What I Learned This Week

I'm joining the "What I Learned This Week" Carnival with Jo-Lynne at Musings of A Housewife again this week. Here's just a few things that I have learned.

-I miss The Muffin when she's away, but its nice to have a break once in a while...even if I stayed busy the whole time.
-Muff has a hard time getting back to our routine when she has had a fun-filled 48 hours with Nana & Pawpaw and no Mommy or Daddy around.
-I get stressed out really easy.
-Big Daddy really stresses me out.
-When you pray and God answers your prayer it doesn't always make decisions any easier to make.
-Looking at new, bigger houses is sort of like a silver lining on the dark cloud of having to move.
-The Muffin can still throw a tantrum in public that's bad enough for me to think that someone may call social services. I thought we had ventured past the worst of it, but she still has it in her.
-Being strong-willed isn't always bad and I even read that it's a sign of great intelligence. (The Muffin s a genius!!)
-We cannot even stand to think about having to go to a different church. One Sunday service at our old church left Big Daddy asking if we could not do that again. If you knew Big Daddy, you'd know that this in itself is an answered prayer and quite miraculous.

Baby Belly- Week 27...and more

No picture of the belly this week. I took one, but I just don't feel like posting it. Our Baby-to-be weighs approximately 2.5 pounds now! Her eyelashes are growing and that baby fat is still growing, too. I still can't believe we are so far into this pregnancy. Baby Ellie kicks all the time and I love it! Things have been so different than when I was pregnant with The Muffin and we can only hope that this is a sign that our delivery will be quite different as well.

We had a busy Thursday-Saturday with The Muffin being away with Nana and Pawpaw. I did lots of things that aren't very pregnancy-friendly. The combination of my activities and the temperatures in the low 80's caused my feet to swell, so I tried to put them up a little yesterday evening.

Having snack before Kindermusik.

The Muffin and I had a busy morning with Kindermusik and a visit with Gammy Gladys. We attempted to go to Mc.Donald's for lunch, but after several minutes of waiting in line at the only register that was open, I decided we would leave. The Muffin refused to walk and I had to carry her across the restaurant and parking lot literally kicking and screaming. I took her shoes off when her fit first started so luckily, I didn't have to stop and pick them up. When we made it to our car I had to spend 15 minutes trying to get her buckled in her ar seat while she kicked, screamed and flailed her arms. (All of this after we've been having so many tantrum-free days) I stayed calm and only started crying after we were on our way home. She continued her tantrum for a few more minutes while I cooked lunch and then ate and told me that she loved me. I'm trying to remember that she was away for 48 hours with Nana & Pawpaw, did not have her daily nap and is just totally of of our usual routine. We prayed together after lunch and she apologized for her behavior. I can only hope that she'll feel better after her nap. We're planning on some outside play time while the temperatures are still in the upper 70's. It's hard to believe that just a week ago it was snowing and in the 20's.

Reading Bible stories before bed.

Big Stuff

I'm off of hiatus. Not that I've really been on a hiatus or anything.

There's been lots of big stuff going on around here...not really. It's lonely and quiet without my Muffinhead around. I miss her so much! We've only left her for two nights in a row a couple of times when we went to the beach, so being home for two nights without her is a new experience.

I had a list of things that I wanted to do, but only marked two things off of it. (We won't even talk about how many things are still on it or all of the things that I've yet to write down.) I managed to make Ellie a hairbow holder to match her bedding and I made a little monogram for The Muffin to attach her hairbow holder too. (She has lots of hairbows, but usually only wears elastics) After drank my Glucola in preparation for my gestational diabetes screening at the midwife appointment I sat in the floor and made a little framed-name for Ellie's room. It's not as cute as I had pictured in my mind, but it will have to do. I did a great job of cleaning the dining room around 5:30 on Friday morning. I was up and decided to get my day started. I also washed my car...by hand. This is a huge task for a preggy! I realized that I needed a stool or ladder or something to get the windshield and the sunroof clean, but I decided that a little dirt would be okay. I was worn out after that and had a little nap. Big Daddy came home and we ate dinner out with friends and Muff was so missed by their little girl. I felt so sad eating with her friend when she wasn't there. After a trip to the local home improvement warehouse, we came home and I called to check on my Muffin. She had missed her nap (again) and had just fallen asleep in Nana's lap. (sigh) I can't wait to get my hands on her this afternoon.

We have big things going on in our lives, but I'll just keep them to myself, for now. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for our little family as we make decisions and adjustments.

Happy Saturday!!

Finding A Church-Part 2

So, this past Sunday was special at our church...I should say it was more special than usual. I always feel like something special has happened in the early service or in our Sunday school class.

It was the first Sunday of the month, so I was excited about Communion. (I love Communion) Anyway, the associate pastor delivered a wonderful message. Near the end of his message, I noticed two men that came in and sat down on the other side of the church. We had prayer and then we took our place in line to have Communion. I noticed them near the end of the line and the pastor welcomed them when it was their turn to break bread.
After Communion one of the men stood up and began to speak. Pastor Mike stopped him and invited him to the front of the church. He told us (through tears) that he had come with his son to pick up the contents of his wife's car. He said she had been killed the previous month in a car accident in our town. The had traveled about 6 hours to get here and their car had broken down. They had enough money to fix it, but it had taken all that they had. He told us about the church that they attended in their town and asked for our forgiveness if he had offended anyone and by asking for help. Someone immediately got an offering plate and we took up money for them.
After the offering, the pastor asked him to close in prayer. He had missed the pastor's message, but the scripture that he quoted went right along with it. The pastor hadn't even realized that it was Communion Sunday and his message went along with breaking bread together. Big Daddy and I usually give The Muffin all of our cash for her offering, but he had left his wallet in the car and I had left my purse in the sanctuary when we took Muff to the nursery. We actually had cash on us. I handed Big Daddy my wallet and he emptied it into the plate. After the service we met the pastor in the hallway as he was telling someone who doesn't attend that service about the visitors. Big Daddy told him about how we actually had money. It seemed like it was all just meant to be.

In Sunday school we discussed the visitors and how you couldn't help but be skeptical of people's intentions these days. Then, we talked about judging other people and how we we would be judged for how we treated them regardless of their intentions. I think about how sad it would've been if the had to come to our church needing help and we had turned them away.

Finding A Church-Part 1

Big Daddy and I spent the first seven and a half years commuting almost an hour to church each Sunday. We went for church and to see my family. We were content. I had wanted to find a church here in town when we first moved here, but it just didn't happen.
Between Big Daddy's school schedule and The Muffin, our weekends were getting away from us. I casually mentioned finding a church here in town and for the first time ever, Big Daddy agreed that it was a great idea. We made our "list" of three churches that had early services and went to one.
I was pleased with the thoughts of going there. Several people that we knew attended this church. We didn't leave The Muffin the nursery because we just couldn't. Big Daddy left with her a little after the service started. We both thought the church felt a little cold and the people were not as friendly as we'd expected. It reminded me of the church that I grew up in and I just thought we would start going there. The Muff was sick the next week and Big Daddy went to that church alone. He decided that it wasn't the right one.
Several months passed and just over a year ago we went to "our" church for the first time. One of my former co-workers went there and we happened to run into her in the parking lot. She helped us find the nursery and we left The Muffin. For the first time ever, we left her with people that we didn't know. Everyone was so nice and warm and welcoming. Big Daddy went to check on Muff and came back carrying her. She had been crying. She made it through part of the service and then he left with her. We left church that day and decided to try it again. We went the next Sunday and actually left The Muffin for the entire time. That is when she fell in love with Ms. Bell in the nursery. (We thank God for her every single day) We fell in love with this church and we never made it to number three on our little list!
A little over a year later we enjoy going to church. We're not content...we're happy. Each Sunday we walk away with something that matters in our lives. I think every sermon has felt like it was meant to help us deal with the previous week or it helps us deal with a trial that we know we will have during the coming week. As we get in the car Big Daddy always asks if we could have found a better church, and our answer is always no .
This past Sunday we had a very special service, but I'll save that for tomorrow.

To Be Continued...

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Monday was another Snow Day here in central North Carolina!

One More Thing...

before I go on auto publish for a few days!

The Muffin received a surprise haircut this afternoon. Big Daddy and I decided to give her a little bob. It turned out SO cute and she loves it. She was a little worried that she would be "ball headed". When she saw her new hairdo in the mirror she said, "I think my face looks different too".

I.Love.This.Girl.

Before

After

What I learned This Week

I'm joining the "What I Learned This Week" Carnival with Jo-Lynne at Musings of A Housewife again this week. Here's just a few things that I have learned.

-Pray, pray, pray. Sometimes that seems like the only thing you can do to try and make things better for someone that you love so much.
-The Muffin has regressed and decided to wake up numerous times during the night. I blame her crazy dreams, but I have no excuse for the past two mornings and her waking up raring to go at 5:30.
-I love Big Daddy so much more now than I did, even though I thought I couldn't love him any more.
-I need a break from everything. I'm taking myself off of the computer (except for email because I need something from the outside world) for the rest of the week. As much as I love reading blogs, I really need to focus attention on some things that are going on in our lives. I'm also going to use my free time during The Muffin's nap to work on a project for her and the Baby-to-be's bedrooms. And then there's those two nights that Muff will be with Nana & Pawpaw and I go for my monthly midwife visit. I may post a weight gain update, but I make no promises. Okay, I should be totally honest...I may read your blogs, but not comment. Maybe I just need to go cold turkey!!
-The Muffin loves snow, even if we're only out in it for five minutes. (I'll have pictures to auto-publish for a little "Wordless Wednesday" post tomorrow.)
-Sometimes God uses unlikely messengers. (I'll have something on auto-publish to explain this too, so stay tuned on Thursday AND Friday.)

The Baby Belly-Week 26

Top to bottom, our Baby-to-be is now measuring around 13 inches. She weighs about a pound and a half and is getting her baby fat. I continue to be amazed that we are this far along! I am enjoying all of the little kicks and I'm still in baby bliss. (this is the can't hide anything maternity dress)

I was so focused on the ultrasound and all of the issues that I had with The Muffin's delivery for so many weeks. After the ultrasound and lots of support from my friends in the IVPF email group, I have put a lot of my fears to rest and decided to have faith that everything will be better this time.

I spend most of my time (when I think about baby stuff) planning. I plan how I want the delivery to be, introducing Maggie to Baby Ellie, and how I want things to be after we're home. My main focus is on breastfeeding right now. I still feel bad that I only nursed Maggie for a few days, but I'm certain I would have lost my mind if I'd try to do it any longer. Big Daddy and I were so afraid and insecure and our sweet Muffin cried so much! I'm so thankful that my midwives and Muff's pediatrician were supportive of our decision to nurse and our decision to give it up and go with formula. When I look back, I wish I had stuck with it, but I know that I had so many issues surrounding the traumatic delivery that I was close to loosing it!

I keep thinking about how I knew we would never have another baby on the day after Muff's birth. When my midwife told me what happened during the delivery I told her that I'd never have another baby. She told me that I would change my mind and of course, I did. For so long Big Daddy and I were completely content with thinking of The Muffin as an only child. One day I began to see her as a big sister. She is so caring, sensitive and considerate...at times. I knew all along that I couldn't imagine never growing another baby, but I couldn't face all of the fears.

Now, we look at The Muffin and all of the joy that she brings us. We make plans for Ellie to be welcomed into our lives and we can't rule out not having another baby. We'd always planned for only two, but having a baby changes everything.

Muffins by the dozen...almost

Eating Oreos

Trying to get her glasses "fixed" before her picnic lunch

Yummy!


Unpacking her lunch from her special lunch bag

Friday morning's Tea Party

She likes Earl Grey Tea just like her Mommy!

Waiting for the porridge, a.k.a. oatmeal

Getting ready for Daddy's special bedtime stories.

Listening and laughing at all of the crazy things that happen in Daddy's stories.

Hanging with "Toto" on the couch.