Nice thoughts for the day

The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. 

-Author Unknown

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. it knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.
-Agatha Christie


The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams.
-James Allen


Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.
-Garrison Keillor


Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
-Victor Hugo


Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'
-Mary Anne Radmacher


There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.
-Elizabeth Lawrence

rough day today.

Nothing major.  Nothing we can't fix.  Just that being a parent is a really tough job sometimes. These are a few wise words I wanted to be reminded of today.

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

‎"Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears. They can be healing waters and a stream of joy. Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak."
-William P. Young

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-John 14:27

"Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet."
-Lucy Maud Montgomery

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
-Matthew 6:34

“I like flaws and feel more comfortable 
around people who have them.

I myself am made entirely of flaws, 
stitched together with good intentions.”

~Augusten Burroughs

23 week Doctor's Appointment

I had my monthly Owen check up today, so I brought my favorite big Brother along with me so he could hear his little brother's heartbeat again.  Oh how excited he got when he heard it!  He immediately jumped right off of his chair and came next to me on the doctor's table with a huge grin across his face.  It was awesome.  I love that I can bring Jackson to these appointments.  It really connects him to his little brother in a whole new way.  Plus he is such a good boy!  He sits so nice, eating his animal crackers and never interrupts the nurses or the doctor when they are talking.  He is even answering them now when they talk to him (our sweet shy boy!)  He loves looking at the bulletin boards they have in the hallways full of pictures of the babies delivered by their doctor's; always asking if Owen will be there when he is born.  He did tell me today though that he doesn't want to ever have to go pee-pee in a cup.  "Mommy, I really don't want to!"  Made me smile. Oh the things that bother them....

Owen's heartbeat was fast and strong at 147, right where it has been pretty much throughout the pregnancy.  This was so cool- as soon as the nurse found Owen's heartbeat he must not have liked the pressure she was putting on him with the doppler so he pushed right back.  She could feel him moving and pushing her hand away the whole time.  Baby Owen is getting so strong!  With each of her pushes he was doing two right back at her, you could just imagine him saying "Hey!  Cut that out already!"

We got the results to all of my tests, and everything is perfect and normal, so that is a relief.  I go back in about two weeks for my glucose intolerance test where I get to drink that flat orange pop again. I am not worried, I didn't have any issues with gestational diabetes with Jackson, so I will probably be fine again this time.  But we shall see.  Fingers crossed.  Other then that, pretty quick appointment.  I go back in 4 weeks on August 19th for our next one.

Goodness, this pregnancy is moving so fast.  I can hardly believe it.  Next week is an important milestone for Owen.  If something were to happen and I were go into labor, he would be able to survive outside of the womb!  It is always somewhat of a relief hitting this point in pregnancy.

Littlest Man is now about as long as an ear of corn *grin*

"A mother's body remembers her babies-the folds of soft flesh, the softly furred scalp against her nose. Each child has it's own entreaties to body and soul."— Barbara Kingsolver

So true, but so worth it

"One of the great myths of our society is that when women are left with small children, they are not alone. The truth is that a mother left with babies is far more alone than she would be without them; every bit of energy, attention, protectiveness, and care she might use to meet her own needs must first be directed toward the needs of her children. 

-Martha Beck