Show Us Your Life--Names

I was reading one of my favorite mommy blogs and the writer was participating in Show Us Your Life  hosted by Kelly's Korner.  This is the first time I had come across this meme/link-up.  It is pretty cool, because unlike some other weekly memes it has a different question to answer each week and they span a wide variety of topics.  This weeks topic was names for children/future children.  How appropriate!

Since probably the 2nd or 3rd grade I have been playing with name ideas for future children.  The number of notebook pages I have filled with baby names could be called nothing short of ridiculous.  It all started when I found a book of baby names my mom and dad used while trying to name me and my sister (it was all Gaelic/Irish names so I know it wasn't used in naming my brothers).  Over the years, I purchased/acquired a whole slew of different baby name books.  Perhaps I always knew I was meant to be a mother. 

On April 29th, 2007, Ish and I talked about the real possibility of getting married for the first time--it had been talked about briefly in passing before that.  The discussion naturally led to the topic of children.  That was the first time we talked about baby names together.  Since then we have talked about baby names several more times.  When I became pregnant with the Diplomat, our choices for names were pretty much solidified.

If the Diplomat is a girl, we have picked out the name Liliana Rae.  We would be calling her Lily.  For as long as I have been coming up with possible name combinations, some form of Lily has always been in the running.  When I suggested Liliana to Ish, he readily agreed.  We chose Rae in order to honor his mother.

If the Diplomat is a boy, he will be named after his father.  He will be an Ishmael Matthew (Ish's baptismal name, not his birth certificate name).  Originally we had decided on Ishmael Micah, but as my pregnancy has progressed, Ish decided that he would like a junior despite his distaste for the name Matthew.  My family has been trying to figure out a nickname in order to differentiate between my husband and potential Little Ish.  My mom has come up with Squish as the baby will be a squished down (smaller) version of his father.

Farm Photo Friday--05/07/2010

In April, Ish and I took a trip to The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy, NH.  I took quite a few photos, yet I never really bothered to post them--Ooops!  I have decided that I am going to have some fun and post them one by one every Friday over the next several months.  I may also include photos from our friends' farm that Ish has been spending a lot of his free time helping out on.  We shall see. 

East Hill Farm, Troy, NH--April 2010

Pregnancy Update: 33 Weeks and 4 days

I had a prenatal visit this morning--my first one with this particular midwife. It was fast and pretty much uneventful.

--I am still gaining weight, but I only gained half a pound over the past week and a half. As long as I am still gaining and the Diplomat is still growing, I am not going to worry about it.

--I have to hop on finding a pediatrician. I acquired some good advice from the midwife I saw today as to how to actually go about doing that.

--The Diplomat's heart rate is right where it should be.

--My blood pressure is still very low.

Oh High School AP Environmental Science...

...I am calling you out.  Pretty much everything I learned in that class came full circle to blame all the earth's problems on overpopulation. Well, I am still not buying it.

Daybook for 05/04/2010

FOR TODAY
(05.04.2010)
Outside my window... it is sunny with a beautiful breeze.  Even though my allergies are going crazy, we have the door open since the central air here at Chestnut Hollow seems to have gone kaput. Actually, it just sounds like we have a 747 taking off in the living room.  The maintenance man should be coming by soon (one of the benefits of living in an apartment).

I am thinking...about all the things I need to do before the Diplomat arrives.  Less than 7 weeks until our precious bundle of joy is due to arrive. 

I am thankful for...today being my husbands last day of teaching for Spring Semester.  3 weeks off and then the Summer Term begins.  The beauty of having a husband who works in academia.

From the kitchen...there isn't much at the moment.  Grocery shopping is happening tomorrow.

I am wearing...a short-sleeved green maternity dress, the super-cute flip-flops my sister gave me last year,  my glasses, and my engagement and wedding rings.  Have I mentioned how super excited I am that my wedding rings still fit?

I am creating...a baby blanket for Scott and Emily's baby.  I don't think it will be done in time seeing as the baby is due on Saturday and I still have about 14 inches worth of blanket to knit on size 6 needles.  It is coming along beautifully though.  I am really happy with the pattern--it is a King Charles Brocade bordered by a basic garter stitch.  I will post pictures once it is done.

I am going...to write several notes, letters, and cards that I have been procrastinating for no particular reason.

I am reading...a lot of articles here and there.  I need to settle into a new book.

I am hoping...that the Red Sox win tonight.  They had a 17-8 victory last night over the Angels, but one game isn't enough to give them a winning record.

I am hearing...beautiful birdsong.  There are some birds with really beautiful calls that live in the trees behind Chestnut Hollow.

Around the house...there is so much to be done before the Diplomat arrives.

One of my favorite things...is looking down and seeing the Diplomat squirming.  No one can explain the joy of having a tiny life moving around inside you; it is simply amazing.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Today: Taking care of some things around the house.  Writing some of those letters.
Wednesday: Grocery shopping and swimming.
Thursday: Prenatal Appointment
Friday: Nothing as of yet.
Saturday: Dinner with friends.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...Sorry no picture thought today.  My husbands monitor has a faulty cable and my external hard  drive is hooked up to the desktop. 

For more daybooks visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Cool Mother's Day Magazine Subscription Deals on Amazon!

I usually am not one to post steals and deals on my blog, but I was very excited when I logged on to my google reader this morning and read about this super deal on magazine subscriptions posted on Money Saving Mom.  Amazon has several magazines marked down to only $5 for a 1 year subscription. I took advantage of the subscription to Parents magazine which I have been wanting to subscribe to for a while.  I was just waiting for the right deal to come along.  Not only was this a great deal in and of itself, but I used a $5 gift card that I had received for using Swagbucks.  Thus, I got my subscription for free! 

Sweet deal huh?

A Confession and A Request

Sometimes one of the hardest things to do in life is to be honest with yourself. I find that this is often the case with my prayer life. I have a difficult time saying to myself, "Siné, you aren't spending enough time with God. You're not holding up your end of the relationship." In the times when I am honest with myself about my prayer life and the fact that it is in shambles, I create a ridiculously strict prayer regimen that usually ends up failing within a couple of days.

My current prayer life needs some major renovations, and I am trying to resist the urge to set myself up for failure by designing a superhuman prayer directive. Instead, I am making two realistic daily prayer goals. Seeing as it is May, the month dedicated to our Blessed Mother, I have made it my goal to pray the 7 Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary each day. I also will be praying a daily Rosary.

I ask you now for your prayerful support as I begin my journey back to a more fruitful prayer life. Also, if you have any intentions that you would like me to offer up in prayer, please leave a comment or e-mail me.