• I just received free albums from Kari Jobe & Joel Ruge (promo items for churches).  The bum deal is I just BOUGHT Kari Jobe’s album.  Glad I supported her.  Sad I spent money where I didn’t need to.
• I love that my cutie patootie hubby, Brian, is blogging and twittering a lot more than before.  I like sharing this world with him.
• Chance has a ridiculously large vocabulary for being 3, but he still says a few things incorrectly and I think it’s WAY to cute to correct him just yet.  Here are just 4 of his words (I’ll write a whole post about it someday): 

1. “cric-crocs” = flip flops
2. “peeks” = keeps
3. “perfeck” = perfect
4. “liveberry” = library

• Paxton is getting some seriously chubby thighs and I just LOVE that.  He also rarely cries, and you can always stop his crying just by singing to him.  When he smiles, my whole world melts for him.
• At this time last year, I would have NEVER thought I’d life, for me, would look the way it does today.
• How is it possible to just stop loving someone you said you would always love?
• Life as a stay-at-home Mom can get really lonely if I’m not careful.
• Good:  The weather is crazy beautiful right now in Portland.  Bad:  That means allergies are going to attack me soon.  Boooo!!!
• We got rid of cable a month ago… I don’t think I’ve even missed it.
• Looking at a possible new home.  I’ll update soon… if there’s anything to update.  
• I’m so sick of moving!!!
• We are going on our annual beach trip with our closest friends in two weeks.  I can’t wait ‘cuz I miss having THOSE friends around.
• In THREE weeks, Matt, Brian and I (with Paxton in tow) will be in Florida for a week for the Exponential Conference.  This is exciting because I haven’t been to a conference in a few years AND this will be the first NON-worship or Youth Ministry conference I’ve attended.  This will be for church planters.  I *heart* learning.
• I love lemons.
• I had a dream that I was in a home that was disorganized and full of cats.  I woke up sweaty and so tense, it took me 10 full minutes till I could move again.
• The memory foam pad we got for our old bed helps us A LOT… but I still think we need a new bed.
• It’s time for Chance to move out of his toddler bed and it’s time for us to find a big boy bed for him.  Anyone getting rid of a twin bed?  Bunk beds maybe?
• I still have a box of thin mints in my freezer

Quick!!!  

Tell me the first three things in your head RIGHT NOW!

• Paxton is 4 weeks old today, and will be a month old in 2 days.  What the…
• When he found out we were looking to purchase our next home, our jerk landlord had the nerve to say, “I’d like for you guys to buy my house.” after all the hell he put us through.  Um… NO!
• I haven’t gone to see a movie in a theatre in months.  I think I’ve forgotten they exist.
• It’s weird to talk to a someone who was once your closest friend and feel like you now don’t know ‘em at all.  It’s disheartening. 
• My head is heavy.  I think my hair weighs 3 pounds.  I wonder if I can weigh it somewhere.
• We’ve seen a dozen or so houses now.  I feel like we have a lot of great options
• I received a really nice email from my old boss/pastor today.  It was a nice surprise.
• I twitter a LOT!
• I’m excited (but a bit anxious) about moving next week into our interim house.  I really like my life in order (I know… I have issues).  I can’t believe it’s next weekend.
• No more baby blues for me.  I’m relieved to know I’m not “progressing” into PPD.
• Thinking about selling one of my guitars ‘cuz some extra money would be nice… but it’s like parting with one of my kids.
• I finalized the service plans for our Christmas Eve Service today.  I feel a bit behind in work and I don’t see myself “catching up” to where I’d like to be any time in the next month.
• Totally looking forward to our family vacation at Eagle Crest at the end of December/beginning of January.  We’re gonna teach Chance how to ski (we being Brian… I don’t ski, I snowboard).
• I’m bored with the way my blogsite looks… but I don’t have time or energy to make it look any different.  *sigh*
• James 2 slays me every time I read it.  One day I won’t be a sinner anymore… when I’m in heaven.
• Our neighbor, Eric, just brought dinner by, offered to help us move next weekend and said he’d really miss us when we’re gone.  I hope we still keep in touch with them after we move.
• I’m STILL dealing with Verizon three days later on the move order THEY messed up on.  UGH!  I feel a “Dear Verizon” post coming on.
• My 6-week postpartum appointment is in two weeks.  I’m hoping they tell me that I can work out by then.
• How horrible is it that I kinda like when Chance is feeling a bit under the weather?  It’s the only time he likes to cuddle.

Paxton’s awake now… so it’s time to end this post.

Does that make sense?

My brain – apparently the only good thing I have left going for me – and that’s negotiable, is on overload… so I thought I’d puke some of it out here in order of what pops into my head.  Here goes:

• I’m a bit pissed that I just ordered BRAND NEW mailing address labels for a house we’ll only be in for another month of so.  What a waste of money!
• I’m at a loss with what to have packed up first.  We’re still having Thanksgiving here, so I don’t want the house totally sterile.
• One of my BFF’s, Alli, is coming to help pack for a couple of hours today.  She’s more organized and clean than I am so I’m feeling SUPER excited about this EVENT right now.  Yes… it’s an “event” for me.
• My Mom is amazing!  She’s been here for 10 days (she’s going home today) and has been the most amazing help, cook, laundry maintainer, comforter, encourager and mother to me.  She and I didn’t always have the best relationship while I was growing up, but I feel like we’re now getting to a place where our relationship can really blossom.  That makes me SO happy.
• I’m glad Brian doesn’t freak out or take it personally when I start crying randomly.
• I am on super alert regarding Postpartum Depression vs. Baby Blues.  I’m confident I’m not suffering from PPD… but I definitely have some mild Baby Blues issues.
• My body hurts because I quit taking all drugs and are ONLY on all natural remedies now.  I’m hoping this will level out my hormones and I can REALLY start to heal my body.
• My C-Section incision looks really good.  Better than the first one.
• I’ve already lost 75% of my pregnancy weight within the first week.  I owe it all to nursing.  WORD!
• I can’t wait to start working out again.  I’m feeling pretty slummy having to sit around all the time.
• No amount of eye cream is helping my eyes right now.
• I am completely humbled and thankful at how the church body has reacted in our time of crisis.  My prayer is that one day I can be as gracious and generous as some of these Christ followers.
• I’m relieved to have a remedy to our immediate housing needs.
• I love my Church and I love my Pastor!
• We’re going to see a potential house purchase today.  These trips wear me out.  Probably because I’m supposed to be taking it easy right now.
• I should take a shower today.
• My mother-in-law will be here soon.  I can’t wait!  She’s SO awesome!  I’m so fortunate to have in-laws I actually love and who actually love me as their own.
• There are leaves all over our lawn.  We were gonna rake… but now… FORGET IT!  Brian was thinking about raking and sending our landlords the bill.  LOL!
• Paxton slept 6 hours straight last night.  We all feel good this morning.
• Chance is the most amazing big brother!  How did we get so lucky in the children department?
• I sent Brian and Chance off to church this morning without me and Pax.  It’s a little weird not being at church.
• I hope Janet and Mike Fraser make it by the house today.  They make me happy.
• We took newborn photos with Kimberly yesterday.  I’m pretty sure we’re going to create ONE card that will be the: baby announcement, Christmas card and “we’ve moved” announcement.  That will save on postage.
• Paxton is a very easy going baby model.
• Brian and Chance are home now.  I’m gonna go shower and try to empty the whirling barrel of nonsense in my head.

• I’ve already packed our hospital bag and washed all the baby’s bedding… but I sort of want to unpack and RE-pack as well as re-wash the baby’s bedding.  I get that I’m nesting… but isn’t that just a bit ridiculous?
• My booty hurts from bed-resting.
• Brian and Chance are singing in the bathroom together right now and it’s just about the cutest thing in the world.
• A Chevron lost my “fill-er-up” business today because they wouldn’t take my cash from my car.  They demanded that I get out of my car with my 50 pound belly and stand INSIDE the whole time they were pumping gas AND wouldn’t start pumping it till I was in the store.  So I drove away and went to another gas station.
• I’m experiencing a ridiculous amount of contractions today.
• Hormones are stupid:  one minute, I’m sillier than the Trix rabbit and the next minute I want to cry till my face is as puffy as my belly.
• Chance keeps building me airplanes and trucks out of legos because he says it will make my belly not hurt.  I just tell him it’s working.
• Ever feel like a part of you has died?  It could be good or bad.
• I’m looking forward to all the meals I won’t have to cook after we have Paxton.  Thanks, Faye!!!
• I LOVE Hummus.
• I can’t wait for all this negative campaigning to stop!  It makes me sad.
• Praying Backwards on www.ragamuffinsoul.com now!!!

• I can reach my toes because all I do during “bedrest” is surf the net and stretch.
• I think all the comments about how I “do” bedrest is pretty funny… mostly because everyone’s right.  However… I really HAVE been on my backside for the majority of the last two weeks and have noticed a little relief in the last couple of days.
• My nails are pretty long for me right now.  And I don’t have to cut them because I won’t be playing guitar or keys for a few months.  This is only a big deal to me because I’m a nail biter and usually have acrylics but quit a couple months ago to save money.  
• For the rest of my life, one of my kids will have the same birthday as Kurt Brandemihl. Will Kurt be in my thoughts for the rest of my life?  Oh dear LORD, save me!
• I have broken blood vessels on both sides of my thighs due to the apparent OVERLOAD of weight my body presses onto them at night.  I’d post pictures, but I think that’s a bit inappropriate.
• For the next four days, when someone asks me, “When are you due?”, I’m gonna reply, “Due for what?” then take a picture of them during the awkward moment.
• I’m gonna ask my nurse if I can keep all my staples from the C-Section when she takes them out this time so I can mail them to closest friends in case they want to clone my DNA for anything important…
• There are 8 hats on the hooks of my entryway right now belonging to Brian and Chance.  Really… do they REALLY need that many hats in the entryway?
• I wish I could be Brooke Fraser for a month because she writes better songs than I do… but mostly because I want to have an Australian accent… and she’s on Wikipedia.
• Why aren’t I nervous about the birth of this second child?  Should I be?
• I hate vertical blinds.  Almost all the blinds in my house are vertical.
• I have to pee.  Be right back.
• I’m back.
• When will Chance finally poop in the toilet?
• Halloween was two days ago and Chance has only had 2 pieces of candy from his trick-or-treat stash.  He hasn’t even asked.  Greatest kid EVER!!!
• I’m a sideways camel:

• I can’t believe Chance is 3 years old.  Where did the time go?
• Today, my calendar says I’m 29 weeks and 5 days pregnant (if you count November 15th being my due date)… but I’m REALLY 30 weeks and 6 days pregnant (since I have a scheduled C-Section on the 7th).
• My hair won’t hold color as well as it usually does.  My hair stylist says it may be because I’m pregnant.
• Speaking of pregnant – today was my glucose test appointment.  I get the results in a couple of days, but I weigh 146 lbs (that’s 26 lbs more than “normal” but 8 lbs less than the same time last time being preggo with Chance) and my belly measures bigger than last time too.  So, I weigh less, but the baby is bigger.  GREAT!
• We took Chance along to thank our Doctor, Tim Stewart, for taking him out of mommy’s tummy 3 years ago.  Cute.
• Matt and I ordered my new MacBook Pro today in our service planning meeting.  I am SOOO excited for my new laptop!!!  No longer will I be confined to our home office.
• My back pretty much hurts all the time, non-stop, but I only have 10 more weeks so I try not to complain.
• My awesome husband got pedicures together AND he took me shopping for new preggo clothes (though I made sure I could still wear them after I had the baby too) this past weekend.  He actually WENT shopping with me, which hasn’t happened in FOREVER.  I feel like a new woman… sort of.
• I just scheduled our newborn photo shoot with Kimberly for November.  She is SOOO good.  I am so excited, I’m pretty unsure of what to do with myself.
• I really miss my friends and team members at Sunset Pres.
• Pre-school starts in 8 days for Chance… but tomorrow is our first meeting with his teacher.
• Brian and I are finally narrowing down our list of baby names, though we can’t seem to agree strongly on any of them.
• I really can’t believe how long the waiting line is to adopt overseas right now.  I’m a bit upset because children need to be home and times a wastin’.
• We still haven’t started a baby journal for baby #2.  We started one for Chance the first month we found out we were pregnant.
• I know most people don’t like their in-laws, but I think mine are ridiculously AWESOME! I love that I can sit down with either of them and talk, from the heart, for hours, totally being my authentic self and know they love me unconditionally as their own.  I want to be THAT kind of in-law to my daughter-in-laws one day.  Is that weird?
• Here’s a list of things I can’t wait to do once I have this baby:

1. Go hiking
2. Play the guitar without the “slope”
3. Go snowboarding
4. Work out & run
5. Go camping
6. Wakeboard
7. Breathe a deep breath again

• Here’s a picture of me at 29 weeks and 5 days (and yes, that’s one of the cute new shirts I got this weekend – it’s organic cotton, if you care):

And there you go.

Comment away!