Mormon Message on Mothers

Overheard and random thoughts

Me: Andy, what kind of present do you want for your birthday?
Andy: Uhh, BLACK!


Things have been going well lately. I have a tendency to let frustrations get to me and I end up responding in less-than-ideal ways to our kids. The end of a pregnancy is an easy time for this to happen. I'm not a bad mom. I'm just not always a very nice mom. On Sunday I realized something that is helping. We had ward conference on Sunday and a member of the stake primary presidency came to the class I teach (CTR-4, Benny's class). At the end of class this lady told me that she really enjoyed the lesson and said that I did a great job with the kids. I thanked her and was glad to hear the nice things she said. Then I wondered if someone observing me in our home would say the same thing about how I work with our kids. I want Christ to be a constant presence in our home. I don't think that he would give me the same feedback as the sister in church did. Sometimes, sure. There are often times, however, that I let fatigue get to me or I let myself get annoyed at the things all kids do. At those times I would not get the feedback that I am handling our kids really well. I'm working on getting that feedback.
I remember my parents telling all of us at different times that if we couldn't get along with our family members then we couldn't go play with our friends. I think I would be well-served if I institute that rule for myself now.

This pregnancy is continuing to go well. At my appointment today I found out I'm at a 3 and 50% effaced. I'm thrilled that things are headed in the right direction. This just goes to show every pregnancy is different. This is the first time I've crept along like this. We'll see how it ends up! (besides, of course, the fact that it will end with a baby.)
A little history: Because Benny was born by c-section I have to have one scheduled every time. Thankfully my doctor is willing to schedule them for as late as his insurance will allow giving me as much time as possible to go into labor on my own. Andy and Lilia were both delivered normally and we have no reason to think that won't happen again. I'm scheduled for 10 Feb, so, if nothing else, two weeks from tomorrow we'll be holding our new baby girly.

At this point everyone is nesting in their own way. The boys have been really starting to care for their stuffed animals in a nice fatherly way. It's really cute to see. They're doing a very good job taking care of their "babies." Lilia, also, is getting quite maternal. She's latched onto her babies much more lately. They know what's going on and it's really cute to see.

None of this may make sense. I've been close to falling asleep for a while now, so forgive me for the ramble. Hope you at least enjoyed the "overheard"!

Snow day plus

We had a snow/ice day today. Spencer didn't have to go into the clinic, which was really nice; Benny's school was canceled (did I ever mention he's doing 2 dys/wk, 3 hrs each time of a preschool? He loves it); my doctor's appt got canceled; and I rescheduled visiting teaching. We had a fun day at home together. We played outside for as long as each of the kids could handle it. Andy lasted the longest and had a great time. Lilia liked eating the snow off of her socked hands (no mittens) and got cold the fastest. Benny played for a while and enjoyed it until he got too cold. It was fun to see how excited the boys were about the snow. I think their favorite thing to do is eat it.

With Spencer home I was able to add three more casseroles to the freezer today. I'm really happy with how that's going. I made 4 chicken and broccoli casseroles and we had one for dinner. It worked out really well.


Pictures from our snow fun:

After eating plenty of snow!



Playing around after lunch.



Lilia's getting better at "cheese!"

Because they looked so cute the other day:





And, the pregnant pictures. At 37 weeks.

My nesting and some pictures

So, it's time. I call it "my" nesting because it's not what you typically get. With every pregnancy I have felt the need to get down on my hands and knees and scrub the kitchen floor about a month before I'm due. As of last Saturday, that one is checked off of the list. It feels nice - both just to have done it and nice on my feet.
Also, yesterday I made tater tot casserole for dinner and was able to make enough to get two of those in the freezer. I've decided to do freezer meals that way rather than what I did before Lilia was born. That time I just had a marathon day and made a whole bunch of stuff. I don't feel like having a marathon. I'll do it this way this time. And I'm so grateful to know that if I don't get made all that I'd like, my mom is planning on coming and stocking our freezer with dinners after the baby is born. I've got such a good mom.

Things are going well. The kids are great and I'm feeling pretty good - for being a few days shy of 37 weeks pregnant (picture forthcoming for those interested). Spencer has been absolutely wonderful and picks up any and all of my slack (which at times has been quite considerable). We've gotten into a good routine again since Spencer started a normal schedule (December was absolutely wonderful with him working maybe 20 hrs/wk during his Psychiatry rotation). Amazingly enough I've been keeping on top of laundry and dishes. Often it's one or the other, but, boy, things have been good lately! (I realize this may or may not continue at any given point. I'll just take things as they come. I'm okay with that.)

Today I had an appointment with my OB. He's taken to giving me hugs fairly regularly lately. I really enjoy this doctor. He's very supportive and very happy with how my pregnancies/deliveries have gone. Today he asked me how supermom was doing. I said that I didn't know as I haven't seen her. He told me he thinks I'm doing an excellent job. I responded that I try every day. I think that's all anyone can really do: truly put forth an effort at the responsibilities we have been given. I'm trying. Some days are better than others. Some days I'm sure I don't try as hard as I could. But I am trying. I often think of a quote from December 2009's Visiting Teaching message from President Gordon B. Hinckley: "You have not failed as long as you have tried." I am so grateful for that.

The appointment ended well finding out that although I'm not at all effaced, I am at a 2! Where I think this is a wonderful start, I'm not thinking I'm going to go into labor all that soon because I think it's entirely possible that because our kids are so close together, I may not have gotten smaller than a 2 after Lilia was born. :)
I'm am really happy about this, though, because I think it means that I won't have any problem going into labor on my own. If nothing else, we will have the baby four weeks from tomorrow. We have a c-section scheduled for 10 February. Unfortunately, the latest they could schedule the c-section is for three days after the due date. I was hoping for at least the week they gave me with Lilia, but insurance guidelines are always changing. But I am confident we have nothing to worry about.


I'm not blogging much about Thanksgiving or Christmas. We have thoroughly enjoyed the Thanksgivings and Christmases we have been able to celebrate with our own little family. So much so that we think we're going to let our experiences here shape how we celebrate these holidays for the rest of our lives. For this most recent Thanksgiving we were able to enjoy Spencer's brother Grant's company for just over two days. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed some great food together. And Spencer enjoyed his help putting up our Christmas lights. We also got to decorate our Christmas tree with him. We also had a wonderful Christmas. The kids are at such a fun age to enjoy the magic of Christmas. It made it so fun to enjoy it with them.

On to some pictures.

Thanksgiving with Grant.




Story time with Grant. Lilia warmed up to him just before he left. We hope for a longer visit next time!





Santa comes to story time at the library.



Andy was hesitant this year.





Getting ready to see the lights at Rhema Bible College.
A fun place with lots of lights! It really made me miss the lights at temple square. I wish we had gone the last two years. We'll definitely go back next year.











Candy cane reindeer. The boys loved them for the short time theirs survived!






Christmas Eve Pajamas.


Lilia got a separate picture because she slept through dinner and the boys opening their PJs.



Christmas morning

Andy loves his horse!


Benny was thrilled to get his "bike with pedals" from Santa. Spencer took him out first thing so he could try it out.


Despite what it looks like, Lilia really enjoys her stroller. She also loves her new church shoes. She wore those all day!





The boys in their new church clothes.



Gingerbread houses!

Andy and I worked together.




Spencer and Benny made one together.





Enjoying the beautiful weather between Christmas and the New Year.



Benny has been doing really well riding his bike. He can get started all on his own, ride down the street, turn around and make his way back. And no training wheels!


Lilia hasn't figured out yet that "cheese" is supposed to get you to smile!