Tomorrow is the day!

Hi all! I have an *urgent urgent urgent* prayer request. My friend, Melissa Money, needs to have her baby tomorrow. I don't want to explain...I want you to stop reading and pray that this baby wants to say APRIL FOOLS! to everyone by showing up 10 days late...but before Wednesday.

Can't you just see a baby doing that? Chuckling and laughing their way out of the cozy womb into the world and crinkling their nose and laughing? You people though you were going to have to use Pitocin to get me out? Please. I'm HERE! Katelyn? That would be awesome.

Sit down, focus, and pray. Please.

Melissa has been so patient and wonderful, and the one thing that she and Dane have wanted this whole pregnancy was a natural birth. They can do it. They are strong. Melissa is strong. But Katelyn has not arrived yet, and her doctor is ready to do an induction on Wednesday morning. They are worried that with an induction the risks for all sorts of nasty things skyrocket...and they don't want any of those nasty things. I will not go into detail...but we don't want them. Nobody wants them.

Can you join me in lifting up this incredible family? They've done everything right, and now they need a little grace and mercy...

"Heavenly Father, I lift Melissa and Dane and their baby Katelyn up to you now. I know that your plan is perfect, and that Katelyn will arrive when You are ready for her to, but God...doctors don't let women go overdue very long these days, and they are ready to induce Melissa with medication. You know this, of course...and God, I just ask that you would make a huge influence on these doctors and nurses and medical staff by bringing Katelyn before *they* decide to bring her into this world.

Lord, I know you know how pregnant bodies are tired. They are heavy...but a reminder of the baby to come. Melissa has endured so well, but God, I know that she is weary, and is ready to deliver a healthy baby into this world. You've given her the chance...and we're ready to support her through it. We're ready, God.

God, Melissa has been a gleaming example of a woman who immerses herself in Your love and grace, and God, I would ask...I AM asking...show us a miracle...and bring them a baby soon. In Your holy and gracious name...Amen. AMEN!

I'll be sure to post when she arrives.

A good grocery trip...

Don't you just love it when things are just so-so, and you might be having a good day, but you aren't sure, but then something totally awesome just flies in and makes your day? That is precisely what happened to me.

I went grocery shopping today. Without a list. I know, I know...a bad idea. It was a last minute trip and I had a pretty good idea of what I needed. I found wonderful sales...that's the best part! There's something about getting a really GOOD DEAL and saving a whole bunch of money that just makes me grin. I found good hamburger on sale, and ice cream for James too. I love buying something that I know he will love. Something that will make him peer into the depths of our fridge and say: "Ooh. I didn't know we had that." James loves dessert. Ridiculously so. Sometimes the man can eat cookie dough, a bowl of ice cream, and polish off a dozen cookies or so to round out his dessert experience. Maybe with a Dr. Pepper...on the side. *grin* He's great fun to be around when dessert rolls around. Or we roll around to dessert, if ya' know what I mean. :)

I called my mom and Melissa to share the good tidings. Perhaps Wednesday is the magic day to shop at Kroger. I ended up accidentally interrupting Melissa, but she wasn't bothered, so that's okay. Speaking of Melissa...she's still pregnant, for those of you wondering. I don't know who's wondering. Nobody is commenting. But that's okay.

What is the deal with the guy that bags your groceries thinking that a Kroger sticker is your 8 month old's heart's desire? Poor Ize got a little freaked out. You could see him thinking: "Dude. I don't want that. Don't stick that on my shirt. This is my dinosaur shirt, I don't want your icky sticker messing it up." The sacker was not to be deterred. He dodged those little 8 month old hands warding him off to stick a sticker on his shirt. Isaac commenced loud wails. Mama Bear waded in and said aggressively: "He clearly didn't want the sticker, you paper or plastic sacking moron! Do you get a commission PER STICKER? Leave my kid alone!!!" Not. Mama Bear said something to the effect of: "It's okay, sweetie...Mommy will take the sticker away." And she did. But then Mommy had the sticker, and whatever Mommy has is cool...so Isaac wanted the sticker back. So I gave it to him. *siiiiiigh* The drama of Kroger mixing with motherhood. *smile*

It's a good day.

Why is that?

I have a really hard time going to bed early if I know James will be coming to bed later. For some reason I think he would want me to be awake, so he could tell me his stories, etc. I'm tired. I want to go to bed. But he isn't here! But he would want me to go to bed.

Why do I do that? Do you do that?

Isaac is asleep. My shoes are off...I know what I'm wearing tomorrow...I should get a glass of water and go to bed.

I guess I will. Or I'll read in bed until he comes home and regales me with tales of his day.

Miss ya' honey. Come home soon. I love you.

Lynne

Living in Jersey Village...

It is so funny living in Jersey Village. Very small town, we are. Lol...sometimes my life revolves around trash pick-up. Is that sad, or encouraging? Anyhow.

That's what is left on my list for the evening. Take the trash out, kiss my husband goodnight, and crash early. It was a wonderful, but a bit long, day...

Good night all!

Lynne

Changes!

I've dyed my hair a brilliant red. Not natural red...oh my gosh!, your hair is RED, red. I like it. I needed to do something a little wild. Since moving to Seattle and becoming a pen and ink artist wasn't going to happen, I needed to do something. Something temporary, something cheap...something red!

My grandfather always said you couldn't be a Navy Seal if you had a tattoo...so that's out. I like to keep my options open. So I don't tattoo...I dye.

Ya'll should have seen Ize's face when I had a plastic bag on my head...or now that my hair is not a color created in nature except when something is on fire...it is a little bit priceless. (Sorry for the excessive run on sentence there...I apologize.)

In other news, my cousin and his wife are expecting! Theresa and Kevin, congratulations! They're expecting sometime in November, they think. She hasn't been to the doctor yet.

Melissa is still expecting, but we expect that the one they are expecting shall be arriving soon, and then she will be here! Ha HA! I hope to head over to see her tomorrow...maybe take her lunch...have a good gabfest.

I am SO glad that God made me and my family and friends the exact way that they are...tonight at the Business meeting at the fire department, a woman very proudly told me and my mom that she now had "real" furniture. Granted, she went to Gallery, and underneath the veneer it is made out of particle-board, but she loves it because it is "real" and she has 2500.00 on her credit card to pay off. For what? Matching schmancy furniture. I told her to go to IKEA. She said it wasn't nice. I said resale shop...she laughed. I was thinking...you just spent 2500.00 on a BEDROOM SET! You know what I could do with 2500 dollars? Geesh. I wouldn't buy a bedroom set...that's for sure.

Moving on. Ize has a big boy car seat! He sits up and watches me drive now! I can see him anytime I want...it is so nice. I'm not sure how he'll fall asleep, but so far it is working quite nicely. Now I need ("need") to get an umbrella stroller. We'll be streamlined in no time!

Have a beautiful week, everyone! I'm doing some spring cleaning...(now that a cool front has moved in...*snort*) and it is a great feeling! More room for springtime air to fill in my closets! We're cleaning out! Speaking of which, I need to head over to my email to freecycle some of this stuff.

Love to all! Call me if you want to have lunch! (I'll post pictures of the hair soon...)

So supported.

It's late in the Singleton household. Last night I covered for a fellow EMT on the ambulance here in Jersey Village, and we ran two calls back-to-back, resulting in some fabulous quality time with both of my parents, but not much sleep gained...

The result? I'm really tired. Babies don't understand "Mommy just needs a quick nap...". They truck right along, zooming here and scooting there, getting into everything. Every mom will agree with me when I say you cannot, I repeat, cannot rest when there is a baby crawling around *somewhere*. The other day I jumped in the shower, and emerged clean and sparkly to find my son happily ensconced underneath the toilet. Ew. I'm going to have to scrub that more than once a week. I guess soon I'll have to confine him to the Pack N' Play while I shower. Oh well. What was I talking about? Oh yeah. I'm tired. But happy....................

My husband provides for our family, day in, day out, week in, week out...and while it might be stressful occasionally for me, due to stretched finances, or awkward scheduling, or more likely, last minute scheduling, I am FREE to watch Isaac scoot around under the aforementioned toilet, or blog late at night to my heart's content.

James is snoozing at the moment, which is fair, I promise...he is heading to work from 11-4 tonight to earn a little extra money for our family. He's a good man. And he rakes leaves. What more could a woman want? I'm pretty lucky.

Thank you God, for reminding me to count my blessings.

************************************************************************************

Katelyn will be here soon! If you want to know how Melissa is doing, head on over to her blog, and leave her a supportive comment! There's nothing like being 40 weeks pregnant. God, in his ultimate wisdom, prepared us for the randomness and scattered tasks that parenthood requires by making labor a spontaneous, unscheduled event. It is a blessed event, and a wonderful experience, but not knowing when it is going to happen can be a trial. She's doing great.

Easter is coming soon too! I'm very excited. I'm thinking about trying to find a dress to wear (which is a rare thing for a nursing mom) to kind of surprise James. I'm still trying to find the type of style he loves to see me in. Oops. End a sentence with a preposition, a sticky spot you'll find yourself in. Oops.

Have a beautiful evening. I hope it rivals mine. God has reminded me tonight how very lucky I am, and to give thanks.

Back to normal?

Things are feeling slightly more back to normal, now that my trip is officially over, and I am completely unpacked, and the party is over as well. James isn't feeling too well, so that's hindering things a little.

On the "shedd-yule" this week?

• Make curtains
• Do computer work
• Wait for Katelyn!
• Go to work
  

More later, good people! I'm off to read for a bit while Ize is napping.

I'm back!

My apologies, dear friends, for not posting sooner. I was so far out of town, that I wasn't even thinking of posting on my blog. *grin* I just got back from a 10 day trip through Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of West Texas. I had so much fun!

There is no way I could chronicle the whole thing without some organization, so I will do my best to impart the random knowledge that I picked up while traveling.

#1 - Babies do not enjoy scenery. You must entertain them after an hour or so, even though you are gasping at the gorgeous mountains surrounding you. You will make faces, you will waggle your ears, you will make the strangest noises. Yes, you will even listen to irritating little "Leap" sing the alphabet song 20 million times in a row. You might, I say might because I did, you might...feed them little bits of chocolate to hold them over for that last 20 minutes until you reach El Paso, or wherever. *grin*

#2 - Hampton Inns are lovely places, but they do not eat real food for breakfast. They eat rubber eggs and sugary danishes. There is no sausage, no bread, just refined sugar. They have an excellent assortment of juices though. Cranberry Apple...yessssssss...

#3 - Traction is very important when driving in snow. My Jetta gets excellent traction on about 1-2 inches of snow on the road, but when it comes to the foot and a half in my aunt and uncle's driveway, it was a no go. It parked on the road the whole time I was there. The WHOLE time.

#4 - Dogs like babies. All dogs. (Yes...Emily...all boats...) Sorry. Private joke. Casey and Taffy (was that her name?) loved Isaac. They thought that he was their baby. When I went to hold him they both got very upset. Casey really enjoyed licking Isaac right in the mouth. Ugh. :)

#5 - It is wonderful to be able to switch off drivers. We drove approximately 3, 124 miles in 10 days. I stayed in Angel Fire, NM for a few days, and my in-laws stayed in Farmington, NM for a few days. So that doesn't include tootling around various canyons, valleys, or getting lost for 2.5 hours. Switching off is wonderful. Alex saved my life, and my tushy. It was nice to be able to switch seats, sit in the back, laugh with Isaac, or snooze a bit.

#6 - Don't forget your charger. I forgot my plug-in charger, and I was without a phone for a little while in the blowy snow of Angel Fire...and I wasn't able to talk to James for a little bit. AHH!

There is more to come, I need to take the slinky out of Isaac's mouth.

For pictures, there are too many to show here, but visit here.

I'm so glad to be home!

Lynne