Anxious

Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks along, and as the days draw closer, I am feeling a bit more anxious about going into labor. It's not the actual labor that has me a little uptight, it's the fact that I have never gone into labor outside of the hospital. Since Josh and Jonathan were both induced, and I was given a date and time to show up at the hospital, it took all the suspense out of it. This time around, so far as I can tell, everything is going so normally that I will not need to be induced. While I am glad of this fact, it keeps me a little on edge. My schedule is in full swing between teaching, and soccer practice for both boys. I keep having this thought that I am going to be in the grocery store buying milk for my two "becerritos", and my water is going to break in the cereal section of
Bi-Lo...can you imagine the humilitation when they announce "Clean up on aisle 2" over the PA system, knowing it was from me!! Oh, the Hampton guardian will probably make a front page story out of it all. I am so thankful that my sister and I live in the same town. Since Luis works an hour away, she will take me to the hospital in case I can't wait on him. I know that will be a "labor of love" for her, especially with the thought of me not making it, and possibly having to give birth in her new Yukon XL, while she assists! HAHA....just kidding Marybeth...I'll do my best to not push until we hit Bamberg! I have been having lots of contractions (although nothing very regular). I am really more excited than anxious, but I would be lying if I said that there isn't a twinge now and again of "How's it going to all pan out". When I'm on the other side of it all, I'm sure there be a funny story to tell, and I'll look back and laugh...but for now, pray that I'm not sitting on the sidelines of Jonathan's first soccer game, giving birth to Little Lily who just couldn't wait any longer to see us all!

Got dirt??

..."some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

Remember our pitiful little school garden that the boys and I planted last year? Well, here are the watermelon plants now, that we transplanted into good, tilled, broken soil. Amazing the results when the ground is soft, properly watered and protected from the harsh direct sunlight. The weeds that had underground roots had been completely pulled out, the soil was turned and completely exposed so that the air, water and sunlight could penetrate places that had been hidden for years. Same plants...completely different results...what a powerful sermon in our tiny, healthy garden!

School's in session!!

Well, we have embarked on another school year here at the Parra household, and it has started with a bang! Yesterday was our official first day, and Josh woke up at 4:30 (at the sound of Luis's alarm clock). He was hungry (lately, he's ALWAYS hungry!) so he ate his cereal and hugged Dad goodbye for the day. At 5:30am, Josh decided he was too excited to wait any longer to start school. Since I was awake already, and in a semi-conscience state (haha), I seized the moment and we did Bible, Math and phonics from 5:30=7:30AM. We have NEVER done school so early...and probably will never do it so early again, ever...but the wonderful thing I have learned is that flexibility is key in homeschooling. Taking opportunity of every moment when the kids are excited to learn...use any situation to teach and train, without them even realizing that they are in "school" at the time. I am not, by nature, a very creative person, but with the Lord's help, he is stretching me as well. Josh ended up going back to bed for a couple hours after that and then we finished 2 more hours of work for the day. It was especially good for me to break up the schedule, since I get so tire towards the end of my pregnancy that naps do me a world of good when I can grab them! God is so merciful! Today we had another great day...we didn't start school until 11 and we worked until 3 with some short breaks here and there. I am so thankful that Josh has retained much of what he learned last year, and this first couple of weeks of review are boosting his confidence. He sees how much he has learned since last year, and is so proud of himself! Jonathan is unofficially in Kindergarten...since he just turned four, I decided to wait another year, but when he shows signs of wanting to learn, I jump at the chance to teach him in a fun, low keyed way. He has already learned most of his letters, and many of his sounds, so this year will really serve as a boost for his official Kindergarten year next school year.

In Josh's Bible class, we are beginning at the beginning, in Genesis, learning about Creation. I am always amazed how powerful the word of God is, even when it is brought down to a child's level. As we studied the seven days of creation, it hit me how the Lord did all of that work...all of the marvelous plants, animals, planets, seas...he spoke them all into being just for us. We are that special to him, that he spared nothing to create a place that was perfect for us. The fact that an all powerful, perfect God, would choose to do all of that for me and for you is truly awesome. What an honor that, quite frankly, I take for granted most of the time. It's so good to be reminded of how precious we really are as children of the King, and how he has and will continue to go to great lengths to draw us close to him so we can experience His presence every day, and one day, for all of eternity!

Here are some pictures of the boys on their first day of school. Enjoy!

Making a list, checking it twice...

Crib...check...Bassinett...check...stroller, car seat...check, check...diapers, wipes, creams, etc....CHECK...From what I can gather, all that's left now is to PUSH! YAY!

Let the games begin!

Well, soccer teams have been chosen, and the season is about to start. I absolutely LOVE watching the games. They can be very exciting. This is Jonathan's first season playing, and it should be interesting. He is one of the youngest players in his division (they had to be four years old by July 31, so he just made it!) At his age, there are no referees, and no throw-ins...the coaches do it all. It's mainly to teach them how to be a good teammate, and to remember which goal is theirs. (Both of which are not easy to accomplish at 4!) This is Josh's 4th season playing, and up until now, he has always had the same coach. This year, she is not able to coach, so it will be a bit of a change for all of us, but we are looking forward to his games. He is really fun to watch, and has improved a lot each season. Luis deserves much of the credit, as he is always so eager to practice with the boys, even after a hard day's work. No doubt, I'll be posting pictures soon!

Showers of blessings!

Yesterday, I had a baby shower, and we were so blessed by the wonderful time together, all the great food, and the many wonderful gifts that we received. I don't think that I have ever seen so many adorable, pink, frilly clothes in one sitting! Lily is definitely going to be a little princess! All I can say is that I hope the ultrasound was accurate!! I am thrilled about getting Lily's room ready, and the boys and I are taking on the challenge tomorrow. Along with all the clothes, we received many items that we will use to decorate her room, and make it really girly. Josh and Jonathan are really getting into all the fanfare. I have to say that they were most thrilled yesterday, because, after unpacking a stroller/carrier combo given to us by my parents ,brothers, sisters and a couple ladies from church, the boys played for hours in the huge box that it came in! Ahhh...gotta love kids and their imaginations! Here's some pictures that Marybeth took, showing some highlights from the shower. Thanks again to all who participated. We enjoyed every minute of it, and you helped to make us feel so special.

Trophy night

Here are some pictures from tonight's trophy night for Hampton's Little League baseball. Josh had a great time this season with his cousin, Matt, Uncle Robbie, and friends. They were the champions for their league, and received a special trophy with a plaque.


Uncle Robbie giving Josh his trophy


Josh, Sunnie and Tory

34 weeks...

We went to see Anna, one of my midwives, today for my 34 week check up. All things are going well. I lost two pounds...it seems like one week, I gain two, then the next I lose them again. Overall I have gained just 6 pounds! YAY! Josh especially loves going to my doctor visits...not because he is overly enthusiastic to know how much my belly has grown, or hear his little sister's heart beat(although, he does like to hear her), but I believe he has developed a crush on Anna. He was pretty pathetic today, and milked Anna's attention for all it was worth. She probably should have charged me for 2 visits! She is so sweet, and all I can say is that Josh has good taste! Hopefully Anna can put up with us for a few more weeks!!

I have another appointment in two weeks, then I begin going every week...home stretch! I am so thankful to the Lord that I have really felt pretty good throughout this whole pregnancy. I am looking forward to my baby shower this Saturday...I really wasn't expecting to have one, since this is our third child, but between my Sissy and our Church, they decided to throw one! Such a blessing!

School is scheduled to start on August 17th, and Josh will be entering second grade. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of his textbooks and my teacher's manuals. I was thrilled to find a homeschooling association that is almost exactly the same as the one I was using for the last two years, yet charges $200/year less for tuition! I am learning how to be frugal on only one salary...it's not always easy, but Luis and I have such great goals of being debt free in a couple of years, and I know the Lord is helping us find places where we can cut back here and there.

Well, those are the tidbits for now...love to all!

R.I.P.

As of Friday, July 31 at approximately 11:15 am, our air conditioning unit bit the dust. Complete with a boom and hissing for 5 minutes, our treasured unit sighed it's last breath, much to the dismay of those it was leaving behind. It lived a short lifespan of 10 years, performing it's best under the watchful eye of the previous owners, who now reside in Florida, and probably have no air issues whatsoever. It was a tumultuous relationship, marked with annual check ups from the air doctor. Official pronouncement of death has not been made, as the a/c MD has yet to grace us with his presence. Cause of death is unknown, however a suspicious chicken seen at the site is leading to a speculation of fowl play. The case is still under investigation, although there is little hope of closure at this point. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sweaty Arm Pit Society of Luray, South Carolina.

Shake, rattle and roll...

Today, I decided it was time to officially hang up the lawn mower keys, at least until after Lily is born. Luis had to work today, and also tomorrow, so I decided to cut the grass. I knew he'd be tired after work, but he'd still cut the grass, so I thought I would get it done so he could just rest. As I got to the back yard, which is the bumpiest part of all, I started thinking maybe it wasn't such a good idea for me, at nearly 34 weeks, to be doing this anymore. Is there such a thing as shaken baby syndrome in utero?? Well, just in case, I'll leave the mowing to Luis. When Luis pulled in, I was only halfway through. He said the same thing I was thinking, and asked me not to mow the lawn anymore...I kind of freaked myself out afterwards, because I didn't feel Lily moving like usual. I went in and drank a big glass of water, and lied down on the sofa....sure enough, after a few minutes, there she was again. (Phew!)