1.  Jack has been running a fever (anywhere from 99* to 103*) since yesterday afternoon.  He feels pretty darn miserable.  I wish I could say it was just teething (he's cutting two top teeth that are taking FOREVER to break all the way through), but I think it's an infection of some sort.  2.  I made a "discovery box" for him this weekend using a cardboard box and leftover ribbons (thanks, Sister!). I need to make the holes a little bigger for some of the thicker ribbons, but I think, overall, it's a neat idea. It shows cause an effect, and it also helps him practice manipulating small things. 

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  29 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Girl is 17 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a small cabbage (about 2 1/2 pounds--the ultrasound technician said she weighed 2 lbs 5 oz at my appointment last Tuesday.) Total weight gain/loss :  I have gained 19 pounds so far. Maternity clothes:   I *heart* maternity clothes :) Gender:   A very upside down baby girl :)  Hoping she'll make that big turn in the next few weeks! Movement :  I think she's active.  I feel her mostly when I'm holding Jack before ...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  28 weeks - Third Trimester!! Size of baby:   Baby Girl is 16 inches crown to feet and weighs (according to the ultrasound) 2 pounds 5 ounces Total weight gain/loss :  I was still at 18 1/2 pounds gained at my last appointment on Friday. Maternity clothes:   Anything that's cozy and doesn't squeeze my burgeoning belly too tightly Gender:   Still a girl ;) Movement :  She's pretty good at letting me know she's there! Sleep :  Um, not awesome, but I guess it could be worse. What I miss :  Sleeping on my back; ...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  27 weeks Size of baby:   Baby Girl is 15 inches crown to feet - the size of a cucumber Total weight gain/loss :  I've gained 18 1/2 pounds so far.  I hate being weighed now. Maternity clothes:   Maternity pants, shirts, skirts, and cotton shorts and t-shirts Gender:   A baby girl who is very active Movement :  I think she's very active.  During my NST's every week, her movements are recorded, and she seems to really be moving in there. Sleep :  I wake up two to three times a night to go to the bathroom. ...

Jack REFUSED to sit or lay still to take his 11 month picture.  Every shot was a blur of skin and diaper.  So.  Here's his update sans picture :( He weighs close to 18 pounds now and is 28 1/2 inches long.  He's crawling everywhere and is pulling up on everything.  He's got 4 teeth (two middle bottom teeth, one middle top tooth, and one side top tooth), and he's cutting at least one more.  He loves waving "hi" to people, but he also uses that motion to get people closer to him and to tell others he wants something.  He eats pretty much anything that gets near his mouth during meals (lots of puréed veggies and fruits, oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese, sharp cheddar chunks, turkey slices, black olives, frozen blueberries, Cheerios, plums, bananas, feta cheese). He does a really good job of playing by himself during his independent playtime each day for 30 to 45 minutes most days.  He loves swinging at the park and seeing all of the ducks, and he love...

1.  I'm sooooo proud of The Husband.  He was tasered in class a few weeks ago, and tonight he was maced. He fought through the pain, and he followed orders. So, so incredibly proud of his courage and resolve to do what needs to be done.  2. This boy and I walk to the park quite regularly these days.  We enjoy the swings and seeing the ducks.  And, then we walk home and take a bath. :) With our own duck (courtesy of The Bestie), of course. 

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancies with Hadley and with Jack, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  26 weeks Size of baby:   Baby Girl is a little over 9 inches long (crown to rump)--the size of an  average rutabaga --  13 1/2 or so inches crown to feet Total weight gain/loss :  At least 16 pounds so far. Maternity clothes:   Whatever is comfortable and allows me to be on the floor with Jack.  Shorts, shirts, dresses, skirts, pajamas. Gender:   A sweet baby girl Movement :  I feel her move quite a bit, but I really feel her when I'm holding Jack. Sleep :  Sleep has been fine. What I miss : ...

Words. Words are powerful. Drag you down.  Lift you up.  Wrap you in truth.  Smother you with lies. For the last, at least, six months, words have tormented me.  Lies have seeped into my innermost being and threatened to swallow me whole.  I have tortured myself with these lies, with these daggers.  I have been brought, brought myself really, so low that a new day didn't seem like a gift.  More like a curse. I have felt like a failure as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter.  As a Christian.   I had truly begun to believe the lies that satan was spewing into my thought-life.  I was bitter, angry, mean-spirited, harsh, cruel, and any other word you can think of to describe someone living far from truth.  Far from Christ. All because I let myself believe that our current situation was the end of our journey.  That we were stuck.  For good.  I have felt desperate to get out of this hole.  Get away.  Mov...