Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Vocab for 2nd Graders

While reviewing the vocab of our history lesson I asked Ty, "Do you know what an inhabitant is?"

"Yeah, it's something you do and can't stop doing no matter how hard you try."

I laughed harder than a pregnant mom should laugh.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Breeley

Yep. That's her name. Nope we had never heard of it before. We were sitting in bed talking about names. I love as in LOVE the name Aubrey. But, I have this thing about meanings. So, we look it up.

Aubrey: rules with elf wisdom

Umm, I have enough little ones trying to usurp the rules of this house without one of them having elf wisdom on her side.

Rather disappointed I said tried to find the positive. "We couldn't have used Leigh with it anyway." You see, I am blessed to have my dad's middle name (not that I thought so growing up!), and wanted to pass that along.

Doug thinks for a minute. "We could just call her Bree Leigh."
Me: "Breeley? I kinda like it."
Doug: "How would we spell it?"
Me: "B-r-e-e-l-e-y."

So we pondered, and asked a very select group of people their opinions, and decided...

We like it!

Now for the FAQ segment of this post.

How are you going to spell it?
Since you all are reading this, there is no need to spell it like I have to for everyone who I tell in person.

What is her middle name going to be?
Faith

What does it mean?
No clue. If you find it will you let me know? Since I have this thing about knowing what names mean, I've kind of made one up. Bree: Hill. Leigh: Meadow. Faith: Confidence. So basically we are saying it means hill or place of confidence. Unless someone can tell me what it really means.


I had a regular prenatal appointment this morning. Never take a reading child to one of those. A sign was hanging on the door "Do heavy periods interfere with your life?"
Ty already knows more anatomy words than I'm comfortable with. Not that it makes me uncomfortable, just the potential for phone calls from other parents. "Your son just told my son that..." Oh, how I pray that day never comes. Thank goodness I had brought along his reading work to do and redirected his eyes to a more appropriate place before any more long conversations had to take place.

I'm thinking a sitter might be worth the financial imposition.

Friday, January 22, 2010

What Tyler Thinks

Laura emailed me and asked if the kids were excited about the new baby. A lot of people asked what Tyler thinks of being the only boy.

When we first told the kids we were expecting they were well, surprised. Since it was only a few days after Mom #2's memorial service, it was a total change in direction. I was sitting by Ty at the Don Pablo's, and he got a strange expression on his face. I asked him what he was thinking and he just kind of shrugged. Highly unusual behavior for my very verbal boy. A few minutes later he said, "Do you think it's another girl?"

When we got home, the big kids called to tell their grandparents. Ty called Doug's dad. We could hear his voice asking Ty if he wanted a brother or a sister. When Tyler said he didn't care. Rick said, "Oh, I thought for sure you'd want a brother."
Ty's responded. "Well, if it's a brother, he'll want to play little kid games with me. And I'm going to be driving soon. If it's a girl, I don't have to worry about that."

His opinion has not really changed. He is standing here with me while I type. I asked him if he would rather have had a brother. "I'd kinda rather had a sister."

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Meet Our Newest Baby Girl

Yesterday we had the 20 week ultrasound. It was such a fun time. All the kids went with us, the tech (who's been doing this for 20 + years) answered every single question they threw at her, she took her time and let us have fun watching the newest member of our family.
Here she is!


I am always amazed at how perfectly they are formed before they have a chance for life outside the womb. This picture is a perfect illustration of that. I have never seen the entire hand like that on any of my children's ultrasound pictures. Even the Tammy -the tech - said it was special.


We have been working on an anatomy unit for science in school. The kids are having so much fun learning about the baby being "knit together" and how their bodies work. I love how each of these opportunities- school, a new baby, watching ultrasounds- allows them to see more and more of God's ever present hand in our lives.

Tyler of course had a few hilarious comments while we were there. Tammy was showing them the baby's tummy and how full it was. She asked if they thought it was full of chocolate chip cookies. Tyler piped right up, "No, Mommy hasn't been eating any." When Tammy would stop the screen to measure the baby, Tyler was so curious. He said, "Are you pausing the baby?" We all got a good laugh out of that one.

I'd better run! It's time for school to start.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Monday, January 18, 2010

Notes to Self

After a sleepless night (due to pregnancy) I concocted a brilliant idea. My sister after one brief day at home was readmitted to the hospital and was feeling more than a little down.

Me (at 5:30 am) Wednesday: Hey, I was thinking. Do you want to go see Megan this weekend.

Doug (sleepy): Sure.

Me: We just have to find somebody to watch the dogs.

Doug: I hadn't thought of that yet.

Me: Well, I was thinking we could get a hotel with a pool and let the kids play, see Megan, maybe Jim and Marley would come over and swim with us.....

Doug: Sure, you work it out, babe. Love you.

(Exit Doug)

Me: I should ask him for more things when he first wakes up.

Me: Zzzzzzzzz

--------------------------------------------

After two crazy days of planning, packing, running Beast and the boy to my parents (the dogs), cleaning house*, packing, finishing school for the week, we are headed to the cold, snowy state of Michigan.

*Thanks, Mom, for instilling in my the fear I will die on the road and someone will have to come clean up my home after I'm dead. It has served me well. Love you!

I, being pregnant in mind as well as body, remembered the underwear, diapers, clothes and forgot all shampoo, body washes, and random other things have decided to write a few notes to self that would have been helpful before the trip.

1. When pregnant, never buy a bathing suit in a pattern that looks like a picnic table cloth. Every time you put it on you will feel as though you are bringing the watermelon to the picnic.

2. Painted toes go a long way toward helping you feel better about the above situation. Why, I have no clue. (Any help on this one ladies?)

3. When visiting a hospital with four children under the age of 7 it helps to have a wonderful strong man who is willing to play patty-cake and make little girls giggle.

4. Watching your kids play in the pool is so much fun.

5. Watching your son get a well deserved dunking is also fun.

6. Chocolate milk and powdered sugar donuts are a wonderful pregnancy snack.

7. Sparkly shoes are a girl's best friend, giving your child a camera can result in some great pictures, babies in bathing suits are one of the cutest things on earth, if you're going to wear a hat with your bathing suit - wear it with pride.


8. For the love of all that is good in life, do not ever think it's a good idea to see how well your toddler does sleeping in a "big girl bed" for the first time in a hotel.

9. Remember hotels do not plan for more than two people in a room. Save yourself the trouble and ask for towels and the multiple items you forgot on the way up to the room.

10. Fights over who gets to push what elevator button are inevitable. So is Mommy's patience wearing thin. Plan for these things, take many, many deep breaths and remember soon you will be back in your own comfy bed. Once there, try to sleep. As fun as the weekend was (and it really was), a repeat in the near future is not good for anyone's health.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

P.S.

I was reading the comments last night and it got me to thinking. There is a p.s. I should be adding. One of the many, many ways I have been shown the realness (is that a word?) of God's presence is the peace in my life in spite of the circumstances.

Are things pleasant?

No.

Does that change the peace that "passes all understanding."

No.

I have taken much comfort in the passage in John 14 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." And John 16, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (emphasis mine!)

There is a deep and abiding peace in our lives. I am fed up and worn down. At times I am discouraged. Happiness has never been my goal, nor has an easy life. I know, I believe, I trust, I hope that in each and every difficult circumstance - whether mine or one that touches me because I love the person at it's center - God's glory will shine. His will will be done. His "good and pleasing and perfect will."

Oh, and one final P.S. Or as I used to write back in jr. high....

P.P.S. My sister is dong much better. Thank you to those who have been praying. Please don't stop!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

At or With?

The other day I was talking to a lady from my church about God. Surprised???

The question I've been wrestling with lately is my anger about situations that nothing can be done about.

Remember my brother-in-law with cancer? He's not even 40, has a one year old daughter and terminal cancer.

Remember my sweet mother-in-law. She wasn't even 60. She was always joyful, mostly patient, endlessly loving. She never heard Hope say Grandma.

Right now, my oldest sister (you may know her from the comments as Marley's Mama), wife of my brother-in-law with cancer, is in the hospital fighting a rare blood disorder.

My oldest brother's father-in- law died suddenly last week. He wasn't a believer.

Those are a few things from my little world that have me ticked off. I know, in my head and in my heart, that God can and will "work all things together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) I also know that He who watches over us never "slumbers nor sleeps." (Psalm 121:4) And "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2.

But, from my perspective - here and now - things are not lining up. I know they will. I know that The Redeemer lives. I know that death and sickness and sin have already been defeated.

But, what's happening right now still hurts, still makes me angry.

For a while I thought I was angry at God. Now I think I'm angry with God. I don't (and haven't) blamed God for what has happened and is happening. I'm just angry that it happens and that it has to happen. My prayer is that His glory can shine through each of these situations. My heart wishes these situations never existed.

I wonder often what it would have been like to walk through the mall with my mother-in-law. What it would have been like to have known the brother my husband lost in infancy. I wonder what it would be like if my brother-in-law was healthy. I wonder what the world would be like with out sickness, death, loss, and abuse.

I don't pretend to have righteous anger. It's far from it. My anger however isn't aimed toward God, but at the results of sin. That's where the questions of prepositions comes in. Is it possible to be angry with God not at Him?

The other day I was talking to Ty about sickness. He wanted to know how people's bodies got sick and broken when the world was supposed to have been perfect. My response was simply, "but it isn't anymore." "Yeah, I know. 'Cause Adam and Eve sinned and now it's all falling apart."

In spite of all the frustrations, grief and anger that I'm feeling right now, I'm so glad I know the One whose hands are big enough to hold all the pieces. And the only One who can fit them back together.