Welcome!

Welcome to a piece of our sweet journey of life. This blog is about our family life-- my husband, my type 1 diabetic sixth grader, my spunky fourth grader, my first grader little girl, and myself! Enjoy!

Thursday, March 30, 2017

18 Weeks-- How Did We Get Here?

We hit our 18 week mark yesterday for this pregnancy!  I'm actually rather shocked when I think that our first appointment and ultrasound was 11 weeks ago!  In 11 weeks from now, I'll be 29 weeks along!  Weeks fly by when you're staying busy-- whether it's busy-ness at work, or from doing things outside the home, or by just being a mom to two small boys who are going 90-to-nothing all day!

This week, Baby P3 can hear me talking-- and I think he or she can hear some noises from outside the womb, too.  I've tried to be more intentional in my speaking to Baby, and I tell him or her what day of the week it is and how long left he or she has to grow before they get to be on the outside. I'm pretty sure Baby heard the hand-mixer today as I mixed up a batch of coffee-toffee-bars. It's pretty loud!

Sleeping has been no issue for me lately.  Last night, I did a pregnancy workout, and then took my shower and headed to bed to do my devotion and study a bit for a test I have to take in two weeks.  Aaron was playing on the computer, and I was planning to chat with him a bit once he came to bed.  Well, after my devotion and studying a couple pages of my study guide, I decided to go to sleep-- knowing that I usually wake up when he comes to bed.  Well, I woke up at 2:42 in the morning (partly because Aaron was squishing me since he was rolling onto my side of the bed!) and he had already been in bed for hours!  I must have slept hard because I didn't hear him come into the bedroom at all!  I quickly fell back asleep and slept all the way until his alarm went off in the morning.

I'm glad tomorrow is Friday, and I'll be even happier to see Friday evening because I will know that I don't have to set an alarm on Saturday or Sunday!  On Saturdays, the boys have been doing pretty well in letting us sleep until 7:00am.  On Sundays, we know they'll wake us up before we have to get ready for church. In the afternoons lately, I've been trying to take a quick nap during my afternoon break.  I have been SO tired!  I really really look forward to the weekends.

On Saturday afternoon last week, I attended a wedding shower for a coworker-friend of mine.  My mom was working, and asked me to send her a picture after I was dressed up.  A definite basketball appearance.




I've been craving nothing but SWEETS lately!  I really wish my cravings were for celery and carrots and salad only.  But nope.  This pregnancy is a gateway to Desserts Land, and it's disheartening because the cravings are so strong, but I want to stick to my limited weight gain plan so badly!

On Wednesday, we'll (hopefully) find out the gender of Baby.  I'll keep you posted!

Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba


Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Lyrical Wednesday: In Awe

Today's lyrics are from Hollyn, and her song "In Awe."  It really just speaks to the fact that we're not NEEDED by God, but we are truly WANTED by Him.

***



In Awe


Can't speak
So close I can feel You breathe
You're so holy and worthy
You know what I've been
Can't move So close to You 
I'm see through 
No, not innocent like you
Oh God, I'm sorry


[Chorus]I'm livin' in awe
You don't need me at all
But You couldn't love me more Ohhh
I'm livin' in awe
Every day I fall
But You never let me go Ohhh
I'm livin' in awe, awe
Livin' in awe Ohhh


[Verse 2]Can't speak
So close I can feel You breathe
You're so holy and worthy
You know what I've been
Can't move So close to You 
I'm see through
No, not innocent like you
Oh God, I'm sorry


I'm livin' in awe
'Cause You don't need me at all
But You couldn't love me more
Ohhh
I'm livin' in awe
And every day I fall
But You never let me go
Ohhh
I'm livin' in awe, awe
Livin' in awe
Ohhh
I'm livin' in awe of You
Livin' in awe of You


[Bridge]
'Cause Your love is overwhelming
Your love is overwhelming
It's only You and me here
And Your love is overwhelming
Your love is overwhelming
I can barely breathe here


[Outro]
I'm livin' in awe
'Cause You don't need me at all
But You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love me more



***


Until Next Time, 
Much love, Reba




Friday, March 24, 2017

Random Goals



  • Nail down Baby names.  We find out gender in less than two weeks!
  • Hang up the pictures that I’ve been stacking in the Master bedroom (either in the Master bedroom or Master bathroom or hallway)
  • Having the dining room painted (either bright teal on the lower half of the chair rail, or a very neutral and very light beige) 
  • Having kitchen painted a bright white.  Obviously, with this goal and the one above it, I’ve decided the rooms in my home are too brown.
  • Get into a regular cleaning schedule at the house.  I’m pretty good with dishes and laundry and cleaning out the fridge.  But I could do better at cleaning the kitchen and the bathrooms and vacuuming all bedrooms.
  • Clean the clutter around our bed.  This is mainly Aaron’s thing and he keeps mentioning it.  I’d like to have a very minimalist bedroom.  They say “The state of your bed is the state of your head” and I firmly believe that.  I make my bed each day. It helps me feel more pulled together. If all the clutter was cleared away and the extra items around our bed were put away, I’d feel so much better and would have more room for the pack-and-play for Baby.
  • Change the clothes in the boys’ dresser from winter items to summer items.
  • Get the wide bookshelf from my mom’s house to use as toy storage in the boys’ room rather than the basket we’re currently using now. Having their toys displayed in front of them would make it easier for them to be able to play with each toy, and will hopefully cause less of a mess instead of their current “dump everything out of the basket onto the closet floor” method for finding toys.  This will also make it easier for me to see what toys they’ve outgrown so I can either store them for Baby or consign them.
  • Gather up clothes I’m not consigning and take them to the thrift store (these include things with stains that won’t come out, and that the consignment sale won’t take). 
  • Sort through my shoes and add no-longer-worn pairs to the thrift store pile
  • Inventory our pantry and freezer (refrigerator freezer and deep freezer) in order to throw out what’s expired and see what meals I can create based on what we have, so that I only have to buy basics (milk, eggs, bread, yogurt) at the grocery store and save money.
  • Drink 10 glasses of water each day. I think lack of enough water in my day might be the source of some of the headaches I’ve had.
  • Commit to either doing my pregnancy work-out DVD daily, or doing the 4-mile walking DVD that my mother-in-law is letting me borrow.  
  • Restock Michael’s prize bag for CGM changes
  • Commit to potty-training Noah completely!
  • Replace windshields on both cars.  Both of them have several starbursts that are connecting rapidly.
Here's to a relaxing weekend (hopefully!)  Aaron has soccer practice and a soccer game tomorrow.  I have a  bridal shower to attend (if the weather cooperates).  Hopefully we'll find time to go to the grocery store sometime!

Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

A Fast-Talking Preschooler and a Spunky Toddler


Dear Michael,




You are such a joy to be around!  From the moment you wake up (7:00am if you’re left to your own devices—6:30am if your brother is being too loud), you are talking 90-miles-an-hour until bedtime.  The things you say!  Oh my goodness!  You can carry on an adult conversation, and you amaze us with the information you have about pretty much everything!  You love to explain the workings of certain video games.  If you’re telling me about your day and can’t remember something, you’re quick to make-up what might have happened instead! 


You occasionally sit through a whole movie at home.  Mulan and Moana have been recent hits.  I tried introducing you to Peter Pan, and you might have watched 20 minutes total.  Mary Poppins was an utter failure in your book.  Maybe the next time I try it, I’ll fast-forward to where they jump into the chalk painting and go from there. 


Your favorite TV show (that we let you watch) is “Phineas and Ferb” and your dad likes it too, and I can stand it.  Two shows that you get to watch at Grandma Chips’ house but not at ours are “Yo-Kai Watch” and “Pokemon.”  I’m not into anime and really can’t stand the story lines, so we have nixed those from acceptable shows when you are home.


You like to play with playdough and build “play-dough towers” with the containers.  If you had your choice, though, you’d play Wii-U 100% of the time. 


For being so brave with your pod and CGM changes, and due to a lack of prizes in your prize-bag, you were rewarded with Super Smash Brothers for the Wii-U this week.  You LOVE it, and you’ve only had it one day!  You kept telling us non-stop from Sunday night until it arrived that you just COULDN’T WAIT to play it and that you knew it was going to be SO AWESOME!  I don’t think it disappointed.


We are working on your attitude on two major things:  when you lose a game, and when it’s time to put the games up for bedtime.  These two instances can throw you into such a heated fit, it’s not even funny.  We are working on coaching you through how to be a good loser, because we know that you might not win every game on the playground at recess this fall and we want you to be prepared.  We have changed around some tactics to be able to provide you a warning time on how many minutes you have left before bedtime, hoping that this eliminated the surprise factor that might be the cause of the temper tantrums.


You like to play outside, but it’s not your favorite thing.  We ate outside on our deck one night this week and both you and Noah thought that was the bomb.  You’ll chase and ninja-chop bubbles when I blow them outside, and you’re always quick to find a stick of some kind to make believe it’s a wrench and you then proceed to “fix” everything in sight.  I’m hoping this is the summer of swimming for you!  With two sets of grandparents having pools, we should find ourselves in the water a lot this summer.  I’m hoping you venture farther out than your first step comfort zone.  I’ll be here to help you every step (or arm stroke and kick) of the way!

You’re so spirited and it’s just such a joy to be your mom!

I love you so so much!



Dear Noah Scott Own-wee (only),




You still refuse to accept your last name as part of your identity.  This just goes right along with who you are—a spunky three-year-old who has his own ideas and ways of doing things and remains stubborn to the core.


You are my child who can go to his room for bed at 7:00pm, and sing until 9:00pm, and then wake up at 5:30am ready to begin the day!  We’re really working with you on staying in your room until 7:00am.  This was glorious over the weekend!  And during the weekdays, it allows me to get some work done before you pop your cheery (or somedays, not so cheery) face into the dining room!


You LOVE to be outside and would stay out there all day if you could.  You are eager to try things for yourself, so you’ve become intent on blowing your own bubbles and learning how to rake from the very knowledgeable Michael.  You immensely enjoyed eating dinner on the deck this week and each night you ask if we can do it again.  Hot dogs and hamburgers are easy to eat on the deck.  Grilled pork chops take a little more finesse.  We’ll get there.  Maybe we’ll even buy a real table for the deck so you don’t have to use our outdoor coffee table as your food-holder.


You make great impersonations of vacuums, hair dryers, leaf blowers, carpet shampooers (“water vacuums”), hand-mixers and stand-mixers, etc.  You’re fascinated by fans and will consider your day a success if you’re able to spot a fan in some location (the store, someone’s garage, in a book, etc).  We wonder, sometimes, if you’ll be the voice-over for commercials or movies when a vacuum is used and they need it to be just a bit more realistic—they’ll call you in for the job.


Your favorite food is probably dry cereal.  You like to snack on it all day, and will eat it with milk occasionally.  You also like string cheese and smoked pepperoni sticks and crackers.  However, you are not a fan of coming to eat when it’s actually dinnertime.  Once the rest of us sit down, though, you’re not too far behind. 


You are still a great self-entertainer and choose to play by yourself lots of times.  In Sunday School this past week, you were joining in on a board game and then randomly decided you’d rather play with the toy vacuum.  I love to have you play beside me when I’m doing something else like Bible study homework.  You’ll have your little toy bus or toy car and I’ll smile as I hear you make up voices and situations for your toys.  I try not to let you notice my smile because I don’t want you to stop playing!


You love to help around the house when you can.  It’s your job to put your dirty clothes in the washing machine.  You eagerly jump in to help me vacuum (and jump is not an exaggeration!).  You want me to mop with both the Swiffer Sweeper and Swiffer WetJet, and use the vacuum, and use the carpet shampooer, and unload & load the dishwasher and turn on the washer & dryer every single day.  Since I can’t accomplish all of that every single day (usually the dishes and the laundry are daily occurrences) I save the vacuuming for “special treats,”  ie, ‘If you’re well-behaved, we’ll vacuum after we get home today’ etc.  It works well.


You’re a pretty good cuddler, but whether or not you wake up in a good mood after naptime is always up in the air.  Apparently, this is very similar to how your daddy acted at this age and his mom debated whether to continue even giving naps at all. Although you might be ready to give up your nap, I’m not ready to give up mine!  I look forward to “quiet time” each weekend, and I’d rather you play in your room for an hour and a half instead of dropping naptime all together.


You don’t quite understand the concept that a new baby is coming in August, but you’ve stated that the Baby can be named Sally.  Michael graciously input this into the middle of the name he selected, which is now Sweet Butterfly Sally Cutie Caterpillar.  Neither that name, nor Sally are on our list.  We’ll find out if this Baby will be your brother or your sister in two weeks, but I’m still not sure you’ll grasp the concept until August actually arrives.  Michael, however, isn’t shy about telling me that my belly is getting bigger!  I have no doubt that you both will be great big brothers.


I love you, spunky Noah!  You’re the sassiness we need in life.


Love, Mommy


Friday, March 10, 2017

Baby Update


We are at the 15 week mark!  I really can’t believe how fast this pregnancy is going!  Our next appointment in one month will be the one where we’ll (hopefully) find out the gender of Baby P3! 

 

At my appointment yesterday, Baby P3 had a heartrate of 163!  This is right on target with every heartbeat we’ve heard thus far:  155 at the first appointment (week 7), 162 at week 11, and 163 this week.  I am thinking we might be paving the way for a girl!  But I’ll be just as happy with a boy! The appointment to find out the gender is always my favorite. 

 

I’ve felt a few flutters and “popcorn pops” and am excited to continue to feel the kicks and jabs stronger and stronger as the weeks go on.



 

How far along?  15 weeks, 2 days


Total weight gain: +3lbs


Maternity clothes: YES!  The only type of pants or shorts I can wear are maternity or stretchy waistbands.  I can barely squeeze my belly into regular t-shirts, so I’ll be on the lookout for enough maternity shirts to last the remainder of the pregnancy.  My mom was so sweet and bought me a couple of maternity shirts at Belk two weeks ago and those have gotten a good run through my rotation!


Stretch marks?  Yes.  I had stretch marks with both pregnancies prior.  This time, those have returned, and some new ones have moved in as well.  Stretch marks do not bother me because they show that my body was a home to my babies.  They are my “mommy stripes.”


Sleep:  Very difficult these days, but that’s mainly due to a snoring husband and not so much due to inability to sleep due to pregnancy.  I have found a comfortable position each night, and I have absolutely zero trouble falling asleep—it’s the staying asleep that is an issue.  Most nights I move out to the couch so I can sleep without added noise. *wink* I am treasuring the days that I can still lie on my back to sleep.  I have three weeks of this left, and then I have to abandon that position for a few months.


Best moment this week: Hearing Baby’s heartbeat on the Doppler!


Have you told family and friends? Oh yes.  And strangers even ask me when I’m due.  No one really even questions if I’m pregnant.  They all just want to know when I’m due.


Miss anything?  I miss sushi and coffee.  Aaron ordered a new kind of K-cup and it smells so smooth!  He’s not a big coffee drinker, and he says it tastes smooth and isn’t overpowering or acidic.  I am looking forward to having a cup of that this fall.  I am also a big sushi fan.  I like all types of sushi and sashimi.  When I can’t stand the craving anymore, I find a shrimp roll or crab roll since those types of rolls have to be cooked.  I am looking forward to the day when I can have a tuna roll or salmon roll again.


Food cravings:  This week I’ve wanted salty things, peanut butter, and *sigh* sweets.  I’m trying to curb the sweet cravings because I don’t want to ruin my 15lb weight gain goal.


Anything making you queasy or sick:  The smell of chicken cooking.


Have you started to show yet:  Most definitely.  I’ve found a picture of me when I was pregnant with Michael at 17 weeks and I hardly had a bump. This 15-week bump I’m sporting now could rival a 20-week bump on someone else.


Gender:  We will find out next month!


Labor signs: No.  Good thing.


Belly button in or out: Halfway out.


Wedding rings on or off:  Off unfortunately.  My mom looked at my hands two weeks ago and said I probably needed to think about taking off my rings.  I remembered to do so about five days after that.  Now I wear them on a necklace.


Happy or moody most of the time:  Most of the time, I’d say I was happy.  I do have my moody moments and get sad or teary very quickly.


Looking forward to:  Finding out Baby’s gender and shopping at the consignment sale!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Much love, Reba