It’s been in the high 90’s for two days in a row, we don’t have a/c so it’s been rough by the end of the day! I’m so thankful for my big bathtub, the cool water baths at night have been great.
We had a big thunderstorm in the night last night. The nice rain broke the heat and this morning was nice and cool again, I drank my coffee on the porch with a book and my cat, listening to the birds.
My pink peonies have opened. I picked some and put them on the table this morning.
I stood in the quiet dark kitchen, with only Ethan and Caleb awake and eating their cereal, and cut up fresh strawberries, pineapple, and cantaloupe. Caleb found an ant on the table from the flowers (why do ants crawl all over peonies?)
I had a doctors appointment yesterday and I am 3cms dilated and the baby is head down and low.
I went out to the vehicle afterwards and called Rich to tell him (he is so excited) but I was weepy, thinking about my baby Seth and how things will be so different in a matter of a week, or even just a day or two. Hubby was so understanding and said he had just been thinking the same thing that morning. It was sweet.
The other day I sat on the porch and listened to some of my favorite songs on my ipod, and looked through magazines. Of course I couldn’t keep my little buddy away. He would curl up on my lap for a moment, then get down, go around to the side of the chair, climb up & on mama again, and flop himself down…over and over. (it was not relaxing but I love this picture of my two babies)……….
We have a water table for Seth and I filled it up for him and as I was going in and out of the house with water pitchers, I found Seth IN his water table so I took off his diaper and let him play. It was so hot outside and he loved being in the cool water.
We bought 2 hanging baskets for the front porch, I love them, they are huge and beautiful.
Seth’s favorite water toy is a plastic cup, to fill and dump. He has a scrape on the bottom of his chin, from falling on a rock this weekend.
20 more little preparations, ’cause don’t ya know, these sorts of things do help the mindset!
Rich and the children treated me to a french manicure and pedicure, for mother’s day ~ and I went and got my nails done over the weekend. It felt so nice to be pampered. My poor feet ache a lot, and I am mostly wearing socks and sneakers during the day now. I’m happy to have pretty toes for the delivery room, lol.
Seth has his favorite book that we read…..
Today I really must be thinking about packing my hospital bag. The hospital is only five minutes away from our house, so I have been very laid back about being away. It will be fun to get my things together, though. Rich is at work, Davy is at school, Grace is playing the piano, we’ve all had breakfast and I think it’s gonna be a good day!
I hope yours is, too~
Love, Shanda
Good to be Home 
It’s been very warm here in Pa.too.Thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon.Love the pic of Seth in his water table! I can’t blame him for climbing in! 🙂 Praying that your labor & delivery goes well! Have a great day!
Praying for a safe delivery…can’t wait to meet Sarah Joy! Blessings to you.
Your thunderstorms in New England must have helped break the heat here in NY, too … we’ve been sweltering for days, but last night it finally started to cool off, and this morning the girls and I are eating breakfast on our sunporch with the door propped wide open to let in a the fresh, sweet air.LOVE those pictures of Seth in the water table. So fun!I was just seeing something about ants and peonies the other day. Apparently if you dip the flowers in a bucket of water after picking them, then shake them gently, the ants will all fall off and they won’t come in the house with the bouquet. I’ve never tried it, but that’s what I read!I’m so excited for little Sarah to make her appearance – every morning when I check Xanga I’m hoping to see a pulse from you that you’ve gone to the hospital!
LOVE your big belly~ enjoy your last days being pregnant you look great! Wes and Naomi have been in the water everyday too they love it, its the only releif they get and this hot weather has been making Abbie WANT to wear her summer dresses to school. LOVE YA PS JASON IS MAKING ME SLEEP WITH MY CELL PHONE LOL Guess uncle Jay cant wait for lil baby girl to come either!
Oh the heat! It’s horrible! Thankfully hasn’t gotten that hot here as we don’t have ac either. We will in the other house, so I can’t wait though! Those pictures of Seth made me laugh. He knew the good place to be!
Adorable :)The ants actually help to open the peony blossoms… I think the sweet sticky stuff attracts them, and then they help nibble the buds open.
Sounds like a good day. We had those 90 degree days at the beginning of the week. Now it’s down into the upper 70’s again. Your porch looks so peacefull and cozy.
The picture of your feet made me laugh. You almost can’t seem them because of your big belly. 🙂
If I remember right- you updated your xanga blog from the hospital when you had Davy. Right? And maybe Sethie too? I hope you do that again with Sarah. You’re such a great mom….the lioving atmosphere in your home is almost tangible. 🙂
How exciting! Seth is soo cute 🙂
so exciting!!!! Okay, I just love ( I stared and stared at it) the picture of you with your two babies 🙂 The hanging flower basket is beautiful and very calming, Sethie looks picture perfect in his water table! LOL I LOVE the french mani/pedi!!! You deserve that!
Your nails look so pretty! Loved the pics- especially your two babies, and Sethie enjoying his water table. We are finally getting hot weather. Over 70 yesterday!
a water table ~ how fun for a little one! I’ve never seen one before ~
So amazing to hear it is that hot. We are at about 68 degrees. I love that sweet pic of Seth looking up with those blue blue eyes. Babies & water are so cute. You and your baby belly are so cute. As are Seth and Caleb snuggled up. I am praying for you each day! So great to have those toes and fingers all pretty We have that owl book too…definitely a fav. I know that Seth and Sarah will be special friends being close together. Lots of love and hugs, Jenny
I love the crimson color of the dress you’re wearing in the first pictures!Oooohhh, you must have been so uncomfortable at this stage of pregnancy, with that kind of heat! We southerners are used to those temps (with humidity added), but when it is really hot we stay INSIDE our AIR CONDITIONED homes! Your house must have felt like a sauna without any form of air. We don’t have central air either, but we do have several window units, and, although I don’t care for how they look, they definitely keep things more comfortable!Your nails and the flowers are SO BEAUTIFUL!!! And so are you!I think Seth was born to be a big brother “early,” he has developed in mobility and other areas so very quickly! But, he will still be your baby BOY, even when Sarah comes along. My family arrives tonight, for a week, and I am so excited I can hardly contain myself! I have been baking like crazy and my freezers are full of food, and I’m serving basically a thanksgiving dinner tonight with roast turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and more…and homemade pies for dessert! (Did I mention being excited?!!) Can’t wait to hear YOUR news, any time now! Love you!
I love Seth playing in his water table; too cute! Continuing to keep you in prayer for your best delivery ever!{{{{{hugs}}}}}
Oh Shanda, What beautiful pictures of you all. I love the one of you with Seth on your lap. Priceless! He is so big now. When you bring the sweet new baby home he will have seemed to grown 2ft overnight. Isn’t that always the case
I love the water toys you have for him. I think my little guy would love something like that too
What an exciting time for you, waiting, praying, expecting….looking at all the beautiful pink clothes I bet Miss Grace is tickled pink and cannot wait to hold sweet Sarah~
with love and hugs~ Cinnamon
Hoping and praying all goes well for the birth! I hear ya on the no AC! same here, and it’s been 90’s quite a bit. but not being pregnant and that hot? wow, yes, can see why a bath would just be wonderful!
Precious precious!! I love your pics and your flowers are beautiful. I have been thinking of getting some for my little patio. I am so excited for you and your new little one coming. I understand how you feel about Seth, but all work out just fine. 🙂
Seth is so cute! He looks comfy in that water table, LOL:)
I love your sweet baby pictures! I know how you feel about Seth not being your baby anymore after your little girl comes. My fourth and fifth were only 15 months apart and I felt the same way. And there were some hard moments with 2 so close, but it was wonderful for the most part and my favorite spacing on all my children. They were so close as babies, napping together, and always learning new things together. It was almost easier on me because I was still in the swing of things. You are such a loving mom, I know Seth will still feel like your special little baby boy and he will be proud to become the big brother! He’ll probably drive you crazy wanting to hold his new little toy!!
pretty nails and toes~ and belly! 🙂 understand about no air inside. us too. I think I’d like a water table like Seth’s .. do you think they make ones a tad bigger. 😉 thinking of you as you get READY! so exciting~
I was going to write you an old fashioned *hand written* letter, but I’m not sure it will make it before Sarah makes her grand entrance. You will be kept in our prayers (the girls and I) as you go through this final week of life with only 6 children!You’ve come to my mind over and over these past 48 hours, and I feel privileged to pray Sarah into her wonderful family’s life! Blessings to you sweet friend, as you carry that wonderful life within in you, these final days! Bless you! xoxo – cher’P.S. Now go pack!
Thinking of you this evening and praying for you and your family as you get closer to your delivery day. How wonderful to see the love you have for your children as you cuddle with books together. We are getting warm weather here in Colorado and I have a new lab puppy I love to watch play in the water. If I lived closer to my grandkids I would really have fun! God bless!
I’m just now reading your post on Friday morning and I’m wondering if you’re laboring away somehwere? Bet your baby Sarah comes quickly….prayers and best wishes for an easy delivery and transition within your household to a newborn. Your pictures this time are just precious!
The picture of your sweet baby belly and your little guy on your lap baby me tear up…Praying for you as you make this transition along with the rest of your family. Enjoy every minute! What a blessing and what a loving family you have to treat you to special little things like pedis and manis! Blessings, Erin
Praying all goes well, Shanda.Looking forward to the first glimpse of Sarah.xo
Went to the Victoria and Albert museum (here in London where I live) today for their ‘Quilts’ exhibition. Many beautiful designs from 1700 onwards but I particularly thought of you when I saw the 18th century scripture quilt with the words angled in such a way that the patient in the adjoining hospital bed could read them. Best wishes.
I loved these pictures Shan! I love you. I’m curious-what is the tub that Seth is in? And what kind of gate is that with the screen?
Thinking of you, had to stop by to see if anyone had posted some news in your comments section..
Oh girl I don’t know how you stand this heat! I’ve been kind of hibernating this past week as it’s been in the upper 80s here. But then I’ve never done very well with heat. Hope you are staying comfortable enough. I remember well those feelings of losing your current baby. I know I will feel the same way when it’s time for me to have this one, even though my current baby is 4 1/2. 🙂
I’m wondering if Baby Sarah has made her appearance this weekend … God bless you all, my friend.
I can see I’m not the only one wondering if Miss Sarah has made her grand enternace into the world. Your are in my prayers 🙂