Checking In

Maren Vada has figured out that she is not a prisoner in her crib.
It took 2 years and 3 months, but she has escaped.
Truly, I am surprised this didn't happen earlier.
Especially because she learned a month ago where her brother keeps his secret stash of gum and she has been climbing onto his dresser and getting into his "special box" on a daily basis.
"Where did she get that gum?"
"Mom, I should never have taught her where I keep it."
Believe me, Keegan, she would have figured it out on her own soon enough.
Every morning by 7 am, I come out into the kitchen now and Maren is buckled into her booster chair patiently waiting.
"Tix! I want Tix! And juice! And toast!"
"How long have you been sitting here?"
"I get out by myself! Tix! Apple Juice! Toast!"
Look, it's hard to argue with a woman who knows what she wants...
We are moving Maren into Keegan's room before the baby is born and as soon as the bunk beds are finished. (Praise the Lord for my Father in Law..he picked the right year to retire and turn to carpentry to keep him busy..I have enough projects for him for the next five years...you would too with three small children)
School has been going well. I do not like to get my hopes up too early because everything can go to hell in a handbasket in one staff meeting:  "Crabs in a bucket..."
but so far, it is very very pleasant and professional and my colleagues seem to be big on the Keep It Simple philosophy.
Sometimes when a particularly low dose of hormones hit me, or I am just plain feeling sorry for myself because I just got off the scale, I realize that God is working CONSTANTLY in my life.
THIS was the year I needed Keep It Simple. THIS was the year, I needed pleasant.
He seems to have a pretty good idea of what I need so I think I will just keep trusting him. It's a lot better than the alternative.
Keegan loves Sonday Adventures and Maren loves the nursery. Sigh.
Every time I go to pick her up after church, she is snuggled into the arms of some blonde lady playing a toy or reading a book.
75% of me is THRILLED that Will and I can attend service without ONCE being called out because she's having a meltdown.
("They just flashed number 3240 on the screen? Is that us?!)
But 25% percent of me has been like, Uh, Really? Snuggling?  Couldn't you miss me a little bit? Isn't the SNUGGLING with a complete stranger a bit of overkill?
In any case, I feel like our Fall is off to a good start.  We seem settled and organized, for the most part, and I am 24 weeks this week.
Does it seem to be going fast?  It seems to be going fast to me.
I am sure around November 1, it will feel like time is crawling, but right now...we are really just "cooking" along with this baby!
All in all, it's a pretty nice time right now.
Remind me to read this in January when I have no hormones, I am not sleeping and it's black as pitch every day.  Remind me that it always gets better.