3rd Trimester ... Tick, Tick, Tick

So, if I really think about it, I realize there is not much more time before Tim, Mercy and I will have a new family member to love. I have to say, I am getting more excited, but there is the little bit of worry nestled down inside my heart that keeps nagging at me. My worries are not really overwhelming, in fact they are are quite normal, of what I understand. I have compiled the list for you to laugh at, reminisce about regarding your own kids, pray for, and just commiserate if needed.

Here we go ...

1. LABOR!!! Ouch! Not quite ready for that even though I know what to expect this time. I hear the second goes faster, but regardless, I am bound to have a similar recovery time as I did with Mercy. Longer than I wish.

2. Nursing ... again. I really enjoyed nursing Mercy, but the beginning is painful and it takes a lot of work nevertheless. Still, it is a blessing to have that bonding time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

3. No sleep ... again. But hey, we all go through this if we have kids. I do have a friend whose daughter slept long at night right away and I always thought she was blessed. Still, not every kid has the same habits and I am praying for a kid who likes to sleep at night. I don't have my hopes up on this one. Nursing makes it difficult since they digest that milk quicker than formula. I'll take what I can get, though.

4. Having to grocery shop at 9 or 10 at night. My mom said that she used to go grocery shopping late at night because it was just too hard to take both my sister and I with her when we were little (I'm a twin, in case you didn't know). She would wait until my dad got home, and then after dinner put us to bed. Only then could she head to the store. She said it was kinda nice because the stores are practically empty at that time of night and no lines. I worry a little about this, only because I want to be able to still go about my errands as normal. The realist in me knows that this won't be possible anymore, but I will miss being able to just pick up and go.

5. Double strollers. I have a pretty nice stroller right now, but I know that it will soon become a yard sale treasure or a hand-me-down to someone who needs it. A double stroller will be my new kid wheels. The fear is that I find they can be difficult to manage and definitely harder to store in a trunk. My car is already pretty small, especially the trunk. I am looking for a stroller that is also relatively easy to put in and out of the trunk, meaning it's gotta fit and it can't be too heavy. I prefer the side-by-side, but Tim likes the one-in-front/one-in-back style. I hope we find something we both like and find convenient.

6. Babysitting. So far, this has been a simple thing to figure out. Tim's parents usually like having their "Mercy Time" and say that she is pretty easy to cart her around and find activities to do. With TWO, there may be a change in that convenience. Two require more work and less individual attention that Mercy has enjoyed so far. We'll see how this goes. For a short while, it will be rare that we take them both, since this little guy will be pretty connected to me for breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the meals in between. But when that changes, well ... we'll see how it changes.

7. Adult Time. Just when Tim and I thought we finally got the scheduling issues figured out between work, home and alone time, it will all change again. This one is definitely a prayer request. Not sure what this new little one will change in this regard, but I anticipate a big change nevertheless.

8. No space. We had to do a lot of weaning down when Mercy was born. We made a lot of room in the "office" and made it a nursery/guest room as well. This was accomplished by getting a storage unit. I know lots of people live with two kids in one room, but we have very little space left for that as well. We can keep the baby in with us for the first few months in a bassinet, but we have very little space left in our room to boot. We are hoping to move ... hoping being the key word. I am sure we can find some room, but it will be a challenge.

9. Final minutes of this pregnancy. As I have said in previous blogs, this pregnancy is very different than my pregnancy with Mercy. I have spent half, if not more, of my pregnancy sick or on my butt, trying not to be in pain. Needless to say, it will be a relief to not feel so terrible, physically speaking. However, we are also limited on time to get ready for this new little one. We still haven't registered, we have very little clothing and when I think about how quickly the time will lapse I get a little freaked out. I mean, the shower is only about a month away, Lamaze starts next week, and I still haven't found a comfortable pair of pants that won't keep falling down. WOW!! So much to do on top of trying to stay healthy and sane and keep up with Mercy.

10. No name! That's right. We still haven't chosen a name for this baby boy. See we want to keep in line with the "attributes of God" idea, but boy names are rare under this line of thinking. Girl names seem to be in abundance, but boy names are quite limited. The rule we seem to have placed on ourselves is that it needs to be a word in English that is an attribute of God (Ex: Mercy (obviously), Faith, Grace, etc.). We have had a few thoughts, but none that we just go, "THAT'S IT!!" Suggestions in this area are welcome.

So, my top 10 worries about this new life we are bringing into the world are out there for any comments, ideas, prayers, giggles, etc. I know it sounds like I am whining. Some people would be thrilled to have one, let alone two kids to love and cherish. I know my kids will bring joy into our home, but as long as they are human - and the last time I checked, they are - there will also be a lot of challenges to face and learn from. Do I hear an AMEN!!

Lesson Learned: I pray pretty much everyday for sanity and patience as I learn this new phase. The thing is, so many have gone before me, so I know that it's doable. I think I will be ok, but there they are, the little nagging worries that must be dealt with and prayed about. Ultimately they will be my "lessons learned." In the mean time, I try to find the lighter side of things and enjoy his every move while I wait.

Cat Chronicals: Fat Cat In A Little Bowl

Ok ... so one of the posts that I have been dying to write is about Tobias. Keep in mind, the picture and experience took place during the Holiday season, but I still think it's hilarious.

Here's the background ... Tobias likes to climb into the tightest possible spaces and attempt to sleep or just relax. His favorites are to climb into empty boxes, empty grocery bags, drawers inadvertently left open, and under counter cabinets. He'll make his way in and get "comfortable". Well, during Christmas I had a basket bowl sitting on our table that I was reluctant to put anything in. Just as climbing into small spaces is one of Tobias' favorite things, so is finding items around the house that he can take out of containers. It could be finding tissues in the bathroom trashcans to pulling leaves or flower buds off of my silk plant arrangements. I hesitate to put any potpourri or small decorative items out due to his incessant need to find, remove and bat around until he's bored with that piece and goes back for a new piece.

Back to the Christmas bowl ... Tobias realized there was nothing in the bowl and decided to make it a makeshift bed. As you can see, he barely fits, hence the title, "Fat Cat In A Little Bowl." It really was very funny. He would get his feet curled up under him and then make several attempts to tuck his head down in the bowl and take a nap. I think the longest he stayed in the bowl was around 10 or 15 minutes, but he kept going back, especially if we were spending time in the kitchen cooking.





Lesson Learned: What lesson is there? It's just stinkin' funny to look at.

The Flu ... Oh How You Linger

So ... About a month ago, Mercy came down with the flu (the classic kind), then a week later she got a cold that lasted just around a week. She was fine for about another week, when she got the stomach flu. At the same time Mercy got the stomach flu, Tim caught a bad cold after celebrating a great USC/Penn State Rose Bowl game ... he actually went to the game! So last weekend I spent most of it cleaning up after two sick people and trying my best to not catch what they had.

It didn't work! Tuesday I woke up not feeling "right." I thought maybe I had finally smacked into the wall that so many people hit right after a hectic holiday season. NOPE! I had caught not only Mercy's stomach flu, which hit me around 3:30 Wednesday morning, but I also caught Tim's cold. Yep ... they both got me at once. If I wasn't pregnant or exhausted already, I would have just fought through it, but I am pregnant and EXHAUSTED!! I called Tim's mom who graciously took Mercy for the whole day and a sleep-over so that I could "rest" and feel better. Those who know what it feels like to be really sick, know that you really don't get good rest. I did feel somewhat better the next day, and Mercy came home in a good mood. Still, I was tired, weak and couldn't eat very much that wouldn't make me feel sick.

Well, today is a better day. Thank goodness. The cold lingers, but that's to be expected. On top of all this, we found out that last night around 5:30 our friend Mark went home to be with Jesus after 4 long weeks of battling massive injuries caused by a motorcycle accident. After many more tears and prayer for his wife, son and extended family, I finally got the good kind of rest. The kind where you wake up ready to face the day. Don't get me wrong ... I still feel a little sick and every time I think of my friend I tear up, but I am ready to get out again and see people. It's a bittersweet day.

Lesson Learned: Most chores can wait when everyone in the house is sick. I have had to let a few things go this week that I had planned to tackle, but rest and striving for wellness won out.