Oh, Hello Due Date...

I'm happy to be meeting my due date under these conditions...2 weeks postpartum and through the worst of the pregnancy hormone crash that leaves me feeling like a slightly insane person for a while.  I mean, I still feel that way at times, but fortunately those periods are getting to be fewer and farther between and will soon be mixed up with the January/Winter blues.  (blah, cold, snowy winter)

The delivery of Felicity came at the perfect time--between the girls' battle with strep and the boys' battle with Influenza A, right before Christmas at a time when Joe was already off work for the remainder of the new year.  Because of the influenza at our house, the first week home was a bit rough (be sure to roll the hormone crash into the mix) but, with a lot of bleach and quarantining of the sick, we survived!  We spent the remaining time recovering and getting to know our new little addition.  The sibling response to a new baby was overwhelmingly positive.  The girls are STILL ecstatic about having a new baby sister and even Cyril seems to enjoy her.  Since I am just overly sleep deprived, I'm just going straight to pictures.  :)

We made it home from the hospital on Christmas Eve which worked out well for everybody.

Christmas Tree = Spoiled Kids

I was even able to use the "baby's first christmas" sleeper that I had pulled out just in case....

Love from her sister

Cecilia's favorite Christmas present was the camera.  Anna's was a "me reader" and Cyril's was Cecilia's camera....

Enjoying Cecilia's New Camera

The unseasonably warm weather at Christmas allowed us to go to the park before the cold and snow came in.

Model pose

Doot

I tell people that this little girl is like my drug--I can't get enough of snuggling her.  Well, maybe I could use a LITTLE less in the middle of the night but that comes with the territory.  I talked to my brother while in the hospital and he made a comment similar to "well, in a year and a half when you have another...." and I realized that this was me.  Yes, I love having babies.  I love listening to my kids running through my house.  I love watching them achieve new milestones.  Just kinda wish they weren't all so stubborn.  :)

Snuggle Time

Hey Mom, what's going on with the mismatched mitts?

The girls can't get enough of her either.

Cecilia playing with her sister

No peace for her

Kids hanging together

On Baby #4

1.  I am entering into my final month of pregnancy.  Overall, this pregnancy been a good one--outside of of some extra monitoring (that has all had positive results thus far!), I think that I am pretty lucky.  My body handles pregnancy pretty well and I can actually enjoy seasons of it.  There are definitely big differences between my first pregnancy and this one but the one that stands out the most is the fatigue.  Oh. my.  There is a reason that a lot of women stop having babies in their "advanced maternal" years.  (OK, so I do have three young children that contribute to this as well.)  But, regardless of your age, it always feels like somebody puts the brakes on when you reach that final month or so.  I remember I would wake up in tears in my final days with Cyril because I hadn't gone into labor that night.  I remember saying, "I know that I can't be pregnant forever but I think that I AM going to be pregnant forever!"  (FYI--he came 10 days EARLY and this was my mental state.  Oh how I feel for those women who go well beyond their due dates.)

Truth.

2.  It's amazing the small gestures that people can do that turn out to be the most awesome unexpected blessings.  Recently, I was talking to a woman at the bus stop and her girls.  Her girls were excited to see that I was pregnant and started telling me all about their family with five young children.  We talked about the awesomeness of large families.  That afternoon, the mom volunteered to pick our daughter up each morning and bring her back from the bus stop in the afternoon so that I wouldn't have to worry about getting the other kids ready and/or risk falling on the way to the bus stop.  SO NICE!  She drives by my house both directions but just that small gesture has made life SO much easier for me.

3.  We recently hosted Thanksgiving dinner for a "small" group of people....um, 20 to be exact.  When I would tell people this, they would look at me in amazement but it is SO much better than having to drive somewhere with three kids plus one ready to pop out.  Plus, my 2 year old has been stuck to me like glue lately but as soon as G-Pa showed up, he never left his side.  So, in addition to getting to see family, I got a nice 4 day break from hauling a 32 lb toddler around on my hip. Score.

G-Pa! G-Pa!  Total admiration

4.  I have to admit that at times I get overwhelmed by it all.  I have those moments in the morning, staring at a waffle with my 5 year old in the background telling me that she doesn't want to go to school, my 4 year old complaining about not having strawberries, and my 2 year old crying at my side to pick him up, and I think, "how in the world are we going to do this?"  Or I think about everything that needs to get done in the next few weeks and I consider NOT wrapping Christmas presents and just putting everything under the tree in paper grocery bags.  But then I remember about the time that I was stressing at the very beginning of this pregnancy and praying "I know this is the path that you have chosen for us.  I know this child is of You and I have listened but I'm still kind of freaking out over here.  How is this going to work out in the end?"  (Ah, to have that answer EVER!)  And, standing in my dining room in a quiet house, with all the kids asleep, I heard God say "Trust Me."

As I enter my final month of pregnancy, I cling to those two words.

Obligatory in-the-mirror selfie of pregnant belly @ 35.5 wks

8 Years and Counting

About 12 years ago, in my "Big Red" house in Newport, KY, I started to do something that I had only read about and always quickly dismissed.  I'm not sure why, but I felt a pressing need to...start praying for my future husband.  I had no clue who it would be or why I, after years of being adamantly single, felt the need to do this.  And then, in November 2003, I met a man who would far exceed any expectations that I had for a future husband.  And, even though I was praying about this, I was completely blindsided.

See--I had actually known "of" my husband for years.  One of my good friends used to work FOR him and remained friends with him even after parting ways with the company.  I remember her describing him to me years prior to our meeting and me nodding, "sounds like an engineer."  (Nothing against engineers.  I AM an engineer...)  Oddly, I can remember this conversation clearly--riding in her jeep and her describing his blond hair while making a sweeping motion across her head. It wasn't anything--we were just talking.  So, when years later, she suggested that we would be good together I just blew her off and thought "She's really trying to figure a way to get me to the bar more often!"

But, then I unexpectedly met him at her birthday party and here we are 11 years after meeting, 8 years of marriage later and he is still the man that I always dreamed about and prayed about.  He is awesome--a loving husband, father, son, and friend.  Together we are navigating our way through this life.  We have no idea where it is leading us long term, but we have never known that!  We are enjoying the moments that we have and praying for many, many more moments to enjoy together.

Happy, Happy, Happy

Crazier But Even Happier!

Into the Light + Photo Dump

I am sitting outside right now and it is 70 degrees and sunny out.  It. Is. Perfect.  I have a soy latte in my hands, and a little free time since I finished my work for the day.  So, I thought that I would take the opportunity to do a photo dump of my fun little ones while writing about my journey through Lent.

All dressed up, ready for bed

Cecilia checking out her artwork from preschool on display at the AA library

My view of Lent has shifted over the years.  I can honestly say that I didn't fully understand it and, for some years, I wandered in and out of the church and didn't really observe Lent.  But it was a particular season of Lent that brought to my knees and drew me back into the Catholic church.  Since then, I haven't looked back.  Now, by the time that Lent rolls around every year, I am ready.  I need--I crave--this penitential, grace-filled time and this year was no exception.

Anna zooming in on the waterfall at the conservatory.

The main reason to eat raspberries--Raspberry Fingers!

Before Lent, I was feeling pretty miserable all around--physically, emotionally, spiritually.  I had gotten a cold, then a sinus infection, and finally a cold sore to ensure that I truly looked how I felt.  I looked in the mirror and could hear God saying, "Stop fighting it!  Come back to me and I will give you rest."  (Not physical rest, mind you.  I have three small children and a job.)

This boy loves books.  He just plops down in the middle of the library floor.

This is what happens when he doesn't get his way.  

What I have really tried to focus on this year is why we observe Lent.  No, it's not to "give things up" so that we can complain about it or to punish ourselves.  It's offering prayer and sacrifice in order that we can draw closer to God.  It's removing those obstacles that we put between God and ourselves, asking Him to make us clean so that we fully celebrate in the joy of Easter.

Seriously, how sweet is this?!?  Anna reading books with Dad.

Lent is a long seven week journey and, as life goes, mine has had peaks and valleys.  But, what God has slowly worked back into my heart is hope, and love, and grace.  I will always have to fight my cynical nature but, at least right now, I don't feel like the sick, cold-sored person that I was six weeks ago.  I know that I don't have to be--that God doesn't want me to be that person.  Which is a good place to be entering into Holy Week.  This is the week that we get to walk with Jesus from the time that he enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and His resurrection.  I can't wait.

And this is what I will be eating to celebrate.  :)  

Random Thoughts on Random Topics

Thoughts on kale:

From my husband:
"Kale is not even food.  It's what you eat when you are stranded on a desert island right before you resort to cannibalism"
and
"Kale is the equivalent to eating fish butthole."

I was rerunning these thoughts through my head while at the gym and nearly fell off the treadmill trying to stifle my laughter.  Kale is the new SUPER FOOD and everybody talks it up--put it in your kid's smoothies, they say.  They'll never notice the difference!  I never did this because, despite the fact that they couldn't taste it, they could SEE it.  (This all changed during a recent detox/cleanse that I did.)

Thoughts on Dr. Oz's 3 day Detox/Cleanse:

I did this after the new year because I had been doing some serious gorging on junk food for about 2 weeks.  I thought that it would jump start better eating habits and maybe lose a few of those holiday pounds.  Overall, it actually was pretty good though I did find my limit to be 2 days.  After two days of smoothies, I found it hard to pull the blender out the third day.  I also learned that my kids will drink ANY smoothie so long as it is mine.  They got enough fruit and vegetables during that three day period to last a good week--green smoothies and all.  I can't give a total weight loss because I refused to step on the scale before I started it.  So there.

Thoughts on buying Barbie:

For all the bad rap that Barbie gets, I found the holidays to be the true gauge on interest in the brand.  There was not a DreamHouse to be found ANY. WHERE.  Seriously--I searched every store in the lower Michigan, northern Ohio, and the Cincinnati area.  Nothing.  (I was not actually going to drive to get one if I DID find one, but I was curious.)
My girls ended up with a Barbie vacation home and vending machine and they LOVE it.  Honestly, it is like any other toy for them--a way to use their imagination.  I played with Barbies a lot growing up and I still somehow ended up being female engineer.  I believe it's more about empowering your kids every day and less about they toys that they play with.  My girls play with Barbies and they play with cars and trains.  They gravitate to what they want that day/hour/minute and I'm ok with that.  What I don't like, is EVERY time I see a Barbie randomly lying around, it looks like this:

At least they mold flesh colored underwear on her now...

Thoughts on winter:

It sucks.  My countdown to spring started before the first snowflake hit the ground.

Torn in Two -- Returning to Work Dilemma

It first crossed my mind about a year ago when I was pregnant with Cyril.  I knew at that time that it wasn't going to happen right then, but I really began to contemplate when I would actually do it.  That is, return to work outside the home.

I have been EXTREMELY blessed with my current job.  I am able to work from home part time, have super bosses that are really flexible, etc.  My only issue has been the lack of hands-on engineering that I do with my current job.  And, engineering?  Not exactly something that you can jump back into easily after being out of it  for 10 years.  So began my dilemma.  Do I return to work?  Do I go back to school?  Do I just stay-at-home and begin a new career when I'm older?  Being totally honest, I felt guilty considering going back to work because I don't HAVE to work and there are so many moms that do HAVE to work that would give anything to be a stay-at-home mom.

So, I do what I do with decisions like this--I sit on it and pray about it until I feel that I am being led in one specific direction.  And when I felt led to put some feelers out for part time engineering work, I still felt torn in two.  The war between what was best for my career and long term family goals (i.e. retirement for my husband) versus the guilt of leaving my children--it's tough deciding what is best for your family long term.

I drew up criteria and decided that, if I could find something that met it, I would go for it.  This is what I knew:

1.  I could only work part time (3 days a week).
2.  I wanted to stay in Aerospace and/or Defense (in MI!!!)

I feel like there should have been more...

I had a good conversation with a friend of mine who basically told me not to stress about it--if it is meant to be, the doors will be open.  If not, they won't.  Long story short:  a job totally fell into my lap.  Thanks to a good word from a couple friends/former colleagues and a freshly updated resume (thanks to another friend), I basically had a job offer before I even went for an interview.  Seriously, how often does that happen?

So, here I go.  I'm starting a new job...away from home.  I'm nervous and sad (about being away from my little ones), excited (about getting into some new work), and extremely grateful for a supportive husband who always encourages me to succeed.

**There is a lot of emotion and debate between women when the discussion of work versus home mom comes up.  I read this blog entry over at Momastery and her feelings the work mom versus home mom emotions are spot on for me.  Basically, every decision is a personal one and should be respected as that.  No two families are the same.  

What Happens When the Kids Find Photo Booth

I do this thing...I used to be a little embarrassed by it for some reason but I'm not anymore.  While I nurse Cyril before bed, I put the other two at the computer watching Netflix.  A mom has to survive and I decided that a half hour of Dora/Caillou/whatever is much better than being angry that they keep waking up their little brother.  I have "no touching" policy with the computer which they outright ignore.  For a 2 and almost-4-year-old, they have figured it out pretty well.  But, their latest trick is to open Photo Booth and snap a bunch of pictures.  So, by the time Cyril gets into bed, I get this:

Not too bad

They started getting goofy

Not sure what transpired that the pacifier was necessary

I just love Anna snuggling up to Cecilia in this one

Cecilia begins to take center stage...obviously the one in control

And now we just have Anna's eyes

 I was showing Joe this pictures when I noticed the "Effects" option in Photo Booth.  (Give me a break--the computer is relatively new and I don't spend a lot of time learning about it.)  So, I started clicking on the different effects and could not stop laughing.  I mean, what need is there for the "alien" effect other than a good laugh?

I'm almost crying from laughter

I think this was bug-eye or something.  I like how you can still see
the bags under my eyes from exhaustion.

Chipmunk--I'm still laughing at this one

So, apparently you have to be directly in front of the camera to get the effect which is why Cyril looks normal in most of the pictures.  I think that this adds to the humor because he is looking at us like there is something wrong with us.  Which....clearly, there is.

Meatless Friday - Best Lentil Soup Ever

This is how my kids make me feel most nights....

A friend of mine gave me this recipe and I've been hooked ever since.  She found the original recipe in a pregnancy cookbook so you know that it is chock full of healthy goodness.  She made a couple spice changes--mainly adding garam masala--that makes this hearty soup de-li-cious.  This is what is on our menu for tonight. 

Lentil Soup
1/2 cup brown rice (rinsed)
3 Tbsp canola oil
3 cloves garlic
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cup dried lentils
1 tsp garam masala
2 tsp cumin
2 bay leaves
2 - 32 oz containers chicken or vegetable broth

Saute vegetables and garlic in oil until translucent.  I like to add the spices about halfway through so that they can roast a little bit.  Add lentils, rice, bay leaves, and broth.  Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer 1 hour or until lentils & rice is cooked.  Simple and easy, the way I like it.  :)

I've made this with both whole and split lentils and I prefer split lentils.  Either way, I soak them for some amount of time to speed up the cooking time.  Since my kids live on a steady diet of anything-that-I'm-NOT-cooking, I also tend to half the recipe so that I do not have a crazy amount of lentil soup to consume. 

Enjoy!

My Napless, Sugar-Free, Finger in Poop Day

Napless

For some reason our little guy has decided to pick up some of the worst sleeping habits yet.  In addition to getting up a lot at night, he has sworn off any nap that does not include me holding him.  What?!?  I keep hoping it's because he is teething and once that tooth breaks through, we can slowly move back to normal...hopefully...  So, for now, he enjoys just sitting on my lap while I work, trying to grab the mouse as I click away.

Hi, I'm Cyril and I refuse to nap.

But I am cute!

Sugar-Free

I gave up sugar for Lent.*  It's already been the longest Lent ever and it's only been a week.  Turns out that it's not really sugar that I crave--it's food.  I'm not sure when I became an emotional eater.  Plus, I love snacking at night. I can't help but feel like I deserve an award after getting all three kids in bed...but I am really trying to break it this Lent.   

Finger in Poop

Need I say more?  I'm still traumatized by this.  (Yes, I have three kids and have gotten it on me before, but this experience was exceptionally gross.)  You would think that this experience alone would give me that extra motivation to just potty train Anna already.  She can totally do it--I'm just lacking the energy right now.  And I'm a little nervous about where else poop may end up...

*Before Lent, I try to discern what has a greater hold over me than it should.  Not surprisingly, it is typically some type of food--candy, desserts, peanut butter are all really common.

The Preschool Dilemma

So...preschools...yeah...

Ok, so you wouldn't think that this would be that big of a deal.  I went back and forth last year about sending Cecilia to preschool this year and in the end it just didn't feel like it was time--like I was rushing it.  That in addition to expecting a new baby right at the beginning of the school year and not knowing my job situation led me to postpone the decision another year.

I don't actually think that preschool is necessary for all kids.  I never went, I have many friends that never went (people who went to more prestigious schools than I did), and Cecilia is pretty smart so, academically, she would have been find.  But, the state of Michigan now mandates all day kindergarten and I just felt that this could lead to a tough transition.  And she is just somebody who needs more mental stimulation.  So, this year, I gradually started doing some research to find the right preschool.  My criteria was pretty simple:

1.  Price -- this ruled out any posh, private preschool and any school with "Montessori" in the name.  I'm sorry, but I just don't think that my child is going to have a huge advantage over their peers when they enter the workplace  in their 20's just because I managed to shell out a minimum $7500/year for PRESCHOOL!!!  (Is it like this everywhere?  Are all Montessori schools this expensive and, if they are, why?)
2.  Flexibility--because of my schedule and the fact that I have Cecilia enrolled in a preschool catechism program already, I really only wanted to commit to 2 days per week.
3.  Not day care.  I don't believe that you can throw "preschool" in the title and yet be obvious that you are only providing me with a half day of day care.  I already pay somebody to watch my kids, thank you very much.
4.  No coop preschool.  Co-op preschools are really big in this town and I will start by saying that I don't think that they are bad.  Most, though parent run, have actual certified teachers, curriculum, etc.  They work out well for the right people....just not us.  Ok, I was already 85-90% sure that I felt this way...and then we went to an open house at one not far from our home and that experience bumped it up to 100%  110%.  I just don't have the time and, in the end, I really just want to drop my kid off and let the school take it from there.  (Not to mention the potential for parent drama.)

Despite my criteria, I think that we actually found one.  We went to their open house and Cecilia was SUPER excited.  She asks me if she can go to school every day.  Every. Single. Day. Our little girl is growing up.  Unbelievable how fast time goes.

The Perspective of a 3 Year Old

I was having a conversation with Cecilia today and it eventually came around to Uncle Scott, Aunt Mary, and Baby Gloria--Cecilia LOVES to remind me that Uncle Scott is HER Godfather.

Me:  Well, maybe when everybody gets a little bigger, we can go out to Colorado and visit them.
Cecilia:  Yeah, we can go once Cyril is asleep!
Me:  Ummm...it's a really long trip so we won't be able to go during Cyril's nap. Maybe we
Cecilia (cutting me off):  Hey!  Can we go to the beach house and get our bathing suits?
Me:  That would be fun but probably not this year.
Cecilia:  Not this year?  Why?
Me:  Well, we don't go every year because it cost a lot of money.
Cecilia:  We have a lot of money!
Me (confused):  We do?
Cecilia (insistent):  Yes we do!
Me:  Really?  Where is it?
Cecilia:  In the kitchen!
Me (really curious about our stash):  Really?  Where?
Cecilia runs into the kitchen desk, points, and says "Right there!  That is A LOT of money!"

Proud of her find!

I think that we may have to settle for a lot of car washes.  :)

Can I Get a Resolution Over Here?

As I sit here and write this, I can hear my younger daughter hacking like she's been smoking a pack a day since birth.  Every time that one of our children comes down with a new virus, I think "This is it!  We will be out of the woods after this virus."  And then some other bug finds it's way into our house.  And they're mocking me--it always happens when the kids are doing better, the house is freshly sanitized, and all sheets are clean.  And they're kicking my butt--I'm Ex-Haust-Ed!  I tell you all of this to better understand my 2 month hiatus from updating this blog.  (as opposed to my typical one month increments.)

Anyhow...this is no secret to people who know me but I don't do New Year's resolutions.  I figure that I'm making resolutions all of the time--every day/week/month is New Year's over here!  But, this time of the year does generally make you reflect at least a little and think about what you want to do or improve.  I think that it has to do with the gluttony of the holidays.  Even if you do NOT overindulge, for some reason, you feel like you do.  It's like your body and mind need a cleanse.

So, I've decided to try to add specifics to my not-resolution-resolutions.  For instance, I would like to eat better--doesn't everybody?  Specifically, I want to continue to cook more from scratch so that I know what is actually going into our bodies and can modify recipes to make them better.  It seems like a lot of work and sometimes it is.  But, I find that most things just taste better when freshly made.

Also, I would like to work on my patience with my kids and do better at teaching by example.  It's not that I am TERRIBLE but it amazes me daily what these kids absorb.  One day, Cecilia asked to eat standing up and I was like, "What???  Where would she get that from?"  Oh yeah....I do that sometimes.  This is a harmless example and I will continue to eat standing up if I need to but you get the idea.  I'm not into passive parenting but I do find that if I make the extra effort to show my kids more attention and love, they are generally better behaved and happier.  Some days, it's just hard.  It's those days that I want to improve.  Instead of blowing off my child because I'm dusting/sweeping/peeing when they want to show me something, I want to turn to them and give them my attention.  Well, maybe not if I'm peeing....  Otherwise, I may miss silly memories like this:

Here's to a happy and healthy 2013!  Maybe our resolution should be just to love life a little more...like a three-year-old!

Woo-Hoo, Voting Day! (as political as I get)

Exactly!

Yes!  Election day!  Now, maybe my phone will get a break from all of the recorded messages and I can stop filling up our 55 gallon recycle bin with political junk mail. 

As we were walking into the polls this morning with our three little kids, a man passed and made a friendly comment about bringing them along.  I joked, “gotta start them early.”  His response, “Well, it depends which side you are starting them early on.”  Luckily, his wife punched him in the arm and told him to be quiet so I didn’t have to.  Really?  Not sure what his political standing is--don’t care--just think that it was kinda an a-hole thing to say.  All I meant was getting them started to understand and appreciate being able to vote in this country.  Puh-lease—we save the brainwashing for home!  (I joke)

This is my stance:  I am fortunate to live in a country where I can vote freely and for who I like (or dislike the least J).  No police need to stand in the doorways to ensure my safety, no discrimination based on sex, race, religion, etc,.  So, I do my part.  The outcome may not be the way that I voted, but I have to respect the system and the outcome.  It’s a whole lot better than some of the alternatives. 

Six Years and Counting

So True



Tomorrow, Oct. 14^th, will by our wedding anniversary—6 years!

This is us then:

This is us now:

What a difference 6 years have made!  What I am most grateful for is how our relationship has matured and grown into a marriage that we both love being in. 

I love that my husband is soooo supportive and encouraging in all that I do—whether it be work, soccer, motherhood, etc. 

I love that he would be just fine if I was more successful than him. 

I love that he is always looking for ways and asking for ways to help me. 

I love that he is never upset OR shocked when I tell him that I’m pregnant.

I love that he still thinks I’m hot even after watching me give birth to three children.  J  And when I still have 10 15 20 pounds of baby weight to lose. 

But, most of all, I love his heart—that he is giving, thoughtful, and committed.  I love that he is in this for the long haul.  That he takes his wedding vows seriously.  That he loves me. 

Happy Anniversary, Joe!

Have I Mentioned That I Love Having Babies?

Shortly after Cecilia was born, I wrote down everything that I could remember from the day that she was born.  After Anna was born, the memory was so vivid that I didn’t really feel the need to do it.  For some reason, with Cyril, I have that need to remember the details again and I want to get it down before it isn’t fresh anymore.  The one thing with both the birth of Anna and Cyril is that the only people in the room were Joe and I…and a small army of medical staff.  I LOVED this—it is such an awesome moment to share just with my husband and our new child. 

Anyhow, the 1.5 weeks leading up to the delivery, I had A LOT of false labor.  So much that I was a little worried that I wouldn’t know when it was REAL labor.  But, after much walking, timing, and debating, I decided that on August 26^th at 2:00 am, it was time to call my doctor and let her know that I was on my way to the hospital.  Even at this point, I remember riding in the car and saying to Joe, “I really hope this is it.”  By the time that I was hooked up in triage, I had a little more confidence but it wasn’t until the checked and verified that I was at 5 cm, did I breathe a sigh of relief.  I WASN’T crazy and we would be having this baby soon.  Hurray!

The one thing that I always forget is how long it takes to get you admitted from triage to labor & delivery and, as a result, how long it takes to get the epidural.  Due to my past (fast) deliveries and the fact that this was my third delivery, they bumped me ahead of some other women.  Something about taking care of their “frequent flyers.”  I actually dread getting an epidural.  For me, it beats going through hours of painful labor and helps me enjoy the whole experience so I suffer it.  But it does cause my blood pressure to drop and I just can’t get comfortable with the idea of somebody putting a needle in my back but I close my eyes and try to trust in all of their medical training/experience. 

So, epidural in and my body continues to contract like I’m on a pitocin drip (so I’m told by the doctors and nurses.)  It’s something that I’m proud of but which I have no real control over—my body was just made to have babies.  Since I was GBS (Group B Strep) positive, they waited four hours to break my water to ensure that the antibiotics had a chance to work.  They came in around 10am to break my water and within 10 minutes, Cyril was ready to come out.  I have no idea what it was but, despite my epidural, I felt everything.  Four contractions later and much cheerleading from my doctor and the small army of medical staff, at 10:24 am Cyril was lying on my chest screaming and listening for my voice.  He actually calmed down when he heard it which just brought tears to my eyes.  Of course he knew me—I just told him that I was a surprised that he recognized my voice when it wasn’t scolding his sisters.  J 

I am always blown away by this whole experience.  I am amazed when I stare at my baby and think about how his life began, how he developed from something so tiny to the baby that he is now.  I am amazed that we have been trusted with this awesome life and pray, pray, pray every night that we will honor God in how we love and raise all of our children. 



Love this moment!




Proud Dad



Our Little Man

Bribing Children with...Edamame?

I love my girls.  They drive me absolutely crazy sometimes, but my family is my world and I love how, at the end of the day, I always have little amusing stories to tell my husband (alongside the horror stories).  And, occasionally, I just have these moments where I stop and think, "Did that just really happen?"  For example:

1.  Cecilia has been asking for peas ever since she saw a Curious George episode where he ate them.  I keep forgetting to buy any because I NEVER buy peas because, well....they're gross.  I gag at the smell of them.  (The only person who beats me hands down in their dislike for them is my brother.  He won't even eat vegetable soup because he says that it infects the rest of the can.  My husband loves them and has been kind enough to not nag me about buying them.)  Fortunately, I found out today that what she calls "peas" are actually edamame.  I bought some today and she was psyched.  So, today, I managed to bribe my girls into eating their dinner by offering more "peas" as they ate.  What???  Why have I been buying so many fruit snacks?

2.  Cecilia has also decided to be a great helper in disciplining her younger sister.  Anna took milk into the living room the other day which is "no-no" in our house (don't judge my analness).  I was in the bathroom when I heard Cecilia tell her "no, Anna, milk in the kitchen only" and then proceeded to count to 3 giving her due warning of impending punishment for her milk crime.  Anna, as she does with me, ignored Cecilia so Cecilia promptly gave her a time-out.  It was funny...but I did have to explain to Cecilia that only mom and dad discipline them.  I'm also glad that my mini-me didn't sound like a mean mom. 

3.  Anna pretty much chose to not talk for a long time.  In the last couple of months, she has really picked up a lot of words and found the benefit of communicating beyond grunting.  But, she isn't even two yet so there is no filter there.  She chased me through the Norfolk airport a couple of weeks ago shouting "Poop!" because she needed her diaper changed.  So glad that she learned that word before "please."

Counting Down

Part of the fun of subsequent pregnancies is that you start to look full term about two months before your due date.  Your body just reaches that point where it says, “yeah, I remember this and I’m not going to fight it anymore” and no amount of holding in your belly will make it look any different (as if that were an option…).  It’s the point where complete strangers start questioning your due date and look shocked when they find out that it is not next week and the point where your countdown changes so it doesn’t SEEM like 2 months away.  Because the other added benefit is that you FEEL full term also.  So, my countdown goes something like this:

I’m 32.5 weeks now.  In 1 week, we leave for a week at the beach with family.  We are looking forward to it and I think the girls will LOVE it.  And, being vacation, it will pass much more quickly than it should so that by the time that we get back, I will be roughly 35 weeks.  At that point, it will only be 2 weeks until I’m technically full term and I can go day to day believing that any day could be the day.

For me, the one thing that hasn’t changed from child to child is the excitement.  The growth of a baby in utero is so amazing.  Carrying this growing child inside of me and feeling it move and kick (even if it is my ribs, hips, etc.) has always made me smile.  But all of this pales in comparison to that moment when he/she is born, put on your chest, and you see them for the first time.  We have no idea how we will manage three small children, but I just don’t think that is something that you can prepare for.  We just have a few final details to sort out—like the baby’s name and what to do with our girls if I go into labor more than 1.5 weeks early and my mom is NOT in town*.  Minor stuff really. 

*Did you know that some people choose to have their kids in the room WITH them when they deliver?  I was surprised when our pediatrician told me that (not that it was recommended, mind you).  I'm sure that I'm not alone when I say "thank you" to my mom for never doing that.

What Pinterest has Done for Me Lately

When I first checked out pinterest.com, I didn’t really get the draw.  People (ah, primarily women) LOVE this site.  I wasn’t getting it…until I started seeing some recipes on there that I wanted to try and when I went back to find them, it was impossible.  So….I signed up for an account.  I’m still a very casual user and while I have many boards, I really only care about two things:  food and kids. 

The food—so many junk food recipes out there.  But what I have found it how this one site has linked me to so many awesome food blogs.  Through this route, I have found an AWESOME recipe for Daal with Golden Lentils and Coconut Milk.  I love this blog—I’m not a big meat eater and she has all kinds of yummy vegetarian and fish recipes that I want to try at some point.  I will say that I didn’t alter this recipe at all which is unusual for me.  I’ve made it twice—once serving a tomato/cucumber/onion salad with cumin salt, the other time serving it with cumin roasted chicken (recipes to follow).  Next time, I’m making a double batch and freezing half so that I can eat it whenever I want.  Have I mentioned that I love this recipe?  If you are curious, it was her masala chai recipe that I found on pinterest.  I haven’t tried it yet but will once my allowable caffeine intake is a little more relaxed. 

Kids’ activities are big on pinterest.  I’m always looking for manageable activities that I can do with toddlers.  Honestly, a lot of what I find wears me out just reading about it so I know that there is no way that I will actually do them.  But, I did find this activity—it is a giant water sensory bag.  (Link here)  Tarp, duct tape, water hose, done.  It was a super popular pin and thought, “now this is something that I can handle that I think my kids will actually enjoy and requires little facilitation on my part.  Perfect.”  The girls loved it, specifically Cecilia.  My only mistake was not getting a thick enough tarp.  Once I looked back on her site, I realized that she used 3.5 mil which would have been perfect.  I ended up with only 1 mil, but doubled it up—worked but we did end up putting some holes in it before it was all over. 

Cecilia loved hopping from one end to the next.....



And then flopping down on her belly or back.





Anna took a bit more convincing but played for a little bit, enjoying the cool water.

Overall, a success and a great way to burn some afternoon time on a warm day.  

Anna the Jumping Banana

Anna never ceases to amaze me with the rapid development of her gross and fine motor skills.  She also scares me because she has NO FEAR.  So much so that I actually get comments from other moms at the park.  I guess they are a little surprised to see an 18 month old swinging from a bar like a monkey, laughing her head off or trying to climb the horizontal ladder that she has no business trying to tackle.  (Seriously, this girl keeps me busy trying to keep her in one piece.)  Recently, she has been working on her trampoline jumping.  I was impressed one week so I took this video:

But….here she is only a week later (give it a few seconds—she was distracted by Cecilia in the beginning). 

Love this girl!

The Sickness Spreadeth

On Friday night, Cecilia woke up sick.  She managed to empty her stomach all over her bed which is always fun.  After cleaning her and her bed up, she went back to bed and woke up the next morning completely normal with an appetite.  Ok, I think, perhaps it was just something that she ate....

Then we had an awesome Easter, celebrating our risen Lord with family, friends, and way more food than necessary.  Having disinfected the house and having a healthy family, I felt ok that we weren't infecting all of our guests.  And then....on Sunday night, Anna wakes up.  Repeat Friday night.  She goes back to sleep and wakes up normal with an appetite.  What the?  Kids always amaze me with their ability to cope with illness.  (As an example, a couple months ago, Cecilia had a horrible double ear infection and I had NO IDEA--no fever, no complaints--until she woke up screaming one night.)  But, when I am amazed the most is when I actually get what they had....which is what happened today. 

After getting hardly any sleep from the nausea, I woke up to find my husband sick as well.  And not just the same--way worse off than me.  But, no worries.  We already had a babysitter scheduled for this morning.  And then.....SHE. GOT. SICK.  Needless to say, we spent the day watching entirely too much television and I currently have the theme song to Dora the Explorer in my head. 

So....I just have to go ahead an apologize to our guests if any of our guests got sick.  No fun.  At least now I feel a little less guilty about all of the candy that I ate.