I come to xanga, which isn't very often these days, and I see how far along I am. I have NO idea otherwise and I forget just as soon as I click out! These are also some of the first "intentional" baby bump shots! I think next time I'll stick to solo ones as you will soon see why.

Bits and pieces of my choices of curriculum for Asher have been streaming in! Yes, we are starting home schooling this year officially, though "unofficially" on paper through the state since that's not required until he turns 6. Today marked our second day! I'm really not trying to be all that "go get 'um". He saw the books, begged to start, and well, here we are! It does however work with my mentality of "try to do as much as we can before baby comes in December and chaos becomes that much more apparent!"

We had been working through a primer series most of the summer which was a sure give away to me Asher is more than ready. Now we've added the necessary "other" subjects to the equation and wha-la, I guess this is what we're doing! I don't think any one day will ever look the same. They certainly didn't before! I find some days (even based on what we had been doing earlier in the summer) certain times work better than others and some days not so much! I have quickly come to terms that if it doesn't work for me/us it's just not going to work! I am loving the beauty of home schooling and the aspect of flexibility for sure! I have 2 quite rowdy and mischievous little ones to manage as well as home, chores, meals etc..

Right now an hour here, 1/2 an hour there, 20 minutes there is going to be just ideal for this young mom with lots of young children and demands!

Speaking of young, this past weekend we drove 8+ hours with kids in tow to PA for Gabe's youngest brother's wedding. I have never gotten so many (from various parties of peoples) "Are they ALL yours?", "Natural?", "You both look SO young!", "What beautiful children!", "Another one on the way?!?!?!", "How old ARE you?", "You are BLESSED!" in my life. I guess taking a trip out of the north country will do that to you!

#1 This!

Even number four amazes me and manages to take my breath away when I'm allowed a sneak peak into their world! Feeling him/her move is like it's the first time I've ever experienced it. What a pure gift! And you say this isn't a life, a baby? Whether yours or someone else's? That is only because you've been fed and believe a very real and damaging lie that I'm frightened to ever really know the repercussions for.

#2 God's grace and mercy for every new day. The chance I have to start a fresh for each one, or even mid day, or even after those last 5 minutes. His faithfulness just never loses its ground.

#3 Watching your child learn something new for the first time. Asher is learning to swim. He does better under the water, but to me that's the hard part! At times I think I'm more excited about this feat than he is.

#4 When I see Gabe pull in at the end of the day! Sometimes it just makes me want to cry. I'm so thankful for him. Life is too precious to take even something like that for granted.

#5 Seeing God move in and around people, circumstances, hearts, and situations. Seeing people changed because of it! Now that's revolution! And it starts with you and me.

A change in plans due to the kids coming down with the coxsackie virus earlier this week kept us home on what for the past several years has usually meant "out of town". Sure we were all looking forward to a visit to Schroon Lake to see family and cousins, celebrate the 4th, and even squeeze in a party for Sophia. But ya know what? When you have kids, plans should always be held rather loosely.

There will be another time to venture south west on the map, of which is already set into motion. And yet I have to say that staying home was exactly what we were supposed to do! It has been such a relaxing time quarantined to the house. The fact that Sophia got the whole "experience" of her day here at home was something that just felt  completely right. I think it was her first!

Dinner of choice: Chicken on the grill, garden salad, corn on the cob, lemonade.
She set her own table.

Somehow it got to be the end of June.

I am loving this summer. Not too hot, and a rainy day here and there to catch up on neglected cleaning (like the bath/shower). Perfect! (Can you guess what I did today?)

Gabe finishes his 2 year long Masters program in just a few days!

June 25th marked our 6th wedding anniversary!

I get quite the stops and stares out and about with 3 blond (nearly white!) tan BEAUTIES.

I have yet to see the Doc, but have an appointment scheduled for later in July.

I think Asher will be ready for Kindergarten this fall. I say so because he's ready NOW and burning through a primer series a friend highly recommended. It's been fun! After 20-30 pages I'm the one to "cut the cord" and call for a break.

My hydrangea will be in full bloom this year! Last year it didn't bloom. Possible plans to transplant for more direct sun are abolished (at least for now). They are my favorite.

I have a baby bump. I think I am 16 weeks.

Sophia will turn 3 on the 3rd. I cannot believe this.

We have a pop up pool and we've been in it every day the weather permits. Our evenings as of late go like this...Gabe comes home. The kids scream at the door until he comes in or they run out in bare feet to greet him (screaming!). We eat dinner. I clean up dinner. Gabe swims and wrestles in the pool with Asher. Gabe tries to make me go under or "in all the way". I don't like to. I get stuck holding Liam who wants to swim but can't. Sophia clings to the ladder and watches. I last about 3 minutes. I don't like to be splashed. I head in to give Liam a bath or attempt weeding (or any other outdoor project I've been wanting to do) with a 19 month old. I head in. Kids get baths. We do devotions. Kids fall into bed. Gabe works on remaining 2 papers. I putter, watch something mindless on TV or really interesting like Wild Russia, and then fall into bed myself.

Gabe and I looked at each other over dinner tonight and BOTH started laughing at what we KNEW was the same thing. How each other looked, TIRED! His eyes looked blood shot and I just looked like a real treat. Someday we'll have all the time in the world to sleep and most likely we won't be able to anyways, right? Don't old people have a hard time sleeping? Lesson learned and fact we came away with, "Let's just be thankful for where we are right now!"

HGTV. I love and really dislike that show. For some reason Gabe was taking a break and must have been humoring me to catch a bit of an episode. (Which was fun by the way. No wonder he always wanted me to sit and watch basketball with him....BORING!!!) I love his perspective and little insights into life. "People make their houses or to buy their first place to be such a big deal and their "dream". I'm glad as Christians our dreams are something different, something more, something worth while." Now we're all for a little TLC and reno if need be, but houses really can become these crazy shrines and I know all we want is our home to represent our God who is good and faithful. Because is He ever!

We will NOT be finding out what we are having this time. I LOVE the suspense. What a special prize at the end of, gulp, labor! The name will be revealed whenever this ones decides to show up. Please don't take it personally. We just like to keep our favorite names to ourselves and honestly they are always changing. If Sophia had been a boy her name would not be Liam.

We will be embarking on an 8-9 hour trip for Gabe's youngest brother's wedding. Anyone who has a DVD player, is feeling my pain, and wouldn't mind lending theirs would be AWESOME!

Despite some absence from the great www, life has still abundantly gone on. Can I say even more so? New life. When I stop and think what's really going on at this point and stage, it's a lot! Brain, major organs, bones, everything this little one will have when it is born is formed and fashioned in these early weeks. The only things lacking? Fat and of course fully developed. No wonder I am so tired. I just majorly helped aid in building someone's whole nervous system today!

Do you want to know the one thing that makes me the most happy as a mother? Seeing my children play with one another the "right" way and treating each other with love and preference. I've been given A LOT of time to lay around and really examine and observe this. This I tell you, is something I am treasuring, and it has only fueled the fire to continue on this path.

Gabe. I don't know where to begin with that little guy! I am blessed. I always have been. He's really stepped up to the plate when I have had to fall behind and let me tell you, I have fallen behind and then some.

I have been blessed by notes and people saying they are praying for me and thinking about me in these early weeks. I have been dropped off meals out of the blue just because. Is it any wonder they came on the exact nights it really blessed the most? I have really good friends and sisters, and they really love Jesus.

The kids have sunburned faces from being out too much. The grass already gets exceedingly too long too fast. Lunches are served outside. Flowers and perennial beauties are looked upon and anticipated. I'm given just what I need for the day. I am blessed and I am considering these "early weeks" a gift in so many ways.