A Little Break Or Maybe A Biggish One

Just stopping in to say that I might not be around here much in the next week or so. Summer visitation is coming up. Levi will be leaving Friday for a couple of weeks. I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying to make myself a really long to do list, so I'll be too busy to think about it while it's happening. I may reorganize all of our closets again for the 3rd or 4th time since getting pregnant.

Until Friday, though, I'm going to focus on these sweet faces. After all, this is likely to be  one of the last weeks we get as a family of four.

Soon we'll be adding one more goofball to the mix.

I love how he can go from looking super debonair to totally dorky in just a few minutes. I pretty much just love everything about him, and I'm really going to miss his face...and his hugs.

Sunday

And Jesus, looking upon them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 
~Mark 10:27

A Bum Arm, A Little Drama, And A Sweet Solution

Levi is our sensitive one. In some ways this can be endearing, in some ways maddening, and in some ways just flat out funny. Even the tiniest scrape can cause days of tears and comments such as, "Mama! I have a scrape!! It's NEVER going to get better!!!". Last night he got a pretty big scrape...one that certainly would have brought tears to my own eyes. When I had made peace with the fact that bedtime was inevitably going to be pushed back at least an hour due to the screaming and crying, Stephan came up with a brilliant plan. He offered to put Levi's arm in a sling....

And, then there was instant calm. Normal bedtime reading rituals resumed...

All was right with the world.

Levi got in bed with his sling clad arm and asked for a sip of water. Stephan brought it to him, and Levi said (in the most dramatic voice ever), "I need some help. I'm sorry. I only have one arm...forgive me." Ha! Seriously? Where does he come up with stuff like that?

For safety purposes I removed the sling once he fell asleep, but it totally did the trick. He mentioned his scrape a few times today but there were no tears involved and he didn't seem as concerned as he usually would be. I guess I'll have to learn how to tie up a makeshift sling for the bumps and bruises that happen when Stephan isn't around.

Water Babies

This is kind of a big deal for us.

Levi has always shied away from water. We would go to splash pads, and he would sit on the sidelines and watch. Until he was well into his threes even baths were torture for all parties involved. This summer has marked a definite change for this boy. He actually LIKES water now. He jumps at the chance to put his swim trunks on.

This mama is totally digging the new summer activities.

P.S. Yes, my children are "gardening" in the pool...shovels, dirt, and all.

Everyday Blessings

The weekly counting of blessings...

: : Breakfast with a group of wonderful mamas.

: : Fun playdates.

: : Casting on a little something for myself.

: : 5 more weeks until baby is due!

: : Hand me downs...sorted and put away for later.

: : Fun dinners with family.

: : My sister visiting over the weekend.

: : My children's perma-grins upon the arrival of their beloved Aunt Annie.

: : Stephan rearranging our bedroom to accommodate the FIVE people who will soon be sleeping there.

: : Despite third trimester discomforts, I am extra grateful that this still classifies as the easiest of my pregnancies thus far. That has certainly been an unexpected blessing.

Hope y'all had a happy Monday!

Sunday

 "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance."
~Ephesians 1:18

Hello

I'm still here....just snuggling and knitting and thinking about how my babies just won't stop growing.

This one gets sweeter every day...

And, this one is sweet too, but she sometimes makes these adorably grouchy faces that are too priceless not to photograph...

They both bounce off the walls all of the time...

And, of course, we're super curious to find out what's in store for us with this new one...

The weeks keep flying by, and May is already halfway over. I just realized that in about a month and a half I'll be 31 and the mother of three. I swear I just turned 30. There's not even time to freak out about 31. Not to mention, there's just too much going on to add freaking out to the list.

P.S. Excuse me while all my posts get extra rambly  for the next...oh, I don't know...maybe forever.

Everyday Blessings

Counting my blessings...at least a few of them...

: : 34 weeks...see bump above. :)

: : Healthy me...my iron counts are even really good (which is never the case at this point for me...so far no supplements needed)

: : Baby still in the proper position!

: : A much improved attitude on my part after last week's dip.

: : Mother's day roses from my sweetheart and some handpicked flowers from my two little loves.

: : The realization that this has been the easiest of my pregnancies.

: : 3 naps in 3 days.

: : Knitting needles back in action.

: : The smallest pre-baby to do list ever...I guess that's what happens when it's the third go round.

: : My children still thinking I'm the best ever even though I've been too tired to play lately.


Life is sweet. How about you? What have you been blessed by lately?

Sunday

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
~Proverbs 31:25-31

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there and to my own wonderful mama in particular!

Some Rambling

I'm skipping my usual Friday post because I'd much rather ramble, and it's my blog. I can do that. :)

Third trimester fatigue has addled my brain and caused me to forget how to count. I've been convinced for a few weeks now that I don't hit full term until June 9th. Ahem. Try June 2nd. Y'all that's coming up soon....and that means I could have a baby any time next month. I'm not sure why a week makes so much of a difference in my head, but it does. Of course, this baby could also stay chill until July, but I'm hoping not. It gets really hot then. 40 weeks is good. Let's aim for that. Okay, baby?

This week has been strange. I've been tired, but not as grouchy as I thought I would be, considering I had to go on a knitting hiatus. Who am I kidding? I'm still on it. Sigh. See this cute little baby hat....

I knitted it on size 1 double points which is kind of like knitting with 5 long toothpicks. That's a dumb thing to do while 8 months pregnant. My wrist is paying for it with a bit of pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. Double big sigh. And, really, even though we're not finding out the baby's gender until it get's here, I suspect boy. So, why am I knitting girly hats? A mama's gotta be prepared, right?

And, about names and gender, last pregnancy we got to the very end without agreeing on a boy name....good thing a girl came out. This time....guess what? We can't agree on a girl name, but we're good to go if it's a boy. Oh. my. It doesn't help that we're both convinced it's a boy. I'm not entirely trusting of my instincts, and I'd like to be set for either one. Stephan, on the other hand, is totally disinterested in preparing for a girl this go round....kind of like he was disinterested in preparing for a boy last go round.

And, just because she's sort of crazy and really cute this is a sampling of life with Sophia over the course of approximately 3 minutes...

Reading sweetly with Levi...

Suddenly up and trying to escape via the back door....

And, then off to pull things out of baskets and attempt to climb the shelving (the whole world is one big rock wall to this girl)....

Maybe I don't so much have 3rd trimester fatigue as chasing Sophia fatigue.

Everyday Blessings

That's the 33 week baby bump. It's growing daily. I'm sure of it.

If there's one thing that makes me instantly angry while pregnant and/or nursing it's heat, and since being pregnant causes me to register the temperature at about 10 degrees hotter than it actually is, I have been one grouchy mama lately. I thought that having a baby in June would feel better (i.e. cooler) than having one at the beginning of September. This is not proving to be true. I'm struggling to be pleasant these days. Sigh. All of that to say, this post is much needed to refocus my tired and hot self on the good stuff in life. So here we go.....a few blessings from my week:

: : What we thought was a broken ac really only being a tripped breaker.

: : My husband figuring out how to fix it right as I was about to lose my cool over the extra hot house.

: : A wonderful day trip to one of our favorite spots.

: : Homebirth supplies ready and waiting.

: : Baby to do's being knocked off the list.

: : A cute but not at all relaxing knit off the needles...I should avoid size 1 double points for awhile.

: : Swaddle blankets sewn.

: : Fun with other mamas and their kiddos.

: : A garden growing.

: : A little boy convinced that he's a farmer (and a lumberjack, and a carpenter, and all seven dwarfs....the list goes on).

: : My husband letting me rest as often as he can.

Really, it's been a good week. Sometimes I just need a little reminder.

Sunday

 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
~Matthew 7:7-8 

*The photo is of some wild hydrangea's we saw while at Rocky Springs. I wish I'd had a camera other than my phone with me to do them justice. They were gorgeous.

Day Trip

This morning we met my parents and headed out to Rocky Springs for a picnic and some playtime. The last time we were there Sophia was in a carrier through most of it. It's strange to think that the next time we go back we'll likely have another baby in a sling.

Sophia's new favorite game: Hang Upside Down and Grab Rocks...

At 8 months pregnant I mostly sat on the sidelines and watched. The heat is already getting to me, and it's only May! Oh. my.

P.S. Ignore the unsightly scratch across Levi's face. The poor kiddo was trying to climb out of bed last night and somehow managed to bang his face up. I'm afraid he gets his gracefulness from his mama. Ha.

Weekend Loves

Some favorites...

: : Cool Kiddo Obstacle Course.

: : Homemade Coconut Butter.

: :Best Maternity Leggings.

: : Super Cute DIY Girl's Skirt.

: : Simple Softie.

: : Awesome Nightstand to Play Kitchen.

Happy Weekend!

Gardening

Yesterday we spent a wonderful (albeit rainy) day digging and planting. Since our own yard is not suited to growing much of anything, we helped my mom out with her garden.

You might  not be able to make out the bit of grass that Levi is holding in his mouth. He considers that to be the sign of a farmer. Today he told me in a melancholy voice, "Yesterday I was a farmer, but today I'm not. I don't have a leaf in my mouth."

Both kids were loving it. Okay, so Sophia might have created a few casualties with her enthusiasm, but the learning has to start somewhere, right?

We planted tomatoes, peppers, herbs, cantaloupe, watermelon, and strawberries, and we're planning to add some squash and pumpkins to the mix. How about y'all? Growing anything yummy this summer?

First Haircut

Sophia feels that she ought to be able to do everything that Levi does. Since he got his hair cut recently, guess what she's been requesting...

Admittedly, her bangs were in dire need of a trim. It was obvious that they were bugging her, and while my mom was at it she evened the back up a bit. Sniff, sniff. My baby keeps looking and acting a little less babyish every day.

Also, these photos were taken on Sunday. Now the sandals in that picture are way too small for her. My kids seem to grow feet first.