Another month gone by

David, you are now a 31 month old "boy boy" (big boy) as you like to say.

You are becoming more and more helpful and even starting to make fewer messes (sometimes) and cleaning up better.

All boy!!! Every little thing gets turned into a sword or a gun or some other weapon. You like to animate your trains, bath fish, etc... and regularly hold conversations with them. Today, you were also trying to feed your trains your water from your sippy cup. Trains are still a favorite part of your life. "I want to play trains."

You are becoming more and more content to go to bed at night and even have quiet time in your room (whether or not you nap). I think you like the down time too.

Poor boy; you had another double ear infection this month. Unlike previously though, you were not crankier than normal. You just had a fever, stopped eating, moped a little, slept a lot, and complained about your ears hurting (a new first).

At times you show such understanding...at other times, I don't know how to begin to get a point across. Many times you disobey not because you mean to but because you genuinely don't understand what I am telling you to do/not do. We are praying that God grants greater understanding each day.

You do have a funny sense of humor. You like to ask "Where __________ go?" (fill in the blank with whatever it is at the time). Often, you like to hide your hands down in your high chair and then say "Where hands go?" I love this because you say it with a completely straight and worried face, and then a minute or two later will pull them up and say "Here they are!"

At times, you like to have your picture taken and will say "cheese," but often you are now put out and will raise your hand and say "no. no picture!"

Eating used to be such a chore. Now, your horizons have broadened quite a bit and you will often eat some variation of our dinner, but (perhaps the ear infection only further exaggerated this) it is still a chore since it often will take you 30-45 minutes to finish your food! You find yourself playing with your food or just sitting and looking at it, or even chewing the same bite for 5 minutes. All except for sweets (candy, cake, cookies etc...) which get eaten fare more quickly!

You are showing some signs of a bossy oldest child. At times, you try to tell us where to sit and what to do, but with the cats, you are pretty intolerable. You order them around constantly!

Daddy was gone this month for a week and came home bearing gifts...a tractor!!! David, this will be your last month without a baby sister. We are so thankful to have had this time with just you...What a joy you are and how much we love you!

D-Day or will it be B-Day???

Well, after a week of battling a cold which I could not treat (think, lots of difficulty sleeping), holding my breath while M was gone on business trips and mom not here yet, and feeling extremely pregnant suddenly, I thought I was ready to have this baby. Somehow though, I suddenly realized again the gravity of starting over again and I am not so sure. Good thing that God brings it about in His time. Ready or not, here she comes...

I anticipate her late arrival on the scene (need I remind everyone D was 2 weeks late?). Perhaps though only a few more days or none at all? Doctor visit today confirmed she has started to drop but no other change. We have another appointment set up for Monday morning if she does not come this weekend. At that time we will probably set up an induction later next week. Please pray that she comes on her own in the meantime... Today is D-Day. Will it also be a B-Day?

a call to trust

I thought this next week(s) would be fine and moderately relaxing, but once again God is calling me to trust Him in the midst of a bit of stress...a lesson I am trying to learn after falling flat on my face last night. With D, it was a very difficult end to the pregnancy since he was 2 weeks late and we had family who had to change plane reservations multiple times. This time, no big deal if the baby is late (although my mom will only be here for about a week afterward). The stress comes in if the baby is early.

Michael (in answer to a month or more of prayers) received a job with lots of billable time at work this past week. Only catch? He had to drive 4 hours to East Texas to investigate. I was slightly concerned but with still 1 1/2 weeks to go, I figured we would be safe if I could just get a hold of him if absolutely necessary (at times a feat in itself). I must admit, I did love the extra space in the bed! Now, with Michael on his way home and no baby yet, all should be fine, right?

Well, as mentioned before, in answer to prayers, Michael was named expert witness for this case. That includes a mandatory meeting on Mon, Tues, or Wed. this next week (probably entailing an overnight trip). To top matters off, I discovered on Friday (at 39 weeks) that my due date is actually March 11 (Friday) not March 12 (Saturday). The doctor reminded me that although I am still only 1 cm dilated and slightly more effaced than last week, statistically 96% of women will have their babies this next week. Opportunity to trust God with the details of Michael's trip, right? Well, last night after imagining all the "what-ifs" and what it would be like to be at the hospital by myself for several hours, I did remember that God is in control--it is He who brought Michael the work he has been praying for, and it is He who will work out the details. Please pray with us that we continue to rely on God's timing and His plan for this upcoming birth.

PROGRESS!!!

So, my doctor hardly thought it worth noting, but when I went yesterday for my 38 week visit, he said that I have dilated some (meaning maybe 1 cm). That is huge for me! (was only 1 cm when I went into the hospital in active labor with D). Still not expecting this little girl any time too soon, but we are praying she will be on time (to coordinate with my mom's schedule). Ever since last Thursday night's contractions (and they were real ones), I have been having the uneventful Braxton Hick's contractions. Rather uncomfortable sitting down, sleeping etc... Guess this is God's way of preparing me to have this baby.

and to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street...

a dog on a roof

When commenting on it, my sister told me that it was not as crazy as it sounded. The neighbors actually have something in the backyard that makes it more logical. I looked back there. Here is what I saw:

I burst out laughing at the thought!!!

Of course, my sister meant stairs to a sunroof, not the trampoline.

Victorian baby she will not be

According to my sister, I could have had a “Victorian” baby…so sorry to miss out on that, but…

We did go to Victoria this past weekend to visit my sister, bro-in-law, and 4 kiddos. Like always, we stopped at Bucee’s both there and on the way back. David was more in favor of the bears this time and wanted to give them a kiss. (a new skill he has now mastered pretty well)

We enjoyed the yummy food (again, as always). I meant to take a picture of the lettuce wraps or the homemade pizza but forgot until we were all done them. :( We played some Wii and spent a lot of time outside enjoying the gorgeous weather. Larkin, the girl next door, shared her 5 electric cars and E, J, and D enjoyed racing around in them, alternating cars.

Jane wanted D to pull her around like a dog on a leash—something he was quite happy to do!

D enjoyed playing cars with the girls…and lining them up, as he always does

Wii watching

David enjoyed rubbing the VERRRRYYYY long-suffering cat

He also enjoyed the good-old standby, the cozy coupe…(that is until the motorized vehicles came into the picture)

David was not merely content to just ride along, he wanted to drive. After the first sweet attempt by cousin E to let him drive with rather dangerous results, we encouraged him to ride along as a passenger. (It was also at this point that we enjoyed a very unusual sight...stay tuned in another blog post)

Then, everyone enjoyed making their mark on the sidewalk, each with unique chalk pictures. Upon being asked, David even accurately added a nose to his chalk outline!

Meanwhile, others enjoyed the swings…

…and balls.

Thanks, Wilsons, for once again hosting us and providing such a fun time!

a baby's shadow