Busy-ness; gratefulness

So much has happened since the last time I was really able to blog (work and other demands proved way too demanding these last few weeks). I'm not even sure how to cover it all, so I'll try to do it in sections.

1. First things first: Lester and I found out we are having a GIRL!!

This really deserves its own post, so I will come back and revisit all my thoughts on having a girl (and believe me, there are a LOT) some time later, when I can give this the time it deserves.
The short of it, though? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! and also OMG!!!

2. My baby sister got MARRIED!! Tahira is now Mrs. Reggie Holmes! I still can't believe it.

Part of the reason why I was too busy to blog is because I was basically planning her wedding for her. I volunteered to do it, and I enjoyed it, but it was a lot of work and it took up a lot of my evenings. But...I'm so glad I did, because the day turned out so beautifully, and she was so happy! And doesn't she look gorgeous? Congratulations to my little sister, who deserves so much happiness! I love you so much.

And here's the kicker: She's pregnant, too!! Due in March! So we'll be having babies back-to-back. We think she's having a boy. I'll let you know if I'm right.

3. Michelle had a birthday, and "the boys" gave her a coffee mug (she drinks a lot of coffee), and a smock that my friend Renee made for me, using fabric and a pattern I picked out. Michelle loved it! It has pockets all across the bottom so she can throw bottles, toys, stray Cheerios, etc. in them as she's going throughout the day. And it completely covers her front, so she won't ruin her clothes while taking care of 2 (soon to be 3) babies.

Isn't it too cute? She loves teal and cupcakes, so I picked this pattern out just for her. She loves it so much that she says she wants my friend to make her another one that's less cute, so she won't be loathe to get milk and fingerpaints and baby puke all over it. I told her, Michelle, it's a smock. It's supposed to get milk and fingerpaints and baby puke all over it.

4. I took the boys to a pumpkin patch by myself and it was a big mistake. The pumpkin patch itself was a great idea, but the "by myself" part was dumb with a capital STUPID. Also, I forgot the stroller at home, taking dumb-with-a-capital-stupid to the new height of WTF-was-I-thinking??
Dean was in the stinkiest mood I think I have ever seen him and he wanted me to hold him three-quarters of the time we were there, despite all the children, the fun things to do and see, and the general awesomeness of the farm.
(Have I mentioned that I am 5 months pregnant and Dean weighs a zillion pounds? Please remember this when I am complaining about back problems as an old lady).
And I need to point out again for emphasis that I did NOT have a stroller. I'll let you imagine what that meant.

Somehow, I have no idea how, I managed to get a couple of fairly decent pictures.

Cary was ENTRANCED by the tractors which were pulling folks who paid extra for hayrides (We're a little young, I think, for those. Maybe next year). He must've said "truck!" 8,001 times.


Surprisingly, Dean actually enjoyed feeding the goats grass! He was afraid of the goats at the zoo, so it could be that the fence between them at the pumpkin farm made him feel more comfortable. Also, Dean LOVES to eat, so it could be that he thought he and the goats were kindred spirits.


You can't tell from Dean and Cary's non-smiling faces (seriously, why can't I EVER get a picture a my children smiling? Why? Why? WHY?!) but the boys had a ball in the pumpkin patch, picking up little toddler-sized pumpkins and lining them up.

This is my attempt at "setting up" a shot. Sigh.


And here's Dean, who looks less-than-thrilled with his pumpkin choice, but honestly, this and the goats were the only things he would tolerate NOT being in my arms for.


At the farm, I met up with my friend Stacey and her son Hugo, and my friend David and his wife Stephanie and their son Dylan. They were SO much help to me, I can't even tell you. They let me use their strollers while their (much more agreeable children) wandered around smiling and giggling. They held Cary's hand while we walked, to try to prevent him from wandering off to various places. Then, they rounded up Cary from the various places he wandered off to. They offered snacks and love to my screaming, snotting Deanie (to no avail). They didn't make me feel like the world's worst mother for forgetting the stroller at a friggin' gazillion-acre farm, and they didn't seem to be irritated by Dean's rotten attitude.
I must say, I love my friends!

5. In between all these other things:

• I went to a girls' dinner at my friend Shreya's house, and stuffed myself silly with her husband's fantastic cooking!
• I finished a ton of heavy-hitter projects at work.
• I turned in waiting list applications for Cary and Dean at the pre-school around the corner that Lester and I like (pray for us folks. It's a small class and a long waiting list).
• I culled my drawers of summer clothes and clothes I will likely never, ever fit again. I bought more maternity clothes (booo!)
• I thought Lester and I had decided on a name for our baby girl, but now I'm really not so sure.
• I cooked and cleaned and grocery shopped and picked up toys and bathed babies and read 1 million stories and attempted to discipline my maniac children (not going so well, people) and fell asleep at night so exhausted, I can't even tell you.
• I completely lost control of my blood sugars, so now I'm on new meds that make me have outrageous sugar lows. One night I woke up and could barely move, I was so weak. Lester had to run and get me orange juice and cereal and then turkey meatballs (for the protein). The doctors are threatening to put me on insulin, but I am really nervous about that. So pray for me some more, folks, that I can get this right.

All in all, it's been an incredibly busy time, but I'm not complaining. I've been very happily busy. And I'm grateful to God that I have friends, family, a good job and people to care for -- all taking up my time.

(But....ummm God, if it's not too much trouble, could you squeeze a nap in for me sometime soon? Thanks!)