3 days left?

I’m still “heavy with child” and surprisingly not miserable about it.

My due date is Saturday.

Morning after morning I climb out of bed and spend the entire day moving my pregnant body up and down stairs, bending over endlessly to pick up things off the floor and unpacking boxes.

I feel good.

Really tired at night but that’s a plus- at least I am sleeping.

With my other three pregnancies I was such a boob the last few weeks. I remember crying and feeling sorry for myself each morning I’d wake up and still be pregnant. My days were filled with hopes the baby would be early.

This time I have been praying the baby won’t be early. I have had so much to do.

I am ready now.

Grandma is being picked up at the airport this minuet and the laundry is done.

All my “little” things I wanted to have completed are done. (except the kitchen is a mess right now and it is driving me crazy but I’ll stay upstairs where I can’t see it and my lovely husband or mom will clean it for me!- standing at the sink washing pot and Pans and bending over the dishwasher with a huge tummy is not my idea of fun. I’ll use the pregnant card for as long as I can. It’s going to expire soon)

Last Saturday I thought the game was on! At 9:30pm I started having contractions that lasted till 1:30am.

Then I fell asleep and they stopped. At least that got the bag packed and car seat installed. We needed that little nudge. Sam packed the bag while I breathed.

Sam has had the week off work to help me get things put away and organized here at home. It has been fun having him around all day while the kids are at school. We got a lot done.

I love our new home. Just as it gets clean we unload more boxes and it’s a mess again. Things should stay clean now so I can really enjoy it.

It doesn’t feel complete quite yet- I think the baby will make the finishing touch.

We are all so anxious.

I am so glad we have waited to see what we are getting. It has made these last few days really exciting.

I’ve been telling Sam the baby is waiting for Grandma to get here before it arrives.

Now, I’m ready, and I think the baby is too???

New House...can't sleep

March 15, 2010 4:21 AM

It’s 4am and I can’t sleep. The baby is keeping me company, kicking and squirming inside of me.

Last night I feel asleep on the couch next to Sam reading and a fire in the fireplace. It was so cozy and peaceful.

I woke up to new noises that come with an unfamiliar house.

It’s pitch black. I’m not even quite sure where the light switches are. I need to get some night lights.

The wind is hassling the trees outside.

The house is still strewn with boxes.

As for now, I guess I’ll just wait till morning and see what the sunrise brings to my new life in my new house.

It’s kind of odd to be at a loss at 4:30am in an unfamiliar home.

Left alone with my thoughts is always welcome, but it’s REALLY dark. ☺

Farewell to Husted Lane

***Because of our recent move and lack of internet, I am posting journal entries now.


March 15, 2010 3:42 AM

The last load at Husted Lane was packed quickly. Suddenly the rooms were empty and we were off to our new home.
I found myself alone in the house closing windows and locking doors, and that’s when I got emotional.

As I pulled the blinds closed; my life at Husted Lane went dark. With the rain coming down outside and wind rattling the windows the tears came freely as I walked through the hall one more time. The finger prints on the walls were wiped clean, the bedrooms once full of personality now empty.

Our Home was now just a House.

I cried leaving the walls that protected my little family for five years. Husted Lane has been a paradise to me. It’s where I potty- trained my kids, taught them to read, ride bikes, and clean.

It’s where my “young” mothering days were formed.

From the beginning, I have always told Sam: “I’m going to cry when we leave this place.”

And there I stood, in the kitchen sobbing in his arms with our kids and our life waiting in the moving truck.

Life on Husted Lane was beautiful.

I stopped at the mail box on my way down the stairs and read our family name on the box. So many memories attached to so many things. It’s hard to put an end to good things.

Don, our Land Lord, stood under the garage door to keep dry and watched as we stuffed the last boxes into cars. I sat in the car and cried to mom on the phone, happy the rain was concealing my emotions. I’m going to miss him. He really took care of us.

As the moving truck pulled away I pulled up to him with a tear stained face and said good-bye.
“You were like my serrogant daughter” he said. “It’s not going to be the same around here.”

Leaving felt like a dream.

I’m still here- I’m just not there.

Our new house isn’t a home yet but each day we’re one empty box closer.

37 weeks

With three weeks to go and a move on the morrow I wonder if I'll capture another photo before the birth.
Here we all are wondering what flavor is inside!

 

 

 

5 friends

Don’t underestimate the power of friends! Today five friends showed up to my house to help pack.
In 3 hours my walls were bare, closets empty, bathrooms hallow, and kitchen packed!

My five years of living here was tenderly gathered up and tucked away before I even finished my laundry!

I am so thankful these girls took the time to serve me.

Lastnight I put myself to bed at 6pm. To say I am tired would be an understatement.
There is NO way I could have done any of this alone. In fact, I didn’t do much at all with them here.

This morning I was a mess. I was on my knees begging for strength to get through this week.
My prayer was answered by 5 friends.

I can do this now.

Thank you Cholhe, Lindsay, Lillian, Jamie, & Michelle


PS- I’m thrilled that my house is packed but at the same time it seems rather sad that a household of 5 can be packed up in 3 hours!!
Further proof we live in a small space.
This move is going to be wonderful!!!

Snow Globe

 

I've decided to take pictures of the kids art work instead of keeping them all. I pulled this out of Jennica's folder this morning and had a good laugh. I know what she meant to say but this still tells the truth.

Birth Plan

 

In four short weeks my baby is due. What is the most important thing to me right now?....My Birth Plan.

Giving Birth is more than showing up to the Hospital.

To me, giving birth is allowing my body to perform its God ordained gift.

Mothers “GET“ to birth babies. This is what our bodies do. We are not SICK. Our bodies are NOT broken when we go into labor.

I don’t want to step into a Hospital and be treated like I have a ”Condition.“ I’m about to take part of the greatest miracle to humans.
Don’t tie me up to an IV or restrict me to a bed! Don’t watch the clock and monitor the drugs.

Stand back and watch my body work with God! I can’t wait!

Don’t get me wrong, I know there will be pain, but I truly feel labor should be an amazing Spiritual experience. (pain included)
Thus brings me to the ”Birth Plan.“ How do I view Birth?

I am on my 4th child and I’ve experienced all varieties of birth.

Jarom, was mostly Natural with a few doses of Nubian, delivered by a Mid-wife.
Jennica, I went in to be induced and upon arrival experienced major bleeding and was rushed off for Emergency C-Section. (talk about being in the right place at the right time!!!)
Jace, I had an Epidural. (Talk about easy birth experience!!)

This pregnancy I feel I want more out of the experience. I feel something has been missing.

A few weeks ago I realized I needed to be mentally ready for this birth. A lot is going on in my life right now (moving this weekend) and it has been easy to put aside the realization of the due date arriving soon. (hence, the lack of a boy name ).

My inner self has been warning me it’s time to get ready emotionally and mentally
.
But, I’ve done this 3 times...why the pressure? What was I looking for?

After talking to my sister about it she suggested I look up ”Spiritual Birth“ and see where it takes me.

That was exactly where I needed to go! (Thanks Sis!)

The ”Spiritual“ aspect of Labor has been missing. I have viewed birth as a condition- not the miracle it is.
After a few trips to the Library I found the perfect book that offered the perspective I was searching for. I read the book in two settings.

Today I watched a Documentary on Birth and feel ashamed that I wasn’t educated about this BEFORE my 1st child.

My body isn’t any different today, than the women 1000 years ago who trusted their bodies to handle birth. I feel I feared birth because of the way our culture views it, and the way I was treated each time I gave birth. It was too much scheduling, monitoring, restrictions, tests. If I didn’t keep to the rules my baby would be in danger!!
Talk about giving up the power of our bodies to the natural man!

Technology is wonderful if something goes wrong. That’s what its for. (Like Jennica’s Birth) But it saddens me that I didn’t trust my body to do what we are created to do! I know PAIN is in the forefront of our minds when we opt out but consider the gift it really is. I never thought of it that way.
I just went with the flow. Did what my Dr. told me to, and showed up at the Hospital when it hurt!

For some reason this time was different. I listened to my body first and then my Dr. I found myself refusing most of the blood work and ultrasounds because they seemed unessary. I just wanted to pay attention to my body. I didn’t know exactly why. I just didn’t want to do it all. Now I see that was the beginning of trusting my body.
I knew everything was fine. My Dr. wanted test’s to prove that. Just like the Hospital will want the machines to tell them and me when I should deliver.

Does that sound right?

Showing up to the Hospital won’t cut it for me this time. My Dr. won’t deliver this baby.

My body will.

Will it hurt? Yes. Because my body is ALLOWING life to come forward. My body knows what to do, and it will do it if I TRUST it.

I think it’s all in the way you view Labor. If you feel your body is broken because you are going into Labor you go to the Hospital and they will take away the pain and ”fix“ you.

If you feel your body is doing what is Necessary to bring forth Life, you surrender to it!

What a challenge.


(With this newfound knowledge I realize I have a problem. The Hospital I am registered to birth at does not allow Freestanding Birth. When I check in I will be monitored and hooked up to an IV and probably confined to a bed. That leaves no room for allowing my body to move as it needs. Therefore, tomorrow we will be calling a Birthing Center out of town to see if they will take a new patient 36 weeks along! If not, plan B is to labor as long as I can at home and arrive at the Hospital to push.
Further proof that we lead a Spontaneous Life. Who makes changes like this in the 11th hour? The Hobi’s ALWAYS do!)

Photo of the Week

 

 

 

The best part of Shadow Pictures is it doesn't matter what you are wearing or if your hair is not perfect!!
It's all about shapes...and I've got SHAPE these days!
I played with the focal B&W to add a little "Glow" to my belly and to some bricks.
It's a perfect day today!!

Grump

I am one Grumpy Mama Bear!

Please tell me it’s just a phase, I’ll grow out of it soon. (sooner than later for my kids’ sake)

Jace told me he didn’t like my attitude when I refused to play Dora and Boots with him.

My attitude really does stink.

Inside I feel as crusty as I probably look.

I lack the spunk I use to have.

I’m just a waddling, grump.

It can’t be because I’m tired of being pregnant.

I’m Not. I need this baby to stay in there.

I have a house to pack and unpack.

Grandma isn’t coming till the 30th and she and I have plans to unpack and get settled before the bundle arrives.

I am perfectly ok with it even showing up late!!!

So, is this a normal pregnancy hormonal issue?

It seems I’m always grumpy at the end.

No one likes to hang out with a Grump...not even a 4 year old.

Crawl in my skin!!!

I have an issue with the phone.

If you want to see me crawl in my skin, ask me to call up someone and ask for something!

I can’t stand to do that!

I don’t mean like calling for Pizza- that one I can do.

For instance, this week I was asked by the Scout Master to contact our local Tae Kwon Do studio to see if they would be interested in participating in our Blue and Gold Banquet teaching our boys a few Tae Kwon Do moves.

We have a Black Belt in our home so I have done my fair share of hanging out with the Masters.
The thought of doing this STILL made me want to hide under my bed.

I willingly accepted the assignment, at the same time backpedalling in my mind, wondering how I could get away without doing it!

I let a few days go by without even making the attempt to contact them.

I floated the idea past Sam to see if he would take the bate and rescue me...no luck.

So, this morning I thought I found a way around it!

I figured I’d call the Studio first thing in the morning when they WEREN’T there and I could leave a message!

8:30am I dialed the number with my speech ready to go.

I guess it’s the dialogue that I’m uncomfortable with. Leaving a message and waiting for an answer is SO much better!

After a few rings and expecting the machine the MASTER PICKED UP THE PHONE!!!!

Panic! !!! What is he doing in the Studio so early?? Classes don’t start till noon!!!

Ughh.....“Hi Master Hwang! It’s Ember Hobi, Jarom Hobi’s mother......” I spit out.

Needless to say, I made it through the phone call alive but my blood pressure shot up and I my insides were a mess!

If I never had to use the phone I’d get a long just fine.

Email, letters,blogging that’s my style!

How we roll

I am a Taylor. In our family that means a few things.
1) You talk loud on the phone
2) You MOVE a lot.

Change is something I grew up with. If we weren’t moving houses I was rearranging my room. I like a fresh environment time to time.

So, naturally I am GAME when Sam comes up with a Big Idea.

The first 5 years of marriage we moved something like 8 times.

Then something happened.

We found a nice quiet place on Husted Lane and we didn’t leave for 5 years!!

Without realizing it, I had planted roots.
I created zillions of memories with my kids under the same roof year after year.

Traditions repeated with each Holiday and child after child attended the same school with the same Kindergarten teacher.

Change was replaced with Comfort.

Time does what it does best and recently I found change was inevitable.

My family of 5 is growing into 6. My kids are not little anymore and our paradise on Husted Lane is busting at the seams.

Today I find myself filled with a lot of emotions, and the root of them is due to CHANGE.

It’s time to say good-bye to the COMFORT of my life and accept the world of change that is ahead.

In two weeks we will bid farewell to Husted Lane and introduce CHANGE to our growing family.

In two weeks the roof over our head will offer new noises, smells, textures, space, and life!

I am thrilled about the prospects but afraid of the unknown. That’s unlike me.
Maybe it’s because I have LOVED it so much here I am afraid it can’t be replaced??

Our new place is still in the same town and it’s going to be great, but its scary to walk away from our “little”, cozy, familiar home into a cold, empty, bigger one.

I lay awake at night trying to insert our life now into that empty house.

I am out of practice.

We move in on the 15th, the baby is due to arrive 19 days later....that’s how we roll.

Change

Today is the last day of February. I like to think that when tomorrow arrives winter is, for the most part, behind me.

March holds a lot of promise for me.

March brings a new rental contract to sign (or not......more on that later).

March brings me very close to my due date.

March brings a lot of rain, which will be necessary to melt the huge “snow mountain” piled on our grass circle.

March brings change. I need change. I thrive on change.

Bring on the change!!

Reality Check

Wednesday morning I woke up to rain....

Wednesday Night passed with rain....

Thursday morning I awoke to rain.

I decided I had to leave the house anyway.

Jace put on his green rain boots, I packed the umbrella and out we went.

Our first stop was Kohl's to do some Christmas returns. (I'm a hermit)

Upon entering the store I smiled. This was the ray of sunshine I needed.

Spring was hanging everywhere.

Bright colors, T-shirts, shorts, and flowers!!!

I came to the right place!

Immediatly I began to feel better. I could, for the next hour, forget about the wet world outside.

I had to bring some of the sunshine home with me so I purchased this:

 

and these:

 

I felt happy.

Then we stepped into the rain again and drove to Costco and had pizza for lunch.

It rained the rest of the day, but inside my house I propped the pillow and dreamed of the day I get to wear my shoes.

Today I woke up to this:

 

And there is no sign of it stopping.

School is cancelled- along with my daydream of Spring.

One more dump?

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of the Week

 

This week I went with angles.
With strict orders from husband, Landlord and Dr. to stay inside today I decided to take my picture from the window. (I'm not sure that was any safer than being out in the snow.)
This photo was taken out my kitchen window of the stairs leading to our terrace.
I like the perspective it offers.

Winter Blues meets a Crush

I’m not sure I can handle cold days and gray skies much longer. Each February I run out of “winter endurance” and start coveting people who live in warmer climates than me.

Last Sunday, although it was cold, seemed to have a hint a Spring in the air. I was uplifted by it too.
“Is it just me?” I asked Sam. “Can you feel something different in the air?”
He admitted to a fresh new “something” also.

I know better though. I know that even though my family back in Utah and California are beginning to see Spring, that I still have a few more winter storms and lots of rain before the sun is out to stay.

April is the month we thaw out. That’s at least 6 weeks away!

I’m not new to this game. It’s the same every year but I get depressed right about NOW! Actually, I’m impressed I made it to the end of February.

Right now I need a DISTRACTION.
I need something to keep my mind off the rain and snow outside.
I need something to keep my mind off the exact amount of days till I “might” go into Labor.

I need the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today I sat around and did nothing. After explaining to Jace that he wasn’t going to watch a movie, because Mom didn’t need a nap, I found myself snorting in the recliner as I dozed off into the dark abyss of a pregnancy nap.

Where did that come from?

I could have done some laundry or went grocery shopping but NOPE, ....no desire.
I left the house only to pick up the kids from school. Jace almost talked me into leaving them there. He thought that would be alright.
I managed to put on a happy face for the new shift I was about to work.

Luckily, the kids were in good spirits after school. Jarom and I talked for almost an hour about ALL the girls that have a “Crush” on him. It was so cute how confident he is about their fondness toward him.

“So, which girl do you have a crush on?” I wondered. “Is it one that has a crush on you?”

Suddenly his eyes shot me a look. At first it was uncertain but quickly turned to amusement.

Now we were playing a new game.
I’ll call it the 2nd grade crush game.

To play: The 2nd grader needs to be questioned about a possible crush. Once that is in place the 2nd grader will deny but encourage any accusing questions to keep the focus on him and the subject.

Oh, it was so cute to see him with a smirk on his face as he squirmed and fidgeted but desperately enjoyed letting me in on his secret.

A Crush. That’s sure to cure the Winter Blues.

Oh, to be a school kid again.


This is Jarom showing me a heart (?) with his hands.

photo of the Week

There isn't anything Fancy about this picture except this blob of snow on the electrical box is shaped as a HEART!!
I spotted this in my car stopped at a red light, and I happened to have my camera!
When I drove by a few min. later it was gone.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

I'll accept it as a gift of Love from Heaven!

Cake Walk

 

Saturday Sam and Jarom created a Book of Mormon cake for the Scouts Cake Walk. They did a great job with it! I was quite impressed!
The following day at church Jace went to the bathroom during Sacrament Meeting. The moment he returned to our pew he exclaimed,

"Mommy!! My poopies were GREEN!!"

Proof he ate too much BLUE frosting!

i love you day

 

Happy I Love You Day!

The Element of Surprise!

I Love a good surprise!

If I can turn a common experience into a surprise, I will.

Why not add a little drama to life?

I love to give simple things to my kids in dramatic ways.

Recently for Family Night, Sam and I decided to watch a certain movie with our kids. A Movie they have been dying to watch.

I eagerly awaited as Sam began to divulge our movie selection.

We both knew they would go ballistic over our choice, but as he began to lure them in I realized not everyone has the “Element of Surprise Ability.”

A moment where complete elation can take place should not be introduce with dry, complicated divolgment!

Even I was a little confused at his approach, and felt the air was completely let out of the balloon on this one!

The kids had no idea what he was talking about till he got to the punch line. At last they jumped, hugged, and cheered as we expected. But, I feel, the thrill could have been so much more!

I sat dumbfounded at his approach and came to the conclusion that some people have “it” and others (Sam) completely miss the mark.

I evaluated the Hobi Family on this “talent” and concluded Jarom and Jace have it and Jennica & Sam do not.

I can’t remember a birthday when Sam gave me a gift on my actual birthday. He gets too excited and ALWAYS gives me the gift early.

Jennica must feel that being the “announcer” makes her apart of the giving. If she even gets wind of a surprise she announces it to the recipient right away.

I can’t count the times she has ruined a surprise with a simple comment like:
“Mom, when are you going to give Jarom the you know what....”
To her, that is not giving away a surprise!

My favorite is a Birthday. My children wake up each birthday with a SURPRISE!!!
I never let them know what the theme for their birthday is. They wake up to the house decorated (in a theme) in their honor and gifts on the table.
It’s been a fun tradition. We all look forward to a birthday because the house is transformed.

Singing Happy Birthday and giving gifts isn’t cutting it for me. They have to be “WOWed“ especially on their birthday.

Kid napping them to go to New York City on a school day was so fun because of the Surprise way we did it.

A Surprise Magical Vacation to California, announced the morning of departure, sure beat the constant nagging of impatient kids and cured the ”Are we
there yet?“ inquiry’s.

Freaky Friday’s during October and I love you Days in February keep the magic going in our house.

So, I ask you, is it any wonder why we are holding off on knowing the gender of our new baby arriving soon?
It has been so fun to guess and wonder what ”flavor“ is growing inside of my belly.
This is a conversation, we as a family, don’t tire of because it is so mysterious!

It’s gender could have already been old news and left to get excited about once again after the birth, but just because we don’t know, we are still excited about the possibilities. It’s arrival is going to be that much more exciting for all!

”What are you having?” I’m being asked.

My reply, “It’s a Surprise!”

This is one of the best surprises yet!
6 weeks to go!

Photo of the week

I love snow as long as a blue sky and bright sun come with it!





It's beautiful today!

Like Me??

Today is dress like your parents day at school. Earlier in the week Jen and I joked about how we could make her look like me.
Some idea’s were putting a pillow in her belly, wearing one of my shirts, or carrying a doll with her.

As the week wore on I forgot about it. This morning I caught a glimpse of her walking down the hall and I cringed when I saw what she was wearing.

“Hey Jen, let’s go find a shirt that goes with that dress.” I suggested. “And maybe you should wear your black boots instead.”
I wondered if kids her age tease about what shoes they wear. I figured IF they did, today might be the day she gets a turn.

She stomped her little foot and said, “But Mom! It’s dress like your parents day!”

I was stumped! Was she suggesting I DRESS LIKE THAT??!

I just looked at her....she just looked at me.....

She shrugged her shoulders as if to say this was the best she could do and turned and walked away.

This is strange, I thought to myself.

I went to Sam to share my concern.

“Sam, today is dress like your parents day today...”

“Yeah, Jarom is wearing torn jeans and a sweater!”

“Never mind Jarom, he wasn’t dressing up. Did you see Jen?”

“Is she wearing her pajamas?” He guessed with a smile.

“Is she wearing her pajamas?!” I laughed. Clearly I wear mine way too often around here.
(I think if she were wearing her pajamas it would closer to the truth...I hope)

“No, she’s not wearing her pajamas. You need to see this.”

We peeked out the window to see her playing in the ice outside.

“The part that kills me is she is wearing tennis shoes and socks with her dress!“ I commented. ”She looks like a polygamist! Maybe her teachers will think she is dressing like your 2nd wife.“ I joked.

”Very Timely.“ He laughed. ”This month’s National Geographic front cover is on Polygamy in America.“ he reminded me.

”I tried to get her to change the shoes.....“ I offered as some sort of justification, as I watched her outside.

”She said she was dressing like me.“ I said sadly as I watched my terribly miss-matched girl leave for school.

She will get teased today- and she’s dressing like me!

I do know she is smart enough she can pull off the excuse that she is in costume!

Mothers are always teaching...even when we’re not talking! I have some things to work on apparently.

Click on image

 

Pan vs. bandit

 

After school my house transforms into a battle zone.

Swords, daggers, lightsabers and even hangers are flying around.

Today it was Pan vs. Bandit.

To do...or NOT

School was delayed for 90 min. this morning because of snowy roads.
It’s a good feeling to crawl back into bed.
I enjoyed a long breakfast with the kids. (eggs, spinach, toast, & oranges)

Jace didn’t like that the others were hanging around all morning. He likes our morning routine ALONE.

After breakfast he picks up his room, makes his bed, dresses himself, then gets to play Nickjr.com if he passes inspection.
While he’s engaged with his chores I get a moment to get my scripture study in and clean up breakfast.

Recently I have started Hooked on Phonics with Jace. I have used it to teach my other kids to read and really like it .
Jarom and Jen both entered Kindergarten reading and I am determined to get Jace there too.

I feel my time is running out- I want him reading before the baby comes. We made progress today.
It’s so fun to see him catch on to it.

He has been begging me to teach him to read. It bothers him that he can’t read at scripture time or during quiet time. More than once he has come to me frustrated saying, “Mom, teach me to read!”
And of Course he thinks it’s NOT fair that Jarom gets to read in bed at night!

Today he was Peter Pan. (again) I’m saving on laundry thanks to this costume. I bet he wears it 4 days out of the week.

Yesterday I completed my Photo class assignments and tests from New York Institute of Photography. Ahhh, it feels so good to have that done.
Now I wait to get my grades and see if I passed! I had three years to complete the Course and I think this month I hit the 2 year mark.
(this baby is pushing me to get all sorts of things accomplished)
I’m glad I did the Course. It was a lot of fun doing the assignments. I love the books they sent me and feel I learned a lot.
I am very curious to see what feed back I’ll get on my photos.

I still have a few more things I want to get done before the baby. I am in the “Nesting” zone.
Like:
2 more junk drawers
about 3 more hours in the attic organizing (I’m waiting for a semi-warm day...it’s freezing up there!)
wash ALL the walls!
re-cover the cushions on my dining room chairs (ugh! that one hurts my brain. how do I do it?)
Slurp 2009 blog into a book
Redo 2008 blog book (made it in the wrong size)

So, anyone interested in a few day projects?

Photo of the week

This week I went with capturing motion but keeping the subject in focus.
(straight out of the camera shot)

Jennica's I love you Day

February 1, 2010 8:51 PM




Because Sam and I feel Valentines Day is an Adult celebration, a few years ago we decided to create our own Special celebration in an age appropriate way for our kids. We share an I Love you Day with each child during the month of February.

Today was Jennica’s I Love You Day.

As tradition goes they never know when their day is going to arrive. It’s always a surprise when they get home from school.

While Jen was at school today Jace and I put it together.

Jace kept singing “Jen’s lucky day, Jen’s lucky day!” as he plastered her closet door with hearts.

I stuck hearts all over her walls and left her little gifts, crafts, and a treat.
It is as simple as decorating her room and she feels so important for the day.

We all wrote a little note on a HUGE card telling her we loved her.

She LOVED it!



This is a tradition they ask about often. Even Jace asks when we celebrate I Love You Day.

I find it rather annoying that kids pass around love notes at school.

Come on! Do Kindergartners really understand what it means to be someone’s Valentine?
Do they need to understand that at age 5?
Why do I need to explain to my child what another CHILD is implying by the words Be Mine or Wild Thing? This is NOT kid stuff!

I think it would be better if the valentine cards were more tailored to friendship. The comments or suggestions from a Valentine card DO NOT need to be introduced in grade school!!!

It’s a LOVE issue I feel doesn’t need to be celebrated at such a young age with schoolmates.

Yes, I remember my years in Elementary School getting Valentine’s. The fun part was getting CANDY and decorating your box for mail. Now days you don’t pass out candy or even create a box. I wonder why the teacher’s tolerate it.

I am a fan of Valentines Day. It’s a day Sam and I celebrate but it has nothing to do with the kids.

I Love You Day allows the family to focus on an Individual for a day.

That’s true love!

Things I LOVE about Jen:

She will give up anything to give to someone who is suffering.
She loves to surprise me with acts of kindness.
She loves to kiss and cuddle Everything!
She loves to share.
She makes sure her room is PERFECTLY clean before going to school.
She gets the mail for me everyday.
Every picture she draws is about family or says I Love you on it.

The unknown

I woke up feeling like my arms were made of steel. Not because they are in shape and fine tuned either.

I can only sleep on my left side, so by morning I feel a bit numb all over.

I’m happy to report this is the extent of my sleeping problems during pregnancy.
Sleeping is NOT a problem. Getting out of bed and feeling my arms and legs is.

In getting ready for church this morning I admired my “roundness” in the mirror. I am a lot bigger than I thought. Wearing pj’s day in and out has really contributed to image denial.
I gave up on nylons- they manage to make me feel like I want to kill something by the time they are on straight- no matter how skinny I am.

So today I wore knee highs.

“I have the legs of a Grandma.” I thought as I posed for the mirror.

“Sam, how do I look?” I dare ask.

I’m sure he replied with something nice but all I remember was his reference to my Granny legs.

I was right, I looked like a Granny.

My ankles have transformed into cankles.

Pregnancy really takes over my body. I gain a lot of weight. More than the expected 30lbs.
I’m ok with that.
I watch with wonder as my image takes on a new shape. It’s amazing how big a belly can get.

In a way I don’t feel like my body is mine anymore. It belongs to the baby for now.

I am just as surprised with the changes as anyone.

I’m happy I feel good. I happy we are healthy. I’m happy to be a Granny for a few more months.

I know my body will return. If I hadn’t done this 3 times before I’d be a little concerned, but it always bounces back.

Pregnancy is an honor.

Carrying this child without knowing the gender has forced me to pay more attention to feelings. I know nothing about this unborn child except that it is from God.

But I have special feelings and a bond toward this baby that is so sweet. I can feel I am carrying a “person”,
a Child of God. A Spirit that needs me right now.

Not knowing the gender has kept me from daydreaming of the future boy or girl. I’m not falsely creating personality or assumptions of how it will fit into our family.

This baby’s Spirit is felt and is very real.

I look forward to the day more is revealed but I already feel I know my baby.

My kind of Day

January 31, 2010 5:18 PM


Yesterday was my kind of day!! A day with nothing planned and all day to get my house clean. It was a day I didn’t even look in the mirror or change from my pajamas.
A day I didn’t worry about meals because Sam takes over in the kitchen.
A day the kids clean their room, bathroom, livingroom, dust, take out the garbage and vacuum.

I get to the junk drawers, laundry, bills, organizing the attic and other time consuming things I don’t start during the week because I know I will be interrupted by other activities or schedules.

At the end of the day I sat by the fire happy to be a bit more organized in a clean house and completely stuffed from a delicious Mexican dinner I didn’t fix!

I love that my kids can clean a room as well as I can and my husband cooks better than me!

I love that THEY made my kind of day!

Photo of the Week

We were HAPPY to get a fresh dump of snow yesterday morning.
I don't mind the snow as long as the blue sky shows up every once in awhile. I am pleased with winter this time around.