Another Precious Little One

A few days ago, I put a new widget on my blog. If you scroll down a bit, and look to the right, beneath Tricky's photo, you'll see it...

We're expecting our fourth child and we're so very excited. Richard and I took the kids on a hike Sunday afternoon. About halfway around the lake trail we were hiking, we found a lovely dock, overlooking the lake, away from the myriad of others hiking or fishing, and we told the children that around Christmastime, we will have a new baby. Wanting to know if it is a boy or girl, what we would name the baby, and if they could see the baby, it was obvious the children were excited about having a new sibling. I'm so happy that I can help give them such an amazing gift - the gift of someone else to grow up with and to love.

Each day I'm thankful for my swelling belly, waking during the night, and even the bouts of nausea. I'm grateful that I've been given this most precious of gifts. Given my experience six months ago, I'm honored that God has smiled upon me yet again.

My midwife came to my home yesterday. I believe the kids thought her purpose for visiting was so they could entertain her, which I let them do for a few minutes. Soon, however, it was time to get to work on writing up my medical history - even detailing the pregnancies and deliveries of each of my children. My finger was pricked and we learned my hemoglobin is lower than what my midwife would like to see - so I'll be eating sunflower seeds, making tea sweetened with molasses, and cooking in my (new) cast iron skillet. My midwife does house calls because it is good for her to become familiar with the place where the baby will be born! [I'll post about my decision to home birth another day.]

The best part of the visit was the anticipation of hearing the baby's heartbeat. Casey was with me as the midwife gelled up the doppler and rolled it around on my belly. She said that it may be too early to hear anything, then... I heard it! I heard my baby! That most precious of sounds... the sound I never heard last year. The sound I gleefully explained to my daughter was the heartbeat of her littlest brother or sister.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your goodness and generosity in giving this child to us.
In Your mercy please watch over this child within my womb.
Please let my child develop in a normal and healthy way.
Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and anoint my precious little one with Your grace and Peace.
Amen.

Tricky's 2nd Birthday

My little Tricky turned 2 yesterday. Unfortunately, we received some very sad news about her grandfather so festivities were absent. I'm hopeful that we may celebrate her passage into little-girlhood within the next couple of days.

Until then... Happy Birthday little one!!!

Happy Birthday, Son!

I hope you have a wonderful 4th birthday, my handsome little man! May the coming year be filled with learning new things, exciting adventures, and memories you'll be able to hold onto.

2008 Homeschool Blog Awards

Voting has begun!

Please participate by clicking the Homeschool Blog Awards link located in the right-side column. So many GREAT blogs have been nominated in the various categories.

Also, my blog has been nominated for Best NEW Homeschool Blog! Simply select the dot next to the MommyLawyer link and click the VOTE button. Your vote would be appreciated!

A Blog Award!

Guess what! I found out what my message was! It's a Blog Award from Angie at Cuppa Dangie! What an honor - I'm so happy! It really does make it feel like this blogging experience is worth it knowing someone is reading and appreciating. Thank you again, Angie!

Here are the details of the award itself:

“This blog invests and believes, in ‘proximity’ [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' - being close through proxy] "They are all charming blogs, and the majority of them aim to show the marvels of friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate?" Then let’s try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to eight bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.”

Here are the details of the award Angie bestowed to me personally:

Angela makes me laugh with the pictures of her kids she posts! I like to see what she is up to and think her blog design is beautiful. I'm amazed she can juggle so many hats and even has time to blog!

As part of my award, I must pass the award on to 8 more bloggers... Let's go!

The Striped Rose. I would be remiss if I didn't include my very dear friend's blog. Of course, I get regular updates from Michele either on the phone or in person, but I also find out what's going on by peeking at her blog! Beautiful pictures of her girls, flowers, and cross-stitching abound, intertwined with writings of her beliefs and homeschool journey. She also inspired me to blog and I'm so happy she did!

Living Water Christian Academy. Rhonda and her family have so many outings - I love to see where they'll wind up next. Pictures of nature walks and visits to the lake - Rhonda always makes me long for the great outdoors!

Litten Lamm Academy. One of my first blogging friends! Monica's site is a wonderful expression of what homeschooling a young child with an even younger one running about can entail. She also injects quite a bit of humorous sarcasm - the very best kind - in her posts (see the post about the shoes and the lack of velcro - that's my life).

Our Place. I stumbled upon Sherri's blog one day and noticed she had pictures from her local zoo. I think I might have frightened her a little when I told her my family and I had been to that zoo many times even though we don't live in that state. I believe we're okay now - and she knows I'm not stalking her! LOL. I enjoy dropping by Sherri's blog to see if I recognize other local attractions she frequents!

Knowledge House Academy. I visit Nikowa's blog often. And I was excited to see a video introduction where she pronounces her name (I was pretty close)! She's the mother of two boys and is very active in their scouting, often posting pictures. (I can't wait until my son can join up!) Thanks, Nikowa, for entertaining me with your blog! By the way, you don't sound any more (or less) southern than I do!

King Alfred Academy. Brittney's blog is so detailed with the things her children are studying - I only hope I can be thorough with my children as our homeschool adventure progresses.

Simple and Sweet. I love, love, love Lindsey's blog. Lindsey is mom to three little girls and a baby boy. Just reading her blog, you can tell she cherishes her children and their education. Lindsey, I'm jealous of the postcard project. I HAVE to do that one - so tell me how!

Our Nest of 3. Dawn always exhibits fantastic school work on her site. Her boys are SO creative - and Dawn is, too. Check out all of her beautiful handmade cards!

Alrighty... go and visit these blogs! And let all of these ladies know what a fabulous job they're doing!

Awards? For simply doing this?

Okay, so I'm relatively new to the blogging world... I just found out there are awards for blogging. Who knew?

The Homeschool Post, as of October 13, 2008, will begin accepting nominations for the best blogs out there - at least those relating to homeschooling. There are 24 categories, which can be found listed here. I've also got a link on my sidebar to the Homeschool Blog Awards.

So... shameless plug for Category #23, Best NEW Homeschool Blog. I think I can do that!

Happy nominating!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to J, M, J, and H on the birth of the newest addition to the family!