It’s that time again!

We’ve created another baby guessing game at ExpectNet. Come play our baby guessing game!!! The game name is DavidMandyBaby4. You are at an advantage for reading this on the blog because I will share with you all our other baby’s stats…just to help you out…as if anyone really cares LOL!

Noah:

Due date: Dec. 31
Born: Dec. 31 (by inducement)
Weight: 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Length: 21.5 in.
Time: 7:34 p.m.

Sammy:

Due date: Dec. 26
Born: Dec. 4 (came on his own)
Weight: 7 lbs. 4 oz.
Length: 21 in.
Time: 1:34 a.m.

Simon:

Due date: Sept. 19
Born: Sept. 12 (by inducement)
Weight: 8 lbs. 9 oz.
Length: 21.5 in.
Time: 5:17 p.m.

Vacationing…

We are about a week and a half into vacation and all is okay. Vacation is probably the last word I would use to describe it, but I guess that is the case when you venture off without your hubby for the first half.

Some highlights of the trip (in true Mandy fashion):

1. I lost our credit card in Kansas. Luckily there were no fraudulent charges, but it made things difficult for at least a few hours.
2. I began having asthma attacks just as soon as we crossed the Ohio. Nice, eh? Kinda proves mine and many others’ theories about how disgusting the air quality in Kentucky, in fact, is.
3. I met my dear niece, Kylie Brooke. She is one precious baby, but a bit of a drama queen. The joy of having boys, I suppose, is that they have all been pretty laid back.
4. I have riding been the four wheeler and feedin’ the fish with my Pa. You can take the girl out of Kentucky, but you can’t take the Kentucky out of the girl.
5. In Missouri, I told a lady I wanted tea…and she knew I meant sweet! Yay for small miracles!
6. The morning sickness is at its peak. I am almost to the point where absolutely nothing sounds good, but the good news- it can only get better.
7. My Dad and Sammy have a bit of a love/hate relationship. Sammy’s disobedience is at its highest and my Dad doesn’t tolerate it well. So far my Dad has threatened to pour ice water on him for playing with his boy parts (as he so disgustingly likes to do) and actually (I need to take a picture) drew a portrait on Sammy’s chest after Sammy fell asleep on the loveseat downstairs (a practical joke, I suppose). Dad’s response: “It’s not permanent.”
8. Pizza I have had: Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, and Little Caesar’s.
9. Pizza to have: Giovanni’s (a local favorite), Annie’s (if we get to go to Louisville), and my Mom’s homemade pizza.
10. I love pizza. Is it obvious?

reflections from the hubby

My sweetie is out of town- I am thinking of him and missing him so. Since he’s on my mind, I thought I would share a piece he wrote for our state newspaper:

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” I think this is a motherly proverb that will be passed down for generations. However, I think we could easily substitute “busyness” for “godliness”. Busyness is next to godliness. Man- that sounds good. Not only good, but impressive. The major question begging to be asked, however, is who are we trying to impress and what are we trying to accomplish by being busy? I recently read a quote in an article by C.J. Mahaney that says: “Man is impressed with activities. God is impressed with obedience.” This is something that we need to think about because we need to have our hearts on what is truly important. If you look at the life of David he was remembered as a man after God’s own heart. That is what he was known for and I guarantee you he was a busy guy. With all the pressures of running a kingdom he was known for his pursuit of God. He wanted to know God and we should too (Heb. 11:6, 1 Chr. 22:19). Without knowing God, it is impossible to show Him to others. It would be easy to mistaken this concept for laziness, but the following verses:

1 Tim 5:17
Prov. 13:4
Prov. 6:6-8

all show us the importance of hard work. 1 Tim. 5:17 even talks about a pastor laboring until they can no longer keep their eyes open. One thing any of our laboring should never do, however, is take front seat to pursuing the Lord. We should always be about the work of the Lord, but the amount of work we do should not be what defines us, but rather how we strive to be like the Lord. In the next days and weeks let us be known for being the people of God.

Merciful Mom

I have stumbled upon a new blog lately that I love to read: Ordinary Mother.

Here is a recent post of hers. What a blessing and challenge her words were to me!

pregnancy amnesia

I’ve heard people say that God gives women amnesia regarding labor/childbirth/sleepless nights, but I think he does it in regard to morning sickness as well. As I recall:

1. Morning sickness with Noah started around 8 weeks and wasn’t too bad. Of course, I could sleep or eat whenever I wanted to.
2. With Sam, it was early, around 5 weeks. However, I don’t even remember it being that bad. Noah was still so small that he slept constantly, as did I.
3. Simon was different. I was yucky sick. It started at 5 weeks, peaked around 9 or 10 weeks, and tapered off by 14 weeks.

I didn’t think that I had forgotten what morning sickness with Simon felt like (I mean, I fully expected to be sick and yucky feeling this time around) but I think I had forgotten the true extent of how horrible it feels.

As I have said, I will not complain. I won’t allow it. I wanted another baby and now here I am. And that is fine. But this is the absolute worst morning sickness I have ever had. In a little less than 3 weeks I am supposed to drive my children cross-country to their Granny and Poppy’s house and I honestly don’t know how I am going to do it. This should be interesting, to say the least.

If you don’t mind, would you say a prayer for me? For strength…and relief…and endurance=)

P.S. As I write these words, I sip on chicken broth and orange juice…yum!

more on Maria Chapman

Here is the memorial site that was created today.

Please pray

I got this email from my friend, Janie, a few minutes ago. My heart is so broken for this family. Please read this letter and pray for the Chapman family:

Dear friends,

It’s with a heavy heart tonight that I ask you to pray for the family of my friend Steven Curtis Chapman.

If you’re familiar with Steve’s Ministry, you’ll know that he has a wonderful adoption ministry and has adopted 3 girls from China himself. Tonight they suffered a great loss in their family. One of Steve’s teenage sons was driving their SUV down their gravel driveway at their home near Franklin TN and didn’t see Maria, the youngest of the adopted girls in the driveway. The car ran over the child and she was later pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I can’t imagine the heartache in the Chapman house tonight. Steve’s son is devastated as well is the whole family. Please lift them all up in prayer tonight, especially his son. Steve is one of the strongest soldiers of the cross I know, but this would test the strength of any man.

Noah (on protecting his brother)

I overheard Noah in the living room repeating:

“I love you, Simon! I love you. I do.”

Then he walked up to me in the kitchen and said:

“Mommy, you know how I protect Simon? From hand trees. You know, trees with hands. We have to be real careful in the forest cause some trees have hands. And I will save Simon. I will.”

That’s good to know.

early-on cravings

The following list is probably just things I want, but I am pregnant and therefore can call them cravings that I must have…

1. Cheerios- with milk. And sugar. Yum.
2. Homemade spaghetti sauce. Pasta is optional.
3. Strawberry sundaes from DQ. Ice cream is optional. Whipped cream and strawberry topping are NOT optional.
4. Papa John’s…but in Raton…that’s just not going to happen.

Slow Fade

Casting Crowns has released their newest video, Slow Fade. It has been one of my favorite songs off of The Altar and The Door since purchasing the album. This is a really great video that I wish the whole world would see.