Our Blessings

Today is a quiet day in the Butcher house. Not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse...okay, okay, we have a dog and a cat so it really is not as quiet as it seems. Usually one is chasing the other around the sofa or down the hallways and then they both run screaming around the corners almost taking a person out...but today is rather ugly and cold out so they are both napping...for another five minutes. This is why, year after year, we bolt the Christmas tree to the wall so they cannot bring it down as they did the first year they were together which resulted in a vacuum cleaner full of ornaments. Speaking of Christmas tree, this year Jim and I were able to decorate our Christmas tree together. Huge blessing as I was alone last year due to his deployment to Afghanistan. This year has been one of many blessings.

I have an update to our little bundle of joy in two days and at my local hospital on post. I go in for baby’s 28wk checkup and expecting nothing but good news. She is kicking, pushing, and tickling me, just testing me to see how much I can take before I wet my pants.

At this point, my tummy is just a little bit bigger than a volleyball which makes it extremely difficult to change laundry and my back is absorbing much of the strain which makes it difficult to do just about everything else. I think I’m handling it pretty well but have no idea how I'll get through the next three months. All I know is that I am so looking forward to wearing regular jeans again. For all of you who have yet to be pregnant, the full-panel maternity pants are very itchy...just FYI. I am fully convinced that the stretchy pant is the way to go...and to be pregnant in the winter time.

Ok, other than being extremely uncomfortable, I feel very blessed by this experience. There are no words to express the excitement that rushes through my body every time she kicks or pushes...no matter how painful it can be. There is no better feeling than knowing that with every kick or push, she is growing stronger. It is just as amazing to see the look on Jim’s face when he feels her kick or move. The other day I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and in all seriousness, he replied “a baby.” Nothing in the world could be a better gift than to have this little baby come February. She has already become the center of our universe.

Other topics of late include the ramblings of my husband’s newfound speaking abilities. Jim has been in French language training for the last two months however, after the first day 9-5, he came home thoroughly convinced he’d already mastered the language. All I hear is French. Answers to my household questions: in French. Answers to my text messages: in French. He even talks to the animals in French. It may not all be “by the book” but he does make is sound VERY convincing and who am I to judge when I don’t know much of what he is saying...So, often I reply in Spanish. Needless to say, we are having very interesting conversations. But even though Jim has been swamped with schoolwork, he has been such a great help to me as daily chores are becoming more and more difficult for me to complete. He has simply been amazing.

Even with so much changing in our lives and so much more stress, it seems we are stronger than ever before and share more love than most people see in a lifetime. We have been so blessed.

I hope you count your many blessings as 2011 ends and know that whatever has been or whatever is to come, you are loved by One Great Big Giant God.

LOVELOVE