yes :)

Jan 302009
 
In case there’s anyone who still hasn’t caught on to my hints in the past few posts, yes, I’m pregnant. And if you missed the meaning of the picture, don’t worry, you’re not alone. First my dad hung up and said he’d check the email later after I told him I’d emailed them new pictures of Ruth and Pooh. So I called my mom’s cell with the excuse of Ruth wanting to say hi to her, too. After the comments on how cute the picture was, queries of where I’d gotten the little Pooh (it’s the Pooh with 1st birthday cupcake you’ve seen in other photos), and Mom wanting to know where I’d found the book (I grew up with one just like it, but found this at a thrift store ages ago), I finally asked if she saw the title on the book. At that point, as the title “The New Baby” was read aloud, the screaming commenced.

Yes, Lord willing, Ruth Ann is going to be a big sister come September. September 11, to be exact. And yes, you’re right, Ruth was due Pearl Harbor day, this child is due 9-11. But then, we’re all about due date trivia in this family, since Merritt and I were born on each other’s due dates. (Of course, the nurse’s little wheel said September 12, but she must have been using one for a leap year? I don’t know. But Ruth’s date was 40 weeks, Friday to Friday. And 40 weeks for this little one makes another Friday, September 11. I need to tell the nurse to check her calculator.)

So that would explain some things. Like why I have been so incredibly tired on top of all the sickness we’ve had. But we really did have the flu. I was grateful to get over the flu the same time Merritt did, because for a while there I was worried I already had bad morning sickness. But no, I fantasize about food these days. I was up at 11 p.m. the other night making myself eggflower soup because I was starving and craving Chinese food so bad I couldn’t fall asleep. (I’d really, really like to try Thai food sometime, because I have a feeling I would love it–just haven’t found a restaurant or recipes.) It would also explain that entire $5 foot-long Subway I ate when I was out with Kelly and her kiddoes (I am still bummed I forgot my camera). I was going to take the second half to Merritt but it was gone before I realized it. How my cousin LeAnn knew to enclose the rest of her box of Traditional Medicinals “Pregnancy Tea” in the box with Ruth’s Christmas present I don’t know. I guess it’s called women’s intuition, after she saw me holding her baby. Of course, I hear my brother had some male intuition of his own, when he heard that a little person Ruth’s age was going to be a big sister he was pretty sure he’d be hearing an announcement from his own sister soon. (We can take a vote, Will, but I think there are now enough flower girls and ring bearers for whenever they might be needed…)

Ruth is so cute. She’s always telling the baby night night or giving it loves. We’re going to have to work on giving the baby loves without lifting up Mommy’s shirt, though! Somebody’s going to be a wonderful big sister.

And no, we probably won’t find out if it’s going to be another girl or a boy. We like to be surprised. It’s not like we’d buy much either way. Of course, as to names, we’re thinking we’ll be original and if it’s a boy go with Rutherford Andrew. Okay, maybe not.

And yes, we’re talking about a remodel. “The plan” was for us to live in this, the most beautiful 770-square-foot shop you’ve ever seen, for five years until we could get another owner-builder permit and would have some money saved up to start on a house. Living in the shop to start off with made us able to get married and start out life without any debt. And let me tell you, when we were faced with $60,000 in medical bills two months later, we were really grateful we weren’t in any debt. (We were also very grateful to be part of Samaritan Ministries which took care of almost all of the bills. Young marrieds, don’t think for a minute just because you’re young and invincible that you don’t need any sort of insurance… But do check out Samaritan. It’s amazing.) And I do love my little house-shop. And there’s been plenty of room for all of us. I’m so very content. But when hubby started warming up to the idea of adding on a couple of bedrooms–future guest quarters when we do build our house–the idea of being able to put the little ones to bed in their own room has really started growing on me. Besides, I’m all about cheap, and it’s so much cheaper to add on two bedrooms than to build a house. The one, we have the money for right now. The other, we don’t, and it’s not the time to be going into debt, with our bad economy getting worse! So…hubby is making sketches and plans and we’re talking about a remodel this fall… The thing that makes me sad is that I would lose my big picture window. The thing that makes up for it is the wall of bookshelves which would be in its place. Not to mention the big window seat-like area (what do you call a window seat area without a seat?) my builder hubby has planned for our room.

So…that’s what’s new around here. We’re still buried under lots of snow and ice. But we’ve had blue skies and sunshine, which has been lovely. There are lots of trips and comings and goings in the next couple of months. We have a greenhouse to build (oh yes, did I tell you? our greenhouse collapsed on Christmas day, under all that snow), seeds to start, a store to get open in the spring, and yes, a baby to work on growing… We’ve got the growing part covered. My pants are already getting tight. And that scale at the doctor’s office must be broken. I was back down to my day-before-my-wedding weight. I guess that’s what I get for wearing my size 8 Lucky jeans on Christmas Eve (they fit more like a Levi’s 4). Bet I won’t fit them yet next Christmas Eve…

Ah, but it’s fun. I’ve missed having a little person growing inside me. My mother-in-law thought I was crazy when I told her a couple months ago that I missed being pregnant. My husband reminds me of that frequently, the way I’m feeling right now. But I love being a mommy. I love being an expectant mommy. I like my maternity clothes. I love my little girl and my amazing husband. I have so many reasons to count my blessings… And after all, being a mommy is all about being tired, right? As my friend Skye wrote the other day, “Motherhood is nothing if not sacrifice.”

Pumpkin Pie

Jan 262009
 
Dear Pumpkin,

After two months of up-all-night colds, coughs, fevers, and new teeth, you’re finally feeling well again.  For a while there we were wondering if we were ever going to get our old happy Pumpkin back.  But we need not have worried.  At 14 months she came back, better than ever.  And now that your throat finally feels better, you’ve taken on singing.  You love music.  All it takes is for us to turn on the radio or a CD and you’re swaying back and forth, dancing and singing with the music.  During the special music on Sunday you sang along the entire time, as well as singing through most of the songs and preaching from your book through the sermon!  You’re such a happy Pumpkin.  We’re so thankful for your cheery smile. 

You’re still just 18 pounds at 14 months old, but you are getting so tall.  We hadn’t been to our church in four weeks, since we were travelling for two Sundays and sick the next two.  You were so much taller in the play pen at church!  Everyone commented on how much you’ve grown.  You may not be chunky, but you’re getting to be so big and tall! 

We decided it was time to try just one nap a day, and that’s going much better.  If we could convince you to go to bed before 10 p.m., it would be even better still.  As it is you wake up about 5 a.m. wanting some nummers, then you go back to sleep until close to 9 a.m.  A couple hours’ afternoon nap and you’re good to go ’til late in the night.  We need to rearrange that schedule a bit.  Especially as your parents are ready for bed by 8 p.m.  You’ve become the night owl Daddy and Mommy used to be.  But you’re doing much better on one nap a day.  It makes Sundays and errand days so very much easier.  You also get to spend more time playing with Nanna when you go visit her, instead of just taking naps at her house.

In addition to a newly-discovered love of singing, you’ve taken to reading books like you were a book worm.  Mommy started reading you Eloise Wilkin’s Goodnight Book and Good Morning Book like I had when I was little.  You absolutely love them.  Before we had trouble with you sitting still long enough to read a book once through.  Now you want it read over and over and over again.  You shake and giggle with excitement at the suggestion of reading a book.  If you had your way, that’s what we would do all day long (other than eat raisins occasionally).  Your favorite to read on your own is Dear Zoo from Aunt Natalie Marie.  You love lifting the flaps and finding the animals underneath.  You’ll look at it for ages.  The footstool in front of our couch is your “podium”/table/counter.  You stand by it by the hour, reading, singing, and playing. 

You are doing so very well with going potty.  We put your dry diaper in the laundry at the end of the day like big people do a pair of underwear.  You wear a disposable at night, since we don’t get you up to go potty very often in the night.  But by the time summer’s here I think you’re going to be wearing big girl panties during the day and cloth diapers at night.  We are so very proud of you.  You’re such a big girl.  Even to the fact that you have to have a magazine to read while you’re on the pot!  You have read the most recent Sierra Trading Post sale catalog until it has only a few pages left.  They better hurry and send another one, or you’ll hardly be able to concentrate!  We’re still working on learning to go on the big girl toilet, though.  Your little potty is just way more comfortable and familiar.  But after you stayed dry all through church, the potluck, the church business meeting, and napping on the drive home, Mommy decided you’re going to have to learn to use a potty when we’re out and about!  I appreciate you holding it for so very long, but it can’t be good for you!

Your favorite toy at the moment is a stuffed ducky that was your daddy’s.  It wears your socks and shoes, it gets rides in your shape container, it gets loves, you read it books, it even got to go to church with us yesterday.  You are so sweet and loving, and give “loves” to everything from your ducky to your books…to the baby!

I first explained to you that Mommy had a baby in her tummy by taking your baby doll and putting it under my shirt, then telling you there was a baby in Mommy’s tummy and patting it, and then handing you your baby doll and having you give it loves.  Ever since you lift Mommy’s shirt up quite frequently, laying your cheek on my tummy and giving the baby loves.  You pat my tummy, and after giving it loves at night time you wave night night to it.  I think we’re going to have to work on learning to give the baby loves without lifting up Mommy’s shirt.  But it’s so very sweet to see you show love to your new sibling, even when you can barely understand that there is a little baby in there beneath my belly button. 

To tell your Grandpa and Grandma that there was another grandchild on the way, we took a picture of you and Pooh with your “babies” and the Eloise Wilkin book The New Baby.  You were so excited about having a book with paper pages that Mommy was letting you look at that you didn’t really care to hold the baby, and never would look at the camera!  But they loved it anyway.  (Once they actually checked their email and figured out that it wasn’t just another cute picture of Punkin!)  And for Papa’s birthday, you helped him open a birthday package that had a note inside saying “Announcing Grandchild #6.”  I know you’re going to be the best big sister ever.  And if the baby is even half as good as you, we’ll still be pretty spoiled as parents.

Mommy loves you so much, my little Pumpkin.  And no matter how many more children God gives to us, I know you’re always going to be my baby girl…  Thanks for being the bestest little girl two parents could ask for.

Lots of Love,

Mommy

national pj day

Jan 192009
 
I’m sure you all didn’t know this, but yesterday was national pajama day.  At least in our household!  Merritt’s fought this cold bug for so long, having a stuffy nose and cough, then it hit him full force, and he seems to have gotten the flu, as well.  I have a bit of it, but not every bone aching like he does.  So yes, we’re a merry crew around here!  And needless to say, we missed church for the fourth Sunday in a row.  We miss our little church family!

Actually, Merritt did finally get dressed about dinnertime to go borrow a movie from Katie.  We watched “Bourne Ultimatum” last night before we collapsed into bed (I surprised my hubby early in our marriage by actually liking the Bourne movies). 

Ru is actually the only one feeling like herself.  In fact, we forgot what a happy Pumpkin we had!  She seems to finally be feeling normal again, has a huge appetite (which is a big yay because she still only weighs 18.1 pounds!), and spends all her time singing and dancing and playing happily…  At least someone feels well these days.  She’s doing better about sleeping at night, but still usually wakes up crying several times a night.  I’m wondering if it’s that she’s just wet her diaper and that wakes her up…  But alas, how many times does a mom get a girl up to go potty in the middle of the night?  As it is, we have several trips to the potty from the crib before we can actually go to sleep.  You ask her if she has to go potty and she signs “please.”  The child is amazing.  And she knows exactly what we are talking about, whether it’s “bath” or “bye bye” or “cheese”, she gives an emphatic reaction to it.  She’s growing up way too fast…

I’m resting between loads of laundry, and trying to come up with what to make for dinner tonight.  Last night I made sweet and sour chicken with rice and broccoli, and it turned out to be my hottest sweet and sour sauce yet.  But surprisingly, our tummies liked it…  Still, I think I’ll go a bit more mild for tonight when my poor hubby gets home from working on the remodel with his dad.  One of these days, we’ll all be healthy.  It’s all about positive thinking, right?  Meanwhile, happy national pj day…

broken record

Jan 152009
 
I remember one winter when I pretty much had a constant cold.  Merritt wrote in one letter saying “I know I sound like a broken record by now but hope you feel better soon” (or something like that)…  Well, it’s pretty much sounding like a broken record around here by now, what with being sick most of December and now January too, but we still have colds…coughs…lack of sleep…etc.  Someday we’d like to sleep through the night again.  But I’m not going to let Ru cry endlessly during the night right now because it aggravates her cough terribly.  And co-sleeping?  I know some of you have great attachment to that (no pun intended).  But it’s not our cup of tea.  For us, co-sleeping means dividing a good night’s sleep by the number of people in the bed, and that’s how much rest you really get.  But this past month it has been the act of a desperately exhausted mother…who falls asleep before she remembers to take her Punkin’ back to bed…and then is too exhausted to get back up.  Of course, by the time I wake up again and get Ru in her own bed, sound asleep, then my cough starts, and Merritt and I don’t get any more sleep for a while regardless of the fact that we have the bed to ourselves.

But, that’s what motherhood is all about, right?  And that precious little head snuggled against you makes up for all the lack of sleep.  I’m just d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g.  My desk is piled high.  There are many Christmas thank you notes to be written.  And I bought TurboTax yesterday which means I need to do our taxes (is it just me or does that handy dandy piece of software go up in price every year?  I heard something on the radio about a free version online, and methinks I’m going to check that out before I open this package).  Plus there’s a stack of dishes to do as soon as Ru wakes up.  I’m seriously contemplating changing her nap schedule to one nap per day, in hopes that she’ll go to bed earlier and sleep better.  But when she climbs up to my knee at 11 a.m. with a look that says “please Mommy put me to bed”, what is one to do?

My hubby, exhausted himself, is so good to me, though…  In preparation for a visit from his grandma, we were trying to clean the house a bit.  Monday morning he came home with a dozen beautiful roses, then proceeded to move everything and wet mop the entire kitchen, then clean the bathroom floor on his hands and knees, and vaccuum the living room.  I did the dishes with Punkin’ clinging to my legs (she was worried about her house being rearranged, all the furniture was in the living room!), then was able to dust while she napped that afternoon.  Thanks to my dear husband, the house was bright and clean for Grandma Billie Ruth, Uncle Todd, Mason, and Merritt’s folks to come over for double chocolate peppermint cookies (with chocolate chips and M&M’s) and egg nog on Tuesday.  It was a fun, though very brief, visit with them.  Yesterday we went to the airport to pick up Marlys, who had been visiting her “friend”–whom she went to see after joining us at Grandpa and Grandma Mann’s for a while.  Grandma and Todd go home today, and Uncle Bill gets back from an extended visit to his daughter’s in Texas.  It’s been quite the week for airport runs!

So that’s what’s new around here…  If you think of us, you can pray that we get healthy and get some sleep (which are probably rather dependent on each other).  More posts about all our travels coming soon.  After I get through this stack and have a stab at doing our taxes.  Not to mention getting a bit more sleep.

family…

Jan 122009
 

Our family on New Year’s Eve


The whole entire Brink clan –
my mom’s parents with my mom’s brother and his family and my mom and her family


Four generations: me Gretchen, my daughter Ruth Ann, my mom Sara, my maternal grandmother Jessica

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we made it…

Jan 122009
 
Friday, January 9th

We’re home.  Though much the worse for wear! 

We made all our flights, despite inclement weather, being stuck in parking lots, and very long lines.  Thanks for all your prayers! 

But we caught the traditional family “bug”, and Ruth and I have bad coughs…  More soon when we’re back among the land of the living. 

(And to those who I’ve been meaning to call–aka Ash and Beana–thinking of you, just have no voice to talk!!  TTYS.)

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