It is Sunny and I'm loving it!

The warm, bright sunshine filters through the window as I sit here in a comfy chair. Three toddlers are playing around the room on the myriad of toys they pulled from the bedroom, for the most part playing happily! I'm at my brother and sister in laws' home, house sitting/dogsittin/babysitting with the Girlies and their cousin Rehn. We are going to be splitting time between households for the next few days while Edde & Robin are at a pastor's retreat up in the mountains. While it does put life on hold in a way, it is a nice forced relaxation from regular household duties and other things that call out for attention when at home. Robin's homemaking and decorating skills are magazine worthy, and their home would definately rate 5 stars as a B&B, so the extra effort to care for a energetic dog and a toddler boy is worth it! :) I thought I'd be internet deprived, as they've switched to a laptop only household, but Edde was kind enough to set up my personal laptop to his network before they left. Hence the time to blog, FINALLY! :)

March has been a full month for us... I should take a photo of our calendar as proof - almost every single day has chicken scratch marking something important. Although we've been busy, I've actually felt almost "on top" of things lately - for a change! It probably has much to do with the gorgeous weather we've had almost the whole month. Every few days a little spring shower has blown through, but the sunshine and warm days have been plentiful, affording many days outside in the yard, gardening, and sunny walks down to the creek and strolls on Main Street.

Our little son is growing, and kicking more, but for the most part he is behaving quite perfectly, as we reach the 24 week mark today. Seriously, ever since I re-entered the world back at week 16 (almost 4 months), things have been a dream preggo-wise. I feel so spoiled when other moms tell tales of 9 whole months of horridness, some much worse than my own experience with "morning sickness". Pretty much makes me feel like a big baby for wailing about those 4 months, but it was sure awful for me on my own little scale of 1 - 10 (and my family - they exhisted on pizza and pbj's amidst a den of disaster). Speaking of all things maternity, I have to say that I LOVE my midwives! My previous midwife is no longer delivering home births (she's now onto other training...), so after many long hours of searching the internet and asking around for referrals, I found my dream team... Marlene and Kaleem (hah, it all ryhms!). I am so comfortable with them, and finally I feel completely trusted and encouraged to make our own personal decisions regarding our baby. They are very helpful to educate and cover all aspects of the different options (tests, blood tests, yadayada), but leave the decision to us - and I don't feel pressured or "judged" for what we choose! I understand this may not be the choice for every girl out there, but it fits perfectly for us! Having so much background in home birth (my mom birthed 7 of 9 children successfully at home, I attended 4 of them for part or the whole experience, as well as both of my girls at home and in the water), I appreciate that they recognize that, and don't discount my knowlege... like most medical profesionals are apt to do. I've enjoyed this pregnancy so much more than my previous two... not that I hated those, but you know. Honestly, I think it has much to do with three key things - a 3 year break between Evangeline and our little guy (anticipation rather than surprise!), my wonderful and encouraging midwifes, and my sister in law Robin's divine example of enjoying everything mommyhood has to bring. The anticipation and contentment she displayed when preggo with Rehn was so convicting to me... the girl who bemoaned the loss of energy, shape, fitness, and all the other woes that accompany the life changing 9 months it takes to bake a baby. This time I've made an effort to focus more on the positives and try to remember her joy. It has helped tide me over in the moments of stepping on the scale, bending over to pick up something, the endless backaches, etc.

Well, I need to get moving... time to go cook dinner (easy-peasy, Robin set us up with pizza!)

When I get another moment, I hope to post some photos from a fun senior photo session this past weekend! I haven't even gotten the images off the camera yet, but with all this time (!) it should be soon!

~len