Nine Years Ago

These are pictures of pictures, so please excuse. We got married before the digital era!
Even our wedding video is on a VHS tape!

We were young, in love, not quite finished with college and getting married. We're not so young anymore, and we don't always feel "in love", but our love is much deeper and richer now than before. We know how to choose to love, even when we don't feel like it. Steven loves me in spite of my imperfections, not just because of who I am on my good days. We are best friends and I am so thankful for my husband. The Lord knew what He was doing when He put us in that World Lit class together 11 years ago. I wouldn't want to go through this life with anyone else. Happy Day Stevo! Thank you for my beautiful plants. Maybe Hawaii can wait until 15?

The Arky Arky Musical

I have lots I'd like to share. It was a very busy but great week/weekend. My kids are napping. I need to nap. Maybe soon I will catch up. Here are a couple pictures from Elle's school musical last week. She did so great! And Grady only had to be taken out twice:). It was "Noah's Ark", so they all have on their raincoats.

More to come: Elle's birthday party, our spectacular chair find, the room makeover, my 36 week check-up...

It's so worth it

Just a quick note to say I had an awesome Mother's Day weekend. Both mornings, I didn't get out of bed until 7:30 AM (late, right?) and went in to the kitchen for wonderful breakfasts: chocolate chip pancakes and sausage on Saturday and delicious french toast and fruit on Sunday. That was the best! We spent Saturday morning at the Buck Creek Festival in Helena and spent the afternoon planting flowers, doing yardwork and sliding in to the baby pool. Well, not me, but the kids. Sunday was another great day with worship and a little chair shopping. Anybody have any ideas where I can find a big comfy, relatively inexpensive slipcovered chair and ottoman for our bedroom?

I can tell I'm getting in the "nesting" mode, although there is not much I can do since my baby's room is still occupied by my other baby:). I do need to get the infant car seat out of the attic and get the pack-n-play set up in our room... and probably get some newborn diapers and other essentials. This is a busy week too. Elle has her Art Show at school tonight. Tomorrow is her offical last day of school. Then Thursday is the end of the year musical. Friday we are having an early birthday party for her. I'm 35 weeks tomorrow and I am hopeful that I won't go more than 39 weeks, which leaves 4 weeks by my calculations. We shall see if the baby cooperates!

Last night, we were reading Elle a bedtime story. When Steven finished, I said, "Elle, I'm so thankful I am your mommy." She said, "Yea, and I'm thankful I put my whole face in the bathtub and blew bubbles... and you're the cutest."

Mother's Day Tea

I joined Elle for a Mother's Day Tea at school today. The kids were so cute and had made lots of little presents for us. They even (with minimal prompting) told us "Thank you and I love you very much". A sweet friend of mine, who has kids the same ages, kept Grady for me so I could have the time with Elle. And now, Steven is taking Elle to the dentist to see if she has permanent damage to her front tooth after a serious run-in with Grady's head last night. Please ask the Lord to save that little tooth or else she'll be snaggled for quite a few years!

We did have a wonderful time at the beach. We have very few pictures because we were so busy enjoying ourselves that we didn't think about the camera. And the fact that I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant had a little to do with "forgetting" to take pictures. I did manage to get my feet a tad bit sunburned, simply because I couldn't reach them with my sunscreen. Sad, I know. Steven kept asking me what was the best part, and all I could say was Everything. We did what we wanted, when we wanted and didn't worry about what time it was, or naps, or diapers, or sippy cups, or wipes, or snacks. It was a wonderful pre-Mother's Day present to get a couple days "off".

Almost swimming like a fish

First, let me say thanks for your kind words and encouragement after my last post. I knew I could count on my blog friends for support... besides the fact that most of you have at least 2, if not 3 or more kids! Now I'm on to other soap boxes, like neighbors who do not clean up after their pets that leave enormous amounts of excrement in my yard--where my children like to run BAREFOOT.

Today was Elle's last day of swimming lessons and I must say that our prayers were finally answered this week. She really came a long way, but still has a long way to go. The best thing is that she is beginning to have fun and not be terrified of the water. Or really, just her face getting wet. It was a hard but sweet time for me, as I got to pray for her before each lesson and watch the Lord give her grace and courage. Today was the first day that no tears were shed and she was excited. After our trip to the doctor this afternoon for a re-check, we're going to Wal-Mart to get a Wall-E game for her (She is obsessed with Wall-E!).

Have I mentioned that Steven and I are going to the beach this weekend... by ourselves? This will be the first time in over two years that we've done anything without the kids for more than a couple hours. We did go to a marriage conference last May, but only spent one night away and came home in between. I'm not going to count that. What makes it even better is that Steven's boss gave him a weekend at his condo in Destin as a Christmas gift and we are redeeming it this weekend. That means more money for food! My mom and sister are coming to stay with the kids here at the house. Let's just pray I'll be so relaxed that I won't have too many contractions.

If you don't have anything nice to say

Don't say it at all. Obviously, some people's parents did not teach them this general rule of relating to others. I realize I am probably a little sensitive, but I am a bit weary of comments on the number and ages of my children. I'll be the first to admit that this baby was a "surprise", but I also believe in the sovereignty of God and the fact that He creates and sustains all life. So while this baby was a surprise to us, he has not, for a second, been a surprise to the Lord. I also believe that children are a blessing--only because I believe the word of God to be truth--because honestly, my sweet little ones don't always act like blessings. Some people plan their families out and have their 2.5 kids and all goes according to "their" plan. Others struggle for years, unable to get pregnant, and never find the answers. Throughout this broad spectrum, God remains ultimately in control. Please, don't be discouraging to people. Keep your opinions to yourself unless they are kind and asked for. Nobody said you have to do the same things with your life. You never know what is going on in their lives. Me and my three kids barely 4 and under will appreciate it!

On a happier note, the bedroom transformation is almost complete. The walls are painted (and beautifully calming). The furniture hardware is spray painted. The bedding is assembled. The curtains are not hung. The walls are bare. This beauty here will be going over our bed. And in honor of Earth Day (and our bank account), I found this lovely chair at the thrift store for $11 and am repurposing it as our new desk chair. I'm still trying to work on organizing my "piles". Any tips, Amy Cook? Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Followed by a short trip to Labor & Delivery

I, along with my OB, decided to spend my Friday night with the good nurses down at Brookwood's Labor & Delivery. I was having a LOT of contractions yesterday. I knew they weren't the real ones, but I was having at least 5-6 every hour for about 5 hours. I didn't think I was progressing in any way (i.e. dialating), but I was a little concerned about how baby was handling all the contractions. I called the doctor around 8:30 PM and he said he wanted me to be evaluated. Thankfully, all was well and after being on the monitor for an hourish, they sent me back home at 11 PM. I was having contractions and what the nurse called "irritability", but the baby's heart rate was wonderful and there was no change in my cervix (sorry if that's too graphic for some of you!). I think it was a result of a very stressful week (sick kids, husband out of town, etc.) and doing more than I should. I tried to get the nurse to write on my discharge papers that Steven had to do EVERYTHING this weekend. He has been very helpful and I'm trying to take it easy. I'd like to take this as a sign that I won't go to 40 weeks. Another 5-6 weeks and I'm ready any time!

**The painter will be here tomorrow and the bedroom transformation begins!