Quick Takes Vol. #58: NFP posts edition

1. Around here it has been a week of quality of mother-daughter time as 'Daddy' has been working very long hours and often not getting home till long after bedtime. Shopping, Storytime at the library, and lots of playing at her water table.
2. However across the country this was NFP Awareness Week with the theme of Trust: God has a plan for your marriage. Bloggers across the sphere have responded with wonderful posts both humorous and heartfelt.
3. Maggie of From the Heart writes beautifully of the trust aspects of NFP
4. Sarah of Fumbling towards Grace shares some of health-promoting aspects of NFP
5. Elizabeth of That Married Couple points out how the skills gained through NFP can provided aid towards achieving a pregnancy.
6. While Elizabeth's husband and Rebecca of Feel My Love share some of the humorous side, here and here.
7. Due to commitments at home and the increasing fatigue of late pregnancy this could have felt like a very isolating time but thanks to these and other wonderful people sharing of their lives and faith journey, even from my little corner of the world I have felt part of this great movement. Thank you!!

Please visit Conversion Diary and read the rest of this weeks round-up hosted by Jen.

Ten on Tuesday: July 27th

1. How do you take your coffee on an average day? How do you like your coffee if you’re splurging?

Average day: cream and Splenda but if I'm splurging I'm headed to Starbucks for a Mocha

2. What is your genre of books to read?

Historical fiction especially romance

3. Where do you want to retire, if you could go anywhere?

Definitely New England, hopefully near the ocean within easy visiting distance of the family

4. The 17-year-old you is told to write a 10-minute speech. What topic would you have picked?

As President of SADD, I did have to give several on the dangers of drinking and driving.

5. What word describes you best?

JOYFUL

6. What is the next “event” that you are looking forward to? (ex.: vacation, moving, date, job change, etc)

Vacation in a little less than two weeks, though the next big event is the birth and joining of our family of Cashew!

7. Do you like to discuss controversial topics or do you prefer to avoid those types of conversations?

Generally avoid, though with my husband and close friends I really enjoy a good discussion and debate.

8. Would you rather add 4 free hours to each day, or add 1 extra day to the week?

On first reading an extra day; I think

9. If you created a sports team; what would your colors and mascot be?

Mustangs: Purple and Brown

10. If you had to be a teacher, what subject would you teach?

History

Please head over to Roots and Rings to enjoy others answers to these questions and thank our lovely host, Chelsea

Quick Takes Vol. #57: Snapshot of a toddler

Seeking to see the good in every stage ~ even toddlerhood, a few things I don't want to forget about this time and place in our lives

1. Constant narration of our day and activities, where we are going, what we are seeing; and if these aren't interesting enough ~ we start looking for 'number pyramid', 'lost city' and the 'gooey geyser'.
2. Current favorite phrases: Her introduction to others "I Lisbeth and this is my friend, Mommy" and when asked to move from one activity to the next often we are asked for "Just one more minute"
3. Our bedtime routine has long included reading books, and now so must the nap time process. So gratifying watching her come to love books and words.
4. Favorite foods: Mozzarella cheese, lemonade, eggs, ice cream and cupcakes (muffins). Will generally refuse to sit in a high chair or booster at restaurants.
5. Interestingly and probably not coincidentally as my lap has begun to disappear, she is much more interested in sitting in my lap. A fun and interesting challenge.
6. Still insists that someone hold her hand (and foot) for a few minutes as she settles into her crib and transitions from day to night.
7. In so many ways becoming more independent (and defiant) little person, and yet still my sweet, snuggly, pony toting Lisbeth.

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to visit Conversion Diary and enjoy the rest of the Quick Take round-up!

Small Successes: July 22nd

1. Got the yearly inspection for the car done.
2. Replaced E.'s little pool after the original one developed a leak this weekend.
3. Have a baby book purchased for the new baby.

Giving thanks this Thursday for:

a hard-working spouse who gives of himself so generously to those he cares for

air conditioning

hugs and snuggles from my favorite toddler

continue good health during this pregnancy

good friends to share life's adventure with

God's great love and abundant grace.

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share your own Small Successes!!

Ten on Tuesday: July 20th

For each of the following 10 categories, tell us which brand/product you use and why.
1. Cell Phone

Samsung through Sprint: Best combination of price and features when it was time to get new phone.

2. Email

Google and a small server my husband set up for a bunch of us when we lost our graduate school accounts.

3. Toothpaste

Aquafresh~ for so many years now I can't remember why I started or what first appealed.

4. Car

Toyota Prius ~ hybrid and good amount of space for a sedan

5. Writing Utensil

No loyalties here, sorry!

6. Lotion

Bath&Body Shop: Lavender or Raspberry

7. Interior Paint

Behr: low fumes, good coverage, decent color selection

8. Soda/Drink

Dr. Pepper (no explanation needed, right)

9. Laundry Detergent

All; Free and Clear ~ gentle enough to use for baby clothes but gets stuff clean.

10. Medicine

CVS for vitamins, Ibuprofen for pain management (usually generic) AND luckily that is all

the medicine I need to worry about regularly.

My thanks to Chelsea of Roots and Rings for another fun Ten on Tuesday quest.

Quick Takes Vol. #56

1. Enjoyed a special treat recently as two of my three siblings stopped for a visit on their way to elsewhere. First my youngest sister and her family. Which means I got a good cuddle with my baby niece who has developed a beautiful smile she shares eagerly with those who talk to her.
2. My nephews were able to find plenty to play with even if they were 'little girl' toys, though the fact that she has a very cool rocket with lunar buggy worked in her favor.
3. Next was my brother full of tales of his adventures having at that point completed half of the Appalachian Trail. Happy for hot showers and a/c, he stayed an extra day to rest a chin-split and eat ice cream.
4. While closer to my sisters having actually grown up with them (he is actually my half-brother and much older), I do share a strong personality connection with D. Both our sisters are 'life of the party' extroverts while D. and I are introverts.
5. Both visits left me very grateful for the friendships I have built with all of my siblings as we have grown to have homes and families of our own.
6. Another midwife appointment today which will hopefully hold no surprises. Am happy to still be feeling well even as it is increasingly obvious I'm sharing body space with a growing baby.
7. Plans for the weekend: WEEDING (the alternating extreme heat and thunderstorms has given my backyard the jungle look) and some prime family time before C. begins a couple weeks of long work days.

Wishing you a good weekend and reminding you to please visit The Conversion Diary for the rest of this weeks round-up.

Celebrating Versatility

Thank everyone for their kind comments; yes the migraine is better and as I don't get them too often will be the last until after September when I can again take medication for them. Another thing making the day even nicer was this lovely award from Maggie of From the Heart, for which I thank her very much.

The rules for this blog award are:

1. Thank the blogger who gave it to you; (see above)
2. List 7 things that people may not know about you;
3. Pass the love to 15 deserving bloggers (gonna have to amend this one...how about 7?);
4. and let them know that you gave them an award.

7 Things about me:

1. Child of an interfaith marriage, I am proudly Catholic and appreciative of the tolerance I learned in the Unitarian Church
2. Did not learn to swim till I was ten because...
3. Had ear tubes placed 4x between the age of 5 and 10
4. Favorite show is The Waltons
5. Wrote one of my college admission essays about Anne of Green Gables
6. Was six months old in my first passport photo (visited family in Belgium)
7. First concert was John Denver (I was five yrs old)

Passing the award to:

Musing of a young mom

Roots and Rings

City wife/Country Life

Momma Molly

Karen in Mommyland

This Heavenly Life

Matching Moonheads

Please check them out, I always enjoy wonderful writing on a wide range of topics when I visit.

Ten on Tuesday: July 13th

1. What is the worst movie you have ever seen?

Sideways (Didn't get it, don't like it)

2. Do you have a favorite Disney/Pixar film?

Disney ~ Mulan Pixar~ Cars

3. Do you have a favorite movie from the 80′s?

Many; Out of Africa, Dirty Dancing, Top Gun

4. Are there any movies you saw more than once in the theater?

Recently ~ Return of the King (last of the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and probably a few others when I was young.

5. What is one city/area of the US (or country you live if you do not live in the US) that you have not seen but would like to see?

Pacific Northwest

6. What are your favorite toppings on an Ice Cream Sundae?

Whipped cream and toffee

7. How many proms did you go to? What color was your prom dress? If you went to muliple proms, what color was your favorite prom dress?

None ~ I was quite the loser in high school

8. Is there a sport or extra-curricular activity that you didn’t get to try as a child that you wish you would have? (e.g. gymnastics, piano lessons, ballet, etc.)

Horseback riding

9. How many silblings do you have? Are you the oldest, middle, or youngest?

Older half-brother and two younger sisters

10. Do you feel like you fit in with your age group? Or do you feel younger/older than your age group?

I fit in well I think, though I feel a bit younger ~ more early thirties than late thirties probably based on when I had always thought I would be raising babies.

Please visit Roots and Rings to enjoy more takes on these ten questions

Quick summary with a promise of more..

Am planning and putting together a post about how much I enjoyed spending time with my siblings last week as two of three stopped by for a visit on their way to other places. However at the moment am begging your pardon as I have a migraine which makes typing difficult especially as the only thing I can really do for it at the moment is to sip something with caffeine and try to close my eyes as often as my favorite toddler with let me.

Wishing all a good start to the week.

Wednesday Wondering: What's for dinner?

From Maggie of From the Heart's lead, I offer a Wednesday Wondering:

What do you make for dinner when your brother is visiting and he has essentially walked here from Georgia on his way to Maine? When asked what he wanted he said "Ice Cream", so clearly that is on the menu but I think I should probably offer something else in addition.

Thoughts??

Pregnant Pause: 30 weeks

Amazingly according to the calendar I am now 30 weeks with less than 70 days to baby debut according the countdown in the side-bar. Personally I'm guessing slightly more as Lisbeth decided (with a bit of nudging) to come ten days after my due date; so odds are good that I will again see another due date come and go ~ thought perhaps not by ten days again.

Movements are becoming more vigorous with Cashew making use of all the space available and no longer quite so focused on my bladder and hips though they continue as the favorite kick points. We have also been able to begin playing the "Guess with body part?" game as different small and large knobs make their way across and up & down my abdomen.

Consistent temperatures in the nineties inching towards the hundred mark has allowed me to fully appreciate pregnancy in the summer. Luckily an air conditioned house and plenty of lemonade and ice cream has helped me maintain my perspective and keep the Braxton Hicks contractions to a minimum.

Beginning to make inroads in preparing for baby's arrival; stored newborn clothes bins have been retrieved if not sorted and newborn size diapers have been bought. Midwife visits scheduled for July and most of August. We continue to read 'new baby' books at bedtime though I have my doubts that Lisbeth will fully understand the concept until a certain new person comes to live in our house.

The view from thirty weeks.

Quick Takes Vol. #55: VA trip wrap-up!

1. Last weekends trip to visit my family in VA was very successful with E. traveling well and having fun playing with her cousins, who no longer consider her a baby ~ partly because there is now a new baby and partly because she now joins in their games.

2 Took the opportunity off having all the cousins together to take pictures, after which someone commented that this likely the last photo of the six cousins before the seventh arrives.

3. Part of the weekend also included a trip to a community pool that my sisters belong to. It was really nice to see Lisbeth playing with her cousins in the baby pool, and after some encouragement having fun in the big pool also.

4. My trip allowed me to miss the big wind/hail storm which came thru a week ago. We lost power for about twenty hours (which seems to be the average; with some people never losing power and some just recently getting it back). Amazingly the only real damage we sustained was the cracking of one of our skylights cover domes.

5. This was our first long trip since turning Lisbeth's car seat forward facing~ required a new approach to handing things to her, but I think helped that we were looking a the same view.

6. The storm blew down many of my growing tomatoes but a few were spared for my first official harvest of homegrown produce. Yay!!

7. Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy July 4th weekend!!

Please visit The Conversion Diary to enjoy the rest of this week's Quick Takes round-up

Small Successes: July 1st

1. Survived soloing the long roundtrip to VA and back last weekend and was no worse for wear than a little hoarse from singing many, many rounds of "The Wheels on the Bus"
2. Have gotten the newborn clothes box out of storage to get a sense of what we have and need.
3. Remembered to use a $20 gift certificate before it expired, and even got something for myself not just the cute munchkin I live with.

Please visit Faith and Family Live and join the celebration of all the little successes that make up our world.