Posts Tagged ‘Pregnancy’
A Top Ten To-Do List
Posted on: August 2, 2011
- In: Life
- 11 Comments
{Be sure to enter my giveaway for a copy of The Help}
I’m a planner. If I thought that it was at all reasonable, I’d have the next 5 years of my life planned out. I’ve tried that before. Trust me, it doesn’t work. But, I can plan out certain projects that I want to get done before the end of summer.
1. Paint Baby Boy’s Changing Table – We have the same changing table we used with the girls. It’s a little brown, three tier table. It’s nice, but because of Baby Boy’s new-to-us white crib, the table doesn’t match his room. So I’m setting out to paint the table white. Maybe, just maybe, I might add some blues and greens to it. Maybe.
2. Get a Purse Hook – My purse ends up either on the floor or kitchen counter. Neither place is very good, because it’s either in danger of little hands or taking up space. I’d love to find one like this at a repurpose store ::
3. Add Art/Color to the House – Thanks to pinterest, I’ve got a lot of wonderful ideas. However, I don’t have tons of time or money to see them all through. But, this is one idea that I really love
4. Finish Julia’s Dress – I’m in the process of making a dress for Julia {as part of my 30 before 30}. I’ve stepped away from it for the last several weeks, but I think it’s time to come back to it.
5. Paint Baby Boy’s Room – Currently, one of the walls in Baby Boy’s room is hunter green. And the window valence is a green/red/khaki combo. Not my favorite, as it looks super office-y. We are planning to tone down the green and get new curtains.
6. Plan Julia’s 4th Birthday Party – In my I’m-a-planner nature, I realize that I’m most likely not going to be up for planning Julia’s 4th birthday weeks after Baby Boy makes his arrival. Slowly I’ve been setting aside ideas for her party {going with a princess and knight theme}, so that when the time comes everything is ready to go.
7. Take a mini-vacation – Our family is in need of a little vacation. Nothing major, just a few days away. We are currently looking at visit South Padre at the end of August. Fingers crossed all goes well and we can enjoy beach time together.
8. Plan Julia and Hannah’s Spring School Schedule – We started preschool yesterday. Nothing major, just learning numbers, basic math, ABC’s and introduction to writing/reading. {I do need to brag for a second. Julia totally wrote her own name yesterday!} We started school so early, because I plan to take off November and December. But, before Baby Boy arrives, I want to have the spring planned out, as to not have any excuses for not finishing the school year off strong.
9. Start Christmas/St. Nick Shopping – After last year, we decided to go forward with not exchanging gifts on Christmas. We are celebrating St. Nicholas Day and using that as our gift giving holiday. I am planning to make gifts for our neighbors and have some pretty great ideas going. This one I thought was really cute ::
10. Read More – That seems a bit vague, but I’m really wanting to read a few more good books as the summer ends and fall begins. I’ve gone through two in the last month, so I’m hoping to going through two or three more. Just a little mama time when the girls sleep.
Do you have an end of summer to do list? If so, what’s on it?
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
25 Weeks – Friday Joy
Posted on: July 22, 2011
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
Today marks 25 weeks of Baby Boy’s life. Amazing. In just a mere 15{ish} weeks, he will be here in all his infant cuteness.
Baby Boy has been quite active. And perhaps the old wives tale is proving true that boys sit lower, because Baby Boy’s kicks, punches, and moves are all quite a bit lower than his sisters’ ever were. Rarely does he make his way up into my rib cage area {unlike two other little ones I know}.
As each day passes, I get more and more excited about having Baby Boy here with us outside of my womb. He even already has his first outfit {a Nike sweatsuit… just guess who bought that} and the girls and I picked out a cute little touch and feel truck book at our library’s book sale. Before we know it, he’ll be here!
What is your Friday joy?
How Pregnancy Ruins Your Sleep
Posted on: July 11, 2011
- In: Life
- 11 Comments
In the last two weeks, I’ve started tossing and turning more and more as I sleep. Then, like a bolt of lighting, my sciatica has reared it’s ugly face making hip pain a major problem at night. I’m like the Princess and the Pea. I can feel every lump, bump, and hump in our bed no matter how many pillows I use. And when I get up, I limp around like an old man until my sciatica lightens up. It’s left me extra tired and wondering if the remainder of my pregnancy will be spent sleeping in the lazy boy.
And then I found this:
Just looking at this picture makes me want to take a nap. A giant pillow to snuggle on that supports all the right places. Mama likes.
The only set back I’ve found is that it’s $69. Which I don’t want to spend on a pillow. But it sure is tempting at after a night of tossing and turning.
I’ve positioned my pillows so they mimic the Cozy Comfort, but unfortunately, they move around too much. And my tried and true methods from Julia and Hannah’s pregnancies aren’t seeming to work this time around, as Baby Boy is sitting a lot lower than either of the girls, making for some new adjustments. Sigh. Perhaps I can get a large mattress cover and make my own Cozy Comfort? After all, it’s just a big pillow with a whole in it. How hard can it be to make?
If you’re pregnant, or have ever been pregnant, what’s your favorite sleep positions and pillows?
- In: Life
- 18 Comments
I’m writing this post at o’too early in the morning because I’m struggling to sleep. It’s been a long week, I’m emotionally and physically exhausted, and yet wide awake. Something is amiss.
In the quiet of the night, I am pouring my heart out to God and coming to the realization about something:
My body does not dictate who I am.
Friends, in some true honesty, I’m going to lay my heart out to you. I’ve realized that perhaps part of my funky state this week has been due to a spike in weight. Sure, sure, I’m pregnant and all that jazz and I know that weight gain, a change in my body, will happen. It’s done it twice, it’ll do it again. But as I round the second half of this pregnancy, I step on that scale and see those numbers, that in my mind are too much to bear, I crumble. Literally, I crumble. It’s a weight, not just physical, but mental and emotional. It’s months of half marathon training wasted. It’s months of calorie counting, sweets-denying, hard working-out wasted. Logically {oh to be logical}, it’s okay. In fact, it’s where I started with both girls and I’m halfway through this time. But, that logical state of mind is too far to be found. In it’s place is that petrified, self-conscious girl who can’t quite make the in crowd because her body just isn’t the same as the pretty girls. And I am left feeling lonely and out of place.
But my body does not dictate who I am.
I am a child of God. I am loved by a King who died for me. I am chosen, hand-picked, created by an amazing Lord who designed me in such a way that brings Him the most glory. I have been given a chance to bring three beautiful creations to life. To grow them, to care for them, to nurture them, to love them, to show them just a glimpse of our awesome Savior.
So, no, my body does not dictate who I am.
He does. His truth. His love. His faithfulness. His goodness. His mercy. His grace. Just Him.
These are my dictators. These are the attributes that dictate, determine, who I am. Not a physical appearance. Not the acceptance of others. Just Him. Just His physical wounds for me. Just His acceptance of me. He is my dictator.
God dictates who I am.
And allowing myself to understand this truth, not just logically, but emotionally in my tired little heart, brings me joy and a rest that is much needed.
What’s your Friday Joy? How’s God revealing Himself to you?
Hannah’s Monkey Party
Posted on: June 21, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
When hosting a monkey party, you have to take into consideration the decorations:
Don’t forget goodie bags for all the kids:
Then do a little happy dance when Hannah gets two more monkey shirts {bringing us to a grand total of four!}:
{each of these elicited shouts of “my monkey, my monkey!”}
And even if you forget to take pictures of the huge spread of food served {um, not that I would ever forget}, make sure to take pictures of the cupcakes:
I should mention, these are special cupcakes. Aside from being homemade banana chocolate cupcakes, they actually contain frosting on the inside. And not just any frosting. When our party guests bit into the cupcakes, the frosting inside indicated Baby Three’s gender:
The party was a blast. Unfortunately, we had a few last-minute cancelations. But, that has left us with lots of yummy foods to snack on for the week {and I can’t complain about that ;)}.
Hannah had a really great time. Though I am certain between not napping, spending the afternoon at the pool and then having all-she-could-eat-sweets might have done her in. Poor girl was in shell shock as everyone arrived and especially so when she was given presents. But in the end, she perked up and thoroughly enjoyed herself {and getting more monkey shirts certainly brought her enthusiasm to a whole new level}.
Have you ever hosted a themed party? What did you do?
A Father’s Day Surprise
Posted on: June 19, 2011
- In: Life
- 25 Comments
This past Wednesday, we had our 20-week ultrasound. You might have seen my tweet/facebook update:
Well, my dear friends, are you ready for our news?
Really, really ready?
Like, so ready, that when you see this:
You let out a little squee?
Or
Are you so ready, that when you see this:
You let out a big ol’ “Woo-hoo!”
That’s right, my friends, come November, the Windhams are having a baby boy.
Maternity Swimsuits – Works for Me?
Posted on: June 8, 2011
- In: Life
- 13 Comments
Add me to the ranks of women who don’t like swimsuit shopping. Perhaps second only to jean shopping in the do-I-really-have to category. But, with an expanding belly and a one piece that won’t quite do the trick anymore, I found myself last weekend at Target hunting down a swimsuit.
Truth be known, shopping for a swimsuit while pregnant doesn’t quite help with any self-esteem issues you might have. I just had to remind myself that 1) there’s a reason I need this size 2) the reason will be way cute/worth it come November. I decided to stick with something plain-ish that would grow with me and not fall off when the girls grab on to me. After five tries and a coin toss, this is what I went with:
It’s hard to tell, since I’m sitting down, but the bottoms are plain black. The sides are ruched, making it look cute and fitted now with room to expand by August/September. The back is a racerback, making it feel a lot like a sports bra – which makes it so incredibly comfortable. Overall, it’s a win.
Do you dread swimsuit shopping? Have you ever shopped for a maternity suit?
Visit Kristen at We are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.
Blame it on Pregnancy Brain
Posted on: June 7, 2011
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
Lately, I’ve been mid-sentence when I forget what…. um, um… oh, what I was going to say. Last night, Jonathan and I went out for a date. It was a work function of sorts, and I had the chance to meet a few of his co-workers. I also met the CEO of his company. In a shining moment of pregnancy, after the introduction was made, I knew {just knew} I was suppose to know this man, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember. Then, it went off like a light bulb and I blurted out “Your wife just had a baby!” really loud. Yeah, that was nice. And that is mild compared to the other things I forget. Like:
1. Buying two yards of fabric and that have magically disappeared. {Update: I just found the fabric, rolled up and tucked into the girls’ closet. Who knows.}
2. Using a pair of scissors, remembering to put them back, and they are now gone.
3. Looking at our daily menu multiple times a day because I can’t remember what I’m suppose to make.
4. Meeting a wonderful lady and her two adorable kids at the pool before leaving for vacation and then forgetting I ever met her. *sheepish face*
5. Going to the grocery store for 2 {TWO!} items and forgetting why I went.
6. Calling the girls “Jul-Han-Mab-Mic, hey kid!” because I can’t get their names straight.
7. Being absolutely convinced that it’s Monday, when it’s really Wednesday, but actually Thursday.
8. Standing in the grocery aisle trying to remember what is more $.162 per ounce or $.167.
9. Having schooltime that sounds like “This is red. I mean, green. No, no, really, it’s blue. Sorry Hannah.”
10. Sending an email to a friend on Thursday, only to see this morning that it never got sent {though I swear it did}.
I’d say things will go back to normal once Baby Three arrives, but I know things will just get worse for a while as sleep deprivation sets in and then I really won’t remember anything.
Have you ever suffered from pregnancy brain? Or nursing brain? Or just old brain? Whew.
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
It’s the Little Joys in Life
Posted on: June 3, 2011
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
It’s the little joys in life that add up to a joyous life. Little joys like –
Coming home to this guy after a week+ away:
Finding random pictures of the girls on our computer:
Yes, that is underwear on her head
What are your Friday Joys?
Bellies and Babies, Oh My!
Posted on: May 20, 2011
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
I’m 16 weeks, and things are trucking right along. I’ve started to feel Baby Three move. Not often, but if I’m really relaxed or just had some coffee {like this morning}, then there’s definitely some action going on.
The belly is growing, that much is true! It’s looking a little less odd to me, and I’m slowly getting over the fact that the scale keeps creeping up {partly because it’s doing it slowly, and partly because I feel like I really have some control this time around}. Though, I am going to Tennessee and Chicago all next week/weekend, so we’ll see how I do around lots of yummy foods. I’m just having to remind myself that weight gain in pregnancy is what I’m going for and stop worrying so much.
What are y’alls Friday joy? Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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