Belly hiccups and sudden DIY.

Baby in my belly had hiccups for the first time last night just as I lay in bed (at least, the first hiccups I could FEEL).  It's so darn cute!  And just now, the second ones just ended.  I love the little perfectly timed movement.  It's just as reassuring as hearing the heartbeat.

Crafts.

We bought that nasty child bike trailer and I'm replacing the mesh windows.  I just received the mesh the other day, and last night I cut out the old windows and traced new ones on the new mesh.  Just need to sew in the new windows, and we're ready to go!  Also, we need to find Ava's helmet.  And then we're ready.

 

An example of our trailer.  If it were new.

My step-mom called to ask me for a project the other day.  My grandma - her mom - is in a nursing home, and is not mobile.  She's also mostly paralyzed on her left side from a stroke.  She gets cold in the home, and the nurses struggle putting sweaters on her.  She can be a little difficult.  It's hard enough to get her in her chair to take her to meals.  So, my step-mom asked if I could knit her a poncho so the nurses can just pull it over her head.  I told her a knitted one could be done in a month or so.  People sometimes don't realize how long knitting can take, and so we decided on a sewn poncho made of super warm fleece.

The pattern I'm using as a guide.  Making just the waist-length one.

It's going to be pretty awesome.  I have the fleece.  Now, I just have to cut it and sew it, and then, done.

I'm still not keen on the knitting.  But today I bought ultra-clearanced yarn.  As motivation.  Or something.

Best Friends

Ava (2 years old): You're my best friend.
Me (amazed she said this): Awww, you're MY best friend!
Ava: Awww, we're best friends!!! (And then she ran into my arms and gave me the biggest bear hug). *sigh*sniffle*

why do you do the thing you do

I was thinking about jobs. 
How it's interesting that there are always seem to be people employed in all of the various careers (in America, at least).  How is it that we each end up in the career we're in?  Some feel called, but mostly I think it's a matter of circumstance. 
My mom has always been a jack-of-all-trades, so maybe that's why I tend to need to switch jobs after a couple years.  Sometimes people just plain need a job, so they talk to relatives or friends, and now, because of a job opening at an uncle's company, they clean pools for a living.  And somehow this randomness works when it comes to distributing people fairly equally into all multitudes of jobs.  It's kind of cool to think about.

But then I thought, how much more awesome is it when a person whose circumstance and inherited traits guides them to a certain career path, and they have the amazing courage to turn a different way?  Instead of using so-called natural talents to do something they hate - like managing a small business - they choose to do something much more difficult because they love it - like singing professionally.

And maybe even more amazing are the people who find themselves in a career they initially hated.  A job they thought they'd leave in a few months.  And then, after some time, they find that they're exactly where they want to be.

Night #2

Didn't sleep till 2am.  Baby girl up at 5:30am.

Yes, this happened earlier in pregnancy, and at many other times as well, so I'm not completely new to lack of sleep.  But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Three sweet girls and running on fumes

I kept myself awake last night.  Today I was to watch my two nieces (ages 3 and 4), along with my 2-year-old.  (I did end up watching them.)  Also, a certain relative has been on vacation, and will be coming back soon, along with all the drama that comes with that certain person.  Drama that my emotions haven't been able to handle very well lately. 

Also, out of my control was that I was having some false labor for the first two hours of the night.  Painless, but worrisome.  I couldn't help but think about how I'm only 27 weeks along - just barely far enough for baby to make it if labor would continue.  At midnight I was still trying to formulate a plan to get me, husband, and little girl to the E.R. in the middle of the night if need be (because I'd want Jer there, but would hate to wake up baby girl and make her try and sleep in an uncomfy waiting room).  Or, what if it was during the day and Jer was out of town.  What would my sweet two-year-old do while at the E.R. with just me?  I tried thinking of people I could call.  So, all THAT thinking kept me even more awake.  And the longer I was awake, the more I worried about having to take care of three little girls all day.  They were due to come at 7am.

Of course, these feelings were all accentuated by my heightened emotional state.  I was up most of the night, with a few short snatches of sleep.  I prayed tired little prayers here and there.  Finally I just said, "God, please just BE me tomorrow.  Be my mouth, so I don't get short-tempered with the little girls or say something stupid to the 'relative'.  Be my emotions and hold up my tired body."  It was good to let go.

I got a little sleep after that.  That was maybe 2:00am.  And then the thunderstorm woke me up at 3:30ish.  And then, Jer accidentally smacked me in the face with his blanket at about 4am.  And at 4:45, Ava was awake because of the "under" (thunder).

Today, I had more caffeine than is recommended.   And, thanks to my very nice God, I was unnaturally patient and kind all day.  The relative isn't home yet.  We'll see how that goes at a later date.  But, the stress has lessened.  The girls were SWEETHEARTS!  No major fights, lots of hugs and hand-holding.  And the 3-year-old niece's only potty accident happened just when my sister arrived.  Perfect timing. ; )

niece,mine,niece. pretending to watch a movie while I ordered food.

My sister got off work a little early - at 1:30 or so, instead of 3:30.  Jeremy was also just getting home.  I found out that he called Anna today a couple times to gather information on when she again needs me to watch the girls.  And he told her that he wasn't sure if I was going to be ok to watch them tomorrow (today that was still a tentative plan).  He told me today, too, that he really didn't want me to have the girls a second day in a row by myself.  Sweet husband.  I guess my exhaustion showed through even more than I thought.  (I was seriously trying to limit my whining).  Anna found someone to fill in for her tomorrow.

At 3:30pm, I was in dozing on the couch with Ava lying by my side and my husband sitting nearby.  At 5pm, I was in bed and Ava was having some time with her daddy.  I awoke at 8pm, and here I am.  Nearly ready for bed, but waiting until I'm sure I'm good and tired, so that last night isn't repeated because I'm just too rested to sleep.

It's been a rather internally dramatic time this past couple of days.  Tomorrow is going to seem so boring.  Thank God for that.

Planting Dandelions

I'm reading the book "Planting Dandelions" (this link is to her blog), and it is unexpected and transparent.  And I LOVE it.  I was reading it in the Target-Starbucks area, and I actually laughed out loud and had to look around a little to see if anyone was alarmed.  But, was still laughing.  So I probably looked more like I was expectantly waiting for all you people to laugh with me. 


Definitely, if you're a mom or a wife, read it.  But read it if you're not one of those things, too, because it's just the most honest and entertaining thing ever.

This blog is neglected. Also, bike trailers...

I don't write in here much. I have started 2 other blogs for some reason. Really, I don't know why. Maybe because this one felt far too serious. Or maybe because I just don't feel confident enough to write very much, and the starting of new blogs feels wonderfully fresh. A new beginning kind of feeling.


Ghetto Bike Trailer:

There is just nothing online about this topic.

I'm sure there are many others like me, who bought an old child-carrying bike trailer (for $5.00) that is just in... yucky condition. Mine is the type that still has the hard molded plastic bottom and detachable weather resistant cover. The mesh/mosquito netting is ripped all over the place and besides it being not very functional, is totally ghetto looking.

Soooo, I searched online on three separate and loooong occasions, and found no advice! I found one forum where a lady had the same situation (from a year ago) and there were ZERO responses. I left a message on a bike-trailer-obsessed blog-and-store today, so we'll see if they have any resources to share.

I have officially ordered some all-purpose and very durable mesh online (they have a friendly return policy), and will attempt to replace it myself. We'll see how that goes.

I'll post pics soon. The canopy is currently removed from the trailer. I'll put it back on now that it's been measured, and soon you can see for yourself how horrible it is.