Where does the time go?

I have been thinking a bit and decided that I need to slow down. I am slowly releasing my volunteer positions, giving responsibility to others and trying to separate myself from "always being busy" to being more of a mom to my children.

With the upcoming birth of our third, my priorities are changing rapidly. I am due in approximately 45 days.

While I feel a strong need to get things in order, to sort & purge and to have my home emotionally centered--it also feels out of my comfort zone. I have always been a follow the rules, but still can fly by the seat of my pants type of girl & I find this centering a bit challenging.

There are certain aspects of being busy that I will miss, but I know I will enjoy the time spent getting to know my children and husband even better.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009~

I'm officially 31 weeks & counting down the days till we meet this little one. Very exciting & scary at the same time. We had an ultrasound at week 27 and everything looks great-3 vessel cord, 4 chamber heart, no cleft palate and organs are functioning healthy. We are very blessed.

I've been super busy with work, doula'ing, and finishing up my breastfeeding counselor training. All my clients for birth had their babies on a perfect schedule and I am now finishing up my postpartum doula certification clients. They will be completed by mid December & I can get all my paperwork done over the Christmas holiday break to mail in January 2nd, 2010~

Crunchy Clean & New Baby Wipes

I am so excited to try this new all natural laundry soap with all of our clothing & the cloth diapers. It is hard to find a laundry soap that doesn't leave residue or "weird" stuff on the diapers. Repellancy is a huge issue at stake!

Crunchy Clean is made by a work at home mom & sold on ETSY--
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5760585
She has a list of scents that is a mile long & many of them use essential oils.

Another new product I am trying is from Laine's Cradle & All shop on ETSY--
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6744453
I am buying new baby wipes for our upcoming arrival in January...we're doing a fleece & flannel combination, but she also has organic bamboo velour! She also is a stay at home mom and makes play sheets for pack 'n plays. She does some custom work also.


I can't wait to get them in & give a review!

17 weeks and counting!

So, if you haven't already heard...Dale & I are expecting our third little one in late January 2010. We are enjoying the pregnancy so far. Not too much yuck for the first trimester & the second is looking good. We had an early sono at to rule some issues out and were able to hear the heartbeat & see the baby.

We are planning our second home birth & really preparing for a water birth this time and we aren't finding out the sex of the baby beforehand.

Holiday!!

We are taking the family for a mini holiday in Oklahoma. Dale came home the other day & said he needed to get out of town, so I immediately got online to see where we could go. I looked locally & honestly, everything was out of our price range. So off to Ok we go. I guess I need to pack:) I'll post pictures later.

Really...it is hot!

Today was definitely another scorcher. Right now it is 102 degrees according to The Weather Channel. It is 7:10pm. While I don't normally complain about the summers in Texas--I can't help but think we have 2 more months of heat before it begins to cool off.

Thank goodness for air conditioning in vehicles & homes. Seriously!

Brian's First Haircut!

Brian received his very first haircut this afternoon. It was bittersweet for me since I didn't really want to see those spiral curls being cut off. Brian was actually the instigator in this situation. He kept saying, "Me get haircut." He didn't squirm or fuss or cry. He just sat in the chair & let Scott do his thing. He only flinched slightly when the trimmer was turned on. Such a different experience than with his big brother, Grayson.

Gathering the curls for his baby book

Brian moves way too fast for me at times.

All done!

Summer is here and decluttering started

So the title says it all to me. I have a huge challenge ahead of me. I don't think our home functions very well and everywhere I turn around there is "stuff". Some if it will stay, some will be trashed & most of it will be donated or freecycled. We live in a busy neighborhood & if I put something on the curb, it is almost always gone before sunset. LOVE THAT~I don't have time for Craig's List, even though our stuff is good enough to sell. My time is more important at this point.

This brings me to why I am trying to get rid of the stuff. I can't clean easily. If I have to move stuff to clean it, I won't do it. I need to streamline our belongings--keeping what is loved, needed and wanted. Purging what is unnecessary to us. That is really hard!

My goal is to complete a room in 2 weeks. That may seem like a lot of time for just a room, but with Dale's schedule & our summer plans--I know I can make the goal.

First room up is the playroom/computer area. It is a main focus when you walk in the front door and I just bought my new desk & shelving. Dale & I are going to put it together Sunday evening and Wednesday when he is off. I am going to post a before & after...

The good thing is that these pics were taken last year. I have purged some of the big things in the room and reorganized the big toy shelf. The huge dark piece that housed all my doula & scrapbooking/crafting stuff will be gone this weekend. We are saving up for a new computer hutch area and that will come from Ikea, I am sure. That is where we bought my shelving & desk...$150.00 deal of the year.

Okay, so I publically posted my mess. Admitting is step one, right??

First Communion

Grayson had a wonderful First Holy Communion. He was a little nervous and really wanted to get out of his suit. Once we got to the church and found out that 2 of his friends from class were there, he seemed to feel more comfortable. Here are a few pics from his very special day. He also loved the fact that he got cake, punch & presents too!!

By the church doors

With Monsignor King

Dale, Mary, Grayson & Brian

One very happy child!

Musings of a mom...

A consignment sale is alot of work with just a little check at the end, but a consignment sale gets alot of clutter out of your home.

Extended nursing is a really good thing when your child is hurt and sad.

School pictures are absolutely priceless--second grade and preschool.

It is amazing what I can get finished when I have a deadline.

First Holy Communion is really awesome. I am so proud of Grayson for making this wonderful commitment to God, even if he just wants it "done & over with."

Summer vacation begins in 3 weeks for me, but it is bittersweet. I will miss my kidlets from the co-op preschool, but I LOVE spending time with just my kidlets.

I have gotten several interview requests for doula work in the late summer/early fall. This is quite the blessing...

I am so looking forward to my postpartum doula training, finishing up my Lamaze childbirth education and taking the exam, and getting my photography business off the ground. I know I can do it.

I have a great husband. I need to work on giving him more credit and appreciation.

Swine Flu = A week off of school!

I don't think I have ever seen Grayson as happy!! I just got the email & telephone call, through their automated system, that all Denton ISD schools are closed until May 11th...

A week at home with the boys is awesome!!!

It's spring in Texas if you see bluebonnets...

I took the boys on Easter Sunday to have their photos taken in the bluebonnets. I grabbed my sister's two kidlets & off we went. I ended up taking over 140 pics & deleted like crazy. Brian, of course, went crazy running in the bluebonnet field and all his pictures are action shots. The big kids all posed!! That was hilarious. Here are a few of my favorites...

So much going on!!

We had a wonderful trip to Austin over spring break & got to hang with Dale's sister & her daughter. It was great. The kids all got along & we toured the capital building. There was a protest going on, we saw the senators doing their thing & I lost my cell phone on the grounds. After a few minutes of freaking out and a quick prayer to St. Anthony, we set out to find it. Less than 3 minutes later my phone was safe in my hands again. Two hours later it broke & I had to buy a new one. True story, I promise! The best thing for Grayson was using Madie's backyard zip line! Brian wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, but G loved it!! Brian's favorite thing was getting into Madie's dresser drawer where she keeps her treasures. Brian never did get the chicken pox, I started my migraines again & am now doing much better--this is where modern medicine ROCKS and I am definitely taking a postpartum doula training class in June!

Grayson on the zip line!!

Brian in front of the Capital building.

Thank you

It is amazing how two little words can mean so much. I heard them spoken to me at least three times today and each time, my world got a little bit brighter.

One was from a parent for tonight's first communion class, one was from a parent from my preschool and the last was from my son. He told me thank you right before he fell asleep. I asked him for what and he responded with a gentle, "Just thank you".

These are the moments that make your heart lighter and filled with joy.

CHICKEN POX!!

Yes, you heard right. We have chicken pox in our home. Grayson has officially gotten it twice now and both cases have been mild. Thank goodness. It was really fun to have a week off of school & hang out with G. He is a really smart & fun boy to hang around.

On the flip side, we are now in the 2-3 week wait to see if Brian will get the chicken pox. The best thing he has going is that with him still nursing, there is a chance it won't be sooo bad and the fact that we purposefully delayed all his immunizations-he may not even get that shot at all.

No chicken pox parties at this point...maybe in a week or so.

Happy Birthday Brian

Brian had his second birthday yesterday, on the 2nd. Two years old! His life has changed ours for the better and we are very thankful for him. His smile can light up a room and his laugh is wonderful to listen to. We are blessed with two beautiful boys!~ Pictures will be coming soon...I am preparing to attend a birth either tonight or early in the morning.

Check out the static hair...

Shhh...he is actually in Ninja's crate with a dozen balloons-photo op created by Grayson!

Talking on the banana...doesn't everyone have one??

CAKE!!! The best part of any party according to my boys...

ICE DAY #2!!!!

We had a second ice day, but technically it is our first of 2009 since yesterday's storm didn't hit. Anyways, the kids had another day off from school--which is truly awesome. I love being at home with my family. I built a shelving unit for Grayson's room, washed my 10 floor to ceiling windows in the living room & hallway, caught up on laundry and of course, took pictures...here are some from our time at the park.

It's the end of January!!

Here are a few pictures from our January! Dale's dad came up from the Houston area & Dale's sister from Austin. We were so excited to see them...it had been too long! Our month is going well and we had our first day off of school today-for non-existent ice (which should hit tonight). Hard to believe that last Friday was over 80 degrees!