Twice the Fun

Is it just me or is everybody pregnant?!

It seems like I have close friends who are pregnant, friends of friends who are pregnant, blogger friends who are pregnant, blogger friends daughters who are pregnant, etc, etc! People just seem to be pregnant everywhere!

Of course, I realize that because I'm pregnant, I am more aware of others who are pregnant. Technically, we are pregnant together. So, maybe this explains why it seems like there are many people pregnant right now. But, this is not the only strange thing going on.

Not only does it seem like many people around me are pregnant, but I have two close friends who are both pregnant with twins! What are the odds of that?! Who has twins? How do I have two close friends (who were not on fertility drugs) who are pregnant with twins at the same time?

[Photo Credit: AMERICANVIRUS]

I've always said there was no way I'd want twins unless I was able to hire a live in nanny;) Still, I think twins are SO cute and I am very excited for them both of my friends. Their news sparked a curiosity in me to learn more about the chances of having twins.

Here is some information I found on the Baby Center:

While identical twins generally happen by sheer chance, there are several factors that influence your chances of having fraternal twins:

Heredity: If you're a twin or if twins run in your family, you're slightly more likely to have a set yourself. Women who are fraternal twins have a one in 60 chance of bearing twins.

Race: Twins are more common than average in African Americans and less common in Hispanics and Asians.

Age: The older you are, the higher your chances of having fraternal twins or higher-order multiples. A 2006 study found that women over 35 produce more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) than younger women. Ironically, increasing levels of this hormone are a sign of failing ovaries and declining fertility. But FSH is also the hormone that causes an egg to ripen in preparation for ovulation each month, and women with extra FSH may release more than one egg in a single cycle. So while older women are statistically less likely to get pregnant, if they do get pregnant, they're more likely to have twins.

Number of Pregnancies: The more pregnancies you've had, the greater your chances of having twins.

History of Twins: Once you have a set of fraternal twins, you're twice as likely to have another set in future pregnancies.

Body Type: Twins are more common in large and tall women than in small women.

How about you? Do you have twins or have you ever had the desire to have twins?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are SO elated and grateful to be spending this Thanksgiving in our new home. Moreover, I am SO elated and grateful that my pregnancy hunger will might finally be satiated by good food I have looked forward to all year!

When we were in our apartment, there was virtually no counter space. So, I'm sure you can imagine the fun we had bumping into each other and trying to cook Thanksgiving meals with pans, bowls, etc stacked on top on the stove, the refrigerator and any other flat surface we could find! This year we are blessed to have plenty of counter space and a island in the middle of our kitchen! Praise God!

We are having some family over this afternoon and later going to my Aunt's house to continue our feasting. I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day with a thankful heart and a praise on your lips!

Happy Thanksgiving!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. -Psalm 136:1

Thanksgiving Quotes

I'm a talkative person. Thus, it can take me quite a few words to explain my thoughts. However, I often find that men just have a way of putting things that gets straight to the point and makes things plain.

For instance:

"Hey! You have a lot to be thankful for this year; a beautiful house, beautiful children, a husband you ain't gotta dig out the tavern!"

~ My Dad

"About to enjoy Thanksgiving in my new house with my wife and kids...ain't nobody mad but the devil."

~ Hubby's Facebook status

Happy 5th Birthday Noelle!

Today is Noelle's 5th birthday! I can't believe how much our lives have changed since we've had this little one around! Just 5 years ago, we were in a 1-bedroom apartment and having our own personal financial "recession." We call it "The Recession of 2005." The day we would be expecting our 4th child and living in our first home seemed far away, if not impossible back then!

Noelle was a week late and I was scheduled for an induction on the 19th. Nevertheless, I started having contractions around 4am on the morning of the 18th. It was a slow labor and the finale at the end came as a unpleasant surprise when my epidural wore off on one side of my body!

The epidural was given to me again before I was too far dilated and was working fine by the time I had to push. I was NOT ready for a natural birth at that point! Still, I thank God for the beautiful baby girl I had when it was all over.

Noelle is becoming so helpful and is doing a wonderful job learning new things and getting her chores done. I think she likes being the "big sister" and looks out for he younger siblings. She is a joy to have around.

Noelle named 5 things she was thankful for today.

Noelle is thankful for...

1. ...being 5!

2. ...her new room!

3. ...her new baby sister!

4. ...having a costume party!

5. ...the time she got her face painted!

Happy Birthday Noelle!

Wordless Wednesday

Perhaps I'l recreate this image when hubby gets home from work this evening:)

A New Agenda

Oprah Winfrey's interview with former President George W. Bush was filled with interesting political dialogue and enlightening information.

The former President's sense of humor really came out during the interview and I had a few good laughs. My favorite part was this little story he shared about his first day off with his wife, Laura after President Obama's Inauguration:

"So I'm lying on the couch and she walks in. I said, 'Free at last' and she said, 'Yeah, you're free alright. You're free to do the dishes.' I said, 'You're talking to the former president, baby!' And she said, 'Consider it your new domestic policy agenda.'"

Spoken like a true wife!

A Rarity Among Television Shows

I have been frustrated on more than one occasion flipping through channels trying to find a family-friendly show that our whole family can watch. Unfortunately, I often come to the conclusion that there is just about nothing safe (including commercials) when it comes to language, sexual content, and moral messages.

Nevertheless, hubby and I had to admit last night that we can usually always count on a good episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition to be something that our whole family can enjoy!

The show's description reads:

Keep a box of tissues handy for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because…

A) The tears of joy WILL flow.

B) You may need to plug your ears when Ty Pennington belts out his famed "Move that bus!!!!"

...We don’t know about you, but it is what’s lurking behind that big bus which keeps us absolutely riveted from week-to-week: a house pimped out to the extreme. It's extremely uplifting, as the renovated home always belongs to a deserving family. It's extreme transformation. And it’s extremely community-oriented.

From the moment he gives his “Good Morning” wakeup call, Ty is bent on bringing neighbors together—one environmentally-friendly brick at a time. It’s a race against time on a project that would normally span several months, involving a team of designers, contractors and hundreds of workers who all have just seven days to totally rebuild an entire house!

Before you start getting all jealous, the lucky homeowners always have a heartening back-story: Heroes, community leaders, and a plethora of inspirational families are truly the heart and soul of the show. There's that saying, "home is where the heart is," and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition puts the heart right where it belongs.

*Sniff*

Now excuse us while we have a good cry.

Not only is it great to have your children see the real people helping others in need, but I love the fact that entire communities join together to make it happen. Seeing the terrible conditions that many of the families are initially living in, gives hubby and I an opportunity to say to our kids, "We should be thankful to God for what he has blessed us with."

It is also very touching to see Noelle actually cry with the featured families once they actually "move that bus" and they see the new house that they will be living in! I think this builds in them a healthy sense of empathy and a heart to "rejoice with them that do rejoice..."(Romans 12:15).

In an era where it is almost impossible to find wholesome television shows that you can watch with your children, I have to give it up to Extreme Makeover Home Edition for being a rarity among television shows!

What "family-friendly" shows do your family enjoy watching together?

Barefoot and Pregnant

[Image by: Shutter Daddy]

As I enter into the 2nd week of my 3rd trimester, I find that it is taking some extra special effort on my part not to complain. So, in efforts to not do that, I will turn my attention of some very real reasons for me to be thankful as I approach the end of this 4th pregnancy.

5 Reasons to Be Thankful in the 3rd Trimester of a 4th Pregnancy:

1. Believe it or not, I have unwittingly just about mastered the art of peeing in a cup.

2. I know exactly which arm has the "good vain" in it, which makes me a ray of sunshine for whichever tech has to draw my blood.

3. I have become quite a treat when it comes to interesting conversation for my midwives. When it comes pregnancy, birth, and post partum care, we find that I have stories. They have stories. I have stories. They have stories. We laugh, we joke, we could go on for hours!

4. I have come to terms with the fact that there is a special "wrath" I seem to direct toward hubby at the end of each pregnancy that really has nothing to do with him at all. Therefore, making it a bit easier to dismiss my misjudgements and to occasionally have a good laugh with him over how he can do no right in my hormone-clouded eyes.

5. I can rest assured that although the next few months may hold more aches and pains, a larger belly, and some sleepless nights, my vulnerability will inevitably draw me closer to the Lord. Besides, he really is the only one who is able to bear my attitude and my whining by the end of the pregnancy anyway. But, I know he cares and will carry me through, as he always does.

What about you? What kinds of things are you usually thankful for my the 3rd trimester of a pregnancy?

Around the Blogosphere

Don't you just love it when you're snooping around the internet and find out about some great new blogs? I have recently learned of 3 new blogs that I am enjoying and I thought I'd share them with you.

Yeye Says is a blog written by a friend of mine from college. She has always been hilarious and transparent and that combination comes across beautifully at her new blog.

She explains her blog by writing:

"Yeye Says is where I write about my experiences an thoughts, as well as connect with other mothers for support, advice, laughs, and camaraderie. Let’s talk babies, mother-wife balance, attachment parenting, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, vegetarianism."

Stuff and Nonsense is written by Alison, a wife and homeschooling mom of 4 children. She explains how she picked the name for her blog by writing:

"Stuff and Nonsense is a phrase from the book Anne of Green Gables that I adore. It was Marilla's way of saying, "Now that's just silly." To me the phrase struck a chord as a great way to describe our everyday life. Silly. And I'm okay with that because our home here on this planet is temporary and ephemeral. But while we're here we try and fill it with love and gusto.

So you have been warned. Read at your own peril."

Christian Children's Book Review was created by a group of Christian moms who explain:

"We're Christian moms who not only love books, but love helping our kids learn to love books - and the Lord. This blog is our ministry, started because we couldn't find a comprehensive website of Christian children's picture book reviews. We hope you find it useful."

Moving From Fear to Faith

Let me tell you: the process of buying our new home was no piece of cake! In fact, I would describe the process as both long and grueling. Nevertheless, this process was one of the major life events that not only tested my faith, but brought me into a new understanding of the Lord.

Does God care about how long this is taking? Does he see how overwhelmed I am? What does he think? What lesson am I suppose to be learning? How do I get out of this test? What does God want from me? Am I believing enough? Am I doing enough? What is God's plan in this situation?

Oh friends, these are just some of the questions that raced through my mind as we went through many ups and downs during the homebuying process. I can't say that my faith was as strong as it should have been at each point. But, I continued to grow.

It would take me endless hours to really explain in great detail all the times and ways that the Lord showed up and worked out "the kinks" in order to get us to that great closing date. So, I will just tell you that he was awesome and faithful and on time;)

Furthermore, the following quote by Nancy Leigh DeMoss really captures some of lessons and insights I gained throughout the process. I love this quote and I have found it to be so true!

Worship God. Trust Him. Let Him teach you. Let Him speak.

Stop complaining. Stop wrestling. Stop doubting. Stop questioning God.

God is not indifferent, as Habakkuk had thought that maybe He was. God is not insensitive. God is not impotent. God is not passive.

God is in His holy temple. God is on His throne. God is in control, and God isn't just this great, cosmic God in control of the universe who somehow is letting the little details and circumstances of your life slip through.

He's not asleep. He's awake. He's alert. He's alive. He's active.

He's working in your life, on your behalf, in your circumstances, in your home, in your church, in your world. God is on His throne, so be quiet.

Don't fret. Don't be perturbed. Don't be disturbed. Don't be anxious.

In His perfect time, He will accomplish His purposes, so in the meantime, stand before Him in humble silence, in reverence, in awe. Trust in Him. The righteous shall live by his faith.

~Nancy Leigh DeMoss from the series Habakkuk: Moving From Fear to Faith

A sad day...

in the world of modest fashion.

Perhaps you have heard that Christa~Taylor will be closing its online store on December 30th. You can check out her blog for more details.

Her store will be greatly missed by many; however, she explains on her blog that she is trying to follow the leading of the Lord in this and that she will actually be a "personal consultant" to any young woman interested in starting a online clothing store!

If you are interested in buying anything else from the store, you will pleased to find that all prices have been slashed!

Mission: D & D

Imagine an inner-city gal turned surbanite.

What is happening here? You mean I don't have to drive around the block for 30 minutes only to find a parking space 4 blocks from my apartment? You mean I don't have to carry my groceries up 3 flights of stairs? What? No carrying 3 sleep children up those same stairs on nights we come home late? You mean to tell me there is no debris outside my door unless I put it there? Huh? No graffiti? No homeless guy sleeping in the entryway of the apartment? What is this strange land?

Okay, okay. As you can see, I am enjoying my new home and my new neighborhood. However, I do have a confession to make: after being here for a few weeks, I was beginning to really, really, really, miss one inner-city luxury: being able to walk 3 short blocks to Dunkin Donuts from my aparment.

Hubby has been driving our only mode of transportation into the city everyday to work. This leaves me home to enjoy our yard and whatever I can get to on foot: which didn't seem to be much... until today.

See, we don't live far from a major street that pretty much has everything on it once you drive west about 40mph for about 2-3 minutes. However, that street has no sidewalk and I would surely be mistaken for a pregnant hitchhiker with 3 kids if I attempted to walk down it. Not happening.

However, last week I drove east at 40 mph for about 1 minute down the same street and to my surprise, just past a long fence and a street of trees, I noticed a small strip mall. A strip mall with a Dunkin Donuts in it! "OMG! could I make it there on foot somehow?" I thought to myself.

Again, there is no sidewalk, so I knew I would have to devise a plan to take some kind of "back road." So, every time we drove home in the car, I began longing and staring in the direction of my desired destination, trying to figure out if it could be done. Today, I made my move.

After breakfast, I got the kids ready and I headed east down a residential block with fire in my eye and determination in my heart. I figured I would walk as long as I could to see if I could get to my destination in a reasonable amount of time and if not, I'd turn back. No need to torture the kids for a cup a java...yet;)

We walked about 5-6 blocks east. These blocks are not regular blocks, mind you. They are those long "suburban" blocks that equal about 1 and 1/2 city blocks. Still, we pressed on. And then: a dead end!

"Nooooooooooo!" I thought. "Its right there, but its blocked by this huge fence!" Nevertheless, I proceeded to walk toward the fence anyway. Was my plan to throw my kids and my stroller over the fence and jump it, you ask? Well, like I said, I am an inner-city gal. But no, I just still had a ray of hope in my coffee-addicted heart.

And wouldn't you know, just to the left of that fence was a small hill. And right over that hill was the parking lot of my brand new, suburban Dunkin Donuts.

Mission Accomplished.

My Biggest, Most Expensive Gift

Oh gosh. It has been a while since my last post. So much has happened since my birthday and I haven't been able to update you. No, I didn't decide that my 28th birthday would be last day of blogging. However, it was the last day of alot of things. Allow me to explain...

In response to my birthday post, Tiffany wrote:

"Happy Birthday! I hope you get the biggest, best, most expensive gift you've ever received:)"

Guess what? Her wish came true. Was it chocolate? you say? Nope. Nevertheless, hubby did come through on the chocolate by bringing home a fudge brownie cheesecake!

But, this big, expensive gift was not edible. Can you guess what it might have been?
I'll give you some hints:

1. I've been hoping to get one for a long time.

2. Hubby and I picked this one out together.

3. Writer's cramp was involved in the process of getting it. But, I was happy to have it.

Have you figured it out? Here is a picture for your viewing pleasure:

The picture is small, but I am working on taking more so you can see what I see:) God is so good, I can't even process Him! The past two weeks have been full of wonderful trips to Home Depot and delightful debates over which refrigerator to buy.

I may not be able to get the blogosphere as much as I would like as we get settled, but I will keep you updated!

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

~Psalm 116:12-14

28 on the 29th!

Today is my 28th birthday!

I haven't planned to go anywhere in particular today; nevertheless, I have hopes that this day will bring some sort of chocolate my way!

Birthdays are a wonderful time to reflect on the love of Jesus. After all, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him and I wouldn't have made it this far if it wasn't for him! So, I am jamming today to an old favorite by Kirk Franklin: Love. I especially love the version in the clip below because it features CeCe, of course:)

I'm over here thinking about all the ways God has loved and cared for me "down through the years" and singing along with Cece and Kirk; "He loves me, He loves me, He loves me." Why don't you help me celebrate by listening and joining in too!