Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, June 14, 2010

Outside my window...low 90's (its the evening). Just a normal humid East Tx summer evening.

I am remembering...going into labor with Colin. I am almost 36 weeks. I have made it a whole week longer than I ever did with Colin. I am feeling SOME (very mild, very beginning, no big deal) signs of labor that I recognize this time, but did not recognize with Colin. Interesting to just compare this time to that time. Also, just wondering how long I will be like this. 1 more day? 3 more weeks? I definitely am not complaining. Nothing really hurts...it just drives me crazy not knowing!

I am thankful for... bills. I know that sounds crazy. But in my mind I feel blessed to have a mortgage and electric bill to pay. Some people dont have that.

I am creating...got nothing here.

I am going...to be incredibly lazy this week.

I am reading...To Live is Christ by Beth Moore. Starting to finish it up. I am REALLY enjoying it. The study goes through Paul's journeys. So it has been really cool since Jeff has gotten back from Greece for him to show me pics or tell me stories that I have just read/learned about in the study. Good stuff.

I am hoping...that my life will bear fruit.

On my mind...not a whole stinkin lot.

From the learning rooms...haven't thought about school too much. The only thing I have thought about is that I want to rearrange my classroom and Im trying to figure out how that will work.

Noticing that...Colin is really TALL. His legs are getting really long!

Pondering these words..."Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8

From the kitchen...just had a completely unhealthy oven pizza. I am actually in the mood to cook, but Jeff is going to VBS every night this week where they are having a meal, so its hard to figure out what to make for just me and Colin.

Around the house...somewhat clean! Trying to slowly keep up with laundry so it wont pile up too much.

One of my favorite things... seeing a student make a new realization. you can see it in there eyes! there is nothing better than that!

From my picture journal... I adore this little guy!

35 weeks today. (updated)

How far along: 35 weeks (today is the point that I went into labor with Colin!)
Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs
Maternity clothes: all maternity...and now that I am not working...a whole lot of jeffs shirts and basketball shorts!
Stretch marks: not on my tummy. i still have some on my sides from colin. but I am carrying WAY differently with carley. With colin I carried all around. With Carley, I am all in front. So I'm kind of surprised that I don't have stretch marks on my belly yet.
Sleep: meh...not great, but not terrible either. just have to get up to pee alot.
Best moment this week: without prompting Colin came up to me, lifted my shirt and hugged it. He said, "I love you Baby 'Cawley' (as he pronounces it). I cant wait to see you." So sweet.
Movement: all the time. She is a roller, and a hiccuper.
Food cravings: fruit. but that is a normal summertime craving for me. I ALWAYS eat lots of fruit when it is hot outside.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: random contractions, she has dropped too.
Belly Button in or out: definitely out. kind of weird to me! You can see it through all my shirts.
What I miss: laying on my stomach
What I am looking forward to: seeing what she looks like! I can't wait to see if she has a ton of hair like colin did. To see if she looks exactly like her daddy the way colin does, or if she will have anything at all that resembles me. i don't even care either way. i'm not rooting for a certain hair or eye color or hoping she looks one way or another. i just can't wait to see!
Milestones: Thursday we go for a sono and pelvic exam. I'm anxious to see if she is still growing like she is supposed to. Haven't had a sono since 20 weeks and 2 weeks ago she was "measuring small." Probably not a big deal, but I just want to see that everything is okay.

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A few snippets from my not so exciting life....

1. so i will be sitting around the house today, because i am waiting on the exterminator to come. we might have possible termite damage (yuck!). There is a little spot in our guest room/carport wall that keeps collecting what looks like sawdust. But we are hoping its just that one spot and that we are catching it early. When we bought the house a year ago the inspection said no termites. And this "sawdust" has just appeared over the past 2 months. So...hopefully nothing too serious.

*Update: So "the Orkin man" came and said it was NOT termites (thank goodness, cause he said that would have cost of thousands of dollars to fix). But it is carpenter ants. So we just have to set up a simple pest control thing where they come every other month....which we need to do anyway...especially living out here by the woods. There are bugs EVERYWHERE! Boo for ants but yeah for no termites!

2. I'm in a crafty mood and thinking about somehow making a hairbow holder. Possibly something simple like this... But instead of the flower, maybe finding a small wood cutout that I could put a "C" on.

3. I am totally enjoying Jeff being done with school. He told me last night that he feels like he is being a better daddy and husband because he has time to now. That made me feel bad for him. I NEVER thought he was being a bad daddy and husband, but we did have to make lots of sacrifices and be without him alot because of school. So its safe to say that we are ALL glad that he is done now.

4. I think that I'm weird and like change. For the past 5-6 years or so, there has always been some sort of BIG life change. Marriage, college graduation, new job, move to new city, have a kid, start youth ministry, buy a house, have another kid! I told Jeff last night...."after we have Carley, we will have to find something else to change in our life....its just the routine now! What are we going to change next?" I think its a good and a bad thing that I've gotten so used to it. Its good because I am literally open to anything now. I could totally pack up our stuff and move across the world and it wouldn't bother me. However, I absolutely know that God wants us here and now and for a while....and I need to be okay with that. And I am okay with that. Because I love it here. But I guess I will have to be creative in finding ways to feed my desire for change all the time. Jeff told me that every time I feel that way to go change a diaper. ;)

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, May 31, 2010

Outside my window...a beautiful summer morning! Its about 70 degrees right now, but will get into the 90s later. I LOVE summer weather. Jeff hates it, but I think its great.

I am remembering...6 years ago when I married Jeff. It was the start of something awesome! So much has changed since we've gotten married. Many job changes, 2 college graduations, a big move, 4 different residences, buying a house, a new church and ministry, and 1 (almost 2!) kids later....it has been quite the eventful 6 years. I love Jeff more than anything. My favorite things about him are: seeing him be a sweet daddy, his endless talent, and I love how he and I make a good team. We work well together. :)

I am thankful for...old friends and new friends. both are necessary.

I am creating...a way cute bedroom for my kids. Almost finished and I am SO pleased with it.

I am going...to start packing my hospital/diaper bag today. :)

I am reading...To Live is Christ by Beth Moore

I am hoping...Jeff gets back on a Texas schedule soon! Poor thing is a wee bit jetlagged. Any time he sits still he falls asleep.

On my mind...getting this house cleaned, organized, and ready for a baby to dwell here.

From the learning rooms...4 more days....4 more days. I am, however, quite excited about next school year. I'm hoping I wont be too much of a zombie with a new baby, because there is lots to be done. We have some new ideas and curriculum changes to be put in place that I am excited about. We also got to actually order alot of "stuff" for our classrooms. That usually doesnt happen, so I am excited to get it and use it!

Noticing that...our youth summer plans are not very planned out. With graduation, greece trip, etc. that has kind of been on the back burner. Now all of a sudden, its summer and Jeff and I need to get organized and planned! Ahh!

Pondering these words..."When it comes to temptation, its not about will power. Its about whether or not you trust in God's promises over Satan's lies."

From the kitchen...we've done alot of eating out lately. :/ But I went to the grocery store so now I can cook. I think tonight I might make my dad's rice crispy chicken for Jeff. Delish!

Around the house...My To Do List(not necessarily to be finished today): wash Jeff's greece trip clothes, mop and vaccuum all floors, wash sheets on all beds, buy a shed for backyard, put crap from laundry room into previously mentioned shed, put all toys in laundry room in organized play room fashion.

One of my favorite things...Diet Strawberry Limemade from Sonic

From my picture journal...my studly husband in greece. wish i could have gone!

another update

jeff is back from greece (finally!). That was the longest 11 days of my life! haha. My dad stayed with me while jeff was gone and he was awesome. He painted the kids room, put the crib together, put new patio furniture together for me, etc. He was super handy. The kids room looks SO stinkin cute (to me atleast). Its not quite done yet. I have a few more things I need to do (like stenciling a verse above Carley's crib), but when its complete I will post pics!

I am almost 34 weeks...which is a little crazy to me because I was 35 weeks when I went into labor with Colin! I'm wondering how close I am to labor. I'm trying hard not to read too much into every little pain or sign. Don't want to over-react. But I don't want to disregard anything as "just normal" like I did last time. Last time I had convinced myself I just had gas, when really I was 5 cm dilated!

Here are a few "signs" I am having. Random contractions (nothing consistent yet), swelling feet, and I definitely feel a little dilated with some random back pain. It all seems normal at this point, but again I just wonder if I will go early again. Who knows, I might go 42 weeks! Ahhhh! My next appointment is June 10. I'll get a sonogram and from that point forward I will go every week. Pretty exciting.

Colin is doing so great at school. His teacher always talks about how good and calm he is. He does great with potty training there....rarely has accidents. I'm a little less structured at home about it than his teacher is. I don't get mommy of the year award in that area. I'm tired and lazy and slap a diaper on him. But he still goes at home on the potty and keeps diapers dry alot. So i guess you could say he's "almost" potty trained. I think once Carley is born and school starts again where we are in a routine, we will do full time undies. He is starting to make the connection that this baby carley inside me will eventually be here to live with us. We put the crib up and with no prompting he asked, "Is that baby carley's bed?" I think he is excited that she will be in the same room as him (well...not at first, but eventually). I'm excited to see him be a "broseph." I think he will be really sweet with her.

well, i guess that is all i have to say. I will update again soon with pics of the kids room!

Update (with pictures)

Lots has been going on! I'm exhausted, but everything has been so so fun!

I'm going to majorly backtrack all the way back to Easter. MomMom and Pepaw came on that Saturday for the day and we had a little Easter egg hunt. Colin was too cute. He just kept saying, "There's another one! And there's another one!" over and over again (referring to the eggs of course). Then we got a surprise visit from Granny and Pops the next day! We were on our way home from church when Jeff got a call from Pops who said they were in Longview. So glad we got to see all of them that weekend.





Jeff graduated from college! I'm super proud of him. For the past 2 years he has been an excellent husband, father, and youth minister all while still being an excellent student! He received an award at ETBU for his service as a youth pastor and also for outstanding senior religion student. He also graduated magna cum laude! It was a fun day because Jenni (Jeff's sister) graduated as well! So we had lots of family in and it was a wonderful day!





I had 2 baby showers this past week. One at school and one at church! I got some way cute outfits and also got alot of diapers and wipes (which I am SO glad to be stocked up on!) Very excited to start getting stuff ready for Carley's arrival! I have all her clothes washed and hung/put in drawers. Next will be painting the room green (her and Colin will share a room for a few years), putting up the crib/bedding, moving all the toys out to the new "playroom" and then packing bags/preparing for hospital! Once Jeff gets back from Greece we will be getting all the way ready just in case I go into preterm labor again! Just as long as I don't while Jeff is in Greece! I'm sure I'll be fine though.....right? Anyway, here is a pic of the bedding and colors we will be using in the kid's room!


Next on our agenda....
-May 11: next dr.'s appointment
-May 16: Jeff leaves for Greece :(
-May 25: Jeff comes home! :)
-May 29: Our 6 year anniversary
-that same weekend, Uncle JonJon comes for a visit and we have our youth end of year "80s skate night!"
- June 4: last day of school! woo hoo!
- June 21-25 Youth Camp (I will NOT be going, Jeff might be...but he's also got back up leaders in case!)
-July 13: tentative due date for little Carley!
-July 31: Kyle and Sheryl's wedding! Can't wait. followed by a stay in Arlington!

Again, I just want to stress that God is good. In the past year some things have been taken away. I lost my sweet sister and sacrifices are being made in staying here in Marshall (financially, being apart from family, etc.). Yet at the same time, he gives. I am about to have a little girl who will carry on my sister's name. And he has provided for us in many different ways. He gives and he takes away, but he is always there. And for that I am eternally grateful! Thank you God for having plans for us that are good and for giving us hope.

"a little of this and a little of that"

When my great aunt was living and first diagnosed with alzheimers she said something that made me smile. At the beginning stages of this she was still cognitive enough to know that something wasn't right with her, so she would find clever ways to "hide" it. One day, someone asked her what she had eaten for lunch. She couldn't remember so she just responded with a simple, "Oh....a little of this and a little of that."

Don't really know why I shared that....thought it would be a good title for a blog that is about to be all over the place and it reminded me of her saying that.

I stayed home (again!) with Colin today. I have just about maxed out out the days I can take between colin and my doctor appointments. I cannot get this kid well. Diarrhea, BAD hiney rash, dehydrated, lethargic. I am so so ready for this to get better. I tried to take him to the doc, but nurse was saying it would really be a waste of time and money because there really isn't much you can do for diarrhea. So....here we are cleaning up mess after mess, trying to get fluids down, and trying to heal a poor hiney.

Life is incredibly chaotic right now. Its not a bad thing necessarily....just makes me tense sometimes that it is one thing after another. But atleast most of it is stuff that I am really excited about and look forward to.

We have a JAM PACKED but exciting schedule ahead of us. Let me share my calendar with you...

April 14 - Plates of Praise at EF high school
April 15 - Jeff's senior dinner banquet (and the first "date" we've gone on in like 6 months! haha)
April 17 - Highway 80 garage sales (LOVE!)
April 21 and 22 - training for school (not love!)
April 23 - dr appointment and another glucose test (yuck!)
April 24 - youth group high school paint ball trip (I will prob not be attending that!)
April 26 - field trip to Gators and Friends
May 1 - JEFF FINALLY GRADUATES! graduation party to follow at our house. :)
May 4 - school baby shower
May 8 - church baby shower
May 16 - Jeff leaves for Greece
May 25 - Jeff comes home!
May 29 - 6 year anniversary!
June 4 - last day of school!
July 13th - Carley Erin's debut! (as of now)

Whew! May not have much time to post between now and then! Or after that for that matter.
I definitely feel blessed and excited about all that is going on in our life since we have been here in marshall. God is good! And even though I haven't had sleep or money in the past 3 years that we have been here, I wouldn't have it any other way. The joy of knowing God and seeing him at work outweighs all that.

On another quick note, please keep the Graff/Hopson family in your prayers. Heather (a former ETBU student and our old neighbors there) passed away last week from a massive brain aneurysm. She left behind her husband, Jacob, and a 4 month old baby girl, Ava.

She wasn't a real avid blogger, but when she did you could tell that she had a love for Christ. Some of the things that she wrote on her blog were read at her funeral. Her blog is http://jacobheather.blogspot.com/

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Thursday, April 1 2010...

Outside my window...perfect weather! about 80 degrees, sunny, and bright! buy LOTS of pollen. yuck.

I am remembering... when we were putting an offer on this house about this same time last year! It was exciting.

I am thankful for... Jeff being almost done with school! He graduates exactly one month from TODAY! I am so proud of him and really just super glad that he will be done with late night studying/paper writing for a while!

I am creating... well I will change it to past tense. I created a clean and organized closet for Colin and Carley. My dad added another shelf/rod halfway down for Carleys clothes. Cleaned out a bunch of junk that was piling up in there and now it is ready!

I am going...to have an easter egg hunt for Colin in our backyard. Its a GREAT backyard to hide eggs in!

I am reading...To Live is Christ by Beth Moore. I'm going really slow through it, but totally enjoying it and learning alot.

I am hoping... to find an additional source of income(s) for our family once little Carley gets here. I know God has provided and will again!

On my mind... summmmmerrrrrrr!

From the learning rooms... we are so mentally done. My kids are great and I love them and I just want to let them play!

Noticing that... Colin is getting taller.

Pondering these words... You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. ~Clay P. Bedford

From the kitchen... had spaghetti tonight.

Around the house... watching the Mavericks game, and listening to Colin sing the days of the week song

One of my favorite things... Spring time!

From my picture journal... my team and I have WAY too much fun together at school. This is us when we dressed up as 100 year olds for the 100th day of school.