Well, I met with the midwives today, and every thing's looking like it's supposed to. I am now 38 weeks and 2 days. That means we have a little less than 2 weeks to go. If she's on time. If she wants to hang out in utero the way Josephine did, than I still have a month left of pregnancy. I sincerely pray that is not the case.
This has by far been the hardest pregnancy I've had. I guess that's what happens when you carry 4 full-term babies back to back in 6 years. It takes its toll out on you. And the old grey mare, she ain't what she used to be. And let's face reality here people, I'm not getting any younger. When I first started this journey called motherhood I was 24, fresh faced and about to graduate from college, and in the best shape of my life as a recently retired aerobics instructor. Needless to say, the fact that I haven't done a single grapevine in those 6 years, coupled with taking care of 3 little ones, while carrying another little one, has made this pregnancy the most taxing. I'm tired all the time. I'm even convinced that I may have somehow acquired pregnancy-induced narcolepsy. I can no longer stay awake even for my favorite shows. I've never heard of this disorder before, and I've never known anyone else to have it. So I may be the first. But I think it's for real...
I've never been a fan of the pregnancy aspect of child bearing. Give me labor and delivery once a month for 9 months, but do NOT give me 270 days of back pain, cramping, nausea, muscle spasms, heartburn, weight gain, and all the other unspeakable aspects of pregnancy. I guess it has something to do with the way I'm wired. I'd choose sprints--impulse, intensity, sudden bursts of energy--over marathons--steady, paced, in it for the long haul--any day of the week.
To the menfolk--if you get squeamish with pregnancy details, then stop reading here. But most of you are dads, so you're probably familiar with all the terminology. However, for all of you who DO care--i.e., my lady friends--as of today, I am 2 cm dilated, and 70% effaced. The baby is low (meaning she's dropped and ready to go and in the blast off position), and every thing is on course. So hopefully we'll have our little girl within the next two weeks!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
I Haven't Laughed This Hard In A Really Long Time
Holly is sweet and simple. Like a lady baker.
I would not be surprised to find out that she had worked in a bakery before coming here. She has that kind of warmth. I'm pretty sure she's baked on a professional level.--Michael Scott, "The Office"
Friday, May 9, 2008
More power to 'em
I find this little clip strangely comforting to me in my current condition. Yet, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if I should feel better about my present circumstances, or if I should feel bad for all the complaining I've been doing. Either way, I'm glad it's not me.
The real question I have is...How is this woman's body still functioning properly? Seriously.
The real question I have is...How is this woman's body still functioning properly? Seriously.
For the Love of Money
We've implemented Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr. here at the Buckland house this week for our two oldest daughters, Isabel, 5, and Josephine, 3. I am so proud of them, because they've really latched on to the system really quickly. Every morning, Isabel & Jo get up and make their beds, feeds the cats, and are helping out a lot more around the house in general. It's great! I thought it was going to be like pulling teeth with them. But as they are working, they have some toys in mind that they're saving up to buy. So that's been a motivating factor for them.
This morning, as I was cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast, I heard two little voices singing in unison as they were making their beds, "Money, money, money, money--MONAAAY!" Whatever works, I guess! I just hope we're not creating miniature Ebenezer Scrooges.
This morning, as I was cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast, I heard two little voices singing in unison as they were making their beds, "Money, money, money, money--MONAAAY!" Whatever works, I guess! I just hope we're not creating miniature Ebenezer Scrooges.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Back by Popular Pancake Demand...
Ren often complains to me that no one comments on his posts. I then told him that my post about pancakes has received 17 comments. So did my public school post, but most of those were made by Erin and me! Anyways, back to my point. I told Ren that if he wanted to boost his blog numbers, post about food. I mean, who doesn't like food? You really can't go wrong.
I had some requests for the Buckland Homemade Buttermilk Pancake Recipe. It's really from my favorite Southern Living cookbook. Here it is:
Dry Ingredients
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
Wet Ingredients
2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1/4 c. vegetable oil
I use my beloved cast iron skillet every time. I start heating it up on medium-low heat even before I start the recipe. Mix the dry ingredients together. Then mix the wet ingredients together. Then pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. I use my stand-up mixer. Mix all together until just incorporated. If you over mix, you won't have very fluffy pancakes. Dump about 1/4 c to 1/3 c for each pancake into the pan. Flip, butter scandalously, serve hot with lots o' maple syrup.
You know you want some.
I had some requests for the Buckland Homemade Buttermilk Pancake Recipe. It's really from my favorite Southern Living cookbook. Here it is:
Dry Ingredients
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
Wet Ingredients
2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1/4 c. vegetable oil
I use my beloved cast iron skillet every time. I start heating it up on medium-low heat even before I start the recipe. Mix the dry ingredients together. Then mix the wet ingredients together. Then pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. I use my stand-up mixer. Mix all together until just incorporated. If you over mix, you won't have very fluffy pancakes. Dump about 1/4 c to 1/3 c for each pancake into the pan. Flip, butter scandalously, serve hot with lots o' maple syrup.
You know you want some.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Boldy going...where millions of American children go every day
So as you know, Ren and I have been cutting things to the bone lately. Thusly, we have made another major decision.
Isabel, our 5 year old, is about to graduate from Pre-K. She attends a fantastic little private Christian school in the area, with which we have been exceedingly pleased. We enrolled her there for several reasons, namely because: 1.)It's a Christian school. We're Christians, so logically, we've decided to raise our children as such. Crazy, I know. But that's just the way we roll; 2.)It's only half day--3 hours--as opposed to the 6 & 1/2 hour day in public Pre-K. We just weren't ready to subject our then 4-year old to that many hours of school per day, especially with it being her first year, coupled with the fact that she has the rest of her next 15 or more years to live out in some type of school system; 3.)We loved the smaller classes, the teachers, the brand new facility...*sigh*. I could keep going. Needless to say, we've been very satisfied with our experience, and, more importantly, so has she.
However, she's about to graduate, and next fall she'll be moving on up into Kindergarten (or the "Academy" as they call it). Our options at this point are: 1.)Keep sending her to the private school; 2.)Homeschool; or 3.)The dreaded...Dare I say it?...Public School. *gasp!*
I'll address the first option...well, first. Honestly, we love her school. I think I've made that quite clear. But here's one small problem: It's not free. It actually costs us money. That's the crazy thing about private school. And next year her tuition would be almost double what we're paying for her current year. It's been a little bit of a stretch for us to send her this past year, but with me working part time for our church, we've been able to manage it. But see, here comes the tricky part--we're simultaneously trying to get out of debt, sell a house, and I'm getting ready to quit my job and have our fourth baby! So, we either go into even more massive amounts of debt (which we already have, thank you very much), or sell one of the other children to fund our oldest daughter's first year of school, or look at our other options. Let's move on, shall we?
I'll address Homeschooling next. Honestly, I love the idea of home school. I think it's an admirable, noble, amazing, and wonderful thing to do. For anyone else on the planet ***EXCEPT ME***. Honestly, I know what I can and cannot do. I have come to know myself pretty well, and I know the way I'm wired. Actually, the thought of homeschooling right now, with this many small children, while getting ready to have another, makes me break out into a cold sweat and want to pass out. I know a LOT of moms that home school. In fact, I would even go so far as to suggest that we rename the current area in which we live from the Bible Belt to the Homeschool Belt. I feel like I am in the minority at times. I'm not one of those parents that cried on my daughter's first day of Pre-K. On the contrary, I barely stopped the mini-van in the carpool line just long enough for her to safely get out, before spinning the tires, and racing off to enjoy my few, short, precious hours. Heh heh. I'm a good mom.
I've seen and/or heard some of the nitty, gritty details. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And several parents I've talked to do NOT recommend homeschooling your first child, their first year, with a brand new baby. Who knows? Once they get a little bit older, like maybe when they can all read, write, and wipe themselves, I may change my tune. Until then, we're pretty much decided. I have spent a lot of time considering this option (like the last 5 years or so), and I've spent many hours in prayer about it. I've heard the pitches. I've had other moms try to convert and/or "encourage" me into doing it . But just trust me on this one. I don't think that Homeschooling is for everyone. And with that being said, I KNOW, it ain't me, babe. Not now. No way. No how.
Which leaves us at our third and final option, Public School. Now, 5 years ago, Ren and I would have laughed hysterically, and then proceeded to systematically bludgeon the offender, had anyone ever even suggested that we throw our precious first-born into the lion's den of iniquity that is Public School. But, life (and God) has a way of taking you from all your unrealistically high standards, knocking you down a level or two, to bring your feet back to Planet Earth. Therefore, and by now you've probably guessed it, Ren and I have decided that we will be sending Isabel to public school for Kindergarten. Now, I'll spare you all the minute details about how we've come to such a brave conclusion. But I will say that I really think the Lord Himself gave us both some sort of paradigm shift on the whole thing. The fact that we're in agreement on it is huge. And ever since we've made the decision, I've just been getting nothing but God's peace and encouragement every step of the way. I keep hearing other parents in the community saying things like, "Oh, that's one of the best schools in the county," and "If I had my choice, that's where I'd be sending my kid." And even crazier is the fact that we can see the school from our neighborhood.
The main thing we keep telling ourselves is--It's Kindergarten, for crying out loud. How wild and crazy can it possibly be?
What we've learned through all of this is that there's no perfect solution. We're just parents who deeply love our kids, and want to do what's best. Aren't we all? Obviously, there are pros and cons to all of these scenarios. We'll definitely have to reevaluate our decision at the end of Isabel's first year in public school. At that time we'll have to take a really hard look at her drinking habits, number of piercings, various tattoo locations...oh, AND examine what and how much she's actually learning and move on from there.
Pray for us as we embark on this brave new journey.
Isabel, our 5 year old, is about to graduate from Pre-K. She attends a fantastic little private Christian school in the area, with which we have been exceedingly pleased. We enrolled her there for several reasons, namely because: 1.)It's a Christian school. We're Christians, so logically, we've decided to raise our children as such. Crazy, I know. But that's just the way we roll; 2.)It's only half day--3 hours--as opposed to the 6 & 1/2 hour day in public Pre-K. We just weren't ready to subject our then 4-year old to that many hours of school per day, especially with it being her first year, coupled with the fact that she has the rest of her next 15 or more years to live out in some type of school system; 3.)We loved the smaller classes, the teachers, the brand new facility...*sigh*. I could keep going. Needless to say, we've been very satisfied with our experience, and, more importantly, so has she.
However, she's about to graduate, and next fall she'll be moving on up into Kindergarten (or the "Academy" as they call it). Our options at this point are: 1.)Keep sending her to the private school; 2.)Homeschool; or 3.)The dreaded...Dare I say it?...Public School. *gasp!*
I'll address the first option...well, first. Honestly, we love her school. I think I've made that quite clear. But here's one small problem: It's not free. It actually costs us money. That's the crazy thing about private school. And next year her tuition would be almost double what we're paying for her current year. It's been a little bit of a stretch for us to send her this past year, but with me working part time for our church, we've been able to manage it. But see, here comes the tricky part--we're simultaneously trying to get out of debt, sell a house, and I'm getting ready to quit my job and have our fourth baby! So, we either go into even more massive amounts of debt (which we already have, thank you very much), or sell one of the other children to fund our oldest daughter's first year of school, or look at our other options. Let's move on, shall we?
I'll address Homeschooling next. Honestly, I love the idea of home school. I think it's an admirable, noble, amazing, and wonderful thing to do. For anyone else on the planet ***EXCEPT ME***. Honestly, I know what I can and cannot do. I have come to know myself pretty well, and I know the way I'm wired. Actually, the thought of homeschooling right now, with this many small children, while getting ready to have another, makes me break out into a cold sweat and want to pass out. I know a LOT of moms that home school. In fact, I would even go so far as to suggest that we rename the current area in which we live from the Bible Belt to the Homeschool Belt. I feel like I am in the minority at times. I'm not one of those parents that cried on my daughter's first day of Pre-K. On the contrary, I barely stopped the mini-van in the carpool line just long enough for her to safely get out, before spinning the tires, and racing off to enjoy my few, short, precious hours. Heh heh. I'm a good mom.
I've seen and/or heard some of the nitty, gritty details. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And several parents I've talked to do NOT recommend homeschooling your first child, their first year, with a brand new baby. Who knows? Once they get a little bit older, like maybe when they can all read, write, and wipe themselves, I may change my tune. Until then, we're pretty much decided. I have spent a lot of time considering this option (like the last 5 years or so), and I've spent many hours in prayer about it. I've heard the pitches. I've had other moms try to convert and/or "encourage" me into doing it . But just trust me on this one. I don't think that Homeschooling is for everyone. And with that being said, I KNOW, it ain't me, babe. Not now. No way. No how.
Which leaves us at our third and final option, Public School. Now, 5 years ago, Ren and I would have laughed hysterically, and then proceeded to systematically bludgeon the offender, had anyone ever even suggested that we throw our precious first-born into the lion's den of iniquity that is Public School. But, life (and God) has a way of taking you from all your unrealistically high standards, knocking you down a level or two, to bring your feet back to Planet Earth. Therefore, and by now you've probably guessed it, Ren and I have decided that we will be sending Isabel to public school for Kindergarten. Now, I'll spare you all the minute details about how we've come to such a brave conclusion. But I will say that I really think the Lord Himself gave us both some sort of paradigm shift on the whole thing. The fact that we're in agreement on it is huge. And ever since we've made the decision, I've just been getting nothing but God's peace and encouragement every step of the way. I keep hearing other parents in the community saying things like, "Oh, that's one of the best schools in the county," and "If I had my choice, that's where I'd be sending my kid." And even crazier is the fact that we can see the school from our neighborhood.
The main thing we keep telling ourselves is--It's Kindergarten, for crying out loud. How wild and crazy can it possibly be?
What we've learned through all of this is that there's no perfect solution. We're just parents who deeply love our kids, and want to do what's best. Aren't we all? Obviously, there are pros and cons to all of these scenarios. We'll definitely have to reevaluate our decision at the end of Isabel's first year in public school. At that time we'll have to take a really hard look at her drinking habits, number of piercings, various tattoo locations...oh, AND examine what and how much she's actually learning and move on from there.
Pray for us as we embark on this brave new journey.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Saturday-Universal Pancake Day
Saturday here at the Buckland house is Pancake Day. It's the one day of the week that we don't have to rush out of the house. No one's working or going to school. So we can relax, have a leisurely morning, and spend some time doing breakfast right.
I pretty much love all breakfast foods, but my daughters, particularly the oldest, request pancakes every Saturday. No waffles, or biscuits and gravy, or Eggs Benedict. Just pancakes. And bacon. With real maple syrup. They will not be fooled, and they will settle for no substitutes.
Then I read that my friend, Elaine, does pancake day on Saturday. And I also believe that the Hippses are Saturday Pancake People. What say you? Is Saturday Universal Pancake Day? If not, what do you do for breakfast on Saturday?
I pretty much love all breakfast foods, but my daughters, particularly the oldest, request pancakes every Saturday. No waffles, or biscuits and gravy, or Eggs Benedict. Just pancakes. And bacon. With real maple syrup. They will not be fooled, and they will settle for no substitutes.
Then I read that my friend, Elaine, does pancake day on Saturday. And I also believe that the Hippses are Saturday Pancake People. What say you? Is Saturday Universal Pancake Day? If not, what do you do for breakfast on Saturday?
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