Young Love

Frannie has a little admirer in her preschool class. His name is Johnathan and he shows his affection by sitting as close to her as he possibly can, giving her an extra cracker at snack, and mock-burping in her face to get her attention. :)

My Pregnancy Update

It occurred to me last week that I've maybe made one mention on this blog of my pregnancy. I think it was my 2009 in Review post. Other than that, I haven't brought it up, shown pictures, nada!

There is no specific reason for this other than I've been more focused on the kids and other aspects of my life than on my pregnancy. With my first, I have so many pictures of my growing belly from the first little bump when I thought I was "so big!" to the final shot when I really was SO BIG! But this time around no one has taken pictures of me. Not even casual ones. So last week at the park I had Lauren take this shot of me at 26 weeks. So there. It is now documented proof that I am indeed pregnant with an ever-growing abdomen :)

I do think my SIL plans to take nice shots of me and the kids, so when that happens I'll post those.

Overall this pregnancy has been a piece-o-cake. Really. I can't complain. I can still sleep. Almost no heartburn this time. Maybe one week of morning sickness. I'm not far enough along to feel that extreme heaviness deep in my abdomen. Basically, it's all good. I still have three months to go, so I still have time to have something to complain about. But for now, I'm just enjoying this ho-hum time.

I've gained 19lbs so far. 12 of them were in the last month alone! Ack! I guess baby decided to grow or something (and blood volume doubles between 24-28 weeks). Now that I'm getting into my third trimester and "late May" doesn't seem so far away, I'm starting to gear up for having a baby. I have begun to go on brisk 15 min walks after dinner; I'm doing pelvic rocks during tv commercials; I'm squatting more and doing general stretches. There is a song that keeps playing in my mind when I walk. It's this tribal tune that goes "I'm opening up in sweet surrender to this beautiful baby in my womb. I'm ooooopening. I'm oooooopening. I'm oooopening. I'm ooooopening." Then it repeats the same lines over and over again. Something about the rhythm of it and repetition just gets into my head and gives me a good focus.

Prior to all of this new commitment to exercise and stuff I've basically done nothing! I guess going up and down the stairs several times a day must count for something, but I'm not giving myself too much credit there.

I get asked a lot if we're having a boy or girl, but of course I have no idea. For those who don't know this about me, I've actually never had an ultrasound scan. I've never seen my baby in the womb.

Why? Well, it's kind of a complicated answer but I'll try.

With Frannie, I thought you HAD to have an ultrasound. But Lori told me it was actually optional unless there was a medical reason presenting itself (bleeding, possible breech, suspicion of twins, etc..). Since I would have had to pay $175 out of pocket to go get one, my frugal self decided that I didn't want to spend the money for something that wasn't necessary. Jason and I had decided we didn't need to know the sex of the baby anyways, so at that point, what was the point?

With Adam it was the same reason, although by that time I had started to have other reasons why I didn't want an ultrasound. I have met many many mothers who have been told something was wrong with their baby in the womb and it turns out to be nothing. Two people close to me and several other mothers in class have been told their babies showed markers for Downs. The babies were born perfect. Many mothers in class have spent their pregnancies being paranoid about an ultrasound tech telling them their baby is too big. Or the cord is wrapped around the neck or this or that or whatever. And the baby is always fine. And the delivery is always no biggie. But there is all that emotional energy invested into being upset and worried. So I've decided that I'd rather just leave the baby alone to do its growing and I'll meet him or her in time. Perfect or not. I'll take whatever baby I get.

So at this point, I'm just not into ultrasounds anymore. And I'm still frugal and I don't want to pay $175 for it! Occasionally I have bouts of weakness when I reeeeeally want to know if I'm having a son or daughter, and I do think that experience of seeing the baby in there would be really cool. But then the urge passes, and I start having fun again with guessing. An unexpected perk is that having gender-neutral newborn items has been a terrific thing.

We do have two names picked out. We're still ironing out middle names. But that news of course will have to wait :)

On My Nightstand

This week I finished A Mother's Heart: A Look at Values, Vision, and Character for the Christian Mother by Jean Fleming. My friend Brenda was talking about it and showed it to me at her home and I asked if I could borrow it. It is a slim book, but filled with encouragement, suggestions, and a "call to action" attitude that I appreciate.

This book happened to have come into my life at a good time because my dear boy Adam has been just driving me so crazy it makes my head hurt. Last week I actually went into the garage to sit in my van and cry. Yes yes, boo hoo hoo.

Maybe it's the terrible twos. Maybe it's because he has 4 teeth coming in at once. Maybe it's just because that's how life is sometimes. Whatever it is he has been throwing so many tantrums I can barely stand it. It isn't just one or two tantrums, it's the all day crying over every little thing that has me seeing stars.

So the book has come in handy because it has a lot of advice about prayer and I've certainly been doing a lot of praying. Mostly for myself. I've been praying for grace. And I've been trying to focus on the long-range knowledge that one day I will look at my big son and long for the days when he was a squishy baby again. And I'm trying to remember that just because he's driving me nuts now, doesn't mean he'll be driving me nuts forever. (Oh Lord, I sincerely hope not!)

Anyway, I get the sense that this post is sounding like a downer. Don't feel sorry for me or anything! It's just part n' parcel to being a mother. Everyone has difficult days no matter what job they do.

And I do want my dear baby to know that I love him dearly. And I love his little laugh and his squishy legs and tushy. And I love the way he talks and how he can never get enough of any kind of ball. But I CAN do without the constant CRYING!

0.99 Decorating

You can find these wall stickers at the Dollar Tree. The stickers here are $3 worth.





























This is a great time of year to find great things at the dollar store. They have lots of garden stuff. Gloves, decorative pots, shiny hanging things for your garden, flags, stepping stones, and wind socks. They are also fully stocked for Easter. Cute animals, different baskets, basket grass, colored eggs, candy, toys, and kids crafts. Frannie made this necklace from a kit we got her at the Dollar Tree.



You don't need to spend much money at all to find nice things to make your home and garden feel ready for spring!

My Dear Frannie Turns 4!

On Feb 16th, my dear girl turned 4 years old. There are some big reasons to be excited about being 4:
1. Being 4 means that you get four M&Ms instead of 3 for your after lunch treat.
2. Being 4 means that you have to take care of your own booty after going potty.
3. Being 4 means that you're "almost 5" according to Frannie. (I think this one is really funny, because she just always wants to be bigger and bigger and bigger. I think she thinks she'll catch up to Nicholas soon enough. Darn how he'll always be one year older!)

For her birthday we decided to throw her a little party. Sort of. First we sent out invites to throw her a big party at the park, but with the constant rain I decided to cancel it. So I talked to Doreen and we agreed that Nico and Catie could come by on Saturday and the kids could just play and we'd have some cake and ice cream. Done.

Weeeeelll...then I got an email from my Aunt Lisa that Rhiannon would really like to see Frannie and that she'd be disappointed if there were no party. I knew Frannie would love to see Rhiannon too, so I told them to come on by because we were going to have a small something at the house anyways. Done.

Then I got a phone message from Nataki asking if she could stop by on Friday or Saturday because Miriam hadn't seen Frannie in a long time. So I told her, no worries, we're having a little something at the house anyways. You know, cake, ice cream, some lunch, stop on by.

Suddenly it was Friday night and I wasn't feeling well. I told Jason "I don't feel good. My tummy kind of hurts. I think I'm just stressed." He said, "Well what is there to be stressed about?" And I told him about the food I needed to buy and party favors and on and on, and he says "Well what are you doing all of that for?"

"Don't you understand, we're having a party tomorrow!"

Somehow, a party was born bit by bit and on my list were 7 kids and 15 adults at least. And it had to be put together the next day. Even more showed up and it turned out to be a great party! Fortunately the weather was beautiful. So this is Francesca's party that was a "cancelled" party.






Family and Friends watching the kids play Pin the Tail on the Donkey






























Hot Potato winner Nicholas w/ Catie and Frannie











Seth, Frannie and Miriam







Kids: Miriam, Omar, Nicholas, Seth, Catie, Ali, Frannie, Riley, Alana, Rhiannon, Clara

Sweet Dreams

Are we human? OR ARE WE DANCER!?

Jason has had this song stuck in his head for weeks.




As a result of his constant singing, the kids have learned a new song!