It doesn't even take a green thumb to grow vegetables

All it takes is having a compost hole.  Some time ago, we discovered seedlings in our old compost hole.  We were curious as to what might be growing.  I guessed squash.  Turned out to be these cute little pumpkins.  I can't even try to take credit for it.  When I mention that we are growing pumpkins, Noah would say that they grew all by themselves.  He is right.  We had nothing to do with it.  God gifted us with these seedlings and I am grateful that sometimes vegetable gardening is not hard at all.

Baby is 15 weeks old

I find that I have to go to the bathroom more frequently, especially during the night.  My uterus is considerably larger.  I've gained 2 pounds.  Maybe more.  It depends on when I weigh myself.  I had a bout with hives last week that I hope is not pregnancy related.  Usually towards the end of my pregnancy I would get these really itchy little red bumps on my belly.  I attribute that to the stretching of my skin.  The hives came without explanation and was quite intolerable.  For now, I feel well and am still very happy every time I feel the baby move.

Loveliness

We went to the grocery store and bought a few items.  The 20 things in the picture cost me $1.40.  Did you notice that the yogurt was organic?  Healthy food CAN be had and it doesn't have to break the bank.  On the way out of the store, I was stopped by some beautiful roses.  It was the color that made them irresistible to me.  I debated whether I should spend $5 on these gorgeous 10 stems.  I am glad my frugal side lost out this time.  I sent Chris a picture of the roses and told him that he could have them.  And give them to me, if he'd like.  He did.  Now, I don't have to feel like I splurged.  The children wondered what the occasion was.  I told them that we needed this little bit of loveliness in our home today.  And just because.  And I got my husband to treat me with them in the end, so I think it turned out to be a very good shopping day.

P.S.  I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging about how little I spent on my groceries today.  I can waste money with the best of them.  I just wanted to demonstrate that God does provide and eating healthy can be done, even on a budget.

Potty training under way

I've put off potty training Noble for long enough.  With the other children, when they turned 18 months, we tackled potty training and everyone learned quickly.  Noble is 21 months and not getting any younger.

Noble certainly didn't want to sit on the potty after the initial curiosity.  I had to make him sit.  And sit.  And sit.  It's good that he drinks a lot.  We usually don't have to wait long after he sits before he'll pee.  Then we both clap.  After awhile, he caught on that clapping meant that he did well and could get up so he tried clapping too soon, before he peed.  And wanted to get up.  He was quite unhappy when I wouldn't let him up.  We've had accidents, here and there, but all downstairs because I've purposed to stay downstairs with him without his pull-ups on these past few days.  I'm so glad we changed out the carpet in the living room.  Even when he pooped on the floor, it wasn't a big deal.  Today, he actually sat on the potty by himself and pooped!  I was so thrilled.  He got a Kixt Kat chocolate.  I haven't been rewarding him because he seemed to be peeing regularly in the potty but I'm going to make sure he knows how wonderful it is that he's going number 2 in the potty.  This really hasn't been that hard.  His siblings felt sorry for him when I first had to make him sit and he'd wail but now he doesn't.  He's learning self control, I believe.  It's only been a few days and he's certainly not potty trained yet, but I'm encouraged that we are having fewer and fewer accidents.  I now take off his diaper first thing after he wakes up and I'll put him on the potty directly.  We are down to using only 1 diaper for the night and one pull-up during the day.  Wished I'd started earlier.  Potty training is really the parent being committed to not putting a diaper on the child and consistently using the potty.  I really don't mind that it seems that we're occupied with the potty all day long.  Better than changing diapers.  And so much better for his skin.  It's amazing how much joy a little child can give just by going in the potty.  It's so nice to see him happy with his own accomplishment and clapping with delight.  I am so happy that I can have the privilege of being the one to coax all these milestones.  That I don't have to find out about them happening to my child.  That I get to be one to experience the fullness of my child learning a new skill.  God has given me such a good life.

Can swimming be done modestly?

I think so.  The girls are wearing swim dresses made of swim suit material.  They have rash guards and swimming shorts underneath.
Everyone wears rash guards in our family because it's very helpful.  It keeps our torsos and arms from getting sunburned.  Why is it modest for men to be topless?  We believe boys and men should be clothed and not half dressed.  Same principle applies with the opposite sex, of course. 

What is it about the beach and other swimming places that make clothes so unnecessary?  Because of the activity and the location, one can be seen wearing underclothing?  Men, save your hairy chests (or lack of) for your wives.  Ladies, please don't tempt my boys with how little clothes you can get away with.

It's just too bad that swimming has become an x-rated activity.

How about some modesty quotes?

Modesty is the color of virtue.  Diogenes of Sinope


Modesty used to be considered a natural female attribute. No more.  Linda Chavez


As blushing will sometimes make a whore pass for a virtuous woman, so modesty may make a fool seem a man of sense.  Jonathan Swift





Modesty is the conscience of the body.   Honore de Balzac


 No education can be of true advantage to young women but that which trains them up in humble industry, in great plainness of living, in exact modesty of dress.   William Law

Nothing can atone for the lack of modesty; without which beauty is ungraceful and wit detestable.  Richard Steele

Baby is 14 weeks old

I think I feel the baby moving.  I say I think because they are so light but they are definitely there.  Coming from my uterus.  One of the best parts about being a woman.

Update:  After I got off the computer and went to bed, almost immediately I started to feel a very obvious "hic".  Then another and another...  Right where my uterus is.  It went on for a couple of minutes.  I was thrilled to update that "think" to "know".  I know my baby has hiccups and I can feel the baby's little movements.  I don't know of another sensation that I can compare it to.  Quite exhilarating!

I have been praying that I could feel the baby very soon.  14 weeks is fairly soon, I believe.  God is so faithful in answering prayers.  

Old look or new look

What do you think?