tick, tick, tick

Counting the days... we find out what baby H is on Wednesday! We did not find out boy/girl with our other two babies, however with this one, I want to know everything I can about him/her. One thing I learned about this pregnancy based upon losing Nathan is that I want to treasure each day that I have with this one. The days that I feel kicking are like little gifts. I know more of them are to come and it excites me to be able to have Lynn and Mr. H feel baby as well as he/she grows bigger and stronger. So, if I can know what this baby is and think of him/her more as a specific individual, if I have to say goodbye before I meet him/her, I'll know I did all I could to know him/her before losing him/her. Seems kind of sad to say aloud, but it's just a reality that all mamas to babies-in-heaven are familiar with.
I do have to say, though, that with my first child, Lynn, the surprise of not finding out what she was, was simply the best! If you think about it, there's not much that can truly be a surprise these days. What a thrill it was to labor through delivery then hear the announcement at the end of such hard work, "it's a (girl)!" Of course, I was still getting over the fact that I had just pushed out a baby (remember those thoughts with your first?) that the fact that she was a girl, didn't sink it until a few moments later. :) Soo... my advice to all first-time moms would be to wait and be surprised; it is sooo fun! (Decorating the nursery can come later, seriously, baby won't even notice a thing for many months).
Unfortunately, with my past, I just don't feel up to waiting for delivery right now. But, it's ok. It's something new for my family to find out, so that in itself will make for an exciting morning on Wednesday. Honestly, I am more looking forward to just seeing baby (for the first time since I was 7 wks) then even finding out what it is. Just for the record, though, my guess is girl. :)

fiction

Fiction, fiction, fiction. Oh how I enjoy fast, quick fiction books in the summer. Grab one to read outside at the park or by the pool.

Here are a few fiction books on my to-read shelf:
The Eyes of Elisha by Brandilyn Collins
The Elevator by Angela Hunt
The Second Mile by Ron & Janet Benrey
Mortal Wounds by Sue Duffy
The Winter Pearl by Molly Noble Bull

Stuff I Want to Make

Taking an idea from Joy's Hope blog post and posting some neat things that I'd like to tackle on my sewing machine this summer, now that I've pulled out my machine! (Keep in mind, I am a very entry-level seamstress).

Patchwork Kitchen Towels at Sew, Mama, Sew.


Easy Hooded Bath Towel at Make And Takes.


I made another design earlier this week, but I also like these
Burp Cloths at Homemade by Jill.


Diaper Clutch at Diary of a Quilter.


and last but not least,
Cloth Napkins (I use them daily) at Film in the Fridge.

Happy sewing to you. Any projects you'd like to share? In the comments, feel free to post the link to your latest project.

Wordless Wednesday - 5 y.o. art

Lynn made a card for a friend's birthday. I was so impressed with the color and design, I snapped a pic (since I couldn't keep the card) :)
Lynn's artwork, at 5 yrs, 11 mos.

Tackle It Tuesday - sewing

Thanks to a little motivation inspired by my neighbor who has made such adorable dresses for her two girls (I keep telling her she needs to sell on Etsy!), I have cleared a little space in the future baby's room and set up my sewing machine. My past sewing projects have included couch pillow covers and several curtains. I have been proud of my projects, but am still very entry-level to this whole world of sewing.

Project: burp cloths, as seen at A Chelsea Morning.

Outcome: 4 done! This includes 1 that's a disaster (we'll just use it for baby H), 1 that is not quite up to gift-status (baby H's again), and 2 more that I am going to give to a friend as a part of a gift for her new baby (hooray!). I've got 8 more cloth diapers to use, and I'm hoping to make several as gifts (lots of babies being born to friends these next few months).

Here's a pic of my temporary sewing area









and my completed projects.

sane

God is so good... this is day 3 of Mr. H being away on a mission trip and we're surviving :) My sanity remains in tact and God has filled me with the mental and physical energy I need. I love my sweet girl and all that makes her her, however even my high level of patience gets a workout by the end of these summer days with her home all day. But, I think we've settled into some sort of loose routine so far this summer and that's helping. Usually I hear the question "Can I watch tv" at least fifteen times a day, but she knows how much she's allowed to watch now. We've had a "workbook time" each day, where she's been working on phonics and math to keep up her skills learned from this year. We generally read at least 30 mins. after that - takinng turns of me reading to her and her reading to me. (It's SO exciting to have her reading, even at this beginning level!) At some point during the day, we look up a Bible verse and pray together. Right now, my hubby & I have just been using a daily verse/prayer that we get in our email, from a website called Real World Parents. Technically it's for parents of youth, however the prayers that come in have also applied to my five year old. It's a great reminder to pray for your children. Check it out here. I'm working on us having some quiet self-reading time, but usually that happens before her bedtime. If it's still early, I'll get her into bed but give her 15-20 mins of quiet reading or puzzle time in her bed by herself. It's working :) Summertime looks to be an adjustment that both mom, (dad), and kiddo will have to make each year. In the beginning, I wasn't quite to excited, but God's given me the determination to step up the plate of parenting and find something that works and is healthy for our family. :)

where are you looking?

Saw this on a church sign today:

Sorrow looks backward,
Worry looks forward,
Faith looks up.

Pretty true.


"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered."
Mark 11:22 or the read whole chapter here.

thinking

Watched my friend's one year old daughter yesterday which took me back to thinking about my son. I can't believe that I'd have a one year old if Nathan had lived. I can't believe that he'd be pulling up or toddling around, babbling, feeding himself goldfish, and getting into his sister's stuff (everything Molly did here yesterday).
I'm not sure why, but there was a certain "release" that came with the passing of his first birth day. It was as if I held my breath that whole first year, knowing that it wasn't that long ago that I had given birth to my child stillborn... knowing that soon the one year anniversary of his day would come. How would I feel? How would I act? Well, with the passing of that week, it was almost a big sigh of relief or something. I don't quite understand it, but since the calendar flipped to June, the weight of his loss and absence hasn't been quite so heavy. I have no doubt that the coming of my next little one has contributed to the filled hole in my heart. What a blessing it is to be feeling the soft kicks of this child inside me, check-marking the weeks away as we approach the fall.
I think it's also harder to think of Nathan because I only knew him as this tiny newborn and now he'd be so much bigger. It's kinda puzzling to know how to think of him. So, by the grace of God, I sit here today and thank God that He has filled me with new life, knowing that my life was impacted by Nathan, as well as this new one inside me.

knitting

Dusting off the 'ole Knifty Knitter today. I have the set of rounds. When I first got it, I played around with the middle-sized round loom, practicing the stitch listed in the book. What formed was a very very loose hat, which my daughter has humored me and actually worn once or twice (back in the fall). Well, with baby on the brain (& in the belly), I bought some new yarn (pink, as that's my guess!) and thought that today's rainy, overcast weather made for a great indoor project day. My goal was to find info on a different stitch to try to achieve a more usable baby hat. Searching the net brought up a wealth of information on how to use the round looms. I thought I'd pass along one gal's site, which even includes written tutorials and videos on all the basics! If you're interested in learning more about knitting, including the knifty knitter set, you've got to check out Purling Sprite. I'll have to post a picture of my baby hat when I'm done. As I tend to flit from one project to the next, I'm not promising it will be by this weekend or anything :) And, I suppose if my gender ultrasound in two weeks winds up "boy" I'll be gifting this pink hat to a friend. :)

Wordless Wednesday - USS NC

After 3 1/2 hrs of touring the USS North Carolina, we gals were a little tuckered out and found a seat in the shade while daddy checked out the rest of the upper decks.
(It was a really cool ship, though. If you're ever in the Wilmington, NC area, it's worth the admission. WW II era.)

More WW here.

2021

In a funk this afternoon.... This usually happens when I succumb to my tiredness and take a nap after lunch. I can't really ever fully wake up and cheer up afterward. Errr.

This morning I attended an awards ceremony for one of my small group girls. She was "graduating" from the eighth grade. At some point they announced that that class would be the high school graduating class of 2013. With my kindergarten "graduate" sitting next to me, I did the math and can't believe it but twelve years from now makes my kiddo part of the class of 2021. In some ways it feels like forever, but in other ways I know that in the blink of an eye, she'll be walking across that stage accepting her diploma. Do you ever sit back and wonder what your child will look like, be like, act like, at that point? I wonder how my daughter will survive the trials of growing up... will she accept Christ... how will she view herself... will she give in to peer pressure... what will she desire to be when she grows up... I look forward to who she will become and pray desperately for wisdom during the journey.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

playdates

How can just one week out of school feel like so much longer? We attended a friend's dance recital tonight, that was held at Lynn's school. While we were there we saw Lynn's kindergarten teacher and a few friends from class this year. You would've thought they hadn't seen each other in months. It was so adorable! My normally "I'm gonna play it cool/shy/obnoxious and not acknowledge my friend's gushing hello" was all about the hugs and going up to see her friends tonight. I've got to set up some playdates with them this summer!
What about you - any goals for the summer? How many playdates per week? We have only one family on our street with children Lynn's age, otherwise I have to intentionally set up playtimes with her other friends in order for her to have some friend-to-friend contact. I know this is so important for her, so I want to make it a priority for her to have a friend over/meet at the park/etc. at least one day a week. We really are traveling a bunch this summer, so visiting friends and family on these trips will be great as well.
What do you do to keep up the social interaction for your child/children during the summer?

absent

Sorry that I've been quiet lately... we're flown the coop...

And are busy searching for some of these...
And soaking up the seashore living...

Be back sometime :)

Wordless Wednesday - bouquet

Ok, I know I post photos of flowers a lot, but I really really enjoy the beauty of nature. And my hubby is so good at encouraging my flower photography, as he likes to surprise me with flowers often :)
This bouquet included these pretty periwinkle-colored small flowers. He gave it to me a few weeks ago in honor of Nathan's birthday, along with his other surprise.

For more WW, see 5M4M.

presents or presence?

Brad Cooper, a youth pastor at Newspring Church, SC, preached a compelling message that I listened to via itunes yesterday. The main thrust of the sermon was dealing with prayer. But it was these two quotes that caught my attention...

"Are you pursuing God's presents or His presence?"
"Sin is not an outward action, but an inward essence."
Let's ask further, aka my translation...
However, I'll hit just the first one with this post.

"Are you pursuing God's presents or His presence?"

(If you are,) Why are you a Christian? Are you looking for the "benefits" that come with being a follower of Christ? Are you counting on the grace that He so freely gives? Are you taking for granted the peace that comes from knowing He is ultimately in control? Enjoying the "country club" acceptance/perks of being a part of a church family? Really, I guess it could be summed up by asking, "Are you using God for how great He is?"
I stop and reflect on those questions myself and have to knock the gavel down as guilty sometimes.
What God wants is for us to desire His presence. When we bathe ourselves in His Word, when we spend our days focused upward in prayer while walk forward in action, we are in His presence. And in His presence we will gain the byproducts of a fruitful relationship with Him. We will not seek the byproducts, but seek just simply Him.

^{Psalm 16:11} You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

^{Psalm 95:2} Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

school's out...

...for the summer! I really just can't believe what has transpired this year in the life of my oldest kiddo. The changes that happen during the kindergarten year is truly crazy. If you'd have told me last August that my preschool student would bloom into an elementary school student who would know how to read, add & subtract, learn sentence structure & write a complete thought out on paper, I'd have looked at you with skepticism. But all that and more have taken place this school year.
We've had kindergarten graduation, which included an adorable play with the students taking turns announcing what they'd like to become when they grow up. My Lynn dressed up as an artist and took her turn saying her line. This is the kid who stands up in the front of church during kids choir days with her mouth closed. But, she has done wonderfully with her public performances this year at school.
I can't wait to see her continue to grow and see what first grade has in store for her next year. Now, as her teacher has encouraged, we need to keep it up during the summer so that we don't lose that learned knowledge. :)
In raising children there are definitely discouragements but it is so much worthier to spend time thanking the Lord for His work in our children.

Wordless Wednesday - road bike

Way to go, babe!

My husband road in a road bike ride this past weekend.
First one to come in for the 30 mile ride, lapping several of the 20 mile riders.
We were at the finish line cheering him in!

More WW here at 5M4M.

Monday run-down

Breathing... in the fresh air from open windows. It's a little cooler this morning and we decided to open up for a few hours. Gotta find that moment to shut them when it starts to switch from fresh air to hot air :)

Enjoying... the silence. We had two dogs in our house and two extra people all weekend. The two dogs were enough to push me over. I'm a dog person, but not as tolerant of dog "stuff" (i.e. accidents, hair, barking, attachment problems with one particular dog we were sitting) when I'm not used to having one in my house all the time.

Importing... pics from this weekend. Hubs rode in a road bike ride: the Tour de Youth. Money raised supported a youth group. Pretty neat idea.

Needing... to work on my paperwork. It's my last week at this job - the work just ran out. I'll miss the income, but selfishly looking forward to not having to work. Not sure I'll still be saying that when I pay next month's bills though...

Thinking... about the rest of this week. Lynn's done with school after a half-day on Wednesday. I need to kick it in gear and keep her brain moving this summer. I need to come up with some ideas to keep her active, in mind and body. JMom posted about the very same thing and recommended this site for ideas. Anyone have any others?

Wondering... why the neighborhood stray cats like to hide behind my bushes out front. I guess it's cool back there. Plus, they must know we don't have a dog. Where were they this weekend when we did have one to scare them away?

Watching... the wind blow our American flag out front. Feeling very patriotic this morning. So many things I take for granted by living in America, even with crazy politics going on this morning. GM=government motors now, hm?

Debating... what next to eat. I think it's time for breakfast number 2 this morning. Baby is already on a two-hour eating schedule. Even now in the second trimester, I still gotta eat.

Signing off... hope you had a great weekend!