Daily Archive for September 30th, 2004

#3

I am 16 weeks and 4 days pregnant now. This number is based on the results of the ultrasound. The due date is March 13, but I think it\’ll be sooner. We\’ll know soon enough! I have moved from total and utter exhaustion to jusy mostly exhasuted. I have moved from constant nausea to occasional nausea– mostly when I\’ve let my hunger go too far… OR the first few minutes that I wake up.

I feel fortunate to be blogging during this pregnancy. It\’s something I didn\’t have with either of the first two kiddos, though I journaled a little. I only wish I was better at writing about this thrid journey. So, now I am taking a few minutes to write how I feel so this little peanut will have a bit of a record too. I hope to be more consistent, but know I cannot commit to it!

I am so excited to have you become part of our family — you already are a big part. You came as a surprise to Mommy and Daddy. We decided that since you were a surprise, we will wait until you are born to find out if you are a boy or girl — keeping the theme of \”surprise\”. I looked around to find a pretty name and a strong name that means surprise, but haven\’t found anything. I love names that have meaning, so we are looking intently for names with special meaning. We already have a boy and girl name we really like — incidentally both mean \”light\”. Hmmm… We may decide to go with those names.

My first trimester was somewhat difficult — certainly the hardest of the 3 pregnancies. But this second semester is shaping up nicely. I can feel you moving around, though no one else can. It\’s a special time for me. I\’ve heard your heartbeat two times now - when you were 9 weeks along (it was hard to find!) and at 14 weeks. Daddy and I saw you the first time when you were 8 weeks old. You will be 19 weeks for the next ultrasound. I can\’t wait to peek at your fingers… will you be sucking your thumb like your big sister did? I can\’t wait to see your 4 chamber heart — beating healthily.

I pray for you daily, many times a day. For your health in me, and for your future. I pray for your relationship with me, your Daddy and your big bro and sis. They are so excited to meet you too. Joel and Livi got to hear your heatbeat at the last appointment. Joel\’s eyes opened wide as silver dollars, and Livi stood sucking her thumb. She didn\’t quite understand what the noise was about. I remember when I was pregnant with Olivia, Joel loved to heart her \”heart-beep\”.

I pray for me a lot too. I pray for capability as I become a mom of 3. I pray for patience because it is something I struggle with. I pray for an easy trasition to sleepless nights. I pray for a bigger house too:)

I wonder what this next year will bring. I am excited. I am cautious. I just can\’t wait to see your eyes and feel your breath as you snuggle close. I can\’t wait to see how Joel and Olivia love you. I can\’t wait to see how your Daddy\’s eyes fill with tears of pride and joy. He loves his babies - you watch out!

I love you now. I love you dearly. I am giddy and overflowing with thankfulness for this surprise blessing - for me and our family…

Published
by
jenny
on September 30, 2004
in Family, General, Joel, Lucy, Mutha' Hood and Olivia
. 3 Comments

On the move

It\’s been hard to read blogs, write in mine, or even do laundry. Heck, showers seem to have become optional! I was looking at my calendar and discovered that out of the last 8 weekends (the one coming included), either me, or the entire family has been gone 5 of them.

To add to it, Paul gets a weekend in October! This coming weekend I get to go scrapbooking ALL WEEKEND! Last weekend was the MOPS convention in Nashville, now this. Though I — and the rest of the fam — are completely exhausted, I am so excited. I am utterly thankful too. This sort of break is rare, so I do not take it for granted!

It seems that with each new year, I resolve to have our family slow down. I wish I could communicate loud and uncontrollable laughter through this blog! Now, baby # 3 is on it\’s way… so much for slowing down in 2005!

Published
by
jenny
on September 30, 2004
in Family, General, Lucy, Mental Pause and Mutha' Hood
. 0 Comments

Dentist = Good???

That\’s my boy! When I first told him he had to go to the dentist this morning, there was some resistance. It did not last long. As we drove up to the office, Joel said, \”We\’re here!\”. He hopped out of his seat as fast as possible and was halfway in before I could get to the door. The hygenist came out and called his name. He hopped up as fast as lightning and ran to her side. I watched as he greeted the office dog (can\’t recall the name) and listened as he chatted his way down the hall.

Olivia and I waited while he endured such a fearful visit, but all we heard was chatter (I could tell some was through a stetched out mouth). I walked to the hallway door to try to hear what he decided to fill the staff\’s ears with, but I was not successful. Every so often, I heard that little voice - not with tones of fear, but tones of excitement.

I knew he was finished as his voice drew closer to the door. I heard him ask for another toy for his sister. This is something I notice both do for each other. If one asks for a snack for themself, I soon hear them ask for the other to have a bowl too. I love that about them. It makes my heart swell:) The door opened and Joel burst through. The hygenist said he was not up for the xrays, but he did delightfully well with the rest of the check-up. She was able to clean, and the dentist was bale to get a good look at his choppers. No cavities!

Good job Joel! I\’m so proud of you!!!

Published
by
jenny
on September 30, 2004
in General and Joel
. 0 Comments

Miss Independent

That\’s my daughter. She\’s wanting to do everything herself. I can\’t help but hum Kelly Clarkson\’s song Miss Independent when Olivia insists on taking care of things herself. I don\’t know all the lyrics, only \”Miss Independent\”, and oh-so-independent she is trying to be…

Her newest branch of independence has to do with bedtime and naptime. Over the past couple of days she has not been allowing me or her daddy to put her to bed, though she still sleeps in her crib. She knows her door cannot remain fully open, which makes her new routine even more hearbreaking to the mama:)

Here\’s the drill… we give her kisses and turn off her bedroom light… she takes it from there. She closes her door, careful to leave a generous crack. She then heads to her crib in the darkened room and climbs right on into the crib! She must tuck herself in, because she is usually (mostly) covered up by the time I check on her before I go to bed.

I felt a twinge of heart-ache last night as I considered the weight of the issue. What if 3 nights ago was my last time to reall tuck her in? It probably wasn\’t, but it\’s worth the second thought. There are many things that pass away as our children grow. Some things we notice, some we do not. Did I treasure that possible last tucking in enough???

Joel used to call Livi \”Luva\” or \”Oluvia\”. I recall the day I noticed he was pronouncing it correctly. I said, \”Don\’t you mean OlUvia, Joel?\” He replied in a practical manner, \”No, Mom, it\’s O-LI-VI-A.\” Another milesone met, and memories begin to replace the words and actions of my babies as they grow into kids… It\’s bittersweet, I don\’t think I need to explain why…

Published
by
jenny
on September 30, 2004
in General, Joel and Olivia
. 0 Comments

Nashville, Tennessee

I stayed at the Opryland Hotel during my attendace at the MOPS Convention in Nashville. It was quite the hotel. The schedule was so packed, my friend and I were unable to tour the enormous facilities until 10 o\’clock the very last night. We toured the many walkways and halls, and enjoyed our walk through the Garden Conservatory.

We had a couple of hours outside of the convention schedule on Friday night. We could choose between the MOPS Pajama Party or some Nashville nighltife. We decided to check out the city. We visited the Wildhorse Saloon and found a little disco-type club too.

At the Wildhorse, I was able to brush-up on a few line dances I remembered from my line-dancin\’ days in college. I must admit, however, the bulk of our dancing time was spent on the disco floor. We met up with another group from our area, and enjoyed a little time of bonding. It felt funny being prego and boogie-ing, but I don\’t think it was the pregnant belly that made me look silly — it was more likely my dance style! Or maybe it was the dozens of other moms out on the dance floor. Though our nametags were off, it was obvious who was who… I heard a few people comment that, \”There are a bunch of moms of preschoolers around here.\” There were 6,000 moms at the convention. I don\’t know how many made it into the city that Friday evening!

Published
by
jenny
on September 30, 2004
in General and Jenny Jen-Jen
. 0 Comments