March 14th, 2012

The day we met our sweet Owen.
I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty scared going in. My first C-section was a very tough recovery for me, as I had allergic reactions to my pain medicine and it really didn't do the trick on the pain either.
The night before as I lay in bed with Asher the fear of another baby and if we were really messing up his life were overwhelming. He would have to go without all of Mom and Dad's attention and we wouldn't have the same time we did before.
After many tears and Rich and I talking it over we knew that God blessed us, including Asher with Owen and that they will need each other someday.
I honestly can say I got some good sleep that night.
We had planned to get to the hospital about 10 sine they had planned the surgery for noon, but my OB called at 11 that night to tell us she wanted to do it sooner and to be there at 9 and the surgery would be at 11am.
Quick call to the family and all the changed plans are in place.

7am
We woke up and got ready. I even curled my hair and did my makeup.. which was probably the last time for quite a while!!
Arrived at the hospital and all the grandparents were waiting there already. Already making the nurses laugh! Papa John ( Rich's Gpa) had been having some knee trouble and instead of making him walk all over the hospital they wheeled him in a wheelchair. As they were wheeling him up to L/D he says to the lady at the window that his water broke! I guess it put everyone in a good mood and with all the excitement and laughter it put me at ease as well.
I get checked in and the time flies by! They are really ready to get me in there and outta there, because it seemed like they had me prepped in 30 minutes!
I had really poor veins for in IV and with Asher they stuck me 7 times before they finally got a good one. 
This time it took 1!! I was so thankful. But it actually didn't hurt at all.
I was ready to go in at 10:45 and so they got my anesthesia on board and we were rockin!
It was more nerve-wracking this time since I was very aware and shaking quite a bit, so all that fed my anxiety. I was so excited to hear his cry and see his sweet face and count his fingers and toes.
Rich came in and sat beside me and held my hand and tried to keep me talking, but Owen was out in no time.
11:03 we heard his first cry and it was the sweetest thing.
Rich said he looked just like Asher and that he had a little birthmark.
I think everyone there was awaiting to hear how much he weighed... 9lbs 5oz and 22 inches long. BIG BOY!
Although not as big as we thought...
Recovery was great... I loved holding him and studying his every inch and when I was holding him I wasn't shaking. My family came in and everyone had a chance to snuggle him.
Time in the hospital was great. I was not in NEAR as much pain as the first go round and was up and walking that night. All my nurses were awesome and praised how great I was doing and how sweet Owen was.
I will never forget when Asher first saw his brother... It was the sweetest look in his eyes. Pure love. He got to hold him and love on him and everyone made over him being the big brother. In fact, my mom took him down the cafeteria for dinner and he showed everyone his big brother button and he said  he was going to tell everyone that his brother was "born-ed" .
Later, as Owen was getting a little fussy, Asher leaned over to whoever was holding him and started to sing "twinkle twinkle" and was telling him he was ok and he loved him. Tears were in everyone's eyes on that one!
While I did enjoy the time in the hospital, I was anxious to get home to Asher and I know Asher was anxious to be home with all of us.

It has been a time for adjustment and patience for sure. On all fronts. Balancing time with Owen and Asher is trying, and some days I succeed and some I don't.
Forget about the gourmet meals that I was making 3 times a week, forget about laundry and dishes done. But that's ok, my main concern is my boys and the rest will still be there tomorrow!

My foot is going 90 to nothin....

Here we are.... 5 days out.
I think that Owen is just as cozy in there as ever.....
I can't help but sit here and think and stew over what's going to come this next week.
I honestly think that the waiting is the WORST!
I have time to mull over and double check everything about my plans and this and that until it keeps me up at night and drives me crazy!
My bag is packed and has been for a good week, in hopes that he would come on his own... :/
Owen's bag is packed and has been for 3 weeks!
I still need to get things together for Asher and put together an activity backpack for when he's at the hospital. I know that he won't be there very long at a time but even just an hour and he will need something to keep him busy. A few snacks as well as a drawing book and his Leapster to keep him occupied.

Truth be told I am pretty anxious...
You would think after having gone through this once already, my fears would subside. In a way I know what to expect but the memories are so blurry that I can only sort of remember how it went.  That leaves room for imagination.... not good.

I remember watching episodes of a baby story (why didn't someone warn me not to?) when I was home before my c-section and shaking and crying in fear. My poor friend, Becky called to see how I was and I totally spilled it all out to her. She had gone through 2 of them herself, as well as, being a nurse and said that it was all normal and it will all be ok.
It's like I have to have my freak out time and then I'm able to put on my big girl panties and do it.
I was actually pretty calm at the hospital and until right before they took me in I was barely nervous! I hope I can tune into that again!!

Let's hope that I can go this weekend and 2 days of next week without freaking out!
I have planned to clean major house tomorrow and bake up a few things to freeze for the week.
Of course, Sunday is a wash... other than just spending good time at home.
Monday is for checking of last minute things and double quadruple check everything, and family movie night.
Tuesday is Moompah Day! We are letting Asher pick whatever he wants to do and that's what we will do. ( I'm thinking that Bass Pro and Toys R us will be somewhere in there...)
Wednesday is the big day!

Hopefully keeping up with Asher and crossing off things on my to do list will keep my mind focused.

Probably won't blog until the O man arrives, so pray for me and the family and we'll see you soon with pics of the newest Langston!!

The day is named...

So after, what seems like the shortest pregnancy and the longest 9th month, (as all pregnancies go) Owen's birthday has been named. At least as a possibility....
Trust me, I am NOT ever going to object to him coming sooner, but I just have a feeling he really likes it in there.
March 14th.. sometime around 1pm we will see his face.  I'm not sure how much he will weigh, how long he will be, but I know he will be just prefect.
I am so anxious to see what he looks like... if we will really throw people and have another blonde -haired, blue-eyed boy or if he will be dark complected like us.
We are just so excited and scared we can't stand it!!


We had a very funny thing happen this past week....
It was evening time and Rich had just come home from work. We were talking, like we usually do in the kitchen and Asher was off playing in his room. Rich mentions to me how dusty the floor was, and I agreed, actually only moments before noticing some dust bunnies while Asher and I were rolling cars to each other on it.  He starts to walk back to the hall and I follow only to stop at the beginning to smell an abundance of baby powder. Rich walks back to Owen's room to find Asher covered in white. Along with the rest of the room.
We were flabbergasted.  It surpassed the response of anger to "I don't even know how to react" that just made us send Asher to his room, laugh a little and get busy cleaning the dust storm of powder.
Now some may say that Asher was showing some jealousy and that he did it on purpose, but I would disagree.  I think he just thought it would be fun!  I have used it on his bottom a couple times when I notice his bottom chaffing a little and he has always thought it was the coolest thing because it looked like smoke.
I was just the dumb mom who put it somewhere he can reach :/
I'm guessing he saw it and puffed it and kept on until the bottle was empty.
He honestly didn't know he was in trouble until we told him he was.

That night we had a lot of talks about consequences and how they are in response to things that we do or don't do. His consequence for the baby powder was no tv or play time after dinner. It was straight to bath and bed.  Of course, he thought it was the worst punishment ever and that he would never play again, but that is the mind of a 3 year old.. everything is the end of it all!
I almost always lay down beside him and talk for a few minutes before he goes to sleep and so we got to talk about God and how he gives consequences to us as well and how thankful I was for Jesus because of the forgiveness he gives for our sins. 
I honestly thought that it would take him a while to go to sleep because it was a little earlier bedtime for him than usual, without the play and books and such we usually do before bed, but he was OUT in a matter of moments.
I lay there and kissed his sweet cheeks and cried.
Cried for the time when he is my only baby...
I really can't believe that he is almost 4, and we are soon to have another baby in the house.
The only baby I have loved has been him, so the thought that anything can compare is just ridiculous sometimes.
I know that it's gonna be wonderful and we are giving him his best friend for life, but it is all so surreal.
I fear the transition of responsibilities... I fear the lack of sleep... I fear the pain from the recovery....  I fear that Asher will suffer... -- and I know that some of these I can help and prepare for and some I can't. I have to rely on the strength of my Lord.
I am hoping to be a little more relaxed, but consistent, with Owen. I really enjoy the time Rich and I spend together at night and I don't want to make the same mistake we made with Asher.
I think we were both scared beyond the universe and got into some bad sleeping habits early on.  It's funny how having a child can really bring out your control freak disposition and knock it all out of whack!! Learning to let go the hard way may be the only way sometimes.
Most of my days are filled with changing emotions from readiness to completely scared.  I imagine that will continue until he's here and all will be right with the world.
I do promise a few things to my boys:

They will always know that their Mama and Daddy love them more than words can describe
They will always know that Jesus loves them even more than that
They will always get a kiss and hug no matter if they want it or not
I will always encourage them to be true to the man that God has made them to be
I will always try to listen with an open mind when they have problems or need someone to talk to
I will mess up, I will always say I'm sorry and ask for forgiveness when I do

I did have some hope....
Our dear and most precious friends trusted us with their DARLING little girl Palmer last night while they took a much needed date night.  Earlier we picked out toys for her to play with and made a pallet on the floor for her to play on.
Asher has a tendency to be a little overzealous when it comes to things he loves... "Palmer Puddin" being one of those things! But he did exceptional! He eats up her smiles like they are crack and does anything and everything to get more!!!
He read a few baby books to her and wanted nothing more than for her to spend the night and sleep in his bed with him. He was so sweet with her.
So, I got a little look into what life with 2 could be, and it's actually pretty sweet!

So this is Christmas....

What a wonderful Christmas this year.... Dare I say..... relaxing?
We had all our Christmas gatherings far enough apart that we didn't have to rush around or be stressed out for any of them!!! Each day we had something we had almost the whole morning and afternoon to hang in our jammies and then get ready that night.
It was so very wonderful.

I love some of the traditions that we have made through our families and here are some of my most favorite ones.....

• I started this year making our own little advent by wrapping 25 of Asher's Christmas books ( actually we have over 25 so next year I may start sooner than Dec 1st to get them all in) and letting him unwrap 1 each night.  Once I wrapped them, I didn't know what was what and Asher got to pick which ones he wanted each night. The cool part was that the very last book on Christmas Eve was the REAL story about Jesus and his birth. In of all the "Christmasy" books that we have we only have a couple about the birth of Jesus... so I'm gonna make sure and get a few more this next year.  Loved that God saved that one for last

• And because I am pregnant and my mind revolves around  food... another of my favorite traditions is my Mom's Fresh Cherry Pudding. It is this chocolate sponge cake that has cherries in it and then you drizzle this maple vanilla sauce on top! It is to die for!!! My Grandmother made it at Christmas when she was little and since Mom has started making it for us it has been a MUST, especially for Rich!  There's no doubt that it will be a tradition for my kids and grandkids too!
• my Dad, for the pat 4-5 years has been sharing a recitation called " The Christmas Guest" at our Christmas Eve service. It is such a touching story and my Dad does such a wonderful job at it. He has memorized it and for a 74 year old, that's pretty good.  Here's a link to hear it... The Christmas Guest, by Hoot Gibson
• Rich's family dynamic is definitely changing.... When we first started dating we had the most reverent and relaxing Christmas times. Now that we have 5 kids and 2 on the way, it's turned into quite the circus! So fun... but not what we are used to.  One tradition that we skipped out on this year, but will definitely want to make sure happens next year is Grandma Anita playing the piano while we all sing. All of Rich's family is so musical and we don't take the time to use it much.  We did sing, but acapella. I really missed that piano. She is so very talented and we all love to hear her play. She does it with such intent that it is always worshipful to those who hear. 

• We had lots of fun making goodies this year. Asher was our official "sprinkler" and would sprinkle a few and then lick a few. :) We probably made 5 dozen sugar cookies and 7 dozen dipped pretzels this year! He had lots of practice!!! 

This year with Asher becoming more aware of Christmas and the meaning behind it, made me really step back and think what I want our family's focus to be on. While we tried to make him think of others with our gifts to World Vision and to other family members, he still had a really hard time grasping that Christmas was not all about him when it came to giving gifts.  I know he's only 3 and that will come with age... but it definitely made me think that we should keep it simple next year. I think that instead of the stress of going to a store for things.. we may try having Asher make something for the ones he wants to give to. That way we don't have to look at all the things for sale that will make him think about what he wants. He will be able to think about what that person likes, their favorite colors... etc.

All in all, it was a wonderful time. I will miss the glimmer of the tree and lights on the fireplace... and the overall "home" feeling our house has when it's the season.
However, the leftover cookies will not be!!!

A day for Redemption

 
This week has been especially challenging for me.
It was thrown off by sickness, starting with Rich and then somewhat Asher and I.
We have felt very worn out and stretched thin.
Because of our usual busy-ness of each week, I have tried to take advantage of staying home on days where we don't HAVE to get out.
And for some reason the walls of our house have closed in on everyone.

It could have turned into a great week with Asher and I doing lots of Christmas things and having great times together, but instead I chose to focus on the insignificant.
Looking back, I see very few moments where I put things aside to play with him.
I do see him wanting to spend time with me and so asking to help me with the "homework" ( as he calls it) Sweeping the floor and dusting and making beds...
I know, I am very glad to see him offer to help and it will pay off for his wife one day, but I know that I was just trying to stay busy.
A lot of people like to blame it on the season, and that may be so... between church activities, family parties, showers, extra jobs that Rich and I take on this time of year-- we were drained.


Only after a "try to rest" time when Asher got the best of my temper was I able to realize what a focus change I needed.
We have had some challenging days with Asher. He has really started spreading his independence and using some pretty disrespectful words and responses when we tell him something he doesn't want to hear.
Our response is that he needs to go to his room until he is able to talk nicely and with more respect.  Let's just say that he's been in his room a lot lately.
It's very frustrating...

It's been challenging without outside time and then trying to figure out the nap / no nap thing I just have to trial and error.
Come 4 or 5 o'clock he's a mess.
Yesterday we fought until about 5 :00 or so and I had the idea to read the Christmas Story out of our Bible. I honestly didn't care whether Asher really sat beside me and listened with intent or if he quietly played cars on the floor below... I just needed to hear it.  I needed to be quiet and read God's word.
His promise.
A promise of redemption..... for that day in particular.

Asher knows so much about Jesus and why he was born... already at 3 1/2! We talk about it so much and I am so glad that he thinks of Jesus before Santa as the meaning of Christmas.
Come to think of it, other than our Elf on the Shelf, we have not really talked a lot about Santa. And we actually don't have any presents from Santa other than his stocking.
We read from the promise of Jesus to the visit of the Magi, periodically asking him questions about the story to reiterate what we just read. Even though he didn't look like he was listening he sure was! He loves to hear about Herod and he doesn't understand how someone could fear/hate a baby.
I wish that I could say that that turned our whole day around... it didn't.
BUT... it did give another opportunity to show just how much we need a Savior.
Jesus doesn't have a naughty and nice list. He loves each one the same and offers the same gift to all.
Forgiveness.
For days like yesterday.
Thank you Lord!

Tricks or Treats

Hope Everyone had a great Halloween night!
Our day was filled with lots of things like grocery shopping, bike riding and watching Halloween cartoons from my childhood on you tube.
I loved the old Disney Halloween specials and now a days they don't have anything like that :(
Asher was back and forth wanting to be Superman, the Flash, and Captain America... he finally decided on the Flash. Which is probably a good thing since Captain America will hopefully be big enough he could wear it next year. AND... the Flash costume is so cheaply made that the few tugs on the mask from Asher already put a hole in it. I've almost convinced myself to forever be a "make your own costume" mom!  Most I've come up with have been a ton cuter....
Anyways, despite almost falling asleep on our way to the first stop of the night, Asher had a great time. I honestly think his favorite things of the night were playing with his cousins at Gma Shelia's, playing cars at Papa Hoot's, and helping Gma Lisa pass out candy to her trick or treaters. He had a few pieces of chocolate here and there, a handful of pop rocks- which he thought were so cool, and some nerds. 
By the time we were ready to start home he was so tired and mixed with mostly sugar... not too fun.
However we had a sweet time singing in the car! Asher and I had a lovely little duet to "This Is How We Know What Love Is" by  Steve Green.  It was precious:) He sang the words first and then I echoed.
On the Owen front.... He's doing good. Kicking up a storm, especially at night when I first lay down to settle.  I am now 20 weeks so halfway there! I know that the next few months will FLY by with all the moving, holidays, and such going on. 
We should expect to start moving next week, so we are really kicking into high gear trying to pack away things and move stuff on over that won't get in the way. 
When we get in I will post some pictures of before and afters... it looks so good guys! I'm very proud of my hubby and thankful for all the help our family has sacrificed to get it all done!!!!

A peek, an announcement and a name...

Yesterday was the big day!  We went to the ultrasound a bit more anxious and calm.. ( if that's possible) than we did with Asher. I was just very anxious to see my baby healthy than whether it was a boy or a girl. I needed to see the little face and ten toes and 2 lips. After my many crazy dreams of deformed and confusing details of the baby.. it really started to scare me a bit.  The fear of the unknown is most overwhelming sometimes!
We set up to have everyone over to our new house to make the official announcement and to have some chili. 

Asher's big brother present from the baby!

 

 

Asher opened up a present for the baby to let everyone know he is a BOY!

His sweet little profile.. he already has Asher's button nose!

Explaining to Papa how to look at the ultrasound

First family picture as 4!

Comparing bellies.. 2 boys!

Loved the time to spend with family, was not without chaos though... we didn't have enough spoons to go around, and the night ended with Captain America puking all over the floor from running on a full tummy. 
We are still throwing names around but I think we have come up with a first name of "Owen" for him.  It means "well-bred"... ha.... and it sounds precious paired with big brother "Asher".
I am still trying to wrap my head around having 2 kids...
I guess one thing at a time... and for now, priority is moving!
Could use some prayers that things can progress a little quicker than we are planning...? We would really like to live there already.... it's home.

Have we got news for you!!!!

If you all have read for a while you know that we have been trying, most unsuccessfully, to sell our house.We have wanted to move into a bigger home that better suits our soon to be a family of 4 needs. Well, I am here to say that it is finally done! An opportunity that greatly humbles us fell into our lap and we are able to move to an awesome, better suited for us, home!!! We have been so blessed by this and we are so excited to get a home where we are not on top of one another all the time. It has everything we wanted and needed in a house, and while we have some work to do to update it a little we are SOOO ready to get our hands dirty and do this thang!!!
We have spent many man hours talking about paint colors and picking out ceiling fans, and just let me tell you how EXCITED we are about CHRISTMAS!!!!! There is the most perfect spot for our Christmas tree and we actually have a fireplace that is so gorgeous to hang our stockings on!!!
The many days and nights filled with disappointment and confusion have finally come to a close. We did not like living in a constant state of discontentment that greatly affected our spiritual and home life.
I can't wait to show you before and after pictures which I am planning to do once we can get in there and start working!
I thank each one of you that have prayed for us about this...
You never know what God has in store for your family, but he is always faithful and until now we have often lost track of that. Only now, could we have completely relied on him for our changing needs.

While I am a bit overwhelmed thinking about all the things in the house that need to be packed, and a little bittersweet to leave such a memory filled house, I am SURE thankful that we can get this done before the holidays and especially to be settled before the baby is born!!

Asher is getting used to the idea more and more... At first, he was not liking the idea of leaving the only home he's ever known, but when we have brought family over to see it, he shows them his room and "the baby's room", and the "swimming pool" otherwise known as the master bedroom. He loves to run through the hallway and go outside to his climbing tree. I think that the more we are there and he's able to get familiar with the place, the more he'll be ok with it when we are actually living there. We have already picked out a special new nightlight for his room and we want him to be a part of the decorating of it too. Maybe even the baby's room too!

Speaking of, baby is doing good... measuring and weighing right on track and heart rate is still at 160bpm. Feeling more movements, especially at night when I'm able to relax and focus on it. This month was a much anticipated appointment... with all the weird dreams I have had, my anxieties have been that something is wrong. It was nice to have the assurance that everything's right. Rich and I were talking about how this pregnancy has been so much different and not as much of a big deal. In fact, we both agreed that sometimes we forget about it. Life goes on and we have things to do. I think Rich was so thrown for a loop with Asher that it's old hat now and he doesn't have near the fears that he had with the first. He knows that we will survive.
May be a couple of weeks before you see another post... we are gonna be a little busy moving and vacationing...:):):):):):)
Have a wonderful day, everyone!!!

15 weeks- A quick little update

As I have a huge pile of work to do on my desk I have only an ounce of time to give an update on us lately...
Life, as we know it, has been extremely busy. I have realized I'm not a person who likes this.... it throws me, Asher and Rich into a tizzy of who's where what time.. and only makes for utter confusion!
Here's our schedule this week:

Monday night: A solo/ensemble practice for choir Musical coming up this Sunday

Tuesday night: Normally a bible study night, but out of sheer MUST we are opting to skip and spend this night home together!

Wednesday night: While we don't have choir practice we still have AWANA. 

Thursday night: Dress Rehearsal for said choir musical

Friday night: work during day, volunteer for booth at craft fair... and then home.

Saturday: Family reunion in Rondo, MO. 

I know... mass craziness.
I know that sometimes weeks like this can't be helped... and we'll get through it...
I need to rely on my Lord to get me through this stretching week so I can stay patient and roll with it.
No doubt that we ALL have to be guarded of our family time when life gets a little crazy. I am so thankful that I have a husband who stands firm in that!!

Tonight you will find us at home enjoying each other and most certainly riding bikes, playing baseball, and maybe even having our dinner outside.
I was so blessed by something that Asher thanked God for a few nights ago... He was praying and began to thank God for protecting and loving our hearts. Oh how I thank Him for that too... and especially for my little children. So much can penetrate our hearts and minds if we let it... only the sweet words of a 3 year old will make me realize it.
Pregnancy is good... sleeping is getting better... baby bump is growing....  that's about all for this week!

Why I'm not a good Mama sometimes...

Oh man.... what a night.
We had a good family night dinner complete with a little time at Barnes and Noble to get Asher a "spooky" Berenstein Bears book, plus a couple others that he's obsessed with on the back of the ones he already has.
Home and a lazy time of getting ready for bed... complete with reading all 3 new books. Asher asked me to lay beside him while we listened to his Bible stories and BOTH of us fell asleep. After waking up and my hand was cold and completely dead- not just asleep, I went back into the living room to watch the Office with Rich. After watching a few new shows I was ready to back to sleep so off the t.v. went and back to sleep I went... or at least those were my intentions!
My bed felt as though I might as well have slept on the floor! My hips hurt laying on my side, when you're pregnant you can't sleep on your back, and my belly is poking out just enough to make it really squished laying on my stomach. So, It seemed that I changed positions about every 30 seconds.
Asher and we have been on a bad habit of when he wakes up in the middle of the night we go get him and bring him in bed with us... not a good habit... case in point when we look like the letter "H" with a head in one's back and feet in the other's face!! So the more I move the more I woke him up and made it hard for him to get back to sleep too.  There were a few times that I snapped at him to hurry up and get comfortable. I eventually moved to the foot of the bed in hopes to get a little more wiggle room without bothering him when after a few minutes I realize that he's about to fall off the bed! I grab his head and move it, somewhat harshly, back over on the pillow.  By this point I am about in tears for the frustration of being awake and tossing for about 2 hours.  My movement scared him and he started to cry... he says.. "I'm sorry Mama, be nice to me!"    Talk about a knife in the heart....
After apologizing and telling Asher that Mama needed a timeout and that I was going to go to the living room to get a better attitude, I slunk out of the room feeling like a complete heel. From then on I still tossed and turned and cried knowing how I had let my anger build up until I took it out on my precious baby. He didn't deserve that at all...
I'm not always the fair and trusting Mama that I should be.... I am not always tender and understanding.... I'm a lot of times selfish, I want things to go a certain way and when they don't, I get mad. And I am particularly slave to it when I am sleep deprived.
I just thank God that a new day comes in the morning with his sweet face smiling at me and giving me my morning snuggles. He still loves me despite my many times I disappoint him and me. And I hope he knows how much I love him even when he does things that upset me.. even though I do not show it sometimes.

Cause I'm tired of having boring baby updates....

Today I will give you a baby update, but I want to talk about food.
Even still.... at 13 weeks, I have not completely gained my appetite back... which S.T.I.N.K.S!
Fall, my most favorite season and goodies of all richness and pumpkiny and hearty... and I don't feel like eating.
I can already feel my baby house growing substantially this week. I lay on my back and I see it poking right out there already and feel it expanding when I press on my stomach AND have been having the ligament pain to prove it!
I'm thinking that my stomach and intestines are already being pushed up because, being a majorly short waisted person, they have no where else to go. Thus, it makes the amount of fall yumminess consumed quite a bit less than desired. You know the nasty full feeling you have after you eat Thanksgiving dinner? Yeah.. that's how I feel all the time.After just a few bites. :(
Other than that.. I am feeling great. Waking up quite a bit at night (to change positions.. to pee... you name it)- but still feeling rested of a morning.
I am beginning to have my sciatic nerve problems arise again, so I have to do lots of stretching laying on the floor with my arms on the floor and my rear in the air to take pressure off of my lower back. It's real attractive.....
Had a quick Dr appointment this month but got to hear sweet little baby's heartbeat. Nice and strong at 160bpm. The nurse that helped me I knew... and she recognized me.. but we could NOT figure out how we knew each other! It's still plaguing me!!!!!
I'm still wearing regular clothes but I feel that it won't be for long... pants will soon have to go to maternity. I am not one that enjoys my maternity clothes... they were very stretched out with Asher so I may have to go get a couple new ones that will fit when I am not about to pop. Plus, even when I was about to pop with A, I was constantly pulling them up!!!
OK, so since we are talking about food today I thought I would share an accidental success that I came across last night!
In my attempt to make something hassle free, since we all were not in the mood to eat... I took a recipe adapted from Giada and made a little wrap for myself. ( Rich didn't want to eat, Asher wanted leftover mac and cheese from lunch...) 
Here's the recipe:

Dill Turkey Wrap

1 flour tortilla.... spread cream cheese inside-- as much as you like

sprinkle dill spice or fresh dill over cream cheese... I used a half used package from hidden valley I had already in the cabinet ( told you this was an accident!)

lay 1-2 pieces of turkey deli meat on top

sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top

slice an apple..mine were Jonathans.. add a few thin slices of apple

lay a few leaves of baby spinach on top

Fold over the tortilla (as best you can) and pop in the microwave for about 35 seconds OR if you have a toaster oven or grilled would be awesome too!!

Tada!... sweet and herby and licious!

Looking forward to a date night on Friday! It's been SOO long since we were able to get away just the 2 of us! God has blessed us so much with great family time lately though that it has made it a little easier.

Labor Day and 12 weeks

Honestly... for the past 2 months there has been a cloud over our household. Or maybe that's just from one cranky Mama......
Now that I am feeling back to normal, It has been so wonderful. It's almost as if I was asleep and just woke up. I know that the majority was simply surviving and doing the very minimum of anything... but Rich even confessed that I was NOT myself.

This weekend was so nice. Technically, it started on Thursday when Rich said that we needed to get outta town! I was completely needing it, and so off we went on a whim, to Branson. We were gonna do a little shopping and buy a few new fall candles with my Yankee coupon and then eat and play some mini golf.
We first stopped at the Landing and walked around for a little bit... we stopped and played on the kids play area and then ate at Joe's Crab Shack. Asher L.O.V.E.D. the fish and sharks hanging all over. He spent more time looking at things than even eating his "crab"... aka popcorn shrimp. ( Is it bad to lie to your child like that?... I just knew he wasn't going to like crab, but he demanded that's what he wanted.)
After eating.. we went to Yankee and stocked up on our spicy fall candles.  On another note.. isn't funny how even though your house can be a disaster, if you have a really nice scented candle going... it seems fine?

Anyways.... we ended our evening at a mini-golf place that takes you through the steps of becoming a movie star. While it was very catchy and an experience... it was seriously almost 30 bucks for all 3 of us to play!!!! That is 6 times what we normally pay for Fun Acre! I had to breathe through it and realize that we are here for fun and making memories....We finished up at Freddy's for some ice cream and a quick walk through Target. We all had a great time!

This weather we are having is out of this world! Seeing as it has been so blistering HOT this summer, we had many things on our summer to do list that couldn't get done because of it.  We were able to spend lots of time outside and enjoy this gorgeousness that is 70 degrees!!!
We took a nature walk on Labor Day and walked about 2 miles.. all 3 of us!! Asher made it the whole way with NO complaining or asking to be held. He is an outside boy and he loves to run and find rocks and sticks and bugs. We saw caterpillars, wooly worms, snakes (copperheads I might add!), deer (that jumped directly in front of us!), turkeys, birds, and squirrels.  We threw rocks in the lake and looked for minnows... just overall a peaceful and wonderful time together!
Our Labor day ended with a family dinner with all of Rich's mom's family... and boy do we ladies have fun! Rich's sister Kimmie and I are both pregnant and are about 7 weeks apart.  They all agree that they think Kimmie is having a boy and I am having a girl. We were talking about all the wives tales that can determine the gender and I was talking about one I heard of where you pee on some baking soda and if it fizzes it's a boy and if it doesn't it's a girl... so of course, they got out the baking soda and told us to get to it!
Fizz on both accounts... so you just never know!
We love to visit and the kids gets to play and we always have great food.
I'm so blessed to have such a great family.
I leave you with a picture from Branson night and I'll post a few of nature center a little later.

9 weeks

9 weeks.....
Each week brings it's own challenges and triumphs.
This week was super busy... either Rich or I had something EVERY night!
I am a person who thrives in routine, so I will be very glad to get back to normal school year activities and know what to expect each week.


Symptoms this week:  Thankfully the sickness has subsided a bit.. that is, if I don't get hungry. Once I go too long without eating is when I start to feel yucky. Still very tired... though when Asher does take a nap I sleep with him. If he doesn't I try to have some rest time while he watches a movie for an hour. Still sore things...:)



Weight Gain / Cravings : Pasta House salad.. with pimentos and artichokes! We ate there for a date night out and then I got the stuff to make it at home! Cravings are also fading.. and I will be glad when eating is enjoyable again.  I don't think I've gained much yet other than fluid, though I still feel like a barn!

Worries / Anxieties :  This week has been ok... though a spike in my hormones have made me a little weepy. Every time I see or hear about the drought and famine in Africa I just bawl and squall. But I would probably do that even if I wasn't pregnant. See here.  Something about welcoming a new baby puts into perspective that your other baby isn't a baby anymore... got a little sentimental and sad thinking about how much Asher has grown.


Goals for the week: Try to do a little more cooking... now that I am feeling better I've been in the mood to bake! I think my longing for Fall will bring us some cinnamon raisin and banana bread. Maybe even try my hand at some honey butter for it!!  I love Fall!!!

II -Again!

Well... we have waited a little longer to announce, but we are pregnant... again.
After our miscarriage we realized that we are ready sooner than later to try for number 2!
Lo and behold we NEVER thought we would get pregnant the month after!
While we are very guarded about this one... we will get happy and really excited when we see that everything is fine and developing nicely.
I have felt pretty good other than bouts of fatigue and moodiness. I know they say that you show quicker with the 2nd and I believe it. I may just be retaining more water but I already feel like I look so big!
We welcome either boy or girl into our family in March of 2012!

To nap or not to nap....

The good ol' days

  
Let's preface this by saying that my sweet and darling son has never been a good sleeper.
Now that he is older and can sleep in his own bed for the night, he still refuses to take a nap.
In fact, knowing that we would be out late last night, I laid him down to take a little "rest" (NAP!). He laid in there for almost an hour and a half  talking, playing with his hands, asking to go potty, asking when he got to wake up... and so on. He never fell asleep.
So... I was wondering... when did your kids start weeding out their afternoon nap?
I'm afraid mine is already gone, and I'm mourning that time to do what I want to do:(

A little update...

AS most of you know we have been trying to sell our house for a little over 2 years now. It was on the market for 14 months and then it has been for sale by owner since then.
After a day of house looking and covetousness and depression.... we got a call.
Apparently this lady's husband was driving around waiting for her to get off of work and happened upon our house. He loved the neighborhood and they had friends that lived there too.
She called and asked if they could look at the house.... of course we said, YES!
They came and took a look at it and loved it. There are some things that need repairing like the bathtub and a window, but Rich and I are planning to do that anyways.
There was a catch.....
When they were young the young man got a credit card..... was not the most responsible and messed up his credit hard core.
They, at first, asked for owner financing since they had tried to get a home loan a year ago and was not approved.
We knew in our hearts that it was not going to work out in anyone's favor to do that, so my Mom gave them some numbers of loan officers to call.
I called her on Sunday and she said that the lady she went to was so helpful and it looked very promising! She had to wait on a current pay stub, which will take a couple weeks as she is a hair stylist.
It is a hard thing to wait on the wings about this kind of thing. I am a planner and want to be in the know about things like this! She assured me that they would stay in touch and when they got news they would call us.
Here's my request for all of my friends......
Please pray that God's will be done in all of this. Not only do I want it to help out us, but I want this family to be happy as well. This has been our home for 5 years.... it has seen a baby grow into a sweet 3 year old. There are lots of memories here, but there comes a point when you need to move on. I know that this neighborhood and house have been a blessing to us and I'm looking forward to it blessing another family.

How I want so badly to pray that they will buy our house so that we can find one better suited for us, but I can't be impatient.... God's timing is perfect. My prayers are heard and He knows the cry of my heart.
But I can't help be but a little excited. More news to share soon!

Movie date

Last night, Asher and I were home alone while Rich was at a Bible Study. I had decided we would have a movie night and eat popcorn and snuggle on the couch.
We had been recommended to go to Family Video in Ozark to get free kid movies and most of their other movies are $1 for 5 nights!!!
I was more than happy when we got there and saw the selection that they had.
We decided to go with Charlotte's Web and A Fish Tale (Asher's pick).
Rich and I rented Grown Ups.
Took it all to the counter and since it was our first rental we got 50% off. Total came to $1.38. Geesh. 3 movies for 5 days...
Anyways, GO THERE to rent your movies. No more Redbox for me!!!!!
We got home and Asher and Rich played while I got dinner ready.
I knew that Asher would need a bath so we planned accordingly to get all of it done with plenty of time for movie and decent bed time.
I saw this recipe for bath paints and so thought I'd give it a try.

Foamy Bath paints
Shaving Cream (for sensitive skin...non-scented preferably)

Food coloring

I squirted the shaving cream into all 6 cups of my muffin tin and added food coloring and mixed.

Just use a paintbrush or your fingers.

Washes right off the bathtub walls w/ warm water.

We had a ball! I think we played until the water was cold!
I'll post pics of it when I get home!


He got our blankets ready and got all snuggled on the couch, while I popped the popcorn.
We ate and watched and laughed and sang. I'm hopeful that he had as much fun as I did:)
I was expecting the worst, but A Fish Tale was a pretty good B movie. Asher got upset when a little girl has to say goodbye to her seahorse friend and he was very sad for her. He buried his head in my neck and kept saying "Aww" for her. He's such a sweet and tender heart. It was pretty old, since the DVD kept skipping, but that's ok... have I mentioned it was FREE? 
After toothbrush and toilet time, we always read our books. 2 for him and I read a letter from His Mighty Warrior. Actually he likes them so much I usually read at least 2. He loves to repeat the scripture on each one. Our letter was about using kind words that help people, not words that hurt people. I asked Asher what are hurtful words and he listed off all the words that he has got into trouble for saying... " Oh my Gosh, Bite me, Darn, Hate,.... " ( isn't it funny how they take every opportunity to tell you which ones are not nice,  taking advantage of saying them without getting into trouble) Then I asked him which are nice words and he says, "love, and God's scripture."  I was blown away by that last answer. I said, " Oh Asher, you are exactly right! God's Word always is the right and nicest words to say."  He smiled really big. He likes to make his Mama proud.
Normally, I stay and cuddle for a few minutes after lights are out, but because we have a 5 month old puppy to keep entertained, I had to go back in the living room until Rich got home. I told him that when Daddy got home I would come back in and snuggle.
Rich got home about 30 minutes after lights were out, Asher had been quiet this whole time, so I thought that he was asleep. Rich walked in the door and I heard Asher stir. He was still pretty quiet, but before long, I hear..." Mama.... Daddy's home now. You can come in here!"
I mean how can I resist that?

Tonight we are going to do the same thing only with Daddy home and watching Charlotte's Web.


I love times like this with my little guy.. he's just growing up so fast. He won't even let me call him my little baby boy. He quickly reiterates that he is not a baby, but a big boy.
It's sad that I have to admit that he is.
He will always be my baby boy... shhhh... don't tell him I said that!

I am so honored to be a mother, especially to the best, most darling, sweetest, smartest, and cutest little boy I've ever met!
Happy Mother's Day!

BaCk To BeD !

Maybe it's the weather.....

  I want to be back in bed snuggling with my 2 favorite boys.

Instead, I am here at work with not a whole lot to do..... which makes it even WORSE!

We had a great first day of Daddy's vacation yesterday. I had a eye doctor appointment, so we got up early and picked up the house and went to the mall. Asher must have known that Rich was home on a day that he should have been at work, cause he could not get enough of his Dad. He was SOOO excited to get to play cars and trains with him, that Rich had a hard time taking a shower without Asher at the door wanting him to come out and play. He waited, trains in hand, at the bathroom door for his Daddy. We had some errands to run, such as picking out a 1st birthday party gift for our twin cousins. Asher was good enough that Daddy bought him a new train too. Rich told me the funniest story about walking the mall while I was at my eye appointment.

There are few things that Asher loves more than seeing the helicopters flying, and visiting Build a Bear at the mall. He loves the mechanical bear outside BAB, and has named him "Thimble". Which, if you ask me, is a great name for him since he has a "thimble" for a hat.... Anyways, Rich was walking towards it and Asher calls out, " I'm coming Thimble!, I'm coming to see you Thimble"...... Needless to say, there were many looks and laughs by passerby-ers.  Of course he went in and wanted something... he liked the candy corn bear for Halloween and, of course, the Pujols jersey for his bear at home.They also got an Orange Julius--- which is equally hilarious hearing Asher try to say it! He insisted on ordering himself.... and the employee there thought it was so cute.

Rich said that Asher was very sweet and would take a drink and then offer some to him to share with Daddy. He also told them "Thank You" after they gave it to him, un-prompted in fact!

I was so proud to hear that he was a sweet boy. I know he is already. May just have to go back and get him that candy corn bear!

I'm looking forward to more memory making the next 2 weeks while Rich is off of work.

Too bad I'm not!!!!

Bara.

Yesterday, Rich and I took some taco soup over to his Grandparents house for supper while he mowed their lawn. We always love going to "Papa 'n' Nana's" (as Asher calls it) it's always so warm and loving there. Papa is usually outside doing something (though recently he's a little slower due to some health problems) in the garden or shop. Asher loves to go and "help". He does most things anyone asks him to help with, especially Papa.
 Asher is an outside boy. Anything is better outside to him. In fact, there are days that we will go outside and play "our game" that consists of throwing acorns at the tree and trying to hit the knots on the trunk. The higher you go the more points they are worth. He just loves the freedom to run and be a boy.  And I like that! On these beautiful days I would much rather be outside too!
Papa had asked him to help dig up some onions that he had planted and put them in the bucket to take to the shop and wash. Of course, Asher picked each one up as gently as a 2 year old would and put them in the bucket. He watched Papa dig all the bulbs up and would count as each would emerge from the dirt. He and Papa love to count things. As they were working, a stray cat came over to visit and get some petting from us. It was just the cutest thing to watch Asher chase that cat all over the back yard. Watching him made me want a farm. Not a huge one but one where we could have some dogs, cats and maybe some chickens and goats. I can picture him having such fun taking care of the animals. I am an animal person, as most of you know. When I was little if there was ever a time that I could not be found, more than likely I was out back with the dogs. Time with Nana and Papa is so precious to us. My Gparents have all gone and I never knew my Great Gparents. As we left, Rich said how glad he was that Asher has some great memories with them.
As I was reading my Bible study... hahaha... you knew this was coming.  It was about how God created.
Last night I had remembered thinking how thankful I was for the weather, the cat, the plants and flowers, and for my family. All these are creations by the one who is enthroned above the circle of  the earth.
The word  Bara (Ba-raw) is the Greek for create. The meaning says " to be made by God".
Since this word "created" was first mentioned in the creation of man  it seems it's referring to the spiritual creation that God made in humans. He created us in His own image.... meaning he made our emotions and spirit like His. When you think about this, this is our true self.... our physical bodies are only a shell. Our soul is our image of God.
Not only did he create the flowers, cats, weather for us to enjoy but he made the relationships that bless our lives. I grow homesick for the day when we live as we were created for. Completely un-distracted, in pure worship and fellowship with Him. That's gonna be glorious. For now, I step back and give thanks for all these little peeks into what that life will be like.... watching children play and sing with Jesus, gardens beyond beautiful for us to enjoy, and surrounded by those that we love most of all together in corporate worship of our Savior and Lord.

Fear.

Like I have posted before, I am knee deep in my Bible reading. Boy, it feels good to be there, but, there are some things that, while reading, God has wanted me to address. Within myself that is.
I have said this before too, I'm a controller. With this condition comes a parallel disease called worry.
I worry. I worry just about everyday.
Sometimes I feel like I am losing my mind because Satan feeds me with some of the worst things to think about. Especially when I'm away from Asher... while I'm at work, while I'm in bed.
Most of these things I can pray away but there is one that is unrelenting.
I'm sure that I am not the only person, least of which a Mom, that worries about this.
Death. Not of me, but of Asher.
I like to believe that, if ever faced with a death of a child, I could cling to the truths that I know. But-- I don't know. That would shake my world beyond what I feel like a could handle. And truly, after reading this last sentence, It would. But it wouldn't for God.
And in some sick way, the fact that I am thinking about this, makes me scared that it will really happen. Even while reading today a verse scared me. Isaiah 32:9-10  "Stand up you complacent women: listen to me. Pay attention to what I say, you overconfident daughters. In a little more than a year you overconfident ones will shudder, for the vintage will fail and the harvest will not come. "
I know this is a warning to the people of the day, but I am ( though working on it) a complacent woman.
My faith is not strong enough, by my ignorance of it, to withstand the failing.
I guess my fears are fed by this ignorance. And to some degree, I like living in the worry though I don't know why. I guess that I am just enough superstitious that by not giving these fears to God I feel like I can keep it from happening. Crazy. I know.
So I'm working on it.
Complacency. Isaiah 30:9-11
" They are a rebellious people, deceptive children, children who do not obey the Lord's instruction.
They tell the seers, Do not see. They tell the prophets Do not prophesy the truths to us. Tell us flattering things. Prophesy illusions. Get out of the way! Leave the pathway! Rid us of the Holy One of Israel."
Boy. That hits home for me.
I have wanted to feel great, blessed, fed, and fat and sassy when leaving church. Sucked into the "sugar coated" phenomenon that churches has succumbed to these days. A happy tale of Christians being blessed with trees of money and a life of success, each packaged up in a pretty bow that says if you pray for this and be focused on this it will happen.
I'm sorry, is this what you all were taught growing up? I sure wasn't.
How bout this scenario.....?
 A graceful tale of a Savior, Jesus, who bled and died for your lying, gossiping, complacency, gluttony, selfishness. Through this relationship comes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,  and self control. Pure joy! This is true happiness.
This is the key to face trails and tribulations. And folks, we WILL.
Instead, of worrying and filled with panic for what might come, I want to prepare my heart to rely on the one who is working these things for His kingdom.
While I feel God gives us, as parents, the sense to keep our children out of harms way.... we are not immune to sufferings. Instead of focusing on these fears, I want to focus on the death of another Son that through his death brings me life.... and WOW I am so unworthy of this most precious gift. And I have not understood this more than when I became a mother myself.