Using God's Word Selfishly...

I wanted to share something that I wrote in my journal recently. It is something that has been on my heart. I don’t know if I have ever wrote something that I have written in my journal, but I thought this may help others and maybe some of you can help me out and give me some tips, advice, or thoughts.

So here is what I wrote:

Thankful for God's Grace

God is amazing and I wanted to brag on one of the ways He is so awesome. Some days as a mother are difficult, but then there are moments even in the difficult times where I can see God working through my little mans heart and life, even if it is just to encourage me as a mom. For example, when I tell Levi that it is time to change his diaper and he proceeds to pick up ALL of his toys without me even asking then comes promptly over to get his diaper changed. Totally a God thing. What a good helper. Or when it is time for a nap and he runs over the the rocking chair and pats it saying "read! read!" when I was struggling to encourage him to enjoy reading. God is awesome. Or when in the evening, I laid him down and as I was covering him up, he folded his hands and said "pray.". We pray at meal times and he knows that, but I have never prayed with him at bedtime; shame on mommy. Guess we need to start working on that one especially since he's asking to pray together before bed.

Sometimes I am so thankful for how good he is and I wish I could just let him know I am very  proud of him. But since he may not quite understand that yet (though I do tell him often), I can thank God that He is working in Him and it is not me or John as a parent but God who blesses us. Again, there are hard times yes. there are stubborn times. And lately we are getting to that "testing" stage, but it is all a chance to help him to grow as a person and a leader and a man. So, despite it being difficult, there are lots of little blessings to be thankful for. :) (As I finished writing this, I told him to not do something he and he slowly proceeded to do it with a smile.....lol ah.....:P)

My Nurse thank you baggies

I was able to get the nurses thank you gift baggies finished. They seem so simple, but I hope that the nurses enjoy them. I started off using snack size Ziploc baggies, but they ended up being too small, so I went to sandwich baggies....hey now! Lol I made 3 main gift bags because John said with Levi I had two nurses and then my midwife (couldn't remember how many nurses I ended up having, I remember one main one and that was it). But, I made 3 other ones that aren't AS fancy just in case I end up with more nurses or someone just seems like they need their day brightened.

In each bag, I made a thank you note and either a homemade beaded bookmark or a homemade paper bookmark.

On the notes I wrote a note of thanks and appreciation and then a scripture. I used different scriptures for each one and have prayed that God places the right card with the right person knowing that God's Word won't come back void.

Then, at Kroger, I got a few things of dollar candy (I definitely got some chocolate for those lovely ladies! Praying no one is on a sugar free diet like we are.....really hoping, otherwise I will feel awful for them :( maybe I should make one sugar free baggie just in case....hm. I placed the candy in there and that is basically it.

Like I said, they are simple, but I wanted to do something to let them know that I appreciate them and that nurses/doctors/midwifes who care about their job and their patients are amazing.

 

Friday Funny

I have not done a Friday Funny in a while and thought I should. This has been floating around and my husband showed it to me. I thought it was pretty funny. I don't believe there was any language....but I may be wrong...so maybe watch it before allowing your kids to watch it just to make sure.

Yay Padsicles!!

So, just as a bit of a warning for any guys who read my blog, this is definitely a postpartum “mommy” post. Lol Nothing gross, but maybe some TMI's. Just a warning. Lol Though, if you are a husband, this may be a helpful post to read.

Boys' Room is Ready!! (With pictures)

I wanted to take some pictures of the boys' room/nursery. It is all ready for Baby B to get here.

Levi wanted to be in the picture....in his cute cloth diaper that matches the bedroom. lol

Mundane Monday....a bit different than normal

So, I wanted to write a mundane Monday post, but this time instead of just randomly listing off some things (though I still may at the end), I am going to just talk about what has been going on and why I feel blessed.

I feel blessed because despite having hurt feelings, my husband still came to me and apologized and made things better. We had a wonderful time at the Metropark walking in nature trails, playing with toads which Levi had issues with....

Hospital Bag with Pictures

Here is what I have in Baby B's bag. 

 I am bringing a diaper bag even though it isn't very full. We had a lot of stuff that we brought home from the hospital with Levi, so I figure we can pack the extra stuff inside the diaper bag. IN this picture you see the diaper bag, a hat I crocheted for him just in case it is really chilly (though it isn't looking like it will be with this hot Indian summer) and in the turquoise pack, I have extra snot suckers, nail file, etc. We never needed this with Levi, but I keep it in the diaper bag anyways, and even though the hospital gave us snot suckers, there were a few times where we couldn't find it and he was choking and we needed it fast, so I figured a few extra on hand would be good.

Here I have a black nursing cover. With the nurses and random doctors and friends and such coming in and out, I had a hard time making sure that I was covered up. Most people knock, but then as soon as they knock, they come right in. lol Doesn't give you much time, so I figured I'd bring this and if it gets used, wonderful, if not again it will need to stay in the diaper bag anyways.

On the top right, I have burp cloths. Another thing I don't remember needing, but whatever....I'd rather have it than regret not having it.Then in the bottom left corner, I have a summer swaddle blanket. Now, we hardly used this one at home because Levi was so tiny and the Velcro wouldn't make it tight enough, BUT we did love the swaddle blankets better than actually just swaddling with a regular blanket and it has slots for the carseat belts, so I can swaddle the baby while in the carseat. So, that is the reason I am bringing that. I also have a blue regular blanket just because, though the hospital provides those too, but there is an awful lot of pink in those blankets they provide. Icky!! :P

Here I have 3 onsies (some preemie because Levi fit preemie stuff, and two regular size in case one gets dirty). Two of those night gown things because they make changing diapers SOO easy, and I am mainly bringing the plain white one because of the photography they will be doing that I talked about here

Then two pairs of pjs, again two only because of the size. A few pairs of socks, and then some scratch mittens. 

Now for some of the things that are in MY bag.

 First, I have a blanket from home. The ones at the hospital are great, but having one from home is first comforting and a bit warmer. The yellow thing with the stars is a nursing nightgown I got at goodwill before I had Levi. It isn't pretty really, but it makes nursing easier and will be better than wearing the hospital gown after the baby is born. Underneath that I have two nursing tank tops. SOOOO comfortable and make a nice easy outfit. Add them with sweats or jeans and will just make me feel more human.

Here I have some "going home outfits." I picked out a few because I don't know how I will feel and what will be comfortable. I have a pair of sweats and a nice comfy and baggy sweatshirt. Then I have maternity jeans and a nice baggy cowl neck shirt that is loverly and perfect for nursing while hiding my still looking pregnant belly. I also have a nursing t-shirt that is a loverly light blue with a brown shaw and a blue scarf. All things I find gorgeous, comfortable, yet easy to hide that postpartum belly so I don't get depressed. lol

Here I have a towel from home along with a wash cloth. The one at the hospital was so tiny and thin. Also, in my birth plan, I have that I want to take a bath AS SOON as I can after baby is born. I want to have like an hour of bonding and attempting to breastfeed, then while they are cleaning baby up and doing tests, I want to get into the bath (using my bath herbs which I'll talk about below). I have makeup bag which has some shampoo and conditioner, body wash from home, perfume, some makeup (simple things like foundation, powder, lip gloss...stuff so I feel fresh and pretty when people come....if I actually care....lol I didn't bring this with Levi and to be honest, I'm not sure if I would have used it, but after I wished I had freshened up and made myself look nicer. Just would have felt better about myself....all you ladies who have had kids will understand. lol). I also brought a straightener. I used the bath to help with the pain of labor last time and my curly hair went all Miss Frizzle on me. I have a sports bra that will be perfect for the bath. Last time, I didn't use it and wished I had been a bit more covered up. Of course I have nursing bras (two or three in different sizes because I'm not sure which size I will need), a few pairs of underwear that I don't mind throwing away. Socks, and wool socks. The undies I just used the hospital ones and they worked well because I didn't have to worry about anything and could just throw them away. But, I'm bringing some of mine I can throw away in case I want something less....baggy....lol. And of course flip flops...for the shower or just walking around. Easy on and easy off.

Here are the bath herbs. These things are AMAZING. A little back story ,with Levi, I only had ONE stitch! ONE! I knew labor was almost done and pushed him out hard and fast in like three pushes, I didn't really breath him out so I ripped a bit. That one single stitch caused a lot of issues. I ended up in the hospital with a fever and a bad infection from it. What a sissy! lol Anyways, I want to wash up right away and my midwife said I can soak in the bath ASAP as long as I am not bleeding too heavily. I am going to place one of these in the bath to help with healing. Lots of wonderful healing herbs in there. If for some reason I can't soak right away, you can steep these like tea, then place in the freezer (for right after baby is born, great warm also for a little later), and then place in a pad. So either way, I will be using these.

In this bag, I have pens and a pad of paper for anything we need to right down or remember. A baggy that I am keeping change in for vending machines (though I doubt we will use these, we don't really eat stuff out of the vending machine.). Then a baggy with at least two sets of headphones (John creates this fantastic hypnosis/brainwave playlist for me and it helped SOOO much during labor with Levi. He said that one time when it shut off I asked him to hurry and put it back on. I loved the distraction and it blocked out everything else around me. And two extra chargers. I will need to pack my laptop and charger, and such...but obviously that is something I won't pack until we leave.

Then, last but not least, my thank you baggies for the nurses. I will do a post of what I am putting in there later. I am planning on buying candy/treats/chocolate to put in them too.

I still have a few things I may want to add. I don't want to over pack and want to pack leaving the hospital easy without too much clutter, but I also want to make sure I have everything we can use and not regret not having something if that makes sense. I also have started preparing snacks to take too. Each week I buy one or two things with our grocery budget to stick in my snack bag for the hospital. The cafeteria at the hospital closes at 7:30 and with Levi, by the time I was cleaned up and we could think, we were both starving, but there was no place open or that delivered. John ran out to a pizza place and brought us some food. It was inconvenient and frustrating for both of us. They had some snacks at the labor and delivery which was nice, but that was mainly just for me and it was stuff like fruit cups and such. At this hospital. they have a few places that are open later and I believe one place that is open 24/7, so even if I have the baby late, we'll be able to get some food right at the hospital without John having to leave. That will be very nice. I am still bringing snacks though. Cheaper for one, and then John can eat something while I am in labor if he needs to and such.

So, that is what I have packed. I am not bringing things like pads, diapers, wet wipes, and such. They provide that at the hospital and allow you to take stuff home, so that is not needed.

Is there anything you think I'm missing? Or is this too much? I find myself bringing more stuff this time around as opposed to what most people do and bring less. I hardly brought anything when I had Levi. It all fit in a small reusable grocery bag. lol What are you taking?

Week 34 Belly Pictures

As promised, here are some updated weekly pictures. Here I am at 33 weeks.

This view I don't look very big....

But this view it's like DANG! lol There is definitely a baby there.

I thought it would be fun to do a belly picture comparison too:

 Doesn't seem like there is a TON of change between  25 weeks and 29 weeks. Think there is? Baby was engaged for a bit, but then he popped back out, and in this picture at 34 weeks, it doesn't look like he is engaged at all; still looks pretty high.

I was taking a nap--or trying to--and I got to thinking about my labor with Levi last time. I had an appointment that morning and knew I was having Braxton hicks contractions, but thought they felt different. My appointment was at 9, I was dilating and effacing. I still thought it would be a while, but my midwife told me to go home, eat, and attempt to nap if I could. I was determined to get some laundry done at my mother-in-laws house, but John convinced me to come home. I waited an hour or so, and then called John to tell him to come home. I don't know how long we waited, but we went back to the midwife, she checked me and told me to go back home, wait two hours (no more), then go to the hospital. She knew I wanted to labor at home as long as I could. I do know that we got to the hospital between 3-4 and Levi was born shortly before 7. I am sure that I was labor for a while, but it wasn't uncomfortable and I could sleep just fine. I thought they were just Braxton Hicks. So, even if I were to count the hours that it wasn't uncomfortable, the labor was only 9 hours. That isn't a long time! So this time around, I am hoping that it is just a tad shorter. Watch me end up being one of those women who have a ridiculously long second labor instead of shorter. lol But, either way, it's all in God's control. Last time whenever I had issues dealing with the pain, I would just tell myself that it will end soon. It won't go on forever and then we will meet our baby. This time around I am doing the same.

Well anywho, I wanted to get some belly pictures up. It's funny to watch it grow. :)

33 Weeks....Only 33 weeks?!

I am 33 weeks, the baby is about the size of a pineapple now. Only at the MOST 9 more weeks before things WILL happen, 7 before it's more likely. 4 more weeks before I think things are going to happen (we'll see....I could be very wrong...) and like 2 more weeks before things COULD happen if my dates are right! Yikes!! lol 2 more weeks before I need to be ready. That is an interesting thought. I just stopped writing and said that to my hubby. That is in the middle of September. Yikesters! Come on Baby B, lets have a September birthday; Uncle Hunter will really that, so will Grandpa D. So will mommy!! lol