[ Posted by Maggie
Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:21:49 GMT ]
This blog is well overdue. John and I set up goals for 2008 and I wanted to share them with you.
1. Not to miss a day spent in the Word and prayer. Some days this may be just 5 minutes reading a Psalm, other days it’ll be a bit more, but I want this to be something that takes me through life I want to grow a passion for God’s Word and the best way to do that is to be in it.
2. For us to each lose 40 lbs. That’s less than a pound a week and we could both use it. To help me I’m using this website. It is designed for pregnant moms and a way to modify it for nursing. It tracks my calories and nutritional info and exercise. They also have another site here for those not pregnant or nursing (men can use this one too). This has helped me make sure I’m getting in all the food I need and I lost 4 lbs the first week! One of the greatest things about it is it’s free!
3. Homeschooling. We both want our children to be homeschooled, but I have not been diligent to make it happen. Granted our oldest is only 3, it won’t be long before she’ll need some more structured schooling. So we’re starting preschool today! I purchased this curriculum and printed out the appropriate worksheets and purchased some craft supplies.
4. I desire to have a better working cleaning/organizing system for keeping our home in order, this has also been one of the biggest pit falls for me to homeschool and many other things that I would like to do. I’m going to give FlyLady another shot.
5. We have a few financial goals as well. My part of them is to work on spending less money on groceries and household items. So I’m going to try my hand at couponing and bargain hunting. I’ve found some great resources here. This is exciting for me as I’ve always felt like I spent too much money on our groceries, but also felt like I wasn’t being extravagant and I was trying to shop the sales, so I’m going to give coupons a good 3 months to see if it’s worth my time. I think it will.
6. This isn’t a top goal, but I would also like to re-do my blog, maybe even get a different site for it and write regularly. But for now all of you will just have to put up with my sporadic posts about random things as the other goals are taking top priority.
PS I am going to be going through previous posts and using different names for our girls. The oldest will be referred to as Princess Olive and the baby will be Princess Peach. We want to protect them as much as possible and so this will be our new standard.
Posted in Homemaking, Parenting, Spiritual Growth, Family | 2 comments
[ Posted by John
Thu, 22 Nov 2007 02:52:25 GMT ]
Da here, just wanted to let everyone know that there are pictures up of the new baby. If you need the password just ask and I will send it to you.
Posted in Family | no comments
[ Posted by Maggie
Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:02:13 GMT ]
This is the abbreviated birth story, I will post a more detailed one later, for those interested.
As you know, I’ve had pre labor for quite some time. Then it started getting worse, I actually had strong contractions for a whole night! I was very excited, but when morning came they were gone. I was then getting discouraged and thinking I would be pregnant forever, I certainly wasn’t going to believe contractions to indicate labor. But then the following night my water broke! I was sooo excited, I knew I was going to have a baby within 24 hours! I tried to go to bed, but was too excited, so we watched some TV until the contractions got to where I needed to concentrate. We then called the midwife to come. Things were going quite well, until I thought it was time to push and it wasn’t. I broke down several times after that, but the Lord was good and helped me through,not too long after that I was holding our brand new, 9 lb, 20”, baby girl (we’ll be calling her Princess Peach here)! Almost everyone had guessed she would be a boy, and no one thought she would be so big!
It was great having her at home, even if I did question it more than a few times during the last couple hours. John was great support and it was great having Mom there too. On more than one occasion I had John whispering to me and stroking my hair, someone else putting counter pressure on my back and a third rubbing my feet! What a blessing having so much support.
Princess Olive is very excited about her baby sister, the night after she was born, Princess Olive was up every time she cried and just wanted to be in bed with us and look at her. When she came back home to meet her little sister, she brought Mommy roses and baby a little toy. It’ll be fun to see them get to know each other more.
Posted in Pregnancy Issues/Back, Family | 6 comments
[ Posted by Maggie
Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:12:41 GMT ]
Wow, it’s been almost a month since I’ve posted! Well a lot has been going on. Hannah and I have been in Sacramento since July 3rd and will be until August. We’ve been having a great time with family, but it’s time to update all of my good friends. :) We took our annual family trip to Sacramento for the 4th of July and had a great time, but John had to fly home very early on the 5th so he could go to work. :( We decided that this year Hannah and I would stay as we’re planning a family trip with John’s family to Idaho for the first week of August. When we decided this we thought it would be better for Hannah and I to avoid all the back and forth, we would be able to go to my parents’ church’s family camp (my home church since birth), and get to visit with family that we will not be able to at Christmas since we plan on staying home with our newborn.
So far we’ve had a great time. We had our annual block party at my parents’ house, we went to family camp and had fun playing in the lake, and have been sharing Dad and Cindy’s home with a couple from Germany, what great fun they are, and a big help too. We also started potty training again. Yesterday was day 1, it was Cindy’s day off work so we thought we would team up, well it didn’t go quite as planned, there were too many people in the house (my nephew, Grandma came to visit with one of my younger cousins, the German couple), it was just too much. So today it’s just me and Hannie. Cindy’s at work, the German couple is visiting a friend out of town, and it’s my sister in law’s day off so no nephew either. It’s very quite here, but peaceful and Hannah’s been doing much better, a couple of accidents, but a couple of successess too. Yesterday I lots count of accidents and there were barely enough successes to count (maybe 2 or 3) by the end of the day I was in tears. But we’re sticking with it, so I’ll let you know how it goes. Everyone is very optimistic (and I’m trying to be too).
On another subject. If any of you ever think about being away from your spouse for an extended period of time, be sure to think and pray about it very carefully. It’s harder than I though it would be. The last time we were apart for a long period of time was when Hannah was very small and my grandfather was very sick, and then again when he passed away. I don’t regret that time at all, it helped a lot in grieving for someone that I was very close too, but it’s a bit different this time. Logistically this plan made the most sense, and I still think it was a good decision. But being pregnant and hormonal and having a strong willed 3 year old without the one person who is to share all of this with me, is very tough. I am very thankful for loving parents who are a great help. It’s been a great time to spend more time with my sister in law, she too has been a great help, and I’m very thankful for her. :) It makes me feel for those who are without their spouses for extended periods of time without choice. A couple of my friends from church have husbands who are in the military and are deployed for 6 months at a time, and at times longer and they too have small children and/or have been pregnant while their husbands are gone. I need to remember to lift them in prayer more often and see if there are practical ways in which I can help.
The pregnancy is going well, I’m getting bigger and I feel the baby move often. My back hasn’t even been bothering me too much, but I did find a chiropractor close by, just in case. I’m again thankful for my sister in law who brought all of her maternity clothes by, I didn’t have much for summer, let alone summer in Sacramento (for those of you who don’t know it’s much warmer here, over 100 around the 4th, and frequently in the mid to high 90s).
Well I don’t know how much I’ll be updating while I’m here, but do check from time to time (RSS readers make it nice and easy) and please pray for me, especially with regards to potty training and being away from John. I’ll be very grateful when it’s all over. Lamentations 3:22 has been a good reminder for me lately. His mercies are new every morning! WOW!
Posted in Parenting, Family | Tags pottytraining | 1 comment
[ Posted by Maggie
Sat, 02 Jun 2007 03:03:57 GMT ]
These were the words of my husband today as he walked in the door. Many would expect to hear those words after a particularly rough day when the house is a mess and dinner isn’t even started and the children are running around half naked. Well for my husband he says it when the opposite is true. My husband walked into today to a peaceful living room. The kitchen and dining room were also presentable and dinner was at least started. Hannah had some difficulties while I was trying to get it going, so it wasn’t ready yet, but that was ok. What’s really funny, actually kinda sad, is he had to repeat “Really, what happened?” I guess he though someone came over to help me or we were having guests over or something. He asked if a reverse explosion happened.
While I’m certainly tired from all the shopping and cleaning I did today, I feel so great, and yet sad at the same time. This is so out of the ordinary for me that my husband thought that something was up. Makes me realize I need to really work at being a more faithful housekeeper. My back seems to do better when I keep moving as well. I’m still not vacuuming, sweeping or scrubbing tubs, but I can at least keep things neat. I need to find a balance though, Hannah didn’t get much play time today. I’m sure though that as I am more diligent daily it won’t take as long to keep it this way.
Posted in Family | 1 comment
[ Posted by Maggie
Fri, 11 May 2007 19:21:42 GMT ]
I’ll start with a funny Hannah story that happened just this morning and then give you an update on things.
Hannah skipped her nap yesterday and was asleep soon after 8 (very unusual for her) and as a result woke up at 7:30, so while John and I were getting ready for the day Hannah sat on our bed and played with things on my dresser. One of these things is a small box that I keep change in. She was having fun bouncing the coins on the mattress and hearing them clink. I came and sat with her for a little while (making sure nothing was going up the nose, or in a ear, or anything) and she asked to get down. We have quite a tall bed, I need a stool to hop in, and she can get up, but down is a little difficult for her. So I helped her and a fist full of change down. She looked back at me and said “I’ll be right back” (in her own language of missing letters of course), so I sat patiently to see what she would do. Usually those words result in something quite amusing and today was no different. She came back with a piggie bank that Grandma Rita got her for her birthday and put the change in it and asked for “mo’”. So she went through out our room finding any change she could and Daddy let her empty some of his change bank and now her piggie bank is quite full. When she received the bank for her birthday my aunt and uncle put change in it for her, but that was over a month ago and since then the bank has just sat, until this morning. It amazes me what picks up on and what she remembers that may not emerge for months later!
Updates: My back was in quite a bit of pain after the popcorn incident, but I’ve had some better days since. We purchased a La-Z-Boy just my size and that is one place that I can sit/lay very comfortably with little pressure on my back. I also got a back brace from my chiropractor that works wonderfully and has significantly reduced the pain while I’m wearing it. Some wonderful ladies have provided some meals for me and have offered to help me clean, which has helped me be able to rest more. We are so blessed to be in such a wonderful church family. I hope to be able to take over some of the light housework soon.
Some people have asked about potty training, well she’s back in diapers for the time being. Right now there are more important behavioral issues with her that need to be addressed and a fresh start later may be more productive. She does still go before bedtimes in order to delay, but not much else than that.
I had my first appointment with my midwife yesterday and we were able to hear the baby’s heart beat. I’m excited to have a Christian caring for me and my baby during this time and am excited about having this little one in an environment that I am so comfortable in. I’ve been a birth story junkie lately and am dreaming up my own ideas of what I want this birth to be like.
Posted in Parenting, Family, The Princesses | 1 comment
[ Posted by Maggie
Thu, 03 May 2007 19:23:49 GMT ]
So as many of you know, I’m expecting our second little one. I’m ending my first trimester, feeling less fatigued, able to handle more smells and able to eat more healthy foods. I’m so thankful for this. But literally the same week I started to feel better my back started acting up. But the Lord is good.
I had a bad back when I was pregnant with Hannah as well, and I also have a condition called ligament laxity (loose ligaments), when I’m not pregnant, so when the relaxin starts doing it’s thing I turn to jello. So while this is not unexpected, it did come earlier than anticipated, and it’s a whole new thing with a 3 year old under foot.
What is very odd to me, is that the Lord is using this time where I can’t do much of anything to teach me (once again) about my responsibility, as a godly wife, to care for my home. I’m going through a book, A Woman After God’s Own Heart, by Elizabeth George, and learning how we are on assignment from God to care for our homes (Titus 2, Prov 31) and I am unable to do so at this time. But it is encouraging me to do what I can. I may not be able to sweep or vacuum or scrub bathrooms, but I can be cheerful when my husband comes home, I can discipline my daughter wherever she lands (I can’t lift her to take her to her room, but I can bring the rod to her), I can teach her God’s Word, ABCs, 123s, colors and shapes, I can make the bed and keep things tidy, and I can put a quick meal together. Also through this the Lord is crushing my pride, I have to ask for help, I don’t have a choice. He is also teaching me how to be joyful in trials.
I am learning so much and I have so far to go. I don’t do half of those things that I can do, and I often complain. I have various degrees of pain throughout the day, and am unable to take anything for it, but the Lord will not give me any more than I can handle, so I can handle this, with His help. He has provided us with good insurance that will take care of some of the chiropractor bills, and it is getting more manageable, but I still have a long ways to go. He has also provided us with a good friend that comes and helps me once a week, and a park right outside our door where Hannah and I spend many hours so I can rest and she can play.
This is getting very long, but I need to tell you all how wonderful my husband is through all of this. He works full time, comes home takes care of Hannah, puts us both to bed and then takes care of the kitchen and any other pressing chores before going to bed. And although he gets very tired, he does not complain and does not blame me for not doing it. The Lord has truly blessed me with him. :)
Posted in Spiritual Growth, Family | 1 comment
[ Posted by Maggie
Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:28:08 GMT ]
It’s been over 3 weeks since I’ve posted! Just wanted to let you know what all has been going on. Our trip to SLO was wonderful, we were able to see lots of friends that we hadn’t seen for a very long time, and the wedding was beautiful. And then after SLO we got in the car very early Sunday morning and drove to Sacramento to surprise Cindy for her birthday! She was very surprised. We had a few surprises for her that weekend. First was us showing up. Second was the fact that we’re expecting our second child sometime in November and third was given to her Monday morning when Dad told her to get ready because she was driving down with Hannah and I, along with Dad to go back home. John had flown back Sunday night to go to work on Monday. Cindy thought I was going to drive all the way by myself with Hannah, but she was wrong. It was great being able to be there for the big celebration.
The past few weeks I haven’t posted because I hadn’t told my mom or her side of the family our exciting news about expecting another child. I knew we were going to be seeing them and wanted to tell them in person. So I didn’t post of fear of spoiling it. We did go back up to Sacramento area this past weekend for my Grandmother’s 80th birthday! It was so wonderful to be able to celebrate it with her and to spend some special time visiting her and my aunt and uncles that we don’t get much time with usually. The big party was held at my mom’s new house that she’s renting. It was great to be able to rejoice with her in being able to entertain again and have a yard for Hannah to run around in. Her house is nice and I’m very happy for her.
So the past few weeks have been spent with many hours in bed due to extreme fatigue. I’m learning better how to handle it, but it’s still difficult. I end up sleeping when ever Hannah is sleeping, which leaves a lot of things undone, but this too shall pass. :) I’m greatful for friends close by. A neighbor took Hannah for an hour last week and I was able to get the whole living room looking very nice. Today a friend is coming over to help me get some house work done as well. I’m looking forward for a time of fellowship and productivity. Praise the Lord I haven’t had too bad of nausea. I do have it some, but if I eat regularly I’m ok. The only problem is smelling foods as I’m cooking is not pleasant and does not make me want to eat the food I make. I’m trying to figure out if it’s all food, or just certain ones. And maybe if I make quicker meals so I don’t have to smell it as long that’ll help too.
Well that’s it for now. I have a lot to do today.
Posted in Family | 5 comments
[ Posted by Maggie
Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:31:00 GMT ]
My baby is sick. There is never a time when my almost 3 year old is more my baby than when she’s sick. I agonize at every sneeze and cough, when she’s tired and weak and all she wants to do is cuddle in my lap, I gladly take the job. It’s not often that my preschooler really takes time to snuggle anymore. But my heart hurts because I know she’s not her cheerful self. I know that she’d rather be running around the living room, dancing with her daddy.
She also seems to get sick at the worst times. Last time she was sick was when we were in Sacramento for Christmas, it was so hard for her to get the rest she needed to get better, it took a couple of weeks. This time she got sick 2 days before we’re supposed to leave for San Luis Obispo for a wedding. Yesterday we watched videos and I let her sleep as long as she needed and gave her juice in with her water so she would drink more. Today will be more of the same. I’m praying that she will be better for our trip. We haven’t been to San Luis Obispo for a couple of years at least and it will be so good to go back to where we went to school and met each other. There will be some friends there that we haven’t seen since school either, we’re really looking forward to it.
We’re also going to see David, John’s brother, who goes to Cal Poly. Hannah gets to stay with Amu David while we’re at the wedding. It’s very nice of him to be willing to give up his Saturday afternoon to watch his little niece. He’s a very good uncle. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful family, what a wonderful blessing from the Lord.
Another exciting thing is happening this weekend, it is my Cidny’s birthday, and it’s a big one this year. For those of you who don’t know, Cindy is my step mom. But I don’t always like calling her that, because “step mom” often has a bad connotation, and my Cindy doesn’t fall into that category of an “evil step mother”. The Lord has truly blessed our family with her. Cindy, we’ll be thinking of you on Sunday while we eat breakfast in SLO (perhaps at the Apple Farm, yum!). I pray that you have a wonderful birthday and that my other siblings treat you very well! We love you and look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks when we’re up for Grandma’s birthday.
Speaking of our trip I have much laundry to do and picking up. With Hannah being sick, I’ll also be doing some tomorrow morning before we leave so that way our home is germ free when we come back (hopefully all healthy). Have a great weekend everyone. I’ll write more when we get back and settled.
Posted in Family | 3 comments | no trackbacks
[ Posted by Maggie
Mon, 12 Feb 2007 21:12:59 GMT ]
Hannah’s potty training is going ok. I’m doing a lot of laundry due to not using Pull Ups during the day or at night. We only use them at gymnastics. But she is still only having about 2 accidents a day (other than bed times). A few times she’s even stopped herself mid accident and told us she had to go potty and finished in the potty. We were very proud of her for that. :)
Procrastination. I got everything ready for my meeting Saturday morning and the house was clean for the weekend. Oh, how I love that feeling. I did need to wake up early Saturday to make it happen, but it did happen.
Posted in Parenting, Family | Tags potty, procrastination, training | no comments | no trackbacks
