Grown up Christmas list

How is it possible that Christmas is tomorrow?!  I am enjoying slow time with my family over this break.  I'm not wishing away time.  I'm living in the moment.  I'm snapping pictures.  I'm eating lots.  I am being present in the present gratefully.

Do I ever know this!  I could make a list a mile long of things I want for the holidays that aren't really things at all.  I want children to not be sick, I want families to be together, I want peace, I want open-mindedness, I want kindness, I want families who want to have babies to be able to, I want cancer gone - the list could go on and on.  But none of these are things that Santa can just throw on his sleigh and bring.

Here's what I do love about Christmas though.  It's magical.  People are kinder.  They say please and thank you and Merry Christmas.  They smile more.  There is power in the season.  And I love that.

Give away something that can't be bought today.  I promise it'll be the best thing you do for yourself today.

:)

22 Weeks

Here is the 22 Week BUMPdate - 12/18/13:

And the side-by-side from last week:

She is 11 inches and a little more than a pound.  She's about the size of a spaghetti squash this week

As her eyebrows, eyelids, and lips become more distinct she looks more and more like a real baby.  :)  She's developing tiny tooth buds below her gums and her eyes have formed, but the colored part still lacks pigment.

She is head down right now and we're praying that she stays that way!  Julie has been feeling well lately and we are both having fun planning these final months of this journey together.  I get to see her in a little over three weeks and I simply can't wait to feel that belly.  I'm planning hours of just sitting on the couch with my hand on her belly waiting to feel my daughter move in there.  And I can't wait to read to her belly.  And talk to her belly.  Anyway, you all get the idea.  :)

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday - ONE more day until FRIDAY {aka…Winter Break!}

So What Wednesday

This week I'm saying so what if:

• I usually am right on the ball and have these posted early in the morning.  Today?  Not so much.
• I am not really confident that I'm going to make it out of school on Friday alive.  It feels like I might not make it.  :)
• I have approximately 10 gifts on my counter that need to be wrapped before Kaitlyn gets here on Friday…should probably make that happen.
• There are 3 gifts I still need to purchase…this weekend I'll tackle that.
• I am a perfectionist, but I'm beginning to get lazy in my perfectionism.  This article really spoke to me this week.  Like I'm thinking about doing another entire post about it.
• I got my nails done today and I'm having my first experience with a "party nail" {where one is painted a different color} - the jury is still out about my feelings.

• The chaos of holiday parties is about to begin
• there is an enormous snow storm coming our way for this weekend and I'm irritated because if it's not going to result in a snow day, I'm not interested.
• I'm not pleased with the winner of The Voice, but because my boyfriend Adam Levine is her coach, I'm going to move on with my life.

I think that's it for this week.  Head over to Life After "I Dew" (on my right sidebar) to tell her what you're saying SO WHAT to this week.  :)

Be Here Now

I have a necklace that has engraved on it "Be here now." and I wear it often to remind myself to live presently in the moment.  I bought the necklace for myself a few years ago in the midst of the darkest time of my life when I was grieving my inability to have children.  I couldn't understand why this was happening to me, I felt guilty that I was dragging my husband on this roller coaster that he didn't sign up for, and I was frankly bordering on being really angry with God.  I caught myself being resentful and bitter - two traits that are not becoming on anyone.  And I was finding myself missing out on joy that was going on in my life without me.  I bought the necklace to remind myself that even though my present situation was not what I had planned for, my life was a gift and everyday was one that I wasn't getting back.  I didn't want to miss out on my niece & nephew growing up, or Kevin & I building traditions in our home, or my parents and the precious time we have with them, or my amazing friends and the nights we laugh until we cry…I didn't want to miss any of that in my quest to become a mom.  So I pledged to BE HERE NOW.

Well, as we have been preparing for Kamdyn - I've found myself relying on my old trusty necklace yet again.  Because not only in times of darkness is there a desire to hurry up, get on with life, and get to the destination - but in times of happiness (perhaps even more) there is a desire to "get there" - wherever 'there' even is?

And so today, I find myself reading and re-reading this quote from Maya Angelou and reminding myself that I will be present in the present gratefully.

Be present today, friends - Enjoy the season.

Monday Morning Musings

I just love weekends like this one.  It was a nice mix of work and play.  I really got quite a lot of work done this weekend and I also was able to stop and enjoy time with our family doing fun holiday things.

And in merely 5 days, I will be on holiday break.  Hallelujah.  Although I know my fifthsters will be wild & crazy this week, we sadly have a lot of work to do before break…so hopefully everyone will cooperate and we can enjoy the next five days.  :)

Saturday night, our family enjoyed a little smorgasbord of frozen pizza, rolls, chips & salsa, and chicken to go along with our first Christmas movie of the season.

This was Kaitlyn's first experience with The National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Kevin & I cracked up more just listening to Kaitlyn's belly laughs.  It was so hilarious.  Kevin shot this picture of our night.  I just love how peaceful it looks

Peaceful not for long with a ridiculous dog around…

Once we got Riley under control, we enjoyed a little carmel apple cider.  It's our home version of the Starbucks classic.  If you haven't tried it, go now.  You'll thank me.  Promise.

After Kaitlyn went to sleep, Kevin and I sat up on our respective devices listening to Christmas music.  He shot this picture of our beautiful tree.  I love the quote above our door about Home (it says "Home…where laughter is shared & memories begin") and the Crucifix on the other side of the door.  I just stare at it every single day.  It's so peaceful.

And to top of this weekend, I spent two hours wrapping gifts.  I still have a few left before I'm done - but I am doing MUCH better than usual for still having 10 days before Christmas.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  :)

I think that's it for this Monday Morning.  That was quite a photo dump - sorry bout that.  :)

Happy Monday -

Finally Friday

Can you hear the angels singing?!  It's Friday, It's Friday, IT'S FINALLY FRIDAY!

I'm stuck in a little bit of a bad cycle.  I want to stay in my warm bed, so I hit snooze, then I have to hurry and get ready for work, then I run around all day feeling behind at work, then I'm exhausted at night and just want to sit and do nothing {even though I have about 30,000 things to do} and then I stay up late…then it starts all over again.  Not good.

One more week until Christmas Break, which quite honestly feels like a bit of a "reset" button during the school year.  I always feel so refreshed when I get back from break in January - so I'm excited about that.

This weekend we are planning to stay home and tie up lose ends.  Wrap presents, finish addressing Christmas cards, write thank you notes from my shower, clean, do laundry, maybe bake some goodies, sleep.  Just catch up.  Then next week I can feel like I can enjoy my last week at school before my student teacher comes in January.  Basically next week is my last week with my fifthsters alone for the school year because Hannah will come in January and be there until I leave for the year when Kamdyn is born in April.  It's SO crazy to think about.

Speaking of Kamdyn, here is the video I was talking about yesterday…

That baby just loves her darn thumb.  I'm undecided on what to quite do about that…either let her self-sooth or put mittens on her and shove a binky in her mouth - I'm leaning toward the first one.  If she can self-sooth, I feel like I should just let her and then deal with it later.  I guess we will see.

Anyway, I think that's all for today -

Enjoy your Friday, friends

21 Weeks

Here is the 21 Week BUMPdate: 12/12/13

And the side-by-side from last week:

She is the size of a carrot this week

Our carrot-sized cutie is about 10 1/2 inches from head to heel and weighs a whole pound!  :)  Julie has begun to notice a little bit of a routine to her movements.  I was relieved to know she actually stops moving for a little while during the night.  Mommy likes to sleep.

On Tuesday, Julie texted me to tell me Kamdyn got the hiccups for the first time.  Her eyebrows and lids are present now - she's looking more and more like a "real" baby each week.  :)

As an extra special treat, we had our halfway scan this week - so we have a few new pictures of Kamdyn!!  She is absolutely perfect.  Everything is healthy and measuring right on track.  Praise the Lord.

I just love that I have multiple profiles of her to compare as she grows.  I put the last profile I have of her (17 weeks) with this picture to show the difference 4 short weeks makes

I have a video of her sucking her thumb that I can't upload for some reason and I'm getting annoyed trying, so I will just have to try again tomorrow with a better (more refreshed attitude).

Thanks for all the prayers, friends,