The Countdown

I can't believe we are less than 8 weeks from this baby's due date.

Time has been going so fast lately. I thought that once we moved it would slow down--smaller space, away from my friends...it hasn't. Every Sunday the Mr. and I look at each other and say 'is it really time to go to church again?' The days just come and go like it's nothing.

I have spent a lot of time preparing for the birth of this baby. What I have not spent time preparing for is every second after that. I try to envision having two little ones; how it's going to be with a new baby now that the Bug is in the picture. I have a feeling my whole world is about to turn upside-down. Of course, this happened when the Bug was born as well. I imagine going from one to two isn't as big a shift as from none to one.

Life is certainly different than my childless days. And I'm not complaining. I would never, ever go back. I read an article in the newspaper a few months ago that said that some studies show that children add to an individual's unhappiness. I was so angry that anyone would ever promote that idea. Children make life worth living.


Yes, I am tied down. Yes, I am more limited in my choice of activities and entertainment. But really, I would rather have purpose than all the fun in the world. Everything I was able to do before was just a distraction--a way to fill the void of what I didn't have yet until I had it. And to be honest, the fun that I get to have now is exponentially more enjoyable than before, because it has depth to it. I get to be with the people I love. Life is so much more fulfilling now than before.


Sometimes I get a little selfish and I worry about my 'routine' and how I'll keep my house clean and how I'll get my exercise in, and all the little things that keep me feeling human. I wonder how I will discipline a feisty two year old when I'm tied to the couch nursing a baby, and if I can keep my cool and manage my temper. I wonder if I will be able to give the Bug the love and attention that I want to give him when there is another little bundle to love and take care of, with seemingly more urgent needs.



And then I remember that billions of other women have done the same thing. They survived. Their children survived. Some of them even did well.

I am excited to meet this little tornado that has been living inside of me for so long. I can't wait to be able to look at him and feel his soft, soft skin. I am excited for the Bug to be a big brother. I am happy that our little family is growing. I hope that I am up to the challenge. I know that there are going to be long periods of readjusting for all of us. If it is anything like last time, there will be some very blue days ahead for me. Perhaps months worth of them. But they pass. They always pass, and they make the happy days priceless treasures.

So even though I may never feel like I'm on top of the latest mess or project and that I'll never be completely ready for this baby to come, I'm glad that the time is flying and that this baby will be here sooner than I can believe. This is going to be a great summer!

Isaac Forrest Jan 2009

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Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful

For

Paid Holidays

Last Friday the Mr. had work off, and we went to the This is the Place State Park to see the baby animals. It was cold and we paid way too much to get in, but you tell me:

can you put a price on this face?

First horseback ride. He loved it.

Baby chicks

I'm sad this one is blurry. He laughed so hard when they moved their feet.

Short post today. I'll post more next week.

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It's that Time Again

The Bug's first egg-dying experience. We managed to crack almost every one.

Can it really be Thursday again? I cannot believe how fast time has been flying lately.

Today I am thankful for:

Books. Right now I'm especially grateful for 'Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child,' 'Elmo's First Day of School', and the Scriptures, as well as the several books that are helping me prep for childbirth round 2.

My Wheat Grinder. I tried using a manual grinder the other day just to see how effective it was. Holy cow, I'm grateful for my electric one!

Energy. I am so grateful that I had all the energy I did during my second trimester. I have been seriously dragging the last few mornings!

Listening for the "fizzies" to stop


Tell me he doesn't look like my brother Matthew when he was little.

My Bug. I'm sure you get sick of reading this. But seriously, I about can't get enough of this little guy lately. He is so much fun, and he has such a happy disposition. As crazy as it sounds, he can be pretty obedient, too. I am loving how well he is starting to play by himself. He makes the funnest sound effects. Lately my favorite phrase of his is 'oh, yes.'

Jesus Christ. The Mr. and I are speaking in church this Sunday, and it has given me an opportunity to really study about and ponder the Atonement and Resurrection. It is all so incomprehensible to me. I don't think I'll ever understand, but I am so, so grateful. Life would have little meaning to me without the blessings brought by His actions.

Happy Easter!

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Good Things

I've been slightly neglectful lately, only tuning in for my weekly Thankful post most of the time. This could be because my life has been incredibly boring and uneventful lately (and if anyone is sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for a new post, it's certainly news to me). However, I will argue instead that I have simply been focusing on living my life instead of talking about it. Or something like that.

We are getting more settled and organized every day, and I am trying to establish some sort of regular routine. It's probably pointless, because everything will change in a few months when Baby gets here, but it will hopefully keep me sane until then. I go a little crazy (ahem, lazy) without one.

Anyway, there I go rambling when there are things to be thankful about. Today I am thankful that:

The Bug has moved to a big boy bed! Twice this week he slept all night. We've lost an hour and a half in the mornings, but we're hoping that fades over time. He is enjoying his new-found freedom, and I am enjoying the fact that Baby is not here yet, and I can still throw him in the crib when the door is just too tempting.

Target has maternity swimsuits! Not only that, but they were 50% off when I went. I was at the end of my rope with a swimsuit from last pregnancy that stretched about down to my knees. I am sure the ladies in my water aerobics class are similarly grateful.

I have a sewing machine. Sometimes I want to drop it off the edge of a cliff I get so frustrated, but I'm getting better! I'm also grateful for the sewing classes I took in school. My teachers would DIE if they saw the way I sew, but I am sewing at least.

Mei Tai baby carrier I whipped up last week. I'm pretty excited to try it out.

A handy husband. I'm grateful that the Mr. knows so much about electrical stuff, mechanical stuff and everything else stuff. If he doesn't know about it, he learns. It's saved us a ton of money. I'm also grateful that he likes saving a ton of money. And that he changes all the stinky diapers when he's home. And that he's WAY better at playing with the Bug than I am. And that he helps with the dishes every night. And that he's not eating chocolate for six months just because I didn't want to and he loves me. And that he's generous to people in need. And that he puts up with me because holy monkey I'm hard to put up with sometimes. Basically what I'm saying is that I'm really grateful for him all-around.

Homemade yogurt. I like homemade yogurt. And strawberries.

There's a baby in my tummy. Life is good.

General Conference

Today I am grateful for many things.

I am grateful for General Conference. Twice a year, in April and October, the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints broadcast a two day series of sessions that inspire, uplift, give hope, and teach us how to be more Christ-like. You can watch or listen to talks from this April's Conference here.

I am grateful for modern technology that allows me to take part in the conference without being there. Not only can I watch the sessions from the comfort of my home, but I can study the topics throughout the year (and beyond) as it is made available on the internet and printed in the May edition of the Ensign.

I couldn't very well have gone into Conference looking like this, now could I?

I am grateful for modern revelation that allows these amazing men and women to lead and guide our church in troubling and uncertain times.


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