September... you are here again

In all of our life's craziness, I have not even let myself realize that tomorrow is September 1st. TOMORROW = SEPTEMBER! I could probably write "ditto" to a few posts I have written before; b/c I am beginning to realize I will always feel this way about September. We definitely have a love/hate relationship. I love September for birthdays and the beginning of Fall. I hate the anticipation of September 22nd and reliving the worst day of my life.

This year again, we are in full swing of celebrating a life and honoring/grieving the loss of another. My birthday is the 17th, baby C's due date is the 19th, Kenan's delivery date is the 22nd, and Graeme's birthday is the 29th. I am not too terribly worried about baby waiting for G's bday; but I am getting a little anxious about the 22nd. I know there could be redeeming factors of this baby being born on the 2nd, but I really don't want her to be. I desperately want Kenan to be able to keep "his" day. I know that sounds ridiculous; but I feel as if that is one of the only things he was tangibly given in this world. I know he is probably better off not knowing this world, but I feel I still need him to be anchored to us and this physical world in some way. His delivery date and his tree are all we have. Obviously I have no control of this situation, but I am really hoping God honors that request. Most importantly that Baby #4 arrives safely, but also that she comes on any other day than the 22nd. I guess ~3 weeks will tell!

We. are. exhausted.

This weekend has been such a whirlwind! Definitely a good one, but a whirlwind just the same. Wow, and I just realized as I typed that last sentence there was a literal whirlwind outside that wasn't so good. I am thankful my sis-in-law's family and our friends from the coastal area are all doing well.

The whirlwind in Moore County though, was attributed to moving this weekend! We knew we were going to move sooner than later, so the thought/search of the move wasn't that fast. The actual find/decision/move all happened within a week! HA We wanted to be more settled before Baby C #4 arrives, and this location makes us a bit more central to everywhere we travel.

Ceilidh, Graeme, and I packed all our boxes (thankfully we had enough sense to not un-pack everything the last move) this last week; and the "Father and Son" moving company did their thing on Friday evening after work! wink In all seriousness, THANK YOU Randy, Suzanne, and Susanna for ALL your help. Suzanne graciously kept the children for me while Susanna helped me load up last minute breakables at the old house and kept me company on Friday. On Saturday, the "terrific trio" was at it again helping us move furniture into the house, watching children, and CLEANING bathrooms while we made one last load/final cleaning at the old house. I mean, come on people. Cleaning someone else's bathrooms and kitchen sink. That is love!

So, really this post is all to say thank you. Thank you to my amazing husband, father/mother-in-law, and one of my best friends, Susanna, for living out your love for us! We are all exhausted, but I am so grateful!

"King Kong"

If you know me at all, you know that I am not the best singer in the world; and if I don't know the words to a song I make them up! ha At 4 and almost 2, any song to a momma's ear is sweet. Therefore, I am not going to comment on musical ability at this point in the game (wink); but I will say they both inherited "lyric interpretation" or musical creativity as I refer to it! ha Ceilidh has made up quite a few lyrics in her lifetime, with my favorite being the "Bird" song which was in actuality "Happy Birthday."

Driving down the road the other day; Graeme starts singing "King Kong," and insisting that we sing along with him. None of us could figure out what song he was trying to sing, so the poor guy had to keep singing by himself. Yesterday, all the sudden he starts excitedly screaming, "King Kong! King Kong! King Kong, momma!" We finally figured out he was singing the words "Kingdom come" from the song "Say, Say" on Passion's Awakening. He can actually sing along with most all of the songs, but they both L.O.V.E. "Say, Say." If you ever need a pick-me up, just call and I will get you a recording of my cuties shouting about Jesus' love for us and his coming Kingdom. Though they request this CD EVERY TIME we get in the car, it never gets old!

Funny side note: Everyone in the family has their own name for the CD. Andrew of course calls it by its proper name; Awakening. (Such a music snob! wink) For some reason when it was released, I was convinced it was called Amazing King. Therefore, Ceilidh and I call it Amazing King b/c it just stuck. ha Graeme calls it Jesus music. No matter the name printed on the front, it is a great CD!

A Little Heart Relief

I think I have mentioned here on the blog before, that Ceilidh is pretty adament about not wanting to get married or have children one day. I have to admit that it scares me immensely when we talk about this, b/c I instinctively start fretting that I am doing such a horrible job in her eyes that she never wants to be a wife and mother! ha Aren't all little girls suppose to dream of a handsome prince and beautiful children?! I know I was pretty girly; but I loved sports and getting dirty just as much as the next kid; and I don't think I ever NOT wanted to get married and have babies. I love exactly who she is, and will be fine with the choices she makes when it comes to marriage and family.... I just don't want her to be in therapy someday b/c of me! ha

This afternoon at lunch, my poor little heart got a little lift. Something came up about her getting married someday and the usual, "I'm not going to get married" was uttered. I told her that that was ok, but she just might change her mind. So then I asked Graeme if he wanted to get married someday, as he stuffed a way too big bite of PB&J into his mouth.

G: "Uh-huh."

Me: "Do you want to be a daddy too?"

G: "Uh-huh!"

Me: (Of course! Andrew is obviously excelling in his role so well that G-man can't wait. Ceilidh is screaming in the other direction b/c I am failing so miserably.)

While lost in my own self-pity, Ceilidh pipes up; "We sure will miss him!" Ok, bring on the tears! First of all, how sweet that she already realizes the value of Graeme being around. Secondly, I started to understand her determination to not marry a little more. She doesn't want to leave us! So after this, we had a discussion about how even when you get married and start your own family; we still can see each other and have a great relationship. By the end of the conversation, she was asking which house was closest to ours so she and her husband could live there. She also asked if we could still play princess games together. Yes Ceilidh, I will gladly play princess games with you for the rest of my life!

So obviously, her tune will probably change many times over the years to come and someday we will have to have the conversation about "leaving and cleaving," but maintaining healthy relationships. And counseling to stay mentally and emotionally healthy is always a good thing; so, she just might seek counseling (b/c of me, ha) someday. At least for now though, I will relish in the thought that she loves being apart of our family; and anticipate the years of princess games and the house next door!

Sea of pink!

I began week 35 yesterday. 35!!!! That is slightly crazy to me; actually quite a bit crazy to me. Our washing machine has been whirling for the last couple of days as I have been doing loads of PINK clothing in preparation. We have laughed (and cried, wink); as we went through Ceilidh's old clothing while we remembered places and events where she wore the clothing. She wore NOTHING but Pink and Carolina paraphernalia! ha I have also had to apologize to poor little G-man as he totally got jiped on toys and baby gear. I have racked my brain for 2 1/2 years as to where some of our cooler toys and Johnny Jumper were. Of course, we find them after he is WAY to old to use them. Hopefully his infant-hood didn't lack b/c of want of these items! wink

On a funny/interesting/"we will see" note, Andrew thinks this washing frenzy is totally unnecessary. He is excited either way obviously, but he is totally convinced this baby is a boy. ha "She" was moving around quite a bit the day of the ultrasound, my shape has been a bit more like Graeme than Ceilidh, and the heartbeat has been exactly in the middle of C & G! ha I know that is all Old Wives Tales, but who knows. I still feel pretty certain it is a girl, but we are definitely going to have a boy name ready to go! HA Oh, and he is predicting an early delivery somewhere between Sept. 9 - 13. I am predicting September 15th. What do you think, gender and date?

Re-post about Milk for thought: Latch on America

This is a great post my sister-in-law, Lydia, wrote about an organization promoting breastfeeding across America. I had never heard of this campaign, and think it is a wonderful idea! Thanks for posting, Lyd. Hope this continues to help spread the word!


http://imperfectbird.tumblr.com/

Lost in their own world

I love how C and G can get lost in their own little world these days. With year two just around the corner for Graeme (a month and a half away!!!!), he has started conversing really well. For a while now, he has known exactly what you are saying to him, but his vocabulary in the last couple of months has exploded. He will know carry on a full conversation with you, and specifically with Ceilidh. I listen in to their conversations while they are playing all the time b/c I love to hear what they have to say to each other.

Tonight at the grocery store, Andrew picked up a treat of chocolate pudding for them. Ceilidh was so excited she could barely contain herself and literally devoured her dinner so she could eat some! ha While I was cooking though, C and G were sitting at the table coloring waiting for dinner and I overheard this:

C: "You know we are having chocolate pudding for dessert Graeme!"

G: "UH-HUH!"

C: "I could eat chocolate pudding every day of my life!" (Can you guess who my sweet-aholic is?!"

G: "Me too! And dot-dogs (hotdogs) too!"

While they were eating dessert, Andrew and I were talking about the things that our mothers did and did not buy when we were young. After licking her cup clean; Ceilidh quips, "If I were a mommy I would buy chocolate pudding every time I went to the store!" Hilarious!

Babies!!!

I am brimming over with excitement this evening as I just got off the phone with an incredible friend that just became a MOMMY! One of my dearest friends, Summer and her husband Derek just welcomed Jude Ellison into this world! I can NOT wait to snuggle him in person! Sum endured one of the longest and most tiring labors I have ever heard off, and I am so incredibly proud of her. Congratulations you guys. I love all three of you!

I am also sending my love to Asheville to another new little boy and his sweet momma and daddy! We haven't talked much about internet info., so I will leave it like this. You know who you are!

*Baby C update: I had my 34 week appointment today: yes I just wrote 34 weeks! I can't believe how close we are getting. Everything looks great; measuring right around 34ish weeks, and her head is down already! woohoo

So sad it's over

This face sums up how we all feel today:

We are really sad the 2011 Beach Trip is over. Graeme was so upset we were on the "bidge" (bridge), but not getting out to go to the beach, he threw a literal temper tantrum and pouted (face puckered and everything) for at least 10 minutes on Saturday afternoon! ha

We had a wonderful time this last week at Sunset with most of the "Clendenin" crew. We really missed you Collins Family! Andrew and I LOVE the beach, and apparently our children do as well. ha We could not keep them out of the water. Ceilidh would beg all day to go back into the "deep seas" even though she was standing in water up to her chest as it was! Graeme was obsessed with jumping waves and would scream, "Oh goodness, Oh goodness" and "AGAIN, AGAIN" every time one would come crashing down around us. I really love that they are beach bums, b/c we didn't have to leave even for naps. They both would take a nap as I walked, which let me indulge in one of my favorite past times, as well as get in a much needed rest for them!

I sadly didn't get everyone or as much of a variety of pictures as I would have liked, but it has gotten much harder to take them as the children have gotten older. They are always on the move, and usually wanting us to be involved in whatever they are doing. I am a little neurotic about safety around water as well, so the camera didn't come out much! ha Anyway..... here are a few pictures from our week!

Trying to get a picture of the stripped-shirt triplets our last morning. G-man got away, and Jack almost did!

Um.... beautiful. Even if I say so myself! ha

I could eat him with a spoon!

Their true colors! wink

I love her eye color in this photo. She is very proud of her hazel eyes. ha

The Thomas men enjoying one last afternoon

Ceilidh adores Jack! I think she really gets a kick out of being one of the "older" kids amongst the grandchildren.

"Jack Jack"

I love this photo. It sums up Aunt "Sana" really well. She loves them and they love her!

Having a moment

Showing off their "find." Sorry Sus, I couldn't figure out my b&w.

Ceilidh decided to make a face (rt. side), with a long beard! ha

Posing with "Ally" the alligator that Daddy sculpted!

Sweet boy snoozing

2011 Putt-Putt co-champion (shared the title with Caitlin)! Even cooler, Andrew got a hole-in-one on the last hole so he got a free game! I unfortunately was playing for WORST GAME EVER, but thats ok; I still had a lot of fun! ha

Had to get a few action shots!

Randy's completed corn-hole board. They look great R.T.!

Best Buds

Our family of six, even though we are still waiting to meet two

Andrew and Ceilidh's sand castle

He begged me to take a picture of each of his trucks and his final arrangement of them! ha

One of my favorite of the week! They really do love each other!

Hilarious

Having a blast!

"Help!" ha

If Ceilidh does something, Graeme MUST do it as well. "Me too, me too!"