I fail to understand how I was so difficult towards my mother as a child that I am to receive four little girls in return. I did not drink, I did not party, I did not steal. I was a good girl, a church youth group groupie, Sunday School teacher. Sure, I was moody and hormonal. What 13 year old isn't? I may have said a few not nice things to my mom (and dad), but really, I just wasn't bad enough to be getting four of me in return!
Each time I have been pregnant, I have been positive that I was carrying a boy. This time is no exception. But this time we did something a little different. At the 20 week ultrasound, we asked the technician to tell us the gender of the baby. We have never wanted to know before.
After having three girls, we wanted to be prepared if we were, in fact, adding a little boy to our family. After all, this is completely unplanned!
It is kind of fun knowing who this little person is flipping around inside of me. I love all my girls more than life, and loved them regardless of not knowing who they were as they were growing inside. But this time, I feel a little different. Like I am bonding in a different way with this little girl now. I know more about her already than the others. But I am still just as curious about all the parts of her that I don't yet know.
Having four girls growing up in our tiny yellow house is going to be a sight to see. But, God doesn't give you what you want. He gives you what you need.
Tuesday, September 21
Friday, September 17
A Different View
Yesterday we celebrated my husband's birthday a few days early, and took a little day trip from our quiet New England town down to New York City. I had arranged a tour for him of Fox News Studios, as he is a big fan. And what a wonderful tour we did have! We got to see the ins and outs of the network, saw all the sets of the shows he watches, and got to see a few of the network stars, too. Round that up with lunch in a little out of the way pub and being caught in a tremendous thunderstorm, and it was a magnificent day.
Usually we take the train to the city, but as he has been feeling unwell, and I am still experiencing morning sickness and some of the other fun that comes with pregnancy, we decided to drive. The storm came as we were heading back to our car, so it delayed our return home with massive amounts of traffic. We decided to exit the Henry Hudson Parkway, and try our luck on some of the West Side's city streets.
After a while we realized that we were approaching the 125th Street Metro North Train station. In the middle of Harlem. When we are riding the train, this stop always looks dismal. Tenement houses, run down buildings. Degredation.
But being in the middle of the neighborhood offered us such a different view. The buildings looked like homes. There were parks, children playing. Shops that we wanted to go in, restaurants that looked inviting, delicious.
My husband commented how different things look when you are down in the middle of them. What we look down on from above really isn't so bad when we are part of it.
Different indeed.
Usually we take the train to the city, but as he has been feeling unwell, and I am still experiencing morning sickness and some of the other fun that comes with pregnancy, we decided to drive. The storm came as we were heading back to our car, so it delayed our return home with massive amounts of traffic. We decided to exit the Henry Hudson Parkway, and try our luck on some of the West Side's city streets.
After a while we realized that we were approaching the 125th Street Metro North Train station. In the middle of Harlem. When we are riding the train, this stop always looks dismal. Tenement houses, run down buildings. Degredation.
But being in the middle of the neighborhood offered us such a different view. The buildings looked like homes. There were parks, children playing. Shops that we wanted to go in, restaurants that looked inviting, delicious.
My husband commented how different things look when you are down in the middle of them. What we look down on from above really isn't so bad when we are part of it.
Different indeed.
Tuesday, September 7
Disconnected
Over the course of the last few months, a new lifestyle has evolved in our house. It is less technological, more personal, quieter even, dare I say?
It's not been spoken about, but somehow my husband and I have reached an agreement, a commitment to each other. From 5:00 in the evening, we are not online. And that extends to the weekends, too. (All weekend.) No email, no chat boards, no blogging, no news reading. More family time, more playing, more couple time, more togetherness. More meaning.
Sure, we occasionally break the "agreement" to do a little shopping online, or respond to an email we anticipate receiving. But it always feels as though we are doing something contraband, and we tend to the task as quickly as possible so we can return the laptop to its quiet corner of the dining room and get back to the fun we are missing.
Our evenings have been quieter. The children (usually) have been nicer. They, and we, are getting to bed earlier (which is starting to garner more and more importance as we prepare for the number of months where sleep will evade us by something other than our own doing! Er.... You know what I mean...)
Weekends have been more fun. We've had the time to spend with each other doing things that families need to be doing: riding bikes, playing in the pool and the yard, fostering healthy friendships, going to the park. We've noticed that for 2 weekends in a row, our telephone didn't ring! They just so happen to be the best two weekends that we have had as a family in many, many years.
Coincidence? I think not.
It's not been spoken about, but somehow my husband and I have reached an agreement, a commitment to each other. From 5:00 in the evening, we are not online. And that extends to the weekends, too. (All weekend.) No email, no chat boards, no blogging, no news reading. More family time, more playing, more couple time, more togetherness. More meaning.
Sure, we occasionally break the "agreement" to do a little shopping online, or respond to an email we anticipate receiving. But it always feels as though we are doing something contraband, and we tend to the task as quickly as possible so we can return the laptop to its quiet corner of the dining room and get back to the fun we are missing.
Our evenings have been quieter. The children (usually) have been nicer. They, and we, are getting to bed earlier (which is starting to garner more and more importance as we prepare for the number of months where sleep will evade us by something other than our own doing! Er.... You know what I mean...)
Weekends have been more fun. We've had the time to spend with each other doing things that families need to be doing: riding bikes, playing in the pool and the yard, fostering healthy friendships, going to the park. We've noticed that for 2 weekends in a row, our telephone didn't ring! They just so happen to be the best two weekends that we have had as a family in many, many years.
Coincidence? I think not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)