Anticipation

I'm not the first one to have 4 kids, but somehow it terrifies me that soon (5 weeks and a day) I will have 4 kids. Most of the pregnancy has felt like it has passed painfully slow but all of a sudden it feels very near the end and I'm not ready. They say that we have 9 months to get ready, right? Well, instead of getting ready I was feeling sick and taking care of the 3 beautiful children I already have. What was wrong with 3 again? Oh, I remember. It was Rick announcing to me the day that I brought Darren home from the hospital that he felt like we still had another child waiting to come into our family. Not that I disagree with him, but his timing stunk.

I'm actually really excited to meet this new arrival and find out whether it is a girl or boy. I'm curious if he/she will look more like one child than another, what it will look like and will it have any hair? I'm curious to see its temperament and if it is a good sleeper like the girls or a not so good sleeper like Darren. I'm curious to see how the kids will react to him/her. I'm curious to see if Rick and I will ever find a name that feels right for him/her. I'm also looking forward to not being pregnant anymore. I love to feel the baby move, but as everyone is so kind to point out, I'm huge already and I still have half the baby's growth to deal with. (Did you know that in the last weeks the baby is expected to gain a half to a full pound in a week? Yikes, I still have 5 weeks left. Do the math!)

To make my point, it isn't the actual baby that scares me. I LOVE that part about being a mom and having a baby. I'm scared of the pain from the c-section, even though I know what to expect. I'm scared that the other kids will act up or act jealous and that I won't do a good enough job balancing between them. I'm scared because our finances are tight and we are already pretty cramped in this little house. I'm scared of the mountain of laundry we already have that never seems to be any less. Ditto for the dishes. I had a meltdown last night at the thought of babysitting a little boy and felt like a total nut job. Oh well, I hope it is just pregnancy hormones going haywire and that I'll eventually feel a little calm. I know I will when I actually hold the baby, but it would be nice to feel calm before then.

'Twas the Night

'Twas the night before a school day and all through the house,
not a creature was sleeping, not even a mouse.
The parents were listening closely with care,
In hopes that soon sounds of life wouldn't be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of summertime danced in their little heads.
Mama-her impatience, and I in my wrath,
Had just shushed the kids for the twentieth time.


It needs a little work, but am I the only who feels this way sometimes?

One Joy of Motherhood

There are some things I never thought about when preparing to become a parent. Being the "poop police" was one of them. Maybe your children don't have this problem, but a couple of mine do.

Have you ever had to have the following conversation?

Mom: Honey, did you poop today.

Child: No.

Mom: If you don't poop by dinner you will have to have a suppository.

Child: No. Please no. I hate them.

Mom: I know, it would be much better if you could do it on your own. But if you don't, we'll have to give you one. Why don't you go sit on the potty to see if you can go?

Child: Okay.

Or this conversation?

Child: I want Sugar Puffs for breakfast.

Mom: No, it doesn't have enough fiber for you and you need to poop.

Child: Can I have a banana then?

Mom: No, you won't poop if you do. How about some apple juice?

Child: *sigh* Okay.

This one is my favorite.

Mom is waiting patiently at a store, friend's house, church, or anywhere when she hears:

Child: Mom. I went poop!

Mom: Great job. Now wipe really well and flush.

Child: No, you've got to see it. You'll be so proud of me. I didn't even need a suppository! Look how big it is. Mom, come see my poop! (All said very loudly.)

Mom: Okay. Wow. Good job pooping. Now wipe and flush.

Child: Okay. We have to tell Daddy too, okay? Tell him how big it was.

Ah, the joys of Motherhood. :)

RS Women's Conference

I LOVED going to see the RS Conference at the Conference Center. It was awesome and I saw a few people that I know besides the ones from the ward & stake. When it started the first thing that I felt when it started was love. Just sheer love of that many women of God all together there to be uplifted and learn. One of the gifts of women. Then sweet Sister Beck gets up and kindly says that we are doing good, but there is more to be done. We got a gentle chastisement that we are there to support the work in building the kingdom of God. Later we were told by President Uchtdorf that EVERY member is important. Every member is known to God and important in the building of the kingdom of God. I thought it very interesting that that phrase was mentioned several times. I loved that Sister Beck told us to 1-Increase in Faith and Righteousness 2- Strengthen our families and homes 3- Serve the Lord and His children. Sister Thompson and President Uchtdorf also talked about service. It reminded me that during one of the worst periods in my life I happened to be involved in a service organization and it was so uplifting that the depression would lift from me during those times. He said that through faith, hope, & charity, we will be okay. I LOVE that and I hope that I can do a little better.