House Hunting in Hotels

One of our favorite shows to watch when we have it available is House Hunters. When we head to hotels, we get to indulge, and it always puts me in the mood to dream about where and what we might be able to live in where the Lord leads us next.

(source)

Knowing what kind of job Chad hopefully will be able to secure (what he went to school for), we have options here in the US! :) And dreaming about home space for a family is always fun!

This is a Bri approved way to spend our New Year's Eve evening.

BT

Merry Christmas (Eve)

We are celebrating tonight as a family, and I am thrilled! Husband, baby and I will eat food and make plans for Christmases to come. I think I'm almost more excited about this planning Christmas than any other Christmas celebration planned for this year!

From us to you, Merry Christmas!

BT

Gathering of Friends

About a week and a half ago I got together with my dear friend Cherry to craft and enjoy some company. Her sister Grace is home now, and I have been enjoying a wonderful morning and afternoon with them and one of their friends who is also visiting.

We spent the morning enjoying wonderful conversations about knitting and sewing and childbirth with the sounds of two sewing machines in harmony as the scissors snip away dutifully at the fabric for a jacket and vintage knitting magazines pages were oohed and ahhed over and the occasional snicker as a pair of colorful knitted leggings are stumbled upon.

We have continued our fun by unpacking all of the patterns in two stashes and having a "picnic" lunch of soup on a blanket before transitioning to a more relaxing quiet afternoon. With piano Christmas music ringing in the background, patterns have headway being made on them while books are being read and inspiration is being devoured and tails of Paris are being told.

Looking forward to the next couple hours of the company of these ladies.

I love days like this: the snow falling (yes, that's right, there is snow on the ground and every once in a while in the air), company of Godly women, craft inspiration, many laughs and enjoyment.

Looking forward to more like this this winter!

BT

PS pictureless for Grace and also because I'm not on my computer.

Musical Madness

I have found Musical Madness thanks to my Uncle Mike!

Between the Cello and the Piano, I'm hooked!

They have AMAZING guests!

And a GEEK side!

Hands Down, just love them!

Check out the rest of their stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePianoGuys

BT

Ps sorry about all of the YouTube clips, but I couldn't pick just ONE favorite! they are far too varied to choose just one!

Satisfying Sunday Afternoon

As I was writing my last post, my husband decided the presents needed wrapped. As I said previously we don't really have presents to exchange, and my family is taking advantage of only having adults (going and spending time at a nice hotel as our gifts to each other). The Troyer family, though, we are doing a gift exchangement (not a word, but deal with it) with.

My husband never ceases to amaze me. He wrapped all the presents that we have ready, and they look amazing! I'm so thankful that my God has provided me with such a man to be my husband.

Enjoying our Lions game now as the packages are now sitting under our tree.

While I listen in and sometimes watch I have also been tackling some dishes.

Tonight, we are going to enjoy some very delicious food, hosted by my parents at the church while the Kampers give an update on their life as of now. (Did I tell you that Liz is pregnant??!!)

Have a happy Sunday evening!

BT

PS This girl is very very inspiring to me. She supports herself with her dream boutique and inspirational blog. This post gave me goose bumps. I love planning fun things like this. Reminds me of doing this a while ago (much less of a process), but I lost that list somewhere :(

Thoughts on Christmas

Christmas season is here, and the busyness has been upon us. Starting on Christmas Day we have Christmas celebrations (and things like Dr. visits) intermittently until January 1st.

(source)

We have been talking in Sunday school about Christmas focus. We started last Sunday going through the book Christmas is Not Your Birthday. It started us thinking about what giving and presents should mean and that if they are the main focus, it's off.
This Sunday we talked more about how it's Christ birthday that we are celebrating.

(source)

This being the Troyer's first Christmas as a family (meaning Mr and me) we are celebrating as a family on Christmas Eve. Between the snowblower and "childbirth class" dvd's we don't really have gifts to exchange, so we are hoping to spend some good time together, watch some football (go LIONS!!), and have some good conversation and planning to how we want to approach our family Christmas as we add a family members next Christmas.

(source)

As I was thinking about those things today, and celebrating Christ's birthday I started thinking. We so often spend the whole Christmas season every year hearing and learning about Christ's birth, and there is nothing wrong with that, it's very good and healthy. I did happen to wonder though, what if we celebrated Christ's birthday more like we celebrate our birthdays? When you have a birthday, do you spend it only talking about the amazing events that happened during your birth? The way I see the prophecies and story of Christ birth laid out, it makes it very difficult to look at just Christ birth without getting into other areas of Christ's life, death, and plan. Kinda makes me interested in expanding my view and focus on Christmas. Not just to Christ's birth, but realizing that the day of his birth ushered in a whole lot of things to happen.

We'll see what all comes from the Troyer Christmas as far as decisions on the approach we want to take with our family, but I feel I have plenty to think about and pray about as Christmas Eve approaches.

What are different ways your families celebrate Christmas without focusing on the tree and gifts??

BT

PS Do you like my pictures? I felt bad about another wordy post, so I thoughts I'd break it up with some somewhat related pictures! So hard to please everyone; right Cherry and Grace ;)

Bump Report - Week 23

Today is a lazy day, but officially the first day of the 23rd week of this pregnancy.

Because it is a lazy day, there won't be any pictures today, but I'll be sure to put some up tomorrow.

So between all of the different pregnancy trackers that I have here is what I know about our child.

Squirt is somewhere between 8 and 11 inches.
Between 1 and 1.1 pounds.
Facial features are mostly completely developed minus all of the adorable baby fat.
Our child can most likely feel my movements and hear quite a bit (I've been reading and singing to our child :)
Squirt's skin tone is being developed.
To sum up, Baby is more proportioned from head size to the rest of the body than he/she has been and is looking more and more like a newborn every day.

The movements are becoming more distinct to me. I can tell when it is a kick or jab as opposed to just a general flutter.
Last night I believe Chad felt Baby Troyer kick. He called it a twitch and I told him that's what it always feels like to me.

As for me, I'm beginning to have more trouble sleeping, and that will just compound as baby gets bigger and starts moving downward onto my bladder. Yay for midst the night bathroom runs!
My feet have times when they get a bit swollen, but nothing too bad so far.
Bonnie asked me last month if I had been gaining weight over that month before, and I had to admit that I have not wanted to watch my weight. So, she now knows that if I start gaining too much she will have to tell me because I'm not watching...lol
Ladies at church have been telling me that I've been gaining my "glow." Now it may help that they see me at church where I am trying to look my best with makeup on and everything, but the idea of the "glow" makes me happy!

Also, never underestimate what your words can do for a woman who is pregnant. The other day my neighbor told me, "Besides looking pregnant, you look very small today." It sounds silly, but that encouraged me so much! There are times during pregnancy that I just feel big, all over. Big and Gross. So days like that and encouraging words, especially from mothers themselves, have a HUGE affect over how I view myself!

Well, that's about all. I know I said that I didn't have any pictures, but we'll see if I can pull one from a few days ago.

And notice the bed, it's made...!

The Learning Project

Something to know about me. I like to learn new things. School wasn't my favorite thing, but I enjoyed the learning part.

That's why I jumped at the chance to learn how to knit and crochet with my friends when I was 10. Crocheting was easy, once the tension was figured out. Knitting was a little more difficult. My friend Grace taught me the basics of knitting, and I had a TERRIBLE time with keeping stitches even and keeping them on the needle. I mostly fixed those two problems by making many many scarves. But I wanted something harder.

One of my friend's mom made her family knitted socks, and I thought, "Well, it can't be that hard, plus I'll wiz through it since it's a small project." I finished one sock, with terrible trouble, and with lots and lots of time. I then pushed it aside, frustrated. What was supposed to fit my foot, didn't. My tension had gone all wapper jawed on me again.

I entered my knitting slump. I'm not sure how long I went without knitting, but it was a while. During that time (around the beginning of my college years) there was some personal growth, in the way of maturity and growing patience that happened (two things that are ESSENTIAL with knitting).

Then came the fateful decision. About 2 and 1/2 years ago, my dad handed me an old pattern book that he found at a Goodwill store. In it he had circled the patterns of 3 sweaters and a sweater vest that he liked. On a shopping trip with my boyfriend at the time (yes, my husband now) I decided to get the yarn for the sweater vest. Little did I know what lay in store for me.

As with many things in life, I am finding that I learn best when doing something, this just happens to be a big something. It has taken me 2 almost 3 years (and I'm not done yet), but I have learn SO much.

(so sorry that it's sideways, don't know why it did that, but I can't figure out how to fix it)

This project taught me correct tension control, how to cable, how to cable without a cable needle, how to rip out large sections without tinkering (meaning I can now pull out my needle and get it back in without missing any stitches and messing it up), how to read a written pattern, count stitches, look at a stitch to see if it's right, perseverance, etc. and before it's over I will have learned how to block an item, assemble it, and add bindings.

After this project I have MANY in mind to do, because I've limited myself for the majority of these 2 almost 3 years to just this project. I know that after a project like this, I will have the confidence that I can do any pattern, or at least learn to. It may take me time, but that's all in the learning process

So dad, when I get this project done, not only will you hopefully have a sweater vest that fits, but I will be empowered to tackle the next crazy knitting project that jumps in my mind.

BT

Stress Relief

There are few things I love as stress relievers. One of the biggest is knitting!

After some not ubber nice phone calls having to do with insurance, bills, and money, I am SO thankful that the Lord has given me people and things to do that calm my spirit.

Hope to get much mucho done!

BT

EXCITING NEWS - on the yarn front

For 3ish years I have been working on a sweater vest for my dad. I have now set a goal...probably the most reasonable one yet... I am almost done with the last side, then all I have is binding, assembling and blocking!! I've been rewarding myself all week by drooling over and queuing up projects to do after it's done. They are making me excited enough that I'm hoping to have it done before my goal date, way before, but we'll see. Trying to stay reasonable.

I am developing a fun plan for the new projects!!!!!!!!!!!

Barely able to wait!

BT

Bump Report - Week 22

Wow!

I was hit today, only 6 more weeks and I'll be in my third trimester!

Baby is between 8 and 11 inches long and weighs about 1 lb!

I'm finally able to feel baby sometimes with my hand on the outside!! Chad has yet to be in the right place at the right time to feel that!

And last night I had problems sleeping, so being low on sleep makes EVERYTHING more exciting!!!!!!

In the spotlight this week are senses. Taste buds (which have been developing over the past weeks) are very keen and now, nerve endings may be developed enough to feel the sensation of touch!!

Our Squirt is learning to furrow Baby's brows; oh and also, legs and arms are most likely at their full proportions!

Can't wait for the head rubs which are sure to come!

Okay, enough excitement for the night!!

BT

Naps are a Bad Plan

This afternoon, Chad came home. When he did, two tired people, namely Chad and Bridgette, took a nap. An hour later, we got up...one hour. That was very bad, very very very.

I am now up (12:50 AM) and wide awake (think coffee awake). So, dad's sweater and knitting podcasts are my sleep drug, hopefully it works.

I do work in the morning. It's not insanely early (be there by 8) but I'm tired enough when I do get my sleep, so it could be interesting. Maybe this will mean I will have something to report about my dad's sweater vest!!!

BT

Culinary Genius

Bet y'all didn't know that I was a culinary genius did ya? I am; I made my own specialty! Wanna see?

I call it, Pizza Nachos! Wait, what? That's not a new idea, oh. Sad day.

Anywho, for inquiring minds, yes I ate this for breakfast (I may even have had two servings...we'll never know). Veggie crackers, colby cheese, pepperoni served with leftover pizza sauce from last night....DELISH! 

See mom, I have yet to grow out of my love of non-breakfast foods for breakfast. ;)

BT

Little Things

I find the little things in life rather entertaining sometimes. For example, when I do a bump report I make a status update on facebook (which I'm hardly ever on) so my parents and extended family knows there are pictures and news about the member of the family to read about. On those days, I have upwards of 60 blog views! To compare, I have somewhere between 5 and 10 on a good day any other day of the week.

So to the few that follow me without facebook, thank you so much! I enjoy writing, and I don't always need an audience, but sometimes it's nice to know that someone else out there might be reading it and praying for me.

And to those who check this out from facebook, thanks for joining in the ride of pregnancy with us! I hope you continue to join with us in these happy months! (I am aware that probably none of those people will be reading this because I'm not posting that I wrote this on facebook, but they were thanked.)

BT

And you thought this was going to be a Baby "Little Things" post didn't you... :)

YouTube - MeTube

There have been a couple YouTube videos that have been challenging to me lately. Give them a watch and maybe you'll be affected too...maybe not.

First one, not labelled a Christian short, nor do I believe it was meant to be. It did, however, give a rather unique perspective on giving. Could have been pregnancy hormones, but I cried almost the whole way through it.

Second. My brother posted about rightnow.org yesterday. I had seen their video about a year ago; it challenged me then and challenged me now. This is the post that Brandon wrote about the RightNow ministry.

Lastly, also not a Christian message, but important, nonetheless. (Thanks Brandon for sharing with Dad!)

Bump Report - Week 21

We are past the "middle" of the pregnancy. I say that with quotes, because it's the middle of 40 weeks, anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks is full term, but speaking from an ideally 40 week pregnancy, we are into the second half!

I asked my mom this past week, "When will I stop wanting to tell someone every time I feel Baby move?" She laughed and said, "When you start feeling it ALL of the time, not just occationally."

I also got called by my Grandma last night. Just checking in on (kick) me and Baby Troyer. I am truly blessed to have wonderful women in my life as these are.

And I can still see my feet very well, reaching them is another matter entirely.

We haven't heard anything from the Dr. office so we only can assume they didn't find anything odd or concerning in the ultrasound as they read it after we left. Praise God!

I enjoy laughing at our Squirt as I'm tickled by the movements that I'm feeling more and more often.

And that's about all to update.

BT

PS yes where I wrote "(kick)" I was kicked

Lessons from Pregnancy

Through the first 5 months of pregnancy I have learned somethings.

Maternity pants are Amazing!!

When pregnant, clothes don't fit for very long, at least not if they fit when you buy them.
There IS a bottom to my belly button!!! (maybe I'll pop, I've been told it's extremely uncomfortable)
Vernors...enough said

Somehow when the opportunity to eat something that has been craved comes around, it always seems to taste even better than you thought it could.
The midwife, Bonnie, is wonderful, no one to be scared of ;)

In other news, we had a nice snow covering this morning. By 10 it was half gone :(

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...


BT

Welcome December

Hello December!

Aren't you just the busiest time of the year? I have to admit, I pretty much hate that about you. Mostly anyway, you are too busy for my liking. I enjoy having things to do and the holiday's, but I also desperately love me some good chill time, and you don't offer much of that.

I have created a list for myself, things to do in December, but it's not a to do list. A to do list implies that it has to be done. An idea list, is a list of things I can do (most of them are things at home that I might consider being chill things) instead of wasting the month or getting too caught up in the busyness.

These are the things that make me happy.

So, I'm already a day late. (but I did get into the season yesterday, see)

Now, after having eaten a champion breakfast (followed by second breakfast a few minutes ago)

and beginning to prepare my iTunes and iPhone for 2012,

I'm ready to start my day! Oh, and get ready for this small town's biggest event, the VIP SALE!!!

BT

PS