We made sure to get our groceries early, and any supplies we may need for the weekend. Winter Storm Gandalf was scheduled to roar through the mid-west yesterday and today. Our area alone was slated for 3 to 6 inches of snow, ridiculous winds, and conditions that made going out inadvisable.
We got lots of wind, some freezing mist that left a thin layer of ice over everything, and an inch and a half of snow. Then we got sunshine and a little more wind. So here we are....at home....
I had planned to watch the storm through my picture window all day and cozy up with some hot chocolate - but then the storm decided it didn't want to play, and hot chocolate didn't seem all that great. Granted, I'm glad we didn't get a lot of snow and even more glad that people can get out and about safely today. But...they said....oh well.
This morning while Brent was outside shoveling the driveway, I took a shower while Haley was playing with her dolls. She was coming in to the bathroom (rule #203874 of being a mom: you don't have any privacy ever. Under any circumstance.) giving me updates of what her dolls were doing. She had put them down to nap and told me I needed to be quiet. Cute.
I shut the water off in time to hear:
"Ahhhh!"
...running footsteps...bedroom door opening...
"Stop all this llama drama! You be patient for your mama!"
...door closing...
...repeat...
It was hilarious! Especially if you're familiar with the book Llama Llama Red Pajama. It's one of my favorite nighttime books to read to Haley and she apparently has adapted it to her playtime with the dolls.
The last week, Brent has been fighting some sort of cold bug. He's feeling better today (thank you, Lord) and is back at being a rock-star daddy. I'll tell you, I feel inept as a mother when I watch Brent with Haley. He is the kind of daddy any child would hope for. They've played Candy Land today, washed dishes together, painted with water colors, read books, and enjoyed lots of snuggles. I'm not feeling well at all, and so my contribution to Haley's upbringing today was taking a nap with her. You do the math on who's a cooler parent.
Cletus-the-she-fetus has no sympathy for my feeling ill, on top of my "I should do more even though I feel gross" mentality. She's been kicking the tar out of me all day. At times, it feels as though she's grabbing my uterine wall in her teeny palms, then doing back-flips pulling it with her all the way, then holding on while it un-spins itself. It's highly uncomfortable, and I have no idea what's going on in there, but she doesn't listen to me when I ask her to stop. She's already defiant. This will be fun.
Now that Gandalf has come and gone, and was a lot nicer than we all anticipated, (maybe the meteorologists should stop all their llama-drama when it comes to predicting storm impacts...) we're going to settle in for a little movie watching. Dumbo is in the queue for tonight.
I hope wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you all have a warm, wonderful weekend!
To read the story of our precious Harlynn Renae, start here and follow the "next" links at the end of each post. Thank you for coming and sharing with us in this journey.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Re-Centering
I've had, what I would call, a craptastic day. Not a good day, but a bad, don't-want-a-repeat-of, everyone-is-a-moron kind of day. I've heard and read, however, that when you focus (continually) on what you're grateful for, it not only improves your mood, but can cure depression. Cure depression! I'm going to try to focus on those gratitude-attitude things tonight instead.
1. Yesterday I had to take Brent's car across town (actually, across the river to that other town in that other state). I noticed the windows were filthy, and he had less than a quarter tank of fuel. Brent hasn't been feeling well the last few days, and I don't remember the last time I had to put gas in the van myself (because he takes care of it for me most of the time) so I decided I would speak his love language - service - and fill his car with fuel and clean his windows. I wanted to keep it a secret and see if he noticed this morning, but I was so excited I couldn't. Why was I so excited about putting gas in a car and cleaning the windows? Because service is the love language I suck the most at, and any time I can do something to speak it to Brent, I get excited. He was very appreciative. I'm grateful that I have a husband whom I not only love, but whom I love showing in little ways how much he's loved!
2. Last night before I left, Little Miss was sitting at the dinner table when she piped up, "I want to shake my booty."
...
I'm sure the looks on Brent's and my faces were picture-worthy.
...
"You what?" Brent asked. I stifled (though not very well) a laugh.
"I want to shake my booty!" she said again, with a huge grin on her face.
"Where did you learn that?" asked Brent.
"At my Granny's house. Can I shake my booty now?" she replied, as she started to wiggle her badonkadonk where she sat.
I couldn't help it - I laughed out loud. So did Brent. "Granny" as she's affectionately known in these parts, is Haley's part-time babysitter. She has practically helped us raise our dear child since I'm still working full-time. I texted Granny who replied she may have in fact used that phrase that day. She followed up with "Can I still babysit?????" Haha!! I'm grateful Haley has people in her life who love and care for her, and that she is so sharp and doesn't let anything get past her.
3. Today, during the height of my craptastic experiences, Cletus-the-she-fetus was kicking up a storm in the womb. At one point I joked that she was doing to my insides what I wanted to do to someone's face. (Extra estrogen is a dangerous thing...) In all reality, though, I'm so very grateful to be carrying a little sister for Haley. My sister and I are so very close, and I would be lost in this life without her. I can only hope my children will form the same time of relational bond I have with my sister. So, Cletus-the-she-fetus, kick away little one! I love knowing that you're active, and I love anticipating what life will be like once you join us.
Huh. Whaddya know? I think I feel better, and this day can end on a great note after all.
1. Yesterday I had to take Brent's car across town (actually, across the river to that other town in that other state). I noticed the windows were filthy, and he had less than a quarter tank of fuel. Brent hasn't been feeling well the last few days, and I don't remember the last time I had to put gas in the van myself (because he takes care of it for me most of the time) so I decided I would speak his love language - service - and fill his car with fuel and clean his windows. I wanted to keep it a secret and see if he noticed this morning, but I was so excited I couldn't. Why was I so excited about putting gas in a car and cleaning the windows? Because service is the love language I suck the most at, and any time I can do something to speak it to Brent, I get excited. He was very appreciative. I'm grateful that I have a husband whom I not only love, but whom I love showing in little ways how much he's loved!
2. Last night before I left, Little Miss was sitting at the dinner table when she piped up, "I want to shake my booty."
...
I'm sure the looks on Brent's and my faces were picture-worthy.
...
"You what?" Brent asked. I stifled (though not very well) a laugh.
"I want to shake my booty!" she said again, with a huge grin on her face.
"Where did you learn that?" asked Brent.
"At my Granny's house. Can I shake my booty now?" she replied, as she started to wiggle her badonkadonk where she sat.
I couldn't help it - I laughed out loud. So did Brent. "Granny" as she's affectionately known in these parts, is Haley's part-time babysitter. She has practically helped us raise our dear child since I'm still working full-time. I texted Granny who replied she may have in fact used that phrase that day. She followed up with "Can I still babysit?????" Haha!! I'm grateful Haley has people in her life who love and care for her, and that she is so sharp and doesn't let anything get past her.
3. Today, during the height of my craptastic experiences, Cletus-the-she-fetus was kicking up a storm in the womb. At one point I joked that she was doing to my insides what I wanted to do to someone's face. (Extra estrogen is a dangerous thing...) In all reality, though, I'm so very grateful to be carrying a little sister for Haley. My sister and I are so very close, and I would be lost in this life without her. I can only hope my children will form the same time of relational bond I have with my sister. So, Cletus-the-she-fetus, kick away little one! I love knowing that you're active, and I love anticipating what life will be like once you join us.
Huh. Whaddya know? I think I feel better, and this day can end on a great note after all.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
A New Beginning All Over Again
I just packed away the last of the Christmas decorations. They'll sit, stored and undisturbed in their little plastic tote bins for another 11 months, as we go on with our lives and the seasons that ebb and flow before us. It's hard to believe it took so long to get here, was over all too soon, and yet will be here again before we know it.
We just came back from a trek to Wyoming where the van pretended to run out of gas (it wasn't funny at the time, but it kind of is now), I ended up too sick to go shooting (argh!), and we spent time herding children, breaking up toddler fights, and sharing laughs, fudge, and making memories. Mom said at one point, and it strikes me as funny and true, "I don't think I can handle any more memory-making this Christmas..." There's a lesson in that sentence - always peel your vegetables over the trash. Maybe I'll get to that story someday, but just take my word for it. And thank you to my husband for griping at me years ago when he saw me peeling a potato over the sink. I haven't done it since...and Mom won't do it again.
We had a wonderful 2012, filled with blessings and life-lessons. Our little girl seems not-so-little anymore, as she chats up a storm and is sharp as a tack. Just last Christmas she was singing "Jingle Bells" - just those two words - over and over again. This Christmas she was singing every song known to man. We're expecting another little girl come this spring. I went through a wonderful program put on by United Way for 35 women professionals aged 35 or under. Our cats that were our "kids" for five years found a new home with a friend of Brent's, after our household allergies seemed to worsen by the day by keeping them here. (*Side story: We had been trying to give them to a good new home for an entire year. Then, duh, I finally decided to start praying about it. Two weeks later, they were headed to their new forever home.*) We hosted family coming for visits, said goodbye to the wonderful matriarch of Brent's family, took a couple trips to Wyoming, and we took in the many activities and conveniences our own city had to offer. We finally got the basement painted (after three years of talking about it). It's been a busy, and blessed year.
I've forgotten a lot of it, of course, because my mind isn't what it used to be. I've also deactivated my Facebook account (close to seven weeks ago now) so I can't scroll through my despised timeline to see what I've done or where I've been. (Extra estrogen is a powerful, and sometimes scary thing. If only everything were as easy as hitting a deactivate button to stop being annoyed though, right? Well played, Facebook.)
Now I sit, my house back to normal, wondering what the year ahead has in store for us. Little Cletus-the-she-fetus is practicing karate in-utero, Little Miss is finally quiet in her bed, and hubs is downstairs doing his Bible study. The only thing that would make this first day of the new year better is if it were warmer than 16 degrees outside, with no snow and lots of green grass. Even the winter has it's plus-sides, though.
Today marks seven years since Brent and I arrived in North Dakota, moving lock, stock, and barrel from Wyoming. Seven years. Friends were betting we wouldn't make it this long, family members were hoping we wouldn't, yet here we are. You, of all readers, know that I've griped and moaned many a time about living here, how much I miss the mountains and wilderness of Wyoming, and what I wouldn't give to go back. I have to say, honestly though, after 2012 especially, I'm comfortable here. This is my home now, I don't intend to leave any time soon (unless the Lord calls me to, of course) and I'm finally...finally...settled in. Yes, it's in print now, I consider myself an official citizen of the state of North Dakota. You had a lot to do with that, to-your-door-grocery-delivery. I'm not sure I can live without you now.
I resolved to do three things this year: 1) take Christmas decorations down by the end of today (check); 2) have a baby (halfway there); and 3) put our house up for sale and find a more kid-friendly layout home in our price-range, and in one of the neighborhoods we'd like to live in (dreaming big here!). I'm not sure if you're into resolutions, or how well you do with keeping them, but if you need encouragement to stick to your guns...well...I'll encourage you till I'm blue in the face if you come over and help us install baseboard trim in our basement, and help Brent put in a new shower surround in the downstairs bathroom. I promise.
Another year down, hard as it is to believe it came and went already, and another year ready to be explored, lived, and enjoyed. May your 2013 be bright, may your cup never be empty, and may your prayer life be filled with thanksgiving. Here's to YOU this year, my friend!
We just came back from a trek to Wyoming where the van pretended to run out of gas (it wasn't funny at the time, but it kind of is now), I ended up too sick to go shooting (argh!), and we spent time herding children, breaking up toddler fights, and sharing laughs, fudge, and making memories. Mom said at one point, and it strikes me as funny and true, "I don't think I can handle any more memory-making this Christmas..." There's a lesson in that sentence - always peel your vegetables over the trash. Maybe I'll get to that story someday, but just take my word for it. And thank you to my husband for griping at me years ago when he saw me peeling a potato over the sink. I haven't done it since...and Mom won't do it again.
We had a wonderful 2012, filled with blessings and life-lessons. Our little girl seems not-so-little anymore, as she chats up a storm and is sharp as a tack. Just last Christmas she was singing "Jingle Bells" - just those two words - over and over again. This Christmas she was singing every song known to man. We're expecting another little girl come this spring. I went through a wonderful program put on by United Way for 35 women professionals aged 35 or under. Our cats that were our "kids" for five years found a new home with a friend of Brent's, after our household allergies seemed to worsen by the day by keeping them here. (*Side story: We had been trying to give them to a good new home for an entire year. Then, duh, I finally decided to start praying about it. Two weeks later, they were headed to their new forever home.*) We hosted family coming for visits, said goodbye to the wonderful matriarch of Brent's family, took a couple trips to Wyoming, and we took in the many activities and conveniences our own city had to offer. We finally got the basement painted (after three years of talking about it). It's been a busy, and blessed year.
I've forgotten a lot of it, of course, because my mind isn't what it used to be. I've also deactivated my Facebook account (close to seven weeks ago now) so I can't scroll through my despised timeline to see what I've done or where I've been. (Extra estrogen is a powerful, and sometimes scary thing. If only everything were as easy as hitting a deactivate button to stop being annoyed though, right? Well played, Facebook.)
Now I sit, my house back to normal, wondering what the year ahead has in store for us. Little Cletus-the-she-fetus is practicing karate in-utero, Little Miss is finally quiet in her bed, and hubs is downstairs doing his Bible study. The only thing that would make this first day of the new year better is if it were warmer than 16 degrees outside, with no snow and lots of green grass. Even the winter has it's plus-sides, though.
Today marks seven years since Brent and I arrived in North Dakota, moving lock, stock, and barrel from Wyoming. Seven years. Friends were betting we wouldn't make it this long, family members were hoping we wouldn't, yet here we are. You, of all readers, know that I've griped and moaned many a time about living here, how much I miss the mountains and wilderness of Wyoming, and what I wouldn't give to go back. I have to say, honestly though, after 2012 especially, I'm comfortable here. This is my home now, I don't intend to leave any time soon (unless the Lord calls me to, of course) and I'm finally...finally...settled in. Yes, it's in print now, I consider myself an official citizen of the state of North Dakota. You had a lot to do with that, to-your-door-grocery-delivery. I'm not sure I can live without you now.
I resolved to do three things this year: 1) take Christmas decorations down by the end of today (check); 2) have a baby (halfway there); and 3) put our house up for sale and find a more kid-friendly layout home in our price-range, and in one of the neighborhoods we'd like to live in (dreaming big here!). I'm not sure if you're into resolutions, or how well you do with keeping them, but if you need encouragement to stick to your guns...well...I'll encourage you till I'm blue in the face if you come over and help us install baseboard trim in our basement, and help Brent put in a new shower surround in the downstairs bathroom. I promise.
Another year down, hard as it is to believe it came and went already, and another year ready to be explored, lived, and enjoyed. May your 2013 be bright, may your cup never be empty, and may your prayer life be filled with thanksgiving. Here's to YOU this year, my friend!
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