Sola Gratia Retreat

Before I get to the fun part of my day, I’ll write about the morning, which was much less fun.  I woke up at 3:30 this morning and just could not get back to sleep.  I probably should have gotten up and done something, but I really really wanted to get back to sleep.  We were rehearsing all day for Sola Gratia and I wanted more sleep!  I layed and layed and layed, but didn’t fall back asleep until just after 6am.  Then I had to get up at 6:30.  Poo.  I got ready while Matt vacuumed the van for me.  I had offered to drive people to our “retreat” today, and I wanted to get rid of any goldfish or cheerios.  :)  Anyway, I headed out to the car at about 7:20, plenty of time for me to get gas and be at the church at 7:45.  Or it would have been, had the van started.  All it did was click.  Battery dead.  Just from the vacuuming.  Oy.

Matt tried to jump it but one of the terminals on my battery was very corroded (which is why we think the vacuuming drained it) and it wouldn’t jump.  I couldn’t get ahold of anyone (mainly because I don’t have most of these ladies’ cell numbers), and by this point I was really running out of time!  I ended up just waking the girls, putting them in Matt’s car, and having him drop me at the church.  Fortunately there were enough other ladies planning to drive that my van wasn’t needed.

And also very fortunately that ended the rough part of my day!  We headed up to The Retreat at Artesian Lakes for a day of rehearsing and a yummy lunch.  Ahhhhhhh…

We sang for a couple of hours in the morning.  They had coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks available for us, which was so nice.

Maybe not the most flattering picture of Meredith, but it’s an action shot!

Before lunch, we took a tour of their herb garden.

If you look closely in the next couple of pictures, you can see several people with their hands up to their faces.  Our guide encouraged us to touch and taste the herbs as we walked through.  Yum!

Here he is talking about something fascinating!

Group shot!  I was the only one who brought a camera (It’s extremely rare for me not to have mine) so we’re stuck with the best quality my camera can produce.  This one actually turned out pretty nicely.

This one’s a little fuzzier.  Oh well!  Here we all are in the dining room at the Hilltop restaurant.

We literally had a five course lunch.  Oh my.  You can see some of the remnants of appetizers in the background of this next picture.  They included pickled shrimp with sauce, jalapeño jelly with cream cheese on toast, some kind of pastry stuffed with brie cheese and other goodness.  Oh, man.  Goooooood stuff!  Then there was a simple but very fresh salad with delicious homemade dressings.  And this loaf of bread baked in a flower pot.  LOVE IT!!  I want to bake bread in a flower pot!

The main course: pork tenderloin with rosemary sauce, rice pilaf, and zucchini stuffed with ratatouille.  SO GOOD!

Even though I was very full at this point, I managed to polish off my chocolate cake topped with strawberries and raspberry sauce and chantilly cream.  I didn’t eat the flower.

It really was way too much food for the middle of the day in the middle of a rehearsal, but IT WAS ALL SO GOOD!  (And it’s not exactly like anybody was making me eat it ALL!)

After lunch we checked out the big ol’ turtles and alligators in the lake.

I never did see this guy move, but I’m still pretty sure it’s an alligator.

Another group shot.  Again, not the best quality, but that’s okay!

There are two because Susie and Meredith swapped so that everyone could be in one picture.

We rehearsed for about three more hours in the afternoon (a little more sleepy and with not as much attention span…).  It was such a wonderful day.  I mean – singing, food, and time with grown-ups?  Whoo hoo!!

Cloth Diapers are SO CUTE!

Yesterday just before dinner the UPS man brought our two packages of diapers we were waiting for!

The loot: 2 dozen newborn prefold diapers, 1 dozen small prefold diapers, 4 newborn sized covers, one all-in-one newborn diaper, one diaper pail liner, one wet bag (free gift!), two spray bottles, kissaluvs concentrate, one medium Bum Genius all-in-one diaper, 2 new bum genius 4.0 pocket diapers, and one fuzzi bunz pocket diaper.  Whew!

I got right to work washing everything!  The prefolds have to have 3-5 hot washes and hot dries to get them all quilty and absorbent. 

Ready for the first wash – see how flat they are?

This morning after two cycles:  Aren’t they so pretty?!

Because I just couldn’t wait for the morning to wash everything, I used my string-in-the-laundry-room clothesline to dry everything overnight.

Have I mentioned I LOVE my laundry room (/mudroom/pantry)?  It’s wonderful.  We also keep the recycling there.  And the cleaning products.  And the second fridge.  And…

Cute tiny newborn prefold!  It just needs a tiny baby bottom!!

 

Well I sure am excited to start using all these tiny diapers, but I also want Little Man to keep cooking.  I would like one healthy full-term baby please!

Off to dry the diapers again!

Nothing Exciting

This is just an update from my 34 week appointment. This was the last of the "simple" ones, you know, where I don't have to wear a gown. :) I weigh 190lbs; the baby's HR was anywhere from like 156-164 beats. I measured fine... all things good! I'll go back in two weeks at 36 weeks, then weekly until he gets here! I went ahead and made my 37 and 38 week appointments as well so I could get the times I like. I really like going on Monday mornings if I can, although our schedule has gotten a little more normal lately. Ahhhh...

I've decided it's kind of like herding chickens to get us all in there. The girls do really well though and listen pretty consistently when I tell them what not to touch or where not to go. Joanna does great cause she's such a big girl and a good helper. Natalie does good because she's got her big sister to follow around.

Here are a few pictures of us staying entertained while we waited:

They love to ruuuuunnnnnnn down the hallway after we’re finished!

Take a Walk with Me

I decided to pull all of our first day of school pictures since Joanna started MDO when she was 6 months old.

Joanna’s very first day of MDO, September 2007.  Miss Debbie and Miss Rissa, infant class.

First day September 2008.  Miss Anne and Miss Joan, toddler room.

First day September 2009. Miss Brooke and Miss Laura, 2’s.

 

First day of Preschool, September 2010.  Miss Patti and Miss Shawna, 3’s.

Natalie’s very first day of MDO, September 2009.  Miss Debbie and Miss Mimi, infant class.

First day September 2010.  Miss Anne and Miss Joan, toddler class.

That first picture of Joanna seems like lifetimes ago.  It made me feel a little teary.  :)

Back at Home

It was pouring down rain at pick up time, which sure makes things interesting!  Fortunately I have a very huge umbrella, a van with a lift gate, and a garage to park in!  That means I only had to get a little wet.  :)

I picked up Miss Natalie first:

Can you believe they got a dozen or so toddlers ALL to sleep on their nap mats?  Pretty amazing if you ask me!  Natalie was awake but still laying on her mat, thumb in mouth, when I got her.  We snuggled for a minute, then went to get Joanna.  I forgot to ask her teachers actually how it went, but she was in a cloth diaper when I picked her up – I’m so proud of them!  Isn’t it wonderful that they’re willing to try using the pocket diapers with Natalie?  I love them (the teachers and the diapers!).

Joanna was the last one picked up (it was just 2:30 so I wasn’t late); it took me longer to fetch my Natalie and get back to Joanna’s room than I thought.  I guess I am moving a little slower than usual lately!

Joanna was ALL SMILES when I picked her up, and it hasn’t changed yet.  She seems just so happy about the day.  She even told me some of the things she did without getting too exasperated with me.  :)

We came home, unpacked the bags, hung up the artwork, and the girls are enjoying leftover lunch as snack.  Yay!

First Day of School

Today was the girls’ first day at SLC/MDO for the fall. I officially have one preschooler – can you believe it?!

We were running just a tad behind this morning, so I didn’t get much in the way of a real photo shoot, but I caught a few cute pics! The girls actually slept in a little (of course!) so we were up just a little later than normal.

Both girls in the car, ready to go!

At the church, I made them stand in the parking lot so I could get some “Back to School” pictures.

Look at this face. Could she get away with ANYTHING or what?

Natalie was not really into looking at Mommy and smiling. She LOVES this backpack (which may mean it’s going to be retired in favor of something more boring that doesn’t make her cry when she has to put it away).

The best I got of the two of them. Oh well!

Joanna outside her room. Look at this face! It’s kind of a grimace, but I know that’s not how she was feeling. She may have been done with pictures and ready to just go to school already. Her teachers are Miss Patty and Miss Shawna.

Natalie was crying at this point because I made her leave the gym to go over to her class. Yet again, my children are in separate buildings across campus from each other.

Natalie has Miss Anne and Miss Joan (that Joanna had two years ago). She went right in with her little backpack (but didn’t want to give it up to Miss Anne!) and didn’t seem sad when I left. I was a little sad because I realized then that I’d left her nap mat at home!! Ahhhhh!!!

Fortunately my very wonderful mother went to my house, got the nap mat, and dropped it off at the church. Phew! I could have missed a little bit of staff meeting to go get it, but I’m glad I didn’t have to!

I know the girls are having wonderful times. It’s so wonderful to be able to miss them a little. Absence makes the heart grow fonder sometimes. I’m a little worried about Natalie who is pretty scared of thunder and storms. It’s one of those kinds of days. I hope she naps for them…

I’m working on my strategies to get information out of Joanna about her day. I often get “I didn’t do anything.” out of her. I’m actually considering bribing her with M&M's as a last resort. I really want to know how her day went!

34 Weeks

34 Weeks: This is a terrible picture exposure-wise, but there was this handy nail on my front door for hanging the camera on to take a timed picture.  Maybe I’ll have Matt help me get a better one later.

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How far along: 34 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: Braxton Hicks, heartburn, back pain

Food Cravings: ice

Sleep: not so good last night, but pretty good the few nights before

Measurement: 44 inches around the belly

Movement: I feel him moving around regularly, and sometimes he really gets me! 

Labor signs: not so much, which is good!

What I miss: being cool (temperature-wise)

What I’m looking forward to: I was thinking today that I’m so excited for the girls to meet their brother… in a few weeks. 

Milestone: I was given lots of newborn and 0-3 month clothes, and I got them put away – so exciting!  Oh, and Natalie’s officially out of the crib – big girl!

Thoughts from the Girls: Joanna can actually tell you my due date; it’s very cute to hear her say “Octover 18th.”  Natalie is very into lifting up my shirt to check on the baby.  I think even though she doesn’t know much what’s happening, she is starting to get excited! 

Doctor’s visit: since today is Labor Day, I’ll have my 34 week appointment on Wednesday.

Baby-related projects: (I still have lots of time for all these, but they’re in my head.)

• Natalie’s out of the crib and the crib bedding is done and waiting for the little man!
• I’m thinking I’ll plan to have “the bag” packed at 36 weeks
• Around that same time I will print a “call list” of people who can come get/watch the girls when it’s time.  My previous deliveries haven’t afforded me much wait time between the onset of labor and birth, so the first person who answers get Joanna/Natalie duty!  (Hopefully this labor will be smooth like the others!)
• Purchase/assemble/organize the newborn cloth diaper supplies.  **purchased, just waiting for them to come in!
• Possibly have the house deep cleaned at the beginning of October.  **thinking now I will try to just stay on top of it myself.  Hopefully with the girls in school two days, I will have a couple of hours on one of those days when I’m finished with work and can putz around the house. 
• Get some meals in the freezer: casseroles, soups, browned meat, cooked chicken, etc.  **I also need to clean out the freezers.
• Get ahead on the bread making.
• Organize the girls’ snacks and drinks so Joanna can help get them.  (Teach her to use the water dispenser on the fridge, move the crackers and Cheerios down low, make a space in the fridge for easy snacks for them.)  I’m thinking it’s possible she’ll be very helpful in getting snacks for herself and her sister… or we’ll scrap that idea when she makes a big ‘ol mess. :)  I remember everyone was always hungry or needed something when I sat down to nurse last time I had a newborn. :)  **Joanna can (and loves to) get her own water from the fridge.  Yay!
• Read my birth books again.  **started this!
• Sell stuff at Baby Daze and KYS.  Whatever doesn’t sell by the end of the month gets donated or tossed so I can clear out my bedroom!