The Final Countdown

It's been far too long and I hope that I can get in a great "catch-up" post tonight. But, I just wanted to let you know that we will have our new baby boy by next Tuesday, June 16th. We went ahead and scheduled an induction at my appointment this morning. I have seven days to go in to labor on my own and I'm still holding out hope that I will. The good news is that I was finally making progress this morning (a "good" cm and 60% effaced), so we'll see... We also got the camera back on Saturday--good as new!

Say Cheese... or Not

I hope you enjoy these pictures. They will be the last of their kind for awhile. We splurged and bought a Nikon D40 a couple of months ago. Last Thursday, Steven was off and we were at pictured park with the kids. As we were walking around the paved trail, the camera strap broke and our splurge hit the pavement. The good news is that my ever-so-wise husband had also splurged on the "protection plan". The bad news is that they won't even ship it off to be repaired or replaced until June 2nd. Elle turns 4 tomorrow and there is a good chance we won't have the camera for baby's arrival either. We still have our old small, not good, not fancy thing. I don't even know what kind it is. But after having a nice camera, I don't even want to take pictures with the old one. {Just as a side note, so you won't think I'm some electronic snob, I have no idea about these things. And I'm not saying that any of you who have these cameras are snobs either. Steven bought it and I saw the difference in the pictures and Mommy was hooked. I just point and shoot on automatic. I don't even have a camera on my cell phone or texting capabilities. When I show people pictures of my kids, it's from my wallet flip page thing. My point is I'm not the most technologically savvy mom.} I guess some not-so-good pictures will be better than none at all. **I do still have some from Elle's birthday party a couple weeks ago that I'd like to post, but I will save them for future posts when I have no pictures to accompany my words.

That's my blurry, horizontal stripe wearing self in the background

Thank you so much for your recipes. My dear mother {after last week's post:)} ever so kindly paid for eight freezer meals from Super Suppers. Three times this week, I doubled our dinner as I cooked and froze the other half. I plan to make a few more this next week when my mom and sister are here. Does anybody else have a hard time keeping their kids occupied while they cook? Most of the time I end up stopping to clean up a busted lip, fix a boo-boo, break up a fight or some other crazy kid-related drama. I have tried several things, but would be interested in knowing your best "make dinner in peace" secrets. Please share.

I am 37 1/2 weeks and so far, this baby has made no indications that he is ready to come out (despite how ready his dear mother is for him to evacuate the womb!). I am extremely large, uncomfortable and irritable. I am determined not to be induced. Pray with me that this little, still nameless, guy will come meet us SOON! I am excited about Elle's birthday tomorrow and my mom and sister coming for the week. I apologize for the lack of posts (not that I have a huge following:), but my head has been hitting the pillow as soon as my kids go down for their naps. Hope everyone has a great and dry weekend!

Calling All Casseroles

The time has come to begin stocking the freezer. I am asking for your best, make-ahead, freezer meal so that the oven can do all my cooking for at least a few weeks when the baby arrives. And I read your blogs, so I KNOW you share wonderful recipes and cook stuff at least sometimes. See, when Elle was born, we were a part of a wonderful Sunday School class that made sure we were well nourished for at least a month after she was born. For two years now, we have bounced around a bit, unable to find a church "home". I think we have finally decided, but we've just been attending worship. We haven't joined the church or a small group--translation, I can't count on others to feed us this time. On another note, my mom will be teaching summer school in June {of all months-how dare she, right?} so she will just be weekend help at best. I realize now, I could have easily done it when it was just Elle. Now I have a 4 year-old (in 8 days), a 21-month old and I'm 36+ weeks pregnant. Please feel sorry for me and give me your recipes.

**Disclaimer: I am just trying to be funny. I am very, very thankful for my three miracles and love that I will have three children. However, I also know the first few months (years) will be exhausting. No preschool, No Mother's Day Out, and 11-12 hour work days for Daddy. I know you other moms out there can sympathize/empathize with me.

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".