Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The Pregnancy Files - Less Than Three Weeks to Go!

I know it's been a long time since I've updated about the pregnancy! It's been fairly uneventful and wonderful!!

Symptoms
Symptoms are pretty typical for thirty-six weeks! The worst is the pelvic floor pain. It hurts to lift my feet to put on my pants or to walk up a few steps or to climb into a vehicle. Putting on and taking off even slip-on shoes sends a zap of pain to my pelvis. Rolling over in bed is very painful. Even sitting down and getting back up is quite painful. I'm limiting my time outdoors now because of the pain. I plan on trips out of the house being no longer than two hours so that I'm not in extreme pain later on.

I get heartburn just like most pregnant women do. Thankfully, it's fairly mild compared to previous pregnancies and typically only rears at night!

I'm still able to wear all of my shoes and my wedding rings. Swelling is very very minimal and on some days completely nonexistant!

Cloth diapering
One cover missing from picture--another yellow one
I've finished the diaper covers I was going to make. I only made five covers just in case there's something about them I want to tweak or change. PUL is expensive and something I don't want to waste! All of my prefold diapers are dyed and ready to go.

We also have some homemade diapers made that aren't shown here because my mom hasn't given them to me yet. I'll share a picture of my full stash once everything is set up and ready to go. I may even make a blog post about how cloth diapering works for us and how I wash the diapers, etc.


Changes
Total Weight Gain: 6 pounds 
Stretch Marks: Still no new ones this pregnancy...yet
Sleep/Insomnia: Sleep-deprived but not quite on an insomnia level
Cravings: Chili and grilled cheese for weeks!
Symptoms: constipation still, pelvic girdle pain
Belly button: Barely an inny!
Wedding rings: Still on! Thank you, Lord!

Looking forward to: BABY!!



Coming Soon!
I hope to make my next post about what's in our hospital bag(s)!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Pregnancy Files - Less than 100 days to go!

I now have less than a hundred days to go until this baby will be born! Technically, my due date is Nov. 25, but I will likely have a cesarean the week before (unless he decides to come early like his brothers both did), so taking the c-section into consideration, I've probably got about 95-96 days to go! Third trimester is just around the corner!

Things are going fairly well, as well as pregnancy at age 36 can go. I'm still suffering from costochondritis (some days are very very mild and other days are a bit more achy), and I've got symphesis pubis dysfunction, which means that my pelvic bones are very very sore, and it hurts to sit on hard surfaces. Getting up from sitting on said hard surfaces makes it feel like my pelvis is going to break. It will get worse as the baby gets bigger, but I've been through this before so it will be no surprise. Eventually, it will get to the point where I'll be more in bed than I will be up for the last few weeks of pregnancy, because walking, housework, and something as simple as getting in and out of a car is extremely painful. Raising a foot to step into the shower or go up steps feels like the pelvis is going to snap. And heaven help me if I cross my legs!

I spent several days working on cloth diapers with my mom, but we got very little accomplished. We spent the majority of the days discovering that we were doing things wrong, so the last couple of days that we managed to work together, we got three diapers done. Yes, only three! Since then, I've been bombarded with garden produce and canning, so I've not had a single moment to sew. Fortunately, my mom has, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Right now, we're working on finding space for baby gear and baby clothes. Our home is twelve hundred square feet, roughly, and with two adults and two children already living here, we're finding it hard to figure out where we're going to put a crib and baby's clothes. We have no room for an additional dresser, so we're going to have to remove clothes from our dresser to make room for baby's clothes. But that means finding a place to put the clothes we removed from the dresser. We've got every space in closets filled, underneath of the beds taken, and the building is full. And this AFTER we have recently gotten rid of stuff we didn't need! We desperately need to find a bigger place, because we're tripping over boxes of our home-canned food, bags of baby items, and garden produce just laid out on the floor on towels! It looks like a tornado hit our house.

We've been so blessed to have had some baby items brought to us. We've had quite a bit of clothes donated to us, as well as things like some bottles, bibs, shoes, etc. We still need all of the big things like a crib, swing, carseat, etc. but we still have a good bit of time to get those things purchased. We're also not in a hurry, because we have nowhere to put those things! I've been tossing around the idea of going ahead and installing the one carseat that we have simply so we can get it out of hubby's closet so that we can put our canned food in there. But if we install the carseat, then our boys will be cramped before they need to be. :) It's a Catch 22 situation.

We'd wanted to move before we had to unload baby things, but we've just not been able to find what we need within our budget. Most everything that has been within our budget has needed major repairs, and we just can't afford major repairs. So, we're still looking, because we know eventually the right place will pop up and the right situation will present itself. We've learned to be patient about these things.

Changes
Total Weight Gain: 6 pounds
Stretch Marks: No new ones this pregnancy...yet
Sleep/Insomnia: Sleep!
Cravings: Mexican
Symptoms: bloating, some constipation, sporadically swollen fingers
Belly button: Still an inny!
Wedding rings: Still on!
Exciting happening(s) this week: Delivery of homeschool curriculum, dejunking the house
Looking forward to: Doctor appointment next week, and I think I'm supposed to have an ultrasound?

25 Week Development
Your little grower’s physical proportions are pretty much birth-ready and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and a ton of nervous system development. Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Weight — 1 1/2 pounds — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange the long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Friday, July 19, 2013

The Pregnancy Files - Halfway There!

Today I'm 21 weeks and 4 days. It seems like it has taken forever to get this far, and it feels like I still have a very long way to go. Having said that, summer has passed so quickly! It's amazing how much time passes when you're busy, and this summer has been one of those times.

The last time that I wrote about this pregnancy, I was 14 weeks along. At that point, I'd only been feeling movement for a little over a week, and that was very sporadic and wasn't every day. Now I'm feeling movement every day, multiple times a day, but it's still very light except for the occasional pummel.

Also, since that last update, we found out that we're TEAM BLUE again! I knew it! This is the only time that I have ever been correct about the gender of one of my kids. I just had this gut feeling that this was a boy. At seventeen weeks, I had an ultrasound after I'd had a slight scare. The tech had told me she thought she saw little boy parts but to not trust her judgment, because she might be wrong. But then two weeks later, during my 20 week scan (which was done at 19w1d), it was quickly confirmed that baby is a boy!

Little Baby J, who has been dubbed "Skeletor" because of this image. :P

Since finding out that Baby J is a boy, we haven't done much shopping. We've had some things handed down to us, and that helps a lot. We have a lot still to buy yet, but we're not in a hurry. I bought one set of boy-themed items to announce his gender and shared it on Facebook, but other than that I still haven't done a whole lot of shopping yet for clothes and other items. Save for one thing....

Pre-fold diapers! This image is a bundle of thirteen Indian pre-fold diapers that I've slowly been throwing into our towels and whites washes so that the diapers can shrink down to their proper size and become absorbent. I still have another dozen that need to begin the washing process. This is my first time cloth diapering, and after my second son's constant rounds of rashes and prescription-grade diaper rash cream, I decided to make baby's life a little gentler (though my life a little more hectic by all of the washing) and do something a bit different.

I also plan on doing a bit of sewing some regular diapers. With the help (and patterns) of my dear friend Steph from Pampered Cheeks, I've got a good head-start. I just have to get all of the fabric bought, cut, and sewn. In other words, I've not started sewing yet. lol

So far I'm not having any complications in pregnancy, other than your standard, run-of-the-mill stuff. I still am dealing with costochondritis, though it is mild and I've not had to take any Tylenol for it. I'm hoping it stays that way, though with baby moving up closer and closer to my ribs, I feel like I'm not going to get a break for long. I've not been doing my relaxation exercises at all and haven't for months, and I need to get back into that. Totally my fault that it's not getting better. My lower back pain has actually been better since I hit second trimester, but I have occasional flare-ups.

Baby's stats right now:
-Weighs roughly 12 ounces
-Length about 10.5 inches long head to toe, or about 7-8 inches head to rump
-Growth is slowing down so that fat can start to accumulate under the skin and organs, while fully formed, are maturing
-Baby hears sounds and responds to them
-Eyelids and eyebrows are formed

Friday, June 7, 2013

American History - a Creation Conversations (NewLeaf Publisher) review

It isn't often that I come across an opportunity to review curriculum. At this time last year, I was given the chance to review a copy of the Kindle version of American History by Dr. James Stobaugh and the teacher's edition of the textbook.

Book Description
Respected Christian educator, Dr. James Stobaugh, offers an entire year of high school American history curriculum in an easy to teach and comprehensive volume. American History: Observations & Assessments from Early Settlement to Today employs clear objectives and challenging assignments for the tenth grade student. From before the birth of our republic to the principles of liberty, American history trends, philosophies, and events are thoroughly explored. The following components are covered for the student:

- Critical thinking
- Examinations of historical theories, terms, and concepts
- History makers who changed the course of America
- Overviews and insights into world views.

Students will complete this course knowing the Christian influences that created a beacon of hope and opportunity that still draws millions to the United States of America. This 384-page student resource should be used in conjunction with the American History: Observations & Assessments from Early Settlement to Today for the Teacher. British History and World History are included in this comprehensive high school history curriculum for 10th, 11th, and 12th grades offered by Dr. James Stobaugh and Master Books.


My thoughts
First, let me say that I love history. My husband and I both do, and I'm one who could watch the History channel all day long if I had the time. So I was anxious to get my hands on this curriculum. Though looking back now, I wish that I had this in a paper, tangible version. Using it on the Kindle (I have a plain Kindle and my son has a Kindle Fire) is not as useful as having a hands-on textbook. I find that I much prefer hands-on textbooks than e-versions. Electronic just doesn't stack up to the real thing.

This is an independent study textbook for tenth grade history. I like how the book covers the positive parts about our American history as well as the negative. This textbook would be a great idea for a homeschooling family and would be good for use in a private school setting as well. This is a history textbook with a Christian foundation.

The teacher's edition provides extra thoughts for the teacher and extra guidelines for instructing and/or helping the student. Each of the lessons have a suggested time of thirty minutes each and instruction time is approximately 34 weeks.

I highly recommend this text. It was thorough and enjoyable!

I received American History - student and teacher e-textbook as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from New Leaf Publishing Group. My opinions are my own.

Love in the Balance - a Bethany House review

Regina Jennings is a fairly new author. Love in the Balance is her second novel published, and her first novel Sixty Acres and a Bride, which I reviewed, was absolutely fantastic. So, when I had the opportunity to get my hands on this second novel, I jumped at the chance!

Love in the Balance is a historical romance, Christian fiction, set in Lockhart, TX, in 1879. Molly Lovelace has been brought up by "fancy" parents. Her father owns a mill, and they want only the finest things for their daughter--including a well-to-do bachelor to wed. Molly, although liking some of the finer things in life, wants to get out from under her father's controlling clutches. So, she moves out of town and gets a job working for a judge.

Meanwhile, she has her eye on a handsome hard-working, though poor Bailey Garner. She finds his character and his handsome good looks charming, and she finds herself drawn to him inexplicably. In turn, Bailey is captivated by HER, too.

But when a family tragedy strikes and Molly sees her opportunity to wed someone well-off, who is she going to pick? Someone who can provide for her and appease her father, or the man who she really has her eyes on?

I'm not gonna tell!!! You'll have to find out for yourself.

I really like Regina's writing. She has a knack for creating personable, hilarious characters and situations. The characters were not without flaw--Regina created them to be realistic and sometimes frustrating to the reader! Sometimes I wanted to shout out, "C'mon, people!! Common sense, here!" at some of the characters. haha Also, I felt that the storyline wasn't completely predictable. She took me by surprise with the direction she took the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more! This is definitely an author you will want to watch!

I received Love in the Balance as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Bethany House Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Promise Box - a Launch Teammate review & a chance to win!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!
ThePromiseBox300

One "promising" winner will receive:
  • Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
  • Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
  • Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
  • The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

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Book Description and My Thoughts

I am on Tricia Goyer's 2013 Launch Team. This means that I've been provided an opportunity to review her novels for this year in exchange for a free novel(s). I last reviewed Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and now I'm reviewing The Promise Box (a Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series).

 
The Promise Box is the story of Lydia Wyse, an adopted Englisch child into an Amish home. Lydia has left her Amish community of West Kootenai to move to Seattle to edit books. While she is gone, her Amish mother passes away, leading to her return to the Amish community.

 

While visiting the community again, she finds herself falling for bachelor Gideon Hooley. The problem is that she can't forget where she came from--the dark history of her birth haunts her. Gideon himself has his own secrets that plague him.

 

I've been reading Amish novels since I was a teenager. I love them! Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting involved with this one. It didn't capture me like some of Tricia's books have in the past. I'd read a few pages, then set it down and do something else. That bothered me, and I wondered what was wrong with me! It took me several weeks to finish the book, because it just didn't draw me in.

 

The story was sweet in itself and had proper development, but I didn't feel a lot of emotion (i.e. love or interest) between the two characters. It almost felt like they were being drawn together by sheer force by the author. I enjoyed the progression of the story about Lydia. Tricia did a good job about making me wonder about what actually happened to Lydia and where she'd come from. However, I felt that Gideon's history seemed unrealistic and trivial in comparison.

 

There was some slang used in this story, but it wasn't overwhelming. This is a problem many others struggle with. Being an Appalachian, the overuse of slang in a story bugs me--it seems forced and unrealistic. The Amish also have their own slang, and sometimes that can get a bit overwhelming in an Amish novel. Thankfully, this wasn't a big issue for me. There was one spot in the story where I thought slang should have been left out. It was in Chapter Seven in the letter from Lydia's adoptive mother. The going back and forth from using "yer" to "your" felt unrealistic. I know "yer" is often used in conversation among the Amish in novels (the same as Ja or ach), but in a letter, the fact that she used "your" equally to "yer" made me feel like the character wouldn't have thrown in "yer" as well. Otherwise, the character's spelling was correct, so the misspelling of your didn't make sense.

 

Overall, this story was a nice read. If you enjoy Amish fiction, I think that you will enjoy this one, too. 

 

I don't like to write reviews that aren't full of positive response, especially when I've been asked by the author to review it. My intent is not to be harsh or judgmental but to provide my honest responses while I read.



I've been given a copy of The Promise Box, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Penelope

Back in December, I had the opportunity to read and review a novel by Anya Wylde called The Wicked Wager. Since then, I've read a second novel, Penelope.

Book Description
Leaving behind the rural charms of Finnshire, Miss Penelope Fairweather arrives in London with hope in her heart and a dream in her eye. The dowager, no less, has invited her for a season in London, where she will attempt to catch a husband.

Thus begins our heroine's tale as she attempts to tackle the London season with all her rustic finesse. Unfortunately, her rustic finesse turns out to be as delicate as a fat bear trying to rip apart a honeycomb infested with buzzing bees.

What follows is a series of misadventures, love affairs, moonlit balls, fancy clothes, fake moustaches, highwaymen, sneering beauties, pickpockets, and the wrath of a devilishly handsome duke.
My thoughts 
Just like the last novel, this one was very witty. The characters have a corny, nonsensical way about them that makes me laugh. However, there were some things about the story that were unbelievable. The characters, falling in love, didn't convince me. I'm not sure if the author is trying to make the reader disbelieve that the characters really are in love (I remember feeling that way about the previous story's characters, too) or if this is just a wee faux pas in character weaving. The story has a ridiculousness that sorta has me confused--does Anya Wylde WANT her reader to feel that its characters and the things they say are ridiculous? I'm not entirely sure.

The story is clean--no offensive language or lewd scenes take place. A bit more editing would be my suggestion, along with some clearer purpose from the author. All in all, it's a light read, inciting chuckles, and a quick read!