Sunday Sunshine 11.01.09 – Rotund Edition November 1, 2009

This is the first time I’ve posted any pregnancy pictures anywhere this time around…I’ve gained about the same amount as I did with Anja, but I’m decidedly more rotund (as discussed earlier).  I’m 29 weeks along.  We don’t know what we’re having.  The pregnancy has been much the same as it was with her, just more water retention (lay off the carbs, said my midwife), more hip pain at night, and I’m carrying a little lower.  Could be a boy, could be a girl, and I can’t wait to meet him/her!

I’ve been really bad at updating this baby’s pregnancy journal.  I had so much more time when I was pregnant with Anja, though.  I was only working 4 days a week at my construction job, one at home, and I didn’t have a toddler to run after.  These past couple months I’ve been working 20 hours outside the home (plus about 3 hours per week of commute and picking up at daycare), 30-40 hours a week at home, plus watching Anja full time on the days I’m home.  Sleep has been lacking and stress has been plentiful—not the best conditions for growing a baby!

Speaking of which, this past Thursday was my last day at my construction job.  After many months of prayer and a unique opportunity, we have decided to take the plunge into having me home full time.  My photography business has pretty much supplanted my construction income, so it was either return to work full time when the baby arrives to be able to afford two kids in daycare or take this step of faith.  I’ll miss my co-workers, but they’ve invited me to visit anytime, and having me home with our kids is something Husband and I have wanted for our family since we got married.

Any prayers for my sanity are much appreciated!  Though it is wonderful to have 23 more hours in the week to be taking care of things at home, I don’t anticipate my photography workload slowing down much until close to Christmas (and the baby is due just a couple weeks later).  I think  I will savor my maternity leave this time SOOOO much more.  :)

Sunday Sunshine 10.04.09 October 4, 2009

Gack!  September is a goner!  But it produced some lovely things, including this post by Beck.  She is, I think, and at risk of offending others whom I like so much, my favorite mommy blog.  Almost every post she puts together resonates with my mother heart, the dissonance between holding on and letting go.  Mothers never achieve that balance perfectly, do we?

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If (more like when) I decide to paint furniture, this is where I will go for reference.  Her dining set looks amazing!  Maybe I should’ve done that instead of order the new table and chairs.  Mmm…nope.

Sunday Sunshine 09.13.09 September 13, 2009

Contrary to last time, This Is Why You’re Thin.  Thanks, tranabanana, for the link!

The mother in me cries when I read these posts, but the Christ-lover in me acts.  There are so many great organizations out there who help these sweet, needy children.  Are you supporting one?

5 Grammar Mistakes That Make You Sound Like A Chimp – I’m sure I’m guilty of some of these!

Sunday Sunshine 08.30.09 August 30, 2009

This is why you’re fat - Some of the stuff we’re about to eat at The Fair should go on this site…

Apparently, Facebook is not hard-up for cash. Look what they feed their staff.

I read Miz Booshay pretty much every day (she was one of my first “bloggy friends”), and I think this is one of my favorite posts she’s written.

Is using a minotaur to gore detainees a form of torture?

Sunday Sunshine 08.02.09 August 2, 2009

It CANNOT be August already. Waaaaaaaah!  Since I need something to cheer me up…

Might have to do this for Anja’s birthday some year, especially since I already have a Candyland board cake that I cut out of a magazine somewhere.

Timeless Toys by Antique Mommy (read through the comments, too!)

And last, one of my favorite shots I took of my cousin’s wedding earlier in July:

Sunday Sunshine 07.19.09 July 19, 2009

This week’s Sunshine is straight from the mouth of my daughter (yes, I know this gets old to some of you, but I’m sure my mom eats it up…).

1. I served her some strawberry yogurt Saturday, and she’s used to plain.  I don’t know if it was because it was pink or if she was just trying out a new word, but when I set it on her tray she said, “Oh, wow…fancy!”

2. Husband was tucking her in and helping her find Sherman’s (her toy puppy’s) blanket (Yes, he has his own.  It was one of her receiving blankets as a newborn.).  She wrapped him up in it and said, “Nice and warm.”  Husband asked, “Oh, is it cold in here?”  She replied, “No, it’s windy.”

Sunday Sunshine 07.05.09 July 5, 2009

Shrinky Dink Awesomeness! – via Living Locurto

Use the Good Stuff – I feel like I link to something Tsh wrote every week, but people!  There’s good reason for it!  So go read…

And in case you thought Root Beer Cake was her only claim to fame, you thought wrongly.  Scroll through a few of Joy the Baker’s recipes, and your mouth will be watering.

Sunday Sunshine 06.28.09 June 28, 2009

The Clutter You Can’t See by Simple Mom - I have such a problem with physical clutter that I don’t address the unseen clutter in my life enough.  How about you?

Good Intentions by Antique Mommy – You need to read this.

Not so Sunny Sunday Sunshine 06.07.09 June 7, 2009

It’s more of a funny.

Anja is supposed to be taking a nap.  She frequently talks herself to sleep.  Sometimes for an hour or two.  Ridiculous, but not uncommon among the almost-two set, I’m sure.  Anyway, Husband and I were sitting talking in the other room, and we hear the following over the monitor:

“Knock.  Who’s knock on door (as she banged her feet on the wall)?  Murderrrrrrrrrrrr…murderrrrrrr*,” followed by silence.

We looked at each other. Husband laughed.  I asked, “What’s she been watching?”

*For the record, I don’t think she was actually saying “murder,” but it sure sounded like it!

Sunday Sunshine 05.17.09 May 17, 2009

Oh, will this site make your jeans shopping easier!  I used it to find my best fitting pairs on Friday, then took the list with me Saturday jeans shopping.  It was the best experience I’ve had trying on jeans in a long time.

I spent some time on Cake Wrecks the other night, and this one nearly made me pee my pants.  And this one is just FREAKY.

Lastly, I was privileged to walk with a small group member of mine in a Walk for Life yesterday.  The proceeds of our team (and of all the other teams walking) went to support a local crisis pregnancy center.  God sure made us earn those pledges, by golly!  It was 38 degrees out!  I wore 3 shirts, a fleece jacket and a stocking hat!  There were two ladies who spoke before we walked; they both had come to this CPC looking for help, and both of them had their sons with them at the walk!  One was a teenager, the other was a toddler.  It was awesome to meet children who would have been aborted but were saved through this ministry.

We still have a few days to collect donations since we did our fund-raising online.  I don’t want to post a link to them directly on my blog, but if you are interested in donating, please send me an email and I’ll be happy to direct you to my fund-raising site.  My team’s goal is $1000, and we still have a ways to go to meet that!