Wonderfully Chaotic

Breastfeeding: The Good, The Bad & The Milky

2013-05-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

You all remember my breastfeeding confessions post, right? If you don't, I'll give you the short of it: I had a really rough time attempting to breastfeed my first child, didn't even try with my second, and was terrified I was going to mess everything up again this time with my third child. However, I'm happy to report that we've been exclusively breastfeeding for two and half months now and things are going great! In that time, I've learned a lot about breastfeeding and just wanted to share my thoughts of everything so far:

The first couple feedings were not magical. Even though I KNEW it would probably be a learning experience, I kept hoping that baby would arrive and magically begin suckling with no problems. So I began to feel mildly panicked when his initial feeding was a challenge. But my midwife kept instructing me, showing me different positions to try, and just putting the baby to my breast.

Breastfeeding can hurt. There are so many books or articles that say "breastfeeding should not hurt." So when I felt pain, I thought great, I'm doing it wrong. They are right, it shouldn't hurt...but it can, at least initially, when you're trying to get everything figured out. My postdate baby has a VERY strong suck which could have contributed to the initial pain some. I also had a few issues at the beginning getting him to latch - it wasn't his issue, though. My nipples kind of were going flat every time I tried to feed him so we had to use a little thing to draw them out and I had to figure out how to position him on the breast right. And the more worried or stressed you get, the harder it is. I was very sore for the first week or two - I even had a few spots that cracked & bled and was beginning to dread feeding him. There were two things that helped me, though:

1. Having someone qualified watch me nurse & asking them questions. I had a midwife and a breastfeeding peer counselor at the ready to answer my questions. They helped figure out my issues, reminded me to relax, and gave suggestions.
2. Having a supportive husband. Although there really wasn't anything he could do for our initial issues, him telling me if we could just get through another feeding, it would get better, was actually very helpful. It's hard to keep goals in mind when you're in pain, but when someone is cheering you on, it gets easier.

I want to reiterate that pain can happen but that it's the sign that something is wrong or was wrong, and is now on the mend. All my issues healed up during the end of the second week. I'll feel the occasional tug or pull now, but it's not painful at all.

Breastfeeding is messy sometimes. For the first week or so, I consistently had giant wet spots and splotches all over my shirt. That let-down can really "let go" at times and baby isn't always prepared for it or will pull back and then you'll end up with streams of milk going everywhere. Or sometimes it will just happen. I was changing one morning and looked over at baby, happily cooing away in his bassinet, and suddenly it was go-go-gadget milk! Sometimes it's easier to just go shirt-less, especially in the beginning. (Assuming you are at home, that is!) I thought about putting a sign on the door temporarily that said, "If you stroll in unannounced, you may find me without a shirt." And really all the skin-to-skin contact with baby is good, for you and him/her.

I'm still learning to NIP (Nurse In Public). I am not going to tell you how to nurse your baby. I figure it's your baby and your body. I support breastfeeding mommas of all kinds. All I will do is share my experiences and feelings. I still have the occasional issue but it's much easier than it was. I'm a rather modest person so I do cover up when we're out in public and/or try to find a cozy spot with less people. While I have escaped to a bathroom a time or two, I made sure it was one with a sitting area - I will not feed my baby while sitting on a toilet or anything like that. NIP for me also depends on what audience I'm with. At a sit-down dinner with a big room full of strangers? I'm going to go out and find someplace else. At my best friend's house? I'll just feed him while I sit on the couch.

Now that I've got the hang of it, breastfeeding is so easy and convenient. Seriously. Feeding this kiddo could not be any easier. Especially at night! I don't have to stumble out into the kitchen half awake to find a bottle, scoop formula, mix, shake, heat...all I have to do is pop something into his mouth! The diaper bag is a lot lighter too! It's also relaxing, in a unique sort of way. There is a special breastfeeding bond you develop, as much as I never thought I'd say that. (And that's not to say that the bond with any of my other kids is any less, it's just a different kind of feeling I guess. I'm not sure how to describe it.) A pediatrician assumed I had breastfed all the kids because {and I quote} "You're a natural!" That was really nice to hear.

You develop a camaraderie with breastfeeding mothers of all ages and stages. I've only had one instance so far of a negative response to my breastfeeding in public - but it was just some dumb teenage girls. I have found that no matter where I NIP, I am inevitably met with positive feedback from mothers who breastfed. There always seems to be someone who comes by and says, "Oh, how beautiful" or "Way to go" or "I nursed all three of mine!"

I just wanted to share my breastfeeding success story for those who are struggling or who are just looking into breastfeeding. Just because it didn't work before doesn't mean it can't ever work again. I did not think I'd ever breastfeed again but with good support and determination, we did it!

Homeschool Books for Sale!

2013-05-09T18:06:00.000-04:00

I put a bunch of different homeschooling items (and a few other assorted books) up on Ebay today and just wanted to share in case any of you may be looking for something. Check out the widget below to see what I've got for sale right now - and check quickly because as soon as I listed one set of books, somebody bought it immediately! Whew!

Top Ten Tuesday: What I've Learned About Myself Through Homeschooling

2013-05-07T22:53:00.000-04:00

iHomeschool Network is hosting their 10 in 10 series now through the next ten weeks. I'm joining in through Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings and writing about the subjects they're all talking about. :) So...on to today's topic!

The Top Ten Things I've Learned About Myself Through Homeschooling

10. Order and planning are very much essential to the life of my homeschool. If I don't have at least somewhat of a plan for my day or week, everything tends to falls apart because I have a tendency to not manage my time well. If I already have a list of tasks that need checked off, I'm less likely to procrastinate and waste time. That's not to say that we always have to follow the plan word for word but having a plan does generally help things to run smoother.

9. Sometimes I just have to throw everything out the window. I know this kind of contradicts my last statement but hear me out. If we're plodding along through something, and we've REALLY been trying to make it work but it just won't...then it's perfectly okay to chuck it and find something that works. This is also true for when we're having a really rough day. Sometimes you just have to throw the plans out and go outdoors, read a book, run some laps, or even take a nap.

8. Even though it can be challenging sometimes, I really do love being at home with my kids and teaching them. I love seeing their faces light up when they "get" something, spending time working together on projects, reading stories that I loved as a kid, coloring, crafts, and taking the time to learn about the things they're interested in. I love being able to explore different subjects to their hearts content.

7. With that being said, I also highly value my alone time. I do love being with my kids. But like everyone else, I also need some time just to myself. For the time of life I'm in right now, that's practically non-existent. But I get it where I can. After the kids are tucked into bed for the evening (and finally asleep) there are a few little hours there where it's just me and the baby - and I can watch a little TV or read a book. When the baby gets up for his early morning feeding, he often goes back to sleep right after. If I were to stay up then, I could have some alone time then too. (But I usually just go back to sleep!) And when I can get a babysitter for my older kids, even if it's just for a few hours, that gives hubby and I time to reconnect

6. Time for Momma and Daddy is even more important. It is very easy to get caught up in all of the "mom" and "teacher" duties and to neglect others. I make a point to chat with my husband when he gets home from work (after he's had a chance to get settled in) and to text or email him when he's gone. We also try to get a babysitter at least once a month so we can do things, just the two of us. (Although at this point in time we also have a little baby so he obviously stays with us too for now.)

5. Being around other homeschool moms can be the difference between "I love homeschooling" and "Where is that school bus again?!" I really treasure the friendships I have made with other local homeschooling moms - they are my lifeboat when I feel like I just can't do it anymore or when I'm totally lost on how to tackle a problem. It is SO reassuring to be with them and to know their kids aren't going to pester mine about not going to "real' school (yes, someone told Zeke that once) or to hear them talking about issues we've also been through. The more experienced, veteran moms almost always have the answers and the younger moms are right there with me in the trenches, so to speak.

5. Reading blogs about homeschooling can be very helpful...as long as I take them with a grain of salt. I love reading blogs about homeschooling. There are SO many creative ideas online and helpful activities I can use in our homeschool. I'm very thankful for the internet. However, I've learned to be careful when I'm feeling weary or down. I can't compare one of our crappy days with the picture perfect post I see online where the children are all sparkling clean, they do their work without complaint, and everyone is perfectly cheerful. We're only seeing the good stuff. When I have one of those days, it's best to go for the posts that are chock full of "real life" stuff, about the nitty gritty of homeschooling.

4. Curriculum catalogs can be the devil. Curriculum catalogs are oh so bright and shiny and they arrive in my mail to tempt me. "Shaaayyyyy....here is a magic curriculum. It will solve every problem in your homeschool! And only for $99.99." Or "Shaaayyyy...you need to read this book on homeschooling. It will help you learn what you're doing wrong!" I kid, I kid. I do buy stuff sometimes. It just seems like the catalogs all arrive at once and then I'm left scratching my head and wondering if we should switch to this subject from that publisher or if one of the kids would do better with another type of curriculum.

3. It is totally okay to not know or understand something. When we first started out homeschooling, I was really worried about what I would do if I didn't know how to do something and the kids asked about it. However, I've found that it really isn't that big of a deal. Whatever it is just becomes a learning experience for us. We either look it up online, in a book, or ask someone who can explain it to us.

2. Prayer is a must. I take everything to God in prayer, but especially my homeschool. I pray for guidance when we struggle and I praise when we experience joy. In those moments when I feel like the kids entire future and well-being rests on whether they get this one problem right...I pray. (Because obviously that's not the truth.) When I wonder if the kids will ever learn the hard stuff...I pray. (Because they will.) When I wonder if I'm good enough to teach them the hard stuff...I pray. (Because I alone may not be, but through HIM I can be.)

1. Whatever problems or challenges I may face, God's got it under control. 'Nuff said.

Another Overdue Update

2013-05-02T07:47:00.003-04:00

Our family has been pretty busy recently and I apologize for not writing sooner. I haven't had any spare time to really just sit at the computer & write. (Well, I do have free time occasionally...I usually spend it sleeping though!) While I have been tweeting & Instagram-ming a lot, I can do those easily from my phone. I have had a lot of different ideas & thoughts that I've tried to jot down when I could. Writing is such a big passion of mine and it stinks that I haven't been able to do it...but real life and family should always take precedence. And sleep. Sleep is very important. So here's a bit about what we've been up to:

I've been taking care of a baby...and that takes up a lot of time, believe it or not! ;) Baby Zac is growing like a little weed and oh so adorable. He went for his two month check-up yesterday and is right around 12 pounds. He's gotten into somewhat of a regular sleeping pattern. It varies of course but he usually does have a 5-6 hour stretch at night, followed by an early wake up & feeding, and then another 3 hour stretch. (And that's totally fine with me! I can survive pretty well on that amount of sleep.) He's smiling, cooing, giggling, so alert...it's adorable. I may have already said that - but it's true! :) He's really pretty easy going. He can be fussy and have his moments of course, especially when he's ready to eat and he'll DEFINITELY let you know he's unhappy (he has a VERY loud cry - much louder than Zeke or Ellie ever were) but what baby doesn't?! For the most part he's very relaxed and content.
Breastfeeding is going well! Some days I feel like that's all I do but I'm very happy. In fact, I've written up another post - to be published in another day or two - to tell you all about it. I will say that we are a success story thanks to good support and that it gets easier every day.
Zeke is in baseball again so we've been busily going to his weekly practices & games. This year he's in the minor leagues. The last two years he's been in coach pitch (where the coaches pitch the ball obviously) and they don't keep score. This year he had to actually try out. His team hasn't won any games yet but I can see that they're definitely showing improvement and are learning more with each game.
Ellie is doing well. She's been a little sassy recently but I think that's the age she's at. (Although I feel like I've been saying that since she was like 2 and 1/2...so I may have to give up that excuse before too long, LOL.) She's been picking up on all kinds of things during our school time and has been requesting that I teach her to read so I have been busily printing out preschool packs for her to do and pointing out the different words to her in books.
We're FINALLY getting back into a good groove for school. I've been facing a lot of challenges in our homeschool recently that have really been testing me and have even been feeling like I can't do it anymore...but I'm hopeful that we can finish out this year well and have a fresh start for next year, whenever we finally get finished.
I think a lot of my school trepidation is because of how the kids have been interacting recently. For the past few months, the kids have started to bicker and rile each other up more. I feel like I'm constantly having to get on them for copying one another, fighting, not sharing, chasing each other around the house, etc. I guess it's just sibling rivalry and the ages they are at but it has been driving me batty. I have been trying to emphasize how we need to treat each other kindly, with respect, and how we shouldn't fight but I don't think my point is being absorbed. I know they love each other and a lot of times they do play nicely....I think I just need to try another approach.
My husband is still working quite a bit but thankfully here recently he's been able to have some more time off and gotten to spend more time at home. He and Zeke attended a play a few weekends ago and he's been taking nature walks with him as well, looking for mushrooms but also just enjoying talking about the scenery and wildlife.
Something else big to do with my hubby - he graduated last weekend from college! I couldn't be more proud. I am SO glad he's done with his schooling and am hopeful this will help him in his career. The graduation ceremony at his school was really neat and I'm glad we got to attend. The kids were pretty good for the six hour drive (almost three hours there and three hours back) and we all went out to dinner that evening.
We've also been busy with other things - church, family events, birthdays, homeschool group, and such. I've unfortunately had to step down from the Homeschool Review Crew. I no longer have the time to commit to it. I'll greatly miss it and it was such a blessing for our family but I'm trying to figure out how to balance things. I want to write and blog but also don't have all that much free time. Hopefully now that baby seems to have somewhat of a set bedtime I'll be able to sneak in here every so often for more updates and blog posts. :)

TOS Review: A Journey Through Learning

2013-04-08T14:30:00.004-04:00

We recently had the opportunity through the Schoolhouse Review Crew to try out some items from A Journey Through Learning. We received three lapbooks and one unit study. We received them as downloads - printed them out, got some manila folders & other materials, and then got to work. We chose to first try out The Earth lapbook, which is recommended for grades 1-4. In the picture below you can see the kids putting together our lapbook cover. Although Ellie isn't technically in the age range, she likes to be involved so I printed out additional pages & let her scribble & cut to her heart's content.

In this lapbook we learned all kinds of things about the Earth and it's spheres, landforms, the atmosphere, oceans etc. There are step-by-step instructions included in case you've never made a lapbook or don't understand how it works. I read aloud the passages and text included in the study guide while Zeke worked on coloring, cutting, and pasting. These are so very good to do with a child who is hands-on, who needs something to occupy their hands while listening, or who is a more visual learner. We also pulled out our atlas and used it alongside the lapbook as it has a special section on landforms (with lots of pictures) that went really well with that particular section in the lapbook.

A Journey Through Learning offers a variety of different lapbooks and unit studies. The lapbook we did (The Earth) can be bought in print for $21 or as a download for $13. Click the button below to see other Crew Member's reviews of this lapbook and others.

Wordless Wednesday: The Cutest Little Man Ever

2013-03-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

If I do say so myself. :)

TOS Review: MusIQ Homeschool - Adventus

2013-03-26T22:49:00.001-04:00

We are a music loving family - hubby plays the guitar, I play the piano and flute, and all of us love pretty much any kind of music. I don't play as much as I'd like to anymore but I wanted to teach Zeke, and the other kids eventually, too. I'd gotten a beginner book and started with him a bit but hadn't gotten very far, other than a few basic lessons, because of the new baby and other things. I'd actually even begun considering taking him to someone else for lessons, since I couldn't find the time to work it into our schedule here at home. That changed once we got to review MusIQ Homeschool from Adventus. We were given all of the programs listed below for one year. There are quite a few things that we haven't even gotten into yet but I will tell you about what we have used and give you an overview of the things we're going to use later on.

Adventus has other educational music programs available but the ones I'm talking about in this review were specifically made for homeschoolers, from ages four up to eighteen. (Although after seeing the program, I know some adults who could probably use it too and be okay with it!) For the programs you will need a computer, internet, and a MIDI capable keyboard. I already owned a MIDI keyboard and simply had to purchase a little USB adapter plug from Amazon so we could use it with the computer. If you don't have a keyboard like that, they are available to purchase from the company. I had a few little issues initially setting it all up (probably because I have an older style keyboard)

We started out with the Children's Music Journey program, which has three volumes, and is for ages four to ten. The lessons moved quickly but were fun, colorful, and engaging. Zeke picked up on them quickly and loved the games, which reviewed what was taught within the lesson. I loved that he was already learning about the composers (who were the main characters) and different types of music theory within the first few lessons. I also loved that this was something he could easily use himself, with me checking in every once in awhile to see how he's doing. In addition to the Children's Music Journey, we also received Piano Suite Premier and Ear Training Coach 1, 2, & 3 which feature more advanced lessons with hundreds of different pieces to learn, different practice sessions, new techniques, and more games.

To purchase this program, you have two different options - either buy the CD-ROM & lesson plans or buy a monthly subscription. There's also an option to combine buying the program with the purchase of a keyboard if you need one. They also offer a free seven day trial. This is definitely something I would look into if you're wanting to add piano lessons to your homeschool - it's easy and takes away the hassle of planning out lessons or shuttling kids back & forth to lessons.

Guest Post: Dear New Mom...

2013-03-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am honored to be writing this guest post here at Wonderfully Chaotic. In honor of Shay having her new baby, I wanted to take this opportunity to write a letter to new moms. These are things I wish someone would have said to be when I had my babies.

Dear New Mom,

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby. I am so happy for you. I want to take some time to encourage you as you begin this wonderful journey. I am a mom of 2 young boys ages almost 5 (we’re talking weeks here) and 3 and 1/2. They are 14 months apart, and those new mom days are very fresh in my memory. If you are anything like I was, you are being bombarded from everywhere with advice and
information, and most of it is conﬂicting. It can be very overwhelming because, of course, we want to be good moms, and we want to do everything “right.” Well, I want to encourage you to take a deep breath in...now let it out slowly. I have some very good news for you:

Short of true safety issues there is no “right.”

There are messages everywhere about how to be a “good mom.” They come from the internet, magazines, television, books, the 75 pieces of mail you get everyday now that you put your name on a list somewhere, and even from well meaning friends and family. Often, the information is very passionate and yet utterly contradictory to each other, with both sides saying you will ruin your baby if you don’t subscribe to their
view on issues such as:

Attachment Parenting vs. Cry It Out
Breastfeeding vs. Bottle feeding
Co-sleeping
Discipline
Cloth diapering vs disposable diapering (Do you know that even though we didn’t have a washing machine at the time, and had to go to my mom’s to do laundry, we ended up trying cloth diapering out of fear? We went to a “baby boutique” to get the special bottles Little Z needed because of his reﬂux, and became absolutely convinced that disposable diapers could kill him. They had a whole packet explaining it. We read it and bought a set of cloth diapers that day. After all, we couldn’t risk it. That lasted approximately 1 day. He is still here, and so are the millions of other kids who use disposable diapers. Now I’m not saying cloth diapers are a bad idea. I think they are a great idea for some people. I may even consider them now that I have a washing machine. But my point is that it is very easy to be swayed by fear of doing the wrong thing for our kids.)
Organic vs. regular baby food
Store bought baby food vs. make your own
Vaccinations on Schedule vs. No Vaccinations vs. Delayed Vaccinations

And on and on the list could go. Here is the truth: no matter which you choose you are a good mommy! The fact that you care about being a good mommy, and that you love your child means you are a good mommy. But more importantly, God chose you to be your child’s mommy because He knows you are the exact mommy that your little boy or little girl needs. And He will equip you to be that mommy.

The truth is you can’t spoil a baby by holding her too much. The truth is it’s not going to hurt your baby if you need to put him down and let him cry. Sometimes, we need to do that just to save our sanity. The truth is sometimes, bottle feeding is the answer for your family. I could write a whole other post on what happened with my babies and breastfeeding. This one is one that people get so passionate about and judgmental. It can cause a lot of mommy guilt. I’m here to tell you that it’s okay.

The truth is, I do have strong personal opinions about some of those things, but that’s just what they are, personal opinions. And my opinions may not be what’s right for you in your situation. You need to do what’s right for you and not worry about whether others think you are “doing it right.” Your child will not be scarred for life if you feed her non-organic baby food from the store.

At my blog Embracing the Process we shun perfectionism, and that is what I want to encourage you to do. There is no perfect mom. Embrace who you are as a mom - the mom God designed you to be.

Survival mode is okay, and it doesn’t last forever. Maybe your baby is sick, like both of mine were, maybe he has colic, maybe you are sooo sleep deprived, maybe you have post-partum depression (if you do I strongly encourage you to get help), or for whatever other reason you are in survival mode: as long as you are not doing anything that will harm your baby, yourself or anyone else, do what you have to do to get through the day.

Your motherhood will not be deﬁned by whether you got all the dishes done and the laundry put away. It won’t be deﬁned by whether you found time to take a shower every day, or by whether you put the baby in her crib and let her cry, so you could have a few much needed minutes to yourself. There were times, when I was living in survival mode, and my honest to goodness only goal for the day was everyone stays alive and no one gets injured.

If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Don’t think that you should automatically know all of the answers. While, we are living in a time of a plethora of information, we are also living in a time of much less community than we used to have. Years ago, women taught each other how to care for babies and children, and they helped each other in the actual doing of it. That doesn’t happen in today’s busy world. There are resources out there if you need help. Please don’t hesitate to ask. And if the ﬁrst place/person you go for help is not very helpful, try someone else.

I just want to encourage you to relax, enjoy your baby, and don’t worry about doing everything “right” or being the perfect mom. You are exactly the mom your child needs. The little things that seem like such a big deal, soon will not seem so big. You will sleep again. You will be able to eat a complete hot meal again. You will be able to shower regularly again (by the way, it’s okay to put your baby in the bouncy seat - strapped in properly of course - and put her in a safe place in the bathroom while you shower). And you will cherish the memories of these days as your baby grows.

You are an amazing mom!

With Love,

Stephanie Long

More about Stephanie: "I am a 27 year old wife, mother, and Jesus follower. I have 2 boys, 14 months apart. Little Z just turned 5, and Little N will be 4 soon. Until about a year ago I was a stay at home mom. That's when everything changed, and I went to work. I am currently a substitute teacher. Our goal is to bring me back home when the school year ends, and begin homeschooling Little Z for Kindergarten in the fall. I'd love for you check out my blog over at www.embracingtheprocess.com where I blog about marriage, family, God, homeschooling, and this crazy journey we are on."

TOS Review: TouchMath

2013-03-14T22:57:00.001-04:00

Zeke has been flying through his First Grade Math like there's no tomorrow. I love that he excels at and seems to enjoy this subject that I always struggled with. When we got a chance to sign up for this review of TouchMath through the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I went ahead & put him down for the Second Grade curriculum so he could try his hand at that.

TouchMath is a multi-sensory math curriculum that is available for Pre-K through Second Grade. One of the first things that is taught is that each number has counting points (or TouchPoints) on them that also correspond with the number that's being taught. For example: the number 3 has 3 TouchPoints that the student can actually feel when they count. I think this is a smart idea that really helps to drive the point home.
The Second Grade curriculum has four units - Unit A: Adding and Subtracting Within 50, Unit B: Adding and Subtracting Within 100, Unit C: Adding and Subtracting Within 1000, and Unit D: Time, Money, Measurement, Data and Geometry. Each Unit comes with an Implementation Guide, 6 Module Guides with Instructional Strategies, 90 Student Activity Sheets, and 6 Assessments - one per module. In addition to receiving the curriculum, we also received the computer software and several different kinds of manipulatives - TouchNumerals, FlipCards, and Student Number Cards. (They also offer a variety of other different kinds of manipulatives and products.) The lessons & teacher prompts were easy to understand and the worksheets went over well but the manipulatives were definitely the biggest hit in our house.

The TouchNumerals you can see in the pictures below - the kids really enjoyed learning the TouchPoints and using them to make different kinds of Math problems. Zeke was also able to use the TouchPoints with other Math materials we had. The FlipCards were also a big hit. Zeke loves flash cards and gladly pulled these out daily to work on counting, addition and subtraction problems, and more.

We have greatly enjoyed using TouchMath. Not only has Zeke benefited from it, but Ellie has been able to join in too - and has been catching on to quite a bit! I enjoyed that the program was hands-on and that it offers so many different ways to reiterate the concepts being taught - through the manipulatives, the worksheets, the flip cards, the computer software, etc. I would highly recommend this program!

You can read more about TouchMath HERE and find all the purchasing links/pricing for the different items we received below:
TouchMath Grade 2 - Each Unit is $59.95 or you can purchase all 4 for $199.95
TouchNumerals: $99
Software: $99
Flip Cards: Each set is $19
Student Number Cards: $24 for a set of 10

Guest Post: The Crappy Doula’s Version of Zachariah’s Birth Story

2013-03-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

*Gotta say first off that 1. I love the title of this post! Haha! And 2. It totally made me teary eyed...but I'll blame the hormones! Anyway, here are my best friend's thoughts on Zac's birth and the first week or so. :)

Hello! I’m Shay’s bestie. If you want the scoop on her I have it….but I would only be willing to share the good stuff. ;)

Back in July Shay was present at the birth of my son and shared with you all my birth story. I was so blessed and privileged to be invited to attend the birth of Zachariah. For about a month before his arrival I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to make it, be it child care or a middle of the night delivery paired with my sad cell phone service. I’m glad I had prepared myself for this as it was the case.

I recall that about 1 AM the day of Zac’s birth I was texting a client (I’m a breastfeeding counselor) who kept apologizing for having me up late. I assured her that I was probably going to be up most the night and not to worry as my bestie had said she was having some contractions. Well, I went ahead and decided to get some shut eye at about 2 AM. At 5 AM I was woken up by my cell phone. I had two texts, both from Shay’s hubby. The first said that the midwife was on her way and the second read: “He’s here!!” Another followed shortly that read, “Your breast-pertise would be appreciated.” I nursed my son, who is now 7 months old, and headed that way. It’s a short drive but I was excited so it seemed to take forever.

When I pulled up I noticed that they had a houseful. The midwife, her assistant, both Grandmas, Grandpa, Daddy, older siblings, a Great-Grandma, an Aunt…it was a party! Shay was in her room, the assistant weighing and measuring the little guy. I was immediately invited to take part. I took his temperature, helped a little with latch (though the midwife is much more hands on than myself) and changed his first poopy diaper. The assistant and I stripped the bed and I washed the sheets. (FYI - Shout and Peroxide did excellent!) I held Shay’s hand during her exam and braided her hair. I don’t think I have ever felt more like she was my own sister than I did that day.

I was able to stop by at least once each day for the first week. Here lately I haven’t made it there but I try to make sure I touch base with her each day. I’m so proud of her and how well she is doing with breastfeeding. I had a similar experience as Shay did with breastfeeding my first. I, like Shay, had no plans of nursing my second. I know how devastating that “failure” (horrible word, but that’s what it feels like) feels. I’m over the moon to watch she and Zac do so fantastic. I love to weigh him and see his weight climb. She is such an amazing mom and friend. I know most of you only get the blogger side of Shay, but know that she is 100% committed to her family and they (and myself) are beyond blessed to have her.

Zachariah's Homebirth Story

2013-03-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

*Sorry for the lack of posts but I've been a wee bit busy with a new baby! :) I had planned on at least posting a little blurb about the birth but really haven't had time to between breastfeeding, taking care of the other kids & trying to get the occasional nap! So I've been writing this in bits & pieces over the past week on my phone and hopefully it makes some kind of sense. As a forewarning, this is a story about giving birth - I don't think I've been exceptionally graphic or anything but there is the occasional mention of blood & such. I also got a bit long winded so I put it all under a cut - enjoy!

On Saturday the 23rd we had an appointment with my midwife. I was around 41-42 weeks pregnant. When I woke up that morning and went to the bathroom I had some bloody show, which was exciting to me as that *could* mean labor is going to start. I didn't want to get too excited though as baby boy seemed pretty content on sticking around inside the womb. After the midwife took my vitals and ran her tests, we discussed our options. I was getting to be overdue - not that that was a huge deal to us, we knew it was just a guess - but I had had the bloody show, occasional contractions, I had dropped & was measuring 38 weeks instead of 40 like I had last time, etc. and so we decided to have the midwife do a stretch and sweep of the membranes. I started out the visit dilated to 3 and left dilated just at 4. For the rest of the day I had very mild contractions that were 20-30 minutes apart or so, gradually increasing as the day went on. I came home and cleaned, hoping to spur the contractions on, while the kids watched TV and hubby napped - he'd worked the night before. I cleaned up quite a few things in the kitchen, the dining room, and the living room. Around 9 or so I put the kids to bed and then went and laid down with hubby.
Between 11 - 12 that night, my contractions had intensified. They were every 7-8 minutes and I could still move around and talk, but they were getting stronger. I sat out in the living room for awhile, did deep breathing, and a little walking. I called the midwife around 1:30-ish and let her know they had picked up. We discussed her coming over but I felt very indecisive. I didn't want her to come over too early & wait around for centuries. I was totally expecting a long drawn out labor. We decided I would try to lay down for awhile to see if they tapered off and so I could maybe get some sleep. I did lay down but every time I would drift off I'd have a contraction. Hubby suggested I try and get in the shower. I got in and focused our shower head on my lower back - it was the only place I had felt pressure and pain. As I was getting ready to get out of the shower, I had a super strong contraction and braced myself against the bathroom wall to breathe through it. I went straight to the bedroom & told hubby, "We need to call the midwife."
I called the midwife back and she said she would be on her way shortly. I then called my parents and my hubby called his mother. He also tried to call my best friend. He then began filling the birth pool up while I stayed in the bedroom, breathing through the contractions that were coming every five minutes or so.
I remember sitting on the edge of the bed (because it seemed like the best/most comfortable place to be, for whatever reason) and breathing through my contractions as best I could. They were really coming on strong now and my lower back was aching horribly. I kept thinking to myself this is just a wave, it's coming in strong and I'm just going to blow it out and away - and that really helped me to move through them. With my previous births in the hospital, I had people there holding my hands, nurses buzzing in and out, machines hooked up to me...this time it was just me, in my house. I don't know if that contributed to how fast my labor went or not but I think it might have. (Total active labor time ended up being about 4 hours or so.) Hubby was there and kept popping in to make sure I was okay, but was also hurriedly trying to fill the pool. His Mom got there when she got off work and my parents arrived a little after that, and they also began helping with the pool. I had planned on having my Mom watch the kids but they were still asleep. (It was 3 in the morning, after all.) I went to the bathroom at some point in time and a little blood gushed down my leg - everything was definitely thinning out and preparing for baby's arrival. The midwife and her assistant got there shortly after that. By then I had started feeling intense pressure and had just thought "Hmmm, this is how I felt when I was ready to push with the other kids...surely it's not that time already."
The midwife came in and asked if I was feeling "pushy" yet and I said I thought I might be. Again, I had expected to be in labor for a long time and/or for it to stall like it always had in the hospital. She had me lay down so she could check my progress and as she did my water broke and she said, "Oh you're ready to have this baby now!" I was so shocked! Everybody started rushing around. She asked if I wanted to move to the birth pool - it wasn't completely full yet but she said we could go out & try it anyway - but I didn't feel like I could move from where I was. Just standing up to move into a different position was challenging.

Hubby came in then and she had him kneel on one side of the bed and assist. The position I pushed in was totally odd (or seemed totally odd to me) but she suggested it because of baby being posterior - sort of on my side with hubby holding a leg and me holding the other. It wasn't how I imagined laboring but it worked out just fine. I began pushing when I felt the urge and taking little breaks in between. I remember thinking at first that I wanted to push carefully and easily but once I heard the midwife say they could see his head (with tons of hair!) I pushed just to GET HIM OUT. :) I only pushed about 5-6 times total (I think) and then he was up on my tummy, squalling away. He was 8 pounds, 15 ounces - almost 9 pounds! - and 22 inches long, with a full dark head of hair and dark blue eyes that look just like Zeke's when he was a baby.

We decided on the name Zachariah Leon because Zachariah was a name that Zeke had talked about ever since we first announced that I was pregnant. He thought it would be so cool to have "Zeke and Zach" and has been so excited about being a big brother that we decided to go with his choice. Leon was my grandfather's middle name and we thought it went well with Zachariah.
The kids slept through EVERYTHING! I didn't scream or yell but I know that I did make a least a little bit of noise and there were a lot of people moving around & talking but it didn't phase them at all. After he was born and we were getting settled, hubby noticed that Zeke was peeking out his door. He asked him, "Do you want to come meet your little brother?" and Zeke's face lit up like Christmas morning. He was SO excited. We ended up having to wake Ellie up because she was STILL sleeping so she was a bit more groggy and not quite as excited as Zeke, but still pretty happy. :)

The rest of that day is a blur of people coming and going, our first session of breastfeeding, and general chaos. My Mom took the other kiddos with her for a few days so we could get adjusted, hubby got to stay home with us for a few days, and I've had numerous people bringing me food, checking in on me, taking my kids places, and doing my chores. My best friend (who unfortunately missed the birth) came in after Baby Zac was born, has been stopping by almost daily, and has been faithfully answering any and all of my questions & queries about breastfeeding, no matter what time it is. I have been blessed with the wonderful support of family and friends who've showered me with blessings and I couldn't be more grateful.
Our first week or so (he's 10 days old today) has really been pretty great. Breastfeeding has been a bit of a challenge but it's going very well - I'll write a more in depth post on that a little later though, because there's lots I want to say. Mister Zac has already gotten back to and above his birth weight! He's also even been letting me get a little sleep here & there, which is much appreciated. It's always a little bit of an adjustment, adding a new little member to the family, but for the most part things have been pretty smooth sailing. We are blessed. :)

Guest Post: Everything Needs to Eat

2013-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today's guest post is from my fabulous friend Chrissi who blogs over at Witkowski Family Happenings and Half Wit Rambles. (You can also find her on Facebook.) Chrissi is a wife and momma of two gorgeous kiddos. She loves to blog, cook, read, teach, volunteer, and listen to Sarah McLachlan. She feels really strongly about special needs advocacy, abolishing the "r" word, having a strong, tight family, and a good solid marriage. She and I have been online friends for several years now & I think you're really going to enjoy this post from her! :)

My father is an avid gardener; he's been gardening since he was a child and pretty much knows everything there is to know about gardening. A few years back, our family decided to try our hands at our OWN garden. It was a very exciting process; from plotting it out, to digging it all by hand, to finally planting it all and waiting for it to grow. As we eagerly checked our plants each day, sometimes multiple times since it was just so exciting for the two little ones who had never grown anything before, we started to notice a disturbing trend. Leaves were being nibbled, flowers being nipped, and plants literally disappearing. I called my father and said, "Okay, we obviously have something or multiple somethings eating our garden, what should I do?" He dished out the usual gardening advice like spray the leaves with dish soap and water, spread human hair around the plants etc etc and then gave me this last little tidbit that didn't really sink in until recently. He said "Over plant; everything needs to eat, Chris. It isn't going to hurt you OR the birds to plant some extra in your garden for them. As a bonus YOU'LL be happy too."

This advice was given to me years ago and today I found myself telling a woman at the grocery store that the best way to keep animals out of your plants was to over plant because the worst that could happen is that you'd have too many tomatoes and really, there's no such thing as too many tomatoes ha ha. Suddenly it hit me, it wasn't REALLY about gardening. It was about life; it was about love and kindness and doing good.

Eleanor Roosevelt has been quoted as saying "Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness" and I think what she really meant was "everything needs to eat" she was just a bit more eloquent than my father. You see, if I over plant my garden and the birds eat, we are both happy. I am happy because they leave the ridiculously overpriced and delicious heirloom tomatoes alone and they are happy because HEY! A whole tomato plant to pick at, yum!

If I am overly kind to someone, particularly someone who picks at me and tends to eat away at the best parts of me, we're both satisfied because I don't feel that I have to be irate at giving something to someone they clearly need and HEY! a whole tomato plant to pick at, I mean, no actually, I am giving them their own "Chrissi-tomato plant" to pick at.

It's an easy lesson to teach our children; we do it by example. When we go out of our way to be kind to someone who clearly needs it, when we offer to take someone's bags to their car at the grocery store even though it's three lanes over from our car but they are clearly struggling, when the person behind us in line at the grocery store is clearly exasperated by the length of the line and we let them go ahead of us despite the fact that they have more groceries than we do. It's so easy to lead by example and I guarantee that you if you over plant, you are going to feel good because of it.

Go ahead and challenge yourself to "over plant" this week...perhaps while doing so you'll "plant" the idea in someone else's head to do more good than necessary and they'll continue to pay it forward; but if they don't it's not a big loss, because at least YOU feel good about being kind, loving, and giving and you can't go wrong with that!

Guest Post: Baby Must Haves

2013-02-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

For the next month or so, I'm featuring a variety of different blogging friends and acquaintances in a series of guest posts. Today's guest blogger is Sarah from My Joy-Filled Life.

It can be a bit overwhelming when preparing for the arrival of a new baby, especially if it’s your first. You want to make sure you have everything you need before baby makes its appearance. All the gear, gadgets, clothes, and supplies that are on the baby market can really make your head spin. Do you really need everything on that long list of baby must-haves that the large baby stores suggest? I say no.

After having seven babies, I have realized that you don’t need all the fancy baby paraphernalia on those lists. With each baby I’ve had, the amount of stuff we need seems to decrease. And not because we already owned it from the previous baby, but because we realized we didn’t need it after all. After 10 years and seven babies, these are the items that have made my must-have list for babies:

1. Car seat – Every baby needs a car seat. It’s the law. They won’t let you leave the hospital without one. I prefer using an infant car seat and then changing to a convertible one when they outgrow the infant one. My favorite infant car seat is the Graco Snugride. I like using an infant car seat because this allows you to keep and carry the baby in the car seat if needed, like at the grocery store or if the baby is sleeping when you get home. Buying an extra base for you infant car seat is handy if you own two cars; that way you can easily put baby in either car. Also, make sure you get a seat that you are able to tighten the straps from the front rather than the back; tightening it from the back is just a pain.

2. Swing – All my babies have loved the swing. The swing is where my babies would sleep the longest. And when you are a mom with a newborn, you need whatever will help your baby sleep so that you can get your sleep too. For us, that was a swing. I like the ones that swing back and forth, and side to side; the one we have used is the Fisher-Price Cradle ‘n Swing.

3. Electric Breastpump – If you are going to breastfeed and plan to pump, you will want a good breast pump. I have used both manual and electric pumps and prefer the electric ones by far. I just don’t feel like the manual ones get the job done and empty out the breast completely. Even if you are going to pump occasionally, I would still recommend an electric one. I currently use the Medela Pump In Style Advanced. This one is a bit pricey, but I love it and it was so worth the money. There are cheaper ones on the market but I don’t know how they compare. I would recommend doing some research and read reviews before you make this purchase. Another option is renting a breastpump; contact your hospital’s lactation consultant or local Le Leche League for information on renting.

4. Nursing Pillow – Another must-have for nursing moms is a nursing pillow. There are several ones on the market; I have used the Boppy Pillow with all my single babies and the Double Blessings Pillow with my twins (a MUST for moms nursing twins). It’s important for a mom to have proper support and comfort while nursing and I feel having a nursing pillow helps with that immensely.

5. Zip-Up Sleepers – My babies live in one-piece sleepers for at least the first three months. No need to worry about lost socks or fiddling around in the middle of the night trying to snap all those snaps properly and in the right order. I love, love, love the Carter’s brand sleepers; they fit true to size, they are good quality, and they are affordable.

6. Nursing Cover – If you are comfortable nursing in public, you will want some kind of nursing cover. After two babies, I realized a blanket just wasn’t cutting it for providing privacy while nursing, especially if you baby is older and constantly pulling it down. There are several brands on the market, or if you are crafty (I am not) you could probably find a pattern and make your own. I love my Bebe au Lait nursing cover; it provides great coverage and allows you to keep an eye on baby without exposing yourself to the world.

And here’s my list, through my experience, of things you can do without:

1. Baby Bathtub – These things are pretty pricey these days, and high tech! I think it’s just a hassle to get a separate bath tub ready when I can just put a bath cushion in the regular tub and give the baby a quick bath.

2. Diaper Pail – I don’t like having a separate “garbage can” for diapers that just ends up getting stinky even though it claims to keep the smell contained. We throw our pee diapers in the kitchen garbage which gets taken out daily, and we put the poop diapers in a plastic grocery bag and throw them in the garage to go out to the big garbage outside at the end of the day. No more stinky garbages or diaper pails here!

3. Bumbo seat – This thing isn’t cheap! We’ve had one for three (the twins and a singleton) of our babies and they only use them for about 1-2 months tops. Just not worth the money in my opinion.

4. Baby hats – You know the cute little beanie hats? Mine only wear the hospital ones for about a day, but for some reason I continue to buy ones for at home that they never wear! Maybe next time I will resist the urge to buy those cute little things.

5. Changing table – If you are a first time mom, you will most likely have a changing table to match the rest of the furniture in the baby’s new nursery. I had a changing table for the first few babies but no longer have one. A dresser can double as a temporary changing table and we still don’t even use that very often. We just throw down a lap pad and change baby wherever – the floor, the bed, the couch.

6. Cradle/Bassinet – We’ve had both, but barely used either one. My babies just don’t like sleeping in them. They prefer sleeping in a swing, or bouncy seat, or with mommy. It will all depend on what you and baby prefer.

So there are my lists. Every family has different needs and desires, so your list might look completely different than mine. But maybe I’ve shed some light on some products that you never thought you needed, or ones you thought you did. I’d love to hear what your baby must-haves are, and what items you realized you could live without. {Please share in the comments!}

Sarah is the JOYful wife of Jorge, the JOYful mother of 7 blessings – ages 2 months – 10 years, and a JOYful servant to the Most High God. She has been JOYfully homeschooling for 6 years using an eclectic approach – a little of this and a little of that. You can find her blogging at My Joy-Filled Life about the joys of big family living, her faith, homeschooling, homemaking, and whatever the Lord lays on her heart. In her free time (what’s that?), Sarah enjoys baking (but not the clean-up), dabbling in photography, and running. You can also find her on Pinterest and Facebook.

Guest Post: Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Glaze

2013-02-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello, I'm Ang and I blog over at Juggling Act Mama. I love sharing my adventures in cooking, crafting - and cuddling! I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we both work full time outside the home. We have two children, Ethan, who is almost 5, and Olivia, who will be 2 next month.

On my blog, I share easy and kid-friendly recipes, crafts and DIY projects, as well as fun activities for the kiddos. I hope you'll come visit me to check out some of my favorite posts - here are a few:

And while you're there, don't forget to enter my latest giveaways!

Today, I'm honored to be here at Wonderfully Chaotic to share with you a very special treat - Chocolate Cupcakes with a Chocolate Ganache Glaze.

Oh my. I adore them.
These cupcakes are the very epitome of chocolate decadence. The cake is moist and chocolatey, but the thick ganache really puts these cupcakes over the top. Trust me when I say you must experience these cupcakes. The cupcake recipe is adapted from Food Network Magazine's Basic Chocolate Cake Recipe, from the January issue, and honestly, it's rather plain - there's nothing overly extraordinary about the cake itself, but paired with the ganche.... well, that's another story...

Let's get started! Here's what you'll need:

Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/2 boiling water
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Chocolate Ganache Frosting
(recipe follows)
Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees and line your muffin tin with liners (I'm not a fan of greasing each individual muffin cup - who has the time?)

Whisk the cocoa powder and 1-1/2 cups boiling water in a medium bowl until smooth and then set it aside.

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined.

You know, 'cause that's what the professionals do...

Now add the eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.

Beat in the cocoa mixture in a steady stream until just combined, then finish mixing with a rubber spatula. (The batter will be thin, but don't worry - it turns out the most delicious cake!)

Fill the cupcake liners about 85% full, and bake for about 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let the cupcakes rest 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack. The cupcakes must be completely cool before you add the ganache frosting.

Trust me on this one.

Now for the ganache... the very word is decadent, isn't it? This is a simple ganache, but if you want to get fancy, you can change the flavor by substituting the vanilla extract for another extract flavor, like orange or mint, a raspberry liqueur, or even some rum.

Chocolate Ganache Glaze

Ingredients:
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate bits
1/4 cup milk chocolate bits
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water, and whisk together the chocolate and cream until the mixture is smooth and thick - about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it stand about 5 minutes.

Remove the cupcake liners and carefully dip the tops of your cupcakes in the ganache, turning slowly to coat. Put the cupcakes into the refrigerator about 20-30 minutes until the ganache cools and hardens a bit before serving. Store any leftovers (haha!) in the fridge.

I hope you will give these cupcakes a try, and that you'll come visit me, too!

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Pregnancy Journal ~ 41 Weeks (or so)

2013-02-19T00:51:00.001-05:00

41 weeks, 4 days

I decided to break away from the questions I've been answering each week and just write out my thoughts as they come to me instead. As a forewarning, this entry should probably be entitled Cranky Pregnant Lady...

We had a midwife visit on Friday and at it we discussed about how at my very first visit, according to the dates I gave her, my due date was February 14th. It was after I went to get the ultrasound (when we couldn't find the heartbeat) that they said according to how I and baby were measuring that my due date was February 7th. So I am possibly just a little over 40 weeks instead of 41 weeks...but either way, we are past my due date now. I measured 40 weeks again, had gained two pounds, and the baby's non-stress test was good so no worries. We discussed some different things we could do to help labor along naturally and will probably be trying some of those at my appointment this coming Friday, assuming nothing happens before then. Nothing drastic and of course none of it will do anything unless my body/baby is already prepared to start labor.

I've continued to have some headaches on & off - I think mainly because of the changes in the weather and my sinuses acting up. I had a horrible migraine on Friday but was able to rest, took some Tylenol, and it cleared right up. I think it probably also has to do with my hit or miss sleeping. I've been having to sprawl out across the bed with the pillows arranged just so to be able to sleep decently - which is a bit of an issue if hubby is here. Luckily he works nights so I've been able to do this the majority of the time - but I'm still tossing & turning some. I'm also finding that after I start my day, once it hits about 10 AM I get VERY sleepy. I've been having to nap almost every day at this time just because I feel like I literally can't keep my eyes open at all.

I ask for general prayers for me, please. I've been having a lot of negative feelings this past week in addition to uncomfortableness. These past few days have been a little rough. I've been part of a group of ladies online that were all due around the same time and that has been very nice to have - to talk about symptoms, empathize with one another, talk about baby stuff, etc. But it's been very hard for me to see all their birth stories & baby pictures posted over the past two weeks or so. I know that it's not a big deal and I am really very happy for them...but I'm also hormonal and very ready for this baby to get here.

People mean well is what I keep telling myself. They just want to be involved or show an interest. The majority of people I don't mind talking to and I do know that they mean well...but some people just rub me the wrong way. Like when they find out the baby isn't here yet and they immediately launch into a barrage of questions - "Aren't you worried? Well you're supposed to have the baby on your due date! Is the doctor concerned? You look so miserable! Hopefully he's not HUGE."

Answers I Want To Give/Have Given: Telling me I look miserable is not helpful. At all. Would you like it if I told you how horrible you looked? I didn't think so. No, I'm not worried. A little anxious and very much ready, yes. Worried, no. The more you talk about worrying, the more it irritates me. No, the doctor isn't concerned because she's a midwife and she knows that babies will arrive when they're ready. I hope he's not HUGE also since I will be the one actually birthing him out of my body but I also understand that babies come in all shapes & sizes and I'm not going to get him yanked out just because he might be getting a little larger or taking a bit longer than what is considered "normal" now. And truthfully, only a very small percentage of babies are actually born on their due dates - you are only truly "post date" when you're over 42 weeks. Even ACOG says that.

I've also been getting: "Aren't you worried something is going to go wrong with your homebirth? I read about/heard a story about/knew someone whose baby DIED/who had to be transferred to the hospital/who had a hemorrhage/etc. Homebirth seems so unnatural/irresponsible." Well, we really researched homebirth a lot and I won't say that there is no risk - there's always a risk with pretty much anything you do. But since this has been a low-risk, normal pregnancy I am pretty confident. This isn't something I just decided I wanted to do on a whim. My midwife has been delivering babies for many, many years and is highly regarded in our state. She's expressly told us that she does not mess around or take chances and I appreciate that. We live within 5-10 minutes of a hospital. We have emergency plans in place in case we would need them. This is not something I take lightly. And our country's maternal mortality rate (with the majority of births being in the hospital) is no laughing matter either. Those are all answers I try to provide but the types of people that ask those questions generally either just want to hear themselves talk or don't really care and don't truly want to hear your answer.

SO other than visiting/talking with close friends and family, I decided to let our social calendar fall by the wayside for the most part until baby arrives. Hubby and I have already agreed that next time we'll probably just add a month or so to my due date...assuming we tell anyone to begin with! I kid, I kid...mostly.

On a happier note, I really am blessed with some great friends & family that have been checking up on me. One friend just happened to message me on a down day to ask how I was feeling emotionally. She probably didn't know that I was feeling down but that really meant a lot to me. Another friend came over to visit, very graciously made me a birth skirt to wear during labor, AND brought me over her cloth diaper newborn stash. I had a lot of fun sorting it all out into the baby's dresser - he has a drawer completely stuffed full of fluff now!

I hate to sound so negative and I hope that I haven't been a total downer in this post. I am truly grateful for my health and the baby's health. This has been my healthiest pregnancy thus far and I thank God for that. I'm glad the baby is "cooking" as long as he feels is necessary. I'm also glad I never had to deal with preterm labor, having a preemie, bed rest, or anything like that. I am very fortunate and I know that I probably actually will miss being pregnant...eventually. :) I cannot wait to see what he looks like though, to dress him up in all his cute little outfits, cuddle him, and introduce him to all the people that are so excited to meet him.

I found this post from Birth Without Fear to be especially inspiring and will leave you with just a little quote from it:

I am on the outside with exhausting thoughts and emotions. With aches and pains that bring me to tears. With the world throwing their “knowledge” and opinions at me like shards of glass. Some get through my outer layer of defense, piercing my confidence. They sting and hurt a little bit until I can rid of them.
BUT, my sweet baby is inside of my womb, protected from all of this. Baby is happy, comfortable and safe. Most importantly, the veil is thin for my baby and his/her wisdom is infinite. Regardless of how I feel, I know this as truth. I trust that God, my body and my baby are perfect. They are not cluttered with the “knowledge” of my mind. They are pure.

Guest Post: Getting Gorgeous in 2013

2013-02-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

For the next month or so I'm going to have different guest posts going up from a variety of different writers & bloggers. Today's guest post is from Anya Sarre. She is one of Hollywood’s most influential trendsetters. A nationally recognized celebrity stylist, Sarre is known for her impeccable eye and ability to tie any look together with the perfect accessory. Named “Best Television Fashion Stylist” for her appearances on Entertainment Tonight, The Insider and countless other media outlets, Sarre is the go-to fashion expert for Hollywood’s biggest celebrities.

Getting Gorgeous in 2013

With the new year finally upon us, it is time for you to consider what you want your style to be like. Everyone is always saying that you need to work on your personal style, but what does that really mean? Well, what it means is that this year, it is time to dress like yourself! Embrace all of the colors and textures that make you, you, and consider how to get the look that you want.

Get Online!
More and more girls are discovering their fashion inspirations online, and when you are looking at sites like ShoeDazzle, StyleMint, and Birchbox and Stella & Dot, you are going to have plenty to choose from. Are you looking for a more demure style this year, or are you in a spot where you are thinking about choosing something more lively? You can use your online sites to sort for items by color and by style, so use these resources to create the look that you are after.

Get Out!
Sometimes, the best fashions out there are the ones that you can find in your local retail stores. Don’t underestimate the chance to find something good when you head out shopping. For example, if you go out to stores like H&M, Forever 21, Fashion Bug and Torrid, you may be interested in trying new things that you never considered. Have you ever considered trying on a shrug with a sparkly dress? What about a short fitted vest over a white top? These are things that can make a huge difference to your style, so get out there and start experimenting!

Try It Yourself!
There are a thousand and one great books out there on making your own favorite accessories, so take a moment and think about how you can get the items that you need. Use sites like Pinterest to help you figure out what your own look might be. There are some fantastic things that you can make for yourself simply by paying attention to your own styles and tastes. Go online and take a look at some of the items that please you. This might be something that can change your entire look around.

When you are invested in looking great in the New Year, design a look that is uniquely yours.

TOS Review: Flowering Baby

2013-02-14T08:56:00.001-05:00

My little Ellie is three and a half - will be four next month actually - and over the past year or so she's really wanted to "do skoo" like her big brother does. She picks up on things SO quickly that I've given her her own little work box with her own activities and workbooks. I've also looked into different preschool programs and curriculum. One particular program that has worked beautifully for us is called Flowering Baby.

Flowering Baby uses a whole child developmental approach to teach young kiddos from birth through age five. It's a consistent program with it's own schedule but isn't rigid - it's very fun and interactive. This program aims to help develop a variety of skills including: language, social, cognitive, gross, fine motor, emotional and self-help. The program is separated out by year and is then broken down by month and/or theme. You can start it at any time and it only takes 20 - 40 minutes a day, depending on your child's age/skill level. You can see all of the different years and their focus/scope by visiting these pages:

VOLUMES 1 - 3: Birth to One // One to Two // Two to Three VOLUMES 4 - 5: Three to Four // Four to Five
Samples of the program are available at the bottom of each individual page too. Volumes 1 - 3 includes activities based on the child's age. Volumes 4 and 5 have two parts to them - the daily general education guide and the theme guide. Although I looked over each individual year, for use with Ellie we mainly did Year Three to Four. We skipped around between the monthly and themed guides. The general/monthly guide focused and built on learning the letters and their sounds, counting, shapes, colors, and patterns. There are lots of physical activities included too which is good for a busy little person, full of energy. There is also a suggested book list which is something else I loved - I can take it with me to the library & pick out the required books (or books with a similar theme) for that month. The theme guide I found to kind of resemble a unit study, only in smaller child format. Instead of having monthly plans, it covers different topics like animals, holidays, seasons, etc. It also includes book and activity lists. It's a neat way to focus and learn more about a particular subject.

I like that the curriculum doesn't use a ton of things I don't have and that it doesn't take a lot of prep work from me - always handy when you have little ones! A lot of the required materials were things I already had around the house. I also liked that it was educational and thorough but not *super* intensive. I feel like childhood needs to be enjoyed and that most early learning can - and should - be fun. Some preschool/early education programs can be so very structured that the child begins to see them as tasks or things that just have to be done. Flowering Baby is not like that - it's very open ended & encourages you to spend time with your child learning, reading, playing, and exploring. For example, some of the activities it includes are:

- Comparing the properties of two similar objects, such as a ball and an orange
- Talking about feelings and giving examples of different kinds (Ellie & I had fun acting out different emotions like anger, sadness, feeling shy, etc.)
- Using manipulatives/objects to make patterns (There are so many different things you can use for this!)
- Listening to music from a different composer each month while the child plays (Ellie listened to Mozart and Bach while doing puzzles)
- Collecting things from around the house and then classifying them into piles (I had Ellie gather things and then separate them into two groups - things that were blue and things that weren't)

I'm excited to try this curriculum with our newest little one too - whenever he decides to arrive. This program could easily be implemented with multiple children and would be good for anyone with younger kids, not just homeschool families. Anyone looking for simple and fun (but still educational!) activities for their littles could benefit from this program.

Birth to One, One to Two, and Two to Three yearly plans are available for $30 each. Three to Four and Four to Five are $38 each. Or you can purchase all of the five year plans for $132. To get a 10% discount, use the code “Blog10” when ordering!

Disclosure: As part of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew, I received a downloadable PDF copy of all five year plans. The opinions expressed are my own. To see what other Crew members thought, please click the button below.

Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music

2013-02-13T23:36:00.000-05:00

GIVEAWAY!
I'm having issues getting Rafflecopter to work and don't want to wait much longer to get the giveaway started since these will need to be mailed out soon - so if you are interested in winning a family 4-pack of vouchers good for ANY of the shows, please leave a comment below stating who you would take! (That is the mandatory entry.) You can also get extra entries for doing any of the following - please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with the name you used or a link:

- Like Wonderfully Chaotic on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter
- Follow the blog via Google Friend Connect (see the right hand sidebar)
- Tweet about this giveaway, must include this link: http://www.wonderfullychaotic.com/2013/02/sesame-street-live-elmo-makes-music.html

Giveaway will end this Saturday the 16th at 9 PM (EST) and winner will be contacted ASAP by email so please watch your email Saturday/Sunday for a message from me if you are entering. I will mail them out first thing Monday morning!

Purchase tickets for $3 off at http://www.ticketmaster.com by using your exclusive code: BOHLSENGROUP in the box on the left side of the seat map that says "Enter offer code/password."

Do you have a kiddo that's crazy about Elmo and his Sesame Street pals? Are you close to/within driving distance of Indianapolis? Check this out!

About the Show:

Children and toddlers everywhere will be able to experience a musical journey. Jenny, an enthusiastic new music teacher, arrives on Sesame Street only to discover that her instruments are missing. Jenny’s new Muppet friends quickly come to the rescue and discover ‘instruments’ they never knew existed…rubber duckies, trash can lids and even cookie jars. Elmo and friends teach children that everyone can make and enjoy beautiful music together!

Friday, March 22 – 24 (2 performances each day)

Sunny Seats available - includes VIP seating and a Meet & Greet with two Sesame Street Live characters before the show!

Tickets are on sale now at the Old National Centre Box Office and through Ticketmaster.

For more information on Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music, visit www.oldnationalcentre.com.

**Also, check out the poster below for information about a special event going on at Macy’s at Castleton Square Mall on March 2nd!

Pregnancy Journal ~ 40 Weeks

2013-02-11T22:33:00.002-05:00

40 weeks, 4 days

Sorry, getting to this a little bit later than normal this week!

Best Moment this week? Hitting the 40 week mark on the 7th! It's great to know that our little man is fully developed.

Prayer requests? Once you hit 40 weeks (and sometimes even before then) people begin to treat you like a ticking time bomb. I don't think they usually mean it badly but it can get frustrating to keep telling people there's no baby here yet. I am trying not to fret about when he will arrive, though. I can go until 42 weeks or so as long as he & I are both doing well so I figure we'll figure out more of what we're going to do closer to that time.

What scripture is speaking to you this week? For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

Baby's growth? Our midwife visit on Friday had to be cancelled (because several ladies were in labor) so I can't say for sure this week. The midwife had said he was getting closer to 8 pounds last week so I'm going to guess he's around 8 or a little over.

Symptoms/Medical Stuff? Nothing really to post about here. I've had some headaches on & off, felt dizzy some and had lots of upper leg discomfort still. I also walked around a bunch yesterday at an outlet mall and had a lot of lower back pain but it all went away after I sat down when we got home.

Weight gain (or loss)? No clue, nor do I care honestly at this point. Haha!

Cravings? Ice, which I know has been said to mean that you can have an iron deficiency (but not always) so I've been upping my iron-rich food intake and am going to mention it to the midwife at this week's visit - assuming no other ladies decide to go into labor!

Food Aversions? A lot of things. I'm just not really all that hungry and am finding that I'm having to force myself to eat.

What Made Me Cry This Week? I had a couple little moments this past week where I got to feeling kind of overwhelmed & got weepy.

Sleep? Sleep has not been good. 2-3 hours a night maybe for the past few days, with an occasional nap during the day. It's incredibly hard to get comfortable now and I've got to prop myself up into just the right position. If I get woken up for anything (having to go to the bathroom, hubby getting into bed, kids waking up) then I almost always have to get up because I just cannot get back to sleep.

Maternity Clothes? OBVIOUSLY.

Movement? Well there's not much more room left for him to stretch out...but he's still pretty active after we eat and late at night/early morning.

What I miss: Being able to shave my legs without almost cutting open a vein or falling over. If he stays in much longer, I may have to employ someone to do it for me....

What I'm looking forward to: More signs of impending labor!

Labor Signs? Nothing really. Boooo!

Thoughts from the family? They're all excited obviously. Everybody keeps calling or texting to check on me, and most in a nice way - not a "HAVE YOU HAD THAT BABY YET" way. Everybody is just standing by for now. We went shopping yesterday at an outlet mall and Zeke picked out some cute things for his new baby brother. (See the picture below.) My Aunt also got Ellie a "Big Sister" shirt which I know she is going to love.

Something I'm Excited About? Hubby and I put up the birth tub this weekend and it's a good thing we went ahead & did it - it was like a 12 person operation! It was difficult to get together. I borrowed an adapter for the sink (to fill it) from a friend but it won't fit our sink - so now we're on the hunt for one that will. I also borrowed a hose from the same friend and it isn't long enough to reach the tub. But we got another hose and by putting them both together they'll reach to fill it up. It's getting to be kind of a frustrating task but hopefully it will work out & we'll be able to utilize it during labor.

Pregnancy related books you are reading? Homebirth by Sheila Kitzinger

TOS Review: Apologia Science - Exploring Creation with Zoology 1

2013-02-08T14:22:00.000-05:00

Apologia Educational Ministries is very well known for their Science curriculum in the homeschool community but they also offer many other products including: Biblical worldview studies, homeschool planners, online classes, and books for homeschooling parents. I had been looking at their Science curriculum for a while now after learning more about them at a Twitter party and was very excited to see that the first TOS Crew Review of this year was going to be just that!
We received Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day to review. This book is part of their Young Explorers series that combines reading, activities, and notebooking. Our package included the Textbook and the Junior Notebooking Journal, which was made specifically for kids in grades K-2. (They also offer a Notebooking Journal for upper elementary school students.) Other books in the Exploring Creation series are Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day, Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day, Astronomy, Botany, and Human Anatomy & Physiology.
We have been following the schedule listed in the notebook and doing Science two days a week. This comes in pretty handy and I think I'll continue to do it that way because I can plan it out pretty quickly and we're not overwhelmed doing Science every day in addition to all our other subjects. By following that schedule, we've been doing one lesson every two weeks.

In the Flying Creatures textbook, we have been learning about all different types of flying creatures from bugs to bats to birds, and the different things that make them unique - their homes or nests, what they look like, their flying patterns, their family structure, etc. Some of the text has been a little above my seven year old's head so I have just tried to pick and choose what all we read - I'm not reading it word for word, and some of the subjects we've just touched on a little, like the classification of animals for example. It had a lot of Latin words and I could just tell the more I read, the more lost he got. So we skipped ahead a bit and moved on to the next section and all was well. (We'll come back and revisit that section later.) The "Try This!" section of each chapter is good too if you have a busy little guy (like me) to take a break between the reading & do an activity. I've also been looking ahead and what we'll be studying the next week so I can find applicable books at the library that go along with that chapter's subject.
My son really loves the Junior Notebooking Journal. As I mentioned above, it's made specifically for kids in K-2, or who are beginning or struggling writers. Each lesson starts out with two big coloring pages for him to color while I read aloud to him from the text. (This is very helpful to keep him listening.) The next few pages have pre-made templates for him to fill in with his own thoughts & ideas - he can draw a picture of his favorite animal in that lesson or jot down a few different thoughts about what he learned. After that, there are different activity pages for him to do - matching vocabulary words puzzles, mini books, crossword puzzles, project record keeping sheets, and more. Lastly, there are copywork pages - one of my favorite things from the Notebook! Print and cursive are both included and they use short Scripture verses that the child copies down. Although you wouldn't *have* to get the notebook, I would highly recommend it as it was a wonderful complement to the text and integrated so many different activities that my son is really enjoying.
I think this curriculum could also easily be worked into most homeschool budgets as the textbook retails for $39 and the notebooking journal for $24 - well worth it in my opinion! I'm looking forward to continuing the rest of the series.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

D Day

2013-02-07T17:21:00.000-05:00

Not exactly a day that will live in infamy, though. All's quiet on the home front at the moment...but I suppose the day isn't over with yet! Tomorrow night I'm going up to my parents house to drop off the kids for a bit while I visit with a friend from High School who is back in town. The last time I went up to my parents house on a Friday night and I happened to be pregnant, my water broke! Hmmm.....

Pregnancy Journal ~ 39 Weeks

2013-02-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

39 weeks, 1 day - due/guess date February 7th

Best Moment this week? My Grandma went with us to my midwife visit this week and it went really well. Hubby drove us all because it was so stinking cold & he was worried about us. :) And then after being up all day he ended up having to go into work all night! Love that fella and his dedication.

Prayer requests? I found out this week that baby is in a slightly posterior position. I have been doing some baby-turning exercises nightly since then and reading up on posterior positioned babies. Although I highly advise not just searching on Google and reading whatever comes up...I was instantly terrified! I know that whatever happens, happens but am keeping this in my prayers anyway. The midwife also assured me that he could still turn now or even after labor starts. And lots of people have went through it just fine. A lady on Twitter told me it makes it kind of nice to see baby's face first thing when you deliver, so there's a positive!

What scripture is speaking to you this week? "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." 1st Samuel 1:27 *And from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - "Elkanah and his family had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, yet they would not move till they had worshiped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. When men are in such haste to set out upon journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. Hannah, though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged to stay at home. God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Those who are detained from public ordinances, by the nursing and tending of little children, may take comfort from this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in a right spirit, God will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us. The child Samuel early showed true piety. Little children should be taught to worship God when very young. Their parents should teach them in it, bring them to it, and put them on doing it as well as they can; God will graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better."

Baby's growth? The midwife is saying he may be getting closer to 8 pounds and she could see him being slightly bigger (maybe 8 and 1/2) by the time labor rolls around.

Symptoms? Still having discomfort in my hips and some in my back, also on the insides of my thighs which is weird. It feels like I've been riding a horse, as strange as that sounds.

Medical Stuff? We had an excellent midwife visit this week. All my tests were normal/good which is ahh-mazing since I've almost always had a least one thing that was "off" in some way. It felt nice to hear her say everything looked good! I'm measuring slightly ahead at 40 weeks. (So maybe baby soon?!) Baby's heartbeat was great at the visit and our midwife did a non-stress and fluid test on me, both of which were good.

Weight gain (or loss)? I did not gain any weight this week.

Cravings? Not much really but I have been super thirsty.

Food Aversions? FAST FOOD.

What Made Me Cry This Week? This week I've actually felt a bit more emotionally stable and not completely crazy or weepy!

Sleep? For the past couple nights I've gotten the kids down relatively early and then just headed to bed & slept all (or almost all) night. It's been great! (Gotta enjoy it while I can.)

Maternity Clothes? Is this not a given by now? LOL.

Movement? He's slowed down some what for sure, but still very active at night.

What I miss: Being able to just lay down and go to sleep in whatever position I want. Now it's like okay, I'm tired of laying this way...but if I move to this side I get heartburn...can't lay on my back...now I've moved back to this side and there's a little foot jabbing me in the side... I'll honestly be so glad when I can move around again eventually whatever way I want (dare I say run or jump?) and not feel like a slow moving turtle, haha.

What I'm looking forward to: The kids are pretty excited about what they can do to help out with the baby and I am encouraging that as much as I can, especially with Ellie since she's the youngest. Zeke has already volunteered to help out at night (he's my little night owl normally) and I told him we'll see. :)

Labor Signs? A few (very few) Braxton Hicks and some lower back pain. That's about it really!

Thoughts from the family? My Gramma got to meet the midwife this week and I think really enjoyed sitting in during my visit.

Something I'm Excited About? This will sound dumb probably but the kids and I cleaned the kitchen majorly yesterday - scrubbed the floors, wiped down all the cabinets, did dishes, cleaned off the counters, and a few other odds and ends - and I was pretty excited about that. I made games out of the tasks and it worked out pretty well. I told them we were going to do a few more *big* jobs like that this week - the dining room and living room - to help out momma and they were actually pretty positive about it.

Pregnancy related books you are reading? Still re-reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth.

Addison Academy: January 2013

2013-01-31T21:38:00.001-05:00

In my life this month…
Well, our month started out pretty well! The picture above is from our first day back to school after Christmas break. Unfortunately shortly after sickness hit me, then the kids, and now hubby!I had two different rounds of sickness - a UTI/kidney issue and then a week or two later I came down with a pretty rough sinus/throat infection that the kids and then hubby ended up getting. The kids are still on the way to recovery, as is hubby but they're slowly getting better. We've spent a lot of days cuddled up on the couch reading or (as seen in the picture below) letting the kids camp out on the floor with blankets, pillows, books and games.

In our homeschool this month…
We've been busily working with the materials I mentioned in this blog post. I've been trying to have us do as much as we can since I know the new baby will be arriving soon and we'll probably inevitably get behind some. Zeke is speeding through his Math book. (Which is great because I STINK at Math and I worried he would have trouble with it also.) Now if I could just get him to improve his handwriting! We've been doing 1 - 2 handwriting pages a day in addition to his regular written work and I've been scouring Pinterest to find ideas to help improve his coordination and penmanship. I'll have a post coming up in a week or two about his new Science curriculum and our thoughts on it.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
On homeschool-related Facebook pages and on other homeschooling websites, I see SO many moms worried about their children and their reading abilities. While this is a valid concern (Heaven knows I HAVE BEEN THERE) I think we sometimes get so focused on it that it makes the problem - if there is one - a LOT bigger than it actually is. I say this, having done it myself! Look at the picture below - that's Zeke, reading aloud to me at the library! While he still struggles and has challenges, he is really improving. I'm not saying that people shouldn't research or look into testing - I found tons of things online to help and encourage Zeke to read, I read countless articles on dyslexia/dysgraphia, and am still looking into having him tested for basic skill levels, if nothing else. Definitely do research but don't stress out or start yelling/berating your child about it. Just take things slowly, one day at a time and encourage them!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We've been attending a weekly gym class with our homeschool group and the kids have really been enjoying it. We spend the first 30 minutes doing activity stations and/or exercise songs and the rest of the time is spent in free play - the kids can play basketball, hula hoop, run/walk laps around the gym, play catch, etc. My kids usually just run around like crazy people. :)

My favorite thing this month was…
Ellie's love of puzzles. She wants to do them practically every day. (She also loves that the library has puzzles too.) She amazes me by how bright she is and how fast she catches on to most things.

My kiddos favorite thing this month was…
Going to the library. They've always loved going there on our weekly or bi-weekly trips, but I think it gets more fun as they get older - they're able to go pick out the books they want, browse the different sections, play with the puppets & puzzles, and even check the books out themselves.

I’m praying for…
patience and organizational skills. I know that once baby gets here (soon!) that there will be adjustment time needed but I hope and pray that I'm able to continue keeping somewhat of a good homeschool routine in place.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…

Source: homeschoolnh.blogspot.com via Shalynne on Pinterest

Curriculum Updates for Semester Two

2013-01-28T20:45:00.002-05:00

Enjoying gym class!

We're midway through our school year and usually when we start up our second "semester" I post a little update about any changes we've made to our curriculum. I think for next year we are planning on doing things a little differently - rather than piecing together curriculum from a variety of sources, hubby & I discussed getting one curriculum from a publishing company, or at least the majority of our subjects from one set place. I was a bit hesitant about that at first but with a new baby due to arrive soon I could use some streamlining, and I would like something that helps me track progress more consistently. Plus, my house is slowly becoming filled with tons & tons of resources. (Not necessarily *bad* but I don't want to become a crazy curriculum hoarder!) Anyway, here's what we're using now until we finish this semester, probably in May or June.

ZEKE - Age 7 and ELLIE - Age 3, almost 4
(Most of the stuff listed here is for Zeke but Ellie also participates and I've tried to list the things she does too. However, she often just wants to do whatever Zeke is doing so I just end up making copies of whatever it is and give it to her, or find something similar for her to do.)
Bible - Abeka Bible Reader and other assorted Bibles we own for daily reading
Math - Primary Math 1B from Singapore Math
English: Reading/Phonics - Institute for Excellence in Writing PAL Reading, Readers from Academic Success for All Learners, and our local library.
Science - We just recently began Apologia's Zoology 1. (Review coming in February!)
History & Geography - History is Zeke's favorite subject so we read a LOT of books about it. We finished our History book from last semester and now are using the library and the computer, along with educational DVDs and programs to study history. We're also combining History with Geography in our Social Studies Notebook where Zeke has made a timeline of the Presidents, colored & filled out maps, and been learning facts about the world.
Spelling/Handwriting - Institute for Excellence in Writing - PAL Writing program. I also have a lot of assorted workbooks (Spiderman printing practice) and websites (Handwriting For Kids, handwriting worksheet maker) we're utilizing.
Art - We attended an Art Club that met once a week during the fall and are hoping to attend again this spring when it starts up.
Physical Education - We attend a weekly gym class with our homeschool co-op. The kids run through different stations for the first 30 minutes or so and then spend the rest of the time (1-2 hours) doing free play - mine usually choose to run laps around the gym, chasing each other! :) Little league baseball will be starting in April, assuming Zeke wants to play again.
Other - I have a Big First Grade & Big Second Grade workbook for Zeke and a Big Preschool workbook for Ellie. Ellie is also informally doing the Letter of the Week curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler - meaning, we've been just picking & choosing different activities from it - no real set schedule or order. Both kids enjoy flashcards and file folder games. We are also using a variety of products from different companies throughout the rest of this year for my job as a reviewer on The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew.

Pregnancy Journal: Week 38

2013-01-27T16:46:00.001-05:00

How far along are you? 38 weeks, 3 days. Due/guess date is February 7th.

Best Moment this week? Going to our midwife visit and coming out into the waiting room to be greeted by a friend & her family who were also there because she's pregnant! So very happy for her.

Prayer requests? Although I'm not really worried about it, I am concerned my labor might stall like it has before. BUT I know there are lots of things we can do and am feeling a bit better knowing that we'll be at home & I won't have a "countdown timer" on me like I would at the hospital.

What scripture is speaking to you this week? 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 - "He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.' And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said." That was a verse from this study I read online & really enjoyed.

Baby's growth? The midwife is guessing he's around seven & a half pounds and might get closer to eight before birth.

Symptoms? I've had a lot of discomfort in my hips and a little in my back - I'm assuming because baby is moving on downward. Still having some trouble getting comfortable at night. Oh, and I definitely have the pregnancy waddle going on. Saw it in a mirror the other day as I walked past...LOL.

Medical Stuff? I'm getting over my cold/cough/sinus infection - only a wee bit of a cough with some stuffy nose now. (The kids have gotten it too, though.) My midwife visit on Friday wasn't bad but she did reiterate that I need more protein and water. I was rather dehydrated which is crazy because I feel like I've been drinking a ton of water but I think I probably just still need more than what I think. So I have been guzzling water and trying to get in more protein.

Weight gain (or loss)? 17 pounds total this pregnancy.

Cravings? Sweets! Cookies and chocolate, specifically.

Food Aversions? Nothing in particular.

What Made Me Cry This Week? I have cried more this week and I think it's probably because I was feeling so rough with this sinus infection.

Sleep? On Friday when hubby went to work, I put the kids to bed (they were feeling kind of rough too & went right to sleep, believe it or not), took some Tylenol, and pretty much passed out - and slept ALL NIGHT until like 8 the next morning. That hasn't happened in quite awhile but it was oh so needed! Last night I only slept a few hours but I'm hoping the kids will cooperate again.

Maternity Clothes? Basically whatever I can find that covers my tummy, I'm wearing! I also wore a lot of pajamas this week, LOL.

Movement? He is busiest at night. I'm so glad hubby's gotten to see so many of his movements - he commented that this baby seems much more active than our other two! (Should I be worried for the future?!)

What I miss: Being able to easily clean. Vacuuming and stuff like that isn't a big deal but trying to put things away or moving stuff around is a huge hassle. Zeke and I completely rearranged/purged stuff/cleaned his room on Saturday and oh my...it WORE ME OUT. So tired...

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing this little guy! I've been looking through the kids baby pictures and can't wait to see if he looks like them.

Labor Signs? Ummm...none. Or at least none that I'm noticing.

Thoughts from the family? I want to thank my Momma. I've been feeling really emotional about what to do with the kiddos when I'm having the baby. I'm guessing it's mainly hormones but still...I'd been feeling all weird & protective, like I HAD to have them here the whole time and that they had to be here to meet their baby brother right away. But then I kept thinking about how I'm really going to need to focus during the birth and about how there could be seven hundred other family members in the room and the kids would STILL probably ask me to get them a drink or a toy or something. So after talking with my Mom on the phone, I realized that they aren't going to be traumatized or feel neglected if they're not here the second after the baby is born, and that me taking people up on offers of help doesn't make me a bad mom. She is going to be watching the kids for me and we kind of started to map out how we'll let them gradually come home for visits during the first week to get better adjusted. I just wanted to thank her for making me feel better & for her generosity about keeping them whenever and helping me out.

Something I'm Excited About? Our birth pool! We decided to go ahead & get one and I'm really looking forward to trying it out.

Pregnancy related books you are reading? I finished Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England and am now re-reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth.