And now I'm "due"

The baby wasn't born on my mother-in-law's predicted date.

 My kids are starting to be disappointed every morning they wake up and I'm still here, still pregnant.   They aren't the only ones.

My to-do list is less appealing to me now than it was a couple of weeks ago.  A chocolate shake from Chick-Fil-A was appealing, though!  Sitting on my back patio watching our new grass grow was also very appealing.  Yes, I'm watching grass grow.

This morning two of our ball players had make up games, so I spent some time cheering Aragorn on to a loss.  He did great.  His team isn't super.  Gatorade and some seats in the shade were very welcome.  I waddled over to a park to try to play with my three youngest.  My bladder keeps these types of efforts short lived.  Not that you want to hear about anyone's bladder.

Thunderstorms are predicted for tonight.  Tonight.  That's my guess!  I can wait one more day.  I've waited for this baby for 9 months.  I'm so ready.  We are all so ready to meet him!  Keep me in your prayers--I'd love the next picture I post to be of a beautiful newborn boy!

Photo credits: Arwen
playing with "white balance" for her photography class in the last three shots

Summer Thinkings

You know my due date is tomorrow.  Arwen was born on the birthday of my husband's grandmother.  Arwen was named for her.  (She had died before I was able to meet her, right before my husband began college).  Today is not only the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, it is also the anniversary of her death.  My mother-in-law told me back in November that I would have the baby today.  She said she "knew" it as soon as she heard when my due date was.  Let's see if she's right--I wouldn't doubt it; combining mother and daughter's intercessory prayers--I wouldn't doubt it at all!  (And I wouldn't be at all unhappy with a delivery today!)

From the garden:

Arwen took these pictures of our flowers.  I keep asking her to get pictures of our mulch/grass project out back.  I guess it's not as fun to photograph.  Of course, I do know how to snap a picture with a camera myself...but that would entail getting off of the couch, walking, and carrying a camera.  I'm thinking that's too much effort at this point.

Nesting: I re-packed my suitcase yesterday.  I realized I'm missing a LONG LIST of essentials for our new baby!  Socks, mittened onesies (my kids always scratch their faces with their baby nails), baby shampoo, lotion, diaper cream.  What have I been doing for 9 months?!!!  

Truth:  I pretend that I don't leave the couch.  That's just wishful thinking.  Yesterday was full of appointments and swimming lessons.  We have spent $500.00 at the dermatologist this summer (ouch!) Poor Galadriel is fighting a nasty contagious skin virus.  Luckily it's not *that* contagious.  I think we're mostly escaping contagium.  Between her ear and skin issues, she's been a little trooper this summer.

I keep failing to get dinner ready in time for the baseball players to eat before their games!  Part of the problem is that my husband coaches and has to get there well before game time.  I am always caught off guard with dinner ready at 5:15--just as they are heading out the door.  #latedinners, #microwavedinners.

Gimli's team is undefeated so far this season.  They were undefeated last year.  They had a winning record the first year my husband coached too.  But tournament week?  Out first round, both years.  There's some serious game-planning going on around here.  My men folk are determined to win at least ONE of the tournament games.

And my in-laws are threatening to come for tournament week.  This is fine by me (I'm happy to show off a new baby!) but it adds pressure to my husband to have his dad watching.  Isn't that cute?:)  

I'm out of time.  Here are some pictures of my current "baby" to finish up the post...you might not see so much of her for a while. :)  

The best part of summer is keeping ALL messes outdoors!

(Still loving the bangs her brother gave her--rrrrr.)

Up and Running!

No, I'm not running, and I'm not always "up"...the couch is my very good friend these days.  Actually, I'm supposed to be taking this "running position" on my right side with a pillow between my legs in order to get Mr. 9 to face the right direction (back!).

These pictures are intentionally blurry.  Arwen's taking her photography course and one of her assignments was to play with fast and slow shutter speeds.

I am very thankful for this photography class...it forced Arwen to get our nice camera charged and ready for when our baby arrives.  An added bonus is that you might get something better than iPhone pics one of these days!:)

I love this one of Eowyn--it looks like we have fairies dancing on our lawn!  Eowyn was happy to oblige her big sister in the search for a perfect action shot: she (Eowyn) is obsessed with Angelina Ballerina these days.  In fact, she corrected me this morning when I called her by her given name.  She informed me that she is Angelina.

Of course the fact that my daughter (and any number of siblings) have been averaging 2 hours of Angelina or Curious George a day has 100% to do with the fact that I'm 9 months pregnant and nothing to do with my philosophy of good parenting.  I keep telling my husband we need to get rid of our TV.  I have no will power when combining whining tired toddlers, a messy house, the need for dinner on the table, and my pregnancy body.
 
(Two girls pictured here: Galadriel is the blur! haha)

Here's a fast shutter speed for ya: a little relief on the eyes! It's been hot, so on Father's Day I sent my beloved spouse (#bestdadever) to Target for a mini pool and water guns.

This one's random, but I sort of loved it.  Those "side bangs"? Courtesy of Legolas.  Yep.  You know I love how they fall out of her pony and make her look like a constant mess.  #bigfamilyproblems

So now you know I should be posting again.  Keep looking for the new baby update--I really am going to have this baby, right?  I mean, he can't stay in forever can he?  Please send prayers if you think of me!

39 Weeks

My computer died, and then my phone died.  I have no pictures, so...boring blog posts.  Or in this case, no blog posts (sorry for my absence).  I guess I haven't been very inspired lately.  Do I sound like a weary pregnant lady?

A few updates as to what I've been up to (since I am pretty sure I haven't seen the outside of my home since I went to the birth center with false labor at midnight a few days ago).

1) crawling on my hands and knees around the family room rug.  My baby keeps rolling posterior, and we want him anterior, preferably.   It's all hands and feet when he's face-up, so I know when he's not looking the right way!

2) week 1 down with swimming lessons, but Galadriel had to bail.  Her tubes in her ears from last summer's surgery are letting water into her sinuses and causing air bubbles to plug (and cause painful popping in) her ears.  We're working on finding good ear plugs and possibly seeing her doctor for the second time this month.

3) planting the final flowers of the summer.  I did this the day before my "false alarm"...maybe no gardening in 100 degree humidity at 38 weeks pregnant.  #lessonslearned, #crazynester

4) binge reading "The Paradise Project" by Suzie Andres.  It's a Catholic must-read (especially for those who were taught by her husband!)  I'm a big fan of Suzie Andres, she just doesn't know it yet.  I'm going to buy this book for my sisters and nieces--it's just too fun!

5) drinking coconut water and eating dark chocolate.  Apparently my electrolytes might be a little low (I've been told this in past pregnancies as well).  Coconut water has tons of potassium.  I never knew this before.  Dark chocolate?  Good for iron I guess.  My midwife recommends it and I'm happy to oblige!

6) missing baseball games, but doing some driving.  I really can't spend two hours at games keeping the little ones happy--I don't have the energy at this point.  My husband does as much driving as he can to help me out, but when he's coaching I do have to make runs to the local parks to get my players to and fro.  I'm working on earlier dinner times so we can eat together before the players have to run at night.  I'm still operating on school-day hours, and that means I'm getting dinner ready as they're leaving for games.  I really hate not eating together, so, 4pm means I better be cooking!

That's about it! My 39 week update.  :)

A First Mass

After the Ordination in Europe, my brother, a newly ordained priest, was allowed a "home visit" and a chance for all of us to attend his "First Mass".

The coordinator of the altar boys was kind enough to swap dates so that my boys could serve for their Uncle.

And it was the perfect opportunity for an extended-family "photo op".  As you might imagine, a group this size is hard to assemble, much less photograph very often!

We scored a family photo, too.  It will be no longer current as soon as Mr. #9 arrives, but I'll take it!

Then there was a reception in the parish hall.

Besides the cake that I'm drooling over right now as I post pictures,

there were the "first blessings", which carry with them a plenary indulgence!  As you can imagine, there was a nice line for those as well as the cake!

The kids behaved themselves very well!  (And might have had a little fun while they were at it.)

My amazing sister gets credit for bringing two of the most darling children in tow, my extra-glorious nieces (minus one):

She had five (children) in tow, total, and still managed to look glamorous herself.  #somepeople, #supermom, #I'minhugetroublewhenthisbabycomes!

It was a day to treasure and I'm so thankful we had the chance to celebrate such a beautiful day with family, friends, and the parish community.  

Baby Waiting

I'm 38 weeks today--and feeling it.  Lots of nice Braxton-Hicks contractions letting me know that my body is gearing up; lots of elbows and shoulders and knees and toes letting me know that the baby is gearing up too!

Bilbo just told me: "I wish there was such a thing as a $30 bill.  Because there's so many things that are $30."  It's 7:15 am.  He's thinking too big of thoughts for me as I'm only half way through my first cup of coffee!

My nesting has gone from methodical to random and rather frantic.  I told you I'd made it through the kids bedrooms and upstairs in general.  Yesterday I made my husband move the baby crib into our room (he thinks this is unnecessary because we co-sleep, but it is NOT unnecessary, I assure you.  I will put the baby down in the crib as I dress and shower, and if he'll sleep there, and it will be far safer for him than being on my bed where any wild child or toddler might decide to leap on any given morning--it happens!)  Then I made Aragorn push in an extra dresser (because we upsized the boys' dresser with a super awesome one from Ikea) because I really don't have a "baby dresser".  Then I pulled in the changing table with baskets, that is what I use as the baby dresser, except now I have one, so it will be more of just a changing table.  Anyway, then I put the baby's clothes from the laundry basket where they were washed, folded, and waiting to the dresser.

Is this a fun post for anyone besides me?

Wait: it gets better!

Because then I decided to detail my linen closet!  Woohoo!  Wait! Where are you going? Hey! Come back!  You don't want to hear about it? Not even the fact that I practiced great detachment in parting with a large bag full of extra sheeting that I had acquired over the years?  And then I had the ingenious idea to pack away the flannel sheets in a bin rather than to fold them into the closet?

Ok.  I'll stop.

And I don't even have any photos to make this blog more fun to read!

I could re-post something from the archives...nah.

Just quit if you've heard enough out of me.  I'll wrap this up by saying that I failed to make dinner and my family headed off to the baseball games for the evening without dinner.  My husband said it was too hot to eat and the kids had just had popsicles.  I somewhat lamely wished Gimli and Hubby a good game from the couch (of course this is where the above day landed me!)

Then I boiled some noodles, threw on some sauce and tried to feed some "middles" and "littles" who ate with varying interest.  Then I loaded them up (the kids Galadriel and down--so, five of them) and drove to Aragorn's game to cheer him on in his first chance to pitch in this new league.

After settling down on a blanket and encouraging Aragorn on through his pitching, a time or two at bat, and an inning on first, I succumbed to the pressure of Galadriel who desperately wanted to see Gimli's game.  We loaded up the van and drove down the road to the other game, where Gimli was having a ridiculously easy time in his league.  He should really play up with Aragorn like he did last year, but I'm not sure if the league would let him.

Anywhoo...my awesome Mom was there with my nieces, and at this point the heat and humidity gave way to a cool breeze.  We chatted and it was amazing.

Home, baths, beds.  And that's your super awesome update.  I know you can't wait for another post!

(I promise I won't do this to you again--at least not without pictures!)

37 Weeks and Counting

My computer has been down for a while, so, sorry for the blog silence.  I have so many fun pictures to share, but with my main computer compromised, you'll just have to make due with the ones I happened to have ready.  Working on this...

I've been so busy since Arwen's return from Europe that all of my long posts that I planned on writing about her amazing experience have just...not happened.

We finished school right before Memorial Day.  We have been doing math every day, though.  Arwen really needed to complete her year's work, but the other kids need to keep up their skills, even if they did finish for the year.  I'm guessing we'll keep this up right until the baby sabotages all of our structures of order and progress in the home. ;) 

Summer, the week we've had of it, has been amazing.  The kids have been outside for many hours each day, Bilbo and Rosie are king and queen of the frog pond, and they bring home a new friend just about every day.  I've got a plastic tupperware bin in our garage that acts as "home away from home" for the frogs until I make them take them back.  

This was "Hopper", the first frog friend to grace our home  garage 

I have been too busy indoors to worry too much about what's going on outside...unless of course I'm directing the mulching effort in our yard!  I'm going to have to post about that in another post--our backyard basically lost all grass whatsoever over the past few years, and now we're attempting to fix that!  The mulch portion is complete, now my husband has to haul dirt and seed.

This is Pip, the rascal rabbit who runs away at every chance, but he's "trapped" while on a table top.   These bunnies put up with all kinds of "love"!

Indoors I've been a one-woman to-do list!  I cleaned the boys' and girls' rooms, including their closets.  Then I finally (finally!!) got to my room, which is officially ready for a crib!  Eowyn has been in her toddler bed in the girls' room for about two weeks now, so it's official: the crib gets passed down!

 After I dumped Arwen's suitcase Arwen cleaned out her suitcase post-trip, I snagged it and officially put together a bag for the hospital.  The baby will officially have something to come home in, and I will too!  My labors go fast--there is no time for packing once the contractions hit!

 Unless of course we're talking about the month of contractions I always have!  We had a severe thunderstorm pass through tonight and I truly thought it might just throw me into labor!  I am SO sensitive to weather at the end of my pregnancies--my last three babies were born in rainstorms.  Things are getting exciting.

In the meantime, Saturday was all day at the ballpark with "opening day" for Aragorn, Gimli, and Galadriel.

Phew!  Count yourself updated!:)