Whew! This weekend went by in the blink of an eye. Somehow I’m still recovering from it. I have so many things I want to talk about! Finding the time to get it all out of my head and onto the screen is my problem. Here are some quick updates:

Family: 

We took my little guy to the Baltimore Aquarium on Saturday. He commandeered the camera, leaving us with great shots like these: 

My baby bump:

Our lower legs:

My hubby’s wedding ring: 

 
The lower halves of people we don’t know: 

True gems, I tell ya. We finally had to put the camera away and didn’t get it out to capture any images of us as a family. Don’t worry, though, the memories will live on in my head. 

Baby Girl Long is still staying put and hasn’t shown much interest in joining us. If she was awake to hear the tone of my voice when putting my little guy in a time out yesterday, she just might stay put for a few more weeks. Since my guy came early, I’ve been ready for weeks now, but I’m trying to remain patient. I keep reminding myself that she’ll come when she is ready. 

Freelancing: 

I’m using these last few days/weeks/hopefully not a whole month to get a jump start on a couple of projects I have in the works. It is nice not to have a crunch right now and working ahead feels great. I have about 15 freelancing blog posts floating around in my head and even made a list so I don’t forget them. I hope to get them written up this week. 

Reading: 

I’ve been using every spare minute to squeeze in as much reading as I can. I know I won’t have much time for novels after Baby Girl arrives, so I want to pack it in now. I’ve finished some great books over the past few weeks and can’t wait to tell you about them. The problem is, the books are keeping me away from the computer! It is quite the Catch 22. But, I do plan to share the details on my latest favorites soon! 

Thanks for catching up with us! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day. 

My little guy and I got to visit his daddy at work yesterday. The trip was made complete with a Happy Meal and an ice cream. My guy also enjoyed entertaining his daddy’s coworkers for a bit. After an adventure like that, he is going to think being a CPA is the best job in the world! 

My little guy and I got to visit his daddy at work yesterday. The trip was made complete with a Happy Meal and an ice cream. My guy also enjoyed entertaining his daddy’s coworkers for a bit. After an adventure like that, he is going to think being a CPA is the best job in the world! 

"Pursuing what you want to do and achieving your goal is not like finding the burning bush or discovering a gold mine. There are usually no epiphanies, no sudden reversals of fortune. Fulfillment comes in fits and starts… Fulfillment comes in many guises, and it can come into our lives at any time… But only we can make sure it will be fulfilled. If we feel empty, no amount of water can fill our well. It has to come from within, from the underground springs and streams." — Mary Morris

"Pursuing what you want to do and achieving your goal is not like finding the burning bush or discovering a gold mine. There are usually no epiphanies, no sudden reversals of fortune. Fulfillment comes in fits and starts… Fulfillment comes in many guises, and it can come into our lives at any time… But only we can make sure it will be fulfilled. If we feel empty, no amount of water can fill our well. It has to come from within, from the underground springs and streams." — Mary Morris

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable. — Helen Keller

There are days when even the smallest thing can seem like a mountain to climb. Getting my little guy dressed, explaining why birds fly, finishing a story or just doing the dishes can sometimes seem daunting. A long time ago I heard Marjorie Holmes’s prayer "Just for Today." I had forgotten all the words, but there are several times I find myself repeating the first line– "Oh, God, give me grace for this day."

I just stumbled across the poem again and thought I’d share it (plus, I’m planning on taking my little guy on a few adventures today, which I know will require some extra grace).

Oh, God, give me grace for this day.
Not for a lifetime, nor for next week, not for tomorrow, just for this day.
Direct my thoughts and bless them, 
Direct my work and bless it. 
Direct the things I say and give them blessing, too.
Direct and bless everything that I think and speak and do.
So that for this one day, just this one day, I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence. 

Happy weekending! May you find all the grace you need to get through the fun and to-do lists you have in store.

-Having an indoor marshmallow roast with my boys (marshmallows city style, as my hubby says).

-Enjoying brunch with a friend and indulging in strawberry waffles, plenty of bacon and eggs benedict.

-Checking a whole bunch of things off of my to-do list. 

-Getting spicy Thai food with my hubby in an effort to induce labor (it didn’t work). 

-Celebrating my birthday with my boys.

-Having Evan help me unwrap my presents, the same ones he picked out and helped wrap, and seeing the excitement on his face when he ‘discovered’ what each one was. He picked out cupcake mix and sprinkles, which means I’ll get to have another simple joy when we make the sweet treats. 

-Having an indoor marshmallow roast with my boys (marshmallows city style, as my hubby says).

-Enjoying brunch with a friend and indulging in strawberry waffles, plenty of bacon and eggs benedict.

-Checking a whole bunch of things off of my to-do list. 

-Getting spicy Thai food with my hubby in an effort to induce labor (it didn’t work). 

-Celebrating my birthday with my boys.

-Having Evan help me unwrap my presents, the same ones he picked out and helped wrap, and seeing the excitement on his face when he ‘discovered’ what each one was. He picked out cupcake mix and sprinkles, which means I’ll get to have another simple joy when we make the sweet treats.