why... so... difficult...

You never realize how hard and tiring it is to grow a child until you're in the middle of it...

I hit the 12-week mark over the weekend. Next doctor's appointment is Friday. And I am dragging. I definitely think I've been sicker with this one than I was with Abby. I just pray that the nausea doesn't last as long as it did with her -- I didn't start feeling better until around 22 weeks last time...

Everything seems to take so much more effort to accomplish! Simple things like cooking meals and sweeping the floor and keeping up with laundry... Some days I feel downright worthless! And tending to a needy, moody 19-month-old on top of it. Whew! I mostly just want to sit and read (I got a Kindle for Christmas :) or sleep...

So I apologize that I haven't been consistent with posting here recently. It's not for lack of content -- I've done projects and recipes and garden planning and have been taking pictures along the way! I just have a hard time concentrating to write while Abby's awake (heck, I have a hard time concentrating on much of anything these days!), so that limits me to before she's up in the morning, afternoon naptime, and evenings. Mornings have become write emails/check Facebook time (not to mention she's been waking up earlier and earlier recently), by evening my brain has turned to mush (and the nausea is in high gear -- whoever called it "morning" sickness in the first place anyway?!), and naptime... well, naptime is naptime. ;)

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining, or venting, or making excuses -- I just want y'all to be aware of what's going on in my life, and that I have no desire to completely shut this blog down yet! I'm still here, really, I am! Just please pray that the second trimester really is the "easiest of the three", and that relief comes quickly...

Abby's napping. Time for me to go do the same!

Bring on spring!

Ok, puzzle time! What's wrong with this picture:



I'll give you a hint... this is today in West Michigan.

It's crazy!! Our average high for this time of year is 30 degrees, and our average low is 12! We had a couple inches of snow during Christmas break, but that's long ago melted away. We had a dusting of snow on Christmas Eve (which was when we celebrated our family Christmas, so that was nice!). Typically by this point in the school year we've already had at least 1-2 snow days!

I really complained at first. I wanted to take Abby out sledding during break. I wanted to watch the snow fall and cozy up with a blanket and hot cocoa. I wanted a snow day so Rocky could be home with us.

Not anymore.

You see, I got these in the mail last week:

I drool over these even more than I do over the latest BHG magazine!!

I page through them, looking for updates on the veggie seeds I typically order, and dreaming big dreams of adding new things to my garden.

It was over 50 degrees last Friday. It was all I could do to stop myself from digging around in the dirt...

I think this will be the first year ever that I will be disappointed when it finally REALLY snows.

Ok, maybe only just a tiny bit. I still want to take Abby sledding. :)

Do you order your garden seeds from a catalog? When do you start planning for spring?