Southern Belle Farms

I know that I am still not blogging.  ever.  I am feeling much less sick, praise the Lord, but I am now so very tired at night.  Especially tonight.  We had a full day, so John skipped his nap, meaning I had zero down time, and I am ready for bed at 7:30.  Too bad no one else in the house is ready for bed ;)  This baby takes a lot out of me.

Anyway, I was determined to pick strawberries this year before the season was over, and we barely squeezed it in.  Scott has been very busy with work lately, so this was the first weekend in a while when
 we were able to get out and about as a family.  Plus, not so long ago, I was basically just surviving first trimester and wasn't really up for any outings.  So...we jumped on this free Saturday and headed to a local farm to pick strawberries.

It was perfect weather.  Blue skies, mid-70s.  Amazing.

John struggled a bit with the hay bales.  Bless his heart.  Soon after this, he called out in desperation. 

here, Ada and John are feeding the goats, or in John's words, "eating the goats."  For some reason, it really cracked me up every time he asked if we could go eat the goats.  And he really wanted to feed them, so he asked to eat them a lot.

a little taste test

do you see how John is running to me?  This is what he did every time he found a strawberry (the strawberries were everywhere, not hard to find), yelling, "I found one, I found one!"  He was as enthusiastic when he said, "I found one," as when he said he wanted to "eat" the goats.  Love him.

so, a fun day at the farm.  And I am worn slap out.  Oh my word.  Luckily, Scott is home today, and he already bathed the kids, and John did skip his nap, so soon we can tuck us all in to bed.

I have more blog posts coming--John's overdue 3 year well visit, Ada's ballet recital, the school year coming to a close, pregnancy thoughts.  If only I can muster up the energy to type them. 

Update

I think I will do a quick list style blog post to get things up to date, and then maybe I will blog more often?  Who really knows. 

1.  A few weeks ago the first trimester sickness reached it's peak, resulting in my lowest moment of pregnancy to date ;).  At that point, my mom suggested I come to Scottsboro to get some help/rest, and I took her up on that offer.  So...we spent a few days in Scottsboro, which was just the refuge I needed.  I had not been that relieved to be at my mom's house since John's newborn days. 

2.  The Scottsboro trip came after my family was in town to celebrate my paternal Grandmother's 90th birthday in Marietta, GA.  That was a fun day of seeing family I don't normally get to see.  A reunion of sorts.  Plus, it meant that Ann was able to drive my van to Scottsboro, since she rode here with my parents', and in my "sick state," it really helped that someone else did the driving.

3.  We finished up Classical Conversations for the year, including the end of the year presentation.  Ada's class sang a portion of the timeline song and recited the helping verb chant.  As always, I am so very thankful for Classical Conversations.  It has been so great for our family, and I am not sure I could homeschool without it.  The community is a huge encouragement to me.  I, unfortunately, did not take many pictures at the presentation.  Oops.  I was still feeling somewhat sick, and was thinking more about getting through the presentation in tact, crunching on my crushed ice the whole time ;)  And Scott was busy trying to keep John quiet, so, no good pictures.  Maybe next year.

4.  I had my first ultrasound, which never ceases to amaze me.  This precious baby is very healthy, so far, and is growing right on track.  We saw those little hands and feet, and that sweet profile.  Amazing.

5.  My stomach has started to rapidly grow, and like past pregnancies, I am astounded that my stomach is this big and I am only this far in.  Yikes.

6.  I just returned from a weekend at a homeschool conference.  As always it was an encouraging reminder that my children are a precious treasure, and that I must be intentional in the day-to-day with a vision for what God has called them to be for his kingdom.  It's always good to gain some fresh perspective.  Plus, the encouragement I receive from being away for a couple of nights with dear friends is priceless!!  So much fun.  Plus, Scott's family came here to hang out with Scott and the kids while I was gone, and Ada and John loved that.  A fun weekend for everyone.

while at the conference, we met our couponing hero, Jenny Martin from Southern Savers.  Also, my stomach is already quite large, but I don't think it's quite as large as it appears to be in this picture.

7.  I will be 12 weeks on Wednesday--second trimester, here I come!!  I am still not feeling 100% not sick, but things have improved greatly!!!!! 

So, that's where we are.  Although CC is done, we still need to finish up some math and reading before we can call the year finished.  Ada is also busy practicing for her end-of-the year ballet recital.  They will performing some scenes from the Wizard of Oz, and Ada is super excited.  And we are eagerly anticipating the rest that comes with summer. 

Also, while at the conference I bought myself the book Desperate, have ya'll heard of it?  I am super excited to read it, and I will share thoughts on that for sure!! 

p.s. I think there was more to say or more pictures to add, but at this point in life, I just want to get the post up or it won't ever happen. 

Blogging during first trimester

Jenn, my Internet friend (we've never met in person), mentioned that maybe I would blog more now that I am pregnant.  And, the thing is, I should, since the blog stands in for a baby book for John, and now the new baby. 

But, first trimester is, unfortunately, kicking my tail.  I mean, sicker than I have ever been ever with any pregnancy.  But I feel like a faker, because I am not actually throwing up, I am just nauseous all. of. the. time.  So, can I even say that I am sick?  And yet, I am.  I open my eyes in the morning, and the nausea is there until I close my eyes again at night.  And I close my eyes as soon as the kids are in bed, just to escape the nausea.  I try not to think about how many weeks are left in first trimester, and yet, I think about it all the time. 

The past few days have been an extra dose of bad because I couldn't think of one single thing that would taste good.  The thought of anything to eat or drink made me only sicker, and I knew that if I didn't eat, I would only get sicker still.  Plus, my lips were getting really dry, and I felt thirsty, so I knew I needed to drink something.  So, today, I just prayed, "please Lord, show me something that will taste good; that will bring a moment of relief."  And the thought popped into my head, orange juice!!!  I must have some orange juice.  I never drink orange juice.  Ever.  But, I was not going to argue with that answer to prayer.  And I have been drinking orange juice all day long.  I can't get enough, and I am so thankful that there is this one thing in the world that tastes good to me.  I did have some chik-fil-a chicken nuggets, with orange juice. 

There is hope, however.  I have a random infection that required an antibiotic, and I think the antibiotic has increased the sickness over the past few days, so I am hoping when the antibiotic stops, the sickness will be a bit more manageable.

And I say all this, knowing that it's really a blessing.  That it most likely means the pregnancy is going just as it should.  Plus, there are things going on in the lives of people around me that make nausea look like a day at Disney World!!!!  So, it's a small thing really, except that it's consuming every waking minute, and if bed is an option, I jump on it. 

So, I will blog again.  One day.  In the mean time I will drink my orange juice and go to bed at 8:30 and survive a few more weeks. 

p.s. I am taking zofran, but I am not sure if it makes any difference.  I am scared to not take it, though.  And I have tried saltines.  And hard, sour candy.  And sea bands.  But, I am open to suggestions.  Any suggestions. 

An Announcement

yes, it's true.  Our family of four is in the process of becoming a family of five.  I would say that we will become a family of five in late November, but this little butterbean of a baby is certainly making it's presence known already.  As babies tend to do in first trimester and every trimester after that ;)

We are thrilled to be pregnant, as it is something we have wanted for a long time now.  However, when life got a bit crazy two years ago, we put any thoughts of more children on the back burner and waited for life to calm down. 

And then we kept saying, when we move to a bigger house...then we'll have another child.

Until one day we realized we weren't moving and time was passing by, and how much space does a baby need anyway, really?  And isn't there a saying that love grows in small spaces ;)  So we're just packing in here tight as can be, and we have such a peace about it.  That's not to say that we wouldn't welcome it if God decided to suddenly, out of nowhere, lead us to a bigger house, but it doesn't feel like that is where this thing is headed. 

Instead, God is once again shaking up what my vision of normal and expected and need is, and we are planning to put this baby in the bedroom with us, and we are just making it work.  And we're excited.  Ada is excited.  John is more confused than anything, as he keeps looking for the baby under my shirt ;) 

And I'm sick.  So sick and miserable in the way that tells me my hormones are good and strong.  And my family is hanging in there with me and being patient, and Ada says she likes that I am sick because we get to eat out more than normal.  We are surviving on junk and peanut butter and jelly and as much fruit as I can get them to eat in between meals to make myself feel better.  But we will get to the other side of first trimester, and meals will return to normal, and it's okay, I keep telling myself.  And honestly I don't even feel guilty about what we are eating because I am in survival mode, big time, when it comes to food.  Survival mode. 

So we are praying for this precious baby that is growing inside of me.  That he or she would grow healthy and strong, and already, that God would turn his or heart towards Him, towards truth, towards light. 

p.s. don't my children look thrilled in the picture?  Actually Ada is thrilled, now.  Her first reaction was tears because "everything was going to be different."  But the idea has now grown on her, and she talks about the baby all the time.  I think John thinks we are joking, and of course, can't quite figure out what we even mean.

Easter

Quickly I want to post the Easter pictures ;) 

It was a good Easter. I saw it a lot through Ada's eyes this year.  Because Ada is five, I spend a lot of time explaining the gospel in kindergarten terms.  She is very familiar with the original passover story from her Jesus Storybook Bible, because things like everyone's oldest son being killed tends to stick with Ada.  She gets that God's chosen people were spared if they painted the blood of the lamb above their doors.  So lately, I have spent a lot of time explaining that the original passover was really just pointing to our ultimate need for Jesus's blood to be painted over our hearts.  I ask, "why did God pass over the homes of his chosen people?" and she knows, "because of the blood of the lamb."  "Yes!" I say, "and in the same way," instead of giving us the death we deserve, "if God looks at our hearts and sees the blood of Christ, he will 'pass over us', also because of the blood of Christ."  I don't know if those terms are really theologically correct, but I want her to get that someone had to pay for her sin.  I want her to understand the weight of our sin, and that blood and death were involved, had to be involved, and that we are incapable of taking care of our own sin.  You know, as much as a five year old can ;)

She gets it, but not exactly.  Today, John was being three and not "sweet" as we say (I spend a lot of time saying, 'be sweet, John.'), and Ada came out of their room with her "bossy" tone saying, "I told him, mom, about his sin, and how he needs Jesus to put his blood on his heart."  Ada really gets sin and our need for the gospel if we're talking about John ;)  She has a harder time pointing out her own sin and need for Christ ;)  Isn't that the truth for us all?  Or at least for me!!!

Anyway, whenever I have to break things down to a level that Ada can understand, it helps me to understand it a little bit better. 

Now for the pictures of the kids all cleaned up in their Easter best.  (many of you have already seen these on facebook)

 we took a "family picture" in shifts. ;)  And we didn't mean to coordinate in blues and yellows...

 Fun Easter lunch and egg hunt with friends after church.  John was quite intense about the hunt, as John tends to be about these kinds of things.

And once again, John is motivated to eat his meals with the promise of one piece of candy afterwards. 

Saxon Phonics and Other Things

We have all been under the weather, much like we were in February, which tends to bring my melancholy mood to the surface even more. 

Except I sort of enjoyed the excuse to stay at home all week. 

After talking with my friend who is a reading specialist, did I already tell ya'll this?!, I ordered Saxon Phonics first grade for Ada, and we are loving it.  No more tears; no more frustration; Ada asks to do school; thank you, Lord, and thank you, Lynn, for the suggestion!!  It is heavy on review from lesson to lesson, even reviewing the alphabet each lesson, so for most of the lesson, Ada feels very very confident, so even if she struggles a bit with the new stuff, she isn't struggling for the entire lesson.  It's like 85 % of the lesson is easy for her, and the remaining 15 % is a challenge.  It's been an answer to prayer, truly.  And we will never go back.  (I should mention that Saxon first grade is really more of a kindergarten level, at least right now.  We will continue the book through Ada's first grade year, and it should pick up in difficulty)

In fact, with John, not next year but the next, when he is four, turning five halfway through the year, I am going to do Saxon Phonics K as a pre-k program to get him ready for Saxon 1 in kindergarten.  We will continue to use Saxon 1 next year for Ada's first grade year. 

So, if there happens to be a reader out there who is a homeschooling mama to a child who isn't absolutely taking off with reading, Saxon Phonics!!!  Really, it's so great.  I repeat, an answer to prayer.

I can't believe we are almost to the end of the school year.  We only have three more weeks of CC!!!!  And I plan to homeschool through the end of May, and then I plan to fully enjoy our summer.  Live it up.  Lots of library and outside and pool and sprinkler and everything else.  I have never been so ready for summer.  I can't wait!!!! 

And these longer days that we are having (okay, the past two days have been doom and gloom, but before that) are so very good for the soul.  Sunshine and more sunshine does more for my mood than anything else.  Well, if I am out getting exercise in the sunshine that's the best mood booster of all.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, we have decided to stay here in our little house for a while longer.  The more we tried to get things in line to move, the more things weren't falling into place.  And all of a sudden, Scott and I both were very sure that we were just supposed to stay put.  And the longer we stay, the more I am happy in our tiny little space.  Of course I one day hope to move to a three bedroom home, but it has been eye opening to me that I will always prefer a small space.  A cottagey feel, if you will.  It's nice to come face to face with what actually feels like home to me.  (Okay, I wouldn't mind a cozy little cottage with a gigantic kitchen, but you know...)

The only problem with this small space is the serious lack of closet space.  We have two tiny bedroom closets, a linen closet in our tiny hallway (see the theme?), and, praise the Lord, a great storage/laundry room.  But, all four of us are sharing these two tiny closets, and that is about to drive me crazy.  I have been frequenting goodwill a lot lately trying to rid this house of stuff.  And I need to learn to utilize the storage space that we do have.  Always a work in progress.

We also recently took down John's baby bed, and we replaced it with a twin bed that we found on craigslist.  I am so thrilled with the transition, except, the bed takes up more space than the baby bed did.  Oh well.  I am also not going to try to make their room matchy matchy.  Instead, Ada has her pink, girly side, and John is going to have his boy side.  The eclectic look fits our house, anyway.  It helps that their wall color is so neutral.  I want them to each feel like they have their space even if it's a small space.

This post has no real point, I guess.  I just feel that never ending need to get it recorded, these small, yet so very significant to us, details of our life.  This moment in time, when it's us four, and we're crammed into this space, and life feels settled.  I want to soak in this feeling, drink it up.  These days of routine and homeschooling around our kitchen table and John and Ada playing and fighting and playing and fighting, and in the end it all adds up to a life that is so very rich. 

 Ada and Luke are officially pen pals.  Which takes care of Ada's handwriting lesson each week.  Two birds with one stone, right?

 Saxon phonics, we are forever grateful. 

Just so you know what John is doing during school.  Playing under my chair. 

Spring, you keep teasing us.  We think you're here to stay, and then all of this cold and rain.

Ada's "mixed-media" artwork.  Nature as art. 

Five MInute Friday: Home

so, obviously, I am doing five minute Friday on Saturday.  But, my time with the computer is few and far between these days, so I take the writing minutes as they come.  Here goes...




Home

Home is a small Alabama town, "where the mountains meet the lake," and that is how Ada knows we are almost there.  As we drive down the winding mountain roads, and the water comes into view.  "John, John, we're almost there!!" she cries.

Home was Friday night football, homecoming parades, cheerleading practice, and every small town cliche you've ever heard.  A graduating class of 145.  We didn't even have a private school in our town.  It's no Target and the square and driving to Huntsville on the weekends just to find something to do. 

It's memories everywhere I turn and feeling eternally 17.

More specifically it's a back porch, the summer night surrounding me with damp humidity.  My sisters and I on the porch swing, the glider, anywhere we can find a spot.  It's laughter.  So much laughter. 

But also

home is what I feel as I drive into Atlanta at night, the lights bright, the traffic heavy.  The thrill of a city, but not just any city.  Atlanta is mine now.

More specifically, home is a cozy red brick house two minutes from our town's square.  It's once again the feel of a small town, but this time with the benefits of suburbia.  Mostly, it's these children of mine.  Scott.  All of us tucked in tight to this house that was never supposed to be home.  But it is.  It definitely is.