The Christmas traditions have begun.

Our Christmas traditions actually start on Thanksgiving morning. It is a tradition that came from John's family and it is now mine, too. We decorate the tree on Thanksgiving morning after we eat blueberry muffins. And then we watch the Christmas parades on TV. It is kind of funny now, since the kids are so little, sometimes they get confused and think it is Christmas and not Thanksgiving. But it is a great way to begin the holiday season. Though this year, we haven't decorated much other than the tree and probably only put up about half the ornaments. We did put out all the nativity scenes though. My goal is to have one for every room one day. I have quite a few to go. Would it be weird to have a nativity in the bathroom...maybe I won't put one in the bathroom. John makes fun of my nativity window clings but you should see how the kids love putting them up and rearranging them through the holidays. We have 3 sets. And hey...this could be a witnessing tool for the neighbors.

Perhaps we began a new tradition tonight, the last day of November, we decorated pre-made Gingerbread cookies (all the supplies came in a box...cookies already baked). Then we watched Charlie Brown's Christmas Special. The one where they actually tell the REAL Christmas story!! I love it. I DVR'ed it. Man do I enjoy this cable box. I can record anything and we can watch it on our own time. I can actually get the good stuff out of the TV and use it when I want to show it and we can fast forward through the commercials...WOOHOO!! The kids enjoyed eating their gingerbread men while they watched the Christmas special.

Tomorrow, we celebrate another of our Christmas traditions...going to the St. Cloud Christmas parade. We walk to the parade and sit with some of our most special St. Cloud family...the Moyes...more affectionately known to us as Dan-Dan, Bon-Bon, Carri-friend and Zachy. This year...our beloved UCF Knights will be hosting the Conference USA football Championship at their own home field and we will not get to share the parade with our Daddy and Zachy. They will both be attending the game. Oh well, more candy for us. Unfortunately, tomorrow we will have to wear shorts and sunglasses. Some years have been frigid but this year will feel like summer. We gotta get a Santa a Florida weather suit. Swim trunks maybe with a Disney t-shirt?

Unfortunately, we forgot the the tree lighting ceremony was taking place downtown tonight. That is normally one of our traditions. We usually walk over and enjoy the festivities. I probably couldn't have walked downtown tonight and to the parade in the morning so I guess that is OK. Next year.

I am trying to find ways to focus on the holiday along with this protruding belly of mine and aching...well...everything. I was given some great advice this last week at a MOPS meeting by a sweet pastor's wife... "Don't bite off more than you can chew." So that is my goal. To enjoy the holidays with out choking on them. The kids don't care if we baked the cookies ourselves, they just wanted to spread icing all over themselves...I mean... their cookies and eat them. Even Layton said tonight that she didn't want anything for Christmas except for her family to be together. Awwww...granted 5 minutes later, she did add that she would like her own set of make-up for Christmas.

And what a more exciting way to celebrate Christmas than receiving our own very blessed baby Nathaniel into our family sometime this month. It has made me think about Mary and what she must of been thinking that first Christmas. Layton must have been thinking too because she came to me this past week and asked how God chose Mary. A very deep question I thought for a six year old. So we read in the Bible that Mary found favor with God and how she respectfully received this amazing task that was being given to her. Boy, it made me think about how more like Mary I should be...I am glad however that I don't have to ride on a donkey. Whew!! Although I guess that is one way to induce labor...hmmm...nah...don't think I will try it. :)

Decorating the tree on Thanksgiving Morning

Upadate on Nathaniel True

I went to see Dr. Hartman today to check on baby Nathaniel. I measured at 40 weeks and I am only 37 weeks. So it looks like Nathaniel has the potential to be big like Cheney was (9lbs. 6oz. a week early). I figured the doc would check to see if I had dilated any but he said he wanted to do another sonogram before he did anything that might cause labor. He said yesterday he delivered a baby of a lady who has had the same placenta previa issues as I have had and she ended up with complications even though the placenta had appeared to be out of the way. So he wanted to check the position of my placenta again. He wants to make sure that even after I reach 10 cm. that it will still not be in the way. So now we have a sonogram scheduled for Tuesday (the only day his office does sonograms) and then follow up with him on Thursday. Depending on the results of the sonogram we will discuss the possibilities... a scheduled c-section, a scheduled induction if Nathaniel looks really big, or just waiting until he comes naturally.

So please pray for a clear view of the placenta next Tuesday and an accurate estimated weight of Nathaniel. I suppose we should also pray for God's perfect timing in delivering Nathaniel perhaps waiting until after we have all these additional issues resolved. I suppose if I started having contractions this week I would need to head to the hospital fairly quickly so they can address these issues before we start delivery.

Thanks for your prayers ladies.
Kathryn

Thanksgiving portraits....in my Mom's backyard

Not much for blogging lately

I know I said I would blog every few days but I haven't been keeping up my end of the deal. I guess I would rather be sleeping or at least reclining lately rather than blogging. When I sit up to the computer for very long my rib cage pulls and my back hurts.

We are 28 days out from Nathaniel's due date. Anytime in the next week sounds good to me :)

There are plenty of things to blog about though. Here are a few to tide you over until I get back to the computer...

• We had a GREAT Thanksgiving sleepover at my Mom and Dad's. It was so much fun. We got over there about noon on Thursday and didn't leave until bedtime on Friday. The grandkids ran around like crazy and wore Grandma and G-dad out. But I think we actually all enjoyed it. I know I did.
• Cheney says Nathaniel is coming in "free" (3) minutes. That is her time frame for everything right now.
• Elijah's favorite thing on the Thanksgiving dinner plate was the chicken...I keep telling him it was turkey but hey he ate several helpings and I am not going to argue with him about it.
• Yesterday, the cuzzies (my neice and nephew) along with my sister came over and hung out with us while the boys (the Dads and Elijah) went to see the UCF football game. The girls all had a tea party. Layton was intent upon teaching Gracie, her younger cousin, how to be a "real princess" because apparently she already knows. LOL
• We took amazing family pictures while at my moms...they are all on John's computer right now so I will have to add them later when I am on it.

Hope you all had a super Thanksgiving. I am going to nap.

New Baby News

OK...after my last blog post this is gonna sound a bit crazy...John and I actually felt a bit shocked when the Dr. said today that WE DON'T NEED A C-SECTION!!! We just need to wait until Nathaniel is ready and have him naturally. He said the placenta is far enough out of the way that we don't even need to worry about it. So I guess it goes to show that you shouldn't put too much stock into what the sonogram technician says. (not to offend any of you that might be sonogram techs out there) I just mean she isn't the one that delivers the babies. So after discussing the possibility of getting a second opinion we decided we would just relax and trust GOD for His provision in this. I mean this is what we have prayed for, right?

So now it is just about waiting until Nathaniel is done being knit together by our heavenly Father. Of course I am hoping sooner than later. I mean Elijah (baby #2) came all by himself 21 days early at 7 lbs 7 oz. That works for me with Nathaniel too. But then we had to induce Cheney (baby #3) a week early at 9 lbs 6 oz. My belly is measuring a bit big for 35 weeks so maybe Nathaniel will be done cooking a little early. But now we just have to wait on him. Woohoo!!

I knew that you all would rejoice in our news with us. Thanks for your prayers!!!! They mean so much!!!!

Kathryn

Pregnancy Report

Well, ladies and my husband...that is my general audience...3 maybe 4 ladies and my sweetheart...

We went to have our sonogram today. Nathaniel's heartbeat was good and he still has a cute profile.

BUT...the placenta has not moved anymore since our last sonogram. I am feeling a bit bummed at the moment. The lady who did our sonogram said the she doubts that there would be anymore change since there hasn't been any since our sonogram in the beginning of October.

I will meet with Dr. Hartman on Friday to hear his analysis of the sonogram. We will see what the next step is. Honestly, as long as Nathaniel is healthy...scheduling a c-section a few weeks early doesn't sound so bad. The doc had said that if we had to do a c-section it would probably be first week of December rather than waiting closer to the due date. We will know more on Friday afternoon. I will update you some time after that.

Thanks for your prayers.

Out of the mouths of babes

Today, while we were sitting at our favorite St. Cloud restaurant...Cool Blue Burrito...which we affectionately call CBB, John asked the kids, "Who is the cutest?" Normally Layton and Elijah say Cheney and Cheney says, "ME!!!!!!" Well today she pointed to me and said "Mommy!" Aww how sweet. At this stage in my pregnancy I am anything but cute unless I was a puppy maybe where pudgy or roly poly are not bad adjectives with which to be described. So I was feeling appreciated by my Chen-chen....

However within 5 minutes they were talking about how old everyone was and Layton asked Cheney how old mommy was and Cheney said, "Two." Elijah then quickly said, "No way she can't be 2, she is 150 years old." GEE Thanks, Elijah!!! I suppose we need some more work with numbers...he's only 4 and a half.

But what made me feel the best the other day was walking through Wal-mart and Layton says, "Mom, that says hot. " I said, " Yes, sweetie. You are reading that sign. Read the next word." She then with much enthusiasm sounded out "d-o-g. It says HOT DOG!" She was so excited. We have been working on reading and she can sound out any of the short vowel words with ease. So she has many words that she can read. But she only wants to read during reading time and I think this time at Wal-Mart was one of the first times she realized she could just look around at words and read them. It was so cool to see the light come on in her head as it dawned on her. I have been telling her that she can read lots of things but I am finding she is more like her mom than I like to admit. I remember not taking my mom's word for things until I figured them out myself or someone else told me. But it was really cool to see her get so excited about something that I have taught her to do. What a sweet reward for teaching her at home. Now we just have to make it through determining when it is a long vowel sound or short vowel sound and then there are all those rule breakers. MAN, I never remembered the English language being so difficult. It is a wonder anyone figures out how to read. lol

On the homefront...with John's lowercase form of typing

as i type this the kids are playing outside on a cool fall evening. it is so wonderful when it actually feels like fall in florida. fall and family just seem to go together, don’t they? fall is usually a busy time for john’s schedule with many weekend retreats. however, this year we are enjoying having daddy around without any traveling dates for awhile. i am so blessed that he has honored my request to stay local until nathaniel arrives sometime in december. (the official due date is december 23rd…though i am hoping for a few weeks earlier.) we have fun fall things planned for this weekend, our annual pumpkin painting party with the cousins and a full saturday of ucf homecoming activities. i am trying to focus on joys of each moment and not just getting to the end of this pregnancy as fast as possible. God is teaching me much about being content in this present moment. hebrews 13:5b says “be content with such things as ye have.” i know this verse speaks directly about material things but i also challenge you as i am being challenged…be content with the time you have… the stage your children are in…and who you are in Christ. i am learning that He will get me where He wants me if i will be content in the place He has me now. He has a plan and purpose for it if i will just receive it.