Not me! Monday

Oi vey! It's Monday! Time for a little fun...

This past week I HAVE NOT been reveling in a dreamy baby girl. She is NOT sleeping almost 5 hours already. I DO NOT know how amazingly wonderful that is. (Really—a-MAY-zing!)

My older kids DID NOT start a great school year the day before Annalise was born. They DID NOT LOVE it. I DID NOT hear about how great school was.

Chase DID NOT confess that he doesn't really like the baby. That same night he DID NOT get out of bed when I was getting ready to feed her "just to check on her". He did not get up 20 minutes later to ask me this: "Is Annalise left or right handed?" It was not 3:30AM.

I have NOT gone a little coo-coo for this free mug from the hospital.

I have NOT been mercilessly teased by people, including the baby's nurse for getting excited about the mug.

I AM NOT feeling so good that I want to go running. (Reminder: I hate running). I am NOT getting frustrated because I feel I should be able to do more and then I realize I spend 8-9 hours every day sitting in a chair feeding a newborn.

Hope y'all have a great week.

Stuart the theologian

Just a couple funny stories that people have told me about Stuart recently.

Michael caught Stuart carrying some water into his room and then bringing it back out.

Micahel: What are you doing?
Stu: Oh, I was just baptizing Obi-Won Kenobi.


London recounted this about Stuart & Aidan's conversation on the way home:

Stuart: Oh, we played Star Wars at recess today. I was Yoga.
Aidan: Yo-DAH
Stuart: Yogda?
Aidan: Yo-DAH!
Stuart: Oh. Yea, and the other day I baptized Obi-Won Kenobi
Aidan: What's bapertized?
Stuart: It's when you go in the water and you get washed off of all your sins 'cause from then on you follow Jesus. (very matter of factly) But if you sin again, ya just pray.

Wordless Wednesday

She's here!

I know that you really just want to see pictures of the baby, but I don't know where the cord is to connect the camera to the computer! Sorry, you'll just have to wait patiently!

Annalise Jane
Annalise is an English name of Anna & Elizabeth meaning grace, favor, and the promise of God.
Jane is Michael's grandma's name and means God is gracious
We haven't really decided on any nicknames like we did with Chase, so for now, it's just Annalise.

She was born Friday Aug 21 at 4:45PM after a fast & easy induction that couldn't have gone better. I'm not sure if I want to share her "birth story" here because it was so simple. Let's just say it was far easier then labor is supposed to be, and I am thankful for it! She was 7lbs 4oz, 20 inches long. She has dark eyes and brown hair and really long fingers & feet! We can't quite decide whose look she favors, so she's simply her own unique self; she's just lovely.

I have lots of thoughts & emotions rolling around in my head about the blessings of God in the midst of trials, but I think I'll have to save the deep thoughts for later when I'm a bit more coherent.

We're home now and would LOVE to see people. I probably won't be taking her out too much this month, but come on over!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok..a few words. I am not a photographer of any kind! (Nothing like Jenn, Jodi, or MckMama)We just wanted to document our celebration of spaghetti & meatballs, Fitz's soda, & chocolate BTS (back to school) cake
Tomorrow will be here soon!

Not me! Monday

Happy Monday! More fun over at MckMama's blog.


This week was NOT spent saying, "The baby could come today, or it has to wait until next Friday." My due date is NOT today and I'm pretty sure the baby is happy inside. Not so much mama.

I DID NOT sleep more this week than I have in a long time. I am NOT in love with naps.

I DID NOT contemplate making a T-shirt/sign/sandwich board that says:

Due Date: Monday
Yes, it's my fourth
No, I don't know if it's a boy or girl.

Cause, I'm NOT at all tired of answering those questions.

I DID NOT eat a huge hamburger from McDonald's this week because I felt rushed to make a choice and I couldn't see the menu only the advertisement board. No, I always choose healthy food, even when eating at fast food. I would also NEVER be intimidate by a woman with a computer clipboard standing outside to take my order.

I am NOT wishing desperately that the kids would go back to school ASAP. My 1st grader is not driving us all crazy. NO, I always enjoy every moment with my children and wish we could spend more time together. What kind of mom would that be?

Have a great week and I really hope my next post is about a baby!

School

Saturday morning I spent 3 hours at the kids' school's "Back to School Morning." It was lovely. Every time I'm at their school, I am reminded why I love it so much and how much peace I have about sending them there. Central Christian School is full of the love of God and academic excellence. It is truly an amazing place. Many parents have offered to help with rides for all the kids when the baby comes, and teachers have been so ready to hear about how our kids handled the transition of moving. The curriculum and its execution is excellent. This is not a school that thinks just because we love Jesus we learn by osmosis in our little Christian bubble. Real passion to explore God's world with the foundation that all Truth begins in God and real drive share the love of God with the outside world.

Chase is starting first grade, so his big transition is full day school. Stuart is starting Kindergarten; he's headed 'upstairs' (!) and gets to go 5 days! And Sabrina, she'll be in 3K two mornings a week and she couldn't be more excited to get to stay at the place she's been visiting since she was a baby!

I'm just so happy that in all the turmoil and transition of this summer, the kids are heading to a place that is familiar and amazing!

Not me! Monday

Oh, yes...I have returned! Well, sort-of. I don't know if I'll ever be back to my real old self again, but at least, my new self is here!

I'm going to share a few things I certainly have NOT done over the last few weeks. Others are happy to tell you what they haveN'T done over at MckMama's blog.

When I found a small bug on the floor while I was mopping with the swiffer wet jet, I DID NOT simply douse it with extra half a cup of wet jet juice and mop over it. I would never be that wasteful just so I don't have to bend down. I also did not leave a clump of cat fur sitting next to the trash can for 2 days because I would have to bend down to get it and it was too gross to pick up with my toes. NEVER, that would be disgusting.

I have NOT made my kids watch several musicals this summer, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sound of Music, Newsies, or have them watch several old Muppet shows. Nope, I would NEVER use the television as a babysitter and if I did, I would let them choose for themselves. I would NEVER be so selfish as to choose myself so I didn't have to listen to something I didn't like.

I have NOT resorted to bribing my 3 year old with stickers to behave appropriately in the store. Nope, she HAS NOT thrown several embarrassing fits recently that have completely exhausted my pregnant self. She is always the perfect angel.

My children have NOT invented a new game to play with swords. They do NOT run around the deck fighting "all the pharaohs dead."

I also have NOT been playing 80s pop music like "Footloose" or "We built this city" while we do our chores and jobs. My children do not have their own signature dance moves to these songs. I have NOT be unable to record their "rehearsals."

I am NOT hoping the baby comes tomorrow so that it would be a convenient birth date to remember. The kids DO NOT start school 3 days after my due date, so I am of course NOT hoping the baby comes now or next Friday. I am all natural and know this baby will come whenever it wants. (I, of course, have NOT been induced with my 3 other kids!)

Have a great week!

Chase, the 80 year old, again

Chase: "I don't think I got through the whole sleep cycle. I only got through stages 1,2,3, and 4, non-R E M sleep."

Seriously had to pretend to cough to keep the laughter from spilling out.

Smiley Stuart

Chase, the 80 year old

Reading my bible and Chase comes out of his room.
"Mom, I'm sore."
"Do you think it's from sleeping hard or working in the yard yesterday?"
"Oh, working yesterday, definitely. I don't think I even had R-E-M sleep" (spelled out, not said like a word)

Sassy Molassy Sabrina

Finally an update

I know, I've been completely remiss with my blog. I just feel like if I blogged it would be sad and crabby! And then we didn't have time. So here's the digest of the last 8 weeks.

Our house wasn't selling so we offered money for people to put in a half bath or main floor laundry. Still not an offer.
Baby was still coming, so we needed to get out. We felt like God was directing us to rent for ourselves, keep our house on the market, and lower the price again.
We found a rental, lost the rental, found another, but too expensive. Landlord came down on price and we moved on July 2! The house is amazing-3x the size of our old house. It's really amazing provision and we can stay for a long time.
Our house, still not selling, listed on Craig's list for rent, not a bite, lowered the price. Had 4 requests in 2 days, lease & deposit signed 3 days later, inspection, re-inspection, occupancy permit & rent payed 3 days later. They moved in yesterday, Samantha moved in with us yesterday.
Been having lots of contractions, but baby still not due for 2 weeks, but kinda wishing it comes today or late.
Got class lists this weekend, school supply lists, Chase starts 1st grade, Stuart Kindergarten, and Sabrina 3K. Exciting and scary...what in the world am I going to do the first week of school if this baby comes on time?
Discovered I'm going to have to ask for more help than I'm used to.

God has provided and He is amazing!

So there's the stream-of-consciousness update. I promise funny stories & pictures soon!