Playing in the rain
Trying to hide behind the grapevine
Being his mischevious self
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Life at Grammy and Pappy's House
Riding his truck in a bathing suit
Playing in the rain
Trying to hide behind the grapevine
Being his mischevious self
Playing in the rain
Trying to hide behind the grapevine
Being his mischevious self
30 Weeks
How far along 30 weeks.
Total weight gain Not sure. Our scale is packed in a box somewhere...and I might just leave it there for a while. :)
Maternity clothes are getting boring
Sleep I wish I could sleep as much as I wanted. It's hard for me to make it through the day without napping (I'm trying today as Titus is now napping and I'm attempting to get some things done). Lately I've been sleeping the entire length of his nap. Some nights are good some aren't so much. I get leg aches at night. My midwife said to drink Gatorade in the evening...and it does work when I remember to drink it.
Best moment this week hmmm...not sure.
Movement still lots of movement, becoming deep and strong.
Food cravings nothing really.
Gender boy...who now maybe has a name...still not fully committed to it.
Labor signs several contractions a day and night.
Belly button in or out not really in or out...just kinda flat across.
What I miss sleeping on my stomach
What I am looking forward to decorating the nursery
Milestones getting through each day being pregnant with a (almost) two year old. :)
Total weight gain Not sure. Our scale is packed in a box somewhere...and I might just leave it there for a while. :)
Maternity clothes are getting boring
Sleep I wish I could sleep as much as I wanted. It's hard for me to make it through the day without napping (I'm trying today as Titus is now napping and I'm attempting to get some things done). Lately I've been sleeping the entire length of his nap. Some nights are good some aren't so much. I get leg aches at night. My midwife said to drink Gatorade in the evening...and it does work when I remember to drink it.
Best moment this week hmmm...not sure.
Movement still lots of movement, becoming deep and strong.
Food cravings nothing really.
Gender boy...who now maybe has a name...still not fully committed to it.
Labor signs several contractions a day and night.
Belly button in or out not really in or out...just kinda flat across.
What I miss sleeping on my stomach
What I am looking forward to decorating the nursery
Milestones getting through each day being pregnant with a (almost) two year old. :)
Hello Country Life
Life has felt so "up in the air" right now. For almost 3 weeks now we've been staying with my parents, waiting to move in to our home. We all arrived, Steve flew back to FL, packed our belongings in a Uhaul, drove back, unpacked our things in the garage at our new house, started his summer job (running teen camp at the Coatesville YMCA). We've been busy, the time is flying by. It's almost July, Titus will soon be two. We'll soon have a second son. We are overwhelmed by lists and expenses and what needs to be done before we can finally be and feel settled. I am ready to be settled, unpacked and decorating a nursery. We agreed to never move again and have a baby at the same time. We've done it twice now (once right after the baby arrived and this time just before).
I feel like these three weeks have already been a journey for me, and for Steve. Coming back "home" wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. We had fears about certain things, reasons why we left in the first place. They became real once again. Not real fears, maybe I shouldn't use that word. Others may be confused but Steve and I know what I mean. It seems much hasn't changed in this area in the two years, although Steve and I have changed. We've had new experiences and new growth. Our relationship changed and we're now a family. We moved so quickly after Titus was born that we never really experienced being a family here.
South Florida is so different from here...and here is so different from there. I miss the culture, the diversity, the laid back style, yet the sophistication. I miss seeing palm trees and sand and clear blue water. I wonder if the sea turtles that were nesting on "our" beach have hatched yet. I wonder if the homeless lady is still at the end of our road. I wish we had spend one more evening at the pool or at the park. I wonder if we'll have regrets about moving back here, or if the regrets would've come if we'd stayed. I wonder if we'll ever go back for vacation or if we'll ever go back to live.
Calvary Chapel and Calvary Christian Academy were amazing environments to be in as well. Just a feel that can't be described. To go to a church that is packed with thousands of people for each of the four services was incredible and so uplifting. That is when I first knew that we'd make the move to Florida. When we went to interview and attended a service. It just felt right. Whenever we'd leave a church service, I would feel like I could live there forever. On Sunday, we sat in a church that was maybe 1/3 full. So many people just seemed so un-enthused. I don't want that to become us...again.
Titus seems to love it here. He does seem happier here. Ultimately that's why we moved back...for him...and his brother. From the moment Titus wakes up, he asks to go outside. When we're in the car he laughs at the hills, every road in Florida is flat. He points out cows in the fields and horses when we pass an Amish buggy. He is barefoot constantly. He looks for lizards in my moms flowerbeds...a part of Florida he might miss. He has mentioned the beach a few times since we've been back. The one time he was riding a little truck and said he wanted to take it to the beach. That part makes me sad. On the other hand, he is learning to know his cousins and calls for his Grammy. When he can't find her asks, "where is she?" He waters the flowers with Pappy or Grammy everyday. I was sitting on the patio yesterday evening and saw my mom go out with her watering can. Titus came running asking for his bucket (little watering can). She filled it and they went off together. Last week, I looked down from the bathroom window in the morning and saw Titus and Pappy watering flowers.
These are the moments that make it all worth it.
I don't know how long it will take for this to feel like home again. I don't know when I'll stop being judgemental of the people that just seem so "country." Or when I'll lose the fear that Titus will become that way. Maybe we aren't back here for good. Steve had several of the administration tell him he is welcome back to teach at Calvary anytime. He thinks we'll be back one day. Right now we're just trying to trust God...no matter how hard that is at the moment.
I feel like these three weeks have already been a journey for me, and for Steve. Coming back "home" wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. We had fears about certain things, reasons why we left in the first place. They became real once again. Not real fears, maybe I shouldn't use that word. Others may be confused but Steve and I know what I mean. It seems much hasn't changed in this area in the two years, although Steve and I have changed. We've had new experiences and new growth. Our relationship changed and we're now a family. We moved so quickly after Titus was born that we never really experienced being a family here.
South Florida is so different from here...and here is so different from there. I miss the culture, the diversity, the laid back style, yet the sophistication. I miss seeing palm trees and sand and clear blue water. I wonder if the sea turtles that were nesting on "our" beach have hatched yet. I wonder if the homeless lady is still at the end of our road. I wish we had spend one more evening at the pool or at the park. I wonder if we'll have regrets about moving back here, or if the regrets would've come if we'd stayed. I wonder if we'll ever go back for vacation or if we'll ever go back to live.
Calvary Chapel and Calvary Christian Academy were amazing environments to be in as well. Just a feel that can't be described. To go to a church that is packed with thousands of people for each of the four services was incredible and so uplifting. That is when I first knew that we'd make the move to Florida. When we went to interview and attended a service. It just felt right. Whenever we'd leave a church service, I would feel like I could live there forever. On Sunday, we sat in a church that was maybe 1/3 full. So many people just seemed so un-enthused. I don't want that to become us...again.
Titus seems to love it here. He does seem happier here. Ultimately that's why we moved back...for him...and his brother. From the moment Titus wakes up, he asks to go outside. When we're in the car he laughs at the hills, every road in Florida is flat. He points out cows in the fields and horses when we pass an Amish buggy. He is barefoot constantly. He looks for lizards in my moms flowerbeds...a part of Florida he might miss. He has mentioned the beach a few times since we've been back. The one time he was riding a little truck and said he wanted to take it to the beach. That part makes me sad. On the other hand, he is learning to know his cousins and calls for his Grammy. When he can't find her asks, "where is she?" He waters the flowers with Pappy or Grammy everyday. I was sitting on the patio yesterday evening and saw my mom go out with her watering can. Titus came running asking for his bucket (little watering can). She filled it and they went off together. Last week, I looked down from the bathroom window in the morning and saw Titus and Pappy watering flowers.
These are the moments that make it all worth it.
I don't know how long it will take for this to feel like home again. I don't know when I'll stop being judgemental of the people that just seem so "country." Or when I'll lose the fear that Titus will become that way. Maybe we aren't back here for good. Steve had several of the administration tell him he is welcome back to teach at Calvary anytime. He thinks we'll be back one day. Right now we're just trying to trust God...no matter how hard that is at the moment.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Good-bye Florida
Our last morning in Florida was picture perfect. We were really flexible with our moving date and decided to push it back a day so that we could really enjoy our last day as a family living in Florida.
We woke up and went to the beach to take our last 'family beach pictures', and probably, our last 'family of three pictures'. If only Titus had chosen to look at the camera. :)
After taking our pictures we went to the cutest little place on the beach for breakfast. We sat by open windows and ate breakfast while looking out at the ocean. It was the perfect ending to our time living in Florida.
waiting while we ordered-
our table-
After breakfast we went back to the condo for naps and then our final packing of the car. When it was time to go, Steve took Titus to the window to say "bye" to the boats and then Titus said "Bye house." We then all stood together, Steve holding Titus, and prayed for a safe journey back to PA and thanked God for our time in Florida. I started to cry remembering the challenges of life there, the joys of raising Titus for the first two years of his life, and all that we had experienced there. We left our little home in Lighthouse Point at 7:30pm. Driving out was a mix of emotions. Steve will be flying back down this week to drive a Uhaul back with all of our belongings, so that drive out was not his last. But for Titus and I...not sure when we'll be back, if ever.
The drive went well. It could have been better, but could have been much worse. Titus fell asleep after about two hours and slept off and on throughout the drive. Steve drove until 6:30am, stopping just a couple of times for gas. We checked in to a hotel and slept for two hours and then got up, had breakfast, lounged for a little and left again after just six hours. We got back on the road at noon. Titus did really well. He only slept an hour on our second stretch. We stopped once, for an hour, to eat and continued to drive. Although Titus had some cranky moments, he didn't have any major meltdowns. He really did do a great job for it being such a long drive...and at an age where he is so active. I only survived because I knew it was the last time we would be making that trip.
We woke up and went to the beach to take our last 'family beach pictures', and probably, our last 'family of three pictures'. If only Titus had chosen to look at the camera. :)
After taking our pictures we went to the cutest little place on the beach for breakfast. We sat by open windows and ate breakfast while looking out at the ocean. It was the perfect ending to our time living in Florida.
waiting while we ordered-
our table-
After breakfast we went back to the condo for naps and then our final packing of the car. When it was time to go, Steve took Titus to the window to say "bye" to the boats and then Titus said "Bye house." We then all stood together, Steve holding Titus, and prayed for a safe journey back to PA and thanked God for our time in Florida. I started to cry remembering the challenges of life there, the joys of raising Titus for the first two years of his life, and all that we had experienced there. We left our little home in Lighthouse Point at 7:30pm. Driving out was a mix of emotions. Steve will be flying back down this week to drive a Uhaul back with all of our belongings, so that drive out was not his last. But for Titus and I...not sure when we'll be back, if ever.
The drive went well. It could have been better, but could have been much worse. Titus fell asleep after about two hours and slept off and on throughout the drive. Steve drove until 6:30am, stopping just a couple of times for gas. We checked in to a hotel and slept for two hours and then got up, had breakfast, lounged for a little and left again after just six hours. We got back on the road at noon. Titus did really well. He only slept an hour on our second stretch. We stopped once, for an hour, to eat and continued to drive. Although Titus had some cranky moments, he didn't have any major meltdowns. He really did do a great job for it being such a long drive...and at an age where he is so active. I only survived because I knew it was the last time we would be making that trip.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Chapter Five
from Raising Your Children With No Regrets by Catherine Hickem
Respect is Necessary; Happiness is Not
Principle 5: Be Intentional about Maintaining Your Position
We must distinguish between a happy life-which our culture leads people to believe is their entitlement-and a joyful or peaceful life-which isn't dependent on how much "stuff" we have or what we get to do. The right priority is to teach our children how to live in the moment they have and to be content with what hey have.
Do you know anyone who is truly constantly happy? These people don't exist, so why are you trying to create the unattainable for your children? If you embrace this thought pattern, you will create an emotionally unhealthy child, and set yourself up for a lifetime of guilt and frustration.
It is not a mother's job to make her children happy. It's her job to love them well, discipline them fairly, and accept them unconditionally. It is her job to believe in a vision on their behalf, and to help them discover their passions, talents, and gifting to bring that God-given vision to life.
Everyone likes the experience of being happy and it is a true blessing to see one's children experience it. Yet because happiness is momentary, we need to recognize that it is not sustainable in and of itself. It is not a reflection of self-worth, as are contentment, peacefulness, and hope.
When mothers quit worrying about making their children happy and instead do what their children need, then kids discover contentment and safety. Setting limits and boundaries is healthy for children, and is a greater predictor of future happiness than pleasing them all the time.
Intentional mothers recognize that the early years of a child's life impact their relationship with the child later on. An intentional mother understands that maintaining respect as a priority will serve her well when her child's issues become more complex and challenging.
Submission can be commanded.
Obedience can be demanded.
Respect must be earned.
One way moms earn respect is be being willing to listen to their children-no matter the conversation, no matter the questions they have.
By the age of ten, children have learned how well their mothers can handle their questions. They've already observed their mothers' responses to less threatening issues and decided that the "big" questions will put mom over the edge. So they keep quiet instead.
Our voice is powerful and it says more than words. It communicates attitude. It reveals our heart. It creates walls or bridges. All by how we say what needs to be said.
God has given us a tremendous responsibility in raising children. Part of that responsibility is to guide them in learning how to live a contented and upright life.
Respect is Necessary; Happiness is Not
Principle 5: Be Intentional about Maintaining Your Position
We must distinguish between a happy life-which our culture leads people to believe is their entitlement-and a joyful or peaceful life-which isn't dependent on how much "stuff" we have or what we get to do. The right priority is to teach our children how to live in the moment they have and to be content with what hey have.
Do you know anyone who is truly constantly happy? These people don't exist, so why are you trying to create the unattainable for your children? If you embrace this thought pattern, you will create an emotionally unhealthy child, and set yourself up for a lifetime of guilt and frustration.
It is not a mother's job to make her children happy. It's her job to love them well, discipline them fairly, and accept them unconditionally. It is her job to believe in a vision on their behalf, and to help them discover their passions, talents, and gifting to bring that God-given vision to life.
Everyone likes the experience of being happy and it is a true blessing to see one's children experience it. Yet because happiness is momentary, we need to recognize that it is not sustainable in and of itself. It is not a reflection of self-worth, as are contentment, peacefulness, and hope.
When mothers quit worrying about making their children happy and instead do what their children need, then kids discover contentment and safety. Setting limits and boundaries is healthy for children, and is a greater predictor of future happiness than pleasing them all the time.
Intentional mothers recognize that the early years of a child's life impact their relationship with the child later on. An intentional mother understands that maintaining respect as a priority will serve her well when her child's issues become more complex and challenging.
Submission can be commanded.
Obedience can be demanded.
Respect must be earned.
One way moms earn respect is be being willing to listen to their children-no matter the conversation, no matter the questions they have.
By the age of ten, children have learned how well their mothers can handle their questions. They've already observed their mothers' responses to less threatening issues and decided that the "big" questions will put mom over the edge. So they keep quiet instead.
Our voice is powerful and it says more than words. It communicates attitude. It reveals our heart. It creates walls or bridges. All by how we say what needs to be said.
God has given us a tremendous responsibility in raising children. Part of that responsibility is to guide them in learning how to live a contented and upright life.
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