Photos!

Charlotte had a little photo session today (and a few last week!) and I picked a few to post. She's two and a half weeks old, her three week appointment is next week, not this week - something that would have been nice to have remembered before I got all the kids dressed and in the car by 9:45am. But at least I didn't show up at the doctor's office and make a fool out of myself too. And that form that needed to go in that envelope that I mailed today? Yeah, it's on my front seat. Seriously, dear Brain, please come back. At least visit once in a while, please.

How's a poke in the eye, dear girl? He loves you, really he does. Such sweet dreams!

We're all alive and well. Having a hard time finding time enough to do all that my day requires, but that's not exactly a new thing. I spent about five hours today working on getting new stickers for another year on the license plates. Went to the old inspection place, found out they don't do them anymore, went to a muffler and brakes place, and guess what they flagged? Ah yes, my muffler and my brakes. Notice something fishy there? Me too. I decided it was worth the $12 risk - and Blaine agreed - to get it inspected again, elsewhere. And, yes, you know it, it passed with no flags. Really now.

So it's inspected, personal property taxes amazingly waived for the moment - until next month; I don't know why. But I'll take it. Off to the license office, no hitches there. But this process was NOT five-kid friendly. Courthouse steps are mean, for starters. Sterling and Ruby have not mastered the two-feet step up the stairs. You try walking up and down 75 steps with the same foot always leading. Their right legs ought to have some impressive muscles!

Something to consider: I have 100 fingernails/toenails - plus my own - to clip each week. I hear "Your hands are full!" at least four times each time I go anywhere. At least. All the seats in my minivan are full. And last Sunday, when I was setting out church clothes for everyone, I forgot Charlotte's. But, as Sterling informs me, Charlotte can wear pj's to church. Whew. And I just realized it's Friday - and that Liberty didn't get her spelling test done yesterday. Can we just pretend it's Thursday for another day? Maybe I can catch up that way.

It's a girl!

Charlotte Serenity was born yesterday afternoon at 4:08 pm in terrifically impressive fashion. She weighed in at a small-for-one-of-ours 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20.5 inches long. We're both quite well and I'm so excited to finally get to meet her!

Viewer discretion advised.

If my internet decides to cooperate, I'll post a photo on here. It's rather disturbing, I'm sorry. There's a reason I avoid mirrors these days. We're in a homeschool co-op this year, and I'm helping out in the elementary music class. The looks on some of the 5th-6th grade girls are quite funny. They look completely scared and like they'll never, ever have kids of their own after seeing what it's done to me. My apologies to all the mothers there that will never become grandmothers because of me. I didn't mean to do it.

Just killed the biggest tarantula I never wanted to see. It was inches from my sleeping son's head and the body mass was size of my fist, plus giant furry legs. Yes, I screamed. Called Blaine afterward and he laughed at me and my panic. He's so in the doghouse. But rest assured, when Blaine finds the dead tarantula on his pillow, I'll call it even.

Washed a load of gender-neutral clothes so the baby won't be naked until I get the right tub of clothes out after it's born. First Ruby tried to put the teeny shoes on herself, then gave up and held each and every item up to my belly, then pulled on my belly and told the baby to come out so she could try them on it. If only it had worked. Must be a boy. My girls, with their love of clothes, would have listened. Sterling, on the other hand, would rather leave well enough alone and just be naked. 1.5 weeks to due date. Or 3.5 weeks to I-certainly-won't-be-pregnant-still-no-matter-what. You know, whichever you prefer. Ruby taught me due dates can't be depended upon. Should have got her some clothes out and told her she could try them on when she came out. For Ruby, that would have worked.

Photos taken. Now I just have to get them off the camera. One. Slow. Step. At. A. Time. These things just cannot be rushed. Or maybe it's just me that cannot be rushed these days. Waddling takes effort, you know.

Back, momentarily and without much forethought. Sorry folks.

We lost our internet and my phone's service the day after my last post, and the internet connection I'm currently trying to use is interesting to say the least. It's taking me back to the days of dialup... for a much higher than dialup price. Grr, Alltel.

We have hot water! It's been cleared, tested, and shown sound in the gas lines department around here. That first hot shower was awesome - and I have yet to lose the marvel when I'm able to "jump in the shower" and it only takes the time that my shower actually takes. Sterling has told me many times that he fixed the hot water for me. He helped his daddy for certain, and he's convinced he's the one who accomplished all that happened under-house.

I'm still pregnant. 38 weeks and 1 day pregnant, to be precise. I can't wait to meet this baby and get my body "back". You know, because it just snaps right back to pre-baby shape as soon as baby's born.

Our internet "fix" is a laptop, provided graciously to us by my new writing position, so I can get back to work and pay for it. Nothing like starting a new job and then not doing anything for two weeks. Ugh. On the bright side, the laptop is awesome. Very, very cool.

On that note, I'd better go make supper. I'll do my best to brainstorm and come up with something slightly more interesting next blog. But before I go...

Sterling informed me that, if I look when baby's born, if it has an ah-hem, you know... when it's born, that means it's a boy. But if it doesn't have one, it's a girl. But he thinks they will match. Good to know. His next question... what do you call it when it's a girl? I took a deep breath, prayed he'd never remember, and told him the truth. Then I changed the subject.