Thu-8-Jan-2009 - Pics, pics, pics!
No, haven't been to the midwife yet. So no news. Of course, there might not be any after I see her, anyways. So don't be holding your breath.
I find myself trying to get back into a ready-to-meet-my-baby mindset. Remind myself it *will* happen one of these days. Frankly, I don't feel too bad. Outside of my soaring weight gain, the baby feels safe and protected tucked away inside. Ya'll mind if I just carry this one forever? I need to know RIGHT NOW who will be upset a me for a February baby.
Just kidding. You don't have to admit to it.
Me, taken today. I'm approximately 38w and 2 days.
See, I had to show you that picture first, so you can tell I'm not the shapless blob I appear to be in this pic:
Then Samuel got snappy with the camera.
Not terrible, huh? I call the next picture my Yellow Boys. For some reason, J is just incredibly photogentic with the boys. Always. And the boys are always so annoyed to pose with Mommy. And then I wind up looking like a Blob.
Life. is. not. fair!!!!
Check out these pictures of them playing. There are three boys per pic, promise! Can you find them all?
From the other night. I just adore Samuel's orange pants. They are just so COOL! He doesn't. He cries when we put them on. Oh, well. Maybe they will grow on him? Hahahaha!
Another by Samuel, the photographer:
And then one from the other day when they were all reading. I like pictures of the three of them reading. Elijah has really started to get into books!
And then ....
That's where Samuel drew a line under a "T" and made it an "I". The stinker likes letters and numbers. He knows the difference between a 'W' and a 'M' and what a 'S' is and 'A' and 'H' and all kinds of other letters and numbers . . . he's not yet three years old. I certainly never expected him to learn such things. Below the "T" turned into an "I" is his completely freelance "I". I'm just . . . wow. Proud, I guess?
Well, this is all I have for the moment. If I were to randomly have the baby this afternoon, I will try to let everyone know ... in the meantime, I'm going to go clean my house. Some more, yes. I hope I'm nesting, dear readers, but I feel too good for that I fear! So don't get your hopes up!
~Ashley~
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Wed-7-Jan-2009 - Thoughts on children and life
I’m getting lots done around here.
I made some diaper rash ointment for the boys yesterday in my baby crock-pot. I don’t remember who gave it to us when we married, but it’s the perfect size for my herbs and salves and tinctures. The four of us have pretty much out-grown it, though, and it never EVER was big enough to hold a whole roast. Back in my more primitive days, I once sawed a roast in half to wedge it in there.
That’s okay, though. In a step of faith that our family size will one day be worthy, I now own a 22-quart roaster. Did you know these work as mini ovens? You can even make bread in them. And they can also serve as a really large crock-pot for big families? One of these days, I’ll have three teenagers (or possibly even more!!!), Lord willing, and I have a feeling that the capability of making three gallons of chili at a time might come in handy! lol
I’m getting so much de-cluttered that it’s wonderful! I might actually get to some deep cleaning soon. Or even surface cleaning. I don’t like clutter, so cleaning is what gets pushed to the back burner around here. Who cares what the mirrors look like if I can’t walk for toys?
When I first came off of bedrest, it really seemed to stress my body to “do stuff”. Several times I had contractions 5 minutes apart for hours. At this point, things have calmed down to the point that “Hey, you want to work hard? Go for it!” and I might get them 15 minutes apart.
So, yes. It feels as if I could be pregnant forever. But, also, it’s lovely to get caught up and reign as Queen of My Own House again.
Last I knew, about a week ago, the baby was only a -3. I must carry my babies really high, or at least this one; because the little feet haven’t been under my ribs for a while now. It was kinda a neat feeling – and it was unique to this pregnancy. I miss it. I almost wonder if the baby is a -2 now, but I’m too nervous to hope. I go back to see my midwife tomorrow – I’m sure she thought I’d have this baby by now, but like I said, my body seems to have adjusted to the strain of going from comatose to active. It’s been the calmest week ever! *sigh*
Still, I trust God’s timing. And I’m willing to wait for it, really. That actually has something to do with why I’m due with another munchkin when my sweet Elijah just turned 15mo yesterday. His spacing, not mine. I do happen to think it’s delightful to be expecting a baby just when my last baby is suddenly becoming very Mommy-independent! Would I be as happy if I thought their spacing was just a fluke? Maybe, maybe not.
Of course, there are those that would say that he’s becoming independent because suddenly I’m not going to have the time for him like I used to; bosh! I’m with my babies 24/7. I do all the clothing, feeding, kissing boo-boo’s and wiping noses, singing, reading, counting, laughing, scolding, praising . . . they get a whole lot more of me than they would if I were working!
So, soon there will be three of them sharing me. Oh, the horror! But how many share one teacher in school? How many children share one day-care worker? Honestly, is a one-to-three ratio that dreadful?
Maybe it’s the close spacing that’s bad. Who can cope with three little ones pulling in different directions? But it’s closer to the spacing which is “ideal”, which is all the 5yo together, all the 6yo together, etc. It means they have very similar interests. Surely it’s somewhat easier to have one almost 3yo, one 15mo, and one newborn rather than 3 newborns, or three 15-month olds, or three 3yo?
Yes, no? These are just thoughts I ponder occasionally. Where do we get the idea that a young mother of three little ones is a stressed out mess (not to say I’m sometimes not) but that a child-care specialist with 8 of the same age is somehow more capable?
Here is an excellent blog that puts so much more into perspective than I can. From a mom of fourteen:
“. . . you may have gotten the impression that I think that having a large family has been the driving force in my life. This is so far from the truth.
The message, if any, that should be drawn from the testimony of who I am is this: She trusted God and surrendered, and it was good.”
Amen. That’s what it is all about . . . . it isn't about hitting a certain number of children. It's about letting go of my ideas and plans. Finding joy in God's design - surrender. Trust. Faith. Hope. The whole article is so good. You should really take the time to read it. I want to be like her when I grow up! *smile*
~Ashley~
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Mon-5-Jan-2009 - Crochet, cooking w/ my boy, wheat ... pics :)
Okay, so I'm tired of talking about the Baby That Isn't Here Yet. So .... here we go.
Here are my crochetted baby blankets. If I'm not spelling crochet right, that's because I'm a baby, baby beginner.
I had the boys run over and sit on the blanket(s) and smile for the camera.
Now, both of these are my own design. The pink one is SUPER simple. $7 worth of pink yarn from Walmart, and I went a row of single, half double, double, triple. One after the other, from one end to the next. Can you see the ribs? That's the double with me picking up a different loop. I did that by accident, decided it was cool and there I was. It went really fast. Without working on it every day, I finished in less than 2 weeks, I think? And I have maybe half my yarn left over!
The blue blanket is super soft and too stretchy. It's the one I made BEFORE learning I need to go down several hook sizes from recommended. See those neat, cute box-gaps? I skipped a stitch for those. I think that whole entire blanket is doubles and triples.
I'm not sure what I'm doing next, but I really like crochet.
Okay, does this make your teeth hurt?
I let Samuel put on the sprinkles. It was tough. If J hadn't encouraged me to let him make such a dreadful mess, I probably would have taken over and declared him too young. As it was, it isn't quite as bad as it looks. Really. We both ended up having a blast, once I relaxed and let the sprinkles fly. I'm glad Daddy was home to encourage me to do the right thing!!! They really are a cheap way to be together in the kitchen!
Here is a current picture of my baker's rack.
Notice anything missing? You know what those three, big canisters are?
From left to right, soft white wheat, white wheat, and red wheat.
We don't have "flour" at our house anymore. Just wheat. And a mill. And stronger arms and healthier digestive tracts and . . . . it's so cool. One of these days, that yellow canister will be full of whole yellow corn waiting to be ground .... and my life will be complete.
I'm so kidding about the complete part. Hahaha!
You can do so much with these three types of wheat. When you eat a French Breakfast Puff soaked in butter and cinnamon sugar . . . you can rest in the fact that at least it's whole wheat and you're getting tons more fiber than you normally would. Plus 10% less calories. Isn't that freaky cool?
My whole-wheat pancake recipe? Doesn't even call for sugar. And I've had no complaints. Can you beat that????
~Ashley~
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