The Grant Gang Adventures

Thursday, January 16, 2014

26 weeks with our Rhema

Wow I cannot believe we are only 3.5 months away from meeting this little boy or girl!

Went to the doc for a regular check up today where i did the glucose test. If I fail I will get a call, if I pass I won't get a call at all :)

Heartbeat: 150s and constantly kicking the Doppler :)

Weight: Perfectly on track

BP: 112/68

Fundal Height: Measuring 27 weeks, which is awesome. My other two were always a week or two behind so maybe I will go on my own? Odds are not in my favor though and I do not have my hopes up!

Size: Rhema is about the size of a scallion head to feet

Movement: ALL the time! This one seems to flip more than kick. Rhema actually moves a lot like Addison did; moves like crazy until someone touches my stomach.

How's big sis and bro: Addison has entire conversations with Rhema. Sometimes I don't even know what she's talking about. She still refuses to acknowledge it could be a boy! She also loves to feel the baby kick, which is a lot. Caleb loves to hug and kiss on my stomach but he is still clueless to this whole thing.

How's mommy: I feeling awesome and loving every minute! I think I am more excited than ever!!! I love being pregnant.

Prayer: Thank you, thank you, thank you for this awesome privileged!! Please prepare us as we await the arrival of Rhema. Guide Matthew and I so that we are leading this precious little to YOU. Praise you for keeping Rhema and myself healthy--THANK YOU!

Some pictures of the kids loving on Rhema; one thing I know, this baby will by SO LOVED by Addison and Caleb! I can see why Michelle Duggar has so many children--what a joy! A challenge but a joy (dont worry, I wont be having that many kids, HAHA)

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Confessions of a stay at home mom: Do I shine?

Matthew 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

As I read this scripture this morning I started to ask myself a few things: do I let my light shine so others can see Christ in me? Do my children see my light? Is it even bright enough for anyone to see? And I am not talking about, do people know I love god because I go to church or say it with my mouth. Anyone can do that!!!! A monkey can do that. I am talking about, does MY LIFE show Christ is the center? Do my actions (like the scripture talks about) bring him glory? Those last two things a monkey can't do.

I get so caught up in life. Sometimes it's the loveliness of life I am caught up in. Sometimes it's the gross parts I get caught up in. Either way I find myself waiting for the next "thing". Even if the next "thing" is only Friday--when I finally have a little help at "work". I wait for the next "thing" so much that I sometimes forget to tend to my light, that is my spiritual life. So I asked myself this morning, how can I make my life shine more? Give more? Do more? Love more?

First I have to pause more. I have to stop beings so busy waiting for the the next thing. I have to take captive every moment! Those quiet moments is ALWAYS when I hear The Father quietly telling me how to shine!

Second I have to listen more. Not only to my Heavenly Father but everyone around me. I can't possibly be a light to others and minister to them if I don't shut up. This is hard for me, I AM CHATTY! I can only shine if I listen to the needs of others, including my three loves!

Third, I have to give and serve. I must serve more. Serving more and listening more go hand and hand for me. I have to listen better to hear better what others need. Christ came to serve. This is the best way for me to shine for him--serve like him. My husband is so good at this.

I often wonder if people can see Christ in me. Do I exude his love and peace? Yikes. That's a scary question. My hearts desire is shine for him in all things. I want it to be evident to anyone who sees me or knows me---He is in my life.

Work in progress. Work in progress.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Confessions of a stay at home mom: looking in the mirror

I had a moment today. One of those moment you wish you could call out "do over" or "take two". My three year old was being naughty in a way unusual her her. I can only assume she was tired since it was nap time. She completely lost it and had a total meltdown downstairs. No big deal right? Send her straight to bed? Well all I could think about was....a) how irritated I was by this uncharacteristic behavior, b) she was going to wake up her brother who had just fallen asleep and c) SHE WAS SO LOUD!!! I didn't want her running past his room screaming. I sat her in timeout in the bathroom downstairs and it just got worse. She got louder. I got more irritated. I threatened. I was mean. It's not important how it all went down but here is what I realized.....As I sternly spouted off things like "hush now" and "if you don't stop this fit then (insert lost privilege)" she got more worked up. (Ignoring her is what I normally do but I way bed her to be quiet so we could GO TO BED).

Then. Amidst all the drama it hit me, I was looking in the mirror. She was being me but at the maturity of a three year old. Sigh. I was upset. So was she.

She's my guinea pig. My first. Everything is new with her. Everything is trial and error. I am realizing that, this is quite novel so go with me, she's three. She. Is. Three. I know my little boy is two. I know what two looks like. I have been there! What is tricky is, she has the intellect and understanding of at least a five year old. I am not boasting. It's real and you agree if you know her. The trick is, her emotional capacity is on track. There is a gap. Huge. I see a five year old. Not a three year old. I expect a five year old. Not a three year old. I see her intelligence more often than her emotional capacity so I treat her like a five year old. It's not fair.

I must repeat that to myself in these "do over" circumstances---she is three, she is three, not five!! My expectations of that sweet girl are so high and after talking to several other veteran moms I relieved to know I am not alone. Many of those moms shared they forgot (and still forget) how old their oldest is.

Next time I look at Addison and see a mirror, I hope it's not a "do over" moment because I messed up (or had an epiphany). I hope it's because it's one of those moments you want to relive over and over and over because of it's sweetness! We have plenty of those but, as a friend recently said in her blog--people look at the train wreck--so today this blog was about the wreck :)