The Simple Woman's Daybook~February 23rd Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook~February 23rd Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... bright sunshine!

I am thinking... how much I really want to plant some flowering shrubs right now!!

From the learning rooms...starting week 23! Only 13 weeks left!

I am thankful for... the beauty of the changing seasons

From the kitchen... we have frozen meat and dry rice and beans: PLENTY ...thank you Lord!

I am wearing... Jeans and my comfy gray shirt. Not much variety in my "post-pregnancy" wardrobe.

I am reading... the latest issue of Victoria magazine (lots of pretty spring decorating ideas) and the American Heritage Girls handbook.

I am hoping... we get some rain

I am creating... extra shelf space for my record-keeping notebooks for AHG, family budget and garden plans

I am hearing... kids in various activities from commenting on a math problem to setting the table to singing "If I were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof.

Around the house... a bit of laundry, dinner, and then some handsewing

One of my favorite things... is sunshine streaming through clean windows onto dust-free furniture. Someday it'll be a reality! For now, I am enjoying the sunshine.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Ash Wednesday Mass, maybe a play date and/or Bible study on Friday, and the kids' birthday party on Sunday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Andrew holding his new baby brother Thomas

Simple Woman's Daybook - Feb. 2, 2009

FOR TODAY Monday, February 2, 2009...

Outside my window... Cold, bright sunshine. We put a bag of ice outside the front door to make room in the freezer a few days ago, and it has not melted!

I am thinking... that generosity is truly from God.

I am thankful for... all of our friends who have gone out of their way to make meals and give us gifts for our new little one!

From the learning rooms... medical school 101: how to run a home amidst childbirth, other children with fevers and coughs, and aches and pains.

From the kitchen... Wonderful meals from friends! Baked Potato Soup from Jennifer, Beef Stroganoff from Juli, REAL Black Forest Cake from Susi, Breakfast casserole from Karen,salads, pastas and pot roasts from everyone else, and all kinds of breads and desserts. We are truly blessed!

I am wearing... jeans and a red sweater, my hair pushed back with a head band, white socks and slippers, and my baby boy in a Snugglewrap.

I am creating... Thank you notes for all the great meals and gifts.

I am going... nowhere today - hopefully it won't be too cold to take the baby to church on Sunday.

I am reading... Semi-Homemade Magazine's premier issue. It looks like it will be a fun magazine!

I am hoping... the temps rise a little so we can go out!!

I am hearing... kids playing in the boys' room, the dryer humming.

Around the house... Eldest daughter in bed with a fever, next daughter with a possible ear infection, the rest having fun with Lego and little cars.

One of my favorite things... The feel of soft, newborn baby skin.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Midwife appointment, redo budget AGAIN to accommodate rising gas and electric costs.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
The kids made paper dolls of themselves and posed them on the couch. This was a day or two before Thomas was born.

Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook blog here to join in the fun: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Simple Woman's Daybook, New Baby Edition (Jan 27, 2009)

FOR TODAY, Tuesday, January 27, 2009...

Outside my window... snow-covered prairie grasses and brilliant sunshine

I am thinking... That I have the most adorable baby boy lying next to me right now.

I am thankful for... Thomas Edmund Paul's birth Sunday night.

From the learning rooms... no school today. Just witnessing God's miracle with all the kids.

From the kitchen... Daddy & the kids made waffles and oatmeal this morning, and quesadillas for lunch. Mom made delicious chicken vegetable soup yesterday for lunch. It really hit the spot.

I am wearing... comfy pajama bottoms and a tomato-soup-colored v-neck top. Hair in a pony tail, socks & slippers.

I am creating... memories holding my little Thomas while he is little enough to be held.

I am going... to recover as quickly as I can!

I am reading... Nothing right now except the sweet expressions on Thomas's face.

I am hoping... We all get a little more sleep tonight.

I am hearing... coos from Thomas, computer typing from Ian (working from home today), a few sounds of quiet play from the older kids during the little kids' nap time.

Around the house... Everything is serene during nap time. The house is picked up, the dishes are mostly done, the laundry is pretty much caught up. Fr. Jeremy came Sunday night to bless the house and it does feel blessed.

One of my favorite things... cuddling with a brand new baby. The smell of a newborn - so sweet!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Sigh... no plans (bliss).

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Go to The Simple Woman's Daybook blog to join in the fun and see other daybook entries. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Simple Woman's Daybook Monday, January 19, 2009

FOR TODAY MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2009...

Outside my window... Wind! Lots of sun, mud where the snow has melted.

I am thinking... that I am going to be pregnant forever. This baby has made himself comfortable and plans on staying where it's cozy for as long as he can.

I am thankful for... a husband who takes all the kids shopping while I am immobile.

From the learning rooms... we are starting week 18 tomorrow. The older girls are learning about Italy and several of the United States of America. Annie is weeks ahead in her Math book.

From the kitchen... Oops! I better get the pork roast into the slow cooker pronto!

I am wearing... MATERNITY JEANS and a pink MATERNITY T-SHIRT. Baby is getting big, so these jeans don't really fit any more.

I am creating... a new budget.

I am going... to have a baby...I am going to have a baby...I am going to have a baby....

I am reading... Jesus of Nazareth, How to Tell Stories to Children, and St. Paul: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics for my monthly book discussion on Wednesday.

I am hoping... to have a baby soon...I am hoping to have a baby soon...I am hoping to have a baby soon....

I am hearing... Margaret practicing her Irish Dancing and Annie singing Christmas songs.

Around the house... Pretty quiet, since Ian took all the kids except Margaret & Annie (who have colds).

One of my favorite things... Having everything done that I needed to do (not that that is a reality at the moment).

A few plans for the rest of the week: Have a baby, book discussion on Wednesday, have a baby, Midwife's home visit on Friday, Get the girls ready for their Irish Dance competition on Saturday morning and go to my own baby shower in the afternoon, Mass on Sunday and have Fr. Jeremy over for dinner and our Epiphany blessing (finally). Oh. And have a baby.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is Ian and me at a restaurant celebrating our 12th anniversary and my birthday.

Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook here and join in the fun! Add your own daybook entry and read others' entries: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Nesting?

I have been "in labor" for almost a week now. I have had no energy, no stamina, no desire to get up for anything. Just intense contractions followed by fatigue, heartburn and weepyness.

Today I still have no desire, but somehow I have a little bit of energy. I managed to make a simple breakfast for myself and the kids, reheat leftovers for lunch without burning anything, put dinner in a crockpot (hopefully early enough), post two recipes, do laundry with the kids, help them with school work, rinse a few dishes and put them into the dish washer, supervise mopping, and balance my budget once again....

I know it doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot more than I have been able to do in several days. Sigh.

I also wanted to make some sourdough bread, but the smell of flour still bothers me (every pregnancy is different), so the sourdough will have to wait.

Waiting for Baby

Tomorrow (Jan 9, 2009) is the 36-week mark of my pregnancy. I have trouble sleeping, I have heartburn, my joints hurt, and I am tired and weepy. And I am happy. I have a brand-new human being growing and kicking inside me, and soon, God willing, I will get to hold him in my arms. We will name this child and present him to the Lord on his baptism day.

The waiting, especially this close to my due date, is hard. I have so many things I want to accomplish before the blessed event, but not enough time, talent or treasure to do it all. I wish I could strip and polish the kitchen and bathroom floors (or better yet, replace them with something sturdier and easier to clean); replace the little bath tub that has no place to rest your head with something a little more comfortable and patch a hole in the big tub so water doesn't leak down beneath the house (or wherever the water goes); organize the garage with sturdy shelving and put everything away so that there's room for both cars and all the bikes, with easy access to everything; sew hems on the curtains throughout the house so they don't drag on the floor; prepare meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) in advance so that I don't have to cook anything for a while after the baby's born ....

The list could be eternal, but none of it is really important after all. Somehow I will survive if I can't relax in the small tub. Having boxes of Christmas decorations piled in the guest room for a little while longer will (probably) not kill me. Right now the important things are the children sitting around the table working on Math, the little ones playing with the toy kitchen pots under the same table, the hard-working husband making his business work, and the Mama thanking God for all these blessings and trials, because this is my path to heaven.

So I wait. Not always very patiently, not always the picture of serenity. But inside my soul is at peace. I sigh heavily under the weight of my growing belly, but I know God is with me every step of the way. I know He will be with me when this tiny miracle comes out to meet the world.

Cinderella IV: Convicted

Overheard as Susan pushed her baby sister's swing:

Susan (singing): Swing, swing, night in jail. Swing, swing, night in jail...

Me (sort of)

Pioneer Tough

On Thursday, Sept. 20 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl at home, with the assistance of 2 midwives, my husband and my Mother-In-Law. I was in labor since 6 that morning, but hard labor didn't come until almost 10 that night, and Maria Isabel Andrea was born shortly after.

On Sunday, Sept. 23 we drove into town and went to Mass. Afterwards we went to the parish hall for donuts and coffee. We met a couple of families with lots of children, like us, and one man looked at me incredulously when he found out how old our baby was and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you are pioneer tough!"

I laughed about it then, but after Mass we spent the afternoon and evening at my In-Laws' house where they were having a farewell-to-summer party. I didn't do much more than sit around nursing the baby, but I spent the next few days groaning and staying in bed as much as I could. Not too pioneer-like at that point!

Birth Announcement!

My newest daughter Maria Isabel was born on Thursday, Sept. 20. She's a real sweetie and we all love her. Praise God she is finally here!

Retreat

Today I am alone in the house for a couple of hours. Normally, Mondays are for grocery shopping and errand running, but today I am just too pregnant to walk, much less drive all over town getting groceries and library books.

So Ian took the kids (all 6 of them by himself - what a man!) and loaded them into the van after treating us to a yummy breakfast of oatmeal and home-made biscuits. They are off to do the necessaries of the day while I waddle around the house looking for the last items I need before the baby's born. And then I'll lie down and let my back relax for a few minutes while I do some spiritual reading. That's probably all I have time for today, but it is enough.