New Territory

I am about to embark on a new experience. Working. Not that I have never worked before, but I am taking on a real job! Mike's sister has been working for him as "Office Manager" for his business "Top Shelf Reconditioning" for the last 2 years. (since he bought the business) She told him a while ago (Or so) that she would be done working by the end of the summer. I have been wanting to be more involved in Mike's business for a while now, so I suggested myself as her replacement. It was a long and tedious application and interview process...

OK. There was really no process. If Mike doesn't know me after 10 years of marriage, then we are doomed to failure! (and for the record he knows me pretty darn well. I can't hide much if anything from him. I think he almost knows me better than I know myself, but not quite...) So after making the decision to "hire" me (which actually took a while to decide) I am about done with training and next week I go at it all by myself!

Now I will get to experience being a "working" mom. Although I will work from home and only be working about 10 hours a week. I am going to have to learn to balance everything...work, household chores, kids. Pray for this change in our lives. I really believe it will be a positive thing, but it will be hard for a while when the new baby comes. I am very excited about it and hoping that I will do a good job and not slack off too much... My boss, well, I don't want to get him mad!

Our crew

Here is a picture that was taken at Mike's sister's wedding in early June of our family. It will be outdated of course in a few months, but it is our most current picture.

Growing Pains

So, there are 50 days till my due date! 8 weeks! I am feeling the great urge to get things done... known to many as nesting. I have 3 meals in the freezer, organized the clothes in the basement,
plus I've been working on getting the office in better order, since I fully take over as "Office Manager next week! Life is very full right now, and most days I would say it is very good. Mike is working hard and keeping busy. I have to work to remind myself that this is a good thing, since he is not around as much these days. It came at the expense of him letting his employees go too. I am feeling hopeful towards the future though. I think Mike will be able to hire "D" back by the end of the year or in the beginning of next.

I am looking forward to being able to help Mike out with his business. I have been wanting to since we bought the business. I am praying life doesn't get to stressful as I try to be it all. Especially with the new baby coming so soon. I have been laughing at myself and at the excitement I have been feeling!

And... my Helen is gone. OK, she will be back on Saturday, but for now she is at camp... having a blast I am sure. She didn't look sad at all to be left there. She just went, excited, and didn't look back. I am glad she has grown so much to be able to go so happily. She is not the shy girl she was 4 or 5 years ago. She has grown into a girl I am very proud of.

Yes, I am happy for her... but I am sad for me. Not super sad, but almost with a tear in my eye.

So, there is much more to do... Here is my list:
Make as many freezer meals as I can (making 2 tonight while we eat chicken nuggets!)
Call the woman I want to be my Coach in Labor (need to make sure she is willing)
Make plans for the kiddos for while I am in labor and in the hospital
Back to school shopping... clothes, backpacks and supplies
Finish organizing the office
Unpack baby clothes and wash them all
Do some deeper cleaning that I never get to and will not get to until this baby gets to be 6m to 1 year.

I am sure there is more that I can't think of. And this is on top of all the other things... laundry, chores, kid watching, etc. that have to happen every day!

60 days!

So, I figured out today that I only have 60 days left until my due date. I am not sure I am ready, especially considering I have never made it till then in all my previous 5 kids! They have all come early and been on the large size of average. (No 6 pounders for me!) I have gotten the ball rolling with making freezer meals this week. My wonderful MOM is not coming out to help this time, so I feel I must be a little more prepared. I made freezer meals last time I was pregnant for the postnatal priod and it was awesome. On top of my mom's wonderful help, all the meals church, family, community members and friends brought me, which ended up being 2 or 3 weeks of meals, the meals in the freezer helped me out for another 3 weeks! the only problem is the foresight that it takes. On top of planning our normal meals, I need to plan the meals I am going to freeze as well. I have goe through stages where meal planning is easy. I am afraid that currently I am not going through such a stage. Oh well, I guess I need to get better at it!

here are some recent picts of Dimitri "helping"!