December is HERE!

Yeah, December is here! My favorite time of year! I love the lights, smells, sounds, and feel of this month! This weekend we'll kick it off by going to a town parade, visit Santa Claus, and bake some yummy cookies!

I finished my shopping in early November; but this year, the best present will be, adding a new baby to our family! What a precious gift! Not to mention, the wonderful family and friends we are blessed with throughout the year!

Don't forget, we'll be going to see the specialist Dec. 8th to find out if this little one has settled into the correct position. If not, we could be celebrating his/her birthday by Dec. 12 !

I've been keeping a secret....

I must confess a secret. There hasn't been many moments since June that I've been confident in this pregnancy. Ever since getting news that there could be a problem, I've held my breath. Every time a test comes and goes a part of me won't let go of the worry.

Now another hurdle? I know that it isn't super uncommon for a baby to be breech, but there are studies that show there could be potential neurological problems associated with breech babies; that worries me. Could this be why my initial tests came back problematic? (A question that is nagging at me.)

I didn't realize how I've suppressed my worry since our last tests came back favorable, but apparently, they're still hiding within. Maybe that is why I have been trying everything so aggressively to make this baby turn, but with every day that passes...it gets harder. I just need to know that this baby is OK, and the only way to do that is to have him/her here.

I am praying in these last weeks that God restores His peace within me, and that our baby will be born (with out surgery) healthy, healthy, healthy.... if you can join me, please do!

Sunny Side Up

Well, we went to the doctor yesterday for a routine ultrasound and found out that our baby is now breech. This baby had been head down from the very beginning. Imagine our surprise (and disappointment) when we saw the head near my rib cage. Now I wait. In two weeks, we go back to the specialist to see what baby Bock decided to do. We are praying for a flip (just one) by 36 weeks. I do not want to have surgery and the recovery that goes along with it right at Christmas time. So join me once again, please, prayer people....!

My Little One

Okay, I know that I have been pretty hard on my little girl lately. She HAS gotten into mischief, though. However, I realized that she'd been under the weather, lately. For some reason, that multiplies mischief about ten times. It also causes her voice to be extra whiny and pulling that limp spaghetti limb tactic that all children inherently know. Yes, it weighs on my patience, tends to annoy me, and proves to be too much for my short temper, at times; yet, I am grateful that when the fever breaks and the sneezes subside, my little angle emerges once again reminding me of the little blessing in front of me that will too soon outgrow this nest.
Even still, there will be moments where I will be frustrated, again...with both/all of my children, and I will vent on any listening ear (or screen) that presents itself. That helps me feel better about my place on this planet and validated. I also find relief in quotes such as these:

"The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable." ~ Lane Olinhouse

"The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they have a common enemy." ~ Author Unknown

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" ~ Milton Berle

"Children are a great comfort in your old age -- and they help you reach it faster, too." - Lionel Kauffman

"I take my children everywhere, but they always find their way back home." - Robert Orben

"Having kids is like being pecked to death by a chicken." - seen in Mr. Dora craft shops

Encouragement....

Meredith Andrews: You're Not Alone....

I search for love, when the night came,
And it closed in, I was alone,
But you found me, where I was hiding,
And now I'll never ever be the same,
It was the sweetest voice,
That called my name saying

You're not alone, For I am here,
Let me wipe away your every fear,
My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life,
All of your life

You cry your self to sleep, cause the hurt is real,
And the pain cuts deep, all hope seems lost,
With heartache your closest friend,
And everyone else long gone,
You've had to face the music on your own,
But there is a sweeter song that calls you home saying

You're not alone, For I am here,
Let me wipe away your every tear,
My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life,
All your life

Faithful and true, Forever,
Oh my love will carry you

You're not alone, For I, I am here,
Let me wipe away your every fear
Oh yeah, My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
Your darkest night,
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life,
All of your life

God uses music to speak to me, a lot. Maybe this can encourage you if you need it....

Against the rules.....

I am not going vent my political views on you, but I am going to share how cute my five year old is. When he woke up this morning, he wanted to know who won the election. I told him that Obama won, and then I tried to explain that he had a vice-president that goes along with him as a "helper" in Washington.

The conversation went something like this:

son - "Well, what is his helper's name?"

me - "Joe Biden..."

son - "Joy Bi-yun"

me - "No, J O E...BI-Den".... this went on for a moment....

me - "Ok, think of Joe from Blue's Clues...as in 'Hey Joe'...and now think of him bittin'....Joe Biden"....

son (with perplexed look)- "Joe wouldn't bite anyone; it is against the rules."

Yes, well now every time I ask him who is Obama's helper, he remembers!

Will it always be like this?

Sugar and spice...everything nice? YA RIGHT!
This is how my day started. I know that two year olds are going to challenge you in every way, but this is taking it to a whole other level. I have never in my life been SO livid (especially when I scrubbed the wall and began to take the paint off but not the marker...).
This little cherub climbed a dresser to get markers that were put out of reach (arms length anyway), and she proceeded to draw ALL over herself and the wall (I KNEW it was too quiet)...
Even though she knew that this was the wrong thing to do, sinful nature took over...and she went to town with crayola....I've heard that I'll look back on these times and laugh....

She'll grow out of this, right? RIGHT?

Whoa...

Ok, last night I had a crazy dream that I went into labor. It felt so real, and I woke up sore this morning. I think that my sub-conscious was tapped into labor and everything that it brings because of conversation at dinner last night. It's crazy how the mind works, isn't it?

Only in FL

Today I sat outside under a beach umbrella, and I watched my kids play in the pool. Yup, it is like 80 right now with a cool breeze. Then it occurred to me that it is the first day of November. After a small chuckle to myself, I gathered the kids to go inside for lunch and noticed, as I stripped off their bathing suits for the laundry, their new tan lines....only in FL....