37 weeks

Well, yesterday was the 37 week mark. If I hadn't already had 4 babies I would think I was sooooo close, but know better than that now. There's a lot of pressure going on and I have so many BH contractions. Usually around 36 weeks I have a couple of scares where I think I may be going into labor, but now that I've done this a few times I realize it's normal!

I managed to get all the diaper soakers sewn and all the baby laundry done for up to 0-3 months. We're thinking about bringing up the bassinet this weekend just to make sure it's set up and ready to go. I wouldn't mind having the changing table brought in too, but it's not that big of a deal. I finally found a carseat for $20 on craigslist. It's really nice and new looking, so much better than I would have expected. It fits nice in our new double stroller and even matches well.

Mentally...I'm nervous. Newborn stage is so hard for me. The lack of sleep just about makes me crazy and I have so many issues with the guilt of not being able to take care of the rest of my family the way I feel like I should. I feel like Dan gets overwhelmed with everything from taking care of me to making sure laundry is done. Not to mention being up in the middle of the night with a newborn. But I also know that it's only a season. That precious, tiny baby will be chubby and more consistent around 4 months. Or at least that's been the case so far. I do pray that this baby will be a good baby who sleeps well. Is that selfish? But I also pray for God's will. He often teaches me things in ways I don't want to learn them, and is forever reminding me that no matter what's going on in my life HE is in control and HE can carry me through.

I'd like to have some dinners made, but I'm so tired lately that I doubt it will happen. It used to be as easy as doubling to get freezer meals, but with our growing family I'd have to quadruple a recipe to have enough left over to freeze! that's OK. Dan's a good cook and Quintin can make several things. I'm blessed to have them.

That's about it for now.

Bad Day

Today is a bad day
Mama is tired
Baby is into every sink and trash can
Children aren't listening
Children are making ugly faces and crossing their arms when I ask them to do something
Children think they should be able to do whatever they want
Mama yelled
Mama is having a bad day and probably needs a time out
Mama realizes that she has way too much to do before baby comes
And mama knows, that she will not be ready

35 weeks 3 days

If you leave a baby for a minute..

She will push a chair up the the counter

Find your m&m's and Krispy Kreme

Decide on a donut and enjoy herself (while her older brother laughs and takes pictures for her mama to find later)

A walk in the fall

Here we are at my favorite park in the area.


View from the top of the hill...

Crisp weather gives us LOTS of energy!

Posing by one of the beautiful bridges

The creek...as we were walking down I told the kids to "stay out of the water". I guess I wasted my breath! Sometimes it is too high for us to even get near it and now it's almost completely dry. However, as we were leaving it started to rain.

Thea enjoying exploring the creek.

Happy to be outside and not hot!

Not much of a creek, huh?

Coconut Oil!

Don't think we'll be needing to buy any more any time soon!!



What I use coconut oil for:
Add 2 heaping spoonfuls to our pot of oatmeal
As the oil for popping popcorn
To replace butter in cooking
On toast at breakfast
In scrambled eggs
To saute veggies
Works great for diaper rash...even yeast.
Lotion for baby's or kids with sensitive skin
And much more!

You can read about the wonders and health benefits of coconut oil here:
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

Our big tub is from Mountain Rose Herbs