InBetween Days (and hours, minutes, moments)

We do not pretend to be the pavers of our path in life, and six weeks away from birthing the third baby that will render us outnumbered and in need of a larger method of transport, we're not exactly in the best place for making a decision on a "preferred" family size, anyway. However, it is very possible that this will be the last time I experience what it is to have little shoulders moving along the inside of my pelvis, wet hidden limbs moving around under my expanding abdomen, weird little parts poking me unexpectedly as I go about my daily business. Though I am ready to feel attractive again in the traditional sense, I have learned what it is to feel attractive in a primal, womanly, oh-so-very-round and motherly sense. I can not claim to have fully embraced my Venus of Willendorf-esque physique, but I do appreciate her being referred to as Venus.


As an aside, this represents the FIRST belly photo I've taken of Bean the Third. Today I'm 34 weeks along.

As the child within me (who does NOT yet have a name if she turns out to be female) grows and fattens and moves and grooves, our household dynamic seems to be shifting and expanding and falling into a groove of its own. Months of struggles with broken sleep, temper tantrums, and a three and a half foot tall package of general malaise had Derek and I at the end of ourselves. We prayed, we cried, we did the wrong things, we sought the advice of seasoned parents and anyone who'd listen to us. Finally, finally, we're getting more sleep, dealing with fewer fits, and listening to less whining. We might actually make it to Eden's fourth birthday.





(I'm sure Judah is just about to turn on us.)

I alluded earlier to our pressing need for a vehicle.


(Sorry, had to sneak that in there. What a little hot dog.)

We need a vehicle that will transport the ENTIRE family along with their governmentally-mandated restraint devices which, in our case, means a minivan. To be clear, I am not anti-minivan. I learned to drive in Vanna White (Get it? Get it?) and recognize their practical benefits. But allow me to mourn for a moment the end of an era:


This is a photo of me the day we bought the Jeep. Probably a lot of people have never had love for their cars as I have had for my Cherokee, the vehicle I dreamed and drooled over for 10 years before finally driving one. She has served me well, the sexy mama, and alas, the time has come to move on. (And by the way... if you know of a stable loving home who'd like to adopt her, we're taking applications. ;)