I'm pregnant!

Well, it is Super Bowl Sunday. I am watching a little HGTV and trying to relax. While I won't post this blog entry for awhile I wanted to blog so I didn't forget how I feel today. All weekend I had started to suspicion that I might be pregnant. I wasn't super late I just had a "feeling." I felt car sick on the way to our weekend retreat, I cried in church, I have felt tired. Nothing big. Honestly I thought I might just be convincing myself since I am SO familiar with pregnancy symptoms. But the inner debate was starting to consume my thoughts. So when I came home from church I took a left over pregnancy test from when I redid the test with Faith several times. :) And it confirmed that I am pregnant! Even though I've done this before I had to break out my pregnancy book to try and calculate my due date. I looks like Baby #3 will arrive right around Faith's 2nd birthday. The book calculates my due date as October 7th.

Now I am dying to tell someone. But I am not going to tell Jeremy right now since he is at the church preparing for our youth Super Bowl party. Tomorrow is his birthday so I am going to make him a card. I took a picture of me with the positive test since he isn't here to see it in person. I know he will think it is a wonderful birthday present. Kind of ironic to me since I first seriously suspicioned my pregnancy with Grace on Father's day. 

I am excited and nervous all at the same time. So many moms have been telling me how hard the transition from two to three is. But, I find comfort in knowing how many people said two so close together would  be a challenge and I have survived! I am thankful God has blessed us with another member to our family. A baby is the most incredible blessing. 

Baby,

I already love you. I am praying God will protect you as he knits you together. Already you have a family who loves you and will eagerly anticipate your birth. You are loved. I pray even now God will plant the beginnings of a heart that longs to know Him. 

Your Mama

These are the days!

You know how people tell you these are the days you will look back on and long for... Well, some days I seriously don't think those people actually remember what it is like to have a toddler (and a strong-willed one at that!) Grace has really been pushing the boundaries lately and in the process wearing me out. Here is one example. Last week we desperately needed to go get groceries. This is one of Grace's favorite things to do. I had picked this particular day because it was 50 degrees and that sounded like a lovely time to get out. When we arrived at the store I gave Grace her cart to push. I then instructed her to come close behind my cart. She refused. I gave her several chances to obey then I took her cart away. She then threw herself on the floor of the Aldi and began to lament (loudly I might add) her distaste for my decision. I ended up putting her cart and her into my cart and leaving without getting a single grocery. What a bummer! Everyone was starring at me with that, "You poor thing" look as I attempted to push my screaming toddler out of the store. But she did much better when we attempted the same task the next day (thank you Love & Logic). Although it wasn't nearly a fun for me getting groceries when the temperature was below freezing! I have found that Grace tends to go in cycles. For example last summer was a very difficult season. Then things will improve and I start to think I was crazy for thinking she was strong-willed at all. (almost). And then she gets back onto a defiant kick and I seriously have to punish her to get her to do everything! So I once again am searching for a good discipline book and hoping my next pregnancy (whenever that is) coincides with a more lovely part of the cycle!

If you would like to read about our holiday I blogged about it here.

Jo Jo's Birthday Hat

Faith LOVES cake!

Earlier this month was my sister's birthday. We went to visit my parents to celebrate. That morning I asked Grace if she wanted to make Aunt Jo Jo a picture. She said, "No, I want to make her a birthday hat!" And so together we made her a birthday hat. I marveled at how specific of idea she had about how the hat should be made. She wanted to use my scrap booking scissors to cut it out. She also thought it had to have ribbons. She worked very hard at it. And Jo Jo graciously wore it for her and oohed and aahed over her creation.

Reflecting on this little project I realized how much I enjoyed seeing my creativity come alive in Grace. If you know us or read my blog you know that most people attribute Grace's strong-willed personality to me. And I'm not saying that it is a totally negative attribute. But its really fun to see something positive and realize she got that from me!! (Yes, Jeremy is also very creative-but he is not crafty so I'm taking credit for this one!)