mish-mash

Entertainment addition: As of last night (thanks to Jesse and Jasmine) I've added "The Goonies" to the list of movies I've watched. (Somehow I missed that one in 1985).  Some funny parts, mostly rather slow. Also, Charlie and I have one last season of the O.C. left to watch. (*blushes*, LOL, yes we know it's a teeny-bopper series, but have found it entertaining. -Especially since I couldn't do many activities this summer). And we're both excited to sit back and enjoy football this fall. (I purposely say enjoy, because it's a conscious decision to not get as emotionally/and time-involved this season, last year was intense!)


Pregnancy change: I actually find the baby squirming inside me cute and adorable now. (I'm not sure how the change happened). I mentioned a while ago that his hands or feet making long sweeping movements across my uterus grossed/weirded me out. -and it did, it was so strange. Well now I think he's big enough I can tell exactly what he's doing in there and what body part is squirming around (OFTEN). That kinda helps me picture him. Also, I don't usually fully wake up at night when he's readjusting anymore. So that's been nice. He's getting so big now (about 4 3/4lbs!!!) that even though we go in for ultrasounds every-other week, it's hard to get a good picture of his face. It looks rather cramped these days, plus he's been head down (which is good).

Family News: Our little brother, Andrew, officially passed his ordination yesterday! He's been studying very hard for this. (He's a youth pastor out in OH right now). His ordination service and celebration will be this weekend. Charlie and I are bummed we can't be there. But congrat's FoCack!

Something I learned:
I am NOT GOOD, or remotely close to good, at guitar hero!!! Um-yeah. Sorry band, I got us boo'ed off stage.  But I found it entertaining to watch my Babe and friends play.

We went to Church last Saturday night! The first time in at least three months. I can nearly count on one hand the number of times I've been able to go to church this whole year!  (Jan-early May I was terribly sick, then May 29-until recently, bed rest). It was so good to be there. I especially miss the worship. I love the genuineness of worshipers at Bethlehem; nothing about it is a show, it people truly praising the Lord in many ways, their hands-arms-body, spoken word, prayer, song.  At this service I was sweetly reminded of God's goodness to me in Salvation. Seemingly such a simple fundamental thing. But it's not. He has chosen, redeemed, loved, and is sanctifying ME! -A perfectly holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, creator God! Standing there singing about what He's done made me teary. Definitely good to be reminded.

Minnesota to-do list this fall: There are two things I'd love to do this fall (but will probably have to wait for Little Mr. to come). One is head up to Taylors Falls, MN to hike (ever so slowly). I've heard it's really pretty. And then go to the winery/apple orchard/pumpkin farm near still water. This is something we do every year; wine taste, pick a pumpkin, walk hand-in-hand through the apple orchard... but last year I remember walking through there thinking- 'I wonder what next year will be like, will we have a baby with us?' This is something I've wondered the last three years- the first we hadn't conceived yet, but were considering it, the second year I got pregnant a month after that with Baby Ruttigar. And last year, I was grieving, bewildered at our year, and having to babies in heaven, and trying to just enjoy time with my Charlie. Crazy to think that this year, Lord willing, we could have a little man in tow! WOW! Super exciting too! Hummm, fall makes me nostalgic in so many ways.

Thoughts: I need to clean out our car desperately.  I wonder which day we'll meet our son. Confession, I haven't cleaned the house for about one month-shhhhh. I'm going to finish one more sewing project, then get my Janome machine tuned up; it's a year old this week! (Love it!) I'm excited that it's September!- I get to see lots of friends and family this month! YAY!

great minnesota get together

Yesterday we ventured off to the Minnesota Fair. It was probably the longest it's taken anyone to go through the fairgrounds; I can walk about 8-12 minutes without feeling completely wiped out. So we took lots of breaks to people watch, and our meandering pace would've bored many. But we loved our date! Charlie is so patient and caring; I just love hanging out with that man!

Sweet Martha's chewy chocolate chip cookies and endless ice cold fresh milk, why else do people go to the fair?!

32 week tummy in my cute and comfy PPP dress! 

I was able to finish Little Mr.'s modern quilt this week. I like how it turned out. The backing is a flannel and I haven't ever put the block of coordinating fabrics on the back, but I think it makes the backing better that way. I like making my own quilting patterns (not that I quilt much, really "quilty" is not my style...)

At my 32 week appointment today all looked great! Little Mr's heart rate was 146, cervix measured in at 2.4 or so, and we got to tentatively schedule the cerclage removal for the end of September! (week 36).

Charlie and I both feel ready for our little man to come live with us. I'm sure somethings will be different, but for the most part we can see him fitting into our lives very easily without much disruption. I think the pregnancy itself has been more disruptive to our normal life than the baby will be. Everyone tells us the BIG changes come with two kiddo's. So we're not stressing. God will provide the grace and strength we need for each new day of this parental adventure.  

I've been reading some great books, i hope to write a quick post with things that have really stuck out to me. Hopefully in the next couple of days.  

cheer up you boards

Upon waking yesterday we decided to clean up (at least the look of) our little grilling/sitting deck. 

It was looking dreadful.

 But afterwards it was looking spruced up, cheery and inviting:

Amazing what some effort and a little paint will do!

Now, I need advice... last year I uprooted 20-year old weeds and vines from under the deck space, and by the house... see it in the picture?  All I've managed to plant there are some hasta's and 2 other little plants. I need them to come up every year on their own, no fussy stuff. What should I plant?  (Morning/mid-day sun and then shade).

tum tum pics et cetera

Quick update on the little boy living inside me.

Left: My caring sister-in-law and her kiddo's sent me a countdown paper chain weeks 30-38, it serves as the only decoration specifically for Little Mr so far.  -yeah, not even started buying anything, or decorating anything for baby or his room. I figure he won't notice anyways, right?

Right: Baby bump at 28 weeks 5 days.

This is Little Mister's quilt I've been slowly working on when my back permits. (That's been the only tough part lately- fairly uncomfortable back pain. I bought a brace and that helps some. -Probably a fairly normal pregnant mom problem, huh?)

Left: Little Mister hanging out inside at 30 weeks 2 days. He's really moving all the body parts now, not just hands and feet...I feel shoulders, backs, bunzies, elbows and he's discovered my ribs. Um yeah. 

Right: Little Mr. at his Dr.'s apt yesterday- 30w 3d. He was looking rather squished in, and insisted on keeping his face squished against the placenta so we couldn't get a good picture of him. His stats were fabulous.  He's weighing in at 3lbs. 14 oz., (measuring about 1-2 weeks ahead) and is in the 70th percentile for 30 week babies. (OB says it's cuz Charlie and I are so tall). His heart rate was 153. 

Charlie and I spent the remainder of the day yesterday at our favorite beach, soaking in this amazing weather we've been enjoying- mid 70's and a breeze and sun. It's PERFECTION.  Last week I braved my bikini and have since decided I may not do that again until after I have my body back. LOL!

I love relaxing there, yesterday there were two 8 year old boys fishing off a nearby dock all afternoon, and they were equipped with a tape measurer, poles, and TONS of spirit. Every 10-20 minutes one would yell "I got one!, look, look!, It's a HUGE one!"  I had to laugh. Oh the charm of a sunny, boyhood afternoon- and the thrill of catching 5 inch sun fish! LOL! Charlie said he spent many afternoons at the cabin doing the same thing, (but he said catching 30-50 per afternoon). -I love imagining Charlie as his sparky little boy self from years ago.  I can't wait to watch our Little boy enjoy such innocent pleasures.

Today my husband woke up energized to do house projects. So I'm posting this while he's on a home depot run. We're going to attempt to spruce up our deck. I'll post pictures sometime if it turns out.

Enjoy your day!

spoken recently

After seeing a pre-pregnancy cardigan on me, with one button closed around my mid-section: 

"Hang on little button!" (in a silly voice).

Giggling to self waiting in the car: "I think I just witnessed my first waddle!"

Anytime of day, multiple times: 

"How's the Little Guy? Is he busy? Is he awake? I love you little baby" 

-The speaker shall remain anonymous. :-)

seven years in

Today we're celebrating 7 years of happy togetherness.

I'm glad I'm on this life journey with you my love!

instant childhood summers

There are a few smells during that season that instantly transport me back to young summer days with my sisters...

One is BLT's. We had them Thursday night for supper and it smelt divine. We must have had those frequently when I was little.

The second is wet pavement (from rain or the hose). I used to think I could smell the rain, but in fact I think it's the hot, wet sidewalks that trigger that thought/memory.

Third is Waterbabies (or any other really, we just used this one lots) sunscreen. Some friends (the kiddo's I used to watch) walked in my front door a couple weeks ago, on their way to the pool. MMmmmmmm. They smelled delish'. Many a day us girls slathered that stuff on. (and too many days where we should have -the little brown spots on my arms at 30 years of age remind me of that).