Baby Nesting

About 6 weeks or so prior to my due date, my nesting urge started kicking in.  I sat down to list out the projects that needed done or I simply *wanted* done before this baby arrived.  I broke the list down into priority levels so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed just by the sheer size of the list. 

1's
Find and establish as patients family doc/ped for this baby to see after birth - DONE!
Find and set up with doc/mohel for circ - DONE!
Pick and process garden produce (this is ongoing but needs done badly this week) - DONE!

2's
Birthkit set up/ordered - DONE!
Post partum supplies ready - DONE!
Laundry room shelves reorganized (included diapers sorted) DONE!
Master bedroom closet shelf repurposed for baby clothes and needful items - DONE!
Organize my recipe binder - DONE!
Whirlpool tub and jets deep cleaned - DONE!
Set up appts. for prenatal chiro care - DONE!
Set up appts. for eye exams for at least 2 children - DONE!
Set up appt. for hair cut for me - Done!
Set up dental appts for children - DONE!
Plan and schedule Freezer Meal Shower with ladies from church - Done!

3's
Order new prefolds - bought some at used sale and another friend is giving me some of hers that she doesn't need anymore, so I'm waiting on ordering. - DONE!
Buy new towels for baby - Gifted - DONE!
Order/Buy nursing bras
Freezer meals (this is ongoing each week, but I want a good supply ready a month or so before baby comes) - DONE!
Organize/sort newborn items (dipes, blankets, clothes, shoes, socks, etc.) - DONE!
Sort, cull, and organize five youngest (girls') clothes - all seasons - winter gear- DONE!
Deep clean/shampoo van, seats, and car seats. Put in extra van seat and rearrange car seats. Set up organization of some fashion.

4'sOrganize and clean out kitchen cabinets/fridges/freezers
Get rid of boxes of books/clothes/curriculum for donation/sell - DONE!
Resort shelves in school room

As the days and weeks rolled on, I enlisted helpers and plugged away at the list, breaking it down week by week and tackling the heavy duty stuff first.  UGH!!

 Sorting and culling clothing and storage spaces...

 

Tackling the garden produce....

 

Conquering the laundry room...

 

 

Happily sorting and laundering baby clothes and gifties...

 

 

Setting up baby's little nest in our bedroom.  Clothes sorted into dollar store bins on the closet shelf, hanging clothes tucked into the little space at the end of the closet rod....

 

 

And a sweet little nest for nursing and swaddling.

 



I have to say, there is some great feeling of accomplishment to see some of these projects getting done.  See what a blessing babies are? What else would motivate me with such fervor?

 
Along with getting some deep cleaning and organizing done, I needed to be sure I had all my supplies on hand and set up for our home birth.  Because I’ve been able to win the battle over gestational diabetes and no other risk factors have come up, we are, once again, planning for a home birth to welcome this sweet baby.  This will be our fourth baby born at home, if all goes as planned, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the blessing that this is to us.  Welcoming babies into our arms in the safety of our own home surrounded by the most amazing midwives and helpers is one of the best gifts I’ve known as a mother.

Once the supplies, baby clothes, and baby gear were all set and ready, it was time to get busy on filling our freezer with yummy, nutritional meals.  The children and I have been working to double meals here and there throughout the weeks.  My neighbor graciously came a few times to help me with meal preparations.  These have both been a great help. 

Then, we had our Big Finale.  My two oldest girls hosted a Freezer Meal Baby Shower for me just this past week.  I have to say, it was A.m.a.z.i.n.g.

The girls sent out invitations to the guests, most of which were ladies from our church family.  With the invitation they sent a list of ingredients and supplies the guests could bring to contribute to the meals and preparation of them.

Baby Shower Supplies List:

onions

mushrooms

spinach

celery

raw cashews

raw sunflower seeds

unsweetened applesauce

canned chickpeas

whole wheat lasagna noodles

potatoes

whole wheat pastry flour

canned cannellini beans

Here are a few non-perishable items if you would like to bring any:

quart Ziploc bags

foil pans

aluminum foil

Also, if you have cutting boards, knives, a blender, and/or a food processor please bring them so we will have enough tools to work with.

Thank you so much for all your help and willingness to help. I pray that this will continue to be a blessing to my mom and that, above all, our Lord would be glorified, even in our getting together to prepare food! Thank you again!

While they were busy contacting people, I got busy making a list of meals that we would work on preparing together that day. 

Soup & Stir-fry Starter Bags (gallon sized bags filled with diced onion, mushrooms, celery, carrots, and chopped greens)
Bean Bags (quart sized bags filled with diced onion, mushrooms, and chopped greens. We add these to cooked legumes)

Stuffed Shells (with cashew ricotta)

Pasta Broccoli Alfredo (with vegan alfredo sauce)

Pasties (a family favorite: ground venison, potatoes, onion, mushroom filing in a whole wheat pocket crust)

Falafel Nuggets (great for lunches on the go)

Scalloped Potatoes (with added mushrooms)

Buffalo Chickpea Dip

Ranch Dressing

Bean Burgers (a friend made these ahead and brought them ready to freeze)

I was so blessed to have seven ladies plus their very eager and willing children fill my kitchen on a Saturday morning.  Before they arrived, I set up work stations designated for specific meal preparations.  I had my recipes (in plastic sleeves) at each station to direct the teams there in what needed to be done.

Everyone got busy washing, chopping, rolling, blending, processing, cooking, and laughing as we worked to pack away 12 complete meals, about 12 Soup Bags, nearly 20 Bean Bags, and a batch of salad dressing in the freezer.  What an accomplishment!!

After enjoying a well-earned lunch of Sweet Corn Chowder, Venison Chili, Salad with roasted chickpeas, homemade breads, bean burgers, gingerbread spice cake with date caramel sauce, and Peanut Butter Munchy Squares, they all started back up again making my kitchen *magically* clean.  I’m telling you, I haven’t felt this loved on in a long while!



So now, the Nesting is just about finished.  We are just 3 days until my due date and my body is ready to do some RESTING for a bit. 

As I looked back over my list and the amount that I was able to accomplish, I’m rather impressed.  Yet, I have this nagging thought in the back of my mind.  I know what’s coming with the challenge of labor and birth.  I know the battle I’ve been trying to ignore in my mind and heart as the months of this pregnancy have progressed.  I know that I’ve been in overdrive to accomplish tasks because the work of that keeps me from the reality of what lies ahead.  It’s time for me to set aside the busy-work and get down to the real work of preparing my heart for the work of labor. 

This week I’ve chosen to let my body rest while my soul does the hard work of repentance, cleansing, meditating, reflecting, searching, seeking, and restoring itself to the One who knows of the unknowns that cause me to fear.  As I work in my journal copying scripture, quotes, lyrics, and just writing out my thoughts, the Lord is doing His work in me. 

My lesson right now is to learn the meaning of what it is to be steadfast in the Lord, following His example, learning and trusting in His promises, and relying on this time of study to change me that I might better reflect Him in the trials so as to be stronger in the victories.  Please pray for me in the coming days, that I would embrace this birth fully and grow closer to the Lord because of it.

 

 

    "If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him, if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents; Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear. For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.  Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning. Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. " Job 11:13-18 



SEVENTEEN!!!

Okay, I admit it. I spent the day on the verge of tears watching our gorgeous, amazing, precious oldest child turn SEVENTEEN right before our very eyes.

 

In fact, I'm going to have to restrain myself even now from too much elaboration on my thoughts regarding this day. Watching my oldest child grow into a young adult is difficult to put into words. The words get all jumbled and then the tears start to form and well, tears + keyboard = wet short circuiting mess, right? Yeah, let's not go there.

 

 

I was able to write this up a few nights ago: Our baby girl!! I've been walking around in tears all day. See that beauty there? That's just a glimpse of the true beauty within. Elizabeth's love for the Lord and God's word shine. She amazes, humbles, and challenges me daily. I truly never grasped how grateful I could be for the privilege of being someone's mother. God has been so gracious to give us this precious girl.

 

When Elizabeth was dedicated as a baby we chose this as her life verse. Just imagine how much more that means to us now, looking back all these years.

 

"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him (her) to the LORD; as long as he (she) liveth he (she) shall be lent to the LORD." 1 Samuel 1:27-28

 

For Elizabeth's special day we enjoyed a quiet breakfast with just her and David and I early in the morning. Then we picked up the rest of the gang and headed to Kittery Trading Post so she could pick out her gift, a new bow for our lovely Medieval Princess.

 

We stopped for a special lunch out at one of her favorite restaurants (really, one of the only restaurants she likes to eat at) where she studiously kept at her schoolwork so as not to get behind.  She's a keeper, I tell ya'!

 

Dinner with the fam that night was her pick of Curried Rice with Carrots and Chickpeas and a large salad.  Almost no one in the fam really likes curry besides Elizabeth, so this was a real treat for her.

 

A yummy, simple dessert of Apple Nachos topped with peanut butter-date drizzle and a heart shaped raw brownie made everyone smile. Yum!

 

I'm watching this young lady grow and bloom before my eyes. I am in awe.  I think of the words to the song, "Sunrise, Sunset" from one of our favorite movies, Fiddler on the Roof:  "I don't remember growing older, when did they??"  That's how I feel when I look at my precious baby girl. 

 

 

Yet, I do know that I have become so much more from the gift of being her mother.  I'm so grateful to the Lord for choosing this journey for me and blessing me with such a person to learn with and from along the way.

 

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127: 3-5  

Sharing Our Journey

As I've shared before, this past year our family took on a new adventure.  After a three week Daniel Fast, we moved to a Whole Food Plant Based diet.  As a fun way to track our progress, we decided to get a photo of ourselves on the 10th of each month. We started this on July 10th, and I wanted to get to our anniversary the following year on June 10th and see just how much we had changed together.

I have to say, it's amazing to look at these photos. Yes, it's a big transformation on the outside, but that barely tells the story of how we've grown on the inside. 

With all this change, we've been asked often about what has made the biggest impact on our health.  It's fun to share with others what we are learning and how we make it work.  We've had many friends and family join us in working toward a life filled with foods that are rich in nutrients and enjoying improved health as they go.

Recently, we were invited to speak at a lunch meeting for a company in Maine.  This was the first time we had done anything formal and it was such a great event! 

 

We prepared a power point presentation, packed up our trusty kitchen machines, a packet of recipes and menu ideas, and some samples of our favorite foods to share with everyone. 

We spoke twice that day, sharing our story with about 65 people.  We were so encouraged by the positive feedback we received from both groups.  My dear friend who coordinated the event was very excited by the large turnout. 

I loved this opportunity.  It was such a treat to work with David on a presentation like this. I loved it that some of the children were there helping us. Benjamin took on the challenge of doing the video work. Once he gets the editing done, I just might have that to add to this post.

 

It would be great to have more opportunities to speak and share our story.  In the meantime, we continue to learn, work hard, and look at new opportunities in encouraging and helping others find healing and strength from the Lord and the foods He has created uniquely for us to thrive on.