Update!

I haven't posted in a few weeks. Mostly we've been busy with the holidays, the kids and company.

Nick's parents visited and while they were here Lucy, Nick, and his dad braved the weather to head down to Ford Field in Detroit and watch the Lions and Packers play. They had a great time...even though the Packers lost. Lucy was able to go down on the field and run in for a touchdown after the game and a host of other memories were made...so overall it was a successful outing.

We also were able to visit the Henry Ford Museum and see the new George Washington Carver exhibit. It was quite an enjoyable day to share something fun in our area with Nick's parents. The museum was decorated for Christmas and had trains set up and a few other activities for the kids to do which made it especially special for them.

My favorite part was listening to the reading of "The Polar Express" in a train car that has only been opened to the public once before. It is the train that carried President Hoover from Detroit to the depot now at Greenfield Village where he then took other transportation the last half mile to the entrance of the museum for it's grand opening. The train was only used that one time and the detail and beauty was exquisite! It was quite a treat for me to see and fun to imagine what taking a train ride would have been like in the 1920's. The man explained that the museum opened the week before Wall Street fell and the great depression began, so most likely, riding in the train and attending the museum opening was the last extravagant affair Hoover would have had during his presidency.

We also went shopping and did a few holiday activities including watching Lucy in her preschool Christmas performance. Nick did videotape it, and maybe next week when things have calmed down we'll get some footage up. She knew all the songs and was excited to sing and belt them out! She looked beautiful!

Overall it was a great trip and we enjoyed our time with them. We sure do wish all the grandparents all lived closer, but the visits are definitely nice.

Awake at 5 AM

Yep, that's right...I'm awake at 5 in the morning...with no apparant purpose. After a restless night sleep I woke up at 5 am...pretty much ready to go, and hungry. So, I decided, rather than laying in bed being hungry and listening to Nick sleep, I would wake up.

I thought...I'll get so much done! However, after eating a bowl of cereal I realized there's not much to do because I don't want anyone else to be awake yet. My in-laws are sleeping downstairs, my kids and my husband are sleeping upstairs...so I'm in the kitchen with 1 light on...goofing off on the computer.

So, for future reference, I now know...there's not much I can do at 5 AM without waking my family...or at least being afraid I'll wake my family. Soon it will be 6, and then I'll shower...but until then, I'm just hanging out! Oh yeah...enjoying the QUIET!

We're Pregnant!!!

I can't be the only one who has ever looked at a pregnancy test and felt at the exact moment a whirl of emotions ranging from pure ecstatic joy to deep fear...or I suppose if I am the only one, I should explain.

This pregnancy is so joyful, I was thrilled when I saw a positive result. My first impulse: call Lisa and begin scheming how I will tell Nick. Yes, that's right folks, my husband was not the first to find out...but he wasn't the last either.


I love my husband and he is everything to me...but there's something about a girlfriend who is the other half of your brain. I could not possibly begin to process or truly accept I was pregnant until the other half of my brain knew...so I called Lisa.

She immediately understood, was excited with me, and then started asking all the questions that were going through my head. How was I feeling? Was it like the last time? Did I feel like this baby would "stick"? What would do about a car? What would we do about sharing rooms? Who will sleep where? What about names! What about my body! What about money, paying for college, paying for diapers! Will I stay with my same doctor or use the doctor who delivered Murray last time? What an adventure to be pregnant at the same time as my sister! and I'm certain many more...

These are the thoughts that go through the head of a mom....an experienced mom who knows what to expect...who knows what can go wrong. When you find out your pregnant, the baby is about the size of a poppy seed (or smaller)....and yet, immediately you want nothing more than to keep that child safe, to feel it grow, to meet him/her and to continue to protect and nurture him.


Yet, it's completely out of your hands. At this point, millions of things are happening each second with your baby. He's working on growing organs, working on making those adorable 10 fingers and 10 toes that you'll later stare at in amazement...kiss, tickle and eat. At this moment, you're trusting God has a plan, He will grow your baby strong, He will introduce you to your baby when His time is right.


The moment I saw that positive test...I prayed that this time would be His time...that this time...it would all go right in my eyes. That this time, I will get to snuggle with my baby and bring him home to meet his big brother and big sister.


So, as I wake up each day feeling sick because something the size of a grape is growing every moment inside of me. As I worry about who will sleep where, how this will change my relationship with my husband, and how we will pay for college...I trust in HIM who gave this child to me and I remember:

Trust in the LORD with all of your heart and lean not

on your own understanding. In all of your ways submit to him

and HE will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Just in case you're worried....I told Nick later that night....in the funnest way I could imagine. I had a close friend of ours call him and act like it was common knowledge. (This was how we shared the news of our engagement with a friend of mine Taiwan) He didn't buy it at first...thought she was crazy...but when I walked into the room laughing he started laughing too, realized what was going on and we were both laughing and crying tears of joy!

What a blessing this child will be...and if it's anything like the other 2...how adorable, loud and much fun this child will be! I'm 10 weeks today and we went to the doctor last Friday. Everything is going well and the baby is "just as it should be". Lucy is super excited to have a baby this summer and Murray is starting to make some sense of it.

We look forward to the coming months and especially for July when we get to meet and hold our new addition!

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful for pajamas! It's great to be able to stay in them ALL DAY LONG! and get a few things done of course. As these winter days get shorter and colder and I am not leaving my house unless absolutely necessary, my children and I are finding ourselves staying warm and happy in our pj's for longer and longer durations. On Monday we actually changed Murray from one set of pajamas into another at bedtime.

I feel wonderfully blessed to have a warm cozy house, a warm cozy bed, and warm cozy pajamas. Mine are retired work out clothes...over the years through multiple pregnancies I haven't yet "splurged" to resupply my sleep attire. I have however added to my workout clothes...so my retired yoga pants have become excellent pajamas and they're just as comfy and cozy as any other pj's might be.

My kids however grow quickly and enjoy fun pj's...so they have an over abundance of pajamas and look quite cute and cozy in theirs! Here's a few pics to enjoy. Tonight when you snuggle into your bed...be thankful for your pj's...what's the alternative!?!

Wordless Wednesday: Mack in a Box

Humbled

This has been one of the toughest weeks for me. I haven't been feeling great and I've had to take things slow. Often we're forced to slow down and take a look at all we're doing and decide what needs to be done versus what we think should get done. A lot of of those should things haven't been getting done around my house this week. Some of them will be needs shortly. I'm not sure how much longer my family can be sustained by me cooking only a few days a week. I will need to go to the store...or at least make a better list when I send my husband.

I've had weeks like this before. I know just a few weeks ago I wrote about looking at my priorities during a busy week and making time to enjoy my family...it's harder when things aren't getting done because you just can't. Not because of time, but because you're just not up to it. This week, my body has decided that relaxation is key...to much time up and about and I hit a wall, so to speak.

It's an interesting and humbling experience to rely on Nick for so many of the responsibilities I'm used to doing. I'm grateful for his patience and his willingness to help. I'm also grateful we haven't hit the full swing of Advent...while it was a busy week for him...he still had a little wiggle room.

I'm also blessed with 2 adorable little helpers who give me snuggles and help out...most of the time. Nothing like 2 rambunctious children to put the needs into perspective. Lots of books, coloring and singing have been going on this week...and lots of imaginative play.

I hope I'm feeling back to normal soon...but being humbled isn't a bad place to be.

Thankful Thursdays

I didn't write last Thursday on Thanksgiving because I was enjoying the holiday with my family and honestly didn't get on the computer for most of our time there. So, this week I will be thankful for an amazing holiday with my parents and friends. We had a fantastic meal, much relaxation, and just created some great memories together.

I'm thankful that I am able to share my children with my parents and that they enjoy entertaining them while I catch up on my own relaxation. Lucy and Murray both enjoy the wonders of Grammy's sewing room and all the projects that happen there. Murray saw his first big screen movie and his favorite part (typical boy) was the preview for Cars 2 before the movie began. Although, I would say that he enjoyed the movie itself as well.

A visit to see Santa at the Library and a few shopping trips and brunch with Owie Owie and Tony No Hair also rounded out our holiday. Along with pin the hat on the turkey and of course Scrabble...which I must admit, I'm thankful that Olivia and I won :) Not very many years are the "moms" beat...I'm thankful I've done it!

I'm thankful I have so many wonderful people to share these special memories with, and I'm thankful my kids do to!

Wordless Wednesdays

Murray reading to Matthias...teaching him all about boy things.

Oh how we love a visit from our friends :)