Recommendations for Twins

I currently know four people in my circle of friends who are having twins!  In thinking about what it was like to be pregnant with twins, I thought it might be a blessing for them to know how I did it.  Of course, they may not care, and that's okay too, but just in case they want advice from someone who is a few steps ahead, here are some recommendations based on my experience.

1.  If you're breastfeeding, get this nursing pillow.  It is great.  Once I had them latched on, I was hands-free!  It's awesome.  It is generous in size, and I have used it from the time I got home with the boys.  Now, my boys were term and Felix weighed 6 lbs 12 oz, and Milo weighed 7 lbs 5 oz, so they were not teeny tiny preemies.  This may not work for you until they get bigger if yours end up coming early.  But I love it, and STILL use it and my boys are 9 months old.

Double Blessings Twin Nursing Pillow (stock photo from doubleblessings.com)

2.  I wanted a lightweight, inexpensive double stroller.  Another twin parent recommended a side by side as one twin may not like being behind the other and want to be able to see out.  This sounded reasonable.  You can spend as much as you want on a stroller.  Evaluate what you'll use it for.  I knew I would use mine either for a walk on a track, the mall, the zoo, or running errands.  I would not be jogging with it, so I knew I could buy something cheaper and not as awesome.  Plus, I live on a gravel road off of a state highway, so I knew I wouldn't be strolling regularly.  I went with the Jeep double umbrella stroller, got it at stroller.com for $70 in May with free shipping.  The sunshades are a joke, but I have been pleased with the stroller for the price.

Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport Umbrella Stroller (photo courtesy of stroller.com)

3.  Nutrition is the MOST important component of managing a twin pregnancy.  This book was amazing, and I attribute my healthy outcomes both to God and to following the high protein diet in this book.

When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy


4.  Schedule help.  Dave was able to be home with us for two weeks.  50% of twins are born by c-section, so having help is even more imperative.  Regardless of how you birth your twins, you MUST rest for a month afterwards if at all possible.  My midwife, who provided me with nutrition and breastfeeding advice, said I needed to sleep as much as possible for the first month--no housework--just sleep, eat, and nurse the babies.  I have three older children under the age of 6.  I did not know how this was going to work, especially after Dave went back to work.  So, I made a calendar and divided the days he wouldn't be here into two sections: 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm.  People would mention in passing, "I'd love to help you when the babies come" or "Just let me know how I can help."  So, I made sure that I got all their names written down along with their phone numbers, emails, and times they were available to help.  Then, each week, I would contact people to fill in those time slots.  Making them 4 hr time slots seemed more doable and less overwhelming for people, and praise God, I only ever had to be alone with all 5 children TWICE in that first month.  I didn't have a full day alone with all of them until the beginning of February.  I got plenty of rest.  They watched the older children, made them lunch, fed them snacks, helped pick up around the house, made me lunch, helped me change and burp the twins.  It was amazing.  I would not have made it without my team of helpers that first month!  Don't be afraid to ask for help.  You cannot and should not try to do this alone.  It will keep you from getting depressed and overwhelmed.

5.  Freeze meals.  I had two weeks of meals that were brought to my home by friends and church members.  But, I knew that eventually, the meals would stop.  So, about a month before the babies were due, my friend, Tina, came over and helped me put a bunch of meals in the freezer.  For two weeks, I bought two of everything and made double of every meal and froze half.  By the time the twins came, I had 17 meals in my freezer.  I have a LARGE freezer, but I also have a small deep freeze.  You can get a small deep freeze for about $150.  It's worth it.

6.  If you can afford it, hire a housekeeper.  I hired Miss Emelyn about a month before the twins came.  She and her sister or her niece come every other week.  She does anything I need her to do--dishes, laundry, all cleaning, help with the kids or the babies.  They are amazing.  I would not make it without them.  I recently had to clean my house (all the way) by myself while they were on vacation.  I survived it, but I was super overwhelmed by all that I had to do.  I knew that hiring her was cheaper than therapy! I also love having her around; she is a blessing to our family.

7.  And, if you can do this, it will make everything better--keep your twins on the same feeding and napping schedule.  Ours is not hard core or strict, by any means, but they ALWAYS eat at the same time, and I lay them down for naps at the same time.  This has given me the time I need to rest and recharge and to homeschool my older two children.  This was by far one of the best decisions I have made.

I hope you find all of this helpful, and if you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  Your twins will bless you more than you even know!!!

Couch to 5K--I've got rhythm.

My piano teacher told me I didn't have rhythm. Oh well. I don't like to count.

But, I'm getting into a running rhythm. As I run and get about 4-5 minutes into it, I suddenly am okay with running. I could go farther than my daily time limit (but I don't).

Yesterday, I walked 5 min, ran 10 min, walked 5 min. I actually ran a full mile in that ten minutes, so that felt nice. I could have kept running farther too. I'm learning to watch my pace too. I am usually running anywhere from 8:30 min/mi. to 10:30 min/mi. Not too shabby for a beginner, I'd say.

Tomorrow is 5, 11, 5. Dang. Next week looks SCARY. I thought this week did. Not compared to next week!

In other news, Dave and I were able to pay off our van and a small student loan!!! Only 4 more student loans to go!!! We are excited and feeling free!!! It feels amazing to say--I am no longer under your thumb!!!

We are discussing our financial goals and home improvement goals (the kind that actually keeps the house from inefficiency and falling apart--not remodeling). This year has become the year of freedom and discipline for us, and we are LOVING it.

Resurrection weekend has had me contemplative, thinking about the sacrifices of Jesus for us. May I never lose sight of it!

Off to book club in about 30 minutes to lead a discussion on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. If you haven't read it, you should. It is BRILLIANT. Much love to you all!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Filling the shelves

Thank you for praying for Kathy. She tried to open her eyes last night. Big improvement. They are running a bunch of tests today. Please continue to pray as you think of her.

I went on a little decorating spree last night. Well, for me, anyway. I do not shop for decor that often. I have these two ugly and plain white shelving units in my kitchen that are desperate for decor. So, I decided to channel my inner Anna and make them more attractive.

Here is a Before Picture:

Sad, isn't it?

When we moved in, I wasn't too thoughtful about where I should put the coffee mugs. They ended up on the shelf because I didn't have a clear vision or plan for the kitchen. But now, I just want the shelf to look like I care about it. So, I decided to hit Hobby Lobby and see if there was anything that appealed to my tastes. I found a few things.

I found that robin egg blue vase (for $5) with a sweet bird on it. It needed flowers, so I bought the silk ones ($2.50) and some foam ($1.77) to stick them in. I reordered my pictures and cookbooks as well. I think it looks better.

Then I found the birdhouse ($11.25). I loved it, and I knew it would be right at home on my shelf. I once again reorganized cookbooks and another flowerpot I have (that needs some flowers). We shall see. I am taking baby steps here!!!

Here is the big picture:

Much better, wouldn't you say (at least the top two rows!)? I think I spent $19 and some change. I took it out of the entertainment fund. :)

I need further ideas for the bottom three rows. Please contribute your design wisdom. I was contemplating using some fabric or scrapbook paper to line the backs of some of the shelves in a true Nester fashion. Whatdya think?

What to say...

it's hard to think of things on Mondays. Even if we had a good weekend.

And we did.

But, I'm tired. It's Monday; did I mention it? I have a pile of things to do in my mind. I want to do the fun stuff first, but I feel like I have to do the unfun stuff instead. I wish I had a friend over who would chat to me while I did stuff. That would help distract.

I used to do Flylady.

I'm reading the Sidetracked Home Executives book (what Flylady is based on).

There are so many good ideas. But, I'm afraid that the problem lies within.

ME.

I am the problem. There! I said it! I make a lot of excuses for why my house is messy and dirty. I don't like to do housework, so more often than not, I don't do it. Seriously.

So, please turn over a new leaf with me today. Let's get our shoes on and put things back where they belong. Let's step away from the computer. Let's get moving.

Who's with me?

High Octane Kind of Day

I found the largest coffee mug possible today. I filled it to the brim. I am tired. We have spent several days at home without leaving, and that's enough to make any mama tired! No, really, Dave had to leave a bit early today for work so he could see his hospital patients before clinic starts. So, he's gone, 2/3 of my kids are awake, but thanks to the superhero capes I made last night, they are quiet!

We actually did get out yesterday. Dave was itching to go to Conway (our nearest shopping city) to use his Christmas giftcards at Target and Old Navy. He needed some shirts. I was concerned the roads may be slushy (Thank you for being wrong, State Highway website!), and though the highway leading to our house was pretty patchy, the main highway was clear.

We stopped first at the fabric store because the kids were begging me to make them capes to go along with their masks. We found some pretty cheap fabric that looked Super, and some felt to make Maryn a new mask (one that looks more like Bug Girl from Backyardigans). AND I had already made Sam an eye patch to play pirates, but he really wanted a pirate hat to go along with it. I was nearly out of black felt, so we got some of that too. I made a pirate costume a couple of years ago for our friend, Rowin. Sam is finally ready for one of his own, I guess.

I did find some sweet deals at Old Navy (for my giftcards!). I got some dark gray khakis for $17. Have I ever mentioned that I HATE to spend more than $20 on pants/jeans? I know some people will spend a hundred dollars on jeans; that will not be me, thank you very much.

Otherwise, our homebound weeked (with electricity, thank God) was so nice. Dave took the kids outside to play in the snow. They've so been longing to do that and haven't had the opportunity yet. We ate good food, stayed cozy in our clothes (jammies), and I got to do a few things I like to do. I am nearly done crocheting a sweater/hat set for my friend, Megan. Her sweet girl, Madelyn, was born two weeks ago. I am nearly finished with the hat! I also read a book. And, the highlight of the weekend was that Dave watched "Cranford" with me. This is huge for most men. He knew I wanted to watch it, and I think he is actually enjoying it. We DVRed it, and for some reason, we only got the first two parts. Boo. Gotta find that third part.

So it has been a lovely weekend with a helpful husband, and now, he is at work--hence the largest cup of coffee. :) Time to make a pirate hat before I get swashbuckled.

Life After Three and the Lies of Productivity

I was talking to some women last night at a Christmas party, and as we were discussing transitioning from one child to two and then two to three, I realized that my housekeeping skills haven't been the same since I went from two to three. Sure, they weren't great when I just had two, but they really went downhill at three!!!

This transition was probably one of the most difficult ones to make, but after a year of having three, I am getting the hang of going out with them, eating with them, and having fun with them. However, I still find the housework a challenge!

Like today, for instance.

I have been doing laundry and dishes. I also straightened my bedroom and fixed a wobbly drawer in the kids' dresser.

I remember with two I could have also cleaned out the fridge and done a thorough house blessing! Perhaps it is partly related to having a little one who is INTO EVERYTHING! When she is awake, I really have to keep my eyes on her.

Dave is awesome. He doesn't complain. Even when I ask him to complain, he can only muster, "I wish you would rinse off your dishes before you put them in the sink." Seriously? That's it? You aren't furious that your underwear are dirty and there are dishes piled in the sinks and all along the countertops? You aren't frustrated that there are goldfish all over the dining room floor and crumbs and marker streaks on the table? He really is a gem.

I know sometimes I am too hard on myself in the housekeeping department, but how did Dave's grandma do so much on a farm? How did she get up at 4am? How did she milk all the cows, take care of four kids (one set of twins) and bring water up from a well? And garden? And clean? And cook? HOW?????

I don't know. I think my life is pretty easy compared to hers, and I don't have to keep a farm running to survive, either. My life is so different. I'm thankful, but I do wish I had some of that motivation. But, at the same time, I do think "productivity" is a god in this culture. We measure worthiness and capability by how much one accomplishes in a day (or an hour).

When my head hits the pillow tonight, I want to think that I did exactly what I was supposed to do today. My list of accomplishments may be short, but I pray my children and husband felt loved by what small amount I was able to do.

'Tis the Season to Be Making

Well, before you get your panties in a bunch and think for a second that I am a mom who does it all, let me first declare that my house is a disaster, I haven't fixed my hair in DAYS, and it's all I can do to feed my children. So, when you look at what I have accomplished, you won't feel like a slacker (as I often do when I assume that blogger moms have it ALL together)--because no one knows how to slack (especially when it comes to housework) quite like I do. For real, ask Dave.

During this time of year, it is hard for me to not make stuff. However, I realized that I prefer crocheting in the winter--not sewing. I think crochet is slow and relaxing and I can do it anywhere, whereas with sewing, I am stuck in front of my machine. Crochet is just more cozy. However, I have been sewing. I have had a few projects that were time-sensitive.

My dear friend, Vanessa, is leaving for Kenya the beginning of January. She, her husband, Kyle, and their three boys will be serving Jesus through medical mission work in a rural village. I wanted to give her something practical, so I told her I would make her some skirts to beef up her missionary wardrobe and to keep her cool. So, I have set out to finish them. I am halfway done--two down, two to go. I did not photograph them; I'd like them to be somewhat of a surprise. :)

My second sewing endeavor was to make a tree skirt. This year, we bought a live tree (something we've never done before). Our old tree skirt was WAY too small to fit around it, and it was pretty ugly. I searched high and low online for a free pattern, and I found this fabulous pattern on Citrus Holiday. I modified it some, but it is the same for the most part. I love it!!! I think mine reminds me a lot of Allsorts, Morgan Moore, and candy stores.

So, of course, we've also decorated for Christmas. It's pretty simple, and I think, very beautiful and colorful--just like our quirky family.

I've also been a bit culinary. Sam says I'm a good "maker" (his word for "cook", although sometimes he does call me a "cooker"). I've had fun making all kinds of treats over the past week. Yes, pictures will follow!

The first was peppermint syrup. I was browsing Craftzine, and I saw a link to this wonderful website (that I will be perusing for other ideas), Think Inside the Icebox. This syrup is great. I love Starbucks Peppermint Mochas. So, I thought I should make some syrup to have on hand. Of course, mine don't taste quite like Starbucks, but they sure are a nice substitute at home. The recipe for the syrup was simple, and I just picked up some chocolate syrup, half and half, and whipped cream to round out my dessert...errr...drink.

Last year, I made toffee, and the butter and sugar separated, leaving the chocolate with a fatty layer on top. It tasted fine, but it was not pleasant to look at. I thought I would do a little research to see where I went wrong, and I found another wonderful website, Cooking for Engineers. It was all explained with great directions and what to expect. My toffee turned out perfectly!!! It is SO good. You should definitely put this on your to-do list.

And, finally, I made the ever-popular party mix--Puppy Chow (the recipe I used called it "Muddy Buddies"). There are recipes for this all over. I used the one in my Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook. The kids helped shake the bags with the powdered sugar. It is delish.

I am sorry for the long time between posts. I have been a bit preoccupied, but thankfully, there are several things to show for it! Now, there are gifts that need wrapping, so I am off to attempt that!

Merry Making!!!

Slowing Down

With all the madness and loveliness of my birthday, we managed to wear ourselves out. We traveled a lot, made messes in between our traveling, and now it is time to re-center and FOCUS.

My goal is to get back to normal as quickly as possible so that Thanksgiving can be relaxing. Yesterday, I had a long list of things to do. I didn't get to cross off many (just "shower" and "make grocery list and menu"). We did, however, manage to go to the store and get everything for the week and for Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving food.

Today, Dave went back to work since his vacation is officially over. I love having him home, but if he is home, I don't get anything done. :) I'm glad we're all back where we belong. The house is slowly coming together. Our vacuum is dying. I saw smoke coming out of the bottom. It smelled funny.

I do not like having a canister vacuum. I miss having a bag that I can throw away 0r better yet--BURN (especially when we're having our yearly autumnal battle against Woodrow's fleas). I know that's not environmentally savvy, but it is one of those things that make my skin crawl. I would like your vacuum suggestions.

I have so many sewing and crafty projects in my mind and on my shelf. I need to get going. I keep hopping from project to project. I think my goal this year will be to finish THAT ADVENT CALENDAR I started two years ago. I made a mistake on it, and will essentially be starting from Step 2. Kind of hard to get motivated...but I'm also toying with the idea of inventing MY OWN advent calendar...if I do, perhaps there will be a tutorial to follow.

Do you guys do Advent Calendars? I love the one my friend, Cinthya, has--it tells the Christmas story or the significance of each symbol--all made of felt. I LOVE FELT.

So, here's to nesting and being at home!

I told Dave last night, "I wish that my house was always sparkling and that the kids would dance around me with daisy chains while I sewed." We giggled.

::Geidlbots Weekly Calendar of Events:: or something like that.

I thought this week would be slower.

Nope.

My parents came over this weekend to visit. They hadn't been here since right after we moved in, so it was nice to show them the house with our stuff on the walls and the fresh paint. I do have eventual plans to show before/after pictures on here. We've been told that we should have DSL in a couple of weeks!!! Then, I will be able to show you more pictures.

We had a nice visit complete with our kids saying things they shouldn't and making us all laugh. Mom and Dad stayed with the kiddos on Sunday morning while we went to Sunday School. It was kind of like a date. Kind of...

Sunday night, we had our small group discussion. That was good. Until early the next morning...Lucy was up all night. It was ridiculous. I thought her tummy was hurting, but it turns out, she had an ear infection. We had to cancel our dinner plans last night because of it, but I was also not feeling well. I'm not sure if it is a cold or maybe just my allergies, but my ears are congested and I feel a little foggy. Seems like really bad allergies (which I haven't dealt with in awhile, but we did just move to an oak tree infested area) or a mild cold. Either way, I haven't felt at the top of my game. Lucy slept so much better last night.

I skipped Bible study this morning so she could rest. She rested well--about two hours. I picked up her antibiotic--her first one ever. She is my healthiest child yet! 11 months without antibiotics!!! We ate Sonic food in the car with Dave, and then came home for naptime. Neither of my girls is asleep right now...Lucy is fussing, and Maryn was playing with Elmo in her bed. Tonight, we have a meeting in Conway. Tomorrow, we have a meeting in Little Rock, I think?? I need a haircut.

This Friday, we are having Jason and Amanda and their two children stay the night with us, and then on Saturday, we're all going to the Ozark Folk Center for the annual Bean Festival. You read that right. It's all about beans and folk music. I can't wait.

So that's what is going on in our world. How about yours?

Managing our Freedom

It's funny how busyness is different in different places. In residency, Dave was busy with work, Good Samaritan, meetings, call, etc. I was busy with Bible study, book club, and events. Now that we've moved here, a few things are the same--he still has call every week (though it is from home), and I still have Bible study. However, we've also found a way to be busy in other things.

We exercise. Every day (but Sunday--we rest our bodies). Since we have three children, daily exercise--together--is difficult. And boy, do we need one another! If we weren't there to encourage one another in it, we wouldn't do it. So, every night, after we put the kids to bed, we put in our DVDs. We do Gilad's (from FitTV) workouts. We do cardio and strength training, alternately, six days a week. It's huge for us! But, we've realized, that we have less free time in the evenings now that we exercise.

Dave commented the other day, "How did we get so busy here?" Well, we have a small group meeting on Sunday nights. We have a meeting in Conway every Tuesday night. I have a women's Bible study on Tuesday mornings. Dave is "off" (sometimes) on Wednesdays, so we run a lot of errands. It's busy, but it is a good kind of busy. We are much healthier than we've been in a long time.

Somewhere along the way, we started choosing to do things out of a desire to be healthy rather than a place of guilt or obligation. I remember being heavy laden in college with three Bible studies a week, church, community group, and a large student meeting each week (not to mention the part-time job and my classes). It was too much, and much of it, I did it because I felt like if I didn't that I wasn't spiritual enough. Now, the things I choose are out of genuine desire and not duty. It's healthier and more rewarding.

No longer do I cower under obligation. Though it may be kind of a silly way to go about things, I reached a point in my life where I wouldn't do something (even if it was good) if I was doing it out of guilt, shame, or obligation. Instead, I would only do those things when the desire came. I know some of you are thinking, "If I did that, I would never do any of the things I am supposed to do." That may be true. It wasn't for me, and that surprises me (because I believed that too)!

It seems like desire finally had the opportunity to arise because I was not giving obligation and duty any room to rule me. I guess, in a way, I learned to manage my freedom (in much the same way I'm trying to teach my children to do). I chose not to exercise. This had consequences. I was free from the guilt of obligation to exercise--I was not a slave to it, but the consequence for not exercising is getting fatter and flabbier. Suddenly, a desire to be healthy and fit arose, and I gladly chose to exercise. I made decisions, and I ruled my decisions instead of them ruling me.

Last night, after we finished "Cardio Strike!", we made some popcorn (and a bag of candy corn) and sat down to finish a movie we'd started. We started talking about how eating the popcorn (and candy corn) might not be a good idea. I said something like, "We're free to eat popcorn (and candy corn). It's not that big of a deal." Dave agreed, and then said, "All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial." (a quote from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:23). We laughed about that because we knew that to eat the popcorn (and candy corn) wasn't sinful, but it wasn't going to be beneficial to us. Well, we ate it, and we felt gross afterwards. We managed our freedom, but we experienced a consequence that wasn't pleasant. Chances are that after we work out tonight, we won't indulge our appetites quite so much. But, we are learning to walk in grace and how to make good decisions for ourselves.

It isn't about following a list of rules. It's about walking in freedom, making good decisions in the power of the Holy Spirit, and pursuing things from a true place of desire. There is always a place for balance, and there are so many things I want to cultivate disciplines in (like meditation on Scripture, prayer, walking in the Spirit...), but I KNOW that I can't discipline myself to do things out of fear or duty because those are the wrong motives. Those kinds of works will not make it through the fire. Our Father is a good Dad. He knows we long to please Him and try our hardest. But even He desires that we do it out of desire and not duty. (Read Piper's little book, Duty and Desire...I forgot I read it until now.)

This is the abundant life Jesus was talking about...or at least a smidgen of it.

On Turning 30 and Bucket Lists

I'm rapidly approaching my 30th birthday in November. To some of you, I'm a spring chicken. To others, I am THAT LADY WITH THOSE KIDS. No matter what my relative age is, I do feel as if I'm entering a new phase of life. 30 seems so much older than 29. Okay, maybe not that much older...

I will always remember (unless my memory starts to go soon...) that episode of "Friends" in which Phoebe tries to complete her "Things to do before I'm 30" list only to find out she's been 30 and is almost 31. She proceeds with the list and has the time of her life doing it.

Well, I have a list. It isn't a "Things to do before I'm 30" list but more of a "Things I want to do before I get too old to do them" list. :) I'll share 30 of mine, in honor of my upcoming birthday, then you share some of yours.

These are not listed in order of importance, FYI.

1. Sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
2. Go backpacking around Europe (just Dave and me).
3. Put flowers on C.S. Lewis' grave.
4. See the Redwoods in California.
5. Visit Seattle and drink coffee at the first Starbucks.
6. Go to a Yankees game.
7. Go to Walt Disney World with my kids.
8. Visit Easter Island and see the big stone heads.
9. Go to India and eat tons of Indian food.
10. Visit Israel and walk where Jesus walked.
11. Go to Greece and take pretty pictures.
12. Climb a few more 14,000 ft. peaks in Colorado (I've climbed one so far...and a few shorter ones, like 13K or 12K).
13. Go to NYC and do NY stuff (Broadway, Central Park Zoo with the kids, Times Square).
14. Visit all of my internet friends at least once.
15. Be an overseas missionary in China, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
16. Ride in a gondola in Venice.
17. Own a stick shift again.
18. Buy a really nice camera with a nice, wide lens (I hope this one comes true soon.)
19. Adopt a child.
20. Be revolutionary...somehow.
21. Write a book.
22. Learn to paint or draw better.
23. Lose all the baby weight (for good...after I'm done having babies, of course!).
24. Find the birthplaces of my ancestors and visit there (Ireland, Scotland, England...of course)
25. Teach my girls how to sew.
26. Learn how to can food.
27. Learn how to quilt--for reals (there's an elderly woman in my Bible study who is up for the challenge!).
28. Read more classics.
29. Plant a garden and keep it alive for an extended period of time.
30. Leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren.

I may add to this as I think of things. Your turn.

Hedonism and Me

So, I have this friend, Hedonism, that is a bit of a leech. She hangs around ALL the time, and she's constantly persuading me to do whatever I feel like doing while I ignore what is important and best for others. In fact, there have been many times when I have chosen Hedonism over my husband, my children, and my friends.

Hedonism and I go way back. This is particularly most evident in housekeeping. I have struggled since my teenage years with being tidy. I am just not neat. I'm not pigsty filthy, but I am not tidy. I am messy. I leave a trail wherever I go. You could look at my house most days and see where I have been and what I have done, cooked, and eaten.

I married a man who is tidier than I am. He generally picks up after himself (except for his shoes and doctor mail), and unfortunately, he is really laid back as well. This does not bode well for a procrastinating, untidy wife. I can count on my hand the number of times he has asked me to pick up my stuff or told me that the house is making him feel a bit overwhelmed.

The funny thing is that I feel overwhelmed by it, too.

So yesterday, I told him how I was feeling about my job as housekeeper. I have considered hiring someone to help me with the house. After all, I do have three children who keep me busy, right? Wrong. The deal is this: I do whatever I want to do whenever I feel like doing it. I rarely don't have time to clean; I just don't want to. So, I don't. I have a hard time making myself do things that I don't want to do (of course, this is part of the fun perks of being an adult--there's no one to boss you around and make you do the stuff you don't want to do!). Yet, someone has to do them.

I'm a bit of an extremist--all or nothing--never half-hearted. So, back to my conversation with my melancholic/phlegmatic husband who is too gracious for words. I asked him, "How do people who are organized by nature motivate themselves to do the undesirable, boring, and unpleasant things in life? And, what should I do about my problem? I waver too much between legalism and grace (all or nothing). I am either too hard on myself about it or too lenient. I can't seem to be balanced."

His answer?

"Maybe you should set some limits for yourself--like only play The Sims for an hour a day?"

Problem. When my hour is up, I don't care, and I keep playing. (Yes, I play computer games. Too much. I also sew, crochet, read, play on Facebook, talk on the phone...and too many times, I do these things while my kids watch PBS or Boomerang.)

So, I LOVE IT when people ask me, "How do you have time to do all the projects, etc?" Well, I do whatever I want to do. Sadly, though, it is often at the expense of my family.

While I was in the shower last night, I began talking with Dave about breastfeeding (a subject I am very familiar with and talk about a lot because it has always been difficult for me). I have nursed all of my children, and each of them has had some crazy issue that has made it incredibly hard--Sam would have nursing strikes that would leave me in tears, Maryn had a horrible latch which was incredibly painful for me for the first two months, and Lucy had horrible reflux, was losing weight, and would refuse to nurse because of her pain. A lightbulb suddenly went off in my head. Why did I persevere with breastfeeding, especially when it was so hard and unpleasant? Why did I do the things that were hard? Where was hedonism in those moments?

I persevered because it was important to me. I believed strongly that what I was doing in breastfeeding would set the tone for my kids' development and our bond. I wanted the best for my kids. Hedonism took a backseat because breastfeeding my children was more important to me than my own interests. It was sacrificial on my part. They took preeminence over my comfort.

So, now I am asking myself? What is most important to me here at home? Perhaps I haven't had the motivation to keep the house tidy or play more with my kids because I haven't considered what is most important. Is Hedonism going to win while my kids are rotting their brains (okay, maybe not so much with PBS...) in front of the TV? Is the peace that comes with a clean home worth it for my family and for me?

Hedonism, it is time you left the building.

Nieces, A Nephew, and This and That

I did clean up the house. It looked great. I didn't take pictures. Now it is a bit of a mess again. We went to see our extended family this weekend. It was nice to see everyone, but I must admit seeing my nieces and nephew was the highlight. :)

I got to see Britany, who is so much of a woman now, it freaks me out a little bit. It's hard to believe she was our flower girl and so little and now so tall and beautiful. I got to see her little sister, Jadlynne, who just turned one! I can't believe she's one. I am getting older moment by moment. Jadlynne had a birthday party, and it was fun to watch her stuff her mouth with cake and open her presents like a pro.

I got to see Case too. This kid is a bundle of energy and fun, but he is also genuine and sweet. I'm so thankful he and my kids are close in age; they have so much fun together. I did get to see 3 week old, Addison Mae, for the first time. She is a DOLL. She looks a lot like my brother, and that is a little strange to look at her and see so much of him there. (I could see Miranda there too, but I do think Chris' genes were a little dominant!) I think my brother is a grown-up man now--he has fathered a child and is dedicated to his family. I'm very proud of him. I was telling him that if I didn't know better, I'd think Case was his biological son because he acts so much like Chris did as a little boy! :) Addison better look out!

We went to hear William Paul Young speak last night. He wrote The Shack, in case you didn't know. There has been a lot of controversy over this book, and I understand it. I just don't agree with it (the controversy). I think the book is amazing and beautiful. It touched some deep places in me and awakened me to the truth of God's love for me. That can never be bad. :) I think the people who get up-in-arms over it need to be shaken--they need to know that the box they've put God in is of their own making, and He is not under their thumb. I found the book refreshing and eye-opening. It truly is a message of grace and freedom, which is what Jesus came to give us. Paul's talk last night was his story--where he came from, what happened along the way, and how Jesus healed him. It was beautiful, just like his book.

I finished He Loves Me by Jacobsen as well as Loving our Kids on Purpose by Silk (see earlier post of my book list). Both are fantastic. Jacobsen's book built on the truth of grace and freedom, and Silk's book applied those truths to parenting. I am excited about the place God is bringing me in these truths. Both are wonderful, refreshing reads, so check them out. I'm going to read a little fiction for now before I pick up any more of the books on my book list. I just picked up Adam by Dekker at the library. We'll see. He's a good writer, for the most part. Sometimes I don't like his word choices, but that's just me being a nerd and being irritated by Christian artists.

Okay, well, that's my update for the day. I must move on to menu planning and grocery list making. XoxoXO!

Wish I Had a Title, but I Don't. So there.

Trying to think of what to say.

Sunroom is unpacked. It looks a lot better. We need another desk in here. I'm planning on taking over the old desk and making it my sewing desk. Dave wants a bigger desk for the computer (and for MY calendar). I want a big desk calendar like I had when I was teaching. I like to look at it and write everything down that I need to do. I forget more now that I have three kids. Like right now, I know I have a bunch of things I was supposed to do--like pay student loans, change addresses, send support $, but my head is swimming. I'm ready to get organized in the sweet moolah department.

I also want to secondhand shop for a queen sized bed frame so we can have a bed in the sunroom for guests. We want to buy a new mattress/box springs for it b/c our parents are all creaky in the back. I mean no disrespect. :)

We got a roof estimate, painting estimate, and now we're waiting on a sign-on bonus to help out with the repairs/painting. I told Dave to take a rest this time and let someone else paint. I didn't want him to use his whole break painting like we did before residency started. He has been working so hard for the last seven years, I think a mini-vaca is reasonable.

I bought some precious lime-green 100% cotton, it has little fabric dots (of the same color) on it. I wish I knew what it was called. I also bought a SWEET knit print that's all Japanese looking--mainly white with black and red flowery stuff on it. MORE SKIRTS FOR ME.

We've picked out our paint colors. They are as follows (for those of you who recall how bright our former home was, this one is not AS bright, and is even more IKEA than the other house):

(All paint is Behr paint from Home Depot can be viewed at Behr.com)

Living room-- Anonymous (a medium gray)

Accent Recessed Area--Dark Granite (a dark gray)

Dining Room-- 1 Full Wall- Anonymous
3 Walls with chair rail--bottom is Anonymous, top is California Poppy (a brightish red that matches our red chairs)

Kitchen-- New Green (it's darker than the green in our old kitchen--kind of a lighter shade of avocado?)

Lucy's Room--One accent wall will be Traditional (a brown)...trying to decide about the other three walls. We want it gender neutral since it is a nursery, and we don't think we're done having babies. But, the room is so small, we don't want it ALL brown. Her nursery decor is the pink/brown combo we had for Maryn, so we want THAT to coordinate too...decisions, decisions...

We're leaving the sunroom white. The hallways will be gray and white in spots. Our room is remaining the robin egg blue and the kids' room will remain the yellowish/green color it is (similiar to our old kitchen). The bathrooms are another story...they need to be completely revamped, so we're talking remodelling them...color will come last.

Wish I had pictures for you...The before and after pictures will be fun.

I'm going to stop now, b/c I'm about positive you're bored to tears. I am, at least.

Home Sweet Home

No pictures to share this time. I'm waiting for the after pictures. A painter and roofer are coming out to give estimates on Monday. I'm hoping to get everything just so before I show you what we've done with the place. The before pics are very boring and blah, so I'll spare you. It has been fun putting feathers in our new nest. The kitchen came together the first night. It was my top priority. We have groceries. We have functional bedrooms and bathrooms. It's all good.

We had some adventures already. Our old house hasn't closed yet. We pre-signed documents on Monday as planned. They're hoping to close this coming Monday or Tuesday. Our closing here went well. The moving truck had a bit of a problem, though. Because it was a semi truck, it couldn't quite make the turn down our country road. The ditch was proving to be an obstacle. So, they ended up having to go into town to the U-Haul and shuttle our stuff out on smaller trucks--two trips total.

Woodrow loves roaming free like a real dog. His chest seems a little more puffed out than usual. He's a country dog now. He still enjoys the comforts of sleeping indoors. Who doesn't?

Maryn is in full-on pottytraining. She has been in underwear for two days with ZERO success and a BAZILLION accidents. She really doesn't get it. She's three and two months. I'm hoping she figures it out very soon. She doesn't enjoy being wet, but she hasn't quite figured out how to let it out intentionally...

We have NO CELL SERVICE at our house. It's a tragedy. We are looking into purchasing a signal booster to see if that will help out. They vary in price range, but the one we are looking at is about $350. I can kind of have a conversation in the driveway, but it's still hit and miss. We won't be changing cell providers b/c we're still under contract AND we've checked with two other major providers and they don't have coverage here either. We're contemplating the land line and possibly a pager for Dave so that the hospital will only have one number to use to contact him.

We have satellite internet. It's supposed to be fast, but it isn't for us. We think there's something wrong with the setup, but the installer guy swears it is our computer (which was fine before we moved...). So the technology stuff is annoying.

We will have to purchase satellite TV if we want local channels or other stuff. The jury is still out on that one. We may just stay unplugged in that regard. We'll just have to see. Everything we like to watch is online anyway. It would be nice to have local channels for weather and for PBS.

This is country living, folks. Did I mention how quiet it is here? It is, and we love it. We are in the woods. Totally immersed in the woods. It's like a western. I'm about to get a clothesline.

The Beverly Hillbillies have returned.

Moving Right Along

I've gotten a lot accomplished since we last spoke. I've gotten all the utility set-up and disconnects taken care of. I found a satellite ISP since we live out in the boonies and can't get cable internet or DSL. Moving truck/movers is established and scheduled. I've changed addresses where I can. Some I have to wait on. Talked to the bank about new checking accounts. We're keeping our current cell service. We still haven't decided if we're getting satellite TV or not. Part of me says "yes!" so that we can have Oscar parties and Superbowl parties, but we rarely do that anyway...so "no!" seems more acceptable. All of the shows we watch are online...and our TV screen is about the same size as our computer monitor anyway (I'm not kidding.). I just measured them. Our computer monitor is 17" and our TV screen is 19". Yeah, the 2" doesn't make too much difference.

So that's going well. I've continued packing. I love packing. I'm good at it, too. I think I get it from my mom. I don't know how, but I did. She and I both know how to pack things really efficiently--the dishwasher, the trunk of a car, a suitcase. You name it. It must just be how our brains work. I can make it fit. I bet I could win a packing contest, too.

I've got a few things on the calendar as well. Date night tomorrow night...trying to decide what movie to watch. I'm guessing it will either be "Angels and Demons" or "Land of the Lost". We're saving "Up" for netflix with the kids. May go to OKC to see Sweesha. Birthday party for Funke on Sunday. Small group goodbye sometime next week. 2 or 3 baby showers. 2 more weeks at church. :( Last book club. :( Get to see David Asher this evening. Still need to work in all those other goodbyes...

Made some iced coffee this morning. Yum.

Dave and I went to bed before 10 last night. I can't remember the last time BOTH of us were in bed before 10. That :never: happens.

Today I have some Craigslist goals. I need to photograph several items and get them all posted on there. I really need to sell some stuff before we move. Well, I think I've overstayed my welcome in this post, so I'll mosey along and get stuff done. xoxo

Surely Goodness and Mercy will follow me...

I have sure got a lot on my plate. When I begin thinking about it for too long, I get incredibly overwhelmed. I heard the Lord saying last night, "Enjoy the simple things. Simple. Simple. " That is my goal today. It doesn't make my list any shorter, but it gives me little bits of down time in the middle of the craziness.

The Lord is so good to show His love. Yesterday, I went to a prophetic teaching time at church. I mostly went to support my friend, Kathy, and to pray with other people (have really been desiring that lately), but wouldn't you know, the Lord showed up and smothered me in His abundant love. I was reminded of how much He enjoys me and loves who I am. I was reminded that He loves my personality and that I make Him smile. I was reminded that He is growing me taller and taller. I was reminded of the beautiful giftings He has given me and that He is going to use me. It was a sweet time to be with Him and feel Him lifting me out of the ickyness I had been feeling. Life gets harder when you try to live it on your own. I've been reminded more than ever that I am not self-sufficient and cannot live a self-sufficient life. I was bought with a price, and I am not my own.

He is so faithful to not leave us in our own mess. Aren't you glad?

Today, as I think through my list, I am really needing to just get organized. We have an appraisal tomorrow, and I need to clean the house and pay bills. Those are my priorities for today. Dave is at work. It is his LAST call at the hospital here. That is hard to believe!!! My list might seem shorter if I take a little nap...my eyes are a bit droopy.

Let the oil of the Lord's love soak you today. Just enjoy His refreshing.

Developments and Things to Do

You know I like lists. Here's a couple.

Developments:

1. Our house was shown twice last week by other realtors.

2. Our realtor had an open house here on Sunday and had a dozen families come through. A couple were very promising. She hopes to hear something this week.

3. I saw Wolverine and Star Trek in one week, and they were both amazing. I've been pondering why I like Sci-fi so much. No conclusions yet. Except for the obvious nerd factor.

4. We went to Mayfest during the Open House. It was nice to be out with the kids. Sunblock is now a must-have for the season's fashion.

5. I discovered a new chocolate bar that I love. Ghiradelli Luxe Chocolate--Duet. It's milk chocolate on top and dark chocolate on the bottom. And velvety. Smooth. Delicious.

6. My older children both commented on my weight this week. Time to cut out the chocolate.

7. This just in!! We have two back-to-back showings this evening!!! Yahoo!!!!

To Do List:

1. Hem my two skirts that I made on Saturday (don't laugh, Katie.).

2. Finish making the third skirt (again, don't laugh, Katie.).

3. Get the house straightened up.

4. Don't forget to go to the bathroom at some point.

5. Drink the rest of the yummy coffee I made: Dunkin Donuts Dark with SF vanilla creamer, lite whipped topping and ground cinnamon. Mmmmmm....

6. Finish my book.

7. Begin book club book for June (my last book club meeting). :(

8. Look through all the free magazines I've been getting. "Mothering", "Parents", "Woman's Day"...all free.

9. Put clothes on the baby.

I think this list is neverending, so I'm going to defy the laws of nature and end it.