38 Weeks and Chomping at the Bit

*Pregnancy musings interspersed with some pinspirations…

I am so done with this pregnancy!  I think it seems to be taking so much longer because it’s the middle of winter, I’m tired of taking care of the kiddos and working overtime every day and I’m almost always in some sort of discomfort or pain so I’m not getting any sleep.

“For this child I prayed.”
credit: flickr.com

The other day on the way home from an errand Gwen pipes up from the back seat, in a very serious voice: “When the baby comes I’m not going to get any sleep.”  What?!  I’ll be the one not getting any sleep, thank you very much, and I’ve had lots of practice!

Cute newborn photo; made some similar headbands.
credit: etsy.com

I’m trying to keep my spirits up, keep things in perspective, but these final weeks especially seem to be taking forever.  It doesn’t help that Josiah, my last one, was born at thirty-seven weeks and I’ve passed that mark. *sigh*

baby in cowboy boots
credit: iheartfaces.com

To be honest, there wasn’t a lot to prepare to get ready for the baby – “been there, done that.”  I had to borrow some things from friends, get things out of storage and so forth, but I don’t really need stuff.  If anything, I’ve been getting rid of things to simplify!

Organizing keepsakes
credit: aliedwards.com

My hospital bag is pretty much packed, everything is set – I’m just waiting till she’s ready to come out!  I asked my husband the other day, “Is it bad that I want to be in pain?”, hoping that contractions will pick up into actual labor.  Of course, I may feel differently once that times comes!  But it will be pain with a purpose, an excited anticipation as I await the arrival of my baby girl.

Photograph baby with a prop and use it when she’s older.
credit: tfjdesigns.bigcartel.com

And Gwen is so excited!  She keeps leaving little gifts and pictures in the baby’s crib.  She even refuses to put away certain toys, saying she’s going to share them with her sister.  I have to remind her that her sister isn’t even here yet and it will be a while before she’ll be able to play with those toys.

Still want to make some of these swaddle blankets.
credit: danamadeit.com

I’m lucky that this pregnancy has gone so well, being high-risk and all.  I’ll be glad when I’m done with two appointments every week, feeling like I’m always peeing in a cup and get weighed for the millionth time.  I keep hoping the next appointment will be my last!

Helpful labor positions… need to brush up!
credit: fitpregnancy.com

Now, for some reason, all I want is chocolate these days so I’m off to find me some…

Healthy Fudge
credit: our-everyday-art.com

The Finest Age

My mom sent me this poem and I thought it was really sweet, especially for all you mamas out there that need to keep things in perspective.

The Finest Age
When he was only nine months old, 
And plump and round and pink of cheek,
A joy to tickle and to hold,
Before he’d even learned to speak,
His gentle mother used to say:
“It is too bad that he must grow.
If I could only have my way
His baby ways we’d always know.”

And then the year was turned, and he
Began to toddle round the floor
And name the things that he could see
And soil the dresses that he wore.
Then many a night she whispered low:
“Our baby now is such a joy
I hate to think that he must grow
To be a wild and heedless boy.”

But on he went and sweeter grew,
And then his mother, I recall,
Wished she could keep him always two,
For that’s the finest age of all.
She thought the selfsame thing at three,
And now that he is four, she sighs
To think he cannot always be
The youngster with the laughing eyes.

Oh, little boy, my wish is not
Always to keep you four years old.
Each night I stand beside your cot
And think of what the years may hold;
And looking down on you I pray
That when we’ve lost our baby small,
The mother of our man will say
“This is the finest age of all.”

-Edgar A Guest

Capturing (most of) December & Happy New Year

Let’s face it, I would not do well with a 365-day photo challenge – I wasn’t even able to keep up with this one! I think I would be more inclined if I  had a better camera… and didn’t forget about taking pictures until bedtime.

credit: acontenthousewife.com

25. Morning – The Opening of the Stockings after breakfast.

27. Night Time – The kiddos put a lot of thought into which movie they will choose.

30. Your Winter Wonderland – We got our first big snow and the kids were so excited, they woke up around 6 in the morning.  When Daddy came home they got all bundled up to play.

31. Fun – We had a very low-key New Year’s Eve, but we love lighting sparklers every year.

*Days 1-5
*Days 6-13
*Days 14-22

And like that, 2012 is over.  Am I a little late to the “Happy New Year!” party?  Well, Happy New Year!  I did my annual New Year’s interview with the kiddos; it’s always fun to see their answers.

This year we’re also starting a couple new things as a family…

credit: ourquietplace.blogspot.com

Adding a new, simple mealtime blessing to our prayer repertoire just to mix things up.

credit: writeshop.com

Starting a gratitude jar where we will write down good things that happen throughout the year, going through them next New Year and remembering all of our blessings.

We anxiously await the arrival of our daughter next month – what changes that will bring! – and already plan on some new camping adventures starting in the Spring.  I can’t believe I’ll officially be homeschooling a Kindergartener next school year; filling out the paperwork and declaring out intent to the school district has me a bit nervous!

I’m not bothering with the whole resolutions thing; I think they’re far too overrated.  I do, however, believe in setting realistic goals and accomplishments for the future.  I hope to lose the baby weight and re-adopt a healthier lifestyle; I’ve made too many exceptions for holidays and special occasions and seriously need to get back on track.  I’m thrilled with the relationship I’ve made selling my handmade items at Small Circle and hope I can continue with this creative outlet.  I can’t wait to see what this year brings and am excited at its possibilities.

credit: blog.freepeople.com

Capturing December – part 3

I’ve been somewhat busy and distracted this month and haven’t been on top of the December Photo Challenge.  I skipped a few days, either because I totally forgot or because the lighting was crap.

credit: acontenthousewife.com

There’s something to be said for being unplugged, more present in the moment, but I’m getting behind on my homeschool FIAR posts and haven’t had a chance to share some of the holiday goodness we’ve been up to.  And Christmas is only two days away!

14. Christmas Tree – Our patchy little Charlie Brown Tree that we cut down from the yard.  Even though it’s not nice and bushy, I like how you can hang ornaments on the inside.

15. Favorite Holiday Song – “O Holy Night” is my all-time favorite song, no matter the version.  It gives me the chills every time I hear and sing it.

16. Outside Christmas Lights – We don’t go crazy with Christmas lights outside, and other than a lit wreath, this year I decided to wrap a tomato cage in lights.  I wanted to do a whole bunch of them but I couldn’t find an extension cord.

17. Presents – We’ve simplified Christmas so there aren’t a whole lot of packages under the tree, but these are a couple waiting to be delivered to friends.

19. Candy Cane – I rarely buy candy canes, and I used last year’s leftover package to make Peppermint Bark.

21. Peace – My in-laws have this funny story… they have two ornaments with their names on them and one year my father-in-law mistakenly put them on opposite sides of the tree.  My mother-in-law got offended, thinking it had some deeper meaning - was he mad at her?  what was wrong?  So now, if the ornaments are close together, the two of them are getting along.  Phil and I jokingly do the same thing with these penguin ornaments, so he made sure to put them close together.

22. Tradition – I can’t wait till Christmas morning, when I make Danish abelskiver!  My mom gave me my own pan last year, and though I sometimes make the little round pancakes throughout the year, I try to save it for the holiday.

*Days 1-5
*Days 6-13

 

Capturing December – part 2

Admittedly I skipped day six of the December Photo Challenge because I don’t ordinarily go shopping.  I suppose I could have just taken a picture of my computer since I like to shop online…

credit: acontenthousewife.com

It’s been fun trying to think creatively about each item – in some instances thinking outside the box, in others just looking around at the ordinary day-to-day.

7.  Bright – the shining lights of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

8.  Ornaments – the yummy-smelling cinnamon ornaments we made with friends recently.

9.  Something You’re Reading – I’d really love to get into juicing and checked The Healthy Green Drink Diet out of the library.  The recipes look yummy and I think I’ll stick with blending right now so I don’t have to get an expensive juicer.

10.  Wrapping Paper – I wanted a simple way to wrap some gifts for the kiddos’ cousins and I used brown paper bags, wrapping paper, ribbon &reindeer tags.

11.  Green – so it’s more like blue-green, but I’m in love with the new teapot I got on sale.

12.  A Beautiful Sight – this could have been so many things, but yesterday we finally stopped by Small Circle so I could drop off more crayon rolls and I got to see all of my handmade things sprinkled around the shop.

13.  Family – I have weekly ultrasounds and today our little baby girl stuck her tongue out a few times and then gave a big grin; it was the sweetest thing!

*Days 1-5