The Garden of Eden

She makes playing in the dirt so much more fun...

What's For Dinner

Yesterday was the first time I had made a "proper" dinner in weeks. Between moving, unpacking and being exhausted, cooking hasn't been a high priority on my list.

We tried the Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe from Cooking Light, and it was good. I'm in the process of starting a small herb container garden (right now just some mint, cilantro, and chives), so I was excited to use cilantro from my garden (small pleasures, right?).

I did have to modify the recipe a bit - E doesn't like avocado (and we didn't have any in the house), so we just did without the salsa, though I'm sure it would have been REALLY good. :)

Anyway, here's the recipe. Enjoy!

R's Story

R's birth story is pretty short... and pretty uneventful, but I'll share anyway. :) I had my OB appointment on Friday, and my doctor stated that I wouldn't "last through the weekend". I took it with a grain of salt and prayed that the baby would at least come by Sunday (L's birthday), so that I wouldn't feel the inner dilemma of going into work or not.

Saturday comes. I am feeling fine. In fact, I had been feeling great all week, so my hope of going into labor on the weekend was starting to fade a little for me. It was a rainy day, so going for a long walk was out, so we decided to grab lunch and go to Lowe's (E loves that place) and get some stuff for the house.

We get to lunch and the contractions started pretty much as soon as we sat down. We decided to skip Lowe's just in case it was the real thing (though I was doubtful). We drove home, and by the time we got back, the contractions were pretty close together and were getting intense. I took a bath, which helped a little, but still felt pretty terrible.

L called the hospital and my doc said to come in if they were getting more intense. We then called D, E's daycare worker, who was sweet enough to watch E until my parents arrived. She is so sweet to consider us "family".

On the ride to the hospital, I just kept counting through my contractions (art of distraction perhaps?) and thinking "I can handle anything for a short period of time" and repeating "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

We got to the hospital at 3:00 (my contractions started at noon), and the nurse checked me, and I had dilated to 6. She asked what my birthing plans were - I said I wanted to try it naturally, and that I wanted the jacuzzi and birthing ball. I was having some pretty uncomfortable back labor, and was a little irritated that they wouldn't let me sit up (they were trying to gauge the baby's heartbeat and had difficulty doing that while I was upright).

Anyway, the doctor arrived shortly afterward, and stated I had dilated to 8. The nurse had started running the bath for me (jacuzzi baths are the best), and then I started feeling the need to push. The pushing was intense and painful, but short (about fifteen minutes) and R was born at 4:02 pm, an hour after we arrived, and four hours after my contractions began.

This was a much more emotional birth for me... and I think it's because I was so aware of everything my body was telling me. I had such a cloudy feeling over me when E was born ( and her birth was still beautiful, and we were blessed with a healthy delivery which is what counts), but just felt outside of myself.... very strange.

I was so nervous of having to get an epidural (and I know many women prefer them... guess it's different for each person), and prayed all the way to the hospital that God would give me the strength to last through whatever pain was coming my way. And He did, and I'm so thankful.

The healing process has been much quicker than with E - probably because I tore naturally and didn't need an episiotomy this time around. Maybe I knew what to expect this time around, so it didn't feel as painful afterward? Not sure. In any case, it's gone quickly, which has been such a blessing since there are two kiddos now.

So... we've been twice blessed - a pretty cool big sister, and an adorable little guy who loves to snuggle. God is good.

What I'm Loving...

1. Our newest addition. Now I now how you can love two kiddos in the same moment.
2. Snuggling with Babe. He's pretty great.
3. Sitz baths. Let's be real here.

4. How this kiddo knows what she wants. As soon as she saw the purple glasses she knew... they were to be hers.
5. Bubbles in the wind.
6. Family walks.

7. How weeds can be the most beautiful flowers.
8. Sleeping with the windows open on a breezy night.

9. The three people above. Life is so much richer with the three of them in my life.
10. How blessed I am to have L. He's a good daddy and a great husband.

Rhys is Here!

We're happy to announce the arrival of Rhys Everett on May 16th at 4:02 pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 1/2 in. long. We were blessed with a short (albeit intense) medication and complication free labor and delivery.

More details to follow, but all are home and doing well. Thank you for all your prayers!

Be Still

I love quiet mornings when L and E are still fast asleep, and the only sound I hear is the rain falling on our home. Sometimes it's so easy to fill our home with noise - TV, radio, internet - that we miss the beautiful sounds that God gives us for free. The sound of a the wind in the trees, rain pattering down, the birds singing. These are the moments that truly want to make you stop and "be still".

I really struggle with being still, though it's so peaceful and needed. It seems I'm always rushing for something, filling my day with busy-ness and noise. Why does the silence make me feel as though I need to fill it with meaningless stuff much of the time... whether it be with activity, or drama or sound, etc?

And I know it's so so easy for me to worry, and drowning the anxiousness in activity is easy for me to do. The worry of how the birth will be, and how we're going to handle two children. How E is going to react to having another sibling around. If R is going to be a fussy baby, or will he have difficulties nursing. How will returning to work in six weeks feel like? Will my boss understand that I am not willing to work four full days, even if my workload requires that of me? Can I do both? Are we spiritually ready to lead two children in the way of Christ on a daily basis?

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Those simple words are very encouraging to me, and have brought much peace to me this morning. I'm glad that He's bigger than me, and that His hands are stronger than mine. I don't know how the future will look, but God knows all things and will give me/us the strength to make it through. I often wonder why I doubt the One who has never let me down?

Praise God we're not alone in our struggles or fears or worries.

Praise God that He gives us peace that passes understanding.

And praise God that He graces us with gentle rainy mornings like this to remind us of simple blessings like silence... and strength.

The "Still Pregnant" Post

Last week was pretty rough, being at the end of my pregnancy and having a nasty cold. I was SO ready to be done. I was miserable... no other way to put it, really. My mind could not focus on any one thing in particular.

Well this week came, and I felt/feel so much better. My energy level is back, I can breathe (thank you neti pot), had some nice restful sleep. I was able to get a little bit of extra work in, which means a little extra paycheck, which is helpful, though I complained about it until 4:00 yesterday. :)

And though we grumbled about waiting for baby to arrive until yesterday evening when E was incredibly sensitive. She cried over everything, which isn't really like her. She didn't want to eat, and just laid on me. We took her to the doctor because she's pretty tough even when she's not feeling well, and this was worst we have ever seen her. We are pretty glad that we did... hardcore ear infection in her right ear, and a minor one in her left.

So we prayed that baby would stay inside for another couple of days, until E feels better. Now, though, I'm kind of hoping it happens on L's birthday (17th). It'd be nice to get a couple days at home with E before the baby comes, and get some stuff done around here. Plus my pre-registration appt is tomorrow... and it would be nice to get that done.

But yes, I'm still pregnant, but not miserable. Praise God for a complication free pregnancy and hope that continues into the birth and delivery of R. We are certainly looking forward to meeting this little guy!