My Top Online Reads in August

Because Your Story Matters More than Your Stats

Why Every Mother Needs to Learn to Say "I'm Sorry"

You Probable Have too Much Stuff

Faith, Miracles and Modern Day Fools

The Talk (No, not THAT talk. This one is about encouraging kids to befriend the left out kids)

Why You Don't Have to be Afraid Someone Will Steal Your Dream

On Not Raising Deadbeat Dads

The Truth About Adoption: One Year Later

Books in August

I love to read.

I also love to buy books which is why we have heaps on the shelves that I have yet to get to, and why I put in a Book Depository (free shipping anywhere in the world - yes thank you) order last week despite having books on the shelf that are unread!

Over the last few months I haven't been reading as much as usual and I have really missed it. For most of my life the very last thing I would do at night is lay in bed and read for an hour or so before going to sleep. During my younger years I could be found hidden under the covers with a torch by my parents, well after I should have had the lights off.

I have also been known to be found sitting behind the curtains using the moonlight to read after said torch was confiscated!

I like books.

So I thought that as a way to encourage myself (and others!) to read more again I would put up here at the end of each month what books I have been reading.

(Oh, by the way Dave, this might mean I need to buy books more often, of course only after I have finished all the ones already on the shelves. Maybe.)

August book list.

I finally finished "Grace for the Good Girl" by Emily Freeman. I actually started this one back in January while away on holiday and for some reason I put it aside for the last 8 months?! So glad I finished it!

I was given this my the midwife who started "The Birth House," the place where we did our birth classes, and I finished it off last week. This book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" is a MUST read, especially for anyone gearing up for their first birth experience. It is full of information on everything from how the body works, to all the medical interventions as well as lots of empowering stories and facts. Ina May Gaskin is a highly regarded midwife who's personal statistics with regards to natural birth vs. medical intervention for the women she has worked with are just incredible. I cannot more highly recommend this book.

This is one of those ones that has been sitting on the shelf for years! I bought it about four years ago at the Hillsong Conference after hearing Chris speak at one of the elective sessions. Christine Caine is the real deal. She is straight talking, passionate and not the least bit fake in her presentation. I love that! "Stop Acting Like a Christian and Just be One" is just like listening to her speak - funny, honest and straight to the point. I also really like the devotional style second half of this book.

30 weeks

 

Baby size: Baby is roughly 40cm long and weighs around 1300 grams (1.3kg!)

 

How far along: 30 weeks today

 

Sleep: I'm waking at least once during the night for a little pitt stop.

 

Maternity clothes: Still in my non-maternity at the moment. Fingers crossed that our weather warms up soon and I might be able to avoid having to buy any specific maternity items.

 

Food cravings: Still no real cravings.

 

Food aversions: Just the same, red meat and cooked vegetables!

 

Symptoms: Sleep is getting a little uncomfortable, just because I want to lay on my back or on my right side, but know I shouldn't. My stomach also gets really tight at the end of the day and that can be pretty uncomfortable.

 

Midwifes appointment: Thursday this week.

 

Movement: Baby has a couple of busy times of the day, and if I lean a book or my arm on my belly, baby gives a little kick, but movement is still fairly masked by the placenta position I think, which means we don't get to feel heaps of the baby's movement.

 

Gender: Dave still thinks it will be a boy!

 

Best moment of the week: Finishing up work early was a very nice surprise! Also some books arrived on parenting that I can't wait to get into.

 

What I miss: I really don't miss anything much at all!

 

What I'm looking forward to: Getting a chest of drawers for the baby's room, and finishing off all my spring cleaning around the house. Then I'll be able to get on with some of the more fun things about getting ready for the baby - the nice decorative touches on his or her room.

Pinspiration

Like everyone I am a little addicted to Pinterest.

Like a lot of people I pin away merrily, and then never actually get around to making any of the things I have pinned.

Anyone else have that problem?

I have decided that with this gift of extra time I have been given I am actually going to do some projects and I thought I might share some of the ones I plan on tackling.

I have the canvas already to go for this one, I just need to do the outlines of the letters and then paint them on!


source: http://brassyapple.blogspot.com.au/ via Sharen on Pinterest

We are doing a variation on this for my baby shower invites!!




source: lisastorms.typepad.com via Sharen on Pinterest

After seeing these gorgeous hospital photos I want to make some felt bunting to take with us to the hospital. I'll make a set in pink and in blue since we don't know yet what we're having!


source:  Katie Evans Photography via Sharen on Pinterest

source: benzie via Sharen on Pinterest

I also want to make a couple of quilts/blankets for the baby.


source: www.aprettycoollife.com via Sharen on Pinterest

souce: Iviebaby via Sharen on Pinterest

source: www.kellehampton.com via Sharen on Pinterest

So there are a few projects that I hope to complete before baby arrives, which considering I'm 30 weeks tomorrow, is not too far away!

This Week

Just some of this weeks happenings.

We ordered some books last week and they started arriving on Thursday. I can't wait to get started on these!

I have been getting my exercise on. Four mornings this week I have spent 30 minutes on this thing.

My new vacuum. It sucks. And I mean really SUCKS!! The dust and dirt it is pulling out of our carpet in incredible, if not a little disgusting. I actually love to vacuum at the moment, just to see how much stuff ends up in there at the end.

My mum came over this week to give me a hand with cleaning the curtains. They had a good hang out on the clothes line to air them out, and then we vacuumed them to give them a really good clean. Next weeks job - the kitchen.

Breakfast this morning. French toast - yum!

I must admit that while I'm excited to be on leave already I have had a few very unproductive days this week. I think I've realised how much I thrive with a little structure to my day. It doesn't have to be a lot, just some aims for the day specifically layed out for me to achieve.

So this week I'm going to get out this cute little planner and pop a few things into it to give my week some semblance of structure.

 

 

Have a great weekend!

P.S. My appologies for the photo quality. They're all off my phone!!

For When You Lose It

And for when you feel overwhelmed.
For when the tears fall for no reason,
And when they fall for a perfectly good reason.
For when you want to climb back into bed,
And when you want to forget the world.

Psalm 61: 1-5

¹ Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.

² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.

⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

⁵ For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Parenting with Instinct

I picked up a parenting magazine today while I was out shopping and it got me thinking, even before I opened it up and started reading.

We live in the information age, yet sometimes I wonder if there isn't too much information. There are a million and one theories on everything from breastfeeding to toilet training, where baby should sleep and everything in between. More often than no too, these theories are completely black and white: their way or its wrong.

And while I love information, I can't help but wonder if for the most part, this information really only serves to make new parents (and even well seasoned ones) feel confused, guilty and inadequate.

Once upon a time, when community was much more prevalent than it is today, parents would have moulded their style by observing those around them, emulating the skills they liked and ignoring the ones they didn't. There were no theories to try and measure up to, just the power of observation and using instinct.

Instincts can be good, and instincts can be bad, but instinct combined with wisdom, grace and love is the way we plan to go.

And a lot of prayer :)

28 Weeks!

Baby size: Almost 38cm long and weighing in about 1kg.

How far along: 28 weeks. Hello final trimester!!

Sleep: I'm waking a couple of times a night now to go to the bathroom and I finally started to sleep with a pillow tucked between my legs. So much more comfortable!

Maternity clothes: Still managing to fit into non-maternity clothing, although my jeans are starting to really get tight! I might have to move onto leggings soon!

Food cravings:

Food aversions: Still just my meat and cooked veg hatred!

Symptoms: The only real "symptom" I suppose I have noticed recently is if I get a little carried away and over do things a little, like gardening or clearing things out around the house. I get really sore in my lower abdomen and in my back. Other than that I have been very fortunate. Morning sickness has been gone for months, and I have yet to get heartburn. I'm sure that won't be far off as the baby gets bigger though, so I'll enjoy not having that while I can!

Midwife's Appointment: Had one last Thursday and everything was fine once again! Little baby's heartbeat was pounding away, and we were able to ask Kerry all the questions that have been simmering in our minds from the birth classes. It was great to be able to clarify some things and find out if any of the hospital policies would disrupt our desires for the birth of our little one, and how much control we can have over the environment that we will birth in, despite it being a start birthing room at a hospital!

Movement: There are now several times a day where I really notice baby's activity. Quite early in the morning, in the afternoon around 3 or 4 o'clock, and again when I go to bed at night.

Gender: Not too long now until we find out!

Best moment of the week: Finishing work!!!

What I miss: Variety in food. Some days I go vegetarian because I'm sick of chicken being my only meat source! I can't wait to have a nice lasagna or one of Dave's amazing steaks!

What I'm looking forward to: Using my extra leave time to finish off my to-do list.

Maternity Leave Has Begun

As of Friday I have begun my leave from work!!

I know that so many women don't have the luxury of taking time off, let alone getting paid for their leave, so I am incredibly thankful that I am in the position I am.

Work has been stressing me out for a long time and I finally went to see my doctor about it. She was more than supportive and willing to provide a medical certificate so that I can put myself in a healthier environment. I know it's no coincidence that I had the exact amount of sick leave owing as needed to cover me until my maternity leave kicks in!

I feel incredibly blessed to be able to spend the next few months getting ready for the baby. Finishing things off around the house, exercising and doing everything I need to prepare my body for the birth and even getting ready for Christmas (with baby being due around 6 weeks before Christmas I want to get as much done as possible) are all things I can now focus on without having to be stressed about work.

Apart from some general cleaning and clearing out around the house there are a number of other projects I want to get happening: vegetable patch ready for planting, make a couple of quilts I have fabric for, learn how to crochet and knit for a few other projects I have in mind.

And of course, get the nursery finished!

Connect

One of my very favourite things at the moment is when Dave talks to the baby.

He will sing to it, and pat my belly and lay his head on me. He greets the baby when he arrives home from work, and says goodbye in the morning.

I love to hear him tell the baby that "Daddy is here. Daddy loves you."

It thrills me that once the baby is born, he or she will recognise Dave's voice. Baby will know his voice, his tone, his sound. It will be familiar and comforting.

I am so grateful that Dave desires to know and connect with the baby in this way, that his love for his child is so obvious.

Both baby and I are so very blessed.

Weekend Phone Photos

1. Searching for vegetable gardening inspiration on Pinterest

2. We found a slab of Dr. Pepper cheap on Saturday!

3. Homemade salted caramel sauce bubbling away on the stove top.

4. Caramel sauce on vanilla ice cream. Yum!

5. I finally got started on clearing out the baby's room and putting some things into the cupboard.

6. Looking for cake inspiration for my birthday cake.

7. Blossoms have popped up on the fruit tree outside our lounge window. Hopefully this means Spring won't be too far away.

26 Weeks

Baby size: 35.5 cm long and weighs about 760 grams

How far along: 26 weeks!

Sleep: Still sleeping well

Maternity clothing: Still no maternity clothing!

Food cravings: Still no cravings either!

Food aversions: Still red meat and cooked vegetables

Symptoms: I feel incredibly blessed to have not had many of the pregnancy symptoms that you hear about so far. I'm waiting for the notorious heartburn to kick in though!

Midwife's appointment: Next week, and we have a LOT of questions to ask her.

Movement: Baby is getting more active

Gender: It's a surprise!

Best moment of the week: I have really been loving our birthing classes. We are doing them at The Birth House and they have been so incredibly informative and practical. Tonight we were up and moving around practicing some positions to optimise my body for birth. Last week were were given an insane amount of information with regards to birthing naturally, and what can happen when medical intervention occurs unnecessarily. These classes are why we have so many questions for our midwife.

What I miss: Bending over easily! It has started to become a little more difficult to put socks on over the last week or so.

What I'm looking forward to: Getting my hair done in the next week or so. I know it has nothing to do with the baby, but it has been months since I had my hair cut and it is in desperate need!! I also look forward to when I go to bed each night as baby gets a little active when I lie down and I can feel him or her moving around in there!