We have had a fun week this week of tossing back and forth names for our sweet #7.  To be honest about it, I’ve been tossing out names and my husband has been rejecting them all, but it’s fun to think of them. When I hear something I like or think might work, I send him a quick text or email and say “How about….?”  Which has either been met with stunned silence over how much he dislikes my suggestion... Read more

Thank you to everyone for their prayers and kind words through my mini-freak out.  Fear is sometimes completely irrational, like when you say “I can feel the baby kicking……the baby is dead” and the whole time you know that makes no sense, but that’s where your brain goes. We saw #7 today.  Healthy.  Active.  Bigger than expected.  (Hooray for being a week closer to the end than anticipated.)  And most definitely a girl. We have a pattern going, which makes... Read more

We went to the local small town 4th of July parade this morning.  I love parades.  They were a huge part of my life as a military child, the pomp and ceremony is so central to that life.  I had forgotten how much I missed that kind of thing. Yesterday, my 7 year old asked if she could go to the parade this morning since she’d never seen one.  How is that even possible? We drove downtown and grabbed a... Read more

Five years ago, we lost a baby at 18 weeks gestation.  She died over the 4th of July weekend from a true knot in the cord.  We discovered her demise at an ultrasound on July 5th and induced on the 6th.  My only indication that something was wrong was the intense backache all weekend, the contractions gearing up for labor. I try really hard to be a woman of faith.  I don’t believe in signs or omens.  I don’t think... Read more

My sweet mother-in-law called me last week to update us on their upcoming move. (We’re all moving this summer.  Us to Dallas, them to Kentucky.) Then after a pause, she asked: MIL : “I just wanted to know if you have plans for the 4th of July?” me: “Not yet.  Why?” MIL: “We’ll be driving home that weekend after house hunting and would love to see you, the children, and the new house.” me: “You know…if you stay through the... Read more

When I was growing up, I wouldn’t have dreamed of calling any of the adults in my life by their first names.  It don’t even thing I knew that my best friend’s mom was named Susan until I was in Jr High. In our new neighborhood, the children call all of the adults by their given names.  Their parents introduce me to them by saying “Rebecca, this is our daughter (trendy name).  (Trendy name) this is Rebecca.”  I cringe every... Read more

You said you needed Mom Cards and the random number generator agreed!  I just need you to email me your contact info so I can pass it along to the sponsor. Congratulations! Read more

Earlier today, my brother’s car engine caught fire.  He and my nephew were in the car at the time.  Praise be to God that they were stopped and that my brother noticed in time to get himself and his son to safety as the car burned. I am so grateful this evening that people are discussing what kind of auto insurance he has instead of his life insurance policy. Thank you, God, for watching over them and giving my brother... Read more

Did you ever go walking with the bald guy from that New York tattoo show and your childhood dog in an unidentified industrial area when suddenly there was an earth quake, and your dog got broken glass in her paws, so you had to pull your tweezers out of your hair to help her? Yeah…let the wild pregnancy dreams begin. Read more

Okay, this is a serious question.  What is the statute of limitations of using the excuse “We just moved”?  As in, the neighbor comes over and the house is not as clean as I would wish it to be and she says “Oh, don’t worry about it, you just moved.” I know that there are time limits on these things…..like baby fat.  I don’t think you can claim “I had a baby” as your excuse for that extra flab when... Read more