Today I came to a realization: I am too good at saying no. I often have my hands full feeding Nathan or changing his diaper when Drew or Gracie ask me to do something that requires supervision, but I think that "no" has become my automatic answer lately.

This morning Gracie asked, "Mommy, can we paint?" I started to say no. Inside I was groaning. It's too hard. It's too much work. It's too messy. Paint gets everywhere. It takes effort to get the paints and paper out, clean up, and get everything put away again. And what if Nathan needs something while Drew and Gracie are painting? Can a two-and-a-half-year-old boy be trusted with paints, even washable paints, without supervision for a minute?

Then I stopped to think: What else do I need to be doing this morning that is more important than letting Drew and Gracie paint? The dishes are done. The laundry will wait. So now Drew and Gracie are painting. Drew has paint on his nose and one cheek, and on the backs of both arms up to his elbows. Gracie has splashed little puddles of water all over the tablecloth. There is a smudge of paint on the door frame and on the light switch because Drew went to wash my hands before I caught up with him to help him. But the paint will wash off, and they are having a wonderful time.

This week I want to look for more opportunities to say "yes."

Tough Times

A review of:

For These Tough Times:
Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope and Healing
by Max Lucado

I have enjoyed reading books by Max Lucado in the past, and this little book was no exception. Mr. Lucado is a master with words and uses simple language to paint word pictures showing how much God loves and cares for us. This book encourages readers to focus on God and to trust that the one who rules the universe is not affected by our problems. It reminds us that although Satan is powerful, he is not as powerful as God, and only has the power that God permits. It emphasizes that God listens and acts when we pray, and reassures us that when our loved ones die, they go to be with God. The book ends with a prayer citing examples from the Bible of good things that God made come from bad situations and the plea to God to “Do it again.”

The copyright page of this book states that “Most of the material for this book has been adapted from America Looks Up, The Great House of God, In the Grip of Grace, and When Christ Comes.” I have not read some of these books, so I cannot comment on how much of this book contains ideas repeated from the other books.

At first I was surprised at the small size of this book, but I realized that when I am experiencing tough times I don't always have the time or energy to read a lot. This little book is the perfect size to slip in my purse for a quick dose of encouragement when I need it.

I gave this book four stars out of five on Amazon.com.

Book Review Bloggers

I read on a friend's blog recently about the Book Review Bloggers program that Thomas Nelson has. If you sign up to be a Book Review Blogger, you can choose a free book from a limited selection of books. (I could choose from three different books for my first review). Once they send the book to you, you must read the entire book and post a 200-word review on your blog and on a retail site such as Amazon.com.

Since I love books, and especially free books, this is the perfect program for me!

I'm back!

After a break for the birth of our third child, Nathan, I am finally back to blogging! Nathan was born on October 10 and weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces and 21 inches tall. Although it did not go exactly as I imagined it would, I did get to experience the natural (unmedicated) labor and delivery that I hoped for.

So far, Nathan has been the best sleeper of my three children. He typically goes to bed for the night around 9 PM and gets up once at 3 AM to nurse and have his diaper changed. He usually wakes up for the morning around 6:30 AM. I don't know why he sleeps so much better than Drew and Gracie did as babies, but I am thankful!

I am still adjusting to having three children. It was just getting easier because Drew and Gracie were finally able to play together for a while each day while I did housework, got a shower, or spent a few minutes writing a blog entry. Then Nathan came along. He eats every two hours during the daytime, so if I'm not sitting down to nurse him, the other two want attention. If the other two are occupied and Nathan happens to be napping, I always have a backlog of dishes or laundry to catch up on.

This is a hard time for me because I need quiet time by myself every day to feel sane, and I have not been getting it. When I get to the end of the day and the kids are finally asleep, I have a choice: do I take some time by myself to unwind, or do I go to bed? I'm usually so exhausted that sleep wins out, but I really need quiet time and sleep if I want to feel my best. I need to find a balance, and I hope that making time for blogging again will be a good first step.

Pregnant Days

Or maybe a better title for this post would be Pregnant Daze. I am so tired of being pregnant. I am just plain tired, but I have allergies (or something), can't breathe through my nose, and can't sleep.

I also think I have a touch of the baby blues early. Last night one of my friends invited me to join Facebook, and although I don't think it's my thing, I went ahead and joined. First I cried because Facebook told me I had 0 friends. When it said that my profile was boring a few minutes later, I shut down the computer and went to bed. I did go back to Facebook today, and so far, it has been interesting. I have seven "friends" on Facebook, probably more than I have in real life.

On another note, my husband got several bug bites on his arms today. I don't know what they are, but now I'm worried that our house is infested with bugs. One more thing for me to stew about. I guess if it is we will figure out some way to deal with it.

I think I'm tired enough (or bored enough) to go back to sleep now.

More Thoughts on Nesting

I have been thinking about nesting a lot this week, and have decided that I have never experienced it because it isn't my style. I totally understand the concept of wanting to fill up the seemingly never-ending days of waiting for a baby's birth that could happen at any time. Unfortunately, my brain and body just seem to want to shut down and hibernate until the big day arrives. I would love to just lay down on the couch and stay there until I go into labor. And there are still thirteen days until my due date. What is wrong with me? I honestly am about to go crazy. I don't think I can take much more of this.

I came across a neat website the other day that times the frequency and duration of contractions. It looks like it would be really useful, especially since I don't have a watch. Now if only I would have some contractions to time.

Nesting

There are only 17 days left until my due date, and I am waiting for the "nesting" instinct to kick in. (Actually, I'm still waiting for it from when Drew and Gracie were born ... it never came!) I hear stories of moms who clean their house from top to bottom before going into labor, and think that would be so nice. My house could definitely use the cleaning! Maybe I should just get busy and do some cleaning and the extra work would send me into labor. :)

Update: It is now 15 days until my due date. Gracie was born 13 days early, so I am hoping that means that this little guy could make his appearance any day now. (Drew was only 3 days early, but I'm trying to be positive!)

I haven't been sleeping well at all, and I am SO tired. It is just past 3:30 AM and I got tired of tossing and turning in bed, so I decided to get up. I have a doctor's appointment today, and they are planning to do a sonogram to estimate the baby's weight (my guess is 9+ pounds). I also get to have blood drawn again. Ugh. And I have to take Drew and Gracie with me to the appointment because I don't have a babysitter. My husband has a meeting at work and won't be able to come to the appointment. I'm not looking forward to it.

I am trying to decide what to do now that I am up. Maybe I should pick up the family room downstairs. Or maybe I'll just curl up on the couch for a while ...