Friday, September 26, 2008

A good day...


Today has been one of those days where it's hard to stop smiling. In keeping with my favorite "list" fashion...here a few reasons why:

1. Gorgeous fall weather. Warm, breezy, sunny...
2. Leaves are changing. Corn is golden.
3. Sidewalk chalk with Emily at lunch.


4. Our discovery of two "fun friends".

5. Chef Boyardee pizza (an old childhood favorite).
6. An especi
ally funny "I Love Lucy" rerun.
7. Laughter with Aaron and Emily.

8. It's Friday.
9. A great sale at Kohls tonight on maternity clothes.
10. Emily wanting to sit on our swing and "watch until the snow comes."
11. Faith that God will always provide.
12. Basking in awe of His love for me.
13. Amazement of the precious little life growing safely inside of me.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

"Mommy's Little Helper"



Emily has really taken an interest in being a "good helper" lately. I really like to see this, and I'm trying to make a conscious effort to encourage it. However, I'm learning that close supervision is mandatory. Otherwise, I find wet Kleenexes on the floor near my mop water, or I see her bringing me an armful of wadded up towels to put away that I just folded. :) She's so cute about it that I find it hard to get *too* frustrated. :)



Tonight, I thought I would see if she wanted to help me make dinner. Boy did she. We had quite the time of it. See for yourself:
"Deep in concentration as she breaks all the spaghetti noodles in half."
"The secret's in the sauce!!!"
"Yummy brownie batter!"

"It was a tough job...but someone had to do it!"

Monday, September 15, 2008

Thanks to all who've commented and e-mailed. I'm trying to catch up on e-mails, facebook & blogging. So, if I haven't gotten to you yet, I will try to soon! :)

We are so excited and happy about the baby. No, this wasn't a surprise. Though, the way I acted when I read the test would make you think it was. I just stood there kind of stunned...shaking. I could hardly believe it. When I took the test I had actually scolded myself for wasting money because I *knew* it was way to early to be testing. Maybe that's why the shock effect took over when the line showed up almost right away.

Emily and I picked up Aaron from his work to take him to lunch that same day. She was wearing her shirt and ran to meet him. Aaron got the cutest smile on his face when he read Emily's shirt and said "Really?" He's pretty happy. Much less nervous the 2nd time around. :) He always wants plenty of proof, though. I have a ziplock bag filled with 3 positive pregnancy tests. He just kept wanting me to *make sure*.

Emily is just beside herself. She loves telling people that she's going to be a big sister, and that Mommy has a baby in her tummy.

I think it's going to be quite entertaining to watch her little mind process things over the next 9 months.

The night we told we told her, she rode through Walmart in her shopping cart with her toy kitty stuffed up her dress. She kept telling me that she had a baby in HER tummy.

This morning we were sitting on the couch together and she got out a notebook with a pen. As she was scribbling all over the paper she announced that she was doing her "school work" because she was going to be a big sister.

When we saw a man from our church in the store on Saturday, she pointed to him and said "Hey! You're from the church! Mommy's got a baby in her tummy, and this is for the baby! See? (She held up a gender neutral newborn outfit that we had picked up for the baby...Something I can't resist doing each time I find out I'm pregnant.)

As for me...I'm great. Completely happy and content. No sickness yet, though I can feel definite *signs* that point to pregnancy. I think this is going to be a pretty busy week. I have a lot that I just *HAVE* to do before I start feeling sick. Texas Road House was one item that we crossed off my list on Saturday. :) I'm excited to wear maternity clothes and am quite happy that you start showing earlier in your 2nd pregnancy. Mostly, I'm just in awe of the little miracle that's growing in my body. I'm thankful to God for giving us this dose of joy after a difficult year.

As we spread our good news to family and friends, my heart did ache a bit as there is one special person in particular that I couldn't tell personally. Someone who I think would have been more excited than anyone. My mom. BUT...that's not to say I don't think she knows. I believe she does.

Sometime after taking the test, I remember asking God to please tell my mom for me. I asked Him to also tell her that she was the first to know. She ALWAYS loved to be the first to know...about ANYTHING. :) I asked God to tell her that I loved her, and that I was so very happy.

I have no reason not to think that God didn't pull Mom aside and share my precious secret with her. I fully believe that there was a moment in time when the only ones who knew about the baby were God, Mom and I.

I really liked that moment.

Oh, and I'm due Sunday, May 24th.

Friday, September 12, 2008