Harms Family News

How far along? 28 weeks Maternity clothes? Yep. And starting to outgrow some :( Sleep: Sleeping HARD. Tim even heard one of the kids before I did this week. Best moment this week: Last night I was working and just happened to have my hand on my belly. I felt a definite elbow or knee (I'm thinking elbow unless she flipped from her last ultrasound) rub across my belly. I don't remember ever feeling that before. Movement: Still very active. Seems to be the most active from about 7 until 9. Not keeping me up with movement though. Milestones: Definitely movement can be felt from the outside now. Gender: Girl Labor Signs: Nope What I miss: Being able to walk without waddling. The hip pain is in full swing. Oye. What I am looking forward to: Getting new floors this week!!!! Weekly Wisdom: Mommy is much more plesant when the dogs do not sleep in the master bedroom. Just sayin'. Complications Update : Nothing new to report. Everything seems on track, swelling is minim...

My husband has been working hard to get the big girls' room ready for the big move-in. We are redoing it quite a bit so that Miss N does not feel like Miss M is "invading" her space. It is going very well and I am so thankful for a husband who works hard all day doing manual labor and comes home and is willing to do it all again, but with kids underfoot. Yet I find myself fearful. It is time to start preparing for this baby. I mean, she is coming in less than 12 weeks max, and it takes time to redo things around the house when you have little ones underfoot. But, the "what if" thoughts are overwhelming. What if we are doing all of this and we are not able to keep this baby. What if my bp goes crazy, the placenta dies, and she dies. What if. . . I am sure many pregnant moms feel these thoughts, but I don't remember having them with either of my other girls. This time is still different. The loss makes it different. The Reality that sometimes, things do not go...

When I was a little girl, my mom read to me. She read "big" books, like Black Beauty, the Secret Garden, and even a few Nancy Drew. Long after I learned to read, I treasured these times of her reading to me. I have been waiting anxiously for the chance to carry on that legacy with my own children. We have read to them since they were old enough to enjoy it, but reading Mr. Brown Can Moo for the umpteenth time is not the same as progressing through a novel with your child. Miss N, who is almost six, is finally ready. She has shown some interest in chapter books for a while, so we tried one about a puppy who ran away from home. Even with the interruptions of Christmas, she liked the story and was able to remember from session to session. But now. Now I get to share true literature with my child. Together, we have cracked open the pages of one of my all time favorite stories: Misty of Chincoteague . My girl is perhaps as horse crazy as I was as an older child. She loves everythi...

Oops, missed a week! Tim's grandmother passed away this past week on February 17 at 93. We have enjoyed time with family looking back over a life well lived. I did not know her well, but after hearing stories about her I realize that she left an excellent legacy and I am thankful for her life. But, all of these events plus the sickness (it was N's turn and my turn this past week for the tummy flu) have left me with little blogging interest. So here's a double update :) How far along? 27 weeks Maternity clothes? Yep. And starting to outgrow some :( Sleep: Starting to get a bit uncomfy. Best moment this week: At the funeral yesterday, our niece played a violin solo. This baby does not respond to music the way her sisters did, but she went nuts when the violin was playing. She settled right down as soon as it stopped, too. Interesting. Movement: Still very active. It is not bothering me, but I do find it interesting that my doctor has commented on how active she is at m...

Sometimes, I feel entirely inadequate as a mom. I mean, I have these two, soon to be three, precious souls who depend on me for so much, and so many times I fall short. I see the moms on Pinterest, Facebook, blogs who sit on the floor playing for hours on end, no laptops or deadlines in sight I see the spotlessly clean houses and “easy organizational steps” and look around my hopelessly cluttered house, even sometimes dirty house, realizing I will never attain that level of perfection. I read about moms making homemade kefir and sourdough bread from scratch and sigh as I pop a frozen pizza in the oven – again – because the meat for dinner did not thaw fast enough or someone needed an emergency run to urgent care. But truthfully, those things are superficial. Where I really feel my failure is in the fact that I often do not feel connected to my kids. I am happy when they are playing on their own or napping. I do not long for them to wake up so we can play. I do not burst wit...

Ok, so I am late this week. It's been CRAZY around here. Doctor's appointments, pneumonia, stomach flu (both Miss M), and work work work have left little time for blogging, let alone energy for it! Baby News: Got the official word that I have a 7:30 appointment to deliver baby on May 17. I kind of like knowing the day ahead of time. I am such a planner! How far along? 25 weeks Maternity clothes? Yep. Sleep: Kids are not sleeping means mommy is not sleeping. Best moment this week: The girls got to see my belly dancing. That's still pretty rare at this stage but they got to see it. Miss M is fascinated by where the baby's parts are and asks me all the time where her head, feet, ears, etc. are. I was glad to have had a scan Monday so I knew the answer. I know where the baby is (in my belly) but I am not good at figuring out positions. Movement: Still very active. Gender: Confirmed Monday that she is for sure female. Labor Signs: Nope What I miss: Sleep. What I am ...

Up until about a year ago, discipline was fairly straightforward in this house. The child disobeyed, there was a consequence. The child obeyed, there was praise. Simple as that. Now, it's all about the attitude. We get obedience, but it's with a tossed head, rolled eye, and a "FINE!" The sass is quite impressive, actually. I know this is not biblical obedience, yet I struggle with the proper way to address the behavior. We have prayed, we have had heart to heart discussions, and we have been firm, but it is not making any headway. If anything, the problem is getting worse. Ignoring it does not work either, as it just gets louder and more persistent. Any seasoned mommies found a way to deal with attitude?

It's been a while since I have recorded some of the funny things my kiddos have said. Miss M is definitely in that stage at 3 1/2. One of the cutest things she says is "bless you." Not when someone sneezes to be polite, but rather that is what she calls the sneeze. We were talking the other morning about covering our coughs, and she says, "And your bless yous?" Part of what makes a conversation with Miss M so entertaining is the way she talks. She still doesn't quite have her pronouns right, and she has a very distinct way of saying things that is just her way. The other day sister got her first behavior mark in school. She has been very proud of not getting any behavior marks, and she is so much like me I thought it would be devestating to her when it did happen, so I was very surprised she hadn't said anything to me. So, I asked about it. This was the conversation that followed: Mommy: It says here you lost a snowflake. What happened? Miss N: I was t...

Baby News: My c-section has been officially scheduled for May 17, provided we can keep all complications at bay. So mark your calendars - ha! How far along? 24 weeks Maternity clothes? Yep. And some are starting to not cover my belly. Sigh, the joys of having a long torso while pregnant. Sleep: Lots lots better. Not sure what the insomnia was all about but I am glad it is gone. Best moment this week: Swelling went away!!!!! Movement: Still very active. Gender: She's a girl! Labor Signs: No way! What I miss: Nothing really this week. What I am looking forward to: Picking a name. We need to get on this. Weekly Wisdom: Sometimes, it is best not to rush to the doctor when your kid is sick, no matter how hard it is! Milestones: In the most technical sense of the word, I believe we are now considered viable. Complications Update : So, the doctor upped my prescription again at my last appointment. It took me a few days to remember to take it properly, but then I started feelin...