Thoughts on Being Late

Here are some of the thoughts and feelings (irrational or not) I have about the fact that this baby was due on Friday and is still not here . .

1.  I'm shocked.  I mean, Really???? Does this actually happen where you are on time with your first baby and late with your second?

2. I'm glad that I'm a good hostess, but some people overstay their welcome.

3. Or maybe I'm not a good hostess. Maybe something is wrong with me and the baby isn't coming because my body isn't properly aligned or something.

4. Um . . .I am not quite sure what to do with this time. I don't have anything really scheduled at the moment because I planned for the baby to be here. There is always plenty to do though - so I'm getting stuff done.

5. I'm a little embarrassed. I already got a sub (thank you Sarah B.) for my primary class for today and next week - and the baby hasn't come. Thankfully, Sarah just told me what I should do - that she'd teach my class whether the baby came or not and I should just rest while I could.

6. I'm glad she did. I'm not one to shy away from attention but at some point, you just don't want to deal with people asking you when the baby is coming (at least not all within a three hour church time period). I don't know why . . . maybe you just are tired of looking like the 8th wonder of the world, or maybe it is just because you are planning on a time and it doesn't work the way you planned.

7. On the other hand . . . I'm still not ready for him to come. Still don't feel great about any name, still scared about what I'm going to experience, and still don't know how good of a mom I'll be to two children, one of which will be a boy!!! Lots of unknowns which I'm sure will melt away when I'm actually there. But I can't help but be a little worried.

Okay, now that I have gotten that out of the way . . .

Writing down these feelings makes me realize that - yes, I do have these feelings - they are real - irrational or not, but that everything will be okay, to have faith - not fear, and also makes me feel grateful. I am grateful that I feel as good as I do. I am grateful because I have prayed that the baby would come when both my doula and doctor were available - which was a problem at times in the last two weeks, and now they both will be. I am grateful I have more time to mentally and physically prepare.   I'm grateful my body is still fine to be pregnant and not be induced.  Also, Jeff's Mom had major surgery on Thursday (I haven't really mentioned this yet because it all is so new and has happened very fast. But Ellen was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago and so we've been adjusting to that.) But I'm grateful that we didn't have the stress of bringing a new baby into the world on the same day that we were worried about how Ellen would be doing in surgery. My Mom reminded me that . . . was it Henry B. Eyring? . . . said that often the tender mercies of the Lord are shown through the timing of things. And I feel that that is the case here. He is aware of my situation and knows the best timing for the baby to come.

As I write this post, I realize that overall, I haven't been too anxious or upset about the fact that the baby hasn't come. Yes, I have had those thoughts - and yes I've had a few moments where I've pouted to Jeff and shed a few tears, but most of the time, my heart has been happy and at peace. This week Mary and I got to do lots of fun things and spend good time together - going to the park, going to ballet in the park on Friday night, and going on a walk/hike with our friends yesterday. So all that has been good and I cherish many moments from this past week together.

Mary and me watching ballet at the park.  She watched transfixed on my lap almost the entire hour and a half.

I guess that about sums it all up. Thanks for listening. Now if I can just keep avoiding the grocery store guy . . . .

Nursery is Ready For a Baby

We've been busy the last month or so! Much of our time has been spent getting a space ready for the baby. We are really outgrowing our house and it isn't a great layout for a growing family. But we don't feel quite ready to tackle a move at this point.

Some people are fine with just having the baby in their own room. But when Mary was a baby, Jeff and I took turns sleeping in her room for the first two weeks - and it just wasn't restful for me at all. I woke up at ev ery little baby noise. It was much better to sleep in my own bed without the baby in total ear shot.

Plus, there was something for me to the idea that we needed to make space for a new baby in our lives. And making a physical space ready, prepares your mind and heart I think.

So I felt strongly that we needed to change the office/craft room into a room for this baby. We were able to clear out most of the stuff, but a few things stayed - a bookcase, Jeff uses the closet still b/c I use the entire closet in our master bedroom, and because the room has a built in desk, we are using it as such for a place to put our printer, my lap top, and a few other office things. But we did get rid of a lot of stuff and rearranged and reorganized a lot!

Honestly, it was a major pain in the butt - for several reasons. Mostly, our contractor took 6 days to do the job - which wasn't an easy one granted - but he told us it would only take 3. Being hugely pregnant with stuff out of place - in our bedroom, living room, hallway - was enough to almost push me to insanity. But somehow I just lived in disaster for over a week. Ugh!!! Makes me sick just writing about it. : ) When you are nesting and you can't really do your reorganizing until the contractor gets his work done - you are not a happy camper. Plus! - has it been hot this spring or what?! I should've just turned on the AC in March, but I stupidly waited until the end of April because it seems wrong to turn it on that early.

Anyway, we survived. Poor Jeff had to calm me down a few times. . .

So the doggie wallpaper came down, the walls were retextured, and painted. We ended up painting the ceiling after the contractor left. Long story too boring really to get into. But it looks and feels much better now.

I'm no decorator and it still needs some tweaking - Mary's old nightstand repainted, furniture positioning - but, I think a baby could be in there now.

BEFORE pics! The furniture was arranged a little differently than this picture, but you have an awesome look here at the doggie wallpaper that came with the house when we moved in. When we do move, I'm certain that this being gone will help us out.

This is just a small taste of all the scrapbooking stuff I had to reorganize. I was surprised how much stuff I have.

Jeff finishing up the paint job. He did a lot of work with this project!

Mary has enjoyed getting the new room ready. Sometimes I let her get in the baby crib and she loves that. She didn't get upset at all when we took the rocker out of her room.

And here is a current picture of her room, with the rocker out and her table in.

Here you can see why I need to rearrange the furniture a bit still. I just don't really have enough wall with the built in desk (where Jeff is sitting) and the bookcase on the other side. But I really feel the need to have my comfy recliner in there for those middle of the night feedings. So hopefully I can figure out a better set up. Suggestions?

The bedding! It's even cuter in person. I should mention that Jeff's parents are responsible for most of the nursery - their gift to us for this baby. Thanks C and E!!!

Dresser and changing table

And Jeff even gave up part of the closet for the little guy.

Anyway, I am so happy that the nursery is essentially done. I still have a bit of reorganizing left, but we are ready to bring this baby home!

Easter Weekend Part 3 - Sunday

Easter Sunday was very nice. We began it by letting Mary discover her Easter basket.

Earlier that week I had taken Mary to Lakeshore Learning toy store. She fell in love with these eggs. They weren't very expensive and I thought a great addition to her Easter basket. She didn't want to put them down even to go potty. So I let her take them with her.

Then we got ready for church. I thought it would be fun to curl Mary's hair.

She looked adorable if I do say so myself.

And I think it fun to coordinate a bit. I got a couple people who said I looked like I had a big Easter egg (my belly) at church. : )

After a nice church service, we had a quiet afternoon and then Easter dinner and other fun at my Mom's. Ah! The Swingset - so much fun has been had over the years on this piece of play equipment. Eve pushes Mary

Joe and Sterling swinging spider style. They are looking forward to another boy cousin soon!

Me pushing Mary. My sister Jennifer told me I needed to cover up my poking out belly button. My initial reaction was, "I don't really care what it looks like". But this picture made me feel differently. She was right. However, I've tried covering it since then (with athletic tape) and that showed through my shirt and didn't stay put. So now I'm just kind of back to - "well pregnancy just isn't that attractive so everyone will just have to deal with it". But I am open to any suggestions you may have.

Of course there is always singing around the piano . . . (Hannah was off winter term from BYUI and has gone back now.)

Ivan also came out to visit for the festive weekend. Here he is with Emma.

Catherine and Aaron. BTW, yellow seemed to be the color of the day. Many of us were wearing yellow.

Isn't this a cute picture of Grandpa John and Sheri Anna?

Sandbox fun!

And this to me is THE picture of the weekend. What cuties Sheri and Mary are!

I made Strawberry Shortcake for dessert and it was DELISH!

Mary had such a good time and asked to go back to Grandma's again that week following. I'm bummed I didn't get any pictures of my brother Adam or my BIL's. Oh well. It sure was nice for Mary to get to play with her cousins!Thanks Beckie and Ivan for coming out to visit. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and were reminded of the wonderful sacrifice of our Savior.

Easter Weekend Part 2 - Egg dying and hunting!

On Saturday the family reconvened for Easter egg dying, a hunt, and lunch. It was a fun day! BTW, I forgot to mention that we all went out to dinner after the baptism the night before and it was very yummy! Dying eggs

"Don't mind if I do!"

The Easter Egg Hunt!

Mary shows Grandpa and Grandma her eggs.

Eve helps Mary

So does Daddy

Enjoying the candy

Easter Weekend Part 1 - Eve's Baptism

Yes, I am alive. We have been busy with baby prep the last few weeks - so that is why I haven't blogged. More about that later. I wanted to record our Easter. We had a special Easter weekend. My sister Beckie was in town - she wanted to have her daughter's baptism here. So we had a whole host of activities for that weekend. Friday night was Eve's baptism. I have always had a special place in my heart for her. She is Beckie's first - and Beckie and I look a lot alike. When I saw Eve for the first time - at about a week old - I really thought she looked like she could have been one of my own children. So I just have always felt close to her because of that. Plus Beckie - who is more mild than me - has often observed that Eve is much like me and how it wasn't really fair because I should be the one to have to deal with a stronger personality type. But I guess we shall see how it all works out. Mary is getting pretty fiesty herself. Eve looked beautiful and it was a nice baptismal service. Mary loved being with her cousins the entire weekend. Eve

Mary and Sheri (P.S. I love this cute outfit Mary is wearing)

Murray's and Smith's

I helped with the punch. It was easy and delicious!

Jeff entertains Mary

Two pregnant sisters. Beckie is due September/October.

A Few Video Clips of Mary

Here are a few short clips of Mary recently. It is fun to see her personality and hear her speech development.

I love her walk in this video . . .

SPIDER!





MY GUITAR!




The bike Mary has been using was actually our neighbors. We decided to return it since her little girl is getting big enough now to use it. So Jeff went out and got Mary her own. I tell you I sure think it is cute to see your little one pedaling so fast (not so much in this video). Mary sure seems big!

TRICYCLE

Imagination

A few weeks ago, Mary and I were listening to some 80's tunes, and Mary - in just her underwear - was looking at herself in the mirror, dancing, and saying, "I'm dancing on the stage!". It reminded me of myself and I mentioned it on Facebook. My Mom commented that it is interesting that a child as young as 2 has an imagination. And I've been thinking about that and noticing that more since.

The fact that Mary does have an imagination, I'm sure doesn't make her exceptional in any way. Most kids do I think. But it is fun to hear what she comes up with.

In just the last few days, I've noticed a few things that she imagined up.

We keep her rocking horse in her room now, and the other day, she was pretending to pull the polka dots off the curtains calling them "money" and was putting them in the horse, so she could ride him (just like the horse at King Soopers).

And then also she likes to pick up pretend spiders and hold them. I ask her what color they are and she'll say brown or yellow or black. And she also likes to hold her pretend skeletens - one with green eyes and one with yellow eyes. Isn't that kind of funny? I don't know why she thinks about skeletons often. I guess Halloween really made an impression on her this year. The spider thing comes - I think - from an Itsy Bitsy Spider video that we watch on YouTube (I posted earlier on FB this week). Also Jeff is always telling her to "smash the spider" whenever we see them.

One other thing that Mary has been doing that I have mentioned here before is putting blankets on herself and saying, "I'm so married!" Again, I'm not quite sure where she picked that up. We haven't talked much about marriage in her young age : ). But she does it a lot.
Yesterday she even wanted to add flowers to the rest of her garb.

She also likes to make waffles using different objects. At meal times she'll stir her spoon in her bowl and say she is mixing the eggs and oil together or in the bathtub she'll stir her brush in a bucket of water.

Kind of going along with that . . .

A few months ago, something really cute happened, and I just never recorded it. So I thought I would now.

Jeff introduced Mary to Angelina the Ballerina on the Sprout network. One morning in November, she went to her drawer, pulled out her leg warmers, and came back into my room and did an arabesque right there by the tv cabinet. I was so proud! I couldn't get my camera fast enough. It was completely her doing. I hadn't taught her or coached her at all. I did get a picture, but in this one her leg is more bent than when she originally struck the pose.


And since she has also been caught doing a posse' from her "Peter is just a Baby" book that we got from the library (the big sister is a ballerina).


So I just thought you might enjoy that. Kids sure are a delight.