{40 Weeks} & This moment in time

Well, I made it to 40 weeks...Everyone (besides me of course) said I wouldn't make it past 38 weeks! HA-I guess mother knows best. I have been enjoying my time at home resting A LOT! The car seat has been installed in the car, bags are packed and in the car complete with a change of clothes for my husband and daughter. Speaking of my dearest daughter...As soon as I found out I was pregnant she has insisted that she wants to be in the delivery room. She is 12 which some think is too young for her to be present but we feel that she is mature enough to handle the situation. My midwife, childbirth instructor, and the head nurse at the hospital are all for her being present and excited to have her there. My mother-in-law will need to be there for the duration as well just in case something comes up where my daughter would have to leave the room (i.e. just can't handle it, emergency c-section, etc). We were planning on staying at home as long a possible but with my previous c-section and after seeing the "homelike" birthing rooms we feel that being at the hospital is the best option. I have to have a pic line put in for precaution but will be allowed to have hydration by mouth unless we head to surgery. I will also need to have continuous external fetal monitoring but it's battery powered so I can move freely around the room and even soak in the jacuzzi tub. I really, really like that my midwife as well as the hospital are for natural births and vbacs. I am praying that we don't have a repeat from 12 years ago and will be able to enjoy the first hours with our new little one :) Hopefully we will meet him very soon!!! ~Jac

{How I became a SAHM}

I have been a mother and keeper of my home for 12 years. Of those 12 years, I have worked a full time job and when needed a side job or two. Tasks that needed to get done around the home were squeezed into being a wife, mothering my daughter, helping with homework, making dinner, etc. I knew that when I walked through my back door that I had X amount of time to get everything done. Most of the time I got my list crossed off. 


I noticed that while I was able to get things done, my family and my mental health suffered. I was constantly thinking about what needed to get done next. When life threw a curve ball, I blew up!!! I didn't go outside and scream into the sky, I didn't take a walk to blow off steam, unfortunately my husband and daughter {the very people that God gave me as a gift} received the brunt of it. After a melt down from yours truly, I would have to go apologize and ask for their forgiveness. 


Over 2 years ago I started praying that I could get things under control. I feel that God put a desire in my heart to stay at home. I never wanted this before and  it didn't seem possible then but I kept praying, then my husband joined in.

We knew that when we added another child to the family it would be hard to carry on as it had always been. For several years we worked to pay any debt off and fix things around the house. As I type, the last project that "needed to be done" is being completed. We had a goal and as of January 28th the goal has been met. I resigned from a job that I LOVED so that I could be all that God intended for me to be. It wasn't and won't be easy but with God-all things are possible. In the next month we will welcome our son into our family and I pray that he will not have to see where I was several years ago!!!

This moment in time...

WOW- Yesterday was my last day of working full time! I am not sure it has hit me yet since it's the weekend but come Monday we'll see how I'm doing. My co-workers gave me a wonderful going away party and I packed up and headed out before flooding the place with tears. I am looking very forward to this next season in my life.

Last night I was able to get together with a bunch of Ladies. This isn't just friends getting together - We are all part of a group called Good Morning Girls. This is our 3rd session and includes 24 ladies broken into several small groups.  I love the friendships that have developed between us all. Every other month we try to have a large gathering so we can all mingle. Here are some photos that my Aunt Amy took last night {complements of her facebook}.

The below picture is of Julia and I. We met while working at the VA & quickly hit it off. {A forever friendship was formed} 

The next couple of weeks, our family will be preparing for the arrival of our little boy. This includes finishing up the flooring, making freezer meals, streamlining our cleaning/laundry routine, and spending some time enjoying the quietness of the house.

BTW as you can see in the above photos I have bloomed just a bit in the mid section. I am now 36 weeks!!!

Where are you???

It seems I have lost my ankles somewhere in the past week. Something tells me I won't be finding them until after Gunnar makes his appearance. Don't mind the chipped polish-my sweet daughter has been away from home for the last 3 nights. Hopefully she will make 'em all purdy this weekend for me ;) Oh the joys of having a 12 year old little girl! Love her ♥

This moment in time...

We just celebrated Christmas-the birth of our savior Jesus!!! This is always a busy time of year but it's only as busy as we make it!!! Heading into the new year will bring many changes for our family. We are expecting the arrival of our baby boy Gunnar in late February and I am leaving my full time job to stay at home at the end of January. I am feverishly trying to get organized knowing how important it is for not only the new baby but also being out of a 8-5 routine. I know how to manage everything that has to be done at work and even handle what needs to be done at home in the short amount of time I have here. Being home will be like starting a new job-figuring out what needs to get done, when it needs to get done, and reminding myself of how important this job is even though I won't be bringing home a steady paycheck. I hope to find a couple of cleaning jobs or the like to supplement our income but my family needs to be my main focus. I still can't believe I will have a 12 year old and a newborn. CRAZY! That's where I am at and where we are headed will be an adventure for sure...

{Here is a picture of my dear husband and I at our church Christmas Party}

{31 Weeks and a few days}

Here are some updated pictures of Gunnar growing {and growing and growing}. I have a little over 8 weeks to go ;) but I am not counting on him coming for 10. I always estimate longer so I don't get to anxious. My last day of work is January 28th YIKES! I'm very thankful to be able to stay home with my children now but still a bit nervous. I know nothing other than going to work everyday. It is a dream come true to focus on God, my husband, my children and my home full time ;)

P.S. I have a really skinny Christmas Tree

What is a Veteran??

The definition of a Veteran via Dictionary.com 

vet·er·an

 /ˈvɛtərən, ˈvɛtrən/ Show Spelled[vet-er-uhn, ve-truhn] Show IPA

–noun

1.a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.

2.a person who has served in a military force, esp. one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.

–adjective

3.(of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare: veteran troops.

4.experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period: a veteran member of Congress.

5.of, pertaining to, or characteristic of veterans. 

 

My definition of a Veteran: One who has sacrificed much in order to protect our freedom, given up the convenience that so many of us Americans expect,  put others first in all circumstances, etc {I really could go on and on}. I have two brothers who have served many tours in Iraq and I have the privilege of working at a VA. I can't say THANK YOU enough to my brothers and the Veterans I serve everyday at work. 

 

                              

Love and miss you both!!!