Waiting on Baby

So our visit to the hospital was rather in vain, other than the assurance that I had been in pre-labor and am now dialated 3-4cm.  I was admitted in the early evening with happy hopes of meeting our son in the next several hours.  Around 11am yesterday I was discharged as all contractions had near stopped.  From contractions every 2-3 minutes to mild hints of them every 12 or so, we had little hope of meeting the little man without a serious dose of pitosin.  As my doctor was opposed to such a course of action (and honestly, so was I), home we went.  Apparently news of false labor and our hospital visit in general had gone viral by that point, so I had some discontent family members to sooth over.  Oops!  :)

My wish was to surprise them all at the baby shower with a !!BabY!! and some delighted exclamations.  Oh well, my plans are many, but certainly there is a better way.  Thirty-seven weeks is not the ideal, 40 is.  I just have to keep reminding myself that at least now I don't have to be so concerned at the frequency of my contractions from this point on.

Contractions

I have been having contractions for months now, but something changed yesterday in the intensity and "feel" of them.  A deeper, lower pain, practically across my upper legs that came with a burning, near-tearing sensation.  Not terribly painful, mind you, but certainly not something I could bat my eyes at nonchalantly.  That started around 10 am, and last night those became more markedly intense.  In fact, I couldn't sleep till around 4:30 in the morning.  Since they seemed so irregular I didn't bother going into the hospital.  I have a history of going in too soon and returning with false alarm status stamped on my burgeoning belly.  All day I have continued to feel under some duress and tonight the level of intensity continues to increase.  At 37 weeks today, I am considered "Full Term," so perhaps it is time to meet this little man?  Or perhaps these are still early labor contractions that simply herald the fact that at some point in the not so distant future a baby will be birthed. Hmm.

Dreaming

You may be able to relate to this... and perhaps even get a good chuckle at the thought of it....

Byron and I would like to buy a castle in upstate New York.  Why not?  It is surprisingly "reasonable" in price and would make for such a different pace of life.  Our family is expanding, and a castle seems only practical fit for our growing brood.  With 4 levels, many rooms including a library, study, ladies dressing room, servants quarters, and gorgeous scenery, we could even bring an assortment of our friends along! :)  Oddly enough, I think I actually stayed a weekend in a neighboring town while in college... and best of all, it looks to have fairly easy access to Prince Edward Island (The green Gables beckon me for a quaint summer holiday!)!  I could pinch myself!

Silly dreams, but it makes for enjoyable musings!

Find the listing here, some further info here, and the official site here.

From the site: Magnificent stone mansion on 3 acres in exclusive estate area. Rich in architectural details. 3 floors with 20 rooms including 8 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 7 fireplaces, master suite, library, green house, gourmet kitchen. Recently renovated and upgraded with luxurious amenities.

Some images:

Love

Camelia to Daddy, after passionately hugging Gigi goodnight:  "We love our-chothers, that's why God made us!"

Time for bed, "But I berry berry don't want to!"

The images below are from when I caught her drawing on herself.  She felt "tewwible!"

No Soliciting

I have long wanted to post a "No Soliciting" sign by our front door to ward off the sleazy salesmen who often frequent our neighborhood around this time of year.  Yesterday refreshed that desire as I awoke from my precious nap to a rap on the door, a bothersome ringing of the doorbell, and calls for attention from those inside our quiet abode.  I rushed to the door in a frazzled state, looking every part of the beleaguered barefoot and pregnant housewife, to the slippery sweet words of a man at the door, "Are you the queen of the castle?"  Refraining from slamming the door, I bluntly told him "I live here." and he went on to his pitch of my needing the carpets cleaned and why should I have to speak with my husband, is he the one who scrubs the halls?  Good.  Riddance.  You insult my husband and his right desire to care for our home and family, you insult me.

Thus I am here this morning drafting up our sign.  Note, I would like it to be pretty, not merely a thing of especial candor blanketing our home as a place of hermitage.

Herein lies my first draft:

What are your thoughts?

No Soliciting

NOTE: Any persons who choose to ignore this sign forfeit rights of leaving our porch unscathed.  We reserve the right to pelt you from the windows with water balloons, let loose our ferocious hound, and the most fearful of all, release our cannibalistic toe-sucking infantiles to assault your person.  Capiche?

What are your thoughts?

When Byron Comes Home

The following are two relatively frequent scenarios of current life at our house and Byron's response to them.

~~*~~

Byron, coming home at the end of a day when it has been just me and the kids-- possibly sick, whiny ones rather rather tired of Mommy "resting her belly" and needing a tad more physical stimulation than I currently have the ability to offer:

"The house smells like diapers."

~~*~~

Byron, coming home on a day when Kelsey has been skipping about the house like a sainted fairy-godmother followed about by sing-songy little pixies ready to flitter in joyful abandon to her every whim:

"Wow, its all so......perfect!"

Kelsey has been out sick this week (and so have we), so the drastic comparison between these scenarios has been rather stark. Missing her! :)

Dinner Prayers

Gigi: We forgot to pray!

Daddy: (Prays, thanking God for the day, our meal, and our many blessings)

Family: Amen

Eliana: MEN!

Gigi: Can I pray, too?

[Gets the affirmative nod and begins]

[Reverently] Dear God thank you so much for our food, and our house, and all the pretty things, and the flowers, and the plants, and our family.... and that blue thing over there--I don't know what it is but I like it, and our family and food and the new baby, in Jesus name Amen.

Camelia: Can I pray?

Daddy: [Mid-bite] Of course.

Camelia:

[Solemnly] Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus and the Israelites.  Amen.

Family: [Mid-laughter] Amen!

Daddy: Ellie would you like to pray? Who do we pray to?

Eliana: Gawd!

Mommy: Go ahead...

Ellie: Mommy.... Daddy.... Gigi... Mousf (Camelia).  MEN!

Family: AMEN.

Camelia Rebukes Me

Camelia was teasing Eliana outside today and ended up drenching her with water and left poor Ellie red-faced and sobbing in dismay.  I told Camelia she lost her priviledge to play with the water table and sent her to her room.  Of course this resulted in Camelia now red-faced and sobbing even more hysterically than Ellie.  After getting Ellie's wet things off and releasing her to roam about in a "French fashion" for a bit I went to Camelia's room to talk with her about her actions.  I was confronted by a very distraught little three-year old who let me know exactly how she felt about the whole situation.  

"Mommy, wemember when I was sad the other day and just needed you to stop hawassing me for a little while because you just made me cry." 

Apparently the girl just wanted space, but then decided that she would be just as happy to "do bellies" with me as we watched Ellie run about stark naked. Camelia seems to especially enjoy this now as little brother is becoming extremely wiggly in there and Camelia enjoys getting kicked in her belly, exclaiming that "baby is getting to know his big sister."

Eventually Eliana decided she wanted clothing and let Gigi know she needed some assistance as she shouted out "Help.  Me." 

Every day is an adventure.

They Say...

Daddy asks Gilana questions after her nightly reading from her story Bible.
"Gigi, why does Nebuchadnezzar not listen to God?"
"Because he is a tree stump."

Camelia upon waking up:
"My legs are wuzu wuzu!"
"What?"
"They are so wuzu!!"

Camelia wanted to dress Gigi for bed, but Daddy said Gigi could put on her own Pull-Up.
Camelia retorted, "You're not being kind to my Baby."

Kelsey speaking to Camelia after lunch:
"How was your lunch?"
"My Yogret was naughty."
"How was it naughty?"
"It grew legs and ran away!"

Eliana upon hearing anything amiss in the house: "Naughty!"

Eliana looking out the window in the morning: "Sushi.  Buddy!"

Sushi nonchalantly walking past Ellie on her way to lie down: "NO Sushi!  Naughty Sushi!" All whilst flailing her arms wildly to repel any untoward attempts at licking her little self.

Easter Bunnies!

This Easter, we are blessed with some rather adorable little bunnies!

The girls would like to thank Moosie for her gift of lovely dresses!

Before There are Four

I am overwhelmed and quite taken aback by the goodness of Christ in our sweet home.  Gilana is blossoming in her potential and position as the eldest child.  Her desire to care for her little sisters is so precious to witness.  Earlier this morning, the two older girls got themselves dressed for the day, then proceeded to pick out clothes and dress Eliana as well. Before leaving for work, Byron asked Gigi to take care of everyone, including Mommy, and she is fulfilling that task excellently.  She came to me and asked how I was doing, and I let her know I felt ill from the effects of pregnancy and a cold, so she came to caress me and encouraged Ellie to do the same. Wow.  That was sweet!  Ellie wandered off to see Camelia (who is sitting in a bucket), and Gigi left me after wiping some loose strands of hair off my face and letting me know that she had to leave me to care for her sisters. Gilana is only four years old, yet delights in her role as Mommy's little helper!

We discovered at the 20 week mark that this sweet babe growing within me is a boy!  I had told Byron He wouldn't know the gender till I could come home and tell him in person.  Naturally he beat me home, rushed the car, and demanded the news before I had a moment to think of a coy way to reveal it.  He whooped and hollered, told the neighbor, ran into the house and the girls naturally caught his enthusiasm as a grand celebration ensued.  It was lovely!

As my mobility has drastically decreased with my back failing daily along with other pregnancy complaints, we have been blessed with help.  Kelsey is now nannying for us 2 days a week for the last three weeks.  She tears through the house with reckless abandon cleaning every nook and cranny, singing hymns and spiritual songs, skipping about like a pied piper with cheerful little munchkins trailing joyously behind her.  She clearly has a rare gift that I can only dream of, but certainly enjoy benefiting from. With Kelsey here, the girls are happy, the house is clean and *smells* like it, laundry is done, dinner is made, and I am rested.  It is amazing. Another family from the church is bringing meals twice a month to help out, and I have a 12 year old helper, Joanna, coming on a regular basis to help as well. I am humbled by this much needed help and so grateful for the service of others!

The girls have had several bouts with illness lately... such as today with fevers and runny noses.  Eliana seems to have the brunt of it, being unable to sleep well at night and so achy during the day.  These are the snuggle-take-it-easy-watch-a-movie type of days.  Just my pace!  Gilana had a bad virus about a month ago with a fever about 103.5 which left her delirious and so pitiful my heart ached for her.  I rocked her and tried to sooth her moaning, mid-scream she fell in a deep sleep in my arms and scared me with how still she suddenly became after such a ruckus with her flailing.  Amazingly, this lasted on 24 hours and was quickly a memory of the past.  Eliana had a ongoing fever for several days with no signs of other sickness with her fever spiking at times to over 103 degrees.  She managed fairly well despite her discomfort, then came down with a rash as her fever subsided.  Turns out she had Roseola.  I had thought the rash was an unrelated result of playing in the dirt with her sensitive skin exposed, but apparently it was something more serious.

We are preparing our home for the arrival of the new bairn.  The nasty, stained (possibly original) carpets from upstairs have been replaced with similar laminate to what we have downstairs. The girls' rooms have been mostly decluttered and decorated with the toddler beds now stacked as bunk beds. The garage is continually getting a face-lift to become a welcoming and functional playroom and workspace.  Our master bedroom still needs a good deal of work (that's where the baby will be till he gets a bit older), but my energy level is about depleted, so it is a very slow process.  It is hard to suddenly be so dependant on everyone else, but I am trying to be content with the way things are until I am actually capable of doing something about it.  Patience!  A family from church just passed along their lightly used baby boy clothes, and my sister just gave me a Ergo Carrier, so we are about set!

One big thing remains... a name!  Hmmmmmm......

Entertainment

The girls and I just watched this sweet video... perfect Saturday morning entertainment. Why can't all videos be so sweet?

6 Year Anniversary

Our Anniversary was fantastical!  Of course, I expected this would be the case and was not disappointed in the least!

Byron arranged babysitters for almost an entire 24 hour stretch, then whisked me away for an overnight stay at the Hollywood "W" complete with a mouthwatering dinner at their rooftop restaurant, "Drai's," and a viewing of Les Miserables at the Arclight afterwards.

The best part was his thoughtfulness in creating and executing this wonderful memory for our six years.    Upon arriving at the very snazzy hotel,  Byron had me wait in the cush lobby under a two story glass chandelier while he readied the room with 6 bouquets of roses.  The aroma as I walked into the room was heavenly, as was the happily expectant face of my Love and the gift he had me open... a brand new laptop to replace our now failing one.

He is the dearest and best person in my life and I am so entirely grateful for God's sweet provision of the most remarkable husband.

I am blessed!

My husband is amazing.  

I never want you away from me because you make me better.  Uplift, support, encourage... How can I ever repay the goodness of you?  I am happier for the very cause and existence of you. Obviously God was thinking of me when you were made.  He simply wanted me perfectly, completely, and incandescently happy! I can't argue with that. I like it.  I am rather pleased by it.

And it just keeps getting better.

and I love you.

Beautiful, Wonderful, Miraculous Life

Being a mom is a beautiful thing.  I am the happy recipient of slobbery kisses, goofy grins, and squeals of delight.  I have the privilege of watching my children experience new things, grasp the wonders of language, and revel in the love for and from their Daddy.  Despite these lovely things, life right now is hard. I find myself daily encroached in a challenge of wit, wills, and patience.  I am oft-times stretched thin, unshowered, and even frenzied.  Time is either my seeming enemy as the tasks of life pile up or ally when the clock announces "Nap Time!"  This is a daily renewal, you see.  A second chance to start things over, get my entourage rejuvenated, succumb to the barrage of kisses and snuggles, and rest.   

My children have made my life beautiful.  I never want my girls to think they would ever be, even in its smallest increment, unwanted.  Being a mother has caused me to grow spiritually, emotionally, and in maturity so much faster than any other life event I could imagine.  God knew these sweet angels were exactly what I needed to become more Christ-like.  I am sanctified and humbled daily, and I am grateful.  EVERY parent will fail their child, and I am no exception.  I deeply desire my girls know that the faults in my parenting are my own sin, and not the fault of a beautiful child entrusted to my care.  Children don't ruin your life, they fill it up, and leave it gushing to overflowing. 

I would not trade the trials and beauty of my life for any other.  My children are my greatest task, and my dear sweet husband my best friend.  My cup is filled and the joys of motherhood blemish out the difficulties.  [Post: Motherhood is a blessing!]

Eliana is almost sixteen months and is becoming quite a proficient talker as far as toddler babble goes.  In the morning we are heralded awake with an exuberant shout of "MamMy!"  Shortly followed by a "Daddy, Daddy, mmmmmhmmm."  Meaning, "Mommy, come get me and take me to my Daddy, I want to see if he is still home (and not at work).  [And now in a Southern Drawl] Mmmmmmhmmmm, ain't that right."  She is quick to break into a twirl to display her beauty for all to see and rushes to kiss her sisters when she deems an injury (either physical or emotional) besets them.

Camelia is our great love and tease.  She enjoys stirring up the pot, but always wants to be accepted with open arms.  Her 3 year old chatter is a delight to hear with her slurs and awkward explanations.  She is a storyteller and a absolute delight to hear singing a story to us, often about a crocodile shopping and riding the escalator or some other ridiculousness.  She is athletic, energetic, and the quintessential preschooler with her chubby cheeks, goofy run, and precocious view on life and people in and outside of her sphere of knowledge.  A delightful afternoon for our Melly-mouse would be "having fwends over and having a big cewebwation! With cupcakes-- Yay!!"

Gilana is terribly fancy.  Just like her heroine, "Fancy Nancy," Gigi is an artist, a lover of learning, words, order, organization, and ribbons.  Definitely ribbons.  I have a jar of ribbons which is often ambushed, then strewn about the house and tied, knotted, whatever, to everything. This girl is a no joke decorator. She loves to make fancy happen where ever fancy can happen.  I am sure she would deck out the interior of the fridge if I let the girl.  She will promptly announce if she deems something to be "redunculous" (which I love!) and has quite a few opinions on quite a few things.  Being rather OCD, Gigi expects things to be a certain way and can't rest (quite literally) until things are rectified to her pleasure.  Gilana enjoys mopping, vacuuming, baking, making her bed, and will happily go and "make her room fancy" upon request.  

A couple days ago I was changing Ellie's diaper and found a bit of a rash.  I told Els, "I'll just let you air out for a bit, Babes."  Gilana, hot on the trail of Fancy, exclaimed to Ellie, "That's French for, you get to be naked!"  At this, Ellie and Gigi jumped up and started dancing.  Camelia, hearing the commotion, rushed in and cried, "I want to be naked, too!"  Oh bother.  The cuteness just keeps intensifying!

As our family expands (or initially, as I expand!) I want to keep perspective on the things that make life so exceptionally beautiful. I am not a amazing mother, I loose my temper, I falter and slip in my resolve to be a gentle and patient influence over my girls.  I am so grateful for some ladies in my life (moms more experienced, and quite honestly, holier than me) who encourage me in word and deed to strive on and make every day a fresh start.  God makes no mistakes in entrusting one family to one child and another with four (4!).  I am overwhelmed with grace and want so desperately to deserve the blessing of my family, but I cannot. I simply fall to my knees in gratefulness and awe at the task set before me and pray for grace, help, and the ability to do my task with an eternal focus.

Yes, in mid July, we will have a baby!  This certainly is a beautiful, wonderful, miraculous life!

May God bless you with every good and perfect gift.

Psalm 139:13-16

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

~~*~***~*~~

"Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into it's soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her." -JR Miller