It has been over a month since my last post. Wow! I have worked on a couple posts that still aren't done, so it doesn't feel like a month. That is just how it goes with a new baby I suppose. I need to get back into posting more often. Maybe I should break down my longer posts so that I can get something out more often instead of fewer big posts...
Corbin is doing well. He's gained 3lbs in 4 weeks and grown 6cm bringing him to 11lbs 13.5oz and 59cm! He fits in 3 month clothes now at 6 weeks, not too bad. I love that I can see bits and pieces of his siblings in him. He looks a lot like Zachery with strawberry blond hair like the little girls, dimples like Elora and for some reason I keep thinking his eyes will be blue like Vivian, though he could end up with hazel. I love that people can look at him and know what family he belongs to. In the Catholic homeschool group we belong to where the average family has 4-5 kids, it is easy to see how each family fits together.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Random Thoughts
Several things I have noticed since little Corbin Riggs was born:
1. My husband and I really struggle with boys names! We manage to do ok with girls names, but boys are always difficult. I am happy with Corbin Riggs - even if Jeff calls the baby Riggs, at least I can call him Corbin which was my 1st choice.
2. Either I am getting older, my body is getting more worn out after birthing 7 babies, or my memory of what things are like after baby is faulty. I seem to recall a week after baby is born I am more than ready to go out and get back into the class/get-together groove - though a scaled back version. I'm not claiming that "normal" for me means my energy level is back up or that I am not sleep deprived, more that I just want to be out and feel better when we jump right back into things. However, this time I find that all I want to do is stay home and rest. I don't want to tackle big projects or go anywhere, I just want to stay home in bed and snuggle this beautiful little boy. Maybe it is related to having kids old enough to handle things so that I don't have to worry about the house completely falling apart with me taking some time off; or my relatively recent epiphanies about my own childhood and the effects it has had on me; or the close friends who have lost babies or had difficult pregnancies over the last year. Maybe a combination of things...I just don't know. What I do know is that I am enjoying this time to rest and watch and listen to all the kids. Plus how can anything beat snuggling a newborn baby who smiles and laughs in his sleep regularly?
3. I like to think way too much. There are probably half a dozen posts that are half formed floating around in my head just from the last 2-3 weeks. I keep thinking that I need to type them out so that I can more fully develop my opinions, but the snuggling option ends up more appealing. There is also that scary factor of putting my crazy opinions out where anyone can read them which makes me nervous... There is time. If Corbin takes after his brothers then there are only a few months left where he will let me snuggle and hold him before he's either too active, too big or both.
1. My husband and I really struggle with boys names! We manage to do ok with girls names, but boys are always difficult. I am happy with Corbin Riggs - even if Jeff calls the baby Riggs, at least I can call him Corbin which was my 1st choice.
2. Either I am getting older, my body is getting more worn out after birthing 7 babies, or my memory of what things are like after baby is faulty. I seem to recall a week after baby is born I am more than ready to go out and get back into the class/get-together groove - though a scaled back version. I'm not claiming that "normal" for me means my energy level is back up or that I am not sleep deprived, more that I just want to be out and feel better when we jump right back into things. However, this time I find that all I want to do is stay home and rest. I don't want to tackle big projects or go anywhere, I just want to stay home in bed and snuggle this beautiful little boy. Maybe it is related to having kids old enough to handle things so that I don't have to worry about the house completely falling apart with me taking some time off; or my relatively recent epiphanies about my own childhood and the effects it has had on me; or the close friends who have lost babies or had difficult pregnancies over the last year. Maybe a combination of things...I just don't know. What I do know is that I am enjoying this time to rest and watch and listen to all the kids. Plus how can anything beat snuggling a newborn baby who smiles and laughs in his sleep regularly?
3. I like to think way too much. There are probably half a dozen posts that are half formed floating around in my head just from the last 2-3 weeks. I keep thinking that I need to type them out so that I can more fully develop my opinions, but the snuggling option ends up more appealing. There is also that scary factor of putting my crazy opinions out where anyone can read them which makes me nervous... There is time. If Corbin takes after his brothers then there are only a few months left where he will let me snuggle and hold him before he's either too active, too big or both.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Baby Boy is Born!
He was only 2 or 3 days late depending on the due date we use. Here is the standard birth info:
April 26th at 10:21am
8lbs 8oz
20 inches long
We're still working on a name, but have narrowed it down to Corbin or Riggs.
More to come soon...
April 26th at 10:21am
8lbs 8oz
20 inches long
We're still working on a name, but have narrowed it down to Corbin or Riggs.
More to come soon...
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Prayer for Good Friday
Thank you God, for reminding me during this Holy Week, that my plans, opinions and desires are secondary to what is really important - you. Please continue to remind me everyday of all the little ways I can better serve you through caring for my family and taking time to pray and think of you. When I begin to complain about the unfairness of my own suffering, remind me of how Jesus suffered for my sins without complaining. Help me to see past my shame and worries about things I have no control over. Give me the strength to pick up my cross and carry it with the same determination and love as you. In the end all I want is to be with you, please show me the way.
Amen.
Amen.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Garage and Desk Areas Down
I cleaned off the computer desk and turned it into My Desk! I took the computer and all the junk off, and rearranged things so that the printers are up out of the way and the things I need to go through, work on and/or deal with are down where I can easily sit and deal with them. I can also store the laptop on the desk if I want. Yea!
I got 1 32 gal bag worth of recycling off the desk (the computer died a long time ago, so that area became a catch-all for my things as well as things the kids didn't want to take care of)
And 2 13 gal bags of garbage out of the area (the kids had actually stuffed 2 bags about 1/3 full under the desk and then piled more things on top of them, yuck!)
Then we moved on to the garage where we went through a lot over about another 4 hours. The art area got straightened up a bit and a few empty boxes were broken down and put in recycling. Then we moved on to the 'workshop' and storage area including a pile of things that were set aside possibly for a yard sale.
Out of that we got 4 big yard bags of garbage (mostly broken toys, VHS that were tv recordings, Styrofoam from the boxes, some papers and other misc garbage) that went to the truck and the yard sale stuff was condensed to about 2/3 of what it was but now is things worth selling! Jeff also put 2 dead computer monitors into his car that need to be recycled - now to get help loading the 200lb dead tv into his car and he can take it all in! If I can get rid of that stuff as well as the yard sale stuff before Easter that will be another 7-10 bags.
The garage and desk still need work, but it felt great to get as much done as we did. I am resting today, since I pushed it so much yesterday. Grandpa's truck has been stuffed about as full as we can get it - I think I may be able to fit 1 or 2 more bags in. It really is time to take it to the dump! - well, once Grandpa gets over his cold anyway.
Another 7 bags down! 21 to go and I haven't even started on the basement yet!
Tomorrow the kids will be bringing up the bags of clothes and toys I've already sorted for a yard sale from the basement, so that will add about 16-18 more bags. Then I just have to do the yard sale (or donate the items) to count the things in my 40 bags.
I really like getting rid of things. It is so freeing!!! I just have to remember not to do too much...5 more days to 36 weeks!! Though, I am shooting for at least 37 weeks. If you haven't been following the blog for long, I have never had an early labor with any of my previous 6 kids (it has been 1/2 on time and 1/2 10 days to 2 weeks late), but this time I had unusual cramping at 28 weeks and was starting to efface, so I have been told to take it easy as much as possible - no more hanging drywall or rebuilding furniture!
Below is a picture of the desk after the junk was removed (it still needs work, but is much better). Somewhere I have a before picture, but not on this camera card...
I got 1 32 gal bag worth of recycling off the desk (the computer died a long time ago, so that area became a catch-all for my things as well as things the kids didn't want to take care of)
And 2 13 gal bags of garbage out of the area (the kids had actually stuffed 2 bags about 1/3 full under the desk and then piled more things on top of them, yuck!)
Then we moved on to the garage where we went through a lot over about another 4 hours. The art area got straightened up a bit and a few empty boxes were broken down and put in recycling. Then we moved on to the 'workshop' and storage area including a pile of things that were set aside possibly for a yard sale.
Out of that we got 4 big yard bags of garbage (mostly broken toys, VHS that were tv recordings, Styrofoam from the boxes, some papers and other misc garbage) that went to the truck and the yard sale stuff was condensed to about 2/3 of what it was but now is things worth selling! Jeff also put 2 dead computer monitors into his car that need to be recycled - now to get help loading the 200lb dead tv into his car and he can take it all in! If I can get rid of that stuff as well as the yard sale stuff before Easter that will be another 7-10 bags.
The garage and desk still need work, but it felt great to get as much done as we did. I am resting today, since I pushed it so much yesterday. Grandpa's truck has been stuffed about as full as we can get it - I think I may be able to fit 1 or 2 more bags in. It really is time to take it to the dump! - well, once Grandpa gets over his cold anyway.
Another 7 bags down! 21 to go and I haven't even started on the basement yet!
Tomorrow the kids will be bringing up the bags of clothes and toys I've already sorted for a yard sale from the basement, so that will add about 16-18 more bags. Then I just have to do the yard sale (or donate the items) to count the things in my 40 bags.
I really like getting rid of things. It is so freeing!!! I just have to remember not to do too much...5 more days to 36 weeks!! Though, I am shooting for at least 37 weeks. If you haven't been following the blog for long, I have never had an early labor with any of my previous 6 kids (it has been 1/2 on time and 1/2 10 days to 2 weeks late), but this time I had unusual cramping at 28 weeks and was starting to efface, so I have been told to take it easy as much as possible - no more hanging drywall or rebuilding furniture!
Below is a picture of the desk after the junk was removed (it still needs work, but is much better). Somewhere I have a before picture, but not on this camera card...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
More Progress on the 40 Bags
I watched a few episodes about Hoarders through You Tube a few nights ago (Part 1 of one of the episodes below). I grew up in a very cluttered home and heard many of the excuses the hoarders used in the show from my parents - it was weird and almost a relief to realize I wasn't the only one who went through that kind of childhood. While my house has way more things than we need or want, I hope I can keep from suffering from the debilitating need to keep things.
To test myself and because I don't think anyone can watch those shows and not get rid of something, I started working on my 40 bags a lot more. I'm also fighting a cold, so in addition to the discomforts of being 8 months pregnant, I had trouble breathing over the weekend though I am improving everyday. I'm taking it easy, but still working!
Over the weekend, I managed to go through the hall closet and the bathroom, and came up with 1 1/2 bags. I'm only counting 1 since that was garbage and is officially out of the house.
Today the weather was fantastic, so we went through the yard and gathered all the garbage and got it into the truck. Another 11 bags (though big yard bags vs the 13 gal ones we have been using) plus a bunch of cardboard!
12 down, 28 to go with 2 1/2 weeks left until Easter!
Hopefully either later today or tomorrow I will be able to get the garage done so that the yard sale things can be shifted to one place - and gotten rid of if the yard sale falls through.
Progress is good!
To test myself and because I don't think anyone can watch those shows and not get rid of something, I started working on my 40 bags a lot more. I'm also fighting a cold, so in addition to the discomforts of being 8 months pregnant, I had trouble breathing over the weekend though I am improving everyday. I'm taking it easy, but still working!
Over the weekend, I managed to go through the hall closet and the bathroom, and came up with 1 1/2 bags. I'm only counting 1 since that was garbage and is officially out of the house.
Today the weather was fantastic, so we went through the yard and gathered all the garbage and got it into the truck. Another 11 bags (though big yard bags vs the 13 gal ones we have been using) plus a bunch of cardboard!
12 down, 28 to go with 2 1/2 weeks left until Easter!
Hopefully either later today or tomorrow I will be able to get the garage done so that the yard sale things can be shifted to one place - and gotten rid of if the yard sale falls through.
Progress is good!
Monday, March 8, 2010
40 Bag Challenge Update
As I expected I haven't done a whole lot with the 40 bag challenge so far. I've gathered about 2 bags of things from my room and the living room, but they are just sitting in the garage right now.
Ariana's room has been 1 small step at a time, so hopefully this Thurs we will finally get the floor laid down (the boards are all cut, so I just have to get the kit that makes it easier to click everything in place), and then she can start moving in and filling bags with things to get rid of and I can finally get into the girls closet to get rid of the things the girls don't need.
A fellow 40 bagger is planning a garage sale sometime in the next month, so the 6 boxes in the garage and 12 bags of clothes downstairs will all be going out to the garage sale, then the following Monday whatever clothing is left will be put out at CCD for families to pick through for free and the last of it will get dropped at Snowcap (a Protestant version of St Vincent De Paul near my house) or the Pregnancy Resource Center depending on the sizes. I do hope to at least double the amount of clothes and misc stuff by the time the garage sale happens, but worst case that is 18 bags gone!
Plus the 8-12 bags worth of junk that needs to be loaded into my dad's truck - conveniently parked in front of my house. I am still pretty limited as far as movement goes, which is the only reason the truck isn't loaded now, but hopefully this coming weekend I will get myself together enough to oversee everyone else loading the junk into the trunk.
I suppose if we didn't have activities/classes/dr appts pretty much everyday that would help too. I think we have a bit of a break next week as well as the week after for Spring break, so maybe we can get caught up then...
Ariana's room has been 1 small step at a time, so hopefully this Thurs we will finally get the floor laid down (the boards are all cut, so I just have to get the kit that makes it easier to click everything in place), and then she can start moving in and filling bags with things to get rid of and I can finally get into the girls closet to get rid of the things the girls don't need.
A fellow 40 bagger is planning a garage sale sometime in the next month, so the 6 boxes in the garage and 12 bags of clothes downstairs will all be going out to the garage sale, then the following Monday whatever clothing is left will be put out at CCD for families to pick through for free and the last of it will get dropped at Snowcap (a Protestant version of St Vincent De Paul near my house) or the Pregnancy Resource Center depending on the sizes. I do hope to at least double the amount of clothes and misc stuff by the time the garage sale happens, but worst case that is 18 bags gone!
Plus the 8-12 bags worth of junk that needs to be loaded into my dad's truck - conveniently parked in front of my house. I am still pretty limited as far as movement goes, which is the only reason the truck isn't loaded now, but hopefully this coming weekend I will get myself together enough to oversee everyone else loading the junk into the trunk.
I suppose if we didn't have activities/classes/dr appts pretty much everyday that would help too. I think we have a bit of a break next week as well as the week after for Spring break, so maybe we can get caught up then...
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