Attic Suite

We've been busy preparing for baby around here~ and a big project to tackle was rearranging girls' sleeping arrangements.  We decided to clear out half of the finished attic space (used for storage) and move Grace's and Leah's room up there.  After months of slow progress clearing things out, Steve and I had two child-free days this past weekend to buy two new dressers (a welcome-baby gift thanks to Mom and Dad W.!) and make the big move.  Here is the partially-finished space:

 Steve built Grace a desk last year using the table legs from our old dining room table:

A little reading corner.  The mirror needs to be hung:

How long will Mom's organization last?  :)

The other side of the attic still needs a little work:

A bit of London:

We'll hang some wall lamps near their beds for reading, and hang some pictures on the walls, and hang some curtains on those little windows… soon, I hope.  We're thankful for space to expand and hope that our big girls enjoy their little 3rd-floor suite!

Thirty

I have a list called "30 Before 30".  About 4 or 5 years ago, I wrote down thirty things I wanted to accomplish before my 30th birthday.  I didn't check most of the items off my list, but one glaring overachievement was #6, "Have another baby."  Three additional children later, I'd say Steve and I took care of that one.

Today on my birthday I am so thankful for five beautiful children that we have the privilege of raising in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  One we have yet to meet, and is 30 weeks today on my 30th birthday!

I am also so thankful that I was summoned by name, redeemed, and am precious in the eyes of my Lord (Isaiah 43:1)… and more than that, I can't remember a day when I didn't know and love Jesus.  I'm praying the same for those kids!

And I am so thankful for eight and a half years of marriage to this guy, who loves me well:

And since Grace was taking the picture, and doesn't like kissing, her cool parents had to do this:

She closed her eyes while taking this picture.

Six-ish Months

Here we are at 28 weeks~

Last week, the persistent Braxton-Hicks contractions reintroduced themselves.  Earlier than expected, and they are not welcome.  Every 5-8 minutes for a few hours on Wednesday.  The conundrum is-- do I recognize that they are most likely false labor and try to ignore them, or do I act like a responsible pregnant lady and go in to the hospital to be monitored (which is recommended if you get more than 4 contractions in an hour before 37 weeks).  After my experience with Jane (lots of false labor and 3 longs stays in hospital triage for monitoring) I tend to go for the first option.

Worst of all, I just got the results back from my glucose test, and my blood sugar levels were a mere  4 points higher than the maximum, meaning that I win the prize of sitting though a 3-hour follow-up glucose test, including several blood draws, sometime next week.  Ugh.

Besides the distracting contractions I'm feeling well, and Grace especially is enjoying my patting and talking to my "huge belly". I'm not craving anything in particular and am feeling lots of baby movement all day and all evening long!

House projects are slowly but surely getting done-- next on the list is to finish our garden beds, get plants in the ground, and finish the Great Bedroom Switch here in the house.

Compare six-month baby bellies here, here (same shirt!), here, and here!

The Azaleas are Blooming

We just love the humongous azalea bushes in our yard.  They make you stop and stare at the beauty.  Add two cute sisters and it gets even better~

Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

Happy Easter Sunday to our family and friends!

Sometimes you can only do so much when trying to get a photo of four little kids:

Easter baskets:

Poor Grace couldn't find her basket.  If the playroom wasn't so messy it might have been easier!  

Five Months With Number Five

I just got home from a wonderful, restful, mostly sedentary weekend women's retreat and the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, MD.  Mom and April joined me and it was really a much-needed getaway for me.  Not only was I recovering from a month-long bout of asthma and sickness, but Nancy Guthrie was the speaker and there was so much good Truth presented for us to soak in.  

We're grateful that our family is emerging from a short but draining season of illness (double ear infections, two cases of Strep, asthma attacks, sinusitis, and croup between the six of us) and I'm praying for the blessing of being able to be more active and focused on building up and taking care of this baby-making body of mine as spring weather arrives.  We are so thankful for God's care for us through the month of sickness as many friends delivered meals and family members did some laundry and extra childcare for us.  And many more prayed!  Thank you!

And so here we are at 23 weeks!

Grace, Leah, Avery, and Jane at the same age:  here, here, here, and here.

"Well, no, actually…"

Today it happened for the first time, for this pregnancy.

I was strolling around Charming Charlie at the mall, waiting for Steve to order me a grande vanilla macchiato at the Starbuck's across the way (great way to spend a morning, by the way), when I turned around in front of a nice saleslady.

"OH, I didn't see that cute baby belly at first!  How many weeks are you? [20]  Is this your first?"

"Well, no, actually, it's my fifth!"

I have to admit, it's so funny to see people process this bit of information.