Bad Mom

Here are my Bad Mom confessions as of late:

I keep a Wii-mote in the office. When I am getting work done and need some time for myself, I can cue up another episode of Curious George on Netflix from my desk since the signal is still in contact.

Pajamas stay on until we have to leave the house for the sitters and work.

The 3 second rule becomes the 3 day rule around the high chair.

31 weeks

Well, it was that time for the next anatomy scan. Mr. G was able to come and be the toddler wrangler so I could enjoy this special mile marker in pregnancy. And what a difference it makes in my blood pressure, lol! We weren't expecting to get a 3D image at the OB office, and I knew these were harder to do due to baby getting more squished.

Everything looked great, and Champ is hovering around the average size for weight. With a second gender scan, we can safely say he's still a boy! For once, this kid was still and quiet, compared to the gymnastics he does through out the day. He wasn't fully head down,  but down at a diagonal angle.

Mixed Blessings

When you have young children, at what age do you have to actually start buying them Christmas gifts yourselves instead of just relying on the grandparent gifts?

Things again are tight this time of year. Yet, I know we are blessed this go around for the simple fact that Mr. G has a full time job and we have health insurance. We were only able to get medicaid for Eliza, which was a huge relief considering. My pregnancy has been relatively complication free and the gift of a baby boy will soon be coming.

Not that Mr. G and I have been big into giving each other gifts, but this is the time of year where I want to surprise him. Looking online, I found a good deal for an all in one printer. With him being the family banker, I knew I had to get permission to see what I could possibly spend and still have some surprise kept. To my dismay, he said he really didn't know if there would be anything to spend for Christmas this year. I wasn't all too worried about Eliza having gifts this year, but my mind went towards the baby's needs. So far it is looking doubtful for anyone throwing a shower this go around, but of all needs are basic like a crib mattress.

I read online articles about the Black Friday creep and folks out doing the family Christmas shopping. Part of me feels left out though that we can't even buy our own immediate family gifts of some toys, snuggly pajamas, socks and underwear.

Maybe I am just needing a pity party right now. Get if off my chest so I can move forward in the blessings we have and the blessings yet to come that are unseen.

Would being Jewish be Easier?

I am feeling rather stuck between two different feelings about this Christmas season.

To decorate or not to decorate is my perplexing question.

We recently found out that there was no chance of being able to drive down to the grandparents house for Christmas due to Mr. G not being able to get Christmas Eve off. So we let the family know that they were going to come our way instead. Not the most ideal since they can't be under our roof due to space, but at least we would be over all happier with our own spaces.

Fast forward to last night. Due to Champ coming the following months end and a trip planned instead, the grandparents felt that two trips out there in the short time span wasn't possible. They proposed to celebrate a little later right before New Years when we could get more than a day out that way.

SCREEEEECH!

Wha? So not what I had in my head. Having my in-laws come out for us to host would be the ONLY reason to even put up a tree. No one else comes over, no special parties thrown, all this decoration to have to be hauled back in storage, not to have been seen by anyone anyways.

Growing up, Christmas morning was anything but desirable. As an adult who is married with a child and one on the way, I've been trying to achieve some of this Christmas Day magic. This change in plans does nothing of the sort. 

Now I feel like the wind has been knocked from my sails in getting at all excited in decorating our little place. Do I even bother with a little table top tree that I will undoubtedly have to tell Eliza to "no touch" over and over?

Just a Little Excited

So, I have been asked by a wonderful family to do a piece of custom artwork in anticipation of them bringing home their new son and daughter. Originally, they thought God wanted them to adopt one child, but then they were asked if they would adopt a brother and sister! They will be a family of 5!

You can read all about their journey and family updates here

If anyone is familiar with what it takes to adopt a child, let alone 2 children at the same time AND internationally...there is a great deal of cost involved. From home studies to the expensive fees charged to file paper work with both countries...it can discourage any family, wondering if God will provide the funds to grow the love in their hearts.

The family is almost to their goal in picking up the kids and they are very grateful for those who have donated to the cause. Because of this, they want a special way to remember all these lovely people by Incorporating all their names in a tree.

Immediately when I heard this, my mind took off and quickly started composing a concept in my head. It has been awhile since I dusted off my digital illustration skills, and this is a welcomed project. I've done some commercial pieces for the wife and the Young Salvationist magazine she is the editor of in the past. But this project has a whole different excitement attached to it.

When finished, I'll post it.

Statuses

Here are a few of the latest FB posts that I thought were a little blog worthy.....

I can't tell you how much I HATE the pink sticky Amoxicillin that has to be given to a struggling Eliza two times a day! Glad she doesn't get sick all that often.

Nothing like getting a wrong number from an inmate at a federal prison :)

"Sweetheart, just hold on for a little longer. Momma is hard at work microwaving"

I found her a few nights like this during my usual bedtime checks.
It makes me think of a new born pose

Maternity

During my last pregnancy, it took forever to get much of a baby bump. Then throw in the cold and snowy winters we get here and I wasn't exactly confident with myself in having pictures taken to mark that time in my life. Well, having a winter baby has pushed the bump to a better time this fall. With husband at hand, a directed him to get some fun shots. I SO wish I could take my own though!

There were many ideas I wanted to try out, but having an 18 month old showed me they are not always on the same page or book for that matter in cooperating for the sake of those special shots. So it was very much a take it or leave it and be grateful for what you did get shoot.

And for all that patience we asked of Eliza, we treated her to a short visit at the park. I say short because Mr. G didn't heed my warnings about the big kid swings and she went forward, earning half a face full of mud!

Over all, I guess I am content with the picture we got over this weekend. I am not exactly thrilled with how big I look, but what pregnant woman DOESN'T pick apart her appearance? The chances of getting another weekend like this in November are slim to none, especially with how much darker the afternoon gets. Noon to 4 pm is the most ideal time window if the sun shows its face. 

Com' On

Have you ever had one of those moments where it seems like you can't catch a break? You patiently wait and wait for an opportunity to bestow itself and yet something last minute comes up to rain?

I've been trying to get Eliza's 18 month pictures taken for some time now. As she is quite the strong willed toddler, I need a baby wrangler...aka Mr. G to help so I can better focus on getting the shots. With the rain and cold weather, I have been wondering if I will ever get these pictures done. 

As chance had it, things were warm enough and the sun also decided to peek through the clouds. But as chance also had it, Mr. G had to leave to play Taps at a gave side funeral. Okay, so we push on and give it a shot solo.

Things started out splendidly as I carried Eliza in my arms and then had my ankle roll while stepping out the back door and we fall together with my camera swinging around and clunking her in the head. We don't have a fenced in backyard so I didn't want her running in whatever direction. She of course had other ideas and this led to the melt down.

I called it quits when there was no chance for a happy smile no matter what Elmo song I sung and figured she was just tired. Nap time was something else and she kept complaining, crying and over all was a real crank fest.

Things have pretty much not stopped since then with only wanting to eat gram crackers and some juice. It is currently 7:30 and it feels like it has been all night with how much darker the day gets in the afternoon.

I only got a few pictures out of it, but nothing of what I had wanted to get with her special shirt picked just for this time. Maybe tomorrow will be better?

 
 

Buzzing

I am buzzing with such the creative organizing high right now...

I blame this on a case of pregnancy nesting. But I LOVE organization that is cheap and easy to make myself and of course creative. I totally know why The Container Store does such good business. Organizing can be addicting. Now if ONLY I had a bigger house. I am such a nerd when I have a dream where I discover an extra room in my home or a room has all this extra space with a loft.

Just something I pinned on Pintrest

After walking around Target, I stumbled in the toddler toys section. They carry the B toys. Eliza has a few of their items from the grandparents. I just love how they are unique and not to much gender specific. Also, they have some of the classic wooden toy-ness incorporated in some.  

Eliza goes NUTS for this thing and drive US nuts with it during movies. At least it has a volume button!

The latest addition

Since I had sold a few items online that Eliza had outgrown or never got around to wearing, I decided that this magna doodle pad would be a nice thing to surprise my budding artist. No markers to dry out or lose, paper to rip through and minimal pieces. On the back is a bean bag pad, perfect for longer car trips. It retails for about $17 which doesn't break the bank. Mommy likes that factor :)

Then, I spot such the cute frivolous outfit for one of those baby milestone picture sessions. This is an inexpensive classy option for a boy when the girls have all those fairy wings and ballerina tutus. 

 

(Note, I am sorry to say that I was not sponsored by any of these companies. Thoughts and comments are of my own)

A Little of This, a little of That

Nothing too exciting going on here despite Sandy being in the recent news. We don't live coastal or anything, so I have experienced MUCH harder storms of wind and rain on a normal basis while living in the Vancouver WA/Portland  OR metro area. My in-laws who do live just outside of NYC still don't have any power yet, but aren't suffering any super hardships.

Halloween was very quiet around here. The weather was cold and wet, while those die hard trick or treaters were out and about, but not in our hood. We decided to go out of Chinese food and a trip to the rental store. After Eliza was secured in her room, we put on Prometheus. I've always been a fan of the early Alien trilogy, and it was interesting to get a little more back story. Despite some very vivid dreams afterwards, none contained any chest busters or face suckers :)

Can you believe it folks? I am nearly into my 3rd trimester. This month will start the every 2 week appointments. I recently did the dreaded glucose test. It came back with another elevated report back. Yet, it was only 1 point over my last pregnancy result of 148. The cut off is 140. Last time I did the grueling 3 hour test, making me very sick and weak. This time I put my foot down. Even though I did fast, I still had to take some medications. Not to mention, I was having the worst congestion and allergies kicking up. Just enough to throw off results, as I think the same happened the last time around.
   
   So the Dr. agreed to not force me through another test or label me as a gestational diabetic. Even more so, when my pee was tested at this visit, there was no positive for glucose present and I am measuring spot on. TAKE THAT! Sometimes, you just know your body well enough to feel at peace when you aren't even showing any other signs of GD. When I deliver the baby, they will however monitor his blood sugar. I'm okay with that. It is better than pricking myself 4 times a day and going in every week.