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Things I learned this week: bathroom remodels take twice as long as you think they will. And my in-laws are saintly folk.
We were displaced from our little urban homestead for 11 days while our one bathroom got demoldyfied/ventilated/re-tiled and installed with a new bathtub, sink, and toilet. It was a moldy dungeon and now I feel like I’m bathing at a fancy hotel! Yay! The downside was just being away from home for so much longer than we expected. But, thankfully I have the world’s sweetest in-laws who took us in, fed us BBQ, and even did our laundry (I KNOW!!!). Don’t hate me for my obnoxiously good luck in the in-law department!
We also got a fun package from France including a parenting magazine’s gardening issue that asked for permission a few months ago to use a photo of Benjamin holding one of Daniel’s kohlrabi’s as the cover photo. So fun to see his cute little face on the cover. And they sent him a little French children’s book with an accompanying CD so he can learn some French words. Adorable!
Coming Up in the Liturgical Year: Next week is the Feast of the Ascension. Our liturgical year celebrations are really at a low point right now since I’m so pregnant but be sure to check out these great Feast of the Ascension ideas from Sarah.
Pregnancy Update: 37.5 weeks! Baby Gwen Stellamaris sounded great at my last midwife appt. Folks, I am not prepared for this baby. I don’t have a bag packed, I haven’t washed the baby clothes, we haven’t set up the co-sleeper. But my Braxton-Hicks are getting stronger and last longer every day so I need to get my ducks in a row! Packing our bag is on my to-do list for this weekend.
Let’s have a little fun. Anybody want to take a jab at guessing when she’ll arrive? Dwija had a little guessing contest with her youngest baby’s arrival and I’m inspired to do the same. Here’s the facts: estimated due date is May 22. So I’m now 37 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Benjamin was born at exactly 39 weeks. Lucy was born at 41 weeks and 3 days. No signs of prelabor yet except for tons and tons of Braxton-Hicks. OK, leave your guess in the comments!
Links:
The Keep Out Sign on the Family Home: Jennifer Fulwiler
Mothers Day Gift Idea: Slow Mama
Decide When to Buy Organic with the EWG’s 2013 Dirty Dozen List: The Kitchn
Capturing Your Kids: The Basics: Simple Mom
What to Do When Mass Is Awful: Held By His Pierced Hands
Thanks Carrots readers who showed me some love in the comments over at my new post for Mama and Baby Love: Should Kids Know How Their Meat Gets to the Table? I was a little nervous about posting that and Daniel was surprised that I didn’t take more heat for writing about introducing a 4-year-old to chicken death! I’m glad there’s at least a few other families out there who see the introduction of food ethics to young children as a good thing.
I also set up a little Bloglovin’ widget on my right sidebar if, like me, you were using Google Reader and have switched over to Bloglovin’. But don’t fear Feedly users! I’ll set up one for Feedly, too, as soon as I get my ducks in a row! I think the more streamlined look of Feedly is going to be more up my alley.
Now to pack that hospital bag while the kids nap! Thanks for the great suggestions for what to pack on the Carrots FB page. You all are brilliant! Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Haley
P.S. You can also follow me on Twitter (@haleycarrots), Pinterest (haleyofcarrots), FB, and Instagram (carrotsformichaelmas). I love connecting with my wonderful readers!
My guess is May 18!
I’m guessing May 27, as it’s my birthday (how cool would that be?). Speaking of cool, Benjamin’s French magazine cover is cute and neat. Maybe we’ll have a French Things Benjamin Says category now…
I’m going to guess May 20th (my little sister’s birthday) lol. I’m not good at guessing due dates.
I love that picture of Benjamin holding the kohlrabi. He has the sweetest expression on his little face! How sweet of them to send him a book and CD.
Feedly is definitely my style–I love it so far. I’m way too minimalist to deal with everything going on at bloglovin’.
Re: The Liturgical Year–Here’s an idea for you: a little sidebar widget with the season (in the appropriate color font), the date, the holy day as applicable and then what the next upcoming big day is. Not necessarily every single upcoming saint’s feast day, but the big ones like, Hey, we’re in Lent and the next big day is Palm Sunday. I suggested it to a site that had a liturgical year widget, but there was too much info in it. (There’s my minimalism again!)
What a cool widget idea! If I were only even mildly skilled at creating them, haha. I’ll see if a more talented friend could help me
My guess is May 26. I have a Catholic colleague whose strong beliefs have been an inspiration and whose birthday is on that day, and I have the feeling Gwen will one day be an inspiration for others as well, so it just reminded me of him. A reason like any other to choose that date, but there it is!
I love Benjamin’s picture and a section with his sayings in French would be just perfect!
Bon courage for the last couple of weeks! A big hug for the five of you!
Thank you! On the homestretch
So cool about the magazine cover! Okay so my guess would be…40 weeks 2 days. May 24 between 5 and 7 a.m.
You are so precise, Mary! Haha. It would be wild if you turned out to be right on all the details!
I forgot to ask–how exactly did the magazine get the photo of your little guy? Very cool for him to always be able to say he was on the cover of a magazine. Awesome fodder for the game “2 Truths and a Lie”.
They just emailed me about their magazine and if they could use that image for their gardening issue after seeing it on the blog. Google image search? I’m not sure exactly how they found it. But it looks really sweet!
I say May 15, because that’s the date that strikes me. God bless you and Gwen in any case!
My guess is 40 and 4, so May 26th!
P.S. I LOVE that you’re using a midwife! I had a midwife for both of my girls and I feel my labors were so special because of it.
May 19th is my 34th wedding anniversary, so I’m going with it. Just praying for a health Gwen and a safe delivery for all!
I think May 19th would be a good day
(our 6th wedding anniversary). And how sweet that they sent a book and CD to Benjamin! Good luck and lots of blessings to you both as you get closer to D-Day 
Thanks for the Ascension Day shout out. =) Loving the B magazine cover – so, so sweet. I’ve always loved that picture of him anyways.
I vote May 25th because when I was a little girl, being a December birthday, I always thought that May was the ideal month to be born in, and for some reason I settled upon the 25th as the perfect day. Can’t believe you’re so close! My prayers are with you these last few weeks!
May 10th. Better get packing.
May 16th is my guess! Praying for a blessed labor and delivery for you and Gwen.
I’ll say May 21 in the morning.