I'm converted.

Well people, it has finally happened. It only took 4 children to get me here but I've finally come 'round.

I like babies.

There. I've said it and I'm not going back. I finally got a baby that doesn't have reflux. Only moderate colic (lasted through about 9 weeks). She is 3 1/2 months now. She sleeps in her crib for naps- not my arms. She smiles; she plays; she gains weight; she only wakes up 2 times at night. It's heavenly. So, while I've had my roughest recovery. (Broken tailbone- still hurting) Every time I look at that dear, sweet child I can't help but smile. She is beautiful and lovable and pure joy. NOW, I understand why people like babies and want to just have babies. When I'm holding her, it's just to hold her and have fun; not working to keep her from crying and fussing. Imagine that- holding a baby for the fun of it. It is an amazing concept.
I finally get what all the fuss is about!
Now- admire:

The price you pay

Wiping muddy footprints off the counter-- that's the price you pay for giving the 3yr old the chore of wiping the counter.

Single parenting for weeks --that's the price you pay for having a stable job.

Walking out of the house with kids that look like they dressed in the dark --that's the price you pay for teaching your children independence and letting them dress themselves.

Dirty newspapers on the bathroom counters, garbage cans not put away properly, re-vacuuming the house--that's the price you pay for giving your kids chores and teaching them to contribute to the family and work.

Kids who are tired and cranky because they sneak out of bed to lay by the nightlight and read-- that's the price you pay for teaching them to love books.

Spending all day Saturday at the music store for violin recital, ensemble festival and so on-- that's the price you pay to help your kids gain valuable music skills that they will cherish in life.

Fractured tailbone, bleeding all over, bloodshot eyes, constant postpartum weepiness--that's the price you pay for a gorgeous, sweet child.

This Thanksgiving I recognize that while there is a price to pay for most things, the blessings outweigh the input. Although my life is busy and exhausting and hard work-- I wouldn't have it any other way. Even in my worst, most difficult moments I can truly say I would do it all again for what I gain--4 beautiful, amazing children who make me laugh and cry daily and a husband who works hard and cares for us.

PS The picture has nothing to do with the post. It is just the most recent photo of all of us. The whole scooby gang-- Daphne, Shaggy, Freddy, Velma, Scrappy doo and Scooby Doo. We had fun this Halloween. Hope you did too!

Firsts . . .

First day of 3rd grade

First day of 1st grade

First day of preschool

(FYI: My kids all get to pick out their first day outfit at the store. This explains Eden's dress which she found all on her own and fell in love with. It's pink, it has a cupcake on it, and it twirls beautifully. What more could you ask for?)
First day of life

First family photo
(Can you see that the baby is no longer inside me but strapped to me?)

Notice how my last two posts are mostly pictures? That's about all I can do right now. Plus you don't want to hear about all my postpartum hormonal rollercoaster rides!

Before and After

Before

AfterBeforeAfterBefore

After

Due dates come and go, but pregnancy is forever

Oh wait, it's not. But sometimes- like right now- it feels a little like it is forever. My body is not doing the things it normally does leading up to labor/delivery so I'm a little worried. I don't want to be induced. I feel fine and the baby is fine so I have no problem waiting. It's just modern medicine that doesn't like it when you go over. We'll just keep taking it one overdue day at a time and be patient!
Enough of that, so I'm in a new neighborhood with people who have never seen me pregnant before and they always worry because I'm small. I'm sure they think I'm just saying it to be modest but really this is my biggest pregnancy. But you don't have to take my word for it . . . (Anyone know what that comes from?)
Here are my pictures from my past 3 pregnancies right before we walked out the door to the hospital. I don't have one of those yet from this pregnancy- as you are well aware- so you will have to do with a picture from today- 3 days overdue.
Pregnancy 1-Mara
Pregnancy 2 Asher

Pregnancy 3 Eden
Pregnancy 4 (Many thanks to my photographer- Asher- who only cut off my head a tad!)
What do you think?

"Girl, you'll be a woman soon . . ."

I am 32 years old. And I am a woman. I know, I don't wear womanhood well but I'm coming into my own. I'm just starting to grow into it. Here are a few "womanly" things I am just starting to do--
1) for the first time this year I had a wax. It was for the cruise. I had my legs waxed. That was a first. Someday maybe I'll do my eyebrow. Yes, that's singular. For a reason.

2) Sometimes I wear deodorant. Sometimes.

3) Jason bought me a set of makeup brushes for my birthday. I don't really use them that much since I don't use powder or blush or whatever else it is people put on with brushes. I'm sure I'll learn sometime in the next 32 years.

4) I now own an eyelash curler. For that 1 day a week I wear mascara.

5)I also bought eyeliner this year. I'm discovering how to use it.

6) I got my first pedicure 3 years ago. It only took 3 years to get my second one this year. Manicures still won't be happening. I'm a pianist for heaven's sake.

7) I have lotion that is specifically for my face. And I use it on my face. I know, sounds outrageous but true.

8) I even own a few headbands/clips for my hair. Is that too far?

Someday I may start to shower more than twice a week, or purchase clothes at actual department stores and not thrift stores. Or then again, maybe not. I still need to figure out how to decorate, and scrapbook, and make crafts and arrange flowers, wear jewelry, the list goes on and on. I think I hide it pretty well b/c people are always surprised by my lack of womanly skills and decorations on the wall of my house. The good news is that people in my neighborhood don't really know about my blog so I can pull it off a little longer that I'm a woman and I know what I'm doing. So, if you have a friendly advice that you've always wanted to pass on to me but never felt like you could- here's your chance.


Shame on anyone who knows the song for the blog title. I hate that singer.

All those within earshot

Yes, those are my children crying like it's the end of the world. Don't worry, I just asked them to weed a 2x4 plot of ground. This is one of those times when I pull the old "When I was a child I worked on the farm and we had to do . . . and . . . . and . . .." but really, they don't appreciate it. My siblings can vouch for me when I say it really sucked. And it was really, really long, hot, and hard. My kids do not know how good they've got it. Maybe I'll send them to my parents for a week to work on the farm. It will be like boot camp. They'll come back and be glad for the minuscule yard weeding.
So, if you hear the screaming, crying, yelling (from both sides) just know it's not abusive. Well, not by adult standards.