27 Weeks and… (really?)

So I haven’t written for awhile. I got tired and kinda grumpy. I am thankful to report that home is feeling more homey, and family is feeling more familiar, and that eases the tired-grumpy syndrome. I’m really liking our new thermal roman shades! Every window has now been shaded by these great little devises. In addition to being a (huge) blessing of practicality, they’re kinda cute, which is fun. And family, well… Noah completed his first series of swim lessons! He, under ice cream incentive , is quite good at putting his head underwater, which was our main struggle. I love playing in the pool with him! Jared’s considering working 11-hour days, but he’s also being very intentional about family time. It’s a tough balance. He seriously wants to graduate this year to get us out of the student arena, while at the same time make time to share with a pregnant wife and growing preschooler. This has not been an easy road. A blessed one, yes; a rewarding one, I think so; an easy one, not by our measure. Thank Goodness ease isn’t the goal (a break would be nice, and it seems that some friends are looking out for us on that front in August!). Research is looking very progressive, and Noah and I sometimes get to take Jared lunch, since he’s only down the road! I love doing that!

I’m now 27-almost-28 weeks pregnant with our baby boy. I don’t know how much I weigh (appointment tomorrow), but Baby supposedly weights 2 pounds. Oh, my goodness, I am having a hard time being comfortable for normal durations of time! It’s daunting to think there are three more *growing* months of this. With every pregnancy, you get bigger, faster, I’ve heard.

I recently had two opportunities to “put myself” back in the field of working. One was for potential part-time involvement in a ministry I care about; one was simply having a child in our home weekday afternoons. I turned both of them down! One Wednesday in July, Noah and I were at a mall together. I took care of my errands, we had a snack date together, and along the way, managed to gain some friendly compliments about how well and politely Noah carries himself. I give him and his fabulous temperament a lot of credit, but Jared reminds me that some of it simply reflects the accessibility, assurance, and closeness that spending time together renders. A few days later was my lunch interview, and later that weekend I watched The Nanny Diaries. I know the movie and the book are written to be an extreme-but-realistic picture; it would be false, however, for me to deny that it reminds me how valuable it is to let my young kids be my most-important time investment in these slender years. The shopping mall experience just enforced that. It was a really beautiful reminder as I’m coming to start over again, so to speak. Noah could be in preschool soon, but our time is beginning anew with Baby Brother. I am hugely thankful that God refreshed my perspective just at this specific time. The decision about the four year old little girl was tricky. In the end, it was about Jared needing me and a tranquil home, and about the preciousness of new-baby family bonding, that trumped the desire to benefit a mom and daughter from within our home and receive financial advantage. The image I have is protecting the walls of Jerusalem. It’s just our little family, but it’s the best thing we have, and limitations and connectedness and memories are huge day-by-day pieces to consider, “forsaking all others,” should it ever come to that.

Tonight we’re going to see Julius Caesar as part of the Shakespeare Festival! Jared even took the opportunity to brush up on reading the play.

There’s my heart for all the missing weeks. I’ve considered flying up to Lubbock to gain some time with my effervescent sisters (especially since I’ve been feeling such the slug), but I think it’s all about Houston right now. Can you believe this baby will be born is just three months?! It’s amazing how fast eternity can change….

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