Ahhh Chop! Chop!

I've moved!

Lookie, lookie at what my greek god built me!

All future posts will be at my new address: www.itsblahg.com

Can I Have Some Hot Breath?

As we were driving back from my prenatal appointment this week Dan gave the kids some Breathsavers.

Our 4 year old daughter wanted more so she asked, "Can I have some hot breath?"

We're still giggling.

- it's blahg!  MB

My Little Girl is Growing Up

This past Thursday morning my eldest daughter got braces.  Sniff. Sniff.  She's growing up.

She left the house looking like her usual 8 1/2 year old cute self and came back still looking cute but more mature (she even acted more mature).  She has been doing a phenomenal job these weeks leading up to this momentous occasion with taking responsibility of her teeth.  Since her braces have been on she has done even better.  She even tried to refuse our offer of ginger ale at lunch yesterday.  "Wait!  Is that soda?  I can't have soda!"  Wow.

For those of you who have never met our daughter you must know that Dan and I used to refer to her as "Thuella" (which means whirlwind).  A very impulsive little girl is blossoming into a more controlled young lady.  We are proud of her.  She has come so far and the Lord has been so gracious to her.

I am very grateful that she is excited about these braces (much like I was when I had to get mine a feeeeeew years . . . Ok, more than two decades ago).  Especially, since this is only the first phase!  It has been fun to share stories with her about my adventures with my head gear and lip bumper, too (yeah, I looked like a mega nerd, but I didn't care!).  We will be able to so relate to each other as she moves further along in the next 18 months.

- it's blahg!  MB

Still Kickin'

My blahging silence has been due to nesting and busyness.

I've had some great blahg post ideas, though.  Ones I think you would thoroughly enjoy.  They are awesome, I'm telling you . . .

I just can't remember any of them.

- it's blahg! MB

April Fools Day in January?

This has got to be a joke.  Right?  No?  Wow!

The government wants 650, that's 6-5-0, 650 million, not thousand, but 650 MILLION dollars more, yes, MORE to help people.  And what worthy program are they asking these additional funds for.  To help us poor, fuzzy pictured, program deficient consumers convert our TV's to digital.  Huh?  More?  That means they've already been doing it?  How much of our hard earned cash have they already dumped into this brilliant program? 

Come on.

So when are they going to start handing out coupons so we can have a date night every once in a blue moon? With governmental assistance we might be able to go on two or three dates every 2.72 years.  The prices at the movie theaters have been climbing for quite some time now.  Last time Dan checked, a general admission was $10.25 a ticket.  ...dinner would be nice too.

I guess we better keep having kids so they can pay for all these essential programs.

-  it's blahg!  MB & DC

Happy 2nd Birthday, Chunky Monkey!

On Monday our lil' Chunky Monkey turned two.

It seems like only a couple of years ago she was born.

Oh, wait.  That's true.

Her birth ROCKED!  I'm still on a high from it.  It was that cool (which makes me really apprehensive about this upcoming birth since I can't imagine ever getting two rockin' births . . . but that's a subject for another blahg post).  Sigh.  Yeah, it rocked (I'm staring off into space).

Although, she most definitely has been doing the stereotypical "two's" thing for a few months now (which, honestly, we haven't really had to go through with the others - so we're in unchartered territory), making many days difficult, she is still a delight.  One of my favorite things about this stage of child development is the emerging verbal skills to express all of the new things she is discovering.  I, also, just about melt when I hear her calling for one of her siblings or seeking comfort from them.

Thank You, Lord, for our precious little girl.   Many times she has been a balm in our rough times.  You knew exactly who we needed.

- it's blahg! MB

Stupid Human Mistakes and the Sovereignty of God

I am ever so grateful that God knows what He is doing.  His plans are so much better than our own.  His timing is much better than ours.  He allows us to make stupid mistakes . . . that lead to beautiful ends (Romans chapter 8 verse 28 is a verse I have clung to in the midst of being in the depths of despair but have also joyfully relished in when times have felt good).

My greek god and I were discussing, again, the other night how stupid we were to move off campus when we were attending Moody Bible Institute, many moons ago.  We had the best apartment on campus.  It was tiny but great.  Seventh floor facing toward the Hancock building and views of La Salle Street.

Having some good friends of ours move off campus started us thinking maybe we should, too.  We were tired of living in a bubble (for those living in a "bubble" right now . . . be content since it won't always be there and bubbles aren't always bad) and we assumed we were going to start extending our family and since we couldn't have kids while living on campus we moved off.  Dumb, dumb, dumb.

It was one of, if not the, stupidest mistakes we've ever made.  We ended up living far enough away from school that we had to buy a car (we'd assumed we'd take the L but soon realized that brrrrrrr-freezing weather wasn't the funnest to walk a mile or so in to get to the thing) and my health declined.  I struggled immensely with my asthma.  I became very sick.  I became very miserable.  Hence, Dan became very miserable.  Within a matter of months our belongings were packed up in a truck, our car was sold, and we were headed back to CA.

My greek god never had the opportunity to finish getting his degree studying what really brings him alive, the Bible.  I regret that.  The man shines when he gets to study and discuss The Word.  I still dream of him getting to do that someday.

We kicked ourselves for being so foolish.  Had we stayed on campus he would have completed what we went out there for.  And maybe we would have become missionaries in the world out yonder, too, as we had planned.

As we had planned.

A few months after returning to our home town the Lord provided Dan with a great career opportunity.  God dropped it in his lap.  Heating and Air-conditioning was not something he was looking to get into but he needed a job and an apprenticeship opportunity was in his future.

Landing a driver's position lead to the apprenticeship which gave us the financial ability to do something I had longed for for years.

Fostering.

So we did become missionaries.  In that the Lord brought the mission field into our home.  We became foster parents.  The Lord granted the desire of my heart from childhood.

Through doing emergency foster care we were given one of the most amazing little girls I have ever met.  Our eldest daughter.  She turned six months old around the time Dan would have graduated from Moody had we stayed the course.  Had Dan completed his schooling there we never would have gotten our daughter (and time table-wise nor would we have gotten her older brother or her younger brother . . . and we wouldn't have gotten to foster the other little ones either).  We might have still gotten to foster and adopt . . . but we would not have gotten the ones we did.  And those are the ones I want.  Those are my kids.

Thank You, Lord, for allowing us to make such a foolish decision (from a human perspective) so many years ago.  You have blessed us immensely and beyond words in the children you have given us.  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

- MB

Happy 4th Birthday!

Today will include: pink and white balloons, pink streamers, Cinderella and friends plates and napkins, tiaras, "pwitty dwesses", maybe spaghetti, most likely squeals of delight, and a purple cake.  Purple, people.  Purple.  (Assuming that I can manage that.  I have some crazy ideas on how to make that happen.)

Today is our Princess' 4th birthday.

We don't usually call her "Princess".  Only for today we will.  Even though she really thinks she is a princess.  Not just any princess, though.  Cinderella to be more exact.  There are moments when I think she really truly believes she is a princess.

This could have something to do with her flitting around the house flapping her hands saying, "I'm a princess!  I'm a princess!"

Ok.  She doesn't really do that.  I just made that up.

Seriously, though, there are moments where I think she really believes she is Cinderella.  Like the time she came crying to me, "They are calling me fake!"  What cruel thing could her siblings mean this time?  I found out they were saying that Cinderella was fake.  And since she herself is Cinderella . . . she is fake.  I had to explain that Cinderella is fake but she, my daughter, is real.  She finally got it.

Anyway.  Back at the castle.

Today she gets to be a princess (Again.  We did this last year, too.  But this year is even better because . . . well . . . she's a year older . . . I dunno.).  And not only is she going to be a princess . . . she's going to be a "big girl" . . . A Big Girl!

Do you know what this means?  Have you any idea?

Think back to Mary Poppins wearing diapers . . .

Yeah baby!

She claims she will start using the toilet.

We even bought her princess undergarments, yesterday (last year), to seal the deal.

We'll probably start tomorrow, though.  I hope it's not a mistake.  It's just that I can't see Princess trying to use the toilet, regularly, for the first time while wearing a formal gown.  Doesn't seem practical.  Call me crazy.

I'm excited about today.  I TOTALLY remember my 4th birthday.  Seems like only 31 years ago. (Oh, wait.  It was.)  I remember the excitement.  The last few days I've seen that same excitement in her eyes.  So very fun.

What excites me the most is getting to see her and her siblings enjoying the day.  Our little princess is one who possesses much excitement and enthusiasm when others succeed or have something neat happen to them.  She's our family cheerleader.  Even though her personality demands the center of attention, often, that is not what she is after.  So even with her being the center of attention today she will still get so excited to see her sisters dressed in "pwitty dwesses" and her brother dressed in a suit (I don't think he's going to get out of that one since she will need a prince for the day).

What makes me even more excited about today is her getting to open her gifts.  Gifts her siblings give her.  Gifts that we spent HOURS searching for yesterday (even though this prego body so desperately needed to lay down but the kids just HAD to find their sister gifts . . . with their hard earned money).  Seeing the faces of her brother and sister as she opens the presents they sought and bought.  Seeing the delight of "it is better to give than to receive".  Very precious.

So here's to a happy 4th birthday on the first day of a new year!

- it's blahg!  MB

Haven't Blaghed Since Last Year

I can't believe I haven't blahged since last year!  What a slacker . . .

Oh, wait.  That was just yesterday.

Corny.  I know.

I'm weird.  I admit it.

I used to not like my weirdness.  I used to strongly dislike it.

Enter my greek god.

He likes.  He really, really likes me.

So much so that he married me.

Yes.  My weirdness was why he married me (although, I tend to think there were other reasons as well).

Or so he tells me.

Could be my countless riches.

Oh, wait, he doesn't know about those.

And he is no where near so shallow.  He's a cool dude.  I like him.

Was that not the weirdest New Year's post?  I'm sleep deprived.  Deal with it.  (I hope that didn't sound rude.  Didn't mean to be.  I just struggle with social graces when I am pregnant.)

Happy New Year!

- it's blahg! MB

Coming Soon . . .

Soon, very soon . . .

You'll get to see something my greek god has been working on for me:  it's blahg.com!

- it's blahg! MB

White Elephant Gift Idea

I think this would make the perfect "white elephant" gift.

- it's blahg!

People! Lots of People!

Last night as our family was headed to the party store to pick up some plates and napkins for our nearing-4 year old daughter I asked her what she wanted for her birthday.

Her response?  "People!  Lots of people!"

- it's blahg!  MB

What I Want To Do When I Grow Up

Amy Scott linked to this story.

Since before this current pregnancy I've been telling my greek god that I am praying that the Lord allows us to adopt again.  I long for it.  Some women love to be pregnant and birth their babies and want more and more . . . I love adoption and want more and more.  When we found out I was pregnant with Baby Tex I told Dan that I thought it would be so cool to get to birth this lil' guy and when he's one (or around the time of weaning) we adopt a little one.  Much of this dream of mine (being able to nurse an adopted lil' one) hinges on me being able to nurse all the way through and not have to stop due to postpartum depression.

Throughout this pregnancy the desire to adopt, again, has grown stronger.  I find it humorous that I am uncomfortably pregnant looking forward to meeting our newest family member yet longing for one after him.  

It makes me sad to think we are done adopting.  I know God's plans are better than ours so I rest in that and hope that I can be a big girl and not throw a temper tantrum if God says "No".

- it's blahg! MB

Happy 35th Birthday Greek God!

Want to party?

Today is my favorite husband's 35th birthday.

We joked last night about the surprise party I was going to throw him . . . "Surprise!  I'm not throwing you a party!"  Ain't I romantic?

I, actually, had seriously thought about trying to . . . but being great with child (and I'm getting greater every day . . . isn't that great?) I just can't pull it off.

I don't know how many people actually read this blog.  BUT I thought it would be fun to get as many comments wishing Dan a happy birthday as possible.  Then he really would have a surprise party.

Sooooo . . . even if you don't normally comment and you are of the lurker variety would you, could you . . . leave a comment (you are free to even be anonymous . . . we'll just call you "Anne")?

Happy Birthday Dan!  I love you Pookiebutt!

- it's blahg! MB