Goose feathers falling from the sky.

Tonight we had the biggest snowflakes I've ever seen in my life. It's been snowing off and on here for the past 4 days or so. It's beautiful and it hasn't accumulated TOO much (we've got about 8 inches or so right now), but the biggest blessing is that we've still got power!! I enjoy a good snow storm as long as I can get out of the house (meaning I can DRIVE) and we have electricity. So so far this has been a good storm. I'll post a video of the snow as soon as I can get it off of my camera. I don't know if you'll be able to tell how big the flakes are from the video, but it was pretty incredible.

I had my doctors appointment yesterday and finally got my ultrasound scheduled. So next Thursday at 11am I go in and hopefully find out what kind of baby we're going to have. I'm very excited about it...as are the children. I'm measuring just fine, weight gain has been fine (9lbs so far) and baby's heartbeat was a strong 150 beats per minute.

Today I felt the first (of many, I'm sure) hiccups from baby. I really look forward to the children being able to feel all this stuff, they get so excited when I tell them what's going on, but I know they'd love to feel it too. As a matter of fact, when I told them the baby had hiccups, Savannah had to call Papa right away and tell him! :)

Water, Water Everywhere

It's raining, it's pouring. Seriously. A couple of days I checked the weather forecast online to see if there was any glimmer of hope for sunshine in our near future...much to my dismay, the forecast showed a SOLID block of rain...from Sunday until well, until further notice. It's good that we're getting all of this rain, I am not complaining, I mean after all, it IS winter! I just pray that through the duration of this storm, we continue to have electricity. It's the lack of electricity/ability to get out of our house that drives me crazy, not necessarily the rain. I've got some fun events coming up this week anyway. First, I have my next prenatal appointment on Wednesday. I'm very excited about that because that means I get to FINALLY schedule my ultrasound! I'm 19w4d pregnant as of today, which means I'm NEARLY halfway there. It's an exciting, but very frightening prospect. But hopefully within a week or two, we'll know what "flavor" baby we're having! I'm very excited about finding out. Baby has started wiggling. I started feeling wiggles about 2 or so weeks ago, so somewhere around 17 weeks...and they're getting stronger and more frequent all the time. The girls are so excited about being able to feel it themselves. Hopefully that'll come very soon. Luke still insists this is a "girl" and a "baby sister". We'll see soon if he's correct!

The other thing I'm looking forward to is the Maxwell Family is coming to town on Friday/Saturday. I'm really looking forward to hearing them speak as I've read quite a bit of their stuff and have been very encouraged by it. Not to mention that an evening/day away to refresh/recharge is sounding delightful.

Well Luke is napping and I should at least get something done...not necessarily anything productive, just something other than wasting my time online (not that updating here is "wasting time" or anything.

41 days until Jeremy comes home...I cannot wait!!! :)

Oh, and one more thing. I found a bounce house on Craigslist for $100. It needed a tiny sewing job, but the children have been thoroughly enjoying it. I figured that if they could have something to get their energy out on these rainy days, I couldn't go wrong.

Winter Craziness

We just got our first big storm of the season. Usually it doesn't snow that awfully much here, but this storm was a doozy! In one day we got 2.5 feet of snow and the storm knocked out power for 5100 PG&E customers...we were out for 3 days! The last day of our power outage we all awoke, disappointed that the power had not yet come on, and I flushed the toilet and it was awfully quiet. Yes, the pipes had frozen and we had no electricity, no water and the phone kept acting weird. It was quite the experience...one I'm glad we had and I hope to God we don't have again.

I've been getting into the Christmas spirit, the house is beautifully decorated (hmmm, I should take photos one of these days), we've been listening to Christmas music and baking Christmas cookies. We got our tree from a local tree farm and had a good ol' time doing it. The people who ran the farm were wonderful, and so helpful. The man had a Kawasaki Mule and a chainsaw, so the work was virtually non-existent! My kind of Christmas tree cutting! I had my dad come and put the lights on the tree for me, I was just not in the mood this year. Usually I'm the one who does that, but there has been a lot on my plate and sometimes I have to just give in and let others help. The tree is beautiful though. Now that the power is back on, the children have enjoyed watching Christmas movies. The only ones we have are the Classics (Rudolph, Santa Claus is coming to town, Frosty the Snowman) and Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas. I bought the Veggie Tales St. Nicholas DVD this year. I'd like to have a larger selection, but I'm just not there yet. Thankfully the children don't mind watching the same ones over and over again.

As usual, when I find the time to sit here and blog, my inspiration is seriously lacking...all day long I think of things to write, and when the time comes, it's late, I'm tired and I forget!! Oh, I do have two things that I wanted to remember, so I had better document them now before I forget:

The other day we were out grocery shopping. It was 3pm or so (Luke's nap time), but since Luke is getting older and bedtime just goes so much more smoothly when he's tired, we haven't been doing daily naps anymore (he takes about 3 or so a week). So we were at Safeway and we were all thirsty, so we went up to the little Starbucks place there to get ice water for all of us. I decided I needed a Chai Latte to get me through the rest of the day. As we're standing there (Luke is sitting in the cart), he begins to throw a major tantrum...but it wasn't just yelling and screaming, he was actually yelling AT me, "I WANT COFFEE...YA HEAR ME?? GIVE ME COFFEE!!!" It was all I could to keep from cracking up...what a sight to see a 2 year old demanding his COFFEE!! I mean, that isn't too terribly far fetched for someone such as myself, but for a two year old, it's downright hilarious! No, I did NOT get him coffee (in his defense, I often let him have coffee with me in the morning--heavy on the creamer, light on the actual coffee).

Luke now insists that he is no longer my sweet "baby", he is now, "Big Lukie". Although, as a friend of mine pointed out...technically he can't graduate to that until he's done with his pacifier and is no longer soiling his britches! Hahaha...oh, and for the FIRST time today he told me that the baby in my tummy was a "girl" as he's always insisted, BUT he said he's going to have a baby "brother". We've got another month or so until we find out!! The other day out of the clear blue he blurted out, "Mommy has a baby in her tummy!". HOW CUTE!! :) He's said it before when prompted, but this time was totally unsolicited.

I'll have to post a video when I get it from my dad. He got a video of Luke and I sledding down the driveway together today. It was a blast. We did it about 6 times or so...in between shoveling and cutting down tree branches that were blocking the driveway. I'm very happy to see this snow melting, but it's been so much fun to see the children having such a blast playing in it! They all go out and stay out until their little hands are popsicles...then we come in, watch a Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa. It's wonderful to be able to do that...to be home with my precious babies. What a blessing.

The First Day of Advent

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!
I'm so excited that we can "officially" start our countdown to Christmas...although honestly, I've had my little counter thingy ticking down since before Thanksgiving! I just love this time of year so much. Last night I was listening to Family Life Today with Dennis and Barbara Rainey (it's a great show and it comes on right after Adventures in Odyssey, which is what we usually listen to during dinner) and they were talking about how to make this advent season meaningful. One of the suggestions they said was reading 1 chapter of Luke each day (since there are 24 chapters), so we're going to go with that...and I'm going to hunt around and see what I can find to make this season extra special. I always have high hopes for the Christmas season...and of course I want to keep our focus on Jesus and the gift that He is...but I also want to work hard on creating memories for me and my children this season. Each year I strive for so much, and each season I fall short. I always seem to put things off..."next year will be better...", but as someone pointed out to me, one day I'm going to wake up and my children will be grown and these sweet "wonder years" will be past. I don't want to take them for granted. I want to make THIS the best Christmas season ever, and then continue to build on the traditions we start this year, so when my children look back over their childhood and think of the Christmas season, they are filled with joy...and they know that we put Jesus at the center of our celebration.
**Photos to follow soon**

Settling (in more ways than one)

We have now been in our home for over a month and I'm starting to feel a bit more settled. It was a very rough start, but I don't think anything goes particularly smoothly when you're feeling nauseous and tired all the time. I'm now 10+ weeks pregnant and the yucky symptoms are starting to subside (praise the Lord!) and I'm feeling much more human again. The other night I actually cooked a home-made meal! I'm so ashamed to admit that we've been eating frozen meals pretty much the entire time we've been here. I had been feeling so yucky that I couldn't even decided WHICH frozen meals to buy because everything looked gross. Thankfully the children are more than content to eat mac n cheese and Spaghetti-O's nearly every meal...although I feel like the worst mom in the world feeding them that way. So the other night I made spaghetti. I was going to make meatballs to go with, but I couldn't stand the thought of handling the meat, so I just cooked it up and added sauce to it. Just looking at the meat nearly sent me to the bathroom for a little gag-fest, but I made it through. I wasn't this sick with any of my other pregnancies (I still have yet to throw up during pregnancy, but I've been pretty nauseous and have gagged a couple of times). I don't know if I've been more nauseous because I've been more busy with being alone with 3 children, or if it's each additional pregnancy that gets worse or what the deal is. I have my first appointment on the 24th of November and I can't wait to see this little bean and have some reassurance that I'm actually pregnant and not just sick and crazy!

I was able to get a plane ticket for Jeremy to come home for Christmas. I feel like I now have a sense of hope, something to look forward to. The ticket was $675, but I think it'll be worth it! :) Besides, my WONDERFUL brother sent us $100 toward the ticket too, what a kind hearted gesture! I was also incredibly blessed today when I sent a little prayer up to the Lord and asked for His help to find the $330 cash I hadn't been able to find since we moved. It was my Christmas fund and I was really, really hoping it hadn't gotten lost. I was in the girl's closet helping them straighten up and I opened up a box that I had packed my "junk" drawer into and there was my tea tin, with my money inside! Thank you JESUS!!! :) Now I'm ready to start the Christmas shopping!

Well, we're going to my parents house in a few minutes. This will be the first time we've spent the night there since we've lived here...we're going to try going to church with them in the morning (the service starts at 8:15--UGGH!!). We've been going to church up here in the church Jeremy and I got married in, but it's somewhat uninspiring (no offense). There aren't many children and although I know my children don't NEED other children, it'd be fun for them if there was a bit more for them to be involved in. I'm not sure if we're going to stick with the one my parents go to though, it's very early on a weekend...and it's a ways away. They do have a Christmas program for the children though, and that'd be fun to see.

Savannah, Abby and Luke are all doing very well. I think everyone is adjusted to our new living situation. It's much cooler here, and definitely a different environment, but they seem to be having a good time. Yesterday we walked to the post office and met up with a girl from church. She came over for a "play date" and the girls were so happy to have another child to play with. I'm not so sure though...there were a few tears when one child didn't want to play the same thing as another. That's something I don't usually deal with with just my two girls. They're usually into playing the same things. Other than the little squabbles (usually between Luke and Abby), it's usually quite peaceful around here...something I'm enjoying immensely!

I'm praying for our future and where the Lord is leading our family. We have no idea where He will bring us, but I'm trusting that wherever we go is exactly where He wants us. I've discovered being here that just because you're near family doesn't exactly mean they want you around. I'm much more lonely here with my family around than I was with just my friends. I had never realized the blessing of good friends until I lived in Novato. I had never had good, close, Christian friends until recently...and those friendships have meant the world to me. Even the support system of our military family has been invaluable. I can't say that my family isn't still super important to me, but I'm learning that just because we're family doesn't mean that they're going to meet all of my needs--especially those needs that are truly met by good friends in the same life situation as myself. So if nothing else, the Lord is teaching me to treasure the wonderful people He has brought into my life...because they are truly a blessing from above.

Missing Jeremy

Jeremy has officially been gone for a week and a half, but it seems more like a year and a half. As soon as we got moved into this place, everyone left--Jeremy and my parents. I've been alone ever since, trying to unpack, get settled and be the best mommy I can be, as well as deal with nausea, sleepless nights with my two year old terror and the basic overwhelm of being in a new home, alone, with no friends, no family and my 3 children. It's been a blast.

Now I don't want to sound like a big whiner or anything, I am incredibly blessed and don't want to take those blessings for granted. More than anything I want to be able to come back to this years from now and remember what I was going through at this time in my life. Every part of life is a journey...some are easier than others and some are more fun, but all of them are for a purpose and intended to develop character and a closer walk with Jesus--if I'll allow for it. It sure would be nice if these benefits could come at a lower price though! I'll be honest about that.

On an up note, I found out recently that two of my best friends are also pregnant...one is due right before me and one right after. It's so exciting to have them to go through this with. One of them is pregnant with #3 and the other with #1, so it's so fun to share experiences and to be able to be a source of wisdom, if you will, with the first time mommy.

We're slowly getting back into the groove of school. Today was the first day we actually did any "real" school work, and even so, it was pretty bare-bones. I haven't found all of my school books, so I'm kinda concerned. I'm missing my girls readers as well as one of my favorite parenting books (Keeping Your Children's Hearts), so I'm really hoping to find them--soon! I taught Savannah carrying today. She just doesn't have a brain for math. It doesn't come naturally to her like reading and language do...and she isn't quite grasping the concepts that our current math curriculum is trying to teach, so we went for the old fashioned "line the numbers up and add from right to left, carrying when necessary". What's wrong with that method anyway?? I don't quite understand why math has to be made so complicated. I'm hoping that simplifying it will help her out a bit. By the end of our lesson, she was doing great.

Well, tomorrow is my least-favorite holiday of the year: Halloween. I'm excited to see what my girls come up with for costumes though. I decided that I will NOT spend money on costumes, so they can pick and choose from what they have in their closets...it should be fun. Of course we have dress up clothes from years ago too, so I think we're going to see if we can find the old bumble bee costume for Luke! It should be cute. I'll take photos and post them soon.

Well, since I'm not Miss. Energy these days, I had better take a shower and hit the hay. I'll go to bed tonight counting my blessings (of which there are many) and trying to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and His wonderful plans for a hope and a future for this family...and pray that I might be able to stay positive and endure these current hardships with JOY, knowing that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

A Good Reason to Resume Posting

I have to thank Facebook for my lack of posting on here...it's just so easy to go to Facebook, post a sentence or two and receive (almost) instant feedback. It cannot replace, however, the depth of a blog...nor the ability to go back in time and see what was happening in my life days, months or even years ago like I can do here. Soooo, that being said, I'm going to have to make the time to start blogging again because of the fact that I'm PREGNANT again! We just found out on Saturday (Oct. 3, 2009). I took a test to "prove" to my husband that I wasn't pregnant. He was teasing that every time he is deployed, I get pregnant. He's due to deploy for 5 months on October 21st. I wasn't happy with the laugh he got about "how funny would it be if...", so I took a pregnancy test to put my mind at ease (not to mention we're moving and I wanted "permission" to get rid of all of my baby stuff). Let's just say that I was a tad bit surprised when that pink line showed up! God has a very funny sense of humor, and although I do not understand why He does this, I trust that His plan is perfect and that this experience will lead me to lean on Him more and more...and that is always a good thing.
So, I'm 5 weeks pregnant today...I'd ideally like to update this every week with symptoms, news, etc. on this pregnancy. Last time I started blogging during my pregnancy and it's so fun to go back and read what was going on...but this time I think I'm starting earlier and maybe after 4 pregnancies, I'll be able to fully document the process to my satisfaction!
So far I don't have any real symptoms...but from what I remember, they don't start kicking in for me for another couple of weeks...which is fantastic because we're MOVING...and I need the energy to get things done. I have been craving salt a lot, but other than that...well, other than that and 3 + pregnancy tests, there isn't a whole lot telling me that I truly AM pregnant...which is right on target for what's "normal" for me.
Well, I've got lots of packing and cleaning to do...until next time...