We're well into March now, and perhaps it is purely psychological, but the air feels different to me.
With less than a month to go to my due date, my energy is returning, and I suddenly feel an urgent need to organize the house even more than before! I have already washed and sorted all the baby clothes, and I have even laid out an outfit for either a girl or a boy. (We are expecting a girl, but hey, you never know.) It's nice that we have a collection of newborn clothes and receiving blanekts stored away for either gender, so I don't have to buy anything new for this baby.
Seeing those little clothes sitting there on the change table, I can't wait to meet our new little one.
I've gotten extra organized with homeschooling, so that things won't fall apart when the baby arrives. I have been working hard planning out the reading schedules for the rest of the school year (we use a literature based curriculum), and I have even planned out the booklists for next school year, so I won't have to do this in the summer. Yesterday, I popped into my favourite used book store, Juniper Books, and picked up a stack of children's books for a good price to add into our studies--some Newberry books, a lovely old illustrated book of Bible stories, and a bunch of science books. (I also got myself a really cool old cookbook, but I'm saving that for another post!).
Owen has already read all of these science books over and over. I wish now I had gotten more, they were so cheap. He's just a little sponge and soaks up all the science facts he can. It's so much fun to watch him grow into such an inquisitive little fellow.
Another thing I've done is ordered some herb seeds from Mountain Rose Herbs. I can't wait to get them and start some seedlings in our back window like last year. I'm ready to see some greenery!
It is not only the impending arrival of spring and of a new baby that has put a change in the air around our house. I haven't talked about it much, but we've really been struggling financially lately. And we cannot qualify for government benefits because we own a small business (I guess they figure that makes you wealthy, har har). But earlier this week, just when we were feeling that our situation was truly hopeless and that we might have to just shut down our beloved family business in order to qualify for assistance, a phone call arrived that changed everything. Chris is going to be starting a new job on Monday! After months of looking for employment with no luck, this is wonderful for us. Not only is it a job, but it's with a growing company that we know has excellent benefits, so if he does end up getting hired permanently it could be so good for our family. Please everyone, keep your fingers crossed for us that it works out.
I'm sure we'll get more snow, and spring isn't quite here yet. But today a gentle rain is falling, and I feel content about all the changes that are coming.
Very good news indeed! I'll be praying that it works out for him and in turn all of you, congratulations!
And I can't believe your newest addition will be here in less than a month. Time flies, doesn't it?
Posted by: ~Andrea~ | March 4, 2011 at 06:34 PM
I sell it too......spring that is. Just wish it would come. Glad to hear you are feeling better and very happy to hear that you have some regular money coming it. It has probably been a strain on you. Every is looking better now I am sure.
Posted by: marlyn dubay | March 4, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Oh Congratulations all around!! What great news, and wonderful timing. ~lisa
Posted by: lisa | March 4, 2011 at 08:07 PM
What a lovely post, all very positive. I wish you well and hope spring arrives soon for you. We are looking forward to Autumn around here. Our summer has been so very humid.
Blessings Gail
Posted by: gail.firenze | March 5, 2011 at 01:04 AM
Wonderful news!!! So happy for you!!!
ALL fingers crossed!
Posted by: PurePixie | March 5, 2011 at 03:00 AM
Wow, great news. Hope the new job is everything you hope for. :)
Posted by: woolies | March 5, 2011 at 09:41 AM
I'm so thrilled with your news Laura! Here's hoping it is exactly what your family needs!
Posted by: anita kaiser | March 5, 2011 at 10:12 AM
How exciting! I hope it goes well. :)
Posted by: Kat | March 5, 2011 at 07:03 PM
It seems that your family will be blooming in all the sense of the word.
Posted by: jean comeau | March 5, 2011 at 10:21 PM
Big changes for all, but good ones no doubt! I'm going through many of the same motions here with getting baby stuff in order, organizing homeschool resources for the boys, and spring cleaning (even though it's still so cold and wintery here, but at this rate, this baby will arrive before spring does!)
Posted by: Leah | March 7, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Lovely post. I know the financial struggles can be so tough, but having family and love always helps to pull you through.
Posted by: angie | March 10, 2011 at 08:13 AM
We have that Plants in Winter Book!! We got it at a yarn sale and it is one of my all time favorites. It is so informative too, which makes it a great winter homeschooling read. We too have been struggling financially. These are definitely hard times for all of us. I am glad of the employment though. We struggled getting aid as well for years, becuase my husband is self employeed too. So wierd, but this past year, something changed and we are so lucky to be getting some help financially. It's not much, but it's something, which is always better than nothing.
:)Lisa
Posted by: Earth Mama | March 14, 2011 at 08:34 PM