Buying handmade

Check out BabyLove Slings today on this really cool website that features only handmade products. I know I have posted this picture at least once before, but I just love it so much and think it is such a great depiction of why we where our babies. Momma and baby both look so content and cozy. And even more importantly, so very connected.

Get your own little piece of content motherhood at BabyLove Slings.com

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http://tryhandmade.com/cotton-batik-ring-style-baby-sling-carriers/

check out all the other great handmade stuff out there at Try Handmade.com

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Updating

For those of you following along at home to the drama that is continually unfolding here on my blog in my life.... Lucas has slept past 6am for the past two mornings and not woken up at all during the night. We have been giving him some Tylenol to help with the molars, we flipped his bed so the sun won't shine in his face in the morning, it has been overcast the last two mornings, he has been falling asleep on his own for the last week or two (as opposed to us patting/singing until he falls asleep).... But no matter what the source of this new found sleep, I am grateful and hoping that this is the beginning of a new trend.

I decided to give our sub-par park district class another shot. We missed a week due to the babywearing conference but we heard that the teacher was much improved the second week. I, however, did not get the opportunity to see the improvements.

This week was a bit better, I guess. The teacher did read one story during "All the Stories We Will Read" (feel the sarcasm?), we played in the gym for 10min during the stories class and then never stepped foot in the gym again during the fitness class. Lucas did play with some dinos and train tracks which is SO different than what we do at home and worth spending money on a class for (more sarcasm). At different points during the 90min. waste-of-my-time-and-money class, I rescued a little Chinese girl (who, as you may recall, speaks NO English) from running around the room with scissors and then sat stunned when the "teacher" asked me if I had seen any children escape out the door. WHAT!!! How is it my job to make sure children don't escape?!?! And do you think I would just let a child escape and not say anything or chase them down?!?! I know a waddle a bit with this huge basketball under my tank-top but that doesn't mean I can't still beat out a 2yr old runaway! I am SO writing a letter and requesting compensation for this "class." Lucas now frequently repeats the phrase "we are SO done with gym class." I wonder where he has heard that before?

My platelets have taken a turn for the worse. Most normal people who don't attack their own platelets have somewhere around 200-300 thousand of the little clotting machines. My pregnant body apparently doesn't approve of clotting. When my number went below 100 thousand, we knew that the spinal vs. general anesthesia decision would be tricky. If the hit 50 thousand, the decision is no longer ours to make. General anesthesia it will be. Well, with 5 weeks to go I am sitting at 62,000 and have been dropping about 10,000/week. My OB wants to start me on steriods to try and slow the decline and maybe even give me a bump. And, we will probably move the delivery up a bit to try and stay ahead of the game. I am getting used to being totally out of control. Truthfully, the last week has been very frustrating. It just seems to not be playing out the way I imagined it. But, there is still time for things to work out and/or me to come to terms with the way things have to be. I would rather be awake to hear my son cry and I would rather the timing be perfect. But in the end, if my son is born safe and healthy and I am safe and healthy, I guess all other details will seem less crucial. I could still use your prayers for the whole situation though.

In other news....

We took Lucas on the "Little Buddies Tour" at the hospital today. He got to practice putting a little hat on a babydoll, giving the baby a bottle, and stand at the nursery window and see all the newborns. It was a reality check for all three of us, I think. Lucas loved seeing all the babies. And I stood there, watching my baby look at the babies, and couldn't help but feel emotional and a little awe-struck. One of those is entering my world soon. Wow. My little Lucas, my cuddly yet oh-so-rowdy little boy, is getting so big. And the one in my belly is going to come out soon and he will be so little. And we start all over. Wow.

On top of it all, we watched the movie "Juno" tonight. I think I need to say more about this whole train of emotions but I need to let them percolate a little first....

We also took Lucas to the zoo today. The day was perfect. Perfect weather, small crowds, animal after animal. All three of us had a blast. Some really good family time that we were all desperately in need of. It is amazing how a little quality time together smooths so many relationship-wrinkles. Lucas had fun, Hubby had fun, and Mommy had fun too. Perfect.

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Precious moment

Lucas and I went to the local splashpad this morning with some friends. As we were leaving and I was buckling him in his carseat, he was asking me a million questions (as usual). "Mommy, what's that truck carrying? What's that man doing? Where we going, mommy?" To this last question I answered, "We are going home because mommy desperately needs a shower and a nap. Do you need anything?" His answer... "A big mommy-kiss! I love you SO MUCH!" Can you hear my heart melting?!? That is my precious boy!

Picture courtesy of Stephanie Dame photography- taken at the Babywearing Conf. Thanks Stephanie! She is an amazing photographer in the Oak Park area if anyone is in need. We plan on booking her this fall for some family photos. She is great!

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Sleep..... oh, how I need some!!

I am over here today talking about Lucas and his sleep challenges. What is a mama to do? Really, I NEED to know!!! Any advice???

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My quirky child

One of my favorite self-taken pics from when I brought Lucas with me the the Babywearing Conference.

Every child has those little quirky things that make up the unique expressions of their little personalities. Here are my maternal boastings about a few of those precious things about Lucas that make me smile just to think about.

Every since he was very little, he has loved to line things up in perfect rows. He would line up the blocks, line up his Cheerios, etc.... Now, he takes all his cars and trucks and places them in perfect lines and calls it a parade. He is very particular about the order and that the next car be acurately lined up just behind the other. This must be some expression of his puzzle-loving, analytical, maybe future engineer brain.
Just in the last few weeks, he has begun to want some of his stuffed animals in bed with him at naptime and bedtime. It started with one purple bear and the posse grows larger all the time. He has come up with names for each of them and carries them from room to room in our townhouse, calling them his "friends." Let me introduce you to.... (from L to R) "Daddy Max" (the blue dog), "Popsicle" (the purple bear), "Lambie Waffle", "Water Bottle" (the blue frog), "Blueberry" (the green frog), "Cookie Monster", "Baby Max" (small blue dog), and "Honey Fishy" (small blue fish in front). Sometimes a dino or two joins the crowd but they don't have special names; only special voices but that is a whole other quirk!

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Come - Psalm Sunday

These weekly reflections are supposed to be just that, reflective. But as I sit here, I can't come up with a single blog-worthy thing to say. There are so many things going on in my mind. Things too personal to post at the moment. Yet things that are choking out any other thoughts or feelings that may be more appropriate to share in such a public place. Suffice it (for now) to say that life is complicated. Motherhood is complicated. Marriage is complicated. Being 34wks. pregnant and trying to be everything to everyone is definitely complicated. It seems that when trying to be what everyone needs, most people lose.... especially me. And especially this week.

I am tired. Overwhelmed. Feeling like I am doing too much but nothing well. Lucas continually says "Mommy, come play with me" as if he misses time together. I am behind on carriers I have promised to people. I am not being the wife, the sister, the friend I hope I am capable of. I am not ready for Baby. Our newborn clothes are still boxed up in the back of a closet that needs a major makeover to be ready for 2boys worth of things. I could go on.

Yet in the midst of it all, I feel God telling me to "Come." That was the word I heard in church today. Through the song, through the readings, in my soul.... "Just Come." We read from Matthew 11 "28Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

He hears my cries of disappointment and anxiety and fatigue and failure. He hears me asking if I am enough or if I am on the right path or what I should focus on next.... and His response to me is simply "Come."

Lord, let this Psalm be my prayerful response to your bidding.

Psalm 145

1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

Come, Now is the time to Worship (Brian Doerksen)

Come, now is the time to worship

Come, now is the time to give your heart

Come, just as you are to worship

Come, just as you are before your God

Come

One day every tongue will confess You are God

One day every knee will bow

Still, the greatest treasure remains for those

Who glady choose You now

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Happy 4th!!

To say that life has been a bit busy lately is a gross understatement. With the recent conference and getting ready for markets and getting ready for baby and just keeping up with toddler life... I have barely had time to catch my breath. We did take time this morning to go to the Wheaton 4th of July parade. Lucas has been asking for weeks to see a firetruck and we have been saying "wait for the parade." Well, today was the payoff. He was in awe of the trucks and the motorcycles and convertibles, etc... He was like our personal parade commentator. "Look at the fireman up high, Mommy! What's that truck carrying? Mommy, it's a convertible!!!" It was so fun to watch. He was in toddler-boy heaven!!
I always get a little emotional on the 4th of July due to my very strong sense of patriotism. Being a military kid who lived through a father at war, I am deeply moved by the sacrifice of others to give us freedom. I find myself tearing up during the National Anthem or when the Jeep full of veterans drives by in the parade. Those men and women risked so much for our country and I just feel very grateful for their courage and sacrifice.

Today was a beautiful day and a nice break from the crazy of life if even for a few hours. Here are some of my favorite pics from today. Hope you had a wonderful 4th too, full of fun and fireworks and feeling grateful for all we have. Lucas in the daffodils
Mommy and Lucas watching the parade
Oh, my precious little boy!!
Look at that face!

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