Telling Stories

oh woe is me...

We have a mouse.

Yep. a little critter that feels entitled to take up space in our house, eating weird things like newspaper and chunking away at the potatoes on the bottom shelf in our pantry. We live right next to a corn field now, so I suppose the nasty rodents are likely to find their way to the house... but inside? In the garage is one thing... but oh my gosh. I'm not good with mice. Especially since we really have no furniture in our living room yet (it's still at our old house)... and sitting on the floor is a regular (if not uncomfortable) occurrence.

Ugh.

This morning, we woke up and found a package of tightly wrapped Saltines had been accosted on the kitchen table. Further inspection showed mouse droppings and a wide array of other indicators that the mouse had its run of the place last night. Adam was so mad. It's like war. Adam v. mouse. Armed with Kmart's BEST mouse traps and chunks of peanut butter, I think Adam has the upper hand here, though I've known an intelligent mouse or two in my time.

As I sit here, in the middle of the kitchen with a makeshift computer spot on the kitchen table, I'm watching Spider-Man get a check-up by a very competent veternarian. Yes, the Halloween Costumes are on and the kids are in heaven. I love it. Love that it brings out their imaginations. And the muscles on Ethan's Spidey suit are totally cracking me up.

Tomorrow, we'll head over to the church for our annual Halloween alternative. We're doing something totally different this year - hosting a big movie night (Meet the Robinson's), along with tons of giveaways and popcorn and carmel corn and bags of candy for every kid. Plus we're doing hay rides and hot chocolate which will be perfect as long as the weather holds up. (It's been gorgeous!) It'll be simple, but exactly what we need right now... things are just so crazy.

I haven't had any more contractions, so I'm thinking the little bugger was just pulling my leg. I've stopped looking at the scale at the doctor's office, but I can feel the swelling and the pounds as the pile on, suctioning themselves to my body. I'm anxious to get the baby out, and excited to meet him. I'm at that... 'okay, I'm over this, let's get on with it' point. I just don't want to be pregnant anymore. BUT... I'm glad he's baking as long as he needs to... and let's face it, he IS easier to transport right now... and the poor kid doesn't even have a name yet, so we have lots to do before he gets here. Including assembling the crib, finishing our move, selling our house... oh, it's fun!

So, that's all that's going on on this front.

Happy Halloween!

Officially insane.

What else besides insanity could convince me to move with less than a month left before I deliver this big old baby? We have officially moved this weekend and as I sit here typing this I am officially having a contraction. something about the strain of the move I think set some things in motion... though they're completely irregular, so I'm not too worried. I AM worried, however, because I scheduled a doctor's appointment for 9 a.m. tomorrow forgetting Adam has a staff meeting and can't watch Ethan while I'm there. I think if there was ever a week I NEEDED to go to the doctor, it's this one.

I also find it amusing that for just about every problem/concern/question I've had during this pregnancy, the response I get as to the course of action I should take is always the same: get off your feet and stay hydrated. I don't even have curtains in my house - how can I get off my feet??? ack! Waaaay too much to do, though, as my mom reminded me today... "It doesn't do much good to call the doctor if you're not going to do what they tell you to do."

Point taken.

I spent the evening sitting in a beanbag chair (our couch is back at the old house for showing purposes) watching "The Biggest Loser" which really, REALLY upset me tonight. I have never in my three years of watching it seen something so wrong. (Do you watch? Were you ticked?) I was almost as upset as when Phil was voted off last week. (He was so robbed.)

Anyway. 'nuff about that.

Along with the move has come some interesting things. First... this house makes different noises than our last house. But not unlike our last house, these noises DO keep me awake at night. Second, not having curtains is just about driving me insane. Third, after living in SUCH a clean house for nearly three months (I can say that - not because I am bragging, but because seriously.... it was imposed on me by the constant for sale sign in the front yard.) living in complete and utter chaos is something I really do not like. AND to make matters worse (I'm having another contraction - odd)... we lost our bedding in the move... including my wedge pillow which fits snugly under my belly to avoid the pain I so despise in my hips and back.

Fourth. And I hesitate to write this for fear it will conjure up images I really don't want it to, but bear with me for a second... this morning, I was in the shower. Our bathroom has a window in it now. It's bright in there - and although I nearly slipped on the shiny new tub floor, I also happened to notice my pregnant silouhette reflected against the back wall of the shower. Picture a vision of your body WITHOUT all the imperfections you most likely dwell on when you're looking at yourself in a brightly lit room and in an unforgiving mirror. As I turned to the side, I finally understood why some people really think the pregnant body is beautiful. Looking at myself, unable to see cellulite or stretch marks or anything else that I would typically shudder to see, I remembered that yes, I am in the process of growing a baby... a baby who will be here before I know it. A baby who I cannot wait to meet. Now that we are here, in our new house - even though the old one still sits on the market... it's like the excitement of this baby has settled in. And I have seen motherhood in a new light.

I guess it's easy to take this birthing thing for granted. I've been too busy to notice the pregnancy. Too busy to stop and take note...

I think it's just time to slow down.

Happy October 24. (Oh! That reminds me! October 24th is the day Adam and I went out for the first time. It wasn't really a 'date' because we just went to Perkins and had a coke and a hot tea... until 6 a.m. - literally - we talked the whole time...) but it ended up being a date because in that one night I knew more about him than anyone else in the world.... and we've been inseparable ever since.

:)

I have big babies

I always thought it was a reflection on me that Ethan was so big, but then I found out one of the tiniest people I know had a 12-pounder and I felt better. When I mentioned it to my doctor, he scheduled my induction. I'm okay with being induced. I was induced with Ethan and everything was fine. (Except for the non-working epidural.) But Thursday, I went to the doctor and found out this guy is measuring at 35 weeks. I'm 33 weeks. It occurred to me I could still end up with a 10 pounder even if I do go 11 days early.

ack!

It doesn't really seem possible because I was SO uncomfortable carrying Ethan, and this time, I'm okay so far. Sleeping is HARD and I get terrible hip pain, but mostly, it's been good. I'm just so not ready yet! We started moving over the weekend, but mostly Adam and my dad started the lawn (perfect weather to put in a lawn, my dad said.) My mom and I worked on hauling some boxes over, but we'd been shopping all day the day before for my sister's birthday so we didn't have a whole lot of energy.

Speaking of shopping, I am completely sold on the outlet mall. I knew everything was cheaper there, but I didn't realize I could actually FIND stuff there... until Friday. And I bought some things for the baby and the kids and Adam. Great deals. I don't think I"ll ever shop in a regular mall again! :)

Anyway, today I am preparing for our broker's open house tomorrow. And working on a few articles. And making brownies for a meeting tonight. And packing. This week is NUTS! Must pray for peace. Lots and lots of peace.

I hope your day is peaceful!

I have big babies.

I always thought it was a reflection on me that Ethan was so big, but then I found out one of the tiniest people I know had a 12-pounder and I felt better. When I mentioned it to my doctor, he scheduled my induction. I'm okay with being induced. I was induced with Ethan and everything was fine. (Except for the non-working epidural.) But Thursday, I went to the doctor and found out this guy is measuring at 35 weeks. I'm 33 weeks. It occurred to me I could still end up with a 10 pounder even if I do go 11 days early.

ack!

It doesn't really seem possible because I was SO uncomfortable carrying Ethan, and this time, I'm okay so far. Sleeping is HARD and I get terrible hip pain, but mostly, it's been good. I'm just so not ready yet! We started moving over the weekend, but mostly Adam and my dad started the lawn (perfect weather to put in a lawn, my dad said.) My mom and I worked on hauling some boxes over, but we'd been shopping all day the day before for my sister's birthday so we didn't have a whole lot of energy.

Speaking of shopping, I am completely sold on the outlet mall. I knew everything was cheaper there, but I didn't realize I could actually FIND stuff there... until Friday. And I bought some things for the baby and the kids and Adam. Great deals. I don't think I"ll ever shop in a regular mall again! :)

Anyway, today I am preparing for our broker's open house tomorrow. And working on a few articles. And making brownies for a meeting tonight. And packing. This week is NUTS! Must pray for peace. Lots and lots of peace.

I hope your day is peaceful!

...A new season

It's been a strange week. I feel closer to God than I have in literally years, but so many strange things are happening around me. Doesn't it seem like when you take strides to bolster something like a relationship with God, things around you start to sort of fall apart? Hate that.

Still, I have this overwhelming peace that I can't explain - I can only be soooo thankful for it. I know I couldn't get through my stressful nature without it. We officially have two houses. We closed on the new house (pictures to follow) and are excited to start moving. This weekend my dad and Adam will tackle the lawn (it's a guy thing) while I'm at home packing up boxes with my mom. Thank God for my parents. I don't know how I would get anything accomplished on my own - honestly - walking up the stairs wears me out half the time.

I'm five weeks from giving birth with two houses and a move ahead of me. lol I *should* by all accounts be freaking out... and a month ago, I would've been... but I just know God's got us in his hands. And I'd have to say those hands are pretty competent.

Before I post my new house pictures, you have to go to Kelly's blog and read the post from October 8th. Especially if you're a mom. This article spoke to me so clearly - it feels like confirmation of what I've been feeling - and what I want for my life. I want our house to be a place where our kids never want to leave - where they want to bring their friends (as opposed to running around all over town because they're friends' houses are more fun.) I want it to be such a safe, secure place and I know that's MY job to create. My mom is a master at it. I only inherited bits and pieces of her domesticity, so I'm going to have to work at it a little bit, but if there's one thing I've learned having our house on the market, it's that cooking and keeping up with the cleaning really isn't THAT hard. It's not always FUN... but I have to say, when my kids tell me they love something I've made for dinner, it really does make me happy.

So, I haven't posted much about the new house. Mainly because I'm still pinching myself. We just happened upon it totally by accident, checking out the builder in this subdivision we fell in love with. Our realtor said, "Well, let's just walk through this one..." and Adam and I were like, "uh... why?" but we wanted to see some of the extras this house had. Turns out, they really wanted to unload this house... even with all the extras, so we got a GREAT deal. I never thought, when we first walked into it that it would be the house we'd end up buying... but now, I'm so excited.

Still, it doesn't seem real yet because, well, we're still in the old house preparing to move... and it's not sold yet (though I know it's just going to take that ONE MOMENT) and it's all going to change. So... we press on. And we work on the lawn. And we thank God that we are going to be okay. No matter what. And I pray and cover this huge step of faith because I know it was risky, but I also know it's God's will for us to be blessed... and knowing the deal we got and the way it all worked out financially - I know beyond all comprehension that we are still resting in the shadow of HIS wings.

Last time I was at the house, I took a couple of quick photos. It's empty, but it's ours. Soon to be filled with all of our stuff and our crazy kids and our memories. I can't wait. :)

Here's the front. There's a 3-car garage (I tease Adam that his "ROOM" is the third garage.)

Isn't our lawn purty? lol

This is the kitchen. Quite possibly my favorite room in the house.

I should've moved my flip flops before I took the picture, but I forgot. :) I have more pictures, but I have to get ready for a doctor's appointment, so I'm off!

Have a great day! 

...daily chronicles...

I've had this window open all day... waiting to find time to SIT DOWN and write a blog post. I think documenting all that I'm feeling and learning through this challenging time is going to prove beneficial down the road somewhere... I rarely journal anymore, so this is it!

Yesterday was a difficult day. We closed on the new house in the morning, which ended up being less expensive than we though (yay!). That part was fine. We are now the proud owners of not ONE but TWO homes. lol It's getting to the point now where it's sort of funny. A friend of mine told me that in our area August was the lowest in real estate sales in the last seventeen years.

Yippee! lol

Good thing I know God's got the perfect buyer for our house! Otherwise I might flip out!

Anyway, the rest of the day, I ran errands. I spent too much money at Target (but got a great maternity comfy sweatsuit type thing to wear now and when I come home from the hospital...) and then I got Sophia and took her to gymnastics. I was gone until 5:30 p.m. Normally, that's not that big of a deal. I mean, I like to be home, but you know, I can handle it. For whatever reason, my pregnant body wasn't having it and it's like in shock right now. Lots of weird pregnant pains.

Good news is... we found out this morning we are for sure going in for induction November 19th. I will have (for the first time) a baby after a decent night's sleep as opposed to going in at midnight! I will also have a baby (for the first time) prior to my due date...

Ethan was over 10 pounds, so in an effort to keep this one from getting quite that big, we're getting him out early. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about that. The thought that I've only got six weeks left is a little scary - especially since we still have to move, but I'm happy.

This morning, I realized I really just cannot wait to make our new house into a home. I've had this huge revelation about all these domestic tasks I used to loathe... now, to me, they've become a way to take care of my family... to keep them healthy and happy and in a safe place. My mom has always been a master at this. I know I've got some domestic goodness in there somewhere. The trick is to stop looking at it with contempt. This is my life. I plan to make the most of it.

Last week, I got the new Scarlet Lime kit delivered to my door. I LOVE this! I love being able to crack open a box full of color coordinated scrapbook supplies that I might not put together on my own. Christy is a master at putting colors together - I wish she'd shop for my house! lol

Anyway, here's my layouts. You can see Greta and Kelly's awesome pages here.

I hope you're having a great week!