Just a story

This is a story i stumbled across more than a year ago:

There was a well to do rich man who lived in the suburbs with his wife and only child. The dad was worried that his son didn't understand how good they had it. He made a phone call to his relatives who had a rundown little hill farm a few hours away and arranged a visit. He figured the best way to get through to his son was to show him just how poor some folks were. They pulled in the gravel driveway and were greeted by half a dozen hound dogs and a goose. Next, the children and grown folks came out of barns and fields and lined up to say hello. The city boy spent the whole weekend doing chores and playing with farmers 6 kids. The farmers kids were bare foot and had holes in their pants. The barns were in poor repair, the tractor an old rust bucket and the old farm truck had bald tires and a dent in the drivers side door. The more the father looked around, the more sorry he felt for the poor hillbillies. He knew had done the right thing, his son would know what poverty looked like, it now had a face. The weekend was over and the goodbyes were said. They got a few miles down the road and the father looked over at the boy. "Do you know why I brought you out here?", he asked. Kid shakes his head "no". "I wanted you to see just how poor some people are.", he said. The boy said, "You know dad, I never knew just how poor we were." The father, with a shocked look on his face, replies "What do mean?". "Well dad, that pond was really cool, its so much nicer than our pool...I mean its got fish and frogs and crawdads you can catch. We have those street lights so we can see at night, and those folks have a million stars and the moon to light up their yard. And ya, the yard, wow. Ours is so small and they have a hundred acres with rocks and trees. I like our poodle, but those hound dogs were so fun to play with. They swim and hunt and everything. Did you notice, the mother, she doesn't even make the kids wear shoes! They don't have to go to the playground either, they have hay forts and trees to climb, did you see that creek...I think it goes on forever. We have to buy our food at the store, those people Grow Their Own! Rows and rows of food in the garden, did you see how they could just go out and pick it themselves! They all get to work together Every Day, the father doesn't have a job. Those kids have lots of brother and sisters too, its like having friends over to play Every Day. I think that lady even made her own bread, dad. Thanks for taking me out there dad, I'll never forget how good those farmers have it." The father didn't say another word. He looked straight ahead and drove back toward home. He was starting to see "just how poor they were".

The joys of pregnancy

I went to bed with pain and woke up with pain. Wonderful...if this keeps up much longer, the doctor will be seeing me sooner than expected.

Crafts: So far I have one of Ariel's gifts made, Elijah's scarf and hat are knit ( just need to weave the loose ends in), 27/30 of the outsides of my newborn diapers are ready to be sewn, the chalkboard is ready for the chalkboard paint and Elijah's bow is ready to be tillered. Lots to do by December :) and only 14 weeks until Christmas!

Bow Making part 2

String jig with the string on

Flemish twist bow string for tillering (not made with proper string)

Walnut riser glued on to oak bow

riser half roughed out side view

top view

Bow making

Elijah has decided to make a bow. It's started out as a 6 foot piece of oak. So far he has both of the limbs shaped and it's starting to bend a bit. He's really enjoying it so far and i can't wait to see how it turns out! Take a look:

Marked and ready to start

first side of the first limb being shaped

done 1/4

Limbs shaped!

Childhood doesn't wait

Childhood Doesn’t Wait
(Author Unknown)

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.
The youngest one was whining,
“Pick me up,” I heard him beg
but the mother’s face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.
“Don’t hang on to me,” she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I’d had the courage
to go up to her and say…
“The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won’t ask for you to hold them
or won’t freely give a hug.
“The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can’t recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.
“Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we’ve known.
“So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer…
“When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can’t
`cause there’s no time to talk”
Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn’t wait.

“Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don’t wait another day.”
I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she’ll pick them up
before her chances disappear.

"Sleep Learning" Night 4

Last night was supposed to be Katie's last night with a feed, but since she was up at 4 again, and had a hard time going back to sleep, I didn't wake her for her little 1 oz feed. I ended up getting her shortly after 6, because she wasn't settling well. We snuggled for a bit then went downstairs for an early breakfast. She did sleep from around 8 until 4, so an eight hour stretch, but it took her a very long time to go to sleep last night. She ended up needing an early nap, so i put her down around 830, and she was out in minutes, allowing me to get a much needed nap as well. Katie woke up just in time for Izzy to get here to play. I put her down for another nap around 1230, which lasted about an hour and a half. By the time bed time came around, she was ready for sleep, and quite happily followed her bed time routine, and was asleep within 15 minutes again. Here's hoping for a good sleep tonight, since we're going to the park for a picnic with a bunch of people tomorrow and she may not get a morning nap. that's the end of "sleep Learning", we'll give it a few more days her to adjust to the routine, but it seems to be going well, she's getting at least an 8 hour stretch now after only a few nights, so I'm hopeful that i might soon get more sleep ♥

"Sleep Learning" Night 3

For the second night in a row, I was able to sit on my ass, relax and watch an un-interrupted movie with my wonderful man ♥ This was a non-existent activity prior to sleep learning. We watched Thor, which I enjoyed. I think we might be watching fast5. since we haven't watched any movies in quite awhile, we need to play catch up. Anyways. Last night went well, I believe it only took her 15 minutes to fall asleep. She did wake once during our movie, but it was very briefly. I woke her again at 1030 for her last 1030 feed, of only 1 oz. She had a dry diaper still and went back to bed in the same dry diaper. Between 1030 and 5, she fell out of her bed twice???? strange... she hasn't done that in a very very long time. So Elijah went and put her back in bed both times. Close to 430, she woke up, and of course i had to let her put herself back to sleep, but by 5, I was able to go in a feed her. The 5 am wake up is going to be hard on her I think. It's going to take a few more days after tonight before she'll sleep until 7. Tonight is the very last night of night time feeds. She gets one bottle at 5 am with only 1 oz in it. and then tomorrow all the bottles are going in the cupboard for good.

Naps still aren't going too well.This mornings nap was okay, but this afternoon it took her 45 minutes to fall asleep, even though she was tired. Times like those, you just want to go upstairs and snuggle with her, but you know it won't make any difference.

Here's hoping the next few nights go well, and that she doesn't fall out of bed anymore haha. Izzy's coming over for a play date tomorrow morning, so Katie will probably end up only having one nap in the middle of the day, which should be longer and go a little smoother. Keeping my fingers crossed.