Baby Update

Wow, only eight more weeks to go. It is amazing that it has gone by this fast, but now I feel like the days are creeping by. It is hot and I have NO energy. I go see my midwife on Monday. I arranged the appointment late in the day so my oldest can go with me. She loves going to my appointments and because she is my babysitter she doesn't get to go very often.

Here is a lovely pregnant shot that McKenzie took of me. My belly is actually a lot rounder than it looks in this picture.

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Other exciting news!!! Malachi is officially potty-trained. We have been accident free for several days. Thank goodness! I was beginning to think I would be buying two size diapers for the first time in my mothering career! :>) Here is a picture of him after his first time pooping on the potty. We promised him ice cream (along with lots of other things.) He was eating his icecream and talking to grandma telling her the exciting news! ( I realize nobody reading this really cares about my two year olds potty habits, but hey, this IS my blog! :>)

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Another funny thing kids say:

Usually it is Mariah that keeps us laughing. This time it unexpectedly came from our thirteen year old boy. Matthew was playing in the pool at grandma's house. He was playing with Madeline and he said something that was a little less than kind to her. When his dad corrected him and asked him if he was going to talk to his children like that he very seriously responded with, "No sir, I guess I am getting it out of my system now."

Summer Fun

Father's Day- daddy with his crew

Summer wouldn't be summer without going to grandma and grandpa's house to swim. The kids think you can't go swimming without having watermelon too!

Summertime and icecream- you can't have one without the other! :>)

The yard is so much prettier in the summer when all of the pecan trees are green!

Fourth of July celebration- Mariah (right) with two of her sweet little friends from church.

Our annual trip to the beach. We always take the kids picture on this bench. Looks like there is room for another little one on the end! :>)

Our first evening out playing on the beach a man (sitting with his big belly and beer in his hand) looked at Marc and laughingly said, "Are they ALL yours?" Marc said yes and then looking at me the man said, "And having another one!?" I told Marc he should have said, "No, she is just fat!" Fortunately, we had the beach to ourselves most of the time that we were there!

Ramblings

(Almost) 29 Weeks (My blog counter is a little off, and yes...... everyday counts!)
I went to my midwife today. I had to have the glucose tolerance test. I passed it with flying colors. My last pregnancy I passed it too, but my baby was 10lb. 12 oz. I am really praying that this baby will be a little smaller. I had a big jump in my weight this time. She basically told me that everything I have been eating was not good and to start eating lots of protein. I can't stand protein for some reason right now. I have been living off of cereal, fruit, raw vegetables and ice cream. I came home and fixed a salad with boiled egg on it. I normally like eggs, but right now I don't. About an hour later I went out to check on our pregnant goat. We have had a hen sitting on a pile of eggs for about a month now. Two babies have hatched out and she pretty much abandoned the other eggs. I decided to toss the old eggs out in the woods. There were actually four more babies that had died because she wasn't sitting on them. The smell was horrible! I have been close to vomiting since I came back in!! Not pleasant! Other than feeling like a beached whale the pregnancy is going well.

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Other baby news! My sister gave birth to a baby girl this past Monday. I had hoped to be able to be at the birth, but because she is two hours away and our busy schedule I didn't know if it would work out. It is amazing how things always work out. The Lord blessed her with an easy delivery and a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Lily Katherine. This was my fourth birth to witness (other than my own!) and it is always so amazing!

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Other exciting news. I think we have finally turned a corner with potty-training Malachi! He is now going tee tee on his own (he had been wetting his pants unless we remembered to take him.) Now if we can get the other down pat we will be set! I really don't want two in diapers!!

It has been a hot summer so far. We have been spending the late evenings outside because the days are so miserable. It is hard to drag the kids in for bath time!

An evening of picking from the garden. We discovered raised bed gardening this year. It has been so much easier to grow things.

Off to bed!

Poem

“They tie you down,” a woman said,

Whose cheeks should have been flaming red

With shame to speak of children so.

“When babies come you cannot go

In search of pleasure with your friends,

And all your happy wandering ends.

The things you like you cannot do,

For babies make a slave of you.

”I looked at her and said, “’Tis true

That children make a slave of you,’

And tie you down with many a knot,

But have you never thought to what

It is of happiness and pride

That little babies have you tied?

Do you not miss the greater joys

That come with little girls and boys?

They tie you down to laughter rare,

To hours of smiles and hours of care,

To nights of watching and to fears;

Sometimes they tie you down to tears

And then repay you with a smile,

And make your trouble all worth while.

They tie you fast to chubby feet

And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.

They fasten you with cords of love

To God divine, who reigns above.

They tie you, whereso’er you roam,

Unto the little place called home;

And over sea or railroad track

They tug at you to bring you back.

The happiest people in the town

Are those the babies have tied down.

Oh, go your selfish way and free

But hampered I would rather be,

Yes rather than a kingly crown

I would be, what you term, tied down;

Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,

Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,

The fettered slave of girl and boy,

And win from them earth’s finest joy.

~ Edgar A. Guest