Wordless Wednesday

13 week Ultrasound

The baby is laying face down with a hand up by his/her face

Doctor Appointments

I went to the doctor this morning for my check up. I'm 13.5 weeks and things are going well as far as the baby is concerned. My diligence has paid off and although I've been feeling awful and haven't kept all my meals in, I've maintained my weight throughout the first trimester so the doctor is super happy with that. He says hopefully my placenta will take over monitoring hormones soon and I'll start feeling better. I'm hopeful!

The baby is measuring about a week small, but the doctor assured me that at this point in the pregnancy the measurements aren't always accurate, so we'll just watch and see as the baby gets bigger. Seeing our baby on the screen this morning and hearing the heart beat made all the nauseas feelings worth it! That's what I need to keep remembering...that this feeling of being sick is temporary and the joy of another child will completely replace these yucky feelings.

My next appointment is February 21st and it will be gender day! We're so excited and I think even Lucy and Murray will come to see the baby on the ultrasound and find out if they're having a brother or a sister...then the name wars...errr...discussion can begin!

Along with a baby doctor appointment this morning Nick and I are meeting our new doctors this afternoon and now, while dressing Murray we noticed a rash, so we're headed to the pediatrician this afternoon as well. It's a day of doctors, but at least it started out well, so hopefully all the other appointments will go well also!

We got a great ultrasound picture this morning, so we'll try to get it scanned and posted this week! Such an exciting time!

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful that Nick is home this evening. It means I can go to bed when the kids do without listening for anyone sneaking out of their beds. I'm thankful that Murray played nicely all day without a nap...so hopefully he will go to sleep without any issues tonight, he's exhausted.

I'm also thankful that I finished a birthday cake in 1 day! While my house is still messy and I have a super busy day tomorrow so I'm not totally sure how it will get cleaned before company arrives Saturday afternoon, I made a super fun birthday cake.

Tomorrow morning I'll be sewing with a friend, then delivering the cake. Our Friday evening will be spent cleaning. Once again I'll be thankful Nick does not have any evening commitments.

Well, all that being said, it's time for me to take my cup of tea up to my bed and relax...I'm hoping to get a full night of sleep in!!

Here's the cake...I started around noon today and finished it this evening!

Love it!

Wordless Wednesday

Because I've missed a few weeks....

Thankful Thursdays

I am so thankful for my children and their young ages, their willingness to help and their ability to forget my moments of insanity and love me anyway.

I am so thankful for a loving friend who will listen to me rant about a "molehill" as if it were a "mountain" for 45 minutes while I pick up my house as though the world is going to end.

I am so thankful for my husband (who was gone during the rant but came home to a much calmer, more tired...yet still very emotional wife), who is able to hear the words asking for help and gladly offer it.

I'm so thankful for a good night of sleep and a fresh perspective.

Mostly, I'm thankful for answered prayers and my ability to go to the Lord when I'm struggling the way I was last night.

Today is a new day, I have a bit more energy and while I'm just beginning to feel the nausea seeping in, I've had a much better day with the kids, with the house and with myself.

I'm even hopeful to post a few pics I'm behind on later...so check back :)

Perspective

I'm in need of some perspective this week. I'm feeling overwhelmed with life, and while I know I have it pretty great, it's hard to put it in perspective. It's hard to think that I'm blessed to have this baby growing inside of me, when each day I'm counting the calories I'm able to keep down, watching my weight to make sure it's maintained...it's not even going up, just staying the same.

It's hard to look around at all the things I desire to do and stand up to do a few of them, only to reach exhaustion and nausea within a few minutes. It's hard to imagine this could be the new norm, that somehow amidst these feelings I need to be a better disciplinarian, a better wife, and a better housekeeper. I try to think of how great I'll feel when either this morning sickness leaves or the baby arrives. I think new baby exhaustion would be a welcome relief to the flu like feelings I'm having these days.

Here's where I need the perspective. I need help remembering that this is a blessing. That some way I need to find comfort in my sickness, to know that while I'm barely maintaining my weight, I'm not losing...my baby is getting the calories and nutrients it needs to grow stronger each day. I need to focus on serving the Lord with gladness even on days when I feel there is nothing to be glad about.

I hope I start feeling better soon. I want to be up to taking pictures of the kids and posting them, of playing and doing projects with the kids without it resulting in exhaustion and puking. Maybe one day I'll even be able to do a full grocery run and shop for an hour and not puke at the end of it....I just need to put it all in perspective...

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I'm hoping with the return of a schedule this week, and moving out of my first trimester that this New Year will also bring renewed energy....I'm hopeful, and optimistic...but still skeptical! So far this pregnancy I've lost 2 lbs, gained a belly and taught Lucy the joys of breakfast in bed....even if it's only slightly buttered toast. She's also learned that sometimes mommy's get sick when a baby is in their belly. Murray is still oblivious to what is going on. Oh well, he'll figure it out soon enough, if not as my belly grows he'll be in for a rude awakening in July with this one decides to make an appearance and turn his world upside down.

New Year's is a mark for new beginnings for so many people, but it's also a time for reflection. I tend to usually fall into the reflection category. It's hard for me to see the new calendar as a new beginning, I feel like life adds "fresh starts" in more natural ways than a day on the calendar. It is however impossible as a mom to not look at a "holiday" and remember what the past year was like with your kids and be in awe of how they have grown and changed.

We had New Year's Eve at a friend's house about an hour away. Last year they came to our house and spent the night. Last year she was newly pregnant with their son, and didn't even know it yet! We spent the evening drinking wine coolers and reorganizing my kitchen since Nick had just "finished" the remodel. The boys looked after the kids and when they were tucked in their beds brewed Nick's first batch of bear.

Last year we celebrated New Year with an almost toddler (Lisa's), a 1 year old (Murray), a 3 year old (Lucy) and a 4 year old (Lisa's). This year we had 5 kids ranging from 6 to the newest one who is just 4 months old. What a difference a year makes! The kids could play all by themselves. The toddlers are true second children and are much better at sharing and interacting than their older sister's were at this age. At one point the adults were eating dinner with the baby nearby and all the other kids were playing in the basement!

Lucy and Julia had their first official "sleepover". We've spent the night at each other's houses many times, but last night the girls slept in sleeping bags on the futon in the basement. They went to bed watching a movie after getting their finger nails painted and eating popcorn.

I look at Lucy and Murray and can't believe the independence they've each gained. I can't imagine Murray not being able to tell his jokes, and communicate so effectively. Lucy is looking bigger and bigger every day. She colors in the lines, and is starting to show personality of a true little girl...both the good and the bad! (she's even started talking back on occasion!) I know every Mom says it, but I really wish I could just pause time for a moment, just freeze my children as they are and keep them innocent and snuggly. At the same time I look forward to what this next year will bring and the memories I'll have to look back on as we ring in a new year again!

What a gift each day is! Right now I will enjoy Lucy singing loudly her version of "Away in a Manger". My favorite line in her medley is "the cattle are flowing". I know next year she will probably be big enough to know that's the incorrect word....but right now she can just sing her little heart out and Nick and I will just cherish her honest love for our Lord.

I'm doing my best to cherish and enjoy Murray's need and desire for Mommy to help him do everything. It may make the days long, but there will come a day when he won't let me kiss him goodnight or help him button his pants. I know when these days come I'll look back and yearn for the moments I'm enjoying now.

2011 will certainly bring many new beginnings at our house. We'll reach each one and cherish the changes, but right now I'm happy to remember how far we've come in 2010.