Blessings in Disguise

Trick-or-Treat photos will be posted later. Just thought I would share about God's provision. Sometimes we see circumstances as coincidental - I argue to the contrary.

Jamie's previous employer just laid off a large segment of its workforce last week. Jamie's previous job was one of the ones that was eliminated due to decreasing profits and a changing demand for those positions. Leaving our friends and family wasn't our first choice, but Jamie's employment is quite important. What a different situation we would have been facing had we been looking at Baby 2 with no job. Instead, he is gainfully employed, things look good, and we have adjusted and are liking our current life here.

God more than provides. For this I am most grateful.

Is it a baby or is Mommy FULL?

Baby Guild is doing well, according to the doctor and by my motherly estimations. He/she is growing as expected, kicking a tremendous amount, has a strong heartbeat... We are excited to meet the little one. The doctor informed me yesterday that I would have to begin coming every week since the arrival is only a month away. It is a good reality check since I keep thinking that we have "plenty of time" before things change.

Yesterday after dinner Jonathan and I were talking about something when he looked at me with a strange look and pointed to my stomach: "Mommy, tummy full!!" We have been talking about being full when we finish eating and apparently my stomach (with baby) looks VERY full.

Jonathan has swimming lessons with Jamie on Tuesday nights. I do not like doing swimming lessons when it is cool outside (they are inside but you still have to go out after being wet), so Jamie decided that this would be a good father/son bonding thing to do. Last week, after I greeted them at the door when they returned, the first thing Jonathan said was, "Spit it out!" I looked inquisitively at Jamie. Jonathan thought that drinking pool water would be great, so much of last week's swimming lesson was spent working on spitting out the pool water that ended up in his mouth. When asked about swimming lessons, he only talks about spitting it out. Not the kicking or splashing or fun. Spitting the water out.

Photos of Halloween to come next week. Until then we are giving the camera a rest until we get the new one in the mail.

Counting with Daddy

It was this time last year that I was lamenting about Jamie's work and travel schedule. It is that time, again. It seems to be that mid-October through mid-November will be busy with evenings and travel. It should be winding down by the time the baby's arrival is imminent. Jamie just returned from three days of travel so he and Jonathan were enjoying some quality time this evening. I caught some of it on video:

If it seems as though I have forgotten to use the still photo camera as of late - it is because the darn thing is dying a slow death. This is a major irritation to me because I feel as though we need a new one so as to be prepared for Baby Two's arrival. It would be of supreme irritation if we missed all photo moments because the camera gave up the ghost. I like to buy things and have them work for a very long time. My definition of a very long time is different than the manufacturers' definition. Bummer. So, a new camera is on the way.

Football

Jamie has said to me on more than one occasion during this time of year: "Smell the air? It smells like football." Smells like football??? Like sweaty pads and stinky shoes? No, he means the smell of leaves in the fall. Fall means football season (among many other things) to Jamie. He is not fanatical by any stretch of the imagination, but he does enjoy the game.

Jonathan likes to be outside so when he wanted to play catch with Uncle Nate and Daddy - it was no surprise. Jamie's chest puffed out and he made more than one comment about how fun it was to play catch with the little man. Observe the football debut:

On a couple of other funny notes:

~ I was wearing a maternity shirt yesterday that isn't really "me". It isn't a bad shirt, but it is very bright. Black is a much better color for a woman this pregnant. Jonathan came in from playing outside with Jamie and said, "Ooo, nice shirt." Guess he likes bright. He has not said that about any of the black or brown ones (or anything else I've worn).

~ He calls me "Sarah" at least half of the time. What is up with that?!?!

~ Sleeping is going much better. Maybe he was just jet-lagged (for 2 weeks?) or feeling weird. We are back to the normal, sleeping until 7am. He has the door open and the night light on until it goes off at seven, but he is no longer waking me up at 5am.

Sarah

Just a few things

Recent memorable events in the Guild house:

~ Jonathan now calls me any one of the following things, depending on the day: Mommy, Mom, Sarah or Honey. He also calls Jamie, James, on occasion. I suspect that the use of our first names is due to the fact that this is how we refer to one another when we talk around the house. Jamie also calls me Honey, so I'm sure that is the origin of that name. It is as if we have a playback of our words when Jonathan is around.

~ Jonathan has two plastic lawn mowers from my garage sale finds. He likes to have me to push one. There is only one problem. These toys are designed for children who are 2-3 feet tall. He tells me: "Mommy use both hands" when we are playing with the mowers. Imagine a woman, eight months pregnant, bent over at a ninety degree angle, pushing a little mower with both hands down the sidewalk. No wonder I get some looks. I try to sneak a one handed carry of the mower when he's not looking. He'll turn around and repeat, "Mommy, both hands."

~ He climbed to the top of this thing at the playground the other day that I was sure was meant only for school age children. I was there to catch him if he fell, but alas, he did not. He just arrived at the top looking very triumphant. I thought I heard that the first child is usually more cautious. If this is the case: we are in for it with the next one!

~ Lastly, he likes to go into his room, by himself, and close the door. He'll just be sitting in there, reading books or playing with his cars when I go in to check. What a big boy he is becoming!

More Fun with Jacob

I have been working on my commitment to take a few more videos of the little man... here is one more of Jonathan and Jacob. Soon I will post one of Jonathan playing football with the guys. One video per post is all I have the patience for since the uploading takes a little while.

Some Time With Jacob

Three posts in one day!! This has to be a record for me... The ones for today start with "Jonathan's Birthday Party - Part One", so scroll down if you would like to start at the beginning.

Nate, Carla, and Jacob arrived on Friday night for a visit and to celebrate Jonathan's birthday with us. Jonathan thought Jacob was amazing. He wanted to hold him ("my hold Baby Jake now"), talk to him, share his "blankies" with him, look at him... Guess we don't have to wonder if he'll be excited about the new baby's arrival in a month and a half! Jacob wasn't thinking this was quite as great as Jonathan did!
Uncle Nate with the two little guys
This was a way for Jonathan to get to "hold" Jacob in a more controlled manner. Many thanks to Carla and Nate for their patience!

My mother loves the videos of Jonathan, and I think this one with BOTH grandchildren included will be of special interest. Mom (and anyone else who likes to watch them) - enjoy!