Ten on Tuesday: June 29th

1. What was/is your favorite live action (meaning not animated) kids movie?

Mary Poppins (with Bedknobs and Broomsticks a really close second).

2. What is a bad habit you have? Are you working on breaking it?

Not trying new things for fear I will do something wrong. Yup!

3. Describe your father in 3 words.

A hiking bookworm!

4. Which character in the Breakfast Club were you most like in the ’80s?

Allison (sort-of)

5. Name 5 songs you know ALL the lyrics to.

Amazing Grace, Wheels on the Bus, Silent Night, (probably an assortment of hymns and children songs)

6. Do you make pancakes from scratch or a box mix?

A box mix

7. What was your worst job ever? Why?

Babysitting for a real brat whose parents thought he was an angel.

8. What was your favorite class in high school?

Biology with Dr Hatch!!

9. Favorite summer guilty pleasure?

Lots of ice cream!!

10. Please share your best money saving tip!

Make big batches of favorite meals on the weekend, a great defense from ordering out during the week when you are too tired to cook.

Thanks for reading through, please now head over to Roots and Rings to enjoy others take on these questions.

Sharing a success..

And signing off for the weekend (will be offline visiting family)

Now for the success I can claim no credit for other than I'm related to him. My brother is thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (Georgia-Maine) and about a week ago sent me this picture from VA at the approximate one/third mark.

So cool, so proud ~ and so excited to hopefully see him sometime in July as he hikes through Pennsylvania.

See ya next week!

Wordless Wednesday:Water Fun!

Ten on Tuesday: June 22nd

1. If you could trade lives with another blogger for a day, who would it be and why?

Pioneer Woman, so for one day I could be a really good cook and photographer with a cowboy for a husband and ride into a sunset.

2. Do you prefer receiving handmade or store bought gifts? Be honest!

From kids I love handmade, from everyone else (unless its their passion) probably store bought. With an exception for pictures/albums. I love pictures!!

3. Would you rather camp or stay in a hotel?

In the vein of being honest, cabin!! Childhood summer vacations were in a great old cabin with electricity but no water ~ so getting water from a well and using an outhouse.

4. What’s your favorite comfort food?

Savory~French Fries Sweet~ Coffee milkshakes

5. You’re having a really bad day at work. How do you unwind when you come home?

TV and munchies

6. What’s your favorite chore? (Or, the chore you hate the least)

Dusting/pollishing; I don't do it often enough but I love the way my furniture looks when I'm done.

7. What got you interested in blogging?

Reading other peoples blogs.

8. Are you currently reading a book? What is it?

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet (a Pride and Prejudice spin-off), so far okay but not great.

9. Do you have a favorite artist?

Many but two at the top are Mary Cassett and Andrew Wyeth.

10. Have you ever met someone famous?

I've met leaders in my field but no one famous in a media sense.

Please visit Roots and Rings to see others take on these great questions.

Book Choices the Second time around

A friend recently asked what books I would recommend and what I was reading so I thought I would share what I was reading in preparation for birth #2:

Birthing from Withinfeels like an old, comforting friend to me. There are only a few pregnancy and birth books that have that practical, timeless quality.

Birthing from Within by Pam England is a wonderful book written by a childbirth educator based what she has learned in her classes about all of the ideas, assumptions and beliefs we bring with us from our everyday life into the labor and birth process. Her exercises include drawing and sculpting which are a little intimidating to me since I'm not very creative, however journaling and reflecting on questions of beliefs and fears regarding childbirth and mothering is a technique I've found to be very helpful. This is now a reread for me as I bought the book while pregnant with Elisabeth but discovered while finding the photo link that there is now a companion journal you can get.

The book also includes an overview on the physiology of childbirth, breathing/relaxation techniques and a chapter on labor support for your husband or primary support person to read.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin is a sort-of update of her groundbreaking book Spiritual Midwifery. As with the original, this book begins with birth stories from the now over twenty years of attending births at the birth center in Tennessee where she and other midwives live, including now a second generation as children born at the Farm return to have their children born there too. The second half of Gaskin's book deals with the practical side of natural birthing, including how to avoid standard medical interventions such as epidurals, episiotomies and continuous monitoring. While this may not be the definitive guide to natural childbirth, it is a comfortable and supportive read for women who want to trust their bodies to do what comes naturally.

Ina May Gaskin is one of the revered 'wise woman' of midwifery and I have enjoyed immersing myself in her deep belief in a woman ability to birth, and while I find aspects on her life on an intentional community a bit out there for me I greatly respect that part of their mission at the birth center has been to give shelter and care to woman who have lost housing and family support because of an unexpected pregnancy that they wish to continue. The woman are cared for through the birth and then either helped to build a life with the baby or find an adoptive family. In the book Gaskin estimates that 300 woman have taken them up on this offer since 1974.

Small Successes: June 17th

1. Finished the scrapbook celebrating Elisabeth's first year. It was my first attempt at scrapbooking and I'm very happy with the end result
2. Deep cleaned the kitchen floor including the grout.
3. Assembled water table and splash pool. Backyard mini-water park open for summer!!

Give thanks this Thursday for:

happy toddler conversations

cool breezes

squirms and wiggles from within

lots of lemonade

at home movie date nights

grace abundant and love everlasting

Please visit Faith and Family Live and share your own small successes!!

Ten on Tuesday: June 15th

1. What would the title of your autobiography be?

Sage Femme

2. What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever heard a child say or seen him/her do?

Ever is too hard to say, but currently I find it very funny that E. response when told it is time to do something she does not want is to say "Hmmm, no thanks."

3. What is your favorite kids game to play?

Chutes and Ladders

4. If you got invited to a potluck BBQ tomorrow, what would you bring?

Pasta Salad

5. If your ears are pierced, how old were you when you got your ears pierced?

16

6. If you were celebrating your 30th anniversary, where would you want to go?

If I have not yet been back then I would want to return to our honeymoon location of Prince Edward's Island.

7. What one blogger would you love to meet and why? And what would you want to plan to do with them?

I would love sometime next year to revisit Houston (to which I have not been back in about seven years) and meet Chelsea (our host) and have our babies who will likely be very close in age meet.

8. On a scale from 1-10, how good at you at home decor? (Pictures welcome.)

7, I'm not super creative but am willing to put the effort into combining style with comfort.

9. Do you have good fingernails?

In general yes, tend to split more easily during pregnancy.

10. Pickles: Dill or sweet? Baby, spears, or chips? Plain or on a burger?

Dill spears on their own

Please venture over to Roots and Rings to enjoy others takes on these ten questions!!

Quick Takes Vol. #54

1. Realize several things could still go wrong between now and harvest but at the moment both tomato plants show many happy growing tomatoes. Yay! Happily anticipating fresh grown bounty ~ mostly proud to have overcome the activation barrier and taken the plunge.
2. Received a late birthday present: The final season of the "Waltons", now while my TV time is limited it is a lovely thought that if an opportunity arises (at oh say 2 am with a new baby) any point in that beloved old series is available to me.
3. Have started leaving a Word Document open on this desktop for when a certain toddler wanders over to practice letters and numbers. So far ~ so good.
4. Speaking of my fickle little girl: There is a new favorite fellow; poor Caillou caste aside just so she can join on animal rescue adventures in the jungle with Diego
5. Deserving of a much longer post still being formed: however must say I have so enjoyed this week joining in the interesting discussions hosted by Elizabeth of The Married Couple and Kathleen of Project M about New Feminism; important ideas being discussed with intelligence and compassion. Excellent!!
6. Ground pork on sale ~ Chili on the menu per plan = Really tasty new variation of crock pot chili!
7. Plans for the weekend: Cleaning, family time and weather permitting some strawberry picking. Have a good one!

Please visit Conversion Diary to enjoy more of this weeks Quick Takes.

Pregnant Pause: 26 weeks

Given that I'm within a couple of days of being six months along, and according to some calendars am now in my third trimester I thought it was a good time to pause, reflect and update.

First an aside ~ years ago I was taught the 1st trimester is till 13wks, 2nd include weeks 13-27, and third weeks 27-40 ~ so that is how I count, but you are of course welcome to follow any calendar you would like :-)

Am grateful to still being feeling well, though after several days of intense heat am beginning to grasp what being pregnant through the summer is going to be like. I foresee lots of lemonade, AC and as much water time I can manage. Am usually up once a night but otherwise still sleeping okay though will soon be grabbing the extra pillow to support the growing belly.

At my midwife appointment I enjoyed the lovely experience of my 1 hour glucose test which I profoundly hope I 'pass'; I didn't last time with E. and because I did not have gestational diabetes by the end of the 3 hours test my blood sugar was so low I was feeling really rotten (tip: bring something to eat as soon as the test is over!!). Otherwise everything looked and sounded good, yay!

No definite names yet but short lists for both ~ no strong leaning either, BTW!

And thats the view from 26 weeks

Saturday Evening Post Vol: 4

In looking back on my posts in May I selected 'Looking Back & Forward' for The Saturday Evening Post round-up hosted by Elizabeth Esther because while part of me can't believe in the midst of a busy life I've managed to post 200+ times, the rest of me is so grateful amidst the craziness to have a place to record thoughts, feelings and milestones; and share wonderful conversations with friends new and old.

Please visit Elizabeth Esther's blog and enjoy other best of May entries

Quick Takes Vol. #53

1. Went to my 'little' sisters end of year dance performance last night (She attends a Performance Arts High School). She and her classmates were amazing and it was so nice to go and celebrate her wonderful skill and passion for dance.
2. A couple of people asked where I found the maternity suit I blogged about here. It is from Motherhood Maternity.
3. Today is Free Donut @ Dunkin Day!! Enjoying my blueberry cake right now.
4. The counter on the side now reads 100 days to baby day. Now I know babies come when they want ~ E. came a week past due date~Still, almost double digits, Eeep!
5. Seeing several tiny tomatoes on my plant, so excited to pick fresh homegrown tomatoes for our 4th of July salad.
6. Tomorrow is Free Ice Cream @ Friendlys Day!! Isn't summer fun!?!
7. Have a great weekend!!

Please visit Conversion Diary to enjoy other fun Quick Takes!!

Small Successes: June 3rd

1. Completed 3 scrapbooking pages which has me 2-3 pages from completing the first year scrapbook!
2. Found an affordable maternity bathing suit that I mostly like, bring on the pool!!
3. Got the car to the dealership to address the cars recall notice.

Bonus: While the car was being fixed, chanced walking up to a local cafe and ending up having a delightful breakfast with my favorite toddler!

Giving Thanks this Thursday for:

a little girl who is "so glad to see me"

a hardworking husband coming home early to give me a night out

air conditioning

playground fun

new blog friends

'phone dates' with IRL friends far-away

everyday glimpses of grace, reminders of Our Father's love

Please visit Faith and Family Live and celebrate the small successes in our lives

Ten of my favorite things!!

1. As frustrating as it sometimes can be, it is fun watching her develop her own sense of style: I had selected another jumper for this photo shoot, she insisted on this one.
2. Listening to her tell her Daddy how her day went
3. Her outgoing nature; saying "Hi" and "Have good day!" to people we pass on the street
4. When she tries to tickle to me.
5. We are using the monitor again because of the noise of window fans; so I again get to listen to her early morning conversations with her crib mates.
6. That sweet moment when the wiggles have passed and she snuggles in for one (or two) more stories
7. Hearing her say as she runs to give me a hug "So glad to see you!"
8. How very 'cool' she looks in her sunglasses.
9. Watching her count and smell the flowers on our walks.
10. Swinging high into a clear blue sky with her sitting happily on my lap.

Remembering to give thanks for the fun of living my life with a growing thriving toddler!!