7 Quick Takes Friday

1.  How the HECK is it Friday again???  How is it possible that it seems the days are going faster and faster?  Sheesh. 

2.  New Baby update

Yesterday I had my 16.5 week midwife appt.  We discussed a few things and even commented on how I'd only gained 2 lbs this pregnancy (thank GOD because I've certainly kept a lot of the "Ava baby weight" and was concerned I was going to gain like I did with her.  I had a head start BEFORE a person began growing inside me!) 

I'm sure this balance in weight gain is due to me still breastfeeding too and burning extra calories with that.  Everything was going really well until she went to listen to the heartbeat of the baby... and nothing.  I tried to relax.  Then it seemed like forever was going by.  I was starting to get nervous.  After all, I haven't really felt super "pregnant"... and I had this dream the other night that I lost the baby... then a heartbeat!  Yay!  And she said, "No... that's yours."  ...she was still trying to get it. 

... ... (trying not to be nervous)

Then finally!  The heartbeat!!!!  Loud and strong and fast.  *Phew!*  The baby was very low, so a little tough to find, but thanks be to God.  So happy to hear that thumpa thumpa.  Keep praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy.  Thanks!

3.  Laundry... blech

I've been on a laundry strike.  It's not intentional and I'm not sure if this ever happens to you, but I just DON'T want to do anymore laundry.  I am TOTALLY unmotivated.  I have to go down to the basement and have SO been avoiding it.  I mean... we all have things to wear (well, Shaun & Ava mostly, I've been scraping), but I just... can't... bring... myself... to do it!  By the time she goes to bed, I'm like, ok... laundry? ...uh, tomorrow. 

I figure if I confess my utter failure in the "homemaker" department, I may just head down the stairs from embarrassment and just do the stinking laundry.

I did tell my husband "Laundry-it's not just for wives and pregnant ladies anymore!"  And he will take a load out of the wash and throw it in the dryer if I ask.  He will even carry the baskets down the stairs if I ask.  But he swears he doesn't know how to do it anymore!  I guess there's a whole routine I do and I think it's his little way of avoiding it to not learn how to do it.  I can't really blame him.  He works hard all day to pay for the detergent... the least I could do is DO the laundry.  And in his defense, he does NOT complain if I don't do it... at all.  Ok... I'll do it... tomorrow.

...sheesh, that sounded like St. Augustine with his "pre-saint prayers": "Lord make me a Saint... but not today"  "Lord make me chaste... but not yet"  Gotta love the "real-ness" of that Saint.  Augustine, you would understand my laundry-hate right now wouldn't you? 

Here's the thing, though.  I used to LOVE to do laundry.  I didn't have a washer and dryer for years, so all growing up (after the age of 12) practically, I remember walking down the streets with my Mom with full baskets (when we didn't have a car) to the laundromat and doing it there.  When I was a young twenty something, my one room studio didn't have laundry either, so I either went to the mat OR I'd benifit from the generosity of some great friends who'd let me do it at their house.  I traded the washer-dryer use for housecleaning or babysitting, depending on the friend. 

Then I got married... and there it was... my very own washer and dryer.  *cue glorious music!*

It didn't matter that they were in the basement... because they were mine all mine (and I wasn't pregnant ...and tired ...and fat at that time).  SOooo... I did laundry all the time.  Even when I didn't need to I'd find something to wash and tell myself it was dirtier than it actually was.  Shaun loved this.  And so did I because I knew it was a simple way to make his life easier and show him I loved him and loved taking care of him and loved being his wife.  (I still feel this way about him... I just hate laundry right now)

I was SO adept at laundry that upon attending a recent wedding, I ran into an old acquaintance who lived out of state whom I hadn't seen for a few years.  In the midst of our "catching up" she mentioned, "You know what I always remembered about you?" "What?" I asked (never expecting the answer coming next) "I always remember how quickly and neatly you folded laundry at *****'s house"! 

"Really?  THAT'S what you most remember about me?"  I thought to myself.  To her I probably laughed a little and said something like "Ha that's so funny!".  I guess when I would visit a friend who neighbored her and she would visit at the same time, I'd be helping her fold laundry!  I don't recall this, but it makes sense as she had lots of kids=lots of laundry and when I'd visit, I'd pitch in... evidently enough to make that be the most prominent memory of me in this woman's mind.  WHAT would she think to hear that I'd neglected my gift so?  WHAT would she say?  The thought of her shock sort of makes me snicker a bit.

*sigh*  But back to Augustine.  In thinking about how he "used" to pray for the grace to change "but not yet", I know this is NO way to grow in holiness... so I'm just going to suck it up, *sigh* get off the computer, march down the stairs and throw a load in. 

*ok, I'm BACK* phew... I feel better now (but not holier, because I probably lost all my merit venting across the blogosphere and then proclaiming my great deed to all of you who.probably.can't.believe.this.is.such.a.big.deal.to.me. ...I know, I know... I have a lot to learn.

*I have to make a note that after I wrote this post last night thinking I was all "ahead of the game" for once... (and did start doing laundry) Shaun actually came home this morning and did TWO loads of laundry. I had yet to "post" and he walked up the stairs from the basement as I was sleepily making his lunch with basket in hand and smirked "And YOU thought I didn't know how to do the laundry!"... just goes to show you... what do I know? BUT, I did quip back, "Well... perhaps this laundry strike WORKED!"

4.  Birthday Party Ideas

On another note, I've been trying to figure out what to do for Ava's 1st birthday party.  I'm honestly a TERRIBLE planner and most often "fly by the seat of my pants" and tend to be more spontaneous with things.  I am actually capable of planning, but don't usually think of it till it's too late.  But it's her FIRST birthday!  And I know she won't remember it, but I'll be sure that plenty of photos are taken to remind her of it enough to make her think she remembers! 

I've been thinking of doing a "Rainbow themed party" and was open to lots of ideas for this... including food and things to make her 1st birthday memorable/special for her when she's older. 

Some decorative things I "might" (might is the operative word here) do are the following:

5.  Yarn string balloons

Aren't these COOL???  I like that you can save them from year to year and put them up for birthdays and that they're cheap to make (that's a must!)  I may not have the time to do these next year when I'm chasing after a 2 year old with a 7mo old in my arms, so I figure I'll do the crafting now.

6.  Rainbow Pot Centerpieces

Again, easy and inexpensive, but so pretty down a colorful table runner!

7.  Inexpensive Paper Decorations

Though this would require someone with a sewing machine (uh... Mum?) to stich the papers together.  Then they spin and hang straight with a simple fishing weight on the bottom.  Pretty, huh?  (I'm sure Shaun's going to love me turning the house into looking like a preschool classroom on orientation night... well, whadya expect?  He married a preschool teacher)

Ava may not remember this day when she's older, but she loves colors and I want to make it look vibrant and beautiful on her special day.  We'll see what I have time to do, but these are just a few ideas.

8.  (because I sort of gipped you on #1... no comment on how I totally long winded you with my rant on #3)

And I can't wait to take a picture with her that looks something like THIS:

We'll see how she does with that!