October Books

"The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" - C.S. Lewis
"Prince Caspian" - C.S. Lewis
"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" - C.S. Lewis
"Grace Based Parenting" - Dr Tim Kimmel
"In the Grip of Grace" - Max Lucado

October Links

How to Live a First Hand Kind of Life - Incourage

Ramblings and Confessions of a Jesus Lover Wrestling with Social Media and the Ways We Idolise - Livesay Haiti

What I'm Learning These Days - A Bigger Story

Haiti, Personal Crisis and a Manifesto  - Jen Hatmaker

Boys and Birthdays - Going Beyond

31 Days to Write Your Story - Lisa-Jo Baker

For the Days When Your Blog or Your Life Feel Small - Lisa-Jo Baker

Why the Battle for Joy is Really Worth It - A Holy Experience

Stephanie's Words on Influence - Naptime Diaries

Fishers of Men

I just wanted to share this video that I came across today.

Flaws

(I have no idea where I found this. Silly me didn't save the link. If anyone knows. please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due)

Isn't it nice to know that even the old hero's of the faith were as flawed as we are. I sure think it is.

Way too often I put people up on a pedestal; people from the Bible, wise authors from centuries past, writers and speakers around today.

I too often compare myself and my flaws with their gifts and their words and their actions, and forget they they too were, and are, human.

Thank goodness God sees past our faults and failings and sees the potential that lies underneath. He casts vision for us with eyes of grace and knows what we can be and do for Him, despite our flaws.


linking up here

38 Weeks!

 

Baby size: baby is almost 49.8cm long and weighing around 3kgs!

How far along: 38 weeks and 1 day! So close!!

Maternity clothes: Still not wearing any maternity stuff, but the jeans only go on now for church. It's yoga pants the rest of the time!

Food cravings: I have finally had some cravings - cakes and donuts.

Food aversions: Still minced beef and cooked vegetables. I tried to eat a hamburger patty on Monday night. The first bite was spat out into the rubbish bin!

Symptoms: I have had what I think are braxton hicks contractions, just times when the belly tightens for a few seconds. Some days it happens a few times, other days not at all.

Midwifes appointment: We have an appointment on Tuesday where Kerry will come out to our house, so I don't have to get dressed and go anywhere!

Movement: Baby has started to slow down a little, running out of room in there I think! When it does move they are quite big movements, or I'm getting little feet or knees jabbing me under my ribs on my right hand side. Sometimes baby must be having a good stretch because it can feel like I have a foot poking my ribs for up to an hour at a time.

Gender: Can't wait to find out!

Best moment of the week: Feeling like we have all the practical stuff ready. I know there is only so much we can do emotionally to prepare, but all the other things seem to be ready.

What I miss: Hugging Dave without a basketball in the way! It will be nice to hug again without the bump there!

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our little one!! Come soon bubba!

Garage Sale

We had a garage sale on the weekend at my parents place, and while I was happy with the bit of cash we made there was one thing about it that really bothered me.

Early on in the day, once everything was set up I stood out in the driveway and looked back at all the tables.

They were so crammed full of stuff. Stuff that we no longer use (some of which we never used), don't like, is out of fashion or we simply have no need for.

The sight of it made me a little sick, especially knowing that we still have cupboards full of clothing, shoes, homewares, books and a garage full of Dave's stuff too.

Really, how much junk can two people have accumulated in less than four years of marriage? Apparently a lot. And we often think we need more!

Are we nuts?!

Looking at those tables piled high with what we considered junk gave me some much needed perspective.

It is way to easy to get caught up in the consumerism that exists all around us, while turning a blind eye to the fact that there is incredible need in our world. It's not easy to find the balance between living in the society that we live in without conforming to it, and holding our hands out to those less fortunate.

I know that I can make do with a lot less than I think I can, and truthfully, there would be a lot of things that I could get rid of still, and I know that I wouldn't miss it once it was gone. I hope that from now on I'll think twice before buying something I "need" for around the house.

Need vs want, people. Need vs want.

In the Womb

Last Thursday night our church had an evening for the pregnant women called "In the Womb." It's something they do every now and again throughout the year.

I will admit that I wasn't thrilled to attend. Groups of women freak me out. (those are issues for another day)

I am so glad that I did.

It was a wonderful night of sharing, listening, chatting and praying with other mum-to-be's and older mums within our church family.

The evening also made me realise that I should really say yes to women's events more often. Sometimes being outside my comfort zone turns out to not be a bad thing, but can in fact be an incredible blessing.

Baby Shower

Taking ideas from this baby shower, baby Timberlake was celebrated with a baby "shower" on Saturday. Gumboot and umberella cupcakes were made by my lovely friend Yvonne. That girl is crazy with what she can do with a little fondant.

I would put up a few photos of me opening gifts, but I look HUGE in every single of them and I am that vain that I'm not going to put them up on here!!

Not long now until baby will be in our arms. We reached full term today - 37 weeks. Come on baby, we're ready to meet you!!

36 weeks

 

Baby size: Baby is about 47cm long and weighing about 2.6kg. No wonder my belly is really starting to feel heavy!

 

How far along: 36 weeks and 1 day

 

Maternity clothes: I still haven't purchased any maternity clothes, although I am starting to think I should have gotten some maternity jeans. Mine are starting to be really tight. I only wear them if I'm going out in public otherwise it's yoga pants all the way!

 

Food cravings: Still nothing I would consider a craving.

 

Food aversions: Still red meat and cooked vegetables, although I have had a little red meat here and there since my birthday.

 

Symptoms: Just horrible sleep. Thank-goodness I'm not working and can fit in a nap in the afternoon. I also got a couple of stretch marks last week (boo!!!), but only having two so far isn't too bad I guess.

 

Midwife's appointment: Tomorrow, with our backup midwife. It should be really good to talk with her about our wishes for the birth and get to know her a little, just in case!

 

Movement: Baby is really active some days, and fairly quiet others. I had a foot or knee permanently under my right ribs for about 4 days straight, thank-goodness baby has moved on from that position! There are also a lot less little movements happening in there. When baby does move, it's a big movement and tends to cause my stomach to have weird lumps appear all over, as it's little limbs re-adjust!  

 

Gender: Looking forward to finding out. I have got absolutely no thoughts on whether it's a boy or a girl. At lease we now have a name picked out for a girl too, so if the baby was born today and was a girl it would no longer be nameless!!

 

Best moment of the week: Getting the bassinet set up.

 

What I miss: Sleep!

 

What I'm looking forward to: My baby shower on the weekend.

Bassinet

We picked up the bassinet on Saturday and it has been set up in our bedroom ever since. I love seeing it every time I walk in. There is just one thing missing from it....!

Lately: Getting Ready for Baby

Much of my day to day activity lately has been about getting ready for the baby's arrival. More loads of washing than I care to count (how cute are the nappies and the tiny little onesies?!!!), making baby shower invites (following printer issues at Lydia's house!!), cooking up about 7 freezer meals, putting the car seat in the car (then needing Dave's older brother, who has three kids, to re-fit it for us because it was moving all over the place back there) and starting several sewing projects for the baby's room (and completing none of them as yet!).

The dining table is a disaster, as is the pile of stuff next to it for the garage sale we were going to have this Saturday, but have had to put back for two more weeks. The baby's room is getting closer to being ready for the little one. I still need to do some stocking up on essential items for both the baby and the house, but will wait until after the baby shower to make any last minute purchases. Once that is done, I'll be able to pack our hospital bags and then hopefully put my feet up for a week or so before we are no longer a pair, but a threesome!!

Babymoon Weekend to Lorne

We enjoyed a last weekend getaway by ourselves before baby comes, and fittingly it was back to where it all began for us, Lorne. The weather was wet and cold all weekend, but it was perfect for watching the grand final, lounging around the apartment and eating lots of good food (Bottle of Milk - I would almost drive to Lorne just for one of your tasty, tasty burgers. Your fries were pretty good too!)

Thank you Dave for a beautiful weekend. A little part of me will miss it being just the two of us, but I'm so excited for this next adventure together!!