being stuck inside all day left me a little too much time to be with my thoughts. Yes, the kids interrupted them often, but it didn't take long for them to return. 3 kids?!? Really? How can I do that when I can't seem to handle the 2 I have some days? You have no choice...she is coming. 3 kids?!? Really? What are you complaining about? What about those that have 7 or 8 kids? And what about those that have no kids at all? 3 kids...how did we get so lucky? so blessed? what is she going to be like? Will she be protective of me like her brother? Will she be sassy like her sister? Or will she be completely different than both of them? I can't wait to meet her. 3 kids? God is so good.

Our prayers have always been answered in one way or another. Raising our kids in the country...a move to Kentucky. A long-awaited job with the State Department...our move to Kentucky. Looking for a church home....I know that He will bring our family right where we belong.

Oh, and before Max went to bed he put his hands on my face and said, "momma, I just love you". 3 kids?!? Thank you, Lord.

My first post...

After weeks of reading various blogs and adding them to my favorites, I decided that a blog would be the perfect place to jot down all of the thoughts that seem to go thru my mind on a daily basis. As my kids grow they do the funniest things, say the sweetest things, and come up with things from left field. I have already started to forget many of Max's most special moments. I want to remember EVERYTHING! I have some written down on scattered pieces of little paper that could be found anywhere from our house in Michigan to our new home in Kentucky to a box or bin in the storage unit down the street.

Something before I forget...last Friday the kids and I waited patiently all day for Aaron to arrive home so that we could pick up our pizza and head to the park to eat and play. Finally, he pulled up and we were off. Now anyone who knows me at all is well aware of the fact that when I get tired and/or hungry you better find me a place to rest my head and/or find me something to eat because I get VERY cranky. Well about 6 o'clock on Friday evening was one of those times. We got to the park and there were about 4 baseball games going on and very limited parking space. I spotted one that Aaron apprently did not. I, of course, gave him my evil eye and he slammed on the breaks to do a reversal without saying anything at all. I, on the other hand, did not quite keep my mouth shut. Something about "what are you doing? where are you going? there was a perfectly good spot right back there" etc. etc. My sweet husband knowing that I was just hungry did as he was told. Then, sticking up for his daddy from the backseat, Max speaks up. He looks at me with burrowed eyebrows and says, "Momma, don't be bossy." I giggled of course and then felt bad b/c he was right...I was being bossy. He continuted, "You are being bossy to daddy". I'm sure that he is going to be just fine having his daddy be his only male confidant in the house after his 2nd sister arrives.

My funny story on Molly for the day started in the parking lot at the hospital for a doctors visit this morning. Finding a spot in that parking lot is like finding a needle in a haystack. We finally found one....the farthest spot possible...and it started pouring. I told Molly that I had to carry her b/c of the rain and she handled the news much better than usual. She said ok and jumped up in my arms. We were speed walking thru the parking lot and came across an SUV on the hunt for a parking spot. My sweet 2 year old daughter, with the finesse of a crossing guard, sticks her arms straight out and hand straight up and yells "STOP". Thank goodness the woman behind the wheel laughed and waved us on. Yes, it's cute now, but what about a few years from now. Only the good Lord knows.

My first photos for my first post....pics of the kids and their daddy at dinner and dessert on the back porch...these are the days.

Other random thoughts to keep thinking about....our church home....where is it now that we are in Kentucky? Bible study...why am I putting off starting one? I had all of these expectations of myself for our "new" life down here in KY. Honoring the Lord in everything I do....through honoring my husband, dealing with my kids in a calm and collected way, being gracious always....

Building my relationship with Him...I remember when I was at our old church 3 days a week...oh how I didn't worry then....everything was put in His hands. When will I find that again?