My biggest goals were to mainly spend time with Jesus before the kids wake up in the morning, get into a routine, spend more quality time with the kids, and eat more the way that I know is best. And, so far, all those things are happening.
Robert and I wake up by 6:00 at the latest (sometimes as early as 5:30 or 5:45), and we both sit in our room and spend quality time with Jesus. I love it. We have both read through Nehemiah recently, and I'm trying to figure out what to do next. I'm currently doing a reading plan that has me reading a chapter out of the old testament, new testament, psalm, and proverbs every day. So far I like it, but we'll see. I might end up going back to just reading through one book at a time. That's what I normally do, but I wanted to try something different. After I read, I spend time praying in my prayer journal. It's such sweet time and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If there is a day when I don't spend that time with Jesus, I can tell a huge difference. It is necessary!! Without alone time with Jesus every day, we can't grow to be more like Him.
Because of that quiet time with Jesus, I feel like the rest of my day is less stressful. I have been able to get into a routine. After my time with Jesus, the kids always come into the room when they wake up. I feed them breakfast, change Ethan's diaper, etc. I then spend some time planning for the day, and doing a few things online. I get off the computer and make the beds, put clean dishes away, etc. I try to get everything done in the morning so I don't have to worry about it the rest of the day. The kids play and sometimes I play with them... They are pretty much always where ever I am :). Because of help that I received to get caught up on a mound of laundry, I am able to just do one load of laundry a day and keep up with it. I may have to do two loads a day after Levi is born... we'll see how that goes. I do a load of diapers every 1-2 days. I try to keep up with the dishes so that I never have tons to worry about. In fact, my newest goal is to get them done while I'm cooking at night and right after we eat. It has made things much easier. The kids (well, Karis) and I pick up the house before nap and before bed at night, and it seems to stay pretty picked up. Everything else I just do as needed! I sweep every couple of days, spot mop when necessary, vacuum when necessary, clean the bathrooms once a week or so (which, even though we have 3 bathrooms, ours is the primary one used!), and just take care of the priorities each day.
Lately, when the kids are taking naps, I actually get some time to just sit and do what I want! So, that's why I've been blogging more lately :). Of course, I've also been working on cooking and baking foods for after Levi's birth.
I am very aware that much of this will change after Levi is born! My goal is to get back into this routine after a few months of his birth. We'll see how it goes.
Cooking and baking from scratch has definitely become much easier these days. I am enjoying it a lot! We are pretty much eating all homemade dinners, breads, breakfasts, etc. I am mostly only eating lunch in the dining hall with an occasional dinner if it's available and I've had a long day (which, last weekend I was exhausted because of lack of sleep so I took advantage of free, cooked food!).
With the upcoming arrival of Levi, I have been in the nesting mode, so I have actually been cooking and baking a LOT. Some of this is repetitive, but here is a complete list of what is in the freezers (not including uncooked meats, veggies, etc):
- 2 bags of veggies for roast
- Veggies for black bean wraps
- Sliced sweet bell peppers
- Sliced mushrooms
- Cut up squash and zucchini
- All items for cream cheese potato soup except cream cheese!
- 2 Shepherd's Pies
- Prepared meatloaf (uncooked)
- Rice and chicken bake
- Broccoli chicken bake
- Spinach Rice Casserole
- 2 bags prepared pasta sauce
- Several containers pizza sauce
- 2 pizza doughs (planning to make more)
- Several containers chicken broth
- 2 bags breakfast taco filling
- 2 pounds cooked breakfast sausage
- 2 pounds cooked ground venison
- 3 loaves of bread (that I bought)
- 5 batches whole wheat biscuit mix
- 3 batches whole wheat pancake mix
- 4 batches breakfast cookie mix
- 4 batches peanut butter oatmeal mix
- 2 batches protein bars... two each in individual bags
Now that I am pretty much completely prepared for our little guy, I desire to just rest and do some things that I enjoy before it gets more stressful again.
I'm ready for him to come! I can't wait to hold him!!
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