WayfaringStrangers

Both of my boys (what, I have 2 boys?) are napping right now, so it's time to update this blog with Patrick's birth story before I forget the details. Words to describe Patrick's birth: terrifying. fast. wonderful. merciful. unforgettable. We'll start with Friday, September 7th. I had my 39 week OB appointment and was 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced. Promising, but no guarantee I'd go into labor too soon. However, I did go ahead and schedule an elective induction for the following Tuesday (the 11th) because I liked the idea of knowing I'd make it to the hospital, plus my favorite doctor was on call that day, plus Behn had that whole week off of work so I knew he'd be there for everything. So it just made sense, even though I did want to try to have another natural childbirth. On Saturday (the 8th), I was excited because I knew there was a coldfront coming in. I was so ready for cool, unhumid air, but also was hopeful the change in the air pressure would c...

I'm in Phase 3. What are the phases, you ask? I'm talking about the phases of Apprehension of Childbirth for    Been There Done That (BTDT) Moms. I made these phases up myself. Phase 1: You find out that you are pregnant. There are lots of emotions and thoughts. You imagine life with 2+ kids. You're picturing your current child(ren) with a younger sibling. You're starting a list of baby names. You're gagging at the smell of freshly-brewed coffee. And somewhere, in the back of your mind is the thought, "This baby is going to have to come out of me" but that time is so far away that you can pretty much ignore it. Phase 2: Skip ahead to about 6 or 7 months pregnant. You're not too uncomfortable yet, but you can feel your child. You're starting to realize in a greater capacity that you're going to have to give birth again. You go on playdates and start bringing up birth stories with your friends. Because you're in the thick of it, you recal...

Ahem. So it's very hard for me to blog about normal life when there are big changes  hanging in the balance. I'm just too consumed with major life events to be able to write about, say, silly Graham-isms or what we did over the weekend. Some of the big things (well, one of them) has gone off the radar, so now maybe I can focus on blogging about everyday life again. I will blog about major life events (or lack thereof) sometime soon. We went to Delaware! We spent time with family and celebrated my sister Hannah's bridal shower and also Behn's upcoming graduation from his Master's Degree. That's right, ladies and gentlemen- Behn is DONE with grad school!! It was a whirlwind trip, but fun :) Mama and sisters at Hannah's shower. We missed Olivia though! Master Behn cutting his cake: Unkie Seth and Graham: Mama's Boy: The pool was fun, but the basketball net with Grandmom was even more fun! Cutie Cousins: I realized lately...

Well, I'm going into full-time nesting mode these days. Behn has too! We spent last Saturday cleaning and organizing the basement. We still have a few things to get rid of (old couch, 1 broken dryer, random table), but it looks much better! Behn and I have both gone through a lot of our old, yucky clothes and purged. And I spent a long time yesterday cleaning our room, seeing as we'll need to make space for the baby in here. I felt great to get that done, although I had several contractions while cleaning. That's normal though :) I also washed, organized, and folded all the 0-3 month clothes for baby. So, I'm feeling pretty good these days. I have a few meals in the freezer, but one of my good friends is going to host a 'freezer dinner shower' for me and we'll all spend some time cooking stews and casseroles to fill up my freezer- so sweet! I'm also working on a list of a few things I need- for the baby and for me. We don't need a lot, but there ar...

Just a quick life update... 1. Behn is taking his End of Program Exam (EPE). He has 1 week to choose 3 essay questions from a list of 10, research them, and answer them. He started yesterday and so he has til next Fri morning. I know this is stressing him out quite a bit, but I don't doubt for a second he'll get a Big Ol' A+! Then all he has to do is finish his summer classes and he'll be...A Master of Information!! 2. Graham now uses the adjective 'big.' I noticed it yesterday when we were driving down the highway and he labeled every 18-wheeler a 'big car.' He also says 'wow!' 3. Speaking of Graham and I in the car, we are going on a roadtrip with my mom next week! Mom had  long ago planned to go to Ohio to visit my grandma...and then we brainstormed and figured that G and I could come along! Grandma's never met G and I also haven't seen her in a few years, so I am excited!! I'll miss Behn a lot, especially on our anniversary,...

It's been a while since I've done a pregnancy update. I'm now 6 months pregnant! That was fast! (not a very good picture, but you get the idea:) When I look down at my tummy, I don't think it looks that big, but when I see myself in the mirror, I'm like 'whoa nelly!' That baby is growing! He is a very active child- lots of movement, which is good. Lately I've had a touch of wanting to nest. I got out G's tiny baby clothes and organized them, although I'll probably wash them all before I actually use them. They were stored away clean, but that was more than a year ago. I've also been keeping an eye out for yummy and easy recipes for meals to freeze. I want to take a day or two to cook, cook, cook and fill up my chest freezer so I don't have to think about meals after the baby comes. My sciatic nerve has been pretty bad this pregnancy, although better the past few days. And last week I was SO tired, but this week I feel great...

BOY!! Graham has a little brother! Behn and I were so surprised! I've just had such a hunch the baby was a girl- from how the pregnancy felt, to some (false) maternal instinct, to the doc at the 11 week ultrasound telling us it 'looks like it's going to be a girl, but don't go buy clothes yet.' Behn and I have usually been referring to the baby as 'her' and even started calling it our potential girl name. That being said, we weren't disappointed at all that it's a boy. We love our Graham boy, so having another will be so fun! They'll be best buds and the little guy can wear Graham's clothes. And the doctor is very  sure it's a boy and found about 10 angles to prove it. I'm still the Queen of the Castle! Everything looks healthy with the baby, which we don't take for granted and for which we are very thankful. The Lord has His hand on him! In other news, I promised pictures of Graham. I took them, and then put them on the g...

I should be posting about whether Graham is getting a brother or sister, because we found out this morning! And I will later! But for now, I'm putting off chores. I'd rather water the garden than mop the floor. I'd rather cook dinner than do laundry. I'd rather sweep the floor than do dishes. I'd rather never have to clean the stovetop or the refrigerator. I'd rather bake bread than write a grocery list. Luckily, I just mopped the other day and laundry is pretty caught up. Everything else needs to be done though! Ah! Real quick- some cute Grahamisms. The other night as I was rocking him, I said a prayer over him, as usual. But for some reason I decided to whisper it instead of speak it out loud. Graham looked up at me and started 'whispering!' I loved it. Of course, he was whispering jibberish, made no sense. But so cute nonetheless. Today my friend watched G while I was at the ultrasound. When I picked him up, I forgot his blanket tha...

Well, I'm 20 weeks pregnant! I should accompany this statement with a picture, but I don't like the ones Behn took yesterday, so we'll have to try again later today. I look about the same (but a little bigger) as I did when I was preggo with Graham. I feel bigger though. My sciatica nerve in the bottom of my back is giving me grief at the end of everyday. This didn't happen til waaay later on in my 1st pregnancy. Fortunately, the baby isn't big enough yet to shove my innards into my ribcage. That was a terrible part about being pregnant last time and I'm sure it'll happen soon. I'm enjoying feeling the baby kick and move. I'm enjoying 'looking' pregnant. I'm enjoying eating too much food. Watching Graham and Frankie is becoming really, really difficult. I know that these are 'first world problems.' I don't have to carry my water from a well, or boil beans for hours on end to make dinner, or go potty in an outhouse. I have ...

Friday again! We had a busy but good week. Aaron was here last week and Hannah was here for a few days this week. It was really fun to have family visit and Graham enjoyed his uncle and aunt. I only had Frankie on Monday and today, so 3 days with just Graham was bliss. I was able to go to lots of appointments and run errands I cannot normally do with 2 toddlers. Plus, Graham got special time with me. Which is good, because this boy has been very  clingy to his mama lately. I think it's teething, but maybe he intuitively knows something is going to change soon? Speaking of change... I'm 4 months pregnant and this baby is growing! I feel her/him most days now. I love those kicks and don't take them for granted. In about a month we'll have the anatomy ultrasound and hopefully find out if this is a boy or a girl! We got to hear the heartbeat yesterday. Behn and Graham came with me to my appointment and we made a little trip of it- Chick-Fil-A for breakfast and a tr...

Lately I've been thinking about how I've traded lifestyles...dreams... We've traded fun weekend getaways and vacations for taking a toddler to the park because it's easy and free. I've traded sleeping in (sleeping much at all, for that matter) for hearing my husband tease my son in the kitchen while I lay in bed for 15 extra minutes on a Saturday morning. We've traded saving money for penny-pinching. We've traded romantic dates for family walks, movie nights in, and cheap take-out. I've traded my hobbies (running and riding), for diaper changes, cleaning up mess, bath time, and babysitting another child to make ends meet. My 'me' time is nearly non-existent, at least in the context of being out of the house. I've traded buying myself new clothes to making sure Graham has all he needs. I've traded time with friends for time with family. I've traded a career I really wanted in social work for raising kids. There's more...

Puma Gear from Uncle Luke, Aunt Jess, and Lilyana:  Concentrating very hard...on a sing-a-long movie: I wish I had fun updates for you! Other than the big baby announcement, this blog has been kinda boring lately. I think that's because winter has been, well, kind of boring. The ins and outs of our days aren't too post-worthy. We haven't had guests and we haven't really gone anywhere. I have lots going on in my mind and heart and have sat down to write up posts about that, but always cancel them. I don't want this blog to be an online personal diary, at least not often. It's started out as a family blog to keep friends and family informed on our lives, and I think it's best that way. At least for now :) It's snowing again today! Of course all the snow is coming at the end of the winter, but it's too lovely to be upset over a little extra cold. Also, this time has been more fun because Graham is not sick, so seeing the wonder in his eyes ...

I've been yearning to write this post for a month now... Baby #2 is on the way!!  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! This baby is a surprise to us, but what a sweet surprise. After our brief struggle with PCOS and infertility to get Graham, we were shocked to found out I was expecting again. The story: I was feeling nauseous a day or two before we went to Greensboro and also while we were there. I jokingly said I might be pregnant, but really didn't believe that at all. After all, we weren't 'trying' to get pregnant and definitely not on any fertility drugs. We had discussed trying to have another baby later in the year, but not yet. On my birthday Behn had a phone interview. I was extremely tired and emotional all day, plus not feeling well. I decided it was worth the $9 to go get a pregnancy test (WHY do they cost so much??). But as the day ended, I decided not to take it. If I found out I was pregnant that night, I wouldn't be able ...