Lexical Light

Em Heard "Five" Kick

I know it's an odd 2nd post about pregnancy, but I'm going w/Flylady's idea of not trying to catch up, but just jumping in where I am. Where I am is almost 5 months pregnant with only two posts about it. Having documented no thoughts, feelings, or firsts about this baby, I'm taking the plunge by noting the first encounter a sibling had with Five.

On the way to dinner the girls & I were discussing whether or not Five could hear them talking yet.

"I'm not sure if Five can hear you, but I think loud sounds can be heard," I said as I left the van. Just in case they could be heard, they started talking to my belly - in the parking lot. After a I took a few steps towards the restaurant they stopped.

While standing at the deli counter 8 year-old Em listened to my tummy. Suddenly she looked up excitedly. "Was that Five?!"

"Yep. It sure was. Did you feel her* kick? 

She squealed out a yes.

How cool for her to be the first "external" person to experience Five.

*Since we're not sure if it's Mitchell or Mia, I use he & she interchangeably. Hopefully we'll find out later this month whether it's Cinco or Cinca de Smith.

MotherStyles Book: It's a Hit

Rarely do I leap to buy a book. I usually see if either the RR or Austin library has it or check Half Price books, but I got all crazy last week. I ordered a book from Amazon, with no Super Saver Shipping, because of the author's blog and website. What caused such mayhem?

Janet Penley's MotherStyles book. I got the book yesterday and wasn't disappointed. The few chapters I've read have been incredibly enlightening. I'm enjoy a good personality profile and some of them have helped me in different ways. I don't think any of them have helped me as much as this one.

I posted earlier this week about the Energy Plan Based on Personality Styles she gave as a gift for subscribing to her newsletter. The information on the plan, her site and her blog impacted me so much I had to have the book.

BTW, if you decided to buy the book you can click through the picture below and I'll get an eensy bit of $ because I'm an Amazon Associate. Gracias.

An Energy Plan Based on Your Personality Type

“I keep the encyclopedia in the kitchen so we can look up things together while we eat," says the INTP Mom. (per the Mothering Styles Quiz)

I don't have the encyclopedia in the kitchen, but I do have this:

That quote was so me. Viewing motherhood through the Meyer-Briggs Type Indicator, Janet P. Penley and Diane Eble help women utilize their strengths to become better moms. Just using the quick online quiz and "Energy Plan" have given me some good food for thought over the past few days. I'll have to pick up their Mothering Styles book soon.

Of course, I grinned when I saw I was an INTP or "Love of Learning" Mom. Learners for Life Academy is how I refer to our home school when I feel like throwing around an official sounding name. BTW, INTP stands for

Introvert
iNntuitive
Thinking
Perceiving

Go take the quick, four question quiz and let me know what type you are. Subscribe to their free newsletter and get the energy plan, then let me know if it resonates with you. I expect to hear from at least four or five of you. For my FTF friends, I will harass you in person if you don't play along. For my blog friends....I may cut you some slack because I'm so terrible at doing MEMEs.

They also have a blog.

M&M Review: Grace for the Race

When the opportunity to review this book came along I didn’t jump on it because, as bad as it sounds, I am not usually interested in reading devotional books. But as I thought about it, I realized I am a busy mom and I do need grace so why not give this book a try? I’m glad I did. I kept the book in my van so I could read it at long stoplights and during other wait times. It was perfect for that kind of reading. Sometimes I’d even sit in my driveway after returning home because I wanted to read what came next.

From the minute I started reading the Acknowledgements (Yes, people do read them.) I wanted to read more because it held the hope of learning from someone who is a little farther up the road I hope to travel…being a writing mom. It’s her first book, which she humbly acknowledged is a group project. Even more inspiring is that she was able to complete it while pregnant with her second son. There’s hope for me yet! Moving to the Table of Contents made my smile. The clever use of sport metaphors for the section titles appealed to my interest in athletics. Then there was this quote from the Introduction, “…God doesn’t desire perfection. What He does desire is daily surrender of our expectations, schedules, emotions, and relationships.” Bingo. Exactly what I needed to hear.

Obviously, I went into the book with much anticipation. If I enjoyed the preliminaries this much, then the “meat” of the book was sure to be satisfying. It didn’t disappoint. For one thing, the format is appealing. Each essay begins with a relevant quote from various people and ends with applicable Scriptures called “Notes from the Coach.” I like to read quotes and the Word is essential to my life.

The essays themselves cover several facets of motherhood. Though I found many similarities with Ms. Dyer – fondness for chocolate, being a Texan, kitchen impairment, and a need to write – the content is varied enough that there’s something for every mom.

Among my favorites are “What Mom Taught Me,” “Journaling for the Soul,” “Is the Proverbs 31 Woman for Real?,” “The Red Sea Place,” and “Leaving a Legacy.” Many times the Holy Spirit used Ms. Dyer’s writing to speak to me at my point of need. I’m sure He can do the same for you.

While reading this book you will be encouraged, strengthened, humored and inspired. Bring it along on your errands and make the most of your wait time. I even recommend picking up copies for your friends so you can bless them coming and going.

BTW, Ms. Dyer also has website that includes resources for writers and tips & tricks for moms.

Disclaimer: I received this book as a gift from the publisher, via Mind & Media for distribution to reviewers with blogs.

Rely...

Paid a quick visit to Megamommy and found a lovely dose of encouragement in her response to a mom's letter despairing of falling short of meeting her son's needs.
 
Here's a highlight of Barbara's response:

"We are never ready for what God calls us to do. He never calls the equipped; instead he equips those he's called. You will never feel perfect at your calling - that's the human condition and it causes you to acknowledge that there is a perfect Father - only one - and to rely on him."

That fit perfectly with what God's been teaching me. I have to rely on Him. Heck, I even have to rely on Him to show me what it means to rely on Him. Thankfully His mercies are new every morning and I can "re-lie" on them daily.

Footnote: Check out the etymology of rely

[Middle English relien, to rally, from Old French relier, from Latin religre, to bind fast  : re-, re- + ligre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European Roots.] I want my heart to be bound fast to Him.

Encouragement for Moms

Being a mom is hard. Sometimes Fifi says, "Mom, is it hard having four kids?" I say, "Yes."  Then I assure her that I wouldn't change jobs, even if I could and that it's all worth it.  (I also think how four kids would seem like light duty to some moms.)

If you're having one of those hard days (or seasons) and need some encouragment, go visit Barbara Curtis at Mommylife. Today's post, Starting Over,  gives some practical steps towards dealing with discouragment.

BTW, even if you're not down today you can fill up on the good advice before you need it.

It's not a quick fix like having a Mommy Fairy who would make everything perfect in a snap...it's better.

Mommy Moments and Blogs

"A merry heart does good like a medicine..."  Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

This morning was one time when I wanted to take a page from the Captain Underpants school of child management. Instead of the 3R's, Ms. Ribble focused on the 3S's:

Sit Down
Shut Your Piehole and
Stop Driving Me Crazy

This goes against everything I've learned about parenting or teaching. It  also goes against what I actually try do as a parent and teacher. However, this morning it sounded like a good plan.

There were no extenuating circumstance, no unusual behavior by the kiddos. They were having the usual "socialization training" opportunities. The x factor was a little more hormonal activity on my part. The  good thing is that after several years I've finally figured out that "this too shall pass", usually w/in a day or so. (A little chocolate helps, too.)  This knowledge doesn't keep me from being a crabby patty at times. 

Because I hadn't been on the computer much this morning, I figured I'd do a quick blog check before we ran errands.  That's when I found the "medicine" that chased my blahs away. 

Apparently Mopsy's troops have been like mine recentlly. Her take on the situation made me laugh and I feel much better now.  Thanks, Mopsy.