Something Different

This pregnancy feels different. Different from when I was pregnant with the girls. I didn't have horrible morning sickness. I was queasy in the mornings, but only for 2-3 weeks. No actual morning sickness. I'm getting chubby. Not just a little belly, but chubby all over. But my belly did start to appear a lot earlier than with the girls. I also eat almost nonstop. I crave everything under the sun!

I told James last night, I think we are having a boy. He didn't believe me. But I feel so Sci-Fi. I know he doesn't actually understand what I mean. But I called my friend Manders today. And we were talking about our pregnancies. She is having twins in March. She agrees with me.

You see, she is having a boy and a girl. They found out just before Christmas. But Manders told me that from the beginning, she felt different that when she was pregnant with her little girl. Yes, she is having twins this time, but it was a different feeling. We came to the conclusion that it is because she is growing a little boy inside of her. Isn't that crazy? I feel like this too!

It's Sci-Fi to think that inside of me, I'm growing a little boy. A little penis. You have to admit, it's a bit weird. But a HUGE miracle. I can't wait to find out for sure, but something deep inside, tells me that we are going to have a son. James will be so excited! He loves his girls. But I know that he would just love to have a little boy to get rough and tough with.

Slow Cooker

I always wanted a slow cooker. Always. When James and I first started dating, he would tell me about all these good things that his mom would make. He always made me hungry. And when we would go and visit his family, I would get excited to eat all the delicious food.

When we got married, we got a standard Crock-Pot. But I couldn't figure out what to cook in there. It was tall and you couldn't really lay food in it. My Crock-Pot was definitely not like my mother-in-laws slow cooker. She was able to put an entire roast in her slower cooker. And still have room for the vegetables she would add in at the end.

After talking with a friend, I learned that I could use my Crock-Pot for sauces, soups, and beans. Basically, anything that was water based. I'm still not good at cooking those types of things. But I wanted to slow cook.

My mother-in-law makes it look so easy. She adds a nice roast, plenty of spices and herbs. And walks away. 2-3 hours later, she adds in some good vegetables. 1-2 hours later, we are eating. It seems so simple. The food comes out tender and flavorful.

When James asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I had visions of the Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker running through my head. It just excited me. James looked at me like my head had turned purple or something. But on Christmas, I got my slow cooker. My mother-in-law also got me a cute church cookbook. It has 2 large sections of slow cooker recipes. Tomorrow, I'm trying my 1st one!!!

It may not sound like anything wonderful. But for a pregnant mommy, it makes life a little easier. I need to learn how to simplify our life a little bit. Because soon, I will be trying to take care of 3 kids under 4. I need to get some good recipes under my belt. Because something tells me, I'm not going to have 2 hours to come up with dinner anymore.

Anne of Green Gables

One of my very favorite things to do, is to read. All I really remember about my childhood, was me sitting in my bedroom, with my nose stuck in a book. I could dream of far away places. And all the characters in my books. It was a blessing to be able to sit and read.

My favorite series to read as a girl, was Anne of Green Gables. My parents bought me a hardback collection when I was 7 for Christmas. I still have it! I read every book. Cover to cover, about 10 times. Then when I was in college, PBS came out with the Anne of Green Gables series. I never missed an episode. It was my favorite thing to do on Sundays! James even sat through his far share of Anne of Green Gables.

But none of that would prepare me for the fun that my girls and I have now. When I first found out I was pregnant, I went out and bought the complete set of stories, in a large hardback edition. And every night, I would read to the baby. Well before we knew we were having a girl. I would sit and read. When our daughter was born, it became our ritual. To read a few pages a night.

For her 1st Christmas, James bought here the picture book version of Anne of Green Gables. And as she got older, she would sit and "read" to James. It was the cutest thing. They both thoroughly enjoyed the time together. When our 2nd daughter was born, she was read to by the entire family. You can say, Anne has become part of our family. :)

I thought this year would be a great time to buy the girls the audio version of the book. That way they could listen to it when they wanted to. I placed an order online. And waited. I waited a long time. Wondering what had happened. The 1st month, it was charged to our credit card. The 2nd month it was refunded. The 3rd month, it was charged again. But no book.

I decided to call the company. It was back ordered. And they took the charge off of our credit card until they could fill the order. I was sad. I had really wanted to give the girls this for Christmas. I was in tears when James came home that day. I know it seems weird to cry over a book. But I'm pregnant, so I'm blaming it on the hormones. James assured me that it would all work out. I just hoped that it would.

Christmas came and went. We found many amazing gifts for our girls. But I had silently lost hope about their audio books. Here I thought I was doing the right thing, ordering them back in July. Then today, James comes home. Very excited! Our books had arrived. He had talked to someone at the company, and low and behold they were in stock. So James had them overnight the package to his work.

I was so excited. We thought for a few minutes about waiting until Valentine's Day to give them to the girls. But then James assured me that we should just let them have it after dinner. I quickly wrapped up the package in brown paper and twine. And after dinner, the girls opened up their surprise. I had never heard so much squealing. They were so happy!!!

For 2 hours they listened together in their rooms. With big bright eyes. It was the sweetest thing to watch. I'm so happy that the girls enjoy these things together. And after bath time, we still read a chapter in our book.

Smiling

As our weekend comes to a close, I can't help but smile. All those years ago, daddy frowned at the thought that I could be in love with James. I think he would have had a hard time regardless of who I brought home. Because he was daddy. And I was his little fille.

But I know daddy. He wanted me to marry a son of one of the elite families. Perhaps he would be a lawyer, a banker, or own his own business. Daddy always had these big dreams for us girls. But I couldn't help that my love was a cowboy through and through.

Today, my parents came to enjoy dinner with us. James and daddy talked for hours and hours. About everything. The weather, work, politics, the girls, and the future. Mom and I could hear them laughing. And every once in a while, the girls would come into the kitchen asking for something for our favorite guys.

Before my parents left, daddy came to give me a big hug. And he told me he had been wrong about James all those years ago. I just smiled. Because I knew one day daddy would know why I love James so much. He's the kind of man that I know daddy wanted me to find. James loves me, respects me, and protects me. He is the best daddy I could ever dream up for my girls.

But today my daddy realized that. Realized that I might not live in a mansion. But I love my life. My husband always has our family's interests first. And if he had to, he would lay his own life out there for us. But daddy's tight hug and verbal approval meant the world to me. Because he is finally able to just enjoy our time together. Without worrying how we make it. Instead enjoying the company of his granddaughters.

Today was a good day. A day filled with love and new found friendships and respect. Life may not always be easy. But if you believe in the Lord, it will all work out. It may take a while, but it will work out.

Le Commencement

I've always wanted to blog. But I never quite had the confidence to build me a little corner out here in the blog world. Until I confessed to James that I wanted a blog. He encouraged me. And I figured with a new year, I would start a new blog.

This is our beginning into the blog world. A place were I hope that I can feel I belong. Being a mom, sometimes you get a little lost in the shuffle. I hope to be able to connect with another mom out there. Maybe I can get a reader or 2. The possibilities are endless!!!

The title of my blog loosely means Happy Home. I was one of those kids that went to private school. And took years of french. Now that I think about it, I should have taken a few years of spanish. It would have been so much better for me. Just because of the area that we live in. But I like that I know french and I can teach our girls a few things.

My husband and I met many years ago. We were an unlikely pair. Completely different on the outside. I was one of 2 girls in our family. I went to private school and wore a uniform. Frequently went to the symphony and opera with my parents. James was and always will be a cowboy. Wearing dusty jean and scuffed up boots. But on the inside, were it really counts, we are a pair of love birds. The 2 that were meant for one another.

Along our journey, we have made our home in a small town. And we have made 2 beautiful little girls. When I thought our life couldn't get any better, we were blessed with a 3rd pregnancy. God has our lives planned out for us. He knows our journey better than we do. But I sure am enjoying being on this journey with James.