There is no person I feel safer with than my husband. That’s the thought I had when I looked at this picture. It’s funny that my first thought was about safety. I guess as a woman, the feeling of warmth, protection, and security is a big part of love and marriage. I thank God for my husband every day. There are times when we don’t get along, but I go through those times knowing that we will eventually get over it and then we will feel just as close as ever. I’ve been trying hard to share my honest thoughts with him, and it has been so rewarding because he usually feels the same way about things that I do, or will help me to see things differently in order to help me. I’m trying not to get in a tizzy if he works late, instead I welcome him home the best I can and let him have some space. Then, because I’ve been getting so very tired by the end of the day, I usually go right to bed and let him spend time with the kids and put them to bed (**laugh**). Last night he came home from work and it was still light outside, which meant a lot to me. He brought pumpkins home for the kids and we all made homemade pizzas together and drank apple cider. After we put the boys to bed, Rich and I stayed up with Grace and we watched “Miss Potter”, a wonderful movie that Rich said he hated because it was too sad for him. This morning he got up first, and when I got up a few hours later, he quickly made me a cup of coffee (in a scarlet fiesta mug). We went out with the kids this morning. We shopped in a hardware store and bought things for the house and our pets. We left the kids in the van and it was fun to walk the aisles together alone. We also went to a candle store and he picked out a candle for me (“woodland pine”) and I picked out one for him (“family gatherings”). We also went to the library and Rich looked at magazines and kept an eye on the children while I browsed around looking for books to borrow. Going out for lunch capped off our family outing, and we played tic tac toe together as we waited for our food. When we got home, I made everyone stand still and smile nice for a family portrait because the other day Rich was missing from the photos.
The older children are out in the woods now, playing. Caleb is watching a Thomas video. Rich is sound asleep on the couch and I’m going to go out there soon and look through a few of my books from the library.
Over the last few days, we finally came up with a name for our new baby. His name will be
Seth William
This is a name that wasn’t even on our list last week. It might have taken us months, but eventually we found the perfect name for our new son. Please continue to pray for me during this pregnancy. I was very afraid last night, because I had quite a few braxton hicks contractions in a short amount of time. Thankfully, the contractions and strange feelings went away. I wonder if I am doing too much during the day. I’m determined now to slow down and take good care of myself.
Happy November 1st to all my friends. I hope to fill this month up with many grateful thoughts, since this is the month that we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. We have so much to be thankful for.
Love, ~Shanda~
Good to be Home 
Little Seth William is a very privileged child to be a part of your dear family. God richly bless you my friend.
What a wonderful day!!
Oh Shanda! I love the name you have chosen for your baby son. He is surely blessed to be a part of such a loving family!
great name…Seth William…I can’t wait to see this beautiful baby boy!
I like the name, Shanda! Blessings to you as you prepare for a new little one.
I used to have lots of braxton hicks as well, so much that I wasn’t sure when it was the real thing. It can be very alarming. Saying a prayer for you~
I love the family picture and I love your baby name!!!Glad you had a great family morning!
LOVE the name you’ve chosen!!! You look beautiful, Shanda!
Beautiful name, Shanda….I know how difficult it is to choose just the right one…and one that you and DH can agree on!At least, that is how it was with us. I see that you have forgone the five letter requirement…so you must love it very much.William is a special name for me. It is in our family – my side. I have a beloved uncle who still is doing very well even at age 83…named William. His middle name is King. I love that, too! I think I blogged about it once. I did not use it for any of my three boys and now I wonder why.Our children have family names for middle names…and the twinnie boys even have two middle names. I knew they would be the last – had to get them in.:o)Seth is a wonderful name to grow old with. (My requirement…along with the sound of it hollered out the back door!) hee Nice family photo! Oh, to have had a nice camera back in the days of kids at home.Happy weekend and happy November!!!xo
beautiful name………beautiful family
Seth William! That’s perfect! Yes, rest as much as you can!
I adore the name! It’s refreshing to hear that there are still families who don’t celebrate Halloween. There’s nothing wrong with the candy, bonfires, hayrides, fellowship and fun that we can have as an alternative. My girls never did “trick or treat” and they don’t even know what they missed! Blessings to you all! I love the photos of the candy, etc!!!!!
I love the name Seth…it’s perfect. I’m glad you had a lovely day. Take care.
Love the name. It was what we had planned for our last child should it be a boy. ~we had a little girl. 🙂
I love the name! All the Seth’s that I’ve known in my life (three that I can think of) – have been wonderful boys/men – who love the Lord and I admire – the name is wonderful.I love the first picture. ~ a lovely truly lovely family photo. I’m grateful for my man as well, and feel so safe with him. Praise God.blessings on this first day of this month.
Great name, I love it, it’s perfect! Glad to hear about your lovely day and your man taking such good care of you. 🙂
Oh….. I LOVE the name!!! It fits so wonderfully with the rest of the family, and if your new little sone looks anything like his handsome big brothers, he will LOOK like a Seth William
(how funny though that the name wasn’t even originally on “the list.” hehe)
I’m glad you took another group photo…without Rich it just didn’t seem complete. He is the anchor.
LOVE the name. It’s perfect. Other than not being five letters! LOL! I’m sure he’ll feel very left out. Ha!I’m glad you had a good day. I am exhausted! Can’t wait to get that extra hour tonight. 🙂
Love the name!
I like the name – a lot. I have a grandson named Seth Levi – the Levi being for my late husband whose name was legally Levi only he was always “Junior” growing up (he was Levi, Jr.) and then Lee! But Seth William sounds so solid and masculine. Our Seth became a teenager this spring and is smart, witty, kind, musical – such a delight. The name so fits him!
I know that Seth will be welcomed into a safe, loving family. Also, I really like your red necklace…the color is so rich and it has great personality.
P.S. Is your son really almost as tall as you (as it appears in the picture)??
I loved your candid thoughts about Rich. Your love for your husband is so evident all the time and I’m so glad that you have him for a lifemate. I love the picture of the two of you. The look on his face definitely shows his love for you. So thankful for you. Oh and I like the name Seth! Love, Lish
Sounds like a lovely day being together. I like the family shot, so many sweet smiles. It is so true that feeling protected and safe, both physically, as well as emotionally is so important as a woman. I don’t always think about that, but when you said that it made me think…yes. Hope you are feeling stronger….you are a cute little preggy. I know I had lots more braxton hicks with David. Did you with the last few? Always good to listen to the body and take it easy. Great name….praying for you and Seth William!
That is a great family picture, and I like the name Seth William. He has no idea of the blessing that is his – being born into your family.
Love, love, LOVE the name you picked.
LOVE your name. My husband is SETH, and so of course I think it’s a wonderful name! And I love the meaning of both of those names.blessings on his precious life!
My husband’s name is Seth. There aren’t too many Seth’s that we have met:). Love that name. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water during the day. Sometimes that will keep the contractions at bay.
What a wonderful name. I’m jealous! Seth was at the tippy top of my boy names list!;) But, then we never had another boy. I think you chose a great name for your new baby. Your family is beautiful! Praying you can slow down and rest a bit amidst your busy crew.
What an absolutely perfect name!!!! Perfect!!
What a fantastic family photo!!
That is a nice name! The pictures are so good of your family and you & Rich.
Cute name. =]
I just wanted to thank you for such an inspiring post.
The name you have come up with for your new baby sounds perfect! I’m sure we’ll all be thrilled to see the first pictures; he’s sure to be a beautiful child because his family seems to be so wonderful! Your family picture is great; everybody looks safe and happy! love, Gail
That’s a wonderful name, and I agree with the above, he will be born into a wonderful family.
I like the name too. We had William on our list of names when we were naming our children. I am looking forward to the day when Seth makes his appearance!!
that picture is so beautiful! God bless your family and Seth is a great name! 🙂
Hi…you have a wonderful family..congratulation
Oh, that name is PERFECT!!! You look beautiful, Shanda, and I love the way that red sweater looks on you. Jewel tones look so pretty with your fair skin and dark hair.That family picture is precious; I know you treasure it and the memories of the time you all have together with Rich. I love the way he is looking at you in the second picture; it is apparent that he cherishes you so. We have two of the “few good men.”
Great Family Photo!!!! Love the name you picked out…..:)
That’s a great family photo!
Amazing that each and every one of them is smiling! Wow! THAT IS SO SO SO HARD TO DO IN MY HOUSE!!!
Love the day you described! Did you come home all happy and refreshed?!
Steve and I love the name of Seth but it really bothers me that it is not five letters, did you guys have to talk that out? I mean you are really breaking the chain! LOL!!!
I am a bit late commenting, but I was catching up on what you have been up to. 🙂 That is a wonderful picture of your family. Seth William. Great name! Have I mentioned I have a Seth? 🙂 Many blessings and prayers for your family