Thanks to those who prayed!

The baby moved just enough to keep us from calling the doctors, and this afternoon she/he finally started getting some good, hard kicks in again! Even had the hiccups for a while :) We don't have another scheduled dr's appointment for a week and a half, but we'll have an ultrasound and find out whether it's a girl or a boy then!

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouraging words.

Scary Moments

Last night around 9 I realized that I couldn't remember the last time I had felt the baby move! With my last two pregnancies, when that happened I just drank something and laid down for about an hour, but usually within 20 minutes the baby was active.

Last night, nothing.

Isaac and I prayed, and then I expected to feel something immediately after. Do you ever think that way? Like prayer is some magic wand that will fix everything. But there was nothing.

So Isaac made me some hot chocolate and we decided to watch a movie. If by the end of the movie there were still no movements, I would go to the ER.

Stinkin' baby didn't move until the final credits were rolling!

I've felt some movements today, but they're still not as strong as I'm used to. But according to the books, at 26 weeks the baby is not actually neurologically developed enough to have a regular pattern of movement. So I'm taking it easy today and paying attention to how often I feel movements, just in case.

If you get a chance, pray for us today!

The Downside of Military Life

I think almost any military wife you meet will tell you that the hardest part of military life is constantly saying goodbye to our friends. Someone is always moving to a different part of the world, and there are no guarantees that we'll see each other again. Twice I've had my best friends move within a month of me giving birth, losing some of my greatest support.

But this is worse.

Much, much worse.

I had to find a new hair stylist.

I LOVED my last stylist. I could say "surprise me" and she'd do a beautiful job every time.

So when I moved here I looked around at all the moms I had met, and asked those with cuts that I really liked to give me a name. I wasn't even nervous.

Little did I know...

I went in and told my new stylist that I was tired of growing out my bangs and wanted to cut them, and to update my layers a bit. She seemed to know exactly what I wanted.

After she was done, there was just something off about the cut, but I figured once I had washed all the gunk out and styled my hair myself, then I'd like it.

So I washed it.

And I dried it.

And OH MY GOODNESS pass me a can of Aquanet because I have 80's bangs!

I spent enough of my youth torturing my bangs into a giant frothy wavy mass and then spraying them into submission while using enough aerosol to wipe out any ozone that had survived the previous day's shellacking.

I DON'T WANT 80'S HAIR!!!

I don't want skintight jeans, legwarmers, neon clothes, anything that tapers (and hence shows how wide my hips have gotten since the 80's). And I definitely do not want mile high bangs.

Please excuse me while I go use my non-aerosol, ozone-friendly, flexible hold hairspray to try and fix this problem.

Leper Girl and the Grumpiest Boy in the World

Today was supposed to be our second day of homeschooling.

It's a good thing I'm really unstructured and can't stick to a schedule to save my life. Our first day went beautifully yesterday. We went to gynastics in the morning, then came home and had a snack, and then went downstairs to the playroom. Luke played while Chloe and I did our reading. Then we had lunch, and I read them their Bible lesson and we talked about how we can't see God. Then Luke took a nap, and Chloe and I did workbook pages for 15 minutes, played Little People for 15 minutes, then off she went to her bedroom.

Beautiful.

I knew from the moment Luke woke up that today would not be beautiful. I went to get him, and he greeted me with, "poopoo!" Thank God it was still in his diaper and not spread around the room. He had a total tantrum and a half when I tried to change his diaper. I think the only words he said for the next hour were no, mine, and more. He had morphed into his secret identity- The Grumpiest Boy in the World. This happens occasionally when he is teething. Unfortunately, it has been known to last for weeks, until we are praying that it is not a permanent change and are ready to muzzle him.

Since he was into throwing everything he could find and screaming, I figured some time outside might mellow him enough that he'd play by himself for a while and Chloe and I could do school.

Nope.

I fed him a snack.

Still Grumpy.

So I put on some music and suggested the kids dance. Chloe said, "Ok, I'll go be Leper Girl!" What this actually means is Slipper Girl. She likes to dance in her slippers because she can slide around.

But you try to explain the difference between Leper and Slipper to a not-yet-4-year-old!

So The Grumpiest Boy in the World and Leper Girl are dancing and mommy is drinking coffee and blogging.

And you know what? It doesn't bother me at all. I'm off to assume my alter ego...The Hip Dancin' Preggo Mama...

The Grumpiest Boy in the World in his superhero dancin' clothes...

Menu Plan Monday

 

Well, with kids getting sick last week, we ended up with takeout several times, and I forgot about the large roast in my fridge and had to throw it away :(  Oh well, these things happen when we get sick!  Here's my plan for this week, with a few carry-overs from last week!

 

Monday- Cheeseburger Casserole, Salad

Tuesday- Salmon Burgers (using canned salmon), roasted potato wedges, carrots

Wednesday- Meatloaf, noodles, broccoli

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Crockpot Chicken of some sort, rice

Saturday- Enchiladas, black bean and corn salad

 

To participate, head over to Laura's website and sign up! 

(Re) Starting School Tomorrow!

I think we're finally ready to start school again.  We actually started a few weeks ago, but the curriculum I ordered for Chloe didn't work out.  We received Winter Promise's "Animals and their Worlds" last Friday, and the kids were so excited that we did most of the first week over the weekend.  Since it is based around animals, Luke is even into it, although he mostly looks at the pictures :)  But he is still learning!

I have our stuff organized, but right now it is split between the two stories, and I think that will end up bothering me!  We have all the books upstairs in the bookcase in the dining room, and all the arts and crafts stuff in the playroom.  I have a feeling that we'll end up doing most of our schooling in the playroom so that Luke has toys to occupy him.  When we're upstairs, he just wants to watch tv if Chloe isn't playing with him.  Oh well, it's our first year of homeschooling, so I guess it will be a learning process for us all.  And since the Navy has said we are moving anytime between next January and next September, I don't want to buy any new organizational stuff.

I'm excited to really begin, but nervous, too.  I just pray that my unstructured nature doesn't get in the way of Chloe's learning.  The girl begs to do school!  I don't mind being relaxed about it, but I can see myself letting it slide, and not really doing anything.  Lord, please bless this year!

You know you're a parent when...

Your child gets that look on their face, opens and closes their mouth a bit, and then you know, you just know, that they are going to throw up.

And since the seconds always stretch into millenia in emergency moments you have time to consider your options:

I could put him down. But he really needs me for comfort and if I put him down he'll just throw up all over the carpet and then I'll have to scrub it and it's already getting uncomfortable for me to bend down and do stuff with this belly and he'll just want up as soon as he's done anyway and then it will get all over me.

I could face him away from me. But then he'll throw up all over his bed and I'll have to take off the sheets and mattress pads and put on new and he'll probably cry the entire time I'm doing that because he needs me for comfort and do I have any other clean sheets in the house anyway?

I could just let him throw up on me. It will save the most time and I can comfort him while he does it and it will contain the mess since this belly is practically a shelf anyway (not to mention the chest!) and then I can just put a changing pad on his bed and a towel on the floor in case he throws up again and I won't have to do any scrubbing or change any sheets.

I thought I was the only one who thought this way until the other day when my sweet hubby faced this situation for the first time, and came to the same conclusion I did- It's easier to let them throw up on you.

That's when you really know you're a parent!

Telling others about the decision to homeschool

Jeana started a post about hidden messages in homeschooling conversations on her blog.  Part of this "conversation" really struck me:

Me: We homeschool.

What I meant: We homeschool.

What (oh let's just call her a she, even though sometimes it's a he) heard: We homeschool because we think that public schools are the spawn of Satan and private schools are his stepchildren. I think my kids are infinitely more Godly and righteous because of our choice, and any parent who does not homeschool is sentencing his/her child to eternal torment and, at the very least, exclusion from any playdate that involves my perfect offspring who by the way just this morning memorized the entire Bible while I multi-tasked by grinding wheat with one hand and handstitching a dress with the other while I gave birth to my forty-seventh child.

Her: We don't homeschool because (fill in the blank)

To fill in the rest of the conversation with what I usually feel-

What I hear: Your kids are going to be freaks with no social skills, and you're over-controlling and over-protective, and need a life of your own.

     *We awkwardly end the conversation and drift off to talk to someone else.

I am the first to admit that I am defensive when it comes to our choice to homeschool.  As soon as someone asks, "Is your daughter in preschool?" I'm preparing myself to be judged.  It often feels like getting past this conversation is the first step to making a new friend. 

I really don't think homeschooling is for everyone.  We personally feel that God has called us to it, not as a trial, but as a committment, unless He possibly shows us something different.  Whether someone else homeschools, or does public or private school, I respect it as long as it is a decision that was thought through and prayed through and the family feels like it is God's will for them.

But how do you get past the fear of being judged?  How do you get past the awkwardness that I feel so often when meeting a new mom?  How do you make the conversation comfortable for the other mom?  I'm sure she must feel it, too.

What do you do in this situation?

What did your parents do right?

Lately I have been reflecting a lot on my own childhood. I never remember being yelled at by my parents. Of course, when my mom got angry, she often wouldn't speak to us for days, but that is for a different post! My mom never yelled. I don't remember her getting impatient with all my questions. The overall sense I have of my childhood is that they just let us be children, and they enjoyed us. They put out the effort to do special games like treasure hunts with maps and clues all over the house. They surprised us with fun trips and games. They provided some really great memories.



I really feel that my biggest failure in parenting is in patience. I get sooo tired of the constant questions and talking. I often have my quiet time when the kids are taking a nap. While there's nothing wrong with that, I remember hearing Beth Moore speak once in college. She was saying that no matter what time of day you have your quiet time, you still need to choose God first thing when you start your day. If you fail to choose God each day, then you are making a choice for depravity. I certainly don't intend to choose depravity. But I often don't stop to choose God first thing, either. And I think it is reflected in my lack of patience with my kids. I end up spending most of my day walking in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit. So today I choose God. I choose to be a godly example for my kids. I choose the fruit of the Spirit. I choose to follow this example that my parents set for me and not get frustrated over the endless talking and questions, but instead to just enjoy my children.

Menu Plan Monday

Check out orgjunkie's blog to participate in Menu Plan Monday!

Well, Luke started throwing up today, so I am going to try and keep things simple this week in case the virus goes around the family...I already have several of these meals in the freezer since I often make double and freeze one.

 

Monday- Grilled chicken, broccoli and rice casserole

Tuesday- Chicken Tetrazzini and salad

Wednesday- Chicken Fajitas

Thursday- Salmon Burgers and something

Friday- Hamburger and Cheese Casserole

Saturday- Beef Enchiladas

 

And if I end up getting the virus, then we'll be eating Mac n Cheese and McDonald's all week, LOL.

I may have made a slight miscalculation...

My son loves animals.  Especially lions.  And roaring like a lion.  Last week in Sunday school he scared a 4-year-old by roaring at her.  He's not even 2 yet.

So I opened up the San Diego Zoo website to let him look at the animal pictures and hear the animal sounds...I will never have peace again.

Every time I sit at the computer now I hear a little voice beside me, "a-ni-mools?" Then he tries to climb into my lap (of which there isn't much, being almost 6 months pregnant) and asks somewhat more insistently, "a-ni-mools? line? el-pant?"

I won't even mention the sticky fingerprints all over my computer screen.

I'll never blog in peace again...

Smoke actually came from my computer...

I went to turn it on yesterday morning, and the kids and I got a scare when there was a series of loud pops and a burning smell. I actually backed the kids up because I was afraid it was going to catch on fire! I went through withdrawals all day. I count on my computer for so much of my adult interaction that I just felt kind of lost at times. Thankfully it ended up being the power and was easily replaced. And much cheaper than buying a whole new computer! And we are back online today and reconnecting!

We returned our first curriculum...

It was a pretty intimidating thing to do! After all, we are just starting this whole homeschool thing, and we were all so excited about that box of books. But it just wasn't meeting our needs. We ordered Animals and their Worlds from Winter Promise, and we're all excited about this one, too. I really pray that this one works out. I know we don't need to buy a full curriculum, but since it's our first time, and I tend to do things more spontaneously, the planning just doesn't get done when it's left to me. Or if I do plan, then by the time I'm ready to do the lesson, it doesn't appeal to me anymore! A friend who has homeschooled for several years encouraged me by saying that whatever I decide on will be perfect because God has called me to do this, and given me wisdom and insight into my children. I have to remind myself that if I'm seeking God and obeying Him in this, then I can't fail!

Menu Plan Monday

Head over to OrgJunkie's site to participate in Menu Plan Monday!

Monday- Chicken Parmesan Burgers (using leftovers from last week), Salad

Tuesday- Beef Pepper Steak and Rice (we ordered pizza instead of eating this last week)

Wednesday- Crockpot Chicken

Thursday- Sloppy Joes, Salad, Corn

Friday- Beef Enchiladas, Black bean and corn salad

Chloe's opinion on homeschool...

Me: Chloe, tell Daddy what you did for school today.

Chloe: But Mommy, we didn't do school today!

Me: Yes we did!

Chloe: No we didn't! We read some books and we did some workbook pages, but we didn't do school! We just played and had fun.

Just not sure what to do about curriculum!

I am so torn about continuing with the curriculum we have (Sonlight PreK) or getting a different one. My dd is just going through it so fast. It's not like I'm pushing her either! I have to stop her from continuing on in her workbooks after she's done an entire week's worth of pages in one sitting. We also went through an entire week's worth of reading in one day. I guess I could just order a phonics program and add it in and read the stories in our current curriculum multiple times. But I'm just not sure it would last long enough for me to feel we got our money's worth out of it. I think I need to find some more experienced homeschoolers and get their opinions!

Three Things

Luke was tagged by his friend Moriah to answer these questions:

3 things that scare me

- The immunizations office

- When Elmo turns into something else on Elmo's World

- Really loud thunder

3 people that make me laugh

-Mommy

-Daddy

-Chloe

3 things I love

-Balls

-Playing in the water

-Throwing things

3 things I dislike

- Any meat besides Chick Fil A chicken nuggets

- All vegetables

- Diaper changes

3 things I don't understand

-Why I can't sit in Chloe's car seat

- Why I can't play outside when it's 105 degrees

- Why mommy and daddy leave me in the nursery on Sundays

3 things on my craft table

It's not a craft table, but there are crayons, stickers and paper on a table

3 things I'm doing right now

-Taking a nap

-Probaby sucking my thumb

3 things I can do

-Push the button to open the van door

-Play peek-a-boo really well with anyone who will look at me

-Turn the tv on

3 ways to describe my personality

- Loving

-Energetic

-Playful

3 things I can't do

-Open the baby gate

-Open my bedroom door

-Go outside whenever I want

3 things I think you should listen to

-My favorite Bible Songs CD

-My favorite Bible Songs CD

-My favorite Bible Songs CD

3 things I think you should never listen to

-Anything that is not my favorite Bible Songs CD

3 foods I love to eat

-Bananas

-Yogurt

-Popcorn

3 things I wanna learn

-How to open the baby gate

-How to open my bedroom door

-How to turn on the cable box so that I can actually watch tv after I turn it on

3 things I drink regularly

-Water

-Milk

-I get juice every now and then

3 shows I get to watch every now and then

-Go Diego Go (my favorite)

-Little Einsteins

-Dora the Explorer

3 other babies I tag

-Anyone who wants to!

The Fate of the Fedex Man...

Today is what has come to be known as "box day." All of the books that we ordered from Sonlight are supposed to be delivered today, and we are positively giddy with excitement.

However, the Fedex man has been known to come as late as 8:30pm, well after the kids are in bed! I think Chloe will riot if that happens! But this is such a great place to be. I mean, who would have thought that we'd get this excited over a box of school books? (ok, 35 pounds of books, but still!)

Is this just a beginner's thing? Or do you still get this excited even when you've been homeschooling for years? I know there are tough days when you want to give up homeschooling, but I'd love it if some of this excitement stayed with us throughtout our homeschooling journey.