Lifesong

It's A.......

Today we had our ultrasound appointment. They agreed to do it a little earlier than usual since we are dying of curiosity. And when you're still puking in your 16th week, I like to think they just like to make you happy.

It did make me happy. And, truthfully, we have known for a few weeks because we went to an ultrasound place in Atlanta when we were there a few weeks ago. But we wanted to confirm before we told hundreds of people. So we narrowed it down to just sharing it with fifty people, and now we can fully share.

Truthfully, we were hoping for a girl. And it's true, it seems we are always hoping for a girl. I can't really explain it, but we were all on board, John included. We are very happy to have our sweet boy, and honestly I love experiencing one of each and couldn't imagine not having a boy. But a girl just seemed like a natural completion to our family. That and Ansley was absolutely counting on the fact that she would have a little sister and she prayed about it a lot.

And of course, it doesn't matter, because whatever God blessed us with is what would have been perfect for our family. We just really felt like that would have been a girl.

But sometimes God doesn't agree with our plans.

And sometimes He does.

So as not to drag this out any more than I have, it's a......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

really exciting thing to find out and be able to plan. I already have a pretty big stack of pink? or blue? clothes, and I'm ordering the bedding today.

Ok, but seriously, it's a.......

 

 

And we are very excited!

Are you sure that's what it says?

Yep, we are sure!

And tickled pink.

Birthday Weekend

from left to right:

* me and the kids getting in a birthday shot
* John and Christian about to go for a ride on the dune buggy
* JonJon, Ansley and Christian at Mimi's for birthday breakfast Sunday morning
* Missy, Ansley and Christian doing "silly faces!" at Mimi's
* Grandma's 90th birthday party
* my raspberry white chocolate birthday cake
* kick-off the weekend birthday cupcakes
* showing what the kids got me
* John and Ansley getting instructions before riding the dune buggy

School for the Very Young

As you know if you are a homeschooler, and probably could guess if you aren't, Ansley's school takes longer than Christian's does. I mean, several hours longer. 

And generally speaking, three year old boys shouldn't be left to their own devices. I don't have any photographic proof, I'm just saying, it's really best for everyone if they stay occupied.

Fortunately for me, Christian is VERY occupied by crafts, or as he calls them, "Projects." 

While I have a whole cabinet that is reserved just for him, filled with lacing cards, shapes, bear sorters (when I first read this back I read beer sorters....and for certain that is not the education we are providing here), buttons, counters.....he prefers to go the crafty route.

If I pull out some paints or markers or crayons, he is set usually for an entire Phonics class. Sometimes we can even get into Writing, while he is still drawing away.

But if I have something specific, something that's different and fun and engaging, man, he is ALL ABOUT IT.

So today we did this fun and simple craft, and he loved it. And Ansley loved it so much that she wanted to stop doing school so she could do it too.

If you have craft sticks, markers and tape, then you are all set.

Line up a set of craft sticks (I used ten, which was good for Ansley, for younger kids less might be better) and tape one side. Flip it over and have your kids draw a picture in markers. 

An actual picture works better.

Scribbles, we learned, is a whole lot trickier.

 Then take the tape off, and it's a puzzle. Mix up all the sticks, and have your child put it back together. My kids wanted to make lots of these, and we even started making letter puzzles for Christian to do (about five sticks each). 

Christian loved the smaller piece "puzzles." I will say for memories sake that he threw his ten piece scribble puzzle across the room because he was "Frustrated! This is not my favorite project."

But he warmed back up to it once we did them a little smaller. Ansley took a small break to make one or two, but then we got back to school, and this bought us time to get through Writing, Math, Reading, Spelling and a test. 

I highly recommend it.    

11:17 am: A Rough Morning

 

Oooooh, We're Halfway There

I've had that Bon Jovi song stuck in my head for days, and I have no idea where it came from. Does that ever happen to you? I always wonder, did I hear it in the grocery store or while shopping and just don't remember? Or was it a dream that's stuck with me? 

Either way, I need a new song.

And I know that I'm not halfway there, but it's good for my overall mental outlook to think that I am.

Although I did announce to John the other night that YAY! I am halfway through. 

Then I remembered it's forty weeks, not thirty.

Is this pregnancy going S-L-O-W-L-Y for anyone else? Just me. Hmmmm.

I'm fifteen weeks. And I thought I'd better do some documenting, considering at this point in my previous pregnancies I had journals and scrapbooks and hundreds of pictures of my growing belly. Or at least a dozen. 

At fifteen weeks, I'm very tired by the end of the day, but I am no longer napping. This tells me that I do have more energy than in the first trimester, but when you have two kids, you're just gonna be tired. Period. So I'm getting used to it, and trying to go to bed pretty early so I can feel well rested and teacher-like the next day. I'm saving up my sick days.

My nausea is still hanging in there, but is definitely less than it was. This morning I threw up all morning, then was fine and hungry by lunchtime. That seems to be the way this goes - I get sick in the morning, then I'm fine the rest of the day. 

(For the record, I never even felt a twinge of nausea, let alone threw up, with my other two pregnancies.)

I keep saying semester instead of trimester. It makes me sound like a moron. Which is probably why strangers keep asking me if this is my first.

I do always like the shocked and surprised expressions when I say "It's my third." I like to think that must be because I look way too young to have almost three children. 

I think I've been in denial, thinking that I still don't look pregnant. But just this past week, two people asked me when I was due, so I'm thinking I'm lying to myself. I am mostly wearing maternity clothes all the time, but every so often I can get away with a non maternity shirt. But that's when I'm staying home all day.

Ansley and Christian are very excited, and ask lots of questions. Christian's questions are easier to answer than Ansley's. Christian's: Yes, the baby will come in February, Mama will be at the hospital, Mimi will come to stay with you while we are gone. Ansley's: Where will the baby come out? Well that's an interesting question. How did the baby get there? Wow, you sure are thinking! 

But it's a LOT of fun, and I am finding that it is quite enjoyable to have children a little bit older who understand everything. Ansley was just three when Christian was born, and my, my how she changes in four years!

My official due date is February 16. 

I get lots of headaches, and have learned that Tylenol really does nothing for anything. Is that a double positive? Anyway, my headaches crave Excedrin, but they can't have it. It's tough for everyone involved.

My belly itches like a racehorse. I'm mixing metaphors, but that's what pregnant brain does. I can't really think of something that itches really bad. Itches like chicken pox doesn't have a nice ring to it.

We are starting to clear out the closets in the baby's room, but nothing major just yet. We have big plans, though.

Ansley took some photos today. 

I guess she thought my face was irrelevant. Which, I can see her point. 

I feel like I looked like this at about 25 weeks with Ansley, but honestly I can't remember, so I could be making that up. And I don't suppose it really matters. The point is, there is a baby in there.

The Boy coming over for some lovin'. 

He likes to tell me that no matter how big he gets, he'll always want to snuggle. And I just want to document that for the record, so I can show him when he's sixteen. And make him deliver.

That's the update from here. Of course, we love this baby and are very excited about the pregnancy and arrival. But it is very different when you have two children - it's so busy and there's so much to do, and sometimes I could easily forget I was pregnant, if it wasn't for the belly. And the throwing up. And the headaches. 

We are very thankful for our expanding family of soon-to-be-five! 

  

And Then There's This First Day in the Second Grade

This school year, for the first time, we decided to put Ansley in a homeschool co-op. This particular one is the largest in Knoxville, with 415 students this year. I have been so impressed with all my interactions so far. They communicate everything very well, and it is a Christian co-op, and they only ask that you volunteer 16 hours per semester, which really isn't much at all. 

The idea of it is exciting to me. A great environment, one day a week (it's called Thursday Connection, so we meet on....yep, Thursdays.). We get to pick what classes we want her to take, and we could pick one class or eight. We chose five. And they are seriously FUN classes. It's not at all a replacement to what we are doing at home, it's more about making learning fun, reinforcing the concepts learned at home, creating a small classroom environment, making friends and having fun. 

Ansley was VERY excited about it. It was all she talked about on Wednesday.

I was.....fearful. Irrationally fearful, perhaps, but when it comes to my kids, I shelter. I protect. And while we felt that seven was a good age to introduce her to this concept, what if it was too soon? What if she wasn't ready? Mama fears are some of the worst, aren't they? We may not have the same fears, but your fears still keep you up at night just like mine do. And they can be so consuming. I didn't sleep well that night. And I prayed a lot.

Ansley did. And she woke up this morning ready to go. Her first class is at ten, which is really nice so we aren't getting up super early or rushing around. I may have planned it that way. There are some things I just don't compromise on. Education and sleep. 

And since Mimi was here this week, Christian stayed with her while I drove her to the co-op.

She picked out her backpack, and went through everything MANY times. Really, her supply list was short: one pink three ring binder, pencils, markers and colored pencils. And tennis shoes for PE. But still, it's all about the backpack. 

Looking so grown up. So Second Grade. Where did the time go?

Ah, there's my silly girl. 

We prayed over her last night and this morning. To not let her fears control her. That one may have been for me. For her to make friends. That she wouldn't get lost. (Did I mention she actually changes classes? So she has to find each classroom. Five of them.)For it to be a good, positive experience.

I didn't want to be late, so we left in plenty of time. Which is not really like me. And proved to not be helpful, thus proving my theory that timing isn't everything. Well that's not really my theory, but I am perpetually late, so this didn't really help spur me on towards timeliness. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and there was another class going on, so we just waited outside the classroom, watching the hallways fill with kids. This didn't help ease any of Ansley's fear, which was the fear of not knowing anyone. I know that fear well, and honestly I was probably more nervous about her not knowing anyone than she was! But finally, the door opened, the teacher welcomed them in, I got her settled in her desk and she smiled and waved.

And I walked out. Did I seriously just leave my first born back there??

Fears consume.

I wondered all afternoon what she was doing, if she was having fun, if she was making friends.

John came home early, and we went to pick her up together. 

We found her waiting in the Break Room, which is where they are supposed to go after their last class. The first words out of her mouth were "I had SUCH a fun day!"

Praise God! We are so thankful.

And then we heard all about it for the rest of the day. She was still talking about it when she finally went to sleep around nine tonight. She made lots of friends, she had a great time, telling us about the activities, games, and upcoming events. There are two things that make the Top Ten Most Exciting Things in her day: 1)That she got two tickets today for good behavior and good listening, and when she gets five tickets she exchanges them for a prize. And 2) This is really THE most exciting so it should be number one, but I'm gonna leave it as two because it's late and I don't feel like changing it but...in her science class she gets to BRING HOME A RABBIT to care for. Oh my goodness, in Ansley's world that is like saying you may eat a dozen doughnuts for every meal. Or maybe that's my world. But that's about the excitement level that it ranks as. She CANNOT wait to bring this rabbit home. And I am really thrilled that it is a rotating rabbit and not, say, a rotating snake. Or tarantula. 

So that's Day One. A great success. I am very pleased with Thursday Connection, and we are very thankful this evening that God has answered our prayers for a wonderful day, and a wonderful experience. 

We can't wait to see what's in store for us next Thursday!  

Mountains, Take Two

We loved our mountain trip so much we decided to go back, this time with inner tubes. And friends. We have new neighbors who recently moved here from Augusta, Georgia. For those that don't know, that's where John and I both grew up. So what better place to take a family new to the area? We thought so.

      

What Weekends Are Made For

We headed to the mountains (a couple weeks ago - I'm trying to get caught up!) for some much needed family time. We found the perfect spot, away from the crowds with a perfect spot for picnicking, a swimming hole and lots of rocks and bugs. Well, the bugs weren't ideal for me, but my kids are always drawn to them. 

It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. It is SO peaceful up here, just listening to nature, children's laughter, conversation and contentment. I don't know if contentment has a sound, but if it does, it must sound like this.

This is probably my favorite thing about living here. It's nearby, and really, such a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

Ansley and Christian LOVE it. I think they could spend days here.

And I could, too. Except for the bugs.

There was almost like a little rock waterslide in the middle of the stream that the kids enjoyed playing in. Ansley was daring enough to slide down it, but we decided next time, we definitely needed to bring some inner tubes. 

They loved climbing on all the rocks, playing in the water, swimming and catching bugs.

We enjoyed a yummy lunch - hamburgers on our portable grill, which taste so much better somehow, chips and a watermelon that was chilled in the stream. The kids got a kick out of that. 

Afterwards we went on a little hike to see another waterfall. 

 
We spotted this along the way:

 
And enjoyed beautiful scenery at the end.

 
 * I have no idea why the pictures are all goofy in this post. My computer is conspiring against me. I guess it doesn't like my productivity. But it's late, and I'm aggravated by the fact that they appear to be normal size, right until I post it. But, hey, it's a post.         

The First Day in the Second Grade. And Preschool.

It did feel early, but we started school on August 2. Since I don't know what it's like to have a third child, I want to make sure I am ahead instead of behind. We'll see how long that mentality lasts. I'm hoping through February.

I woke up at a decent hour....I mean decent for me, and got showered and dressed first. I like to leave you in suspense about the time, just for fun. What's decent? 7 am? 10 am? Ooooh, it's such a mystery. The kids were pretty excited, since it was Day One, so they were up and dressed and ready, which was fun.

We ate breakfast, and then the school bus arrived as soon as we were finished with breakfast. The school bus, if you must know, is a chair train, and, yes, the teacher also drives the school bus. It's always funny to me how goofy things like this are always what my kids get the biggest kick out of. We "rode" from the kitchen to the school room, and they laughed the whole way. (After I cleared up the fact that there wasn't actually a school bus coming to pick them up. Christian was concerned.)

I got Christian started on his first, because in my ideal homeschool world, Christian works happily and diligently on his assigned task while I am teaching Ansley. While my chef is preparing a gourmet lunch. Hey, as long as it's my ideal world I might as well throw that in. That would save me so much time. And clean up.

He looks happy and diligent, doesn't he? He did a great job, and really worked so hard.

Ansley pointed out right away why three-year-old school is SO.MUCH more fun than six-year-old school. And it's a fine line you have to walk between encouraging and getting a big head. Because what comes out of my mouth, things like "Yes, but a six-year-old knows how to read. And write. And add. And....." comes out of Ansley's mouth very differently. Read: "You're just doing crafts all day but I'm LEARNING! Gettin' all kinds of knowledge while you're glue sticking." Well, that's not quite what I said. And I may have added that last part for effect. 

Ansley jumped right back into it, concentrating on what she was doing. The first week is really a review, so she was a little insulted that she had to go back to writing letters when we ended the year with words. But she got over it, I'm pretty sure. Ansley really has great handwriting, I think, for a six year old! 

We took a little break for some craft time. Those are beloved words in our home.

I found these cute little boxes at Target for $1.50 and thought they'd be the perfect first day craft. And then they can keep all their treasures in them, too. Christian chose markers and stickers to decorate his.

Ansley chose colored pencils, and was very detailed with her work. She had to come back to it several times that day, since we couldn't take an hour break in between subjects. 

Christian's finished work. Nicely done!

Ansley's handwriting. 

It was a great first day, and we all enjoyed our new school room. 

Now if every day could go just like today!       

Schoolhouse Rocks

Two days before the first day of school, we decided we really need an official School Room. We've talked about it all summer, but I guess really found our motivation when the pressure was on. 

I am starting school much earlier this year than I normally would, simply because I want to make sure I have enough time to take off when the baby comes. I don't want to have to rush back to my teacher duties after a week, so I'm hoping this will allow for a slow re-entry to real life with a baby.

But back to the School Room. It makes me so happy!

The table, with two chairs because I have two students now. Crazy, I know! (I actually ended up moving their chairs to each end, with a big 'ol comfy teacher chair in the middle.) I don't lay on the couch while teaching, like you might be tempted to believe. But I would be totally justified, I might add, given what an awesome teacher I am. Nah, I kid. I mean given my state. Of getting big. And pukey.

There are two bulletin boards on the left side of the room. Ideally this one is Ansley's and the other one is Christian's, but Ansley tends to have more that needs to be put up, so it doesn't always work out that way. But I do LOVE having a bulletin board where I can put up the items that we use every day.

On the right side is a big dry erase board.....

....along with a calendar, check boxes that each child can check off for each day, and a smaller bulletin board that I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do with it just yet. But Ansley is loving that those little colorful magnetic clips can hold her best work that day so she can display it. Then when Daddy comes home she loves showing off her work! Christian has even picked up on this, so poor John when he walks in the door is bombarded with school! She also loves to check off what she has accomplished every day, which she likes to point out is SO MUCH MORE than what Christian has to accomplish. I tell her she should just be happy that there's not a Mama list of what I accomplish every day. It would put her list to shame, I am sure. And she would be jealous over all the bon bon eating I get to do. 

This is on wall right by the table, and makes me so very happy. I always knew I had an inner organizational genius just waiting to get out. This may have released her. I love that I have access to all their school materials RIGHT HERE. There are bins for everything. Ansley and Christian have school supply boxes and they know they are to get what they need and have it waiting at their desk first thing every morning. And, since it's easy to get to and has a place, they love to do this. It makes our getting started routine so much more efficient. At least it has for four days now.

I found these dry erase boards for the kids at the Dollar Spot at Target, and thought they'd be a fun way to start the first day of school. This is Ansley's place, all ready for her to start! I also found the name tags at Target, and thought it was so funny I had to get them. Plus, pregnant brain can be tough sometimes, so it's nice when your kids have name tags.

This is Christian's place, all ready for his first day of school. He was SO excited to be participating in school, just like Ansley. He even wanted to pick out a lunch box, which we let him (Buzz Lightyear) so I can pack it and he can carry it to the table. It's the little things when you homeschool that seem to be a big deal to them.

And then, the First Day of School! That's coming next....

But two posts in one day? Whew, I need a nap.