Pregnancy Blues?

I try to be a source of encouragement. I try to be in a positive spirit.

Lately though, I have been the one in need of encouragement.

I haven't felt like myself. It feels like most days I have no drive, no ambition, no motivation. Someday's I have all of that. I get a lot accomplished, just to watch it all fall apart again. Why do I even bother? That seems to be where my mind leads me.

Everywhere I look there is something that needs to be done. Whether it's stuff to put away, toys to pick up, laundry to be done, kitchen to clean for the third or fourth time that day, you know how it is. I've been so discouraged.

My emotions have been under control pretty well though. I haven't really had anymore crying outbursts, thank God. But I have been aware that I'm just not myself. Maybe it's the lack of sleep due to the pregnancy induced carpal tunnel..

I have started to feel stressed out, and overwhelmed. I'm 26 weeks today, and I'm completely aware that the baby could come in 10 weeks, I pray not before then. My husband has been working really hard to get our basement finished so we can move the girls' playroom downstairs, and get the baby's room all set up. I'm thankful we kept the cribs, dresser, and swings from the girls, but we have had to start over from the beginning. I haven't acquired much yet. I've bought some clothes for her, from a girl that was getting rid of her baby clothes, but other than that, we still have a lot to get.

I know babies don't need a whole lot in the beginning, but she needs more than what we have for her. I think with all these thoughts of what I still need to do and get, and the demands of two four year olds, is really stressing me out. I am not a wait till the last minute type of girl. That will send me over the edge.

At this point, there are no plans of a baby shower, so I'm trying to get what I can, when we can. I know these are all normal things, and I'm not the only person to ever feel this way, so I'm not trying to have a pity party, I just needed to talk about it.

I talked with a friend the other night about how down I have felt lately. I didn't know if this was normal or not to feel so down. With my first two pregnancies I didn't have these feelings. I feel so bad for feeling the way that I do.

She reassured me that it's completely normal, I am not a nut job. Haha! I am a mom who is adjusting to the fact of having a third child. She also told me that when her life gets messy, it's when she has been trying to go at it alone. She hasn't been letting God take the lead. How true that is. I have had that realization too. I have noticed that when I don't make time for God, things are so out of control.

Yesterday God led me to two different posts by a godly woman of 8 boys. It was so helpful for me. He always gives us what we need, when we need it. I know that He will provide everything we need for this little nameless baby girl too. I just have to give it all over to Him.

Thank you Jesus for your grace and love. And thank you nameless friend for your encouragement.

Dear readers, if you would be so kind, could you say a prayer for me though? I would greatly appreciate it. With God's help, I will feel like "me" again, soon. :)

Here are the great posts written by Brandy.

Dear Overwhelmed Mother of Little Ones
What Moms Need: Week 1 – GOD

This makes me smile though

Happy six months!

Happy six months baby girl. Today marks 24 weeks.

I just wanted to share an update with my lovely readers.

What a great 6 months it has been! This little girl has been kicking so much lately, it's truly an unbelievable experience. I'm so thankful for another opportunity to experience this all again, complications free.

This has been my easiest pregnancy so far. 1 out of 3 isn't too bad...right? I just keep praying it stays this way. I thank God everyday for this blessing and even more prayers of thanks for the blessing of no complications! God is good!!

I'm not saying it's been a bed of roses, but compared to my others it has been. There are a few downfalls though...

~My husband told me he thought I'd gained about 40lbs, when I told him I had only gained 10....must.not.choke.him. ;) It's ok, I love him anyways!

~In case you have missed this one...the pregnancy hormones. Oh my goodness. I do really, really, really well 95% of the time, but then they hit, and it seems as if I've stepped outside my own body and I'm looking in. I seriously cannot help it. The smallest thing will send me into tears.

The experience seems to last for a few days and then I'm fine.Then I look back on it, and I feel embarrassed at how the silliest and smallest things would make me cry. Maybe it's better to be upset about nothing, then upset about something that matters? I'm just thankful my husband has realized, it's much easier to be supportive and encouraging than try to get upset with a hormonal  pregnant woman. Gosh, I love him! ;)

~The worst one so far is the pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. I have to wear braces at night, just so I can get a little sleep.  I KNOW that I could have it worse, because I have, so I try not to complain too much. It just kind of stinks because it hurts. But our baby girl is worth it.

I'm starting to get a little excited about this baby. Not that I haven't been excited, I'm just letting myself really feel it now. I guess you can say I try to guard my heart. May seem silly to you, but I really can't help it. Loss is never easy to experience.

~I have such a hard time standing at the sink to wash dishes now! I'm hoping the end result will be that my hubby will start washing them?? Hmmm...I can wish, right?! Maybe he will...

I do not feel guilty that I serve lunch whenever possible on paper plates. Sorry for all my green readers out there..

Someday's I have great motivation and others, I don't have ambition to do anything, other than the necessary to get through the day with everyone all in one piece, and the house not be a complete and total disaster.

Hey, it's just a season of life right now. It will change and get better! I'm just thankful that the hormonal days where even listening to K-LOVE puts me in tears, are just every so often. Maybe every couple weeks. That's not too bad, right? I'm really trying to sound positive here, and hope I'm not a total nut! HAHA!

One positive? I HAVE NOT BACKED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR, YET, WITH THIS PREGNANCY.

My husband thanks me.

What Has Happened To Me?

Since we moved a year ago, I'm not quite sure what has happened to me.

My house seems like it's in a constant state of shock. I feel like everywhere I look there is a mess to clean up, stuff to put away, clutter here and there, and everywhere. And did I mention the construction zone? Yeah, we have one of those.

I used to have it more together than this. I have gotten away from meal planning, trying new recipes, all the things I used to do. Why?! I have no idea!!

Being almost 6 months pregnant isn't helping my situation any either. I like to do a quick clean up AFTER the girls are in bed, but now, after they go to bed I just want to put my feet up and relax.

It's not just being a good homemaker that I've been struggling with, it's taking the time to spend with God. I really do feel that every aspect of my life is messy and in need of a makeover. From time with the Lord, right down to my laundry room.

I'm sure I will pull myself out of this rut that I'm in. I have tried really hard this last year to not compare myself with other people, and I've pretty much stopped reading certain blogs that I was. I found myself putting myself down because I felt I didn't compare. You know what though? I'm sure they don't have it as together as it seems. I like to keep it real...

This was my living room today as I was sorting baby clothes I had just got and my girls were having a hayday!



Please share with me what you do to keep your daily duties in order. Do you have a daily schedule you follow? A daily or weekly to do list. Do you get up hours before your children to keep up with everything? Do you meal plan? Follow a budget?

Please leave a comment below! 

My Recipe Binder

I thought I'd share how I organize my recipes. Since I generally print recipes from websites that I enjoy, I needed a place to store all of them in an easy to find way.

I started with a 1 1/2 inch binder, but that became way to small. I now have a 3 inch and it's pretty full, but still working for me.


I start by categorizing all my recipes. Beef, Chicken, Soup, Snacks, Sides, etc.

Then I place them in sheet protectors, using both sides to maximize my space.

This system works great for me. I can easily flip to whatever section it is I need. I keep my binder by my recipe holder by my stove. The page protectors keep the actual recipe page nice and clean.

This is what I have found to work great for me right now. How do you store your recipes? I'd love to know!