It's almost ultrasound time. As in, halfway through pregnancy and time to decide whether we want to find out the gender. And Nathan and I really don't know what we want to do. Do we find out early? Do we wait until the delivery room?
With Levi, we didn't find out. I didn't want to know, Nathan didn't want to know. So we didn't. Well, we wanted to know, but we wanted the surprise at the end even more. We also decided to wait until the end because we wanted the delivery room surprise at least once. We knew that we might find out the genders of later children because we're not opposed to doing that, but we knew that waiting until the end would be so much harder if we'd already found out the gender at ultrasound time with #1.
So here we are again. Do we peek or not? With Levi, I had a strong feeling early on that it was a boy...and it was! This time I have a strong feeling again. So naturally I want to find out if I'm right. BUT, as of last night, there's another reason I want to know. I have dreams. They are usually quite vivid and detailed. Before we had Levi (like, a couple years before?) I dreamed that we had a little dark-haired baby boy named Levi. And then we did. Last night, I dreamed that this baby was a boy. (and that Nathan wanted to name him Belteshazzar, but I'm pretty sure that part isn't prophetic.) So now that has me wondering too! I honestly don't care which gender this baby is. I wouldn't be disappointed either way. But I'm really curious and those last few weeks before Levi was born were TORTURE as we waited to find out WHO was in there!
I'm not a big surprise person. I don't mind surprises if I don't know that they're coming (surprise party, anyone?). But if I know that something is coming and I'm not allowed to know what, that drives me up the wall! (sidenote: I went to our church's youth group throughout high school and our youth group had a planning committee made up of our youth leaders and a few youth. I wasn't on the planning committee but one or two of my closest friends were and they would often plan events and not give out any details about what was happening. Yet they would hint about them and talk about them with other committee members, even when I was there. It drove me crazy and I never enjoyed the events more because they were a "surprise." Never.) I kinda think this situation could fit into that category, right? May as well find out and I can still be surprised at birth with how our little one looks and what his/her temperament is like and such. On the other hand, I've always been taught to not peek at Christmas gifts as it will ruin Christmas morning. So part of me is wondering if peeking at the gender during the ultrasound will ruin delivery day. Alot of me thinks it's totally different and I'm fairly certain that I won't actually mind knowing ahead of time and not having that surprise at the end. But what if I regret finding out? What if?
Nathan and I are totally on the same page about this. He feels just like I do. He's curious. He feels like we've had the surprise once and that it would be fun to know this time. So who knows what we'll do. What I'm really wondering is WHAT DO YOU THINK? Did you find out your kids' genders via ultrasound? If you haven't had kids, would you find out if you were in this situation? Did you regret your decision (either to find out or to leave it a mystery)? Has anyone out there found out via ultrasound and had it be wrong? Do share your thoughts and experiences!
Before our ultrasound, Nathan and I will decide which way we are going to go and probably won't give out any details either way :) We're quite on the fence and could go either way. It really depends on the hour with us. But add your voice to the swirling thoughts in my head and give me your two cents! Go!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Levi's Birthday Wishlist
- *lawn mowers
- dump trucks
- loaders
- diggers
- motorcycles
- *school busses
- *semi trucks
- garbage trucks
- *tractors
- *alphabet (has seen the Leap Frog magnetic alphabet toys on people's fridges and LOVES them)
- books
- tools/fixing
- animals
- *trains
- airplanes
- boats
- *trampolines
And for clothes, Levi wears:
- size 2T or 24m
- shoes: size 6
This is definitely not an exhaustive list. Levi likes ALL toys :) He isn't too picky!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Proud Mama and Belly Update
First off, I have been such a proud mommy these past, well, 2 years really. But in the last 6 months it seems like our "baby" has turned into such a big boy! He is sleeping in a big boy bed, he is talking more and more all the time (and making sense more than just random words), he is displaying that he has a long(er) term memory as he recounts stories from days/weeks ago, he is diaper-less (with basically no accidents (night or day), he is high-chair-less (preferring to sit on a stool at the table rather than in his chair, which is now in the basement because it just wasn't being used), he understands basic reasoning (you don't want to put on your pants but we can't go outside if you don't put on your pants so would you rather have no pants inside or put on pants and go outside?). He even calls himself a "boy" instead of a "baby" now. What a little man we've been raising. He is a delight, that's for sure. He still doesn't sleep through the night on a regular basis, often getting up once or twice or three times a night. We take him potty and put him back to bed and sometimes that works and sometimes he just wants a "mommy hug" or "rock-rock"... which sounds sweet but is really code for "let me stay awake longer so I can ask for more things like water, stories, etc"). One day he'll sleep through the night though, or at least take himself to the pottty when he wakes up and oh what a day that will be!
The pregnancy has been going well. I'm feeling back to my "old" self again, except that I have a bump. My energy is returning (wasn't sure I'd ever see that again) and what little nausea there was has been gone for a few weeks now. It's funny, when we talk about having more kids, Nathan says, "Oh man, I don't know. Remember those first couple months and how hard they were?" And I remind him that I didn't even puke once and had relatively zero nausea that was gone before the second trimester. I have it almost as easy as anyone when it comes to first trimester sickness. True, I felt like I was going to die from lack of energy, but really it's not so bad. I think Nathan must just be used to me being able to do stuff around the house and it hurts him when I'm just laying around with tears in my eyes because I couldn't possibly walk from the table to the kitchen sink or lift another spoonful of lasagna to my mouth because I just don't have the energy. It sounds funny now, but truly, that's how my days were. I was just.so.tired. But that's gone now for a couple months. Yay! Well, Levi is going to wake up from his nap any time now so I'll leave you with the latest belly shot. And for comparison, I'll also include a belly shot from last time so you can see how much bigger I am this time (no twins, as much as I wouldn't have minded...we've already had an ultrasound and, unless they aren't telling me something, we have one little nugget in there, not two).
The pregnancy has been going well. I'm feeling back to my "old" self again, except that I have a bump. My energy is returning (wasn't sure I'd ever see that again) and what little nausea there was has been gone for a few weeks now. It's funny, when we talk about having more kids, Nathan says, "Oh man, I don't know. Remember those first couple months and how hard they were?" And I remind him that I didn't even puke once and had relatively zero nausea that was gone before the second trimester. I have it almost as easy as anyone when it comes to first trimester sickness. True, I felt like I was going to die from lack of energy, but really it's not so bad. I think Nathan must just be used to me being able to do stuff around the house and it hurts him when I'm just laying around with tears in my eyes because I couldn't possibly walk from the table to the kitchen sink or lift another spoonful of lasagna to my mouth because I just don't have the energy. It sounds funny now, but truly, that's how my days were. I was just.so.tired. But that's gone now for a couple months. Yay! Well, Levi is going to wake up from his nap any time now so I'll leave you with the latest belly shot. And for comparison, I'll also include a belly shot from last time so you can see how much bigger I am this time (no twins, as much as I wouldn't have minded...we've already had an ultrasound and, unless they aren't telling me something, we have one little nugget in there, not two).
 |
| 3 mos - 15-16w - BABY #2 |
 |
| 4.5 mos - 20w - LEVI |
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Picture Post!
I just realized as I was resizing these photos for uploading that Levi is either in gitch or naked in all of the pictures. Hmm...it's not that I'm trying to show off the fact that my 22 month old boy is potty trained (though he is). It's not that I'm trying to show you how incredibly cute he is in gitch (though he is). It's just so hot in our house this summer that often Levi just plays like this. So be it. He's got the rest of his life to wear clothes...
Sidenote: Levi loves to refer to himself as "cowboy" these days. He's no longer "baby." He points to himself and either says, "boy" or "cowboy." LOVE IT!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Baby News
Guess what, everyone? Baby #2 is on it's way! Levi is going to be a
big brother! We're going to have TWO kids. Now that is crazy.
But...BUT...the numbers are still on our side. One kid to one adult.
Those are workable numbers. When numero tres comes to town, look out!
More kids than adults could get interesting! But who knows if that will
even happen :) So we'll just deal with #2 and see where we go from
there.
So yeah! Pregnant again. We never did stop trying after Levi was born. I wanted our kids close. Like, really close. My max age span was 2 years apart. I really wanted the first two 13-18 months apart (my sister and I are just over 13 months apart and I love it) but when we didn't get pregnant within the first year of Levi's life, I knew I could write that off! Nice thing was, when Levi was 17 months old I was SO glad that we weren't adding another little munchkin to the clan right then! This timing is looking like it will be perfect.
Want to know the greatest thing about the impending arrival of baby #2? Baby is due in February. Do any long-time blog readers remember the significance of February when it comes to the timing of our children? (read here for the beginning of the story) Long story short, as we were struggling through infertility, at one point I felt God telling me to expect a baby in February. My best guess would be that this was in 2007-08 sometime. February's came and went and still no baby. Finally, on February 13, 2010 we had our first positive pregnancy test in over 3 years of trying. And Levi was born that October. So, do you see the interesting twist in this story? I assumed that the February prophecy had been fulfilled in full, seeing as we found out we were expecting a baby in February. When I figured out that we were expecting this baby to be born in February, I was floored! How crazy is that? Now, the wildest thing would be if the next baby was actually conceived in February. But we won't push it. So that's the crazy God-story about February.
We found out that we were expecting in mid-June. Alot earlier than with Levi. I had been taking my temperature so I kinda knew when I was late and wondered if I could be pregnant but also felt like it just simply hadn't been long enough trying for pregnancy to be possible. (I assumed that it took us a minimum of 3 years to conceive a baby, rather than other people's one to six cycles) I saw the positive on the test and ran out and told Nathan. I'm pretty sure I was dancing a bit too :D
It's a strange feeling when you get pregnant so quickly (first year of "trying" was basically a write-off so I'd say this baby took us 8-9 months) after having the first take so long. It's a feeling of shock. It's a feeling of disbelief. It's a feeling of "is it really that easy?" and "I don't have to endure years of negative pregnancy tests first?" It's a feeling of finally feeling like a "normal" couple and then having your former, infertile-couple self feel a bit jealous of the new you and shun you. I'm no longer in the infertility camp. Women who struggle with infertility no longer see me as one of them. Can I still relate? Do I even have anything to say to a woman who is in the midst of infertility? I do remember the emotions. I do remember the feeling of hopelessness and the questions and the grief. And yet I'm not there anymore. So where do I belong? I also don't feel like I'm completely on the side of being a "normal" couple who might plan the birthdates of their kids or take pregnancy for granted. I cling to each wave of nausea. Each muscle cramp. Each day of dressing my swelling abdomen like a new accessory is a miracle that I feared I might never experience again.
So this is where I am. Where we are. How am I feeling? Less nauseous than last time. Different things work for me to eat or don't work for me to eat than last time. When I was 11 or 12 weeks pregnant and showing as much as 17 weeks last time (baby #2 is DIFFERENT!). I am exhausted beyond belief. Yowzers, I could just sleep forever. And yet, the thing is that even when my mind isn't tired or when I'm not actually sleepy, my body is just TIRED. I once read that every day that you're pregnant takes as much energy as running a marathon. I'm starting to believe that. Running after an almost 2 year old this time is alot different than sitting on the couch in California last time and napping whenever my body desired. I am preserving energy wherever I can, people. Dishes don't get done after every meal (ok, when has that ever happened beyond the first month of marriage). Laundry doesn't get put away (though part of the reason for that is because Nathan doesn't want me lifting the heavy laundry baskets). But Levi and Nathan are being loved. And I'm taking care of myself and baby. And I consider those my most important jobs these days.
Thanks for reading, everyone. If you'd like to say a quick prayer for us today, you can pray that I'll have energy to do the things that need to get done and that baby will grow to be beautiful and healthy and a good sleeper.
So yeah! Pregnant again. We never did stop trying after Levi was born. I wanted our kids close. Like, really close. My max age span was 2 years apart. I really wanted the first two 13-18 months apart (my sister and I are just over 13 months apart and I love it) but when we didn't get pregnant within the first year of Levi's life, I knew I could write that off! Nice thing was, when Levi was 17 months old I was SO glad that we weren't adding another little munchkin to the clan right then! This timing is looking like it will be perfect.
Want to know the greatest thing about the impending arrival of baby #2? Baby is due in February. Do any long-time blog readers remember the significance of February when it comes to the timing of our children? (read here for the beginning of the story) Long story short, as we were struggling through infertility, at one point I felt God telling me to expect a baby in February. My best guess would be that this was in 2007-08 sometime. February's came and went and still no baby. Finally, on February 13, 2010 we had our first positive pregnancy test in over 3 years of trying. And Levi was born that October. So, do you see the interesting twist in this story? I assumed that the February prophecy had been fulfilled in full, seeing as we found out we were expecting a baby in February. When I figured out that we were expecting this baby to be born in February, I was floored! How crazy is that? Now, the wildest thing would be if the next baby was actually conceived in February. But we won't push it. So that's the crazy God-story about February.
We found out that we were expecting in mid-June. Alot earlier than with Levi. I had been taking my temperature so I kinda knew when I was late and wondered if I could be pregnant but also felt like it just simply hadn't been long enough trying for pregnancy to be possible. (I assumed that it took us a minimum of 3 years to conceive a baby, rather than other people's one to six cycles) I saw the positive on the test and ran out and told Nathan. I'm pretty sure I was dancing a bit too :D
It's a strange feeling when you get pregnant so quickly (first year of "trying" was basically a write-off so I'd say this baby took us 8-9 months) after having the first take so long. It's a feeling of shock. It's a feeling of disbelief. It's a feeling of "is it really that easy?" and "I don't have to endure years of negative pregnancy tests first?" It's a feeling of finally feeling like a "normal" couple and then having your former, infertile-couple self feel a bit jealous of the new you and shun you. I'm no longer in the infertility camp. Women who struggle with infertility no longer see me as one of them. Can I still relate? Do I even have anything to say to a woman who is in the midst of infertility? I do remember the emotions. I do remember the feeling of hopelessness and the questions and the grief. And yet I'm not there anymore. So where do I belong? I also don't feel like I'm completely on the side of being a "normal" couple who might plan the birthdates of their kids or take pregnancy for granted. I cling to each wave of nausea. Each muscle cramp. Each day of dressing my swelling abdomen like a new accessory is a miracle that I feared I might never experience again.
So this is where I am. Where we are. How am I feeling? Less nauseous than last time. Different things work for me to eat or don't work for me to eat than last time. When I was 11 or 12 weeks pregnant and showing as much as 17 weeks last time (baby #2 is DIFFERENT!). I am exhausted beyond belief. Yowzers, I could just sleep forever. And yet, the thing is that even when my mind isn't tired or when I'm not actually sleepy, my body is just TIRED. I once read that every day that you're pregnant takes as much energy as running a marathon. I'm starting to believe that. Running after an almost 2 year old this time is alot different than sitting on the couch in California last time and napping whenever my body desired. I am preserving energy wherever I can, people. Dishes don't get done after every meal (ok, when has that ever happened beyond the first month of marriage). Laundry doesn't get put away (though part of the reason for that is because Nathan doesn't want me lifting the heavy laundry baskets). But Levi and Nathan are being loved. And I'm taking care of myself and baby. And I consider those my most important jobs these days.
Thanks for reading, everyone. If you'd like to say a quick prayer for us today, you can pray that I'll have energy to do the things that need to get done and that baby will grow to be beautiful and healthy and a good sleeper.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Away
It's been 7 weeks since I've updated my blog. Wow. I'm pretty sure that's the longest break I've ever taken since I started blogging in May of 2006. Six years I've been blogging. Crazy. Seems like forever and no time at all. After 6 years, it has started to feel like I just don't have anything left to write. I started blogging because I pictured this becoming a place where I would update family and friends about our life and how our children were growing and changing. When we didn't get pregnant, my blog became a bit of an infertility forum, documenting what I was feeling as we lived through infertility, though still being a place to write about random life happenings. And then we got pregnant and, now that I finally have my chance to blog about the things that I started my blog in order to blog about, I've found that I have no desire to blog anymore. Strange how that works.
I have been feeling like:
- I would rather keep in touch with people on a one-on-one basis
- I would rather share deeply with only the people I choose to share with and not the whole blogosphere (though I don't regret my sharing here in the past one bit)
- I would rather spend my discretionary time during the day doing things that I choose to do, not doing things that I feel like I *should* be doing...like blogging
- I have run out of things to say. When I started blogging, I was inspired to write. These days I have been inspired by other things. I've been inspired to make things, to work on our yard and home, to come up with fun things for Levi and I to do together.
I wouldn't necessarily call this the absolute end of my blog, except that I don't really want my blog to be one that just drags on with one post here and one post there. I'd rather be fully committed or willing to let go and say that I'm done. So, everyone? I'm done. Wow. That was actually hard to type. But it's the right decision. I'm done.
It's been a fun ride. I've enjoyed meeting people and getting to know people through blogging. Thanks for all the support you, my blog readers, have given me over the years. I've enjoyed having the creative outlet to throw my writing out to the world and the place to share my thoughts. But now I just have to say good-bye. And spend time with my boy. And my husband. And throw my energy into HOME-making. Thank you all for following along. Feel free to contact me via fb or email if you're interested in catching up :) And who knows? When Levi grows up and I find myself with more time on my hands, I may indeed be inspired to write once again...we'll just have to wait and see!
I have been feeling like:
- I would rather keep in touch with people on a one-on-one basis
- I would rather share deeply with only the people I choose to share with and not the whole blogosphere (though I don't regret my sharing here in the past one bit)
- I would rather spend my discretionary time during the day doing things that I choose to do, not doing things that I feel like I *should* be doing...like blogging
- I have run out of things to say. When I started blogging, I was inspired to write. These days I have been inspired by other things. I've been inspired to make things, to work on our yard and home, to come up with fun things for Levi and I to do together.
I wouldn't necessarily call this the absolute end of my blog, except that I don't really want my blog to be one that just drags on with one post here and one post there. I'd rather be fully committed or willing to let go and say that I'm done. So, everyone? I'm done. Wow. That was actually hard to type. But it's the right decision. I'm done.
It's been a fun ride. I've enjoyed meeting people and getting to know people through blogging. Thanks for all the support you, my blog readers, have given me over the years. I've enjoyed having the creative outlet to throw my writing out to the world and the place to share my thoughts. But now I just have to say good-bye. And spend time with my boy. And my husband. And throw my energy into HOME-making. Thank you all for following along. Feel free to contact me via fb or email if you're interested in catching up :) And who knows? When Levi grows up and I find myself with more time on my hands, I may indeed be inspired to write once again...we'll just have to wait and see!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Home(s)
I've been thinking lately about the different places that I've called home in my life. Places I've lived since I was 5 are the places that have the most memories in them (obviously). Paraguay is special to me in a different way, but it doesn't really come to mind in the same category as other places I've called home. But isn't it interesting how living in a place for a time just etches it into your mind and heart and it's sometimes hard to let go?
H.B. - I spent my entire elementary and high school years in HB. All my childhood memories are from there. I graduated high school there. I was proposed to there. I was married there. My parents and grandma and some uncles/aunt/cousins still live there. HB will always be home to me in one way or another! I don't look forward to the day when I have no reason to go back there...
H-burn - While this place does have wonderful memories for me (Bible college, meeting Nathan, dating Nathan, being engaged to Nathan, bringing our first child home to H-burn), it's always been a transitory place and therefore has a bit of a different feel to me. I was never settled there. I never let my roots go down deep because I always knew that I would be leaving before long. I've lived in H-burn a total of about 22 months over the span of about 7 years, but those months were split up over 3 different periods of time. Hepburn has always been a place about looking ahead to what's next, though obviously still enjoying the present.
A-town - The first place Nathan and I lived after being married (besides our 3 month stay at camp!) was A-town! It was the place we had our first apartment, the place we bought our first house, the place both of us had our first "real" jobs. It was the place where we made the transition from kids to adults...and what an interesting transition that was! haha. Oh boy. A-town attracted us because it was far from parents and gave us a good opportunity to solidify our marriage by being on our own without a parental "safety net," so to speak. I'd say that was a good decision on our part, but after a few years, we were really wishing that we were a bit closer to family when it came to holidays, especially since A-town is so family-oriented - something I appreciate very much about it. A-town is where we thought we would start our family, where we dreamed of bringing our first child home to. A-town is where we got our first dog and where we thought our kids would one day go to school. We made friends there, we were involved in a church there, we worked there and played there and put down roots there. It truly became home over the 4 years that we were there and it still feels like home when we drive through.
California! - While we knew we were only in California for a short time and, in the same way as H-burn, it was a transient place for us, it became home and stole my heart in a completely different way than H-burn did. Maybe it had something to do with the people we met there and the community in which we lived. Maybe it was because we were so far from the Canadian border that we had to make ourselves at home for fear of being incredibly homesick if we didn't. Whatever it was, I find my mind and heart being drawn back to that place alot these days. Smells on the street here take me back to the Vallarta across the street from where we lived. The cool but warming-up mornings this spring remind me of the winter/spring weather down there in January/February. And while the people we met there are now spread across Canada/the USA, I still find myself wanting to road trip down there and spend some time in that place that became home for those 9 months that we were there. Plus, that's the place Levi started his life, where we thought we lost him, and where we got almost weekly glimpses of our growing baby via ultrasound. That alone made it a special place :)
W-town - And now we live in this place and it's exactly what we prayed for and already it's special. It's a small town in the province where we wanted to be. Great church. Wonderful people. We love it here and already we're dreaming of Levi going to school here, hopefully bringing a few more children home to this place, and maybe, just maybe, having our children graduate here! That's a bit of a long shot, but we hope that we are here to stay and already, after only 8 months, we have so many great memories in this place.
Which of your homes is the most special or memorable to you? Which was most transient? Which was your least favourite? Homes are interesting things, no?
H.B. - I spent my entire elementary and high school years in HB. All my childhood memories are from there. I graduated high school there. I was proposed to there. I was married there. My parents and grandma and some uncles/aunt/cousins still live there. HB will always be home to me in one way or another! I don't look forward to the day when I have no reason to go back there...
H-burn - While this place does have wonderful memories for me (Bible college, meeting Nathan, dating Nathan, being engaged to Nathan, bringing our first child home to H-burn), it's always been a transitory place and therefore has a bit of a different feel to me. I was never settled there. I never let my roots go down deep because I always knew that I would be leaving before long. I've lived in H-burn a total of about 22 months over the span of about 7 years, but those months were split up over 3 different periods of time. Hepburn has always been a place about looking ahead to what's next, though obviously still enjoying the present.
A-town - The first place Nathan and I lived after being married (besides our 3 month stay at camp!) was A-town! It was the place we had our first apartment, the place we bought our first house, the place both of us had our first "real" jobs. It was the place where we made the transition from kids to adults...and what an interesting transition that was! haha. Oh boy. A-town attracted us because it was far from parents and gave us a good opportunity to solidify our marriage by being on our own without a parental "safety net," so to speak. I'd say that was a good decision on our part, but after a few years, we were really wishing that we were a bit closer to family when it came to holidays, especially since A-town is so family-oriented - something I appreciate very much about it. A-town is where we thought we would start our family, where we dreamed of bringing our first child home to. A-town is where we got our first dog and where we thought our kids would one day go to school. We made friends there, we were involved in a church there, we worked there and played there and put down roots there. It truly became home over the 4 years that we were there and it still feels like home when we drive through.
California! - While we knew we were only in California for a short time and, in the same way as H-burn, it was a transient place for us, it became home and stole my heart in a completely different way than H-burn did. Maybe it had something to do with the people we met there and the community in which we lived. Maybe it was because we were so far from the Canadian border that we had to make ourselves at home for fear of being incredibly homesick if we didn't. Whatever it was, I find my mind and heart being drawn back to that place alot these days. Smells on the street here take me back to the Vallarta across the street from where we lived. The cool but warming-up mornings this spring remind me of the winter/spring weather down there in January/February. And while the people we met there are now spread across Canada/the USA, I still find myself wanting to road trip down there and spend some time in that place that became home for those 9 months that we were there. Plus, that's the place Levi started his life, where we thought we lost him, and where we got almost weekly glimpses of our growing baby via ultrasound. That alone made it a special place :)
W-town - And now we live in this place and it's exactly what we prayed for and already it's special. It's a small town in the province where we wanted to be. Great church. Wonderful people. We love it here and already we're dreaming of Levi going to school here, hopefully bringing a few more children home to this place, and maybe, just maybe, having our children graduate here! That's a bit of a long shot, but we hope that we are here to stay and already, after only 8 months, we have so many great memories in this place.
Which of your homes is the most special or memorable to you? Which was most transient? Which was your least favourite? Homes are interesting things, no?
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Will the introverts please stand?
I was talking to someone this morning at church who asked if I had connected with alot of other moms here in town since we moved here. I said that I hadn't really, that I wasn't going to any moms groups or anything like that and was giving myself time to just settle into routine and get to know the town at my own pace. She began talking about wanting to invite some young moms over for coffee so that they could get to know each other. I said that this was a great idea but also mentioned that I'm an introvert so I don't even really notice if I go weeks without really talking to anyone besides Nathan and Levi. She was astounded and this led into an interesting conversation about the differences between extroverts and introverts. (She is about as extroverted as they come!) Funny, though, we realized that while I was more extroverted when in high school, she was more introverted and hardly talked to anybody. Interesting how things change because now we are both fairly far on our sides of extrovertedness and introvertedness. Huh.
Anyway, I mentioned this conversation to Nathan on the drive home from church and he mentioned that there was something on facebook about how to care for introverts. I read through these and was like, "yup!" People get me and there are other people out there like me (obviously alot)...so my question is: why is the world still hung up on #12?? :D
Are there any other introverts out there reading this? How does this list sound to you? Accurate?
Anyway, I mentioned this conversation to Nathan on the drive home from church and he mentioned that there was something on facebook about how to care for introverts. I read through these and was like, "yup!" People get me and there are other people out there like me (obviously alot)...so my question is: why is the world still hung up on #12?? :D
Are there any other introverts out there reading this? How does this list sound to you? Accurate?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A-Z
I'm totally stealing this from someone else's blog...thanks Erica! I figure it's been a couple years since I've randomly given out facts about myself so here ya go!
B. Bed size: Queen
E. Essential start to your day: being allowed to wake up slowly
F. Favorite color: depends for what! yellow, grey, teal, green...
G. Gold or Silver: Silver (or white gold) :D
H. Height: 4'10"
I. Instruments you play: piano
J. Job title: wife and mama, small business owner (wow, I like the sounds of that...)
K. Kids: LEVI!
L. Live: small town
M. Mother’s name: Irene
N. Nicknames: Niki, for a while there Dollface was sorta on the list :p
O. Overnight hospital stays: tonscilectomy when I was 3, 4 nights when I had Levi
P. Pet peeves: incorrect grammar/punctuation, people being inconsiderate of others
Q. Quote from a movie: "Sanka mon, whatcha smoking?" "I'm not smoking, I'm breathing!"
R. Right- or left-handed: Right.
S. Siblings: 2... older sister, younger brother
T. Tastes you do not like: salad dressing, coffee, cream cheese
U. Underwear: yes?
V. Vegetable(s) you hate: sweet potatoes, water chestnuts, warm chunks of zucchini
W. What makes you run late: Not being organized ahead of time
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Ha! Just had one today! Well, Levi did, but I'm sure they must have caught the edge of my hand as I held Levi's arm down to check out his wrist!
Y. Yummy food that you make: For a person who spent the first 20+ years loathing the very existance of pizza, I do make a variety of AMAZING pizzas!
Z. Zoo animal: Lemurs! I saw some in the zoo in Fresno and they were SO much fun to watch! By far the best zoo animal I've ever seen.
Hey hey, that's it! Time for me to go! So, whadda ya say? Are you going to steal this and give me some random facts about yourself on your blog??
Oh, and here's one more random fact that I learned this week: Putting two spaces after a period in a sentence isn't the correct way of typing anymore. If you don't believe me, google it. It's true.
A. Age: 2012-1985=26, turning 27 (yup, I have to do the math)
B. Bed size: Queen
C.
Chore that you hate: Cleaning the bathroom, specifically the tub/shower
D. Dogs: yep. I have had a total of 5 dogs in my life!
D. Dogs: yep. I have had a total of 5 dogs in my life!
E. Essential start to your day: being allowed to wake up slowly
F. Favorite color: depends for what! yellow, grey, teal, green...
G. Gold or Silver: Silver (or white gold) :D
H. Height: 4'10"
I. Instruments you play: piano
J. Job title: wife and mama, small business owner (wow, I like the sounds of that...)
K. Kids: LEVI!
L. Live: small town
M. Mother’s name: Irene
N. Nicknames: Niki, for a while there Dollface was sorta on the list :p
O. Overnight hospital stays: tonscilectomy when I was 3, 4 nights when I had Levi
P. Pet peeves: incorrect grammar/punctuation, people being inconsiderate of others
Q. Quote from a movie: "Sanka mon, whatcha smoking?" "I'm not smoking, I'm breathing!"
R. Right- or left-handed: Right.
S. Siblings: 2... older sister, younger brother
T. Tastes you do not like: salad dressing, coffee, cream cheese
U. Underwear: yes?
V. Vegetable(s) you hate: sweet potatoes, water chestnuts, warm chunks of zucchini
W. What makes you run late: Not being organized ahead of time
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Ha! Just had one today! Well, Levi did, but I'm sure they must have caught the edge of my hand as I held Levi's arm down to check out his wrist!
Y. Yummy food that you make: For a person who spent the first 20+ years loathing the very existance of pizza, I do make a variety of AMAZING pizzas!
Z. Zoo animal: Lemurs! I saw some in the zoo in Fresno and they were SO much fun to watch! By far the best zoo animal I've ever seen.
Hey hey, that's it! Time for me to go! So, whadda ya say? Are you going to steal this and give me some random facts about yourself on your blog??
Oh, and here's one more random fact that I learned this week: Putting two spaces after a period in a sentence isn't the correct way of typing anymore. If you don't believe me, google it. It's true.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Doodles
"Noodle."
He said it over and over again as he was very excited about the noodles he was eating.
Except no matter how much he practiced, it always came out as "doodle."
hehe...what a sweetie.
His daddy and I really are so in love with him, and growing more and more in love every day.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Is this normal?
I have a 17 month old. I love my 17 month old to bits. He is wonderful. He is fun. He is energetic and exploring and learning...busy. Busy is good! Busy is healthy. But busy leaves me tired.
I've noticed in the last few weeks/months that I guard my naptimes agressively. As soon as Levi is in bed for his nap, my mind goes in 20 million directions trying to figure out what the best use of my "free" time would be. I almost panic trying to come up with just the right thing to do so that I won't feel as though I wasted even a minute of the precious time I have to myself that day. And if something threatens to come in the way of that time, watch out. Don't distract me. Don't ask me to do anything out of the blue during that time. Don't come into my space. I have only limited time every day to do my own thing and be alone. And I never know how long that time will be so if I get distracted by something/someone unexpectedly and Levi wakes up, it could be another 24 hours before I get some time to myself again.
It struck me lately that this just doesn't feel...healthy? normal? It's gotten to the point where I'd rather not eat lunch with Nathan (Levi naps over lunch time) because it means that I have less time to myself. I'd rather sit and read or crochet or even just creep around facebook than ask my husband how his morning was. That doesn't seem right. And yet...that's my energize time. That's my "keeping sane" time. I feel like I need that time...
Is it ok to ignore everything else during that naptime each day? Is it ok to guard it protectively? Is it ok to hope that nothing unexpectedly comes in the way of it? *sigh* Does anyone else feel like this? Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel like I'm at a place where I either need to be ok with being distracted or else give myself permission to guard that time ...
I've noticed in the last few weeks/months that I guard my naptimes agressively. As soon as Levi is in bed for his nap, my mind goes in 20 million directions trying to figure out what the best use of my "free" time would be. I almost panic trying to come up with just the right thing to do so that I won't feel as though I wasted even a minute of the precious time I have to myself that day. And if something threatens to come in the way of that time, watch out. Don't distract me. Don't ask me to do anything out of the blue during that time. Don't come into my space. I have only limited time every day to do my own thing and be alone. And I never know how long that time will be so if I get distracted by something/someone unexpectedly and Levi wakes up, it could be another 24 hours before I get some time to myself again.
It struck me lately that this just doesn't feel...healthy? normal? It's gotten to the point where I'd rather not eat lunch with Nathan (Levi naps over lunch time) because it means that I have less time to myself. I'd rather sit and read or crochet or even just creep around facebook than ask my husband how his morning was. That doesn't seem right. And yet...that's my energize time. That's my "keeping sane" time. I feel like I need that time...
Is it ok to ignore everything else during that naptime each day? Is it ok to guard it protectively? Is it ok to hope that nothing unexpectedly comes in the way of it? *sigh* Does anyone else feel like this? Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel like I'm at a place where I either need to be ok with being distracted or else give myself permission to guard that time ...
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
On worship...
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
On being an introvert.
I've been realizing more and more lately that the fact that I'm an introvert is something to be embraced rather than fought. Interesting that I ever picked up the idea that being an introvert wasn't a good thing, no? I'm fairly convinced that the society in which we live has been designed by extroverts. And this has often left me feeling like there's something wrong with me, like I just don't quite fit and, on top of all that, like I'm the only one who feels this way.
As I live in more places, get to know more people and function in new and different situations, I'm realizing that I am not, in fact, the only one. There are more people out there who feel like society isn't quite designed for them. People who would rather sneak through the church foyer than have to stand and "mingle" for 20 minutes (an eternity, yes). People who would rather brainstorm on their own than get together in a group and throw out ideas or plan an event. People who have no problem spending the majority of their time at home alone, rather than scheduling their week full of coffee dates and activities.
For the majority of my life, I've found myself dreading things like group work in school, ice breaker games, "mingling"...and the whole time I just thought it was something I needed to just deal with and get over. And as I am getting older, I'm realizing that the introvert in me isn't something to be somehow overcome. It is not something that needs to be stuffed away and ignored. There is great value to being an introvert and, more than that, it's who.I.am. That alone is reason to respect how I feel and to give those feelings a voice.
I have started giving myself permission to be true to the introverted part of myself. That might mean not being fully immersed in every area of the church right away (gasp!). It might mean not pushing myself as hard to set up playdates or coffee dates or to have people over for supper every week. Sometimes I just need time and space. And that's ok!
It has been extremely life-giving to have come to this realization. Why did it take me so long?! It's quite likely that nobody else notices any difference, yet the change in pressure that I'm not putting on myself has been huge! I'm still learning to tell myself that it's ok to sometimes pull away and give myself space. It's getting there :) Being an introvert who is fueled by time away from the action is ok and normal. Aah...talk about a breath of fresh air!
As I live in more places, get to know more people and function in new and different situations, I'm realizing that I am not, in fact, the only one. There are more people out there who feel like society isn't quite designed for them. People who would rather sneak through the church foyer than have to stand and "mingle" for 20 minutes (an eternity, yes). People who would rather brainstorm on their own than get together in a group and throw out ideas or plan an event. People who have no problem spending the majority of their time at home alone, rather than scheduling their week full of coffee dates and activities.
For the majority of my life, I've found myself dreading things like group work in school, ice breaker games, "mingling"...and the whole time I just thought it was something I needed to just deal with and get over. And as I am getting older, I'm realizing that the introvert in me isn't something to be somehow overcome. It is not something that needs to be stuffed away and ignored. There is great value to being an introvert and, more than that, it's who.I.am. That alone is reason to respect how I feel and to give those feelings a voice.
I have started giving myself permission to be true to the introverted part of myself. That might mean not being fully immersed in every area of the church right away (gasp!). It might mean not pushing myself as hard to set up playdates or coffee dates or to have people over for supper every week. Sometimes I just need time and space. And that's ok!
It has been extremely life-giving to have come to this realization. Why did it take me so long?! It's quite likely that nobody else notices any difference, yet the change in pressure that I'm not putting on myself has been huge! I'm still learning to tell myself that it's ok to sometimes pull away and give myself space. It's getting there :) Being an introvert who is fueled by time away from the action is ok and normal. Aah...talk about a breath of fresh air!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Our Little Levi (at 16.5 months)
Levi at 16.5 months is...talkative. He's starting to say actual words and works very hard to get those words to sound right. In his vocabulary so far are: Mama, Daddy, more (mmmmmore?), snack (nnnnak?), wow (more like WOOOOW), night-night (na-na?). He also tries to say things like: downstairs (his favourite place to play), and Lennox (our puppy). But sometimes he just can't get across everything he's trying to say as quickly as he'd like so he just babbles on and on using whatever sound is intriguing him that day: didi!, giggle/wiggle, dub-a-dub-a-dub. It's been fun to hear him trying to put words to life but even more exciting is the fact that he's starting to realize that making an effort at communication is to his benefit. He very clearly lets us know when he wants to come out of his high chair by waving his arms in the air and will often steer us to whatever it is that he wants/needs with pointing or leading us by the hand (this often results in us standing in front of the pantry where his snacks are kept and Levi reaching for the doorknob).
Speaking of snacks, Levi isn't the greatest eater but he's not the worst either. He far prefers snack-type food to "real" food. He'd eat Gerber Graduates fruit snacks ALL day. He also loves the Gerber puffs. And marshmallows, cheerios, Life cereal, puffed wheat, goldfish, chocolate chips and graham crackers. Oddly, he will not eat Teddy Grahams. He does have a fairly healthy selection of foods that pass for real meal foods including peas, corn, scrambled eggs, fish sticks, oranges, apple slices, bananas, and pizza to name a few.
Levi thrives on routine. Every morning before his nap, we go for a walk with Lennox to get the mail and often stop by the library, Credit Union, and/or grocery store before heading home. People around town definitely know us! We walk everywhere with a red and yellow bike trailer/stroller (or red wagon) and Lennox. We stand out a little bit in this small town. But I love it! I love seeing the women who work at the post office getting to know Levi and the ladies at the bank and the grocery store commenting on how big he's getting. This is a huge reason why I hoped that we'd find a job in a small town! After our walk it's snack time then nap time. As a small baby, Levi was a short napper. I remember clearly when 45 minutes felt like a long nap for him. But now that he's down to one nap a day, it's usually close to 2 hours. He isn't the greatest sleeper but he's finally (in the past two weeks) stopped crying himself to sleep every single time we put him to bed. Let me tell you, this is a huge relief for my nerves! I would be wound tight as a ??? (what do you wind tight?) whatever. I would just be tense as Levi would scream in his crib at both naptime and bedtime for up to 30 minutes before falling asleep. I hated hearing him cry and scream and yet trying to console him only made it worse. He just simply did not want to sleep, and yet he needed to! It seems we are finally past the worst of that battle, praise the Lord! He sleeps around 12 hours a night, 8pm-8am which is a decent stretch. He doesn't regularly make it through the night without waking, though, but hey. What can you do? Eventually he will sleep through the night more regularly than he's up but for now I'll continue to go in, offer him a drink, give him Tylenol if he's teething, recite a few of his books to him from memory until he calms down, put his blankets back into his bed, wrap him up and hopefully go back to sleep until morning. We tried the sleep training thing (cry it out) when he was 7 months old and it did help, but I just don't think it's worth the fight for us to try again right now. After sleep training, Levi hated his crib and we're actually at a point again where he enjoys his bedroom and his bed so I think I'll take this and pray for restful nights again soon.
What else is Levi doing? He's running, jumping, dancing, climbing...active all the time! He loves to "fall" off things into our arms, though sometimes it results in a face-plant off the living room chairs when we're not ready for him or when he gets too excited and throws himself off the edge randomly. Levi likes to play with his Chuck the Truck toys, his Little People Barn, and his mega blocks right now. He also loves books; he always has (hence me having a few of them memorized to be able to recite them in the wee hours of the morning). Levi loves to stand on a stool or chair at the counter and play with whatever is within reach. Fortunately for me, he hasn't figured out how to get down yet so it comes in handy when I'm cooking and need him contained for a while. : ) Levi loves babies and always makes a bee-line to the nearest baby carrier when we're at church - and believe me, there is quite the selection to choose from these days in church! He's not quite sure what to do once he sees the baby, especially if its crying, but he sure likes to look and see what/who he'll find inside! He also LOVES Winnie the Pooh and often watches a bit during his night snack on Youtube. When it gets close to 7pm, Levi will go to the laptop and try to open it and make his "I want some!" noise where he moves his tongue in his mouth and kinda hums so it makes a really funny noise. Strange kid... :D
Levi loves to play outside and often after our morning walk, I'll leave him all dressed and let him go out on the deck and just play. He hates getting his jacket/boots on so if he's dressed already, I may as well make use of it! He always begs to go outside so why not just let him outside when he's already good to go?? He doesn't know the difference. It's also handy that it's a covered/screened/carpeted deck so I can just leave the door to the house open on warm days and he can just go in and out as he pleases. I can't WAIT for summer when he can play out there all the time! He is going to love it, I'm sure!Levi is small for his age, coming in at just over 30" tall and around 21 lbs. It sure makes carrying him around alot easier. He's a typical first-born and loves to be picked up and carried. I get WAY too many comments when we're out about how he's almost as big as me and how I won't be able to carry him for much longer (though I have muscles in my left arm like you wouldn't believe!). I'll admit, I get pretty sick of hearing people say that, but I usually just smile and say, "Yup, he's getting big!" and carry on with my business. It's really not worth getting upset about and certainly not worth trying to reason with them or blowing up in their face about it (not that that's really my style anyway!).
So that's our boy! He is cute as ever and we love him to bits!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Fresh Diapers!
I am officially glad that I bought my $500 diaper stash from bumGenius! As I mentioned in an earlier POST back in December 2011, I was disappointed that my diapers had holes along the sides and in random places on the lining. They hadn't lasted very long at all.
Well, I wrote in to Cotton Babies in early January (the makers of bumGenius products) explaining my frustration, linked my blog post so they could see the pictures, and asked if there was anything they could do for me or any suggestions for fixing the diapers or helping them to last longer. A couple emails went back and forth and in the end they offered to replace ALL of my diapers! All I needed to do was fill in a form and ship my diapers to them, and in about 6 weeks I received a package with 18 brand new bumGenius Elementals!
I am so pleased with the customer service I received from Cotton Babies! Communication was excellent, I was very happy with the service I received and, ultimately, I'm thankful for a brand new stash of cloth diapers that will see Levi through potty training and hopefully provide for the rest of our babies! I would definitely recommend bumGenius diapers to anyone looking to cloth diaper. They are a trim-fitting, easy to use diaper and come from a great company. Plus, they're just adorable! But what cloth diaper isn't??
Thank you Cotton Babies!
Well, I wrote in to Cotton Babies in early January (the makers of bumGenius products) explaining my frustration, linked my blog post so they could see the pictures, and asked if there was anything they could do for me or any suggestions for fixing the diapers or helping them to last longer. A couple emails went back and forth and in the end they offered to replace ALL of my diapers! All I needed to do was fill in a form and ship my diapers to them, and in about 6 weeks I received a package with 18 brand new bumGenius Elementals! I am so pleased with the customer service I received from Cotton Babies! Communication was excellent, I was very happy with the service I received and, ultimately, I'm thankful for a brand new stash of cloth diapers that will see Levi through potty training and hopefully provide for the rest of our babies! I would definitely recommend bumGenius diapers to anyone looking to cloth diaper. They are a trim-fitting, easy to use diaper and come from a great company. Plus, they're just adorable! But what cloth diaper isn't??
Thank you Cotton Babies!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
little rant
Ok, so sometimes facebook is wonderful and sometimes it is just plan terrible. I was just on facebook, seeing all these people who have gotten married in the past year and are already pregnant, and I was getting really discouraged. I'm sorry if this is you and you got pregnant in your first year of marriage or as soon as you started trying to have a baby. This rant isn't against you personally...it's just that when it takes SO.MUCH.TIME (and EFFORT and TEARS and WORK and PRAYER) for some to get pregnant, how is it fair that others just get pregnant as soon as they decide that they'd like to start a family? WHY? Why can't everyone who so desperately desires to be a parent just have it happen like it does for others? Why couldn't it either be hard for everyone or easy for everyone? Why can't we all be on a level playing field here?? I guess I just don't understand. And I guess I'm still a bit bitter that we had to wait THREE+ years to welcome Levi into our lives, four years and one month from the time we started to try until the time we met him face to face. Don't tell me that God has a plan. Don't tell me that things turned out better this way. Don't tell me that we waited this long to have Levi and that if we'd had a baby right away it wouldn't have been the same baby as we have now. Don't give me pat answers because this isn't a simple issue. It isn't a simple issue. I still deal with the effects of having struggled with infertility for over 3 years. I still hurt because of it. I still have questions. The pain and wondering doesn't go away with the positive pregnancy test...with the baby's first cry in the delivery room. It's easier to forget about the road that it took to get here, but the road is still there. The memories are still there. The scars are still there. And every once in a while, like when I'm stalking around facebook, it hits me like a truck. It's not gone. It still hurts. And it's not fair. IT'S.NOT.FAIR.
turning corners
Levi has been sick this week. It seems that every time he hangs out with his little buddies who have even a hint of sickness or a cold, he gets it. This is quite the opposite of his first year of life as he wasn't sick at all. I guess the antibodies that come from a mother's milk really do make a difference!
Speaking of sickness, the other night Levi was up coughing and crying. I offered him water and he refused. I tried snuggling and rocking him. He just arched his back and screamed louder. He kept reaching for the door (which he always does when he doesn't want to sleep) so finally I just went with it, like I have before, and left his room. He kept crying and reaching so I just kept following where he led. Once we reached the fridge, he reached for it and I opened it and gave him his milk. He GUZZLED. Like, the world is ending, guzzled. And stopped crying. And then, once he was finished chugging back his milk, he snuggled into my chest and reached the other direction. Seeing as he had led me to what he wanted in the first place, I thought I would just follow his lead again. He led me to our bedroom (the only light on in the house at this point) and I lay down in our bed with him. He just lay there on my chest, perfectly calm and happy (though still the occasional cough). Three minutes earlier he had been a screaming, inconsolable mess and now he was laying on me as though nothing was wrong. I still needed to do a few things before coming to bed so I asked Levi if he could snuggle with Daddy for a few minutes. He shook his head, but he often shakes his head when he hears the "question" tone. He shakes his head 'no' to everything. So I handed him over to Nathan while I went and got ready for bed. He screamed the.entire.time. Apparently he meant what he said when he shook his head 'no' to Daddy. I got back and he calmed down as soon as he was in my arms.
Now, this whole scenario isn't so much about the details of what happened, as about turning a corner in communication! For months, Levi has been whining and having melt-down after melt-down because he couldn't communicate. He would try and I would try to understand and help him, but often the melt-down would come before he really got across what he was trying to say. But since that night, it has been a complete turn-around! I think I might actually enjoy being a mother of a toddler now! (not that I didn't enjoy most of it already, but it certainly wasn't shaping up to be my favourite of life stages...those tantrums are something else!) Now, even if Levi is in melt-down mode, I can ask him calmly to show me what he wants, and he'll make a honest effort, and most of the time he feels understood! And when he feels understood, even if I say 'no' to him because he can't have what he's asking for, the tears are fewer and he moves on to something else more quickly. Aah. We turned a corner with that one! Whoo-hoo!
In other news, I got a huge stack of crochet magazines this week from one of the women who works at the local post office. She has seen my packages of yarn coming in and my scads of product going out and thought I might be interested in these. The magazines are from the years 1988-1993 and I must say, I had some good laughs. There are a TON of patterns that I want to try (at least a variation of), but some of them...well, why don't I just show you?
And that is that. What an interesting day I had yesterday looking through all these magazines, marking all the patterns that may be of interest. And with that, I'll leave you to carry on your day! Have a good one!
Speaking of sickness, the other night Levi was up coughing and crying. I offered him water and he refused. I tried snuggling and rocking him. He just arched his back and screamed louder. He kept reaching for the door (which he always does when he doesn't want to sleep) so finally I just went with it, like I have before, and left his room. He kept crying and reaching so I just kept following where he led. Once we reached the fridge, he reached for it and I opened it and gave him his milk. He GUZZLED. Like, the world is ending, guzzled. And stopped crying. And then, once he was finished chugging back his milk, he snuggled into my chest and reached the other direction. Seeing as he had led me to what he wanted in the first place, I thought I would just follow his lead again. He led me to our bedroom (the only light on in the house at this point) and I lay down in our bed with him. He just lay there on my chest, perfectly calm and happy (though still the occasional cough). Three minutes earlier he had been a screaming, inconsolable mess and now he was laying on me as though nothing was wrong. I still needed to do a few things before coming to bed so I asked Levi if he could snuggle with Daddy for a few minutes. He shook his head, but he often shakes his head when he hears the "question" tone. He shakes his head 'no' to everything. So I handed him over to Nathan while I went and got ready for bed. He screamed the.entire.time. Apparently he meant what he said when he shook his head 'no' to Daddy. I got back and he calmed down as soon as he was in my arms.
Now, this whole scenario isn't so much about the details of what happened, as about turning a corner in communication! For months, Levi has been whining and having melt-down after melt-down because he couldn't communicate. He would try and I would try to understand and help him, but often the melt-down would come before he really got across what he was trying to say. But since that night, it has been a complete turn-around! I think I might actually enjoy being a mother of a toddler now! (not that I didn't enjoy most of it already, but it certainly wasn't shaping up to be my favourite of life stages...those tantrums are something else!) Now, even if Levi is in melt-down mode, I can ask him calmly to show me what he wants, and he'll make a honest effort, and most of the time he feels understood! And when he feels understood, even if I say 'no' to him because he can't have what he's asking for, the tears are fewer and he moves on to something else more quickly. Aah. We turned a corner with that one! Whoo-hoo!
In other news, I got a huge stack of crochet magazines this week from one of the women who works at the local post office. She has seen my packages of yarn coming in and my scads of product going out and thought I might be interested in these. The magazines are from the years 1988-1993 and I must say, I had some good laughs. There are a TON of patterns that I want to try (at least a variation of), but some of them...well, why don't I just show you?
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| I offered to make this for Nathan (so he could wear it in case his body was cold but arms were not). He's considering it. |
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| Full crochet suit, complete with hat? Yes, please. |
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| Aren't we all hoity-toity, reading a book with perfect posture and shawl tied just so? *hem hem hem* |
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| Ugly Christmas sweater!!! I might just have to make this one...you'll notice that I have it "marked" for future consideration. |
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| Stylish blazer...and bun netting thing...*shudder* |
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| And last but not least...the old becoming new again! Doesn't this vignette look quite "now"? Aside from hanging an afghan on the wall (today it would be wall-paper, another nod back to the 90's). But couldn't that be an Ikea lack table there in front? I may very well make this one. It wouldn't be for our house, but is anyone else interested? As a side-note, I'm pretty sure my dad has those very same book ends... |
Thursday, February 2, 2012
clean and tidy
I've become way too accustomed to seeing things out of their place.
For example, I tidied the basement rec/family room and thought, "There. That's pretty good." And then I stepped back to look at it again and saw that there were still two or three remotes laying around, one right there in the middle of the floor. There were still a couple of alphabet blocks scattered along the walls. And I hadn't even touched my desk! Wow. I came upstairs and there was still a pair of Levi's socks in the hall that I'd meant to take to the "too small" box downstairs. Levi's belt was still sitting beside the dryer where it fell as I did laundry today. I just have gotten too used to seeing random things around the house in random places. Now, that is partly due to having a son who loves to carry things around the house and drop them wherever he sees something more interesting to pick up. It brings me great joy to find some of these treasures (broom in bedroom, hairspray in living room, cup at the end of the hall by the deck door). But I bet that's not the whole reason. I think I've just become a bit lax when it comes to keeping the house tidy. Instead of putting things away when I'm finished with them - like my mom tried to teach me over and over again growing up - I've gotten into the habit (anyone else tend to spell "habit" like "hobbit" with two "b"'s?) of just moving on to the next thing and leaving my project sitting on the floor for
Today I was watching Levi play, like I often do. He was playing with his Little People Barn that he got for Christmas. It is interesting because, when he plays, he is very intentional about all his animals standing on their feet. If he puts the goat in the barn and it falls over in the process, he'll carefully reach in and set it back on its feet. Seeing this got me thinking about whether this will be a life-long characteristic of his...will he always be particular and want things to be proper and in their place? I have had phases in my life where I have been like that. Everything had to be in its place, facing the right direction, and no clutter piles whatsoever. (My dorm rooms at Bible college, both first and second year, were amazingly clean and tidy ALL.THE.TIME.) And you know, life is alot less stressful like that! I enjoy having a place for everything and putting things back where they belong as soon as I'm finished with them (or at least at the end of the day). But it's easy to get lazy when there is a house full of people (and animal) who don't necessarily have the same vision as you.
Well, all this is to say that yes, my house can get untidy. It is usually clean (enough), but the clutter builds up. I'm human. I admit it. BUT, my goal after this evening, is to designate a place for everything and then, instead of just getting lazy and making piles everywhere of things to be put away, I think I might actually try putting stuff away right away! Could you imagine? Putting something away as soon as you're finished with it instead of just setting it aside to be cleaned up later? Oh, what freedom the evenings would bring! haha. Well, it's been nice to dream. Back to tidying the house...!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
February - A Month of Promise
February will always mean a little something extra to me. It was never a particularly special month to me growing up. It was shorter than the rest of the months, even on a leap year. It had Valentine's day, now also Family Day. But it was still winter and just meant another month of winter routine.
Eventually I got married and, just over a year later, we started trying to grow our family. Years came and went and still we weren't pregnant. I remember one day as I was praying and pleading with God to give us a child, I heard God say, "Expect a baby in February." That was it. No details other than that.
This statement stuck with me and one or two February's came and went with still no sign of a baby. I had pretty much forgotten about this promise until February 13, 2010. I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. As soon as I saw that positive, I remembered God's words from years earlier. And I knew that this was God fulfilling his promise to me: "Expect a baby in February."
I still find myself doubting that God actually speaks. That He actually answers our prayers and can be trusted. I find myself knowing in my head, but wondering in my heart. But when February comes, it will always be a reminder to me that God does speak. That He does answer prayers and keep His promises.
I am humbled and amazed...God you are good and your mercy endures forever...
Eventually I got married and, just over a year later, we started trying to grow our family. Years came and went and still we weren't pregnant. I remember one day as I was praying and pleading with God to give us a child, I heard God say, "Expect a baby in February." That was it. No details other than that.
This statement stuck with me and one or two February's came and went with still no sign of a baby. I had pretty much forgotten about this promise until February 13, 2010. I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. As soon as I saw that positive, I remembered God's words from years earlier. And I knew that this was God fulfilling his promise to me: "Expect a baby in February."
I still find myself doubting that God actually speaks. That He actually answers our prayers and can be trusted. I find myself knowing in my head, but wondering in my heart. But when February comes, it will always be a reminder to me that God does speak. That He does answer prayers and keep His promises.
I am humbled and amazed...God you are good and your mercy endures forever...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
What to write?
I've been uninspired lately. Uninspired to blog, that is. I've been inspired to do many other things, certainly, but when it comes to this blog, I just haven't had much to say since, oh, November 2010? Hmm...right about the time Levi started being more aware and responsive and SO MUCH FUN! Haha. Yup, that's definitely part of it! I don't read other people's blogs nearly as much as I used to either. There's just something about having only one, maybe two precious hours to myself each day and not feeling like blogs (either writing or reading) are the most attractive way to spend that time. I'd rather:
...work on my business!
...correspond with people on a more personal basis (ie. email, fb messages, etc)
...clean the house (ok, wouldn't rather do this, but sometimes it just needs to be done)
...do something crafty
...plan my menu
...make supper/bake
Yup, there are so many other things to do these days. It pains me a bit because for so many years I blogged so faithfully and enjoyed it so much...and was so encouraged by my readers! Thank you! I have met wonderful people through blogging and received many kind words and prayers while we were experiencing infertility. So, for the sake of the past, I shall attempt to write at least weekly blog posts this year. Think I can do it? Watch me.
Well, hmm...what to write about today? For starters, today I am getting three garbage bags full of little boy hand-me-downs! That's exciting! I LOVE hand-me-downs. Seriously. Love them. I got an email from a friend from church this morning offering me her son's old clothes. How could I not gratefully accept her offer?? So, once Nathan gets home from his lunch meeting, I will have three exciting, "get-your-heart-racing" garbage bags of clothes to look through! Whooie! On the slight downside, I won't be able to look through them until tomorrow because, as soon as Nathan gets home from his lunch meeting, we are heading to the city! Now, I can handle the delayed gratification with the hand-me-downs because, drumroll please... ... ... I get to go grocery shopping! Yeah, I'm weird like that. I really really enjoy grocery shopping. There's just something about taking inventory of your pantry, making a list, and then going to the grocery store and crossing things off your list as you put them into your cart. Then, you haul them all home and put them all away exactly where they belong, where there was nothing before, now there is something! A fully stocked pantry! Can anyone else relate? I know lots of people dread grocery shopping, but, well, I quite enjoy it. :)
After grocery shopping, I will be dropping off a Uniquely Me Design order with a good childhood friend of mine. It'll be short, but long enough for a quick hug. Then, it's off to meet a friend from Manitoba who is in the city for a couple days each winter. Last year he met our 3 month old son and this year he gets to see how much Levi has changed! Really, he's hardly the same boy... Anyway, we get to spend this evening hanging out at our friends' hotel and catching up, maybe do some swimming and see if Levi likes it any more than he did this summer (which wasn't very much...is a general dislike of swimming a genetic thing?). Should be good!
After today, we have a day off. Nathan has Fridays off, so we will get to spend a day as a family (!!!). Always a highlight. THEN, on Saturday, I will have my first complete day away from Levi. First ever. Like, I will most likely leave before he's up and will certainly arrive back home after he's sleeping. Levi gets his first-ever Daddy-day! I am pretty excited for the bonding that will happen between my two men and to hear the stories that they will have to tell. I am equally excited for a day to visit with a good friend a couple hours from here and to spend the day scrapbooking! I haven't started Levi's baby book yet, so I hope to finish my pregnancy album (after 3+ years of infertility, I figured that the whole "making Levi" story deserved its own book) and then get started on Levi's book! It's intimidating, so I'm a bit nervous to start. It's probably why Levi is 15 months old already and the pictures are just stacking up higher and higher...
Well, that's about all I can think of right now. I suppose I should go find some pictures to add to this post to make it at least a little more interesting :P (Isn't Levi CUTE?! It's all those years of praying for a beautiful child...) Hope you all have a wonderful end to your week! And an even better weekend! Take care!
...work on my business!
...correspond with people on a more personal basis (ie. email, fb messages, etc)
...clean the house (ok, wouldn't rather do this, but sometimes it just needs to be done)
...do something crafty
...plan my menu
...make supper/bake
Yup, there are so many other things to do these days. It pains me a bit because for so many years I blogged so faithfully and enjoyed it so much...and was so encouraged by my readers! Thank you! I have met wonderful people through blogging and received many kind words and prayers while we were experiencing infertility. So, for the sake of the past, I shall attempt to write at least weekly blog posts this year. Think I can do it? Watch me.
After grocery shopping, I will be dropping off a Uniquely Me Design order with a good childhood friend of mine. It'll be short, but long enough for a quick hug. Then, it's off to meet a friend from Manitoba who is in the city for a couple days each winter. Last year he met our 3 month old son and this year he gets to see how much Levi has changed! Really, he's hardly the same boy... Anyway, we get to spend this evening hanging out at our friends' hotel and catching up, maybe do some swimming and see if Levi likes it any more than he did this summer (which wasn't very much...is a general dislike of swimming a genetic thing?). Should be good!
After today, we have a day off. Nathan has Fridays off, so we will get to spend a day as a family (!!!). Always a highlight. THEN, on Saturday, I will have my first complete day away from Levi. First ever. Like, I will most likely leave before he's up and will certainly arrive back home after he's sleeping. Levi gets his first-ever Daddy-day! I am pretty excited for the bonding that will happen between my two men and to hear the stories that they will have to tell. I am equally excited for a day to visit with a good friend a couple hours from here and to spend the day scrapbooking! I haven't started Levi's baby book yet, so I hope to finish my pregnancy album (after 3+ years of infertility, I figured that the whole "making Levi" story deserved its own book) and then get started on Levi's book! It's intimidating, so I'm a bit nervous to start. It's probably why Levi is 15 months old already and the pictures are just stacking up higher and higher...
Well, that's about all I can think of right now. I suppose I should go find some pictures to add to this post to make it at least a little more interesting :P (Isn't Levi CUTE?! It's all those years of praying for a beautiful child...) Hope you all have a wonderful end to your week! And an even better weekend! Take care!
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