Pregnancy/Family Update… Baby Names Suggestions Welcome
I used to post more of my own material for my website, but for the past long while, it seems I only link to other articles with the occasional personal comment here and there. I am sorry that I haven’t had the strength nor the inspiration for creative writing during the past six months. I haven’t been able to blog the story of this pregnancy either because it’s been just too emotional and difficult.
I apologize for either not responding at all or only half-heartedly to the encouraging comments and emails I have received during the past several months. I used to reply every time, but lately it has been exhausting, and sometimes I just don’t know what to say. I do appreciate when you take the time to write to me, and I will try to do better in replying. Thank you!
I am doing better healthwise. I still get extremely fatigued, but unlike the first 20 weeks of this pregnancy, I have been improving instead of getting worse. That was so scary. I can finally cope and even do things which makes me very encouraged and hopeful. I am also beginning to stop worrying about miscarrying.
I went to my first (and only so far) prenatal appointment and heard the baby’s heartbeat. I get Braxton Hicks contractions. I feel the baby kicking some. The hiccups seem to indicate that baby’s head is down. If that is the case, I pray it stays that way.
Me – Almost 25 weeks pregnant
(I can’t get Derek to stop taking worm’s eye view pictures.)
I stuck to the vegan diet for about six weeks, but since I kept getting more sick, I made some changes. I still make vegetable smoothies, almond/grape milk, take all my supplements, and continue to make better choices and avoid most unhealthy foods. I have continued to make Sunday night fruit smoothies for the family, and I bought quite a few containers to make homemade smoothie popsicles, both of which the children love.
Vegetable smoothie that turns into a bubbling crude
Vegetable smoothie and fruit salad
Fruit smoothie ingredients
Homemade smoothie popsicles in the freezer
I haven’t scrapbooked for 3 1/2 years, so I felt bad that I was so far behind with a little baby on the way. Just because this baby is the fifth child shouldn’t mean he or she doesn’t get pictures in an album. Inspired by the very talented Kelle of Enjoying the Small Things, I have discovered the wonderful world of photobooking. Kelle does digital scrapbooking and then has her beautiful pages collected in photobooks. I would love to do digital scrapbooking, yet I can’t figure out how to get started at all. Photobooking has been wonderfully easy with delightful results (not magnificent like Kelle’s, but satisfactory to me right now). I finally feel productive after many months of getting nothing done. That has been very hard on my head since my mind wants me to go, go, go. Just during the past few weeks, I completed three albums (January – June 2009, July – December 2009, January – June 2008), and I almost have July – December 2008 finished. Hopefully all of 2007 will fit in one album. I will then have only January – June 2010 to finish before the baby! Lovely. I look forward to taking family pictures this fall.
We thought we had our baby names, but it seems there are too many people with the same names. I would welcome any baby names suggestions (in the comments below). I can’t find a good baby names website, so I would appreciate any tips in that area as well.
It has been a sad week in our community with the tragic death of a fourteen-year-old girl who lived up the road from us. She died in a car accident. Her mother is one of the sweetest, friendliest people I know. She is the kind of person who would get voted Miss Congeniality in the real world. What a devastating loss to their little family. Unbearable. http://nethymnal.org/htm/b/e/bestill.htm
The children are continuing to do their school work. Usually they have most subjects finished by mid-May, but this year, most subjects will likely go until the end of June. The 3 R’s will continue throughout the summer because of the baby and Derek’s job situation. The older boys have been dipping into their next year’s book stash. They just can’t help it – especially those Glenn Beck recommendations. They also received a new box of books with Canadian content yesterday. http://www.freedompress.ca/
Jean Chretien: A Legacy of Scandal ~ Paul Tuns
As I See It ~ Michael Coren
Standing on Guard for Thee ~ Michael Wagner
Loyal to the Core: Stephen Harper, Me and the NCC ~ Gerry Nicholls
The Great Canadian Comedy: From Laughter To Tears ~ Joe Campbell
Stop the Presses! ~ Joseph Farah
I bought another Willow Tree ornament because of the new baby. This will be our family in August. 
I would love to hear from you. Certain blogging decisions I have made over the past couple years has resulted in less reader feedback, so it is encouraging to hear from those of you who still visit my website.
Now, back to politics as usual… 
About The Author
You look GREAT Carol! I”m so happy to hear things are progressing smoothly. Sorry about the loss in your community, how devastating.
As for name suggestions…I like Anne for a girl. Anne Shirley and Anne Elliot are two of my favorite literary ladies.
Thanks… Anne is nice – definitely with an “e”.
You look wonderful, Carole.
No suggestions…I’m trying to come up with some for our own baby due in October. I am drawing a complete blank….! Best wishes, though!
Thanks. Congratulations, Holly!
Love the post!
You’re looking great!
Smoothies sound delicious.
I don’t scrapbook… but maybe I’ll check out the digital kind. That seems easy!
Love the Willow Tree ornaments.
As far as names… it all depends on your style. Here’s what my immediate family has used:
Justin Rebekah
Ethan Hannah
Michael Emma
Quinlan Ava
Nathan Heidi
Trenton Marie
Stewart Elizabeth
Matthew Lynne
Wesley Kaitlyn
Kaleb Aryanah
Levi Grace
Deklan Tiana
James Elena
There’s more, of course.
But the list was getting too long! 
Thanks. You have some great names there.
Love the post. Love the picture. I’m not giving you any name suggestions because I don’t want any more of my name picks stolen from me!!
Thanks. I actually thought of you and thought the same thing. (But it’s not like we ever said them to each other out loud.)
Haha that’s funny. No no, I didn’t mean you intentionally stole them. It’s just bound to happen!
I just found your blog and I am loving it. Congrats on feeling better!!
My current favorite boy name is Derek – which I see is your husband’s name!
If I have another boy, Derek will be his name.
My son’s name is Laird Alan, my husband is Todd.
Here are some names in my family:
Philip Andrew
Jason Daniel
Rebekah Kathryn
Sarah Margaret
Erin Elizabeth (me)
Susan Jean
Ronald Frank
I also love last names as first names!
I’ve found babycenter.com to be helpful, but if you want lots of detail it might not have enough.
Thanks, Erin. Nice to meet you. Great names list. Thanks for linking to me.
Have you tried http://www.nymbler.com ? It’s a neat little site that allows you to type in the names of all your children, then generates names that it thinks you’ll like. Most helpful when you need a little inspiration!
Btw, I love your WillowTree family.
Thanks. The only one I had to buy was the boy with the books to represent N16. The other boys just moved up an ornament.
Glad to hear that you are feeling a little better. I continue to keep you in my prayers.
If Bill had been a girl I wanted to call him Charlotte…