12 weeks and counting

I'm 12 weeks pregnant today.

My morning sickness is in waves. They have been the worst ever since Wednesday. BUT I actually have waves of feeling normal in between. This morning: BAD wave.

My clothes are starting to already not fit. So glad cute skirts and dresses can be found in abundance right now.

I absolutely can't wait to find out who we're adding to our family. Is she a girl who looks like Claire or maybe a boy who might actually have curly hair? It's so exciting to see our family forming. And, yes, even though I complain a lot, the sickness is worth it.

True story

Direct quote from the husband tonight:

"I need a job where I can grow an awesome beard and work out like a mad man. Now I'm old and my shoulder's busted.... I'll never be an Ultimate Fighter."

I love him.

LOST

Okay, I felt like I had to write a post dedicated to LOST.

First off, I love all of the different reactions to the finale. Some people hated it, some were disappointed, and some were happy with it. I went into it with an open mind, maybe because I was just so darn confused in the end, which I think allowed me to really enjoy it.

Here are the things I appreciated about the finale, and ultimately, about the series:

1: That the story ended with a focus on relationship. LOVED this about the finale. Definitely teared up during the Sun and Jin scene and the Claire and Charlie scene. Wow. Maybe it was the babies? Maybe, but I think I just loved them.

2: The emphasis on redemption for each person. Maybe it doesn't correlate with my personal beliefs exactly but I LOVE that theme.

3: So, yeah, not every question was answered and a lot of it still doesn't make a darn bit of sense. I chalk this up to being allowed to make your own interpretation and the fact that not all of our own stories make sense. Don't you ever wonder why things happen in your own life? Yes, I don't have random smoke monsters and polar bears showing up but I have my own questions. I like to think all those random things in LOST meant something to an individual character that we just don't know about.

4: I have been enthralled the entire series. I watched it from the very beginning when it first came on TV and remained loyal the entire time. Great story telling.

5: It was the perfect length of time. Another season would have just been too much. Good planning.

6: Seeing most of the cast together again. Why was this emotional? Oh yeah, I've invested a lot of time in this show. Such great characters.

I know you may not agree with my own interpretation but I think that is the beauty of the show. Thanks, LOST, it was a good run.

Gardening

Claire LOVES to be outside and loves to play in the dirt.
However, we have learned that if Claire is going to play outside for even 5 minutes, she needs bug spray. The poor girl is a mosquito magnet. She went out just for a little while late Sunday afternoon and she has so many bites. They don't seem to bother Claire but we're definitely spraying her down any time she goes near the back door now.

Driving rant, part 2 (or maybe 3)

Dear MoDot,

Why did you even bother to paint over the former lines on 44-E near my house? I can't tell which lane I should be in, especially getting on and off exits or when it's raining. And way to go also changing the exchange from 270 at the same time. Also, the lanes feel more like "comfort lanes" which are just plain distracting. Please repaint the whole road soon.

Thanks,
A misplaced former Georgia driver

Sacred

Caedmon's Call makes my heart happy.

This band has been my favorite since college. I fell in love my freshman year and I STILL listen to them on a regular basis. It grounds me. Reminds me why I believe what I do and just makes me happy.

I couldn't even begin to tell you all the memories associated with them. Some of my favorites are:
1. Singing "Daring Daylight Escape" very loudly, in a car, with Cami, Rachel, Jen, and LAJ... or some variation of those girls on multiple occasions.
2. Listening to the Long Line of Leavers CD over and over again
3. How much I've always loved the song "Somewhere North of Here"
4. "Prepare Ye the Way" being sung at Rodger and Angela's wedding

And the list goes on....

These days there is a song that I have come to claim for this stage of my life. It's called "Sacred" and I love it.

Claire is 14 months old and I think that it has taken me all 14 months for me to feel like I've come into my own as a Mom. No, I don't have it figured out- I know I never will. Yes, she changes on a DAILY basis. I think I'm just overwhelmingly grateful for being a mom and having the job that I do. I love that I get to be with my daughter and have a job that is amazing. Maybe the "coming into my own part" has to do with the combination of everything together right now, and not just the mom part!

Being a mom is hard, and doesn't have a paycheck, but I'm thankful every day that it's one of the hats I wear. It's hard for me to view it as a job. I often don't think about my actual job as a counselor as a JOB either; it's just another role I have. One of the pieces of the puzzle that's me. I think coming to the realization that all of these things are just ME, and not compartments of me, has made me better at all of them. I hope that makes sense.

I digress.

I feel like this song so describes this stage of life for any Mom with young kiddos. It makes me happy, gives me relief (uh HELLO first line), and makes me so very thankful.

I hope that if you're a mom, it is an encouragement to you.

"Sacred" by Caedmon's Call
this house is a good mess
it’s the proof of life
no way would I trade jobs
but it don’t pay overtime

I’ll get to the laundry
I don’t know when
I’m saying a prayer tonight
cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred?
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping
but they’re running through my mind
the sun makes them happy
and the music makes them unwind

my cup runneth over
and I worry about the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing

when I forget to drink from you
I can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream
to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper
the Lord, God Almighty
made your Mama keeper
so rise and shine,rise and shine
rise and shine cause

everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

A blog gift for you

I love reading blogs.

My current favorite is http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/.

I get really excited when there's a new post.

I have made several of the recipes and they've all turned out REALLY great.

I made the beef enchiladas for dinner tonight- SO GOOD. And Claire LOVED them. She apparently devoured them at dinner and then ate half of mine after she ate.

So go to this site; you won't regret it.

You're welcome. :)

Best way to start a Wednesday

So this morning I was getting ready to head in to work while Claire played at her table that Jeremy built for her. I was standing at the mirror putting on make-up when I felt a tug on my robe. I looked down and Claire was holding out one of her beloved books (see previous post). Of course, I had to stop what I was doing and read it about 5 times. Melt my heart, please. I pray that I never get too busy for moments like that and that I take advantage of that sweet time.

Our little reader

Claire is obsessed with these books right now. For two days now, she just wants to read them over and over again. It's very cute. And it's only these books. She pushes other books away. This morning, after breakfast, she went to her room and walked out carrying them. (Yes, walked out. She's not crawling much anymore!)

Reading time with Daddy before going to work.

Bag lady

Claire has spent a lot of time lately walking around the house with this bag on her shoulder. She puts things in it, takes them out, and starts all over again. At the time this picture was taken, she was carrying one of my socks, a toy horse from her barn set, and a few ABC magnets from the refrigerator.

Big sister

Amy, my sister, bought Claire this cute t-shirt.

On a side note, I feel like Claire actually looks a lot like me in the first picture.

Big day

Happy Graduation, Amy!
We're very proud of you!!!

Riverside Women's Retreat

My favorite things from the Riverside Women's Retreat this weekend:

1. Eating 4 consecutive meals with friends without cutting food up very small and being able to completely engage in conversation
2. Waking up on my own without my 14 month old wake up call
3. Debbie Holley was AWESOME
4. Great conversations
5. Rachel's story- so wonderful to hear
6. Being challenged with truth
7. Seeing a whole lot of Riverside women together
8. Being able to just BE in this group of Riverside women since I wasn't feeling so hot
9. Worship together
10. Laughing. A lot. Especially in my room.
11. Rest
12. Coming home to a clean house
13. Being reminded of why I love Riverside (that's a whole other post)

Thankful

Today I'm thankful.

I feel really sick. STILL. But I'm healthy. The baby is healthy. I'm no longer at a risk for miscarriage. A lot to be thankful for.

Today I'm particularly grateful for a group of women that I meet with. AKA the Wives group.

I was completely blessed during and after our meeting last night. This is an incredible group of women, who by default, have become my closest friends because we began meeting just a few weeks after I moved to St. Louis.

I hope you have a place you can be transparent. Where people know you and love you. We don't love perfectly, but I can say, we sure are trying.

Photo shoot

I started taking a few pictures of Claire as she pulled off all of the refrigerator magnets and put them in her stroller. Apparently, she thought this was a photo shoot and was practically posing for the camera. She's a very unhappy child, can't you tell? :)

Ode to Coke

I'm so very grateful for Coke. The legal kind. That comes with the red label.

It is the ONLY thing that makes me feel less nausous.

I bought the small cans today to limit my intake a bit. Which was very disappointing with my lunch but I don't want to overdo it with the caffeine. Plus, I can just get another later instead of wasting a whole normal-sized can when I don't want it. This thought made me feel a bit better :)

Nothing beats a fountain coke, though, and it makes me happy that Jimmy John's has cherry coke.

Love it.

Happy Mom's Day!

I didn't get any pictures with Claire today but I had a GREAT Mother's Day and Mother's Day weekend. Jeremy, Claire, and I went to Larson Park for a while yesterday and then to a party celebrating our friend Perry who just became a police officer. (and if read the previous post, you know how we spent our Friday) Then today I got to sleep in while Jeremy and Claire picked up Dunkin Donuts before church. I had a blast spending time with the kiddo and husband this weekend.

Thanks for making me feel appreciated, husband.

Happy Mother's Day, Moms!

Trip to the Zoo

Jeremy took the day off of work today which was fun, especially since he was out of town for a few days this week. The three of us went to lunch and then headed to the zoo. It was so great!!

Claire pointing at the ground hogs. She got excited about them!

Claire really liked the primate house.
She loved watching all the monkeys jumping and moving around.

Claire got so excited about the spider monkeys that she kept bouncing up and down.

This guy is totally worth going to the zoo to visit.

The bears are my favorite.

It was a very fun afternoon.
I know that trips to the zoo are only going to get more fun as Claire gets older.

Lean on me

I took these a little while back.
I'm so glad that Jack is so incredibly sweet and patient with Claire.
And I love that Claire always wants to cuddle with both Jack and Diane.
Diane, on the other hand, is not so patient with the cuddling.
Especially when Claire tries to get her in a big bear hug or lays on top of her.

One track mind

All I can think about is chicken salad. Particularly from Straub's and on a croissant.

I hate cravings.

And I wish that the Yogurt Shop were in St. Louis and not only in Columbus, GA. They have the BEST chicken salad. And sweet tea. And it was one of my favorite places to have lunch with friends. Good conversations have been had there.

That's it for today. I thought that maybe blogging about this might help. At least until I possibly go to Straub's later this afternoon to pick up my dinner. :)

Throw back

So I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. Blame the pregnancy, I am.

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures. I forget how incredibly tiny Claire was when she was born. It's funny because, at the time, it just seemed normal because she was MY baby. My first and only. I didn't know any different. I didn't really get everyone's shock when they saw her. Isn't she perfect?