Getting closer!

We are getting close now!  I am now 38 weeks pregnant!  Wow time has really flown by this pregnancy.  I guess that happens when you chase two other little ones around.  They have certainly kept me busy.  I am still feeling pretty good most days.  I have been having more frequent dizzy episodes so that has been very discouraging but my family is amazing!  Matt is so wonderful!  He comes whenever I need him and does a fantastic job with the kids while I am out of commission.  Then my mom is awesome too.  She tells me, "I am on stand-by for whatever you need." Of course, the kids love when "Bella" comes.  It is probably because she rolls in the floor and chases them through the house.

Anyway, we have decided to name our baby boy Titus.  Titus means "of the giants" and "pleasing".  Since we have known he was a boy our hearts have been stirred that he would carry a playful, strength.  I can totally see him being very firm in his beliefs and quick with a joke.  But we will see.  There seems to be so much excitement about him.  I really believe he will bring pleasure to our home.  I can't wait to see how Havah and Josiah interact with him.  Havah is all about babies right now and I am sure she will be a big help when he arrives.  Josiah notices babies but I don't think has any idea what is about to happen.  Although he loves to "kiss" Baby Titus (a.k.a. slobber on my belly button)  haha

Hopefully we will get to see his face soon.  My doctor says we could deliver any day now.  To be honest, I am hoping for sooner not later.  Not that I am really tired of being pregnant just ready to see our little man, to hold him and love on him, to be a family of 5.  Wow that sounds a bit overwhelming at the moment.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are incredible and kept the kids for us this weekend so Matt and I could have some time before the baby gets here.  I am so grateful for them.  They are so wonderful and give even when it doesn't make sense to everyone else.  They are good to us.    I don't think I realized how much I needed to have some time alone.  To say I nested this weekend would be an understatement.  I have always heard stories of women washing base boards and scrubbing old refrigerators but thought it was a myth.  I can testify, it is not a myth.  haha.  Matt had to work Saturday morning until about lunch so I had all morning to scrub, dust, wash, sweep, mop and organize.  It was.....AMAZING!  I washed probably every surface in the house including but not limited to light switches and door frames.  After Matt got home we took a quick break for lunch then headed off to buy some seeds for our garden.  I am so excited about our garden this year.  Matt and I then went out with some friends for a much needed date night.  It was so nice.  Again, I don't think I realized how much I needed some time.

So as we start a new week, only 12 days from D-Day, I start refreshed and excited to welcome baby Titus.  Hopefully next time I post it will be pictures of our newest addition.

I will leave you will some Easter pictures and the kids skating.  Who was a proud mommy?!  This girl right here!

Havah was so proud of herself.  

Big mess but lots of fun.  

Josiah did great the first time and didn't want anything to do with it the next time.  

Confession

Confession time.  I am an activity junkie!  I love planning things to do!  One of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the year is to write all the yearly activities in my planner.  I get some kind of weird excitement when we have all four weekends of the month already planned.  I usually plan different projects to accomplish throughout the week whether it be deep cleaning a room or doing a craft with the kids.  I like having the list and the gratification of checking it off.  I never thought I would be the "type A" mom but it's me.  I have come to love and dislike this part of who I am.

I like having my husband be impressed with what I get done even with two kids running around and being 31 weeks pregnant.  However, one downside to my activity madness is that I plan even when I am not supposed to.  Lately I have felt convicted about doing rather than being.  I have mentioned that before but it seems to be a reoccurring theme the Lord points out to me.

Our two children are so different sometimes.  Josiah, our 20 month old, is "all boy".  Anything loud, gross or challenging, count him in.  He loves the challenge of escaping his crib and seeing how far he can throw his cars.  Funny sometimes, frustrating other times.  Havah, our 2 1/2 year old likes to have something to do. (She gets it honest).  She usually follows the rules, likes learning and trying new things.  The problem comes when my agenda and their agenda don't line up.  One of my greatest challenges comes when they want to play and I still need to complete my checklist for the day.  I have an inner battle of do I finish my checklist quickly or stop everything and take advantage of the play opportunity?  Ok so at this very moment it doesn't seem like it should even be a question but in the midst of it, I really do struggle.

Me and Havah 

Matt and Josiah

Josiah maning the grill :)

Havah whipping up something scrumptious to eat.  

Matt, my husband, and I were talking about this a few days ago.  He reminded me that my "activity" list was not a bad thing.  Doing the laundry, feeding them, cleaning the home they play in are ways I express my love to them.  However, sometimes they just need me, my presence, my undivided attention.  They need me to eat the pretend salad and doughnut that Havah just made, race the cars down the track with Josiah and play Red Light/Green Light for the 25th time today.

I know I need that with God.  I love that He heals me, comforts me and provides for me but sometimes I just long for Him to be with me.  Just love on me where and when I need it most.  What is so interesting is that when I sit in His presence the other things come along with it.  I love that He loves me like that.

So I will try, once again, to just be in the presence of my kids and in the presence of the Lord.

Dreaming again

Let me start with announcing that come April we will be welcoming another baby BOY!  Wahoo!  We are so excited!  We wanted the gender to be our Christmas gift to each other.  We knew we would be unable to keep the secret if we found out during the ultrasound so we decided to let Matt's brother, Zach and our sister-in-law, Erica be the bearers of our delicate news.  We had the ultrasound technician check boy or girl on an index card and put the picture of the "goods" in an envelope and we sent it directly to them.  On Christmas Eve, Matt and I opened the gift only to find we were being sent on a mini scavenger hunt.  In the little box we discovered a riddle sending us upstairs to find a huge box that had been hidden earlier that day.  We immediately took it downstairs and were even more excited and anxious to open it.  When we opened it, the inside was covered with blue and white baby feet tissue paper, blue and "It's a boy" balloons.  Erica also made adorable onesie "cupcakes".  We were so excited and so grateful to Zach and Erica for making it so special for us.  It was definitely worth the wait.

It is hard to believe that 2012 is already gone and we are well into 2013.  I read a friend's blog recently and she set 13 goals for 2013.  I thought, "What a great idea!"  Let me say that I am not one for goals.  In high school and college I hated it when people would ask me what I wanted to do when I graduated.  I think it had to do with the commitment of it and the disappointment in myself if I didn't accomplish what I had set up.  However, with some inner healing :) I have been able to overcome that fear. So anyway, Matt and I sat down a few nights ago and wrote out our 13 goals for 2013.  I wanted to share them with you because it has stirred something inside of me.  THE DREAM!  The dream of seeing past hopes fulfilled.  To see things that I thought were not possible become possible.  To actively pursue opportunities that come into our path.  No more excuses, such as "what about the kids?", "what about money?", "what will other's think?"  Now hear me.  I am not saying we will be foolish with our decisions but more free to believe for what has been promised to us.  We believe God has set our hearts on a journey together and what better time than now to pursue the adventure.  Some of our goals are practical and some will take a lot of work.  We will see how we do at the end of 2013.  So here you have it our 13 goals to 2013.  

1. Receive complete healing from my inner ear battle. 

2. Invite more people over to our home. 

3. Gain and maintain better control of our finances.

4. Do one random act of kindness a month.

5. Go on a date with each other at least once a month (can include children).  

6. Become less dependent on electronic entertainment (including TV, iPod, Movies, iPhones etc.)

7. Have a family worship night at least once a quarter and schedule it. 

8. Kimberly to lead worship and Matt to speak more frequently. 

9. Weekly one on one time with each child. 

10. Start a small group.

11. Memorize a minimum of 6 scriptures. 

12. Matt have some sort of workout system.  Kimberly reduce caffeine intake.  

13. Dream again.  

Thank you Song for the great idea of setting some goals.  Hopefully this has awakened a dream in you too.  If it has, please feel free to share.  I have noticed that when I share an idea or hope with someone it becomes more real and attainable.  So Happy New Year and Dare to Dream Again!

Havah and Josiah chillin in their new chairs from Grandy.  

Our family 2012

Me and my beautiful sister-in-law, Erica

Havah being silly with Uncle Zach

Me and Josiah on Christmas Eve.