It's on the blog - so now it's official!

Well, my observant readers, I certainly did not mean to be secretive or sneaky! Word is out in real life, and most of social media, but I can't believe I forgot the good ol' blog!

Yes, we are happy to announce we are looking forward to welcoming baby #6 in September!

And in true Buffalo fashion, we are expecting another BOY. :)

BLUE silly string gender reveal with the kiddos.

Pregnancy #6 has been very kind to me thus far. I have gained more weight with this one than any other. But that couldn't have anything to do with my husband keeping me well stocked in burgers, cookies, ice cream and donuts. I promise, I eat healthy stuff, too. :P

We are admittedly nervous every once in a while about adding another human to this merry-go-round, but are truly convinced he is God's will for our family.  

Plus, who wouldn't want to welcome a sweet little person who will grow up to do things like this:

and this:

Or regale us with thoughts such as these:
"There are two kinds of chickens: dead ones, and live ones." (Tyler, inspecting the meat in his supper bowl tonight.)

Yes, this house gets messy, and it gets loud, but it is full of fun and creativity, joy and hugs, love and laughter. We are truly blessed!

An incredibly long ramble about cloth diapering.

Once upon time, back in 2009 when I was pregnant with Tyler, I did a good bit of studying up on cloth diapering, and seriously considered switching.

For that matter, I think I might have also considered cloth diapers with Alan, but honestly... when liver disease entered our lives a lot of things changed... including the memories we have of Alan's baby days and the weeks leading up to his arrival.  Many of those details were overshadowed by or even replaced with Liver Disease.

But I digress... with Tyler I know I got right up to the edge, but chickened out.  Maybe it was the safety of sticking with what I knew, or maybe it was the fear of spending the money on a cloth diaper setup only to decide later I didn't like it.

So just as we had done twice before, we used disposables.  Two years later, I didn't even think twice about them with Brooklyn.

And then along comes my sister.  Kristin spent a large part of her pregnancy reading up on cloth diapers.  She learned all the types & styles, pros & cons, how-tos & how-not-tos.  Long before her bundle of joy arrived, he first orders of cloth diapering gear did.

Logan - 3 months

I've enjoyed having a front row seat to seeing how cloth diapering really works, and it seems to suit them well.  Even so, by the time we were expecting Daniel, we had been really blessed with lots and lots of disposable diapers.  Lots.  No really... we have a lot of diapers.

So once again, I haven't considered cloth an option for us.  With being gifted so many diapers, it wouldn't make sense to spend the money on a cloth setup.  

However... just a day or two after bringing Daniel home I was reminded of the problem we've had with every newborn boy: leaky diapers.

Wet pjs, wet blankets, wet sheets... no fun.

By comparison, Kristin had very very rarely had this problem with Logan in his cloth diapers, so on her first visit to meet her new nephew she brought a stack of her smallest diapers and covers for us to try.

I put them on Daniel sporadically for a few days, mainly because I just wanted to see what it was like. It was fun to try out the 'other side' and do things my sister's way, but then I went back to disposables.  It just seemed easier for some reason.

A few days ago I noticed Daniel had a consistently red bottom.  I used our favorite diaper cream a time or two, but it didn't seem to do much for him.  It wasn't quite a rash... just... red.  Then I had another idea to try: the cloth diapers!

So all day Monday I used only cloth on my baby's little tooshie.  And what do you know... by the end of the day... no red!

So... after all the rambling, what's my final verdict?

• I love the wholesome feeling of putting a soft cotton diaper on a baby bottom.
• The covers are cute and easy to use.

• Fastening with a snappi is super easy and quick.

• No leaks = awesomeness.

• Washing and drying them was not a big deal at all.

• Like his cousin Logan, Daniel seems to have less tolerance for a wet or dirty diaper when he is in cloth, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Will we be switching?  Probably not.  We have tons of free disposables, remember?  I can't imagine spending the money on cloth at this stage in the game for us.  If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now I would have bought them for Tyler, no doubt.  Look at the use we would have gotten by now!

I don't know all the details and lingo (I'm pretty sure the diapers Kristin loaned us are prefolds), but if you are interested in cloth diapering I would encourage you to visit Kristin at her blog!

Daniel's Birthday, the Rest of the Story

If you haven't read Part 1, you can click here to read it first.

Until I stepped into the shower I had my mind on getting out the door.  The moment I stepped into the shower I was no longer mentally preparing for a trip to the hospital. Neither was I preparing for delivery.  I was just coping from moment to moment.

I was aware of my mom arriving, and heard Greg's greeting to her: "We're not going to make it out of this house."

This announcement was the first time the reality of how imminent Daniel's birth really was started to sink in.  For just a moment I was surprised by this realization, and that Greg knew before I did.  My full attention then returned to the task at hand.

By this time I was aware of feeling a lot of pressure.

Greg and Mom agreed they needed to call the paramedics, and Greg went to place that call.

My next words were, "I feel his head!"

Without even needing to think about what to do, I slowly knelt in the bathtub as first Daniel's head and then shoulders gently slid into my waiting hands.  

Once he was fully in my arms I carefully sat back, still on my knees in the tub.  I gently laid my baby on my belly.  

It was 11:50 pm.  

For one brief moment we all stared at this new person and may have even wondered out loud, "What do we do now?"  

In a matter of seconds we had our bearings and the action began again.  There was work to be done!  We made sure he was breathing (he was), stimulated a cry, and got a towel to keep him warm.

My dad arrived at the same time Greg was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher answering questions about our conditions.  

Within a couple minutes the paramedics arrived, although at this point there wasn't much left for them to do!  Our helpful pair seemed pleased with the condition they found things in.

Greg and Mom left the tiny bathroom while they went to work cutting the cord and drying and cleaning Daniel.  My Dad was on guard quietly and gently reassuring boys as they woke and - for the moment - sending them back to bed.

Somewhere along the way we had acquired a fireman (in his big red engine) and a big burly policeman.  Lots of my clean towels were taken out and passed around.  I'm not sure what they were all used for, but they seemed to feel we needed them.  Even the big burly policeman was reaching in and passing them out!  

The lady paramedic carried Daniel to the ambulance, and a minute or two later the man helped me up.  The gurney couldn't turn in the hallway, so I leaned heavily on his arm (we were both cautious of my foot that had fallen asleep earlier) and walked to the hallway where they buckled me up onto the stretcher.

I waved like a princess as they rolled me out the front door.  While still sitting in the driveway they placed an iv and a couple of monitors, and quickly reunited my boy and me.

Just before we left I looked up to see my dad with Alan - grinning from ear to ear - peeking into the back window of the ambulance.  A giant wave and smile to them, and then we were on our way!

Before we were even out of the neighborhood Daniel latched on and began nursing like a pro, which he continued for most of the ride.  Greg and Mom followed close behind while the paramedic and I chatted like old friends.  Dad stayed home to fill the boys in on all the good news and get them tucked back into bed.

The nurses at the hospital were all eager to hear our story, and just like with the paramedics, there wasn't much work for them in the labor and delivery room!  Our stay there was less than an hour before I was walked to postpartum.  

I knew I needed sleep but it took a while to settle my mind from the events of the last 3 hours.  Had all of that really just happened!??!  It has been so fun to relive the experience and retell the story in the days following.  As always, above all, God's grace, mercy, and gifts are so evident through it all.  

We are blessed, and we are thankful!

Daniel's birth story

I'm not usually one for sharing a lot of intimate details, but sometimes when the story is good enough you have to put aside the tiniest bit of modesty for the sake of the story.  Daniel's birthday is one we will be reliving for a long time.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

8:00 am - I put 2 dozen pumpkin muffins into the oven and turned my attention to Greg's much over-due haircut.  I had already had a couple of nice contractions and had two or three more over the course of the next hour, getting ready for church.  Could this be the day?

10:35 - The one and only contraction I had the entire 2 hours we were at church.  It was pretty mild; apparently things were slowing down.

1:15 pm - Laid down for a nap.  Contractions had picked back up about every 12 minutes or so while making and eating lunch.  Not long after laying down, they stopped, and I enjoyed a nice long Sunday afternoon nap.

5:30 pm - Back to church.  All contraction action had pretty much stopped.  Looked like today probably wasn't the day after all, but I had an appointment the next morning and was looking forward to seeing how the day's activity had progressed things.  I felt optimistic we'd be having a baby in a day or two.

8:30 pm - Saying bedtime prayers with the boys.  Had to breathe through one decent contraction, but it was in the middle of my turn praying and even Greg couldn't tell I had felt a thing.

10:30 pm - Went to bed having experienced 3 or 4 contractions since putting the boys to bed.  They were a good strength, but pretty far apart and irregular.  I expected that just like naptime earlier, they would stop all together once I settled in for the night.  My hopes were definitely up for a baby the next day, though.

10:55pm - I was just drifting off to sleep only to come back awake with a pretty painful contraction.  I practiced relaxing and breathing through that one.  If I was going to deliver a baby the next day I wanted to remind myself of my favorite relaxation techniques.  After that first one passed I had just about fallen asleep again when a second followed.  I checked the clock.  It had been 18 minutes.  But wow this one really hurt!  I figured I was going to have to do way better than this tomorrow if I was going to be able to relax my way through another natural labor!

I got another chance to practice about 15 minutes later.  Ahh... I had found my groove by now and was relaxing nicely through this one when.... *pop*. Splash.

Ohmyheck.  I gave greg a couple of hard elbows to the ribs to wake him up, but that wasn't necessary.  With my next words he was fully awake and on his feet.  "My water just broke."  It was 11:37.

He asked what we needed to do and I said "We need to GO.  Things are going to happen fast now that my water has broken." 

Greg immediately called mom and dad, mom to go with us and dad to stay with the kids.  I headed to the bathroom.  It just seemed the right thing to do.  Plus if I was going to be leaking fluid all the way to the hospital I wanted something absorbent, right?

However, once in the bathroom, the contractions were nonstop.  Looking back, I remember telling myself to blow through them, and not push, but in that moment it didn't occur to me that if I was telling myself to blow I must have also been feeling the urge to push!  I knelt for a moment in the floor and then decided to get into the shower.  Greg was checking on me constantly as he got our things into the van.  At one point he shushed me, concerned about waking up the kids, as I was groaning my way through the now extremely painful contractions.  

11:44 - Mom arrived to find Greg holding the shower head against my lower back and me holding my nightgown up out of the water.  He looked up at her and said, "We're not going to make it out of this house."

To be continued....

Part 2

A Baby Poem, while we are waiting for baby

When One Becomes Two

 - Jacquelyn deLaveaga

A new life begins - 

a fresh heartbeat,

a flutter of feet,

a new soul.

Little miracle placed in my womb - 

I feed you, I nurture you

and the string between our hearts grows strong.

Little one growing in my womb - 

Daddy and I lay our hands upon my growing belly

and wait for you to flutter a reply.

Little person living in my womb - 

I welcome and cherish your consuming presence

and long to gaze into your deep, warm eyes.

Little babe curled up in my womb - 

I embrace your tiny self and dream of holding you forever.

Oh baby, sweet baby - 

a fresh heartbeat,

a flutter of feet,

a new soul.

Weekly Wrap Up - Weeks 11 & 12

Seems like it has been a couple of uneventful weeks, school-wise, as we keep marching along toward maternity leave.

Last week was a full week, but this week has lightened up some to allow more time for resting and to-do list accomplishing.  For me, obviously.  

And the to-do listing is coming along, even if it is slowly and surely.  Last week I spent a lot of time washing, sorting, folding and hanging baby clothes.  So satisfying to see drawers full of baby things ready to be worn!

We're down to weekly dr. visits now, and those are on Mondays.  So Mondays are very full days with getting everyone out and still trying to get in all our usual school and home lists.

Tuesdays I've started calling our 'socialization' days.  Mostly kidding, of course.  We have library story time at 10, usually followed by a trip to Nana & PawPaw's afterward.  

This week Dale couldn't leave until he had completed one of PawPaw's word searches.  

After spending all morning on breakfast and morning jobs and getting ready to go, then being gone the rest of the morning, that leaves all of our school for the afternoon.  Plus menu planning and putting away our new load of library books.

Whew! Is it any wonder Wednesdays may be becoming my favorite day of the week?  This stay-at-HOME HOME-schooling mama likes just that... being home!

Then this week Thursday morning turned out to be another morning out as we returned our bottle calf-that's-no-longer-on-a-bottle to pasture.  

Once again I was glad for a day at home today.  Even more so with today being planned as a light day in an already light week.

After the calf-return yesterday I was feeling generous, afraid there might be some sadness at letting him go, and agreed to let the boys get out.....

The Legos.  

For just over 48 hours, and then they are all going back away.  Way away.  So, the baby gate has been across the boys door and when they haven't been out making the most of the beautiful fall weather they've been spending lots of time building, building, building.  I have to admit... it's been kind of nice!

So, between all our going and slacking, we're still making academic progress.  Yay!

Here's two week's worth:

Dale - Finished reading Numbers and 14 chapters into Joshua.  Covered first 4 time periods of the Old Testament.  Completed several exercises and reveiws on working with weights and volumes, both metric and standard.  Copied 2 poems for copywork/handwriting practice.  Learned 12 new spelling words, finished 3 journal entries and a couple of blog posts, and worked on "to be" verbs.

Alan - Studied Bible stories from Acts chapters 5-9, finished his first phonics book and went several pages into his second, starting on consonant blends, practiced his name in cursive, plus the letters 'h', 'f', and 'k'.  Continued practicing addition and subtraction, including an introduction to word problems (with which he did great!). 

Together we read about Italy, including Venice, Pompeii, ancient Rome, Leonardo da Vinci, and Vivaldi.  Hopefully a post on Italy will be forthcoming next week.

Tyler has spent two weeks making fall leaf and pumpkin crafts along with similarly themed rhymes.  Among other things he also got some scissor practice and playdough time.  

Tyler and preschool posts are in the works for next week as well.  

All of this posting is assuming we don't have a baby in the meantime, or at least that I can get them written before then.  Wish me luck, right?  

Unexpected gifts

Is it to the point yet that if I don't post you wonder if it's baby time?

Not this time, anyway.  I got to the end of yesterday exhausted from a monster backache - not labor related, obviously.  I couldn't muster up the brain power or the will power to post.

Thankfully, though, I had a great night's sleep!  Go figure.  I'm not going to question it.  I just enjoyed waking up so rested!

And then we had no internet all day long.  Nada!  The repair man came at 3:00 (after I had spent over 30 minutes on the phone with the company at 1:00) and got us going again.  

You know what I discovered?  I didn't miss that much in those 8 hours.  It took me just a few minutes to catch up on email, twitter, and all the other rounds I like to make.  

Take home lesson?  Leave the computer shut and check it all less during the day.  It will be there when I get there.

My backache is still around somewhat (is that really any surprise?). I did what I could to hold it at bay all day, but it has still crept up on me here and there.  Nothing like yesterday evening though.

It's funny how the timing of things works out.  My dear husband came in from church tonight, helped herd all the kiddos to bed, and prepared to get started on a stack of supper dishes.

But first he disappeared out to his car and reappeared with a bright red and pink gift bag covered in hearts.  

Very Valentine-y, yes?  He reminded me of our Valentine gift-giving gone awry some months ago (it's a weird story, because we tend to be weird people).

So I got a Valentine's day gift on October 10th. 

But wrapping aside, take a listen at what this 8 1/2 months + pregnant woman opened up tonight:
- A fancy bag of dark chocolates (just as my stash has run out, too!)
- Soothing bath beads
- Calming herbal tea

I've already partaken of the chocolates - yum.
I'm sipping my tea as I type, and I guess you know what's next.

February 2012 seems foggy in my mind.  I can't even remember how Valentine's ended up playing out for us now.  I'm sure it was fine at the time.  But I do know I am humbled and blessed by the sweet gifts I was presented with tonight. 

37 Weeks

Whaaat..??  Really?  Are we that close?

By this time with Brooklyn I was almost to the "she could be here any day" stage.  But this time around the arrival of a new little person doesn't seem imminent at all.  We're so caught up in day-to-day living and even in the preparations for said little person that it hardly seems like it's nearly time for him to be here!

This weekend we got all of the clothes Brooklyn has outgrown boxed up and stashed away in the attic, and brought down all the baby boy things. 

Greg rearranged car-seats in the van to accommodate one more.  Tyler is thrilled.  He knew he'd be going to the far back with his brothers and has been asking to join them for over a week.  So after a little fruit-basket turnover (I think Alan is the only one that didn't move) the van is ready!

Today I sorted through sheets and blankets, separating pinks from neutrals, and pulling aside any other of that sort of thing he'll need.  

This coming weekend we'll be rearranging furniture and setting up the crib!

In other news, I found out baby is lying posterior, and after paying careful attention to his thumps and bumps, I can definitely tell.  Sometimes he's facing more forward and sometimes he's at least turned toward my right a little.  Either way, I'm most ready for him to go ahead and turn his little self around like he needs to be!  Any experience or advice you have, I'd love to hear!

(To clarify, if needed: the ideal position for delivery is baby facing mama's spine.  When baby is facing outward it is called 'posterior' and can -but doesn't always- mean a longer pregnancy and/or more painful or difficult delivery.  Babies can turn on their own anytime all the way up to delivery.  This is what I am hoping for!)

I'll skip all the aches and pains and just say that considering we are in the 9th month, I'm doing fairly well, especially when it comes to having the energy to keep up housework and school work.  I'm very thankful for that, because I think that is what is making time fly by and causing baby-day to sneak up on us quickly!

My apologies for the poor picture, but I couldn't do an update without one, now could I? ;)

34 Weeks, Baby #5

34 weeks?  Really?  As in "we'll have a baby next month?"  The calendar says we are most definitely in the final countdown - hello weekly dr visits!- but the 20's of October still seems a long way away to me.  And I am ok with that!

While pregnancy (including this one) is generally pretty easy-going on me, this time around I have experienced every symptom I ever had in any of the 4 previous times.  This is the "bring it all on" time, apparently!

The worst in recent weeks has been the heartburn.  I don't think I have ever had heartburn like this!

Interestingly, I don't think I ever had it once with Brooklyn, but then, no wonder:  I carried her SO LOW.

This baby has been quite high, especially compared to Brooklyn.

That is... until this weekend.  Sunday morning Greg commented that he looked lower and all out front, but I poo-pooed that.  But when I stood up at the end of church services a couple of hours later I looked down and thought "wow this baby seems low!"

Sure enough, although it is still there, the heartburn and loss of appetite is much better.  And in other evidence, after a couple of frequent potty stops I was thinking "I must be doing good on my water today!"  Then I kind of went "ohhhh wait a minute....that's a baby sitting on my bladder (that hadn't been before)!"

The whole thing really makes me wish I had taken a picture late last week to compare!

At any rate... here we are today at 34 weeks:

Sportin' a borrowed shirt from my awesome sister. Yay for 'new' maternity clothes!!
 And Yay for awesome sisters with babies! :)

The first time or two I put away maternity clothes in my post-partum days it was with a "see you later" feeling.  The last couple of times it's been more of a "will I see you again?" feeling.  So, in spite of all the difficulties of pregnancy I am enjoying all of its blessings.

Thumps, rolls, kicks, hiccups, and playing Guess That Baby Part are all as fun and captivating as the first time, and (for now ;) ) outweigh the discomforts while little boy finishes growing!

Week 28 Belly Pic, Take #2

It has been brought to my attention (by more than one party) that the belly pic I posted of myself in my 28 week update is not the most flattering.  


And while one wouldn't want to be vain, it just wouldn't do to allow an unintentionally unflattering image of oneself to be the most recent on one's own blog would it? 


This one may not be much better, but at least finding someone else to hold the camera eliminated the awkward dilemma of what to do with that other arm!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to study up on DIY belly pics. :)

28 Weeks, Baby #5

As is usual for me, I am measuring right on, but by looks you'd think I was an entire month behind.

Everyone always wants to know where I hide 'em.  With the exception of Brooklyn, the other babies have been right in the range of 8lbs or higher.

I guess it has something to do with having a long waist?  

We are in the fun stage now where baby rolls and kicks does who-knows-what in there.  He is big and strong enough that I can feel every move, but still small enough that he has plenty of room and it doesn't hurt (yet) when he punches.

He is still generic "he" for now as we are still looking over names.  Our list is still pretty long, much to the dismay of some people, who think we should already be calling this little one by name.  :)

Getting around and sleeping are kind of a pain (literally) due to prematurely loose ligaments causing some joints that are usually pretty stationary to rub together.  This is my third pregnancy to deal with it, so I do just that: cinch up by handy support belt and deal with it.

Greg and I are not in agreement yet on where little man will sleep at night.  We may end up playing it by ear for a few weeks until we get everyone settled in.  Question: have any of you had any problems with wakeful newborns disturbing siblings during the night (if they shared a room)?

12 weeks to go... seems short and long at the same, and I am ok with both!

Life: bad and good, mixed and stirred

As is often the case, we had other plans for last Monday, when Greg and Alan ended up spending all day at the pediatrician's office and in the er.  Greg had the day off and there had been talk of a fishing trip or other fun stuff early in the day.


Our mid-way sonogram was scheduled for that afternoon.  Dale had been asking if he could come this time.  Both Brooklyn's and Tyler's had been scheduled early in the day while Greg was working, so my Mom (and sister, once) came with me for those.  But we had decided this time - why not? Let's bring the whole family!  The plan was to leave Tyler and Brooklyn with a sitter and the rest of us go in together to find out if we'd have a new baby brother or sister.


And then plans changed.  There lay Alan in the emergency room with an iv in his arm, awaiting transfer to Children's.  


It may have been a stubborn, forge-ahead approach, but Greg and I decided I should keep the appointment.  Even though problems with Alan are few and far between (thankfully!), they are a fact of our life.  


We went ahead with the plan to leave the littles with a sitter, and Dale and I went alone to the appointment.  


Dale loved seeing the baby move.  He was thrilled he could recognize those black and white blurs as a baby!  Little baby arms up next to a little baby head.  A little baby foot.


The tech was careful to avoid any nether-regions, because we had requested not to find out while we were there in the room.


Instead, per our request, she handed us the printed still shots of our new little one, folded to the inside so we couldn't see them.  She warned us that the very first one was the one we were most interested in.


Dale and I got to the van and called up Daddy and Alan.  Moments before they headed toward Children's, we each got on speakerphone (medical team witnesses and all).


Dale got the honors of being the very first to know.  


He unrolled our strip of baby pictures and without fanfare announced quite loudly to the rest of us, all at the same time....


"IT'S A BOY!!" :)


And now you know... the rest of the story. :)

Babies are beautiful!

With my sister expecting her firstborn any stinkin' day now, it's no surprise I have babies on the brain.
When I was searching through my picture files to show the boys something today, I took a little detour through Tyler's and Brooklyn's birth days.


This picture of a very new Brooklyn on her birth day is one of my favorites.  It's so classic and beautiful I just had to share. :)

Photo Credit

Stay tuned for pictures of another brand new baby....hopefully soon!

From all of us to all of you:

We here in the herd

are pleased to announce

coming in October 2012

a new little buffalo or butterfly!

Baby Hats

Still here.  Still waiting.  Still creating.  


Yesterday's baby project came from a well-timed link on One Pretty Thing. 


Saw it, emailed it (to mom), made it.  Ok, so mom made it.  I felt kind of weird, like I handed out an assignment.  But I loved watching her work and turn out something amazingly cute in an amazingly short amount of time!


First, gather some knits in cute prints.

 Cut out pattern pieces & assemble.

 Baby hats!

Pattern & tutorial can be found here.

280 days.... and counting.

In case you haven't noticed, the baby counter is sitting at Zero.  

Which has brought to me this realization:

After four babies...36 months of being pregnant... this is the first time I have ever been pregnant on my due date.

Dale was born the day before his due date.  Alan and Tyler one week before.  All induced.

This waiting it out is tough stuff.

The plus side of all the waiting (besides baby growing and developing all these extra days) has been the making and crafting.  Mom and I have to do something to keep our minds and hands occupied.

Thus the frequent visits to Hobby Lobby these days.  

The lady in the fabric department is starting to recognize us.  

And I'm not kidding.

This week's find was a remnant of pink polka-dot fleece, on clearance!  Couldn't leave that behind, now could we?

Interestingly, when we got it home and unrolled it, we discovered it was a rather oblong piece.

So we decided to work with it, fringing the ends ....

...for a soft sweet blanket!

Gloop, gluck, slime.

A woman expecting a baby any day really shouldn't leave her blog idle for days at a time.


Or maybe the suspense isn't getting to you like it is to me.  Sometimes, at the height of wondering 'when will it be time?', my phone will ring and I jump to answer, thinking someone is calling to let me know it's baby time!  Which makes no sense, because I will be first to know.  I will be the one making the "it's time" phone calls.
I think it's probably a remnant from our waiting for the transplant call days.  


Back then we waited for the phone to ring to know when it was time to take our baby to the hospital.
Now we are waiting for .... other things... to know when it is time to go to the hospital and get our baby.


At any rate, my point is we are still here.  Still waiting. 


Yesterday's waiting activity was a messy one....
We made slime!

A heaping 2/3 cup cornstarch, almost an equal amount of water, and several drops of food coloring.

Mix well and you get an amazing concoction that behaves like both a solid and a liquid!

Fun for all ages, but incredibly messy.  I found it best to leave the huge table (and floor and chair) mess to dry and then it scraped away easily.  

All the boys enjoyed it, but Alan stayed long (and I do mean long) after the other two had their fill.

Tick tock, tick tock..... another day, another project!

A few of my favorite things...

Miss B isn't even here yet, and already she has been the recipient of so many beautiful things and sweet, precious gifts.  One onesie in particular makes me laugh... it says "I'm Kind of a Big Deal".  And isn't that the truth?  Of course, there is also the bib that says, "I am NOT a Boy".  I assume it's meant for little baldy girls, but my boys and I get a kick out of it for different (obvious) reasons.

While there is no way I can share every gift here, I thought I would show and tell some of the sweet and special things that have come into our home in the last few weeks.

First up, we were so happy to have a visit from my sister and BIL recently.  We don't get to see them nearly enough.  My sweet sister showed up with a handful of crocheted headbands... all different sizes and colors, and each adorned with a precious crocheted flower.  And then, sitting right in my living room one night, she made one more!

Then there was the giftbag from friends at church.  Among the other baby things in the bag was this soft, sweet blanket:

I was later informed that the blanket had belonged to the couple's young teenage daughter.  The very same girl who has a soft spot for Tyler and often takes care of him at church.  She searched through her things, picked it out, washed it up and tied up for Miss B.  I can't wait to wrap our little miss up in such a special gift!

And finally.... all waiting for someone's arrival, is the cradle I slept in as a baby, freshly made with brand-spankin' new bedding that my mom and I tag-team sewed over the course of a few days.  

Only one thing missing....and yet, we are already so blessed!

Baby Countdown and Confession Time

So maybe you have noticed the baby countdown jumping around a bit in the sidebar.  Maybe you haven't.


Yesterday it said 1 day remaining.   Today it says 10. 


One morning a while back it said 23 days remaining.  By that afternoon it said 13.


What gives?


First of all, we are quite sure, and always have been, of baby's due date.  


However, a couple of weeks ago, my doctor offered an induction date, and even though I had been induced in all three previous deliveries and had wanted to avoid it this time, I accepted.


Long story short... we changed our minds. 


So here I sit, knowing that just 24 hours ago my name was somewhere on a hospital form for our arrival this morning.


Based on my last two deliveries, we very likely could have been holding our baby girl in our arms by early this afternoon.


And while I am very anxious to be doing just that, I am very confident that we made the right decision.


Impatient?  Yes.  Regretful?  No.


This isn't about me.  This story belongs to God and Miss B.  The two of them have the timing worked out just right.  The rest of us just have to wait and see how they write it.