Free As a Bird Far, Far Away

stunt belly

I haven't posted in a while.  Pregnancy is taking a serious toll on my brain these days.  Activities that require lots of computation- out.  Activities that are based on a set of explicit instructions or require nothing but respiration on my part- in. It's not that I feel bad.  I'm just here.

cutie patootie baby pants

I've been having days of on-again, off-again contractions that look promising, but go nowhere.  This suits me to a 'T,' as after about 6 hours of this, I come to the somewhat irrational decision that staying home is fine and that Mr. Flavius is perfectly capable of catching the little one when she comes.  Of course, this is a pretty lousy plan considering the fact that I'm taking a goodly amount of anti-clotting drugs and they pose a real risk to my health after delivery.  Thank heavens for Mr. Flavius, who I married because (among many other reasons) he told me, "No" (a word I seldom heard growing up or among my friends and beaus).

more baby pants

These are the days that I am grateful beyond belief for priests, readers, and choirs that carry me along during Liturgy; for children content to play with blocks or playdoh, while I sew little pajama pants for our little baby that will be here sooner than later; and the capable women and men of the internet.

We made a huge batch of Food Renegade's Double Fermented Kombucha.  My most successful fermented endeavor to date.

Then my googling led me to an excellent article on the hows, whys, and whens of using corn syrup or another substitute, by David Lebovitz.

Made by Rae, baby tights

And finally, because I am currently obsessed with things that cover baby behinds, a tutorial from Made By Rae on how to make baby tights, which are so adorable I want to make a dozen pairs.

I hope all of you are well!  God bless!

    

24 days to go . . .

and I'm in a brain fog.  I wish I could rally to get some last minute things done, but I'm not succeeding.  Here is a photo journal of our latest escapades.

we went to the Stock Show

I saw my future (just kidding)

the kids ran wild

my new favorite lunch

we made some ugly dolls and the boys learned to sew

the girls were silly

really silly

we made bottle cap brooches for St. Valentine's day

our co-op order came

E. took 45 pictures just like this one

Reason #19: Why We Askew Industrially Extruded Breakfast Cereal.

Amazing and gross all at the same time.

Our oldest N. is a budding scientist and has had a stellar run of helpfulness and good behavior as of late.  So we thought we would reward him with a little happy book of science experiments and a promise of Science Fridays around the Motherworks-Flavius household.  The above experiment in all it's metallic glory is in the book.  Check it out here (Scribd) and here (Amazon).

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I feel stuck in a rut.  Partly it is due to lack of energy.  I feel a bit like the first definition of inertia.

Prayers are coming out forced (when they come out).  Meal planning has taken a backseat to the aforementioned malaise.  Maybe it is pregnancy?  Maybe it is the transition from summer back to school?

I was reflecting in my waking moments this morning that I felt like I hadn't discovered my 'nitch' yet.  I have friends who have moved passed the baby/toddler stage and are developing talents and interests in ways that I've not yet done.  I'm not envious, but it doesn't help the stuck-between-gears feelings.

Things I know right now.  Lunch will be a bowl full of hearty minestrone (thank God that is done).  Also, I know that this will pass away.  One of the ideas I've been toying with is spending sometime drawing or watercolouring in the mornings.  I'm not an exceptionally creative person, but  enjoy it and it could help.

Mr. Flavius and I have been slowly trying to find a baby name for this new little blessing.  Our boys all bare the names of the Patriarchs of the Faith and thus a boy's name has been easy.  Girl's names have historically been tough for us and this time is no different.  We are toying with the idea of going Greek or at least looking to the calendar to narrow some of our choices.  We shall see.  I have been praying for a saint to reveal themselves in this matter and thus save me from the name-game-arguments-frustration etc . . .  and it is possible that one has.  We shall see.  March is still a long way off.  In the meantime, enjoy this blog that our wonderful Matushka directed me to.