I stand convicted to contribute to my own blog more frequently. Boy, am I terrible at that. At the urging of a sweet friend, here I sit. In front of my laptop. My problem with blogging is that there is always something "more important" to do. Laundry to be folded. Spit up to clean. Stickers to do with Emily. Homework (yuck). A husband who wants to spend time with me. A trip to the grocery store. Have to squeeze a shower in somewhere. Dinner to be cooked. Meals to plan. Bible study to go to. Phone calls to make. Text messages to return. Baths to give. A floor to vacuum. Toilets to scrub. The cutest baby ever to make funny faces with. The list goes on and on. Blogging just never seems to make the cut. On an average day, for some strange reason, I am inclined to put showering higher on the to-do list than blogging. Well, not today!
I sat down and typed in my own blog address. I started reading. I love love love that i've chronicled particular events in the way that I have. I will always cherish having such a thoughtful record of our life events. And for that reason, maybe i'll try to add blogging to the list.
I'm still trying to get settled in our new town. Having two kids under age 3 and being only 22 years old are proving to get in the way of making more-than-casual friends. If I let myself, I can get extremely discouraged by those two facts. If I let myself, I can go down the thought-road of "I'm only 22 and i'm almost constantly stuck in the house with two children who are utterly dependent on me for their every need and want. What are other 22 year olds doing? What are my friends doing? They are sleeping in on the weekends. Hanging out with their friends or husbands whenever they want. Going to see movies at the theatre. Going shopping *alone*. They have alone time! They can go to the bathroom alone!" The thoughts can go on and on. The harsh reality is that I made a decision when I was 19. That led to another decision--to have my baby. So, as a 20-year-old, I became a mother. Let me just say that I don't think many 20 year olds out there are truly aware of what becoming a mother means. I definitely wasn't. I thought so, but just now am I somehow realizing what a mother's life is like. Perhaps it was the second kid that changed things so much. With just one, you can go places, do more things, see more people. But with two kids, and a husband who works evening shifts, the possibilities are seriously limited.
I have to seriously limit how often I let my mind ask those questions and think that way. A pity party isn't extremely constructive. The question is: what to do about all of that? I mean, a girl's got to keep her sanity somehow. Well, I know that my decision to have my baby is and will continue to be rewarded. And I couldn't find a more perfect little boy anywhere in the world than sweet Anderson. (I could go into an entire discussion on how awesome my kids are, but i'll save that for another time). Simply stated, although maybe a tad high maintence in comparison to others, my kids have super awesome personalities and are a blast to be around. Their curiousity, "in-to-everything-ness", and bright minds will lead them down pretty exciting life paths, I'm sure of it. Beyond that, I am right where I am supposed to be in life. And i'm fine with that. Granted, I do think that people could be a bit more friendly or reach out a little more--relationships can't be one-sided.
Until my life changes a bit and my kids get a bit older, i'll be here.
Tending to my list.
Some may think that what i've described resembles a nightmare for someone in their early 20s. Some days I feel that way. But most days I view my work as lifelong. I'm not chasing after the wind. I see the benefits of staying home with my children and being a slave to their needs. I see how it is benefiting them. I know that they will reap the benefits from my sacrifices. And that makes it all worth it.
I think that eliminating something from that list might do a world of good for me. Speaking of the list...I have exactly 10 weeks until I will complete my bachelor's degree. Most kids go to college for 4 years, live in dorms, and are solely focused on their academics and light-hearted social life. I have a tendency to be hard on myself for it taking me 5 years to finish my degree when *if i had just stayed on track from the get-go*, I would have been finished a year ago. Then reality sets in. And I realize that it has only taken me one year longer than your average college student and in that year I have had two babies, moved eight times, acquired a husband, bought a home, and held four different jobs. Not too shabby.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Good Stuff
The big huge life events just keep happening before I can manage to document them via this blog. The next in line (although two months late) is Emily's adoption. Since our marriage in February of 2010, we have been working with our attorney to secure the adoption of Emily. After a year and a half of painful waiting, on July 27th, 2011, we met Jonathan's family at the courthouse in McMinn County and awaited our hearing. Shortly after our lawyer arrived, we were summoned into the judge's chambers and seated in front of her. She asked if we were truly ready for the commitment and explained that after her decision, Jonathan will forever and always be Emily's father in the eyes of the law. We agreed that we understood the reality of it all and she swiped her magic pen across that petition and made it all official. After all that time, on that beautifully sunny July morning, Emily became Emily Kate Schoap. Now and forever.
Adoption is a beautiful thing. It reminds me (and I pray it always does) that we are all adopted into one big family. I just know that my little Emily will have a super special understanding of her Heavenly Father's love for her by the example that her now-earthly father has provided for her. And THAT is good stuff. :)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Introducing Baby Anderson
On Sunday, July 3, it was my turn to make breakfast for our Sunday School class. Saturday night, I prepared the casserole and had it in the refrigerator ready to be baked early the next morning. We woke up, had showers, and headed off to church. We dropped Emily off at the nursery and then went to our class. After that, we headed down to the sanctuary for the service. As soon as the service started, I noticed some mild contractions. I contracted throughout the pregnancy pretty regularly, so I didn't think much of it. And, these were not very painful at all compared to other ones that I had felt before. I started noting when I felt them--about every 5 minutes. We went to eat with our Sunday School class after church and they became a bit stronger. Nothing I couldn't tolerate though. When we got home, I changed into comfortable clothes, drank a lot of water, and laid down to try to nap. The contractions eased up and became much more irregular. So...of course I thought it was false labor.
At about 30 weeks, I had an ultra sound that showed the baby was breech. About 4 weeks later, I drove down to Calhoun, GA to meet Jonathan upon his homecoming from his National Guard annual training. That night, I had some complications that landed us in the ER. I was directly sent to L & D and hooked up to monitors. Turns out, I was in labor, but thankfully it was progressing slowly enough that I was given a shot to stop it. It worked. My OB back at home told me that the labor was started because the baby had turned from breech to head down position and that can stimulate contractions. She even did an ultra sound to confirm and told me that it was indeed true. I was extremely excited and hopeful.
Now, fast forward a couple weeks and back to the start of this blog (how unorganized am i??). So, that Sunday, I was sure that it was false labor. However, there was a nagging thought in my mind that the baby could still be breech and if I was in labor, by chance, it could be very dangerous for both of us if my water broke and baby was breech. I called my OB's office--no answer on a Sunday and turns out they don't have an answering service! How convenient! Next, I called the L & D at Skyridge Medical Center (where I was supposed to deliver). The nurse I talked to said "Honey, I can't give you any advice at all. You'll have to get a hold of your dr." Thanks a ton. I started exploring other options...something in my heart just wouldn't let the issue rest at "false labor". I got a hold of a lady from our church who works in L & D here in Athens. Although I didn't know her at all, I called her up and explained all of the personal details involved. And she was MEGA-helpful. She told me to go into Athens hospital just to get checked out so that I could have some peace of mind. She said it's better to be safe than sorry and that it is totally acceptable for me to go to a hospital without them having my records just to be sure. So, J and I and Emily bee-bopped out the door on a beautiful Sunday afternoon "just to go get checked out". Before we left, I grabbed my camera just in case.
We got to the hospital to discover that my church friend had called ahead and told them I was coming. I walked in the doors and the nurses said "Are you Amanda?". How convenient! They wouldn't let Em back in the triage room so we called our friends Wesley and Sarah for babysitting help. They came promptly to get Emily (life savers!) and took her home to play. J and I waited in the triage room. I was sure I would be sent home soon, because those contractions seemed to disappear at first and I was dilated at just one cm--totally normal for 3rd trimester. Buuut I was wrong. The contractions came back and the nurse called in the doc on call. Turns out, the doc on call was the doc that I had seen at the very beginning of the pregnancy before I decided to switch practices. Talk about awkward! But, luckily, she was my favorite and I was SO relieved to see her face walk in the door. It was about 40 minutes from the time the nurse checked me to the time the doc got there and checked me again. I had gone from "a fingertip" to 4 cm in that short period of time. They rushed for the ultra sound machine to check baby's position and lo and behold, he was still breech. Next, all the surgeons and anesthesiologists were called in as well as a pediatrician. I was given an IV (horrendous experience and added nothing to the peaceful feeling I was trying to conjure up), papers were thrown at me right and left to sign, three people asking questions about my entire life history, and a man in scrubs came in to tell me about the risks of c-sections and spinals. Wonderful. I kept asking "Are you sure this is real labor?". The doc said so. I had time to call my mom and say, "Mom, I'm in the hospital. I'm in labor and he's still breech. I'm about to go back for a c-section. Can you come down please?" Ha. She hopped in the car and headed right down.
Meanwhile, Emily was passed over to Aunt Missy (another lifesaver) for an impromptu play date. I'm so thankful she was oblivious to our situation.
So, off we went into the operating room. By the way, I had prayed and prayed and prayed (etc) that God would somehow turn the baby in my womb. I wanted to avoid a c-section more than anything. Oh how I was terrified of a c-section. More than anything, I didnt want my future child-having options to be so limited! But, despite my earnest prayers, the Lord had different plans. I'm still having to trust him in that entire situation when I think back on it.
Anyways, Anderson arrived at 7:03 on July 3rd. He weighed 5 lbs and 5 oz and was 17 inches long. For being born at 35 weeks, I was happy about his weight. I got to see him briefly while I was on the operating table before he was whisked away to the nursery. When I got out of surgery, they told me that he was having a lot of trouble breathing and that they would need to transport him to a NICU asap. We requested that he be sent to Erlanger in Chattanooga because my sister-in-law was working in the NICU that very night. It was another hour or so later and the helicopter transport team was there and had him in an incubator, with an IV, and on a nasal cannula. They tried to wheel his huge stretcher into my room so that I could see him, but it was too large and I just got a glimpse of his little feet. Jonathan and Wesley left from the hospital where I was and drove to Erlanger. They met the helicopter there. By this time, my mom had arrived to see the baby and take care of Emily (who was all cozy and warm in her own bed through all of this). And Connie stayed with me in the hospital that first night.
My sister-in-law was his nurse in the NICU that night and was able to give him his first little sponge bath (of which she sent me video). Less than 24 hours after my c-section the doctors decided to release me so that I could go and meet my son. I was definitely feeling uneasy about leaving the hospital so soon, but knew nothing could keep me away from my baby. Jonathan drove me home, packed my bags, and then we headed to Chattanooga. Talk about a painful car ride! But we made it and I got to hold my Anderson for the first time that night--totally worth it.
Anderson was in the NICU for almost two weeks and battled respiratory distress syndrome and bradycardia. He took a bit longer than expected which probably signals that he was a bit earlier than my dates allowed. (We were never sure of the dates in the first place). It is estimated that he was about 35 weeks when born--possibly a late 34. His weight dropped to four and a half lbs in the NICU and he was back up to an even 5 when we were discharged. We spent the last night at the hospital in a lovely "care by parent" room. Not. It was terrible. Two chairs that kind of folded out into a somewhat flat sleeping surface, a terribly dirty pink bathroom, and the entire room was about the size of a nice hotel bathroom. Oh well. We were just glad to be with Andy. The next day, we took him home. What a feeling!
Now, he is above 7 lbs and is doing wonderfully. He eats all the time and is growing so fast. His preemie clothes and diapers are too small so we've officially graduated to newborn size! He is a wonderful baby and such a blessing to us. We have two beautiful children!
Emily has adjusted well. She loves to give her "baby Anderson" kisses. She is learning to be gentle and use a whisper when he is sleeping near her. She is a wonderful big sister.
I love that we are a family of four. It feels so...right. I love having my own little family unit and children to raise with my husband. It is a privilege to be entrusted with such precious little lives.
This is one of my favorite verses:
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
Psalm 127: 3-5
At about 30 weeks, I had an ultra sound that showed the baby was breech. About 4 weeks later, I drove down to Calhoun, GA to meet Jonathan upon his homecoming from his National Guard annual training. That night, I had some complications that landed us in the ER. I was directly sent to L & D and hooked up to monitors. Turns out, I was in labor, but thankfully it was progressing slowly enough that I was given a shot to stop it. It worked. My OB back at home told me that the labor was started because the baby had turned from breech to head down position and that can stimulate contractions. She even did an ultra sound to confirm and told me that it was indeed true. I was extremely excited and hopeful.
Now, fast forward a couple weeks and back to the start of this blog (how unorganized am i??). So, that Sunday, I was sure that it was false labor. However, there was a nagging thought in my mind that the baby could still be breech and if I was in labor, by chance, it could be very dangerous for both of us if my water broke and baby was breech. I called my OB's office--no answer on a Sunday and turns out they don't have an answering service! How convenient! Next, I called the L & D at Skyridge Medical Center (where I was supposed to deliver). The nurse I talked to said "Honey, I can't give you any advice at all. You'll have to get a hold of your dr." Thanks a ton. I started exploring other options...something in my heart just wouldn't let the issue rest at "false labor". I got a hold of a lady from our church who works in L & D here in Athens. Although I didn't know her at all, I called her up and explained all of the personal details involved. And she was MEGA-helpful. She told me to go into Athens hospital just to get checked out so that I could have some peace of mind. She said it's better to be safe than sorry and that it is totally acceptable for me to go to a hospital without them having my records just to be sure. So, J and I and Emily bee-bopped out the door on a beautiful Sunday afternoon "just to go get checked out". Before we left, I grabbed my camera just in case.
We got to the hospital to discover that my church friend had called ahead and told them I was coming. I walked in the doors and the nurses said "Are you Amanda?". How convenient! They wouldn't let Em back in the triage room so we called our friends Wesley and Sarah for babysitting help. They came promptly to get Emily (life savers!) and took her home to play. J and I waited in the triage room. I was sure I would be sent home soon, because those contractions seemed to disappear at first and I was dilated at just one cm--totally normal for 3rd trimester. Buuut I was wrong. The contractions came back and the nurse called in the doc on call. Turns out, the doc on call was the doc that I had seen at the very beginning of the pregnancy before I decided to switch practices. Talk about awkward! But, luckily, she was my favorite and I was SO relieved to see her face walk in the door. It was about 40 minutes from the time the nurse checked me to the time the doc got there and checked me again. I had gone from "a fingertip" to 4 cm in that short period of time. They rushed for the ultra sound machine to check baby's position and lo and behold, he was still breech. Next, all the surgeons and anesthesiologists were called in as well as a pediatrician. I was given an IV (horrendous experience and added nothing to the peaceful feeling I was trying to conjure up), papers were thrown at me right and left to sign, three people asking questions about my entire life history, and a man in scrubs came in to tell me about the risks of c-sections and spinals. Wonderful. I kept asking "Are you sure this is real labor?". The doc said so. I had time to call my mom and say, "Mom, I'm in the hospital. I'm in labor and he's still breech. I'm about to go back for a c-section. Can you come down please?" Ha. She hopped in the car and headed right down.
Meanwhile, Emily was passed over to Aunt Missy (another lifesaver) for an impromptu play date. I'm so thankful she was oblivious to our situation.
So, off we went into the operating room. By the way, I had prayed and prayed and prayed (etc) that God would somehow turn the baby in my womb. I wanted to avoid a c-section more than anything. Oh how I was terrified of a c-section. More than anything, I didnt want my future child-having options to be so limited! But, despite my earnest prayers, the Lord had different plans. I'm still having to trust him in that entire situation when I think back on it.
Anyways, Anderson arrived at 7:03 on July 3rd. He weighed 5 lbs and 5 oz and was 17 inches long. For being born at 35 weeks, I was happy about his weight. I got to see him briefly while I was on the operating table before he was whisked away to the nursery. When I got out of surgery, they told me that he was having a lot of trouble breathing and that they would need to transport him to a NICU asap. We requested that he be sent to Erlanger in Chattanooga because my sister-in-law was working in the NICU that very night. It was another hour or so later and the helicopter transport team was there and had him in an incubator, with an IV, and on a nasal cannula. They tried to wheel his huge stretcher into my room so that I could see him, but it was too large and I just got a glimpse of his little feet. Jonathan and Wesley left from the hospital where I was and drove to Erlanger. They met the helicopter there. By this time, my mom had arrived to see the baby and take care of Emily (who was all cozy and warm in her own bed through all of this). And Connie stayed with me in the hospital that first night.
My sister-in-law was his nurse in the NICU that night and was able to give him his first little sponge bath (of which she sent me video). Less than 24 hours after my c-section the doctors decided to release me so that I could go and meet my son. I was definitely feeling uneasy about leaving the hospital so soon, but knew nothing could keep me away from my baby. Jonathan drove me home, packed my bags, and then we headed to Chattanooga. Talk about a painful car ride! But we made it and I got to hold my Anderson for the first time that night--totally worth it.
Anderson was in the NICU for almost two weeks and battled respiratory distress syndrome and bradycardia. He took a bit longer than expected which probably signals that he was a bit earlier than my dates allowed. (We were never sure of the dates in the first place). It is estimated that he was about 35 weeks when born--possibly a late 34. His weight dropped to four and a half lbs in the NICU and he was back up to an even 5 when we were discharged. We spent the last night at the hospital in a lovely "care by parent" room. Not. It was terrible. Two chairs that kind of folded out into a somewhat flat sleeping surface, a terribly dirty pink bathroom, and the entire room was about the size of a nice hotel bathroom. Oh well. We were just glad to be with Andy. The next day, we took him home. What a feeling!
Now, he is above 7 lbs and is doing wonderfully. He eats all the time and is growing so fast. His preemie clothes and diapers are too small so we've officially graduated to newborn size! He is a wonderful baby and such a blessing to us. We have two beautiful children!
Emily has adjusted well. She loves to give her "baby Anderson" kisses. She is learning to be gentle and use a whisper when he is sleeping near her. She is a wonderful big sister.
I love that we are a family of four. It feels so...right. I love having my own little family unit and children to raise with my husband. It is a privilege to be entrusted with such precious little lives.
This is one of my favorite verses:
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
Psalm 127: 3-5
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thankful
Know what I found super comforting today? Standing in the church pew, as the pastor read the verses for his message, I noticed the words in red. I was suddenly overcome with peace by the fact that no matter the outcome of all of the issues hanging in the balance in my life, those words will always be the same. The words in His word are constant. They will still be there and still hold the same significance (if not more) with every passing crisis, defeat, or victory. Today I am very thankful for the constant and unchanging nature of God and the word that He gave us to read. Now... if I can just remember that when the storms of fearful thoughts come.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Count Your Blessings
So, I'm pretty sure the last time I wrote a blog I had around 100 days left on that baby countdown over there -->. How did it get down to only 48 days left so stinkin' fast? I think that means I'm officially bad at keeping a blog.
In the midst of trying times, it helps me to count my blessings. It helps to sit back and realize the little things in life that make me really happy. Know what I absolutely love?
I love sitting with a cup of coffee in the morning and seeing visible sun streams coming in the window. Whether it be from flying dust or smoke from residue burning in the oven while breakfast cooks, I love it. The moving particles of air make it seem like the sun rays are dancing for me.
I love riding in the car, windows down, a song about Jesus on the radio (maybe even contemporary!), and glancing back at Emily to notice a smile on her face and curls blowing in the wind. I love glancing at my husband, exchanging a smile, and grabbing his hand. Then I remember how close we are to meeting our first son. It's moments like these that feelings of thankfulness completely consume me.
I love driving through the mountains and noticing how high they tower above me--little old me. I feel so small at the foot of the great Smoky Mountains. And I love it. I gain perspective when I feel that small. I remember that maybe my problems aren't world-threatening and, yes, the same God that hand-crafted those mountains has hand-crafted me and my exact circumstances.
I love the internal feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment when I sit with my Bible and am truly focused on things unseen. Today's Jesus Calling excerpt reminds me that we live in a sense-driven world. We depend on our senses to lead us to truth. It's a temptation that I have to fight. My strength, my hope--my only hope--is unseen. And that should be my focus.
Have you ever been through one of those times in your life where you think thoughts like "Why do I have one more thing to deal with?" or "Haven't I been dealt enough 'bad' cards lately?" or "When is something going to finally be allowed to go my way?". Perhaps you just give up into an unashamed pity party "What's next? It can't be much worse than this.". Well, good news is...it probably can. I found myself thinking these thoughts about a week ago and quickly realized how incredibly selfish and unproductive they are. It's just so easy to think that way--so natural. But wrong.
I have a list of prayer requests a mile long. Anxiety, worry, fear, and loneliness, can easily overtake me. During this season of my life, I am being taught to trust. Not obsess, not worry, not freak out, not try to desperately hang on to any ounce of control I may think I have over a situation. Just trust. I'm to trust in no human. Not even myself. I'm to depend on no human for peace or hope. And I'm to surrender my control (like I really have any anyways). The Lord has done far too much in my life for me to hopelessly wallow in a pit of self-pity and anxiety. He has made provision for me even when I didn't care to utter his name. I am to "Consider it joy, my brethren, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides" (James 1).
And so, life goes on. We get to focus on happy things that are in our future: preparing a sweet boy's nursery, a birthday party, a sweet homecoming reunion, and time with family.
It really does help to count my blessings.
In the midst of trying times, it helps me to count my blessings. It helps to sit back and realize the little things in life that make me really happy. Know what I absolutely love?
I love sitting with a cup of coffee in the morning and seeing visible sun streams coming in the window. Whether it be from flying dust or smoke from residue burning in the oven while breakfast cooks, I love it. The moving particles of air make it seem like the sun rays are dancing for me.
I love riding in the car, windows down, a song about Jesus on the radio (maybe even contemporary!), and glancing back at Emily to notice a smile on her face and curls blowing in the wind. I love glancing at my husband, exchanging a smile, and grabbing his hand. Then I remember how close we are to meeting our first son. It's moments like these that feelings of thankfulness completely consume me.
I love driving through the mountains and noticing how high they tower above me--little old me. I feel so small at the foot of the great Smoky Mountains. And I love it. I gain perspective when I feel that small. I remember that maybe my problems aren't world-threatening and, yes, the same God that hand-crafted those mountains has hand-crafted me and my exact circumstances.
I love the internal feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment when I sit with my Bible and am truly focused on things unseen. Today's Jesus Calling excerpt reminds me that we live in a sense-driven world. We depend on our senses to lead us to truth. It's a temptation that I have to fight. My strength, my hope--my only hope--is unseen. And that should be my focus.
Have you ever been through one of those times in your life where you think thoughts like "Why do I have one more thing to deal with?" or "Haven't I been dealt enough 'bad' cards lately?" or "When is something going to finally be allowed to go my way?". Perhaps you just give up into an unashamed pity party "What's next? It can't be much worse than this.". Well, good news is...it probably can. I found myself thinking these thoughts about a week ago and quickly realized how incredibly selfish and unproductive they are. It's just so easy to think that way--so natural. But wrong.
I have a list of prayer requests a mile long. Anxiety, worry, fear, and loneliness, can easily overtake me. During this season of my life, I am being taught to trust. Not obsess, not worry, not freak out, not try to desperately hang on to any ounce of control I may think I have over a situation. Just trust. I'm to trust in no human. Not even myself. I'm to depend on no human for peace or hope. And I'm to surrender my control (like I really have any anyways). The Lord has done far too much in my life for me to hopelessly wallow in a pit of self-pity and anxiety. He has made provision for me even when I didn't care to utter his name. I am to "Consider it joy, my brethren, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides" (James 1).
And so, life goes on. We get to focus on happy things that are in our future: preparing a sweet boy's nursery, a birthday party, a sweet homecoming reunion, and time with family.
It really does help to count my blessings.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Bradford Pears, Babies, and Corn Flake Chicken
The Bradford Pear trees bloomed overnight--not good for the sinuses.
A torrential rainfall finally just broke through the gray sky. The sound of it is beautiful.
I'm not sure if this baby widget on the right here is such a good idea. Every time I check my blog, i'm reminded that a few more days have passed and all of the stuff that I haven't done that I need to do. No stress here though--we just go with the flow. Speaking of the new baby, this week, my favorite name is Hadley. Don't get your hopes up though, i'm 99% sure that will change. Still no movement of the baby besides his occasional roll over and the weird shapes my stomach takes when he does that. Emily has been blowing lots of raspberries on my stomach lately--maybe that's why he doesn't move much. :)
J is having late nights at work this week, so Em and I are getting some good quality time together. She shared her RSV with me so we have spent the last two days sharing a box of pink tissue and drinking tons of water--meaning we are also changing lots of diapers and making many many trips to the big girl potty for mommy.
We just got new couches and a new bedroom suite. It is so nice to have comfortable furniture that is strong and reliable, but the remodeling is far from over. We currently have five couches on our porch. Anyone for a sleepover?
It's time to cook dinner. Bacon mixed with some honey and a can of baked beans, corn flake and bisquick battered baked chicken, corn off the cob, and green beans (or bean beans for Emily).
A torrential rainfall finally just broke through the gray sky. The sound of it is beautiful.
I'm not sure if this baby widget on the right here is such a good idea. Every time I check my blog, i'm reminded that a few more days have passed and all of the stuff that I haven't done that I need to do. No stress here though--we just go with the flow. Speaking of the new baby, this week, my favorite name is Hadley. Don't get your hopes up though, i'm 99% sure that will change. Still no movement of the baby besides his occasional roll over and the weird shapes my stomach takes when he does that. Emily has been blowing lots of raspberries on my stomach lately--maybe that's why he doesn't move much. :)
J is having late nights at work this week, so Em and I are getting some good quality time together. She shared her RSV with me so we have spent the last two days sharing a box of pink tissue and drinking tons of water--meaning we are also changing lots of diapers and making many many trips to the big girl potty for mommy.
We just got new couches and a new bedroom suite. It is so nice to have comfortable furniture that is strong and reliable, but the remodeling is far from over. We currently have five couches on our porch. Anyone for a sleepover?
It's time to cook dinner. Bacon mixed with some honey and a can of baked beans, corn flake and bisquick battered baked chicken, corn off the cob, and green beans (or bean beans for Emily).
Friday, February 25, 2011
Updates
I suppose it's time for a baby update! Baby # 1 isn't much of a baby anymore. She's a toddler rapidly approaching two years old. How crazy is that? I was prepared for newborn and baby stage, but toddler stage? Not so much. Emily is smack dab in the middle of the part of life where she is learning what she can and cannot get away with. Boundaries. Whew is that exhausting--even just to type it.
She's also in the phase where her sweet little voice strongly resembles what you hear on a broken or scratched record. I love that she is talking. She really is smart and it often amazes me what she remembers and repeats. She repeats EVERYTHING. She has the sweetest little voice and way of saying words, but after thirty straight minutes of "meow, meow, meow" (what she says when she wants to watch her favorite Baby Einstein video with a lion on it which she mistakes for a cat even if she's already watched it three times that day), I can get a little on edge.
She still sleeps about twelve hours at night and two during the day. Can't complain one bit there! I really do love her sleeping schedule. It hasn't been easy through the past two years to establish, but it was well worth it.
My final tidbit about the Emmers is that the situation with her glasses is not going well. The first two days were wonderful--miraculous. Now, she barely leaves them on for five seconds before yanking them off. She wants nothing to do with them. I'm not sure what else to try. I know it's important--vital--for her to wear these glasses for her development, but what do I do to get her to wear them? At this point, my goal is to not make it a point of stress or contention for either one of us. I just dont see what stressing out is going to do for either one of us. I want her glasses to be a positive thing, not something she is spanked over. But, it's also equally important that she learn to wear them. Stuck in a rut here.
Baby in-utero is doing fine, I suppose. (Pardon my blank expression in the above picture--I really am thrilled about this precious baby boy.) He still doesn't have a name. Poor guy. I have just started thinking about what I want his nursery to look like. So far I'm thinking a fun Noah's Ark theme. I haven't even begun to think of a registry. I still haven't felt movement. I have time, I suppose. I'm just itching to feel the little guy. That was my favorite part of carrying Emily. My last dr. appt. was fine. The next one is in a week or so and I trust everything will be fine again.
Jonathan is almost halfway finished with the police academy, which puts us one step closer to having a normal job and truly settling in here. There is still some level of uncertainty in my mind about living arrangements and hesitation to get too attached to our church and Sunday school until we see where he will find employment after the academy. We really do love where we live--so much. But, we are also trying to keep our hearts and minds open to other options because we truly have no idea where the Lord will lead J to work after he is certified.
I am feeling very ambitious lately. I'm dying to get ahold of a sewing machine to start making pillow case dresses for my dear friend Sheryl and her ministry in the Philippines. And a few summer dresses for Emily as well. I also want to work on drapes for baby boy's room as well as our soon-to-be remodeled bedroom. Maybe even some for the living room! Also, I want to make a scrap book for Emily. I have all of her memorable items and keepsakes from birth until now in a cute little pink box. I'd love to have a book made that she can keep for the rest of ever. And just a side note: It's absolutely amazing what a little rearranging of the furniture can do for a drab-feeling-stagnant kind of day. Well, those are my thoughts for the day. Thanks for reading!
She's also in the phase where her sweet little voice strongly resembles what you hear on a broken or scratched record. I love that she is talking. She really is smart and it often amazes me what she remembers and repeats. She repeats EVERYTHING. She has the sweetest little voice and way of saying words, but after thirty straight minutes of "meow, meow, meow" (what she says when she wants to watch her favorite Baby Einstein video with a lion on it which she mistakes for a cat even if she's already watched it three times that day), I can get a little on edge.
She still sleeps about twelve hours at night and two during the day. Can't complain one bit there! I really do love her sleeping schedule. It hasn't been easy through the past two years to establish, but it was well worth it.
My final tidbit about the Emmers is that the situation with her glasses is not going well. The first two days were wonderful--miraculous. Now, she barely leaves them on for five seconds before yanking them off. She wants nothing to do with them. I'm not sure what else to try. I know it's important--vital--for her to wear these glasses for her development, but what do I do to get her to wear them? At this point, my goal is to not make it a point of stress or contention for either one of us. I just dont see what stressing out is going to do for either one of us. I want her glasses to be a positive thing, not something she is spanked over. But, it's also equally important that she learn to wear them. Stuck in a rut here.
Baby in-utero is doing fine, I suppose. (Pardon my blank expression in the above picture--I really am thrilled about this precious baby boy.) He still doesn't have a name. Poor guy. I have just started thinking about what I want his nursery to look like. So far I'm thinking a fun Noah's Ark theme. I haven't even begun to think of a registry. I still haven't felt movement. I have time, I suppose. I'm just itching to feel the little guy. That was my favorite part of carrying Emily. My last dr. appt. was fine. The next one is in a week or so and I trust everything will be fine again.
Jonathan is almost halfway finished with the police academy, which puts us one step closer to having a normal job and truly settling in here. There is still some level of uncertainty in my mind about living arrangements and hesitation to get too attached to our church and Sunday school until we see where he will find employment after the academy. We really do love where we live--so much. But, we are also trying to keep our hearts and minds open to other options because we truly have no idea where the Lord will lead J to work after he is certified.
I am feeling very ambitious lately. I'm dying to get ahold of a sewing machine to start making pillow case dresses for my dear friend Sheryl and her ministry in the Philippines. And a few summer dresses for Emily as well. I also want to work on drapes for baby boy's room as well as our soon-to-be remodeled bedroom. Maybe even some for the living room! Also, I want to make a scrap book for Emily. I have all of her memorable items and keepsakes from birth until now in a cute little pink box. I'd love to have a book made that she can keep for the rest of ever. And just a side note: It's absolutely amazing what a little rearranging of the furniture can do for a drab-feeling-stagnant kind of day. Well, those are my thoughts for the day. Thanks for reading!
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