Patience is a virtue . . .

. . . I don't have.  I'm just so excited to meet our daughter (a reduction in kicks to the ribs and pelvis would be nice too)!  Isn't it funny that we are rarely content with the present moment?  We are always working toward something or waiting for something to happen.  Working to graduate, working to advance in a job, if you're single you want to be married, once married you want kids, if you have one the question becomes, when are you having another.  Wanting the next thing . . .  Why can't we be content in the moment?  I should be thrilled to lay around, watch movies, read books, play games, and chat on the phone.  I KNOW these are all going to be luxuries that won't be so easy to do once Monica does arrive.  The past couple days I've been contemplating how much of this free time I'm actually wasting.  Instead of focusing on the things of this world, I'm going to try to focus on eternity, contemplating and being with our Lord more.  Working toward our eternal home feels like a better goal than wondering if every random pain is a contraction.  By the way, I said "we" throughout this post in blind hope that others struggle with staying in the moment and not just me.  :o)

Happy Anniversary!

Dearest Husband,

Everyday you show me what unconditional, sacrificial love looks and feels like.  Thank you for choosing to love and serve me and our family on this journey together toward our heavenly home.  Two years ago today was such a special day and everyday since has been better because we are together.  Thank you for the gift of children who we will meet very soon!  I look forward to this new adventure shared with you.

In gratitude and love,

Your Wife

It worked out that Tony has the day off!  We are celebrating our anniversary with massages (which has become a tradition since we have done it twice), dinner at the Melting Pot and a movie.  Our wedding day and 1st anniversary were 60 degrees and sunny (yes, in Seattle).  We broke that tradition this year being that it is 18 degrees and snowing.

Monica's Room

So with 12(ish) days to go the room is ready, the clothes are washed, the bags are packed, the car seat is installed, the house is clean (umm, kinda), and the freezer is full.  See Monica's room below.  You know you're ridiculously nuts when you explain to your unborn child just how lucky they are to be spoiled.  Especially when you're the one doing the spoiling.  I'm already breaking those "I'll never . . ." statements and thoughts I've made.  I'm tasting my foot in my mouth and this kid is not even born yet!

Superman

• assembles cribs, gliders, changing table/dressers
• paints rooms
• works 7 straight 10 hour days
• installs car seats
• attends birth/ breast feeding classes
• weather strips windows
• sets up web cams
• car pools to work (making the day longer) so wife can have the car/freedom she wants
• learns how to use new camera to be ready to capture beauty/ possible lizard resemblance of new child
• assures (and reassures) wife that she is not crazy, emotional, neurotic, over reacting, or nagging when she most decidedly is

Who is this superman?

My husband

Subbing

After jumping through all the NY state hoops (aka giving them money), I've finally gotten into a subbing routine.  I've been able to sub everyday I've said I'm available which is nice to keep me from going crazy waiting for Miss Monica to arrive as well as for some extra income.  Kids never cease to amaze me and make me laugh.  They are so open, trusting and forward.  Here are a couple of my subbing encounters so far.

I subbed for a 7th grade math class and they were learning the Pythagorean equation (a squared + b squared = c squared- don't know how to superscript on blogger).  A student asked, "Do we really need to know this?  Is it going to be on the test?"  I answered, "Since I actually remember this one, I can guarantee you'll need to know it." 

While subbing at an elementary school, a young child (who I didn't know) came up and put his ear to my belly to hear the baby.  Another asked, "How's it going to get out of there?"  To which I replied, "Go home and ask your parents."