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[jodieanneanton]

Ask away!

[babytoes]

Okay.. Now it's your turn! So this is baby number 3, right? What were your previous births like? And what were your expectations regarding those births? How are you doing things differently (if you are doing anything different) with this birth?

[Chapsie]

Oh and definitely tell us about your meeting story and love story with your DH!

[Chapsie]

Oh... And what brought about your decision to homeschool your kids?

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by babytoes 

Okay.. Now it's your turn! So this is baby number 3, right? What were your previous births like? And what were your expectations regarding those births? How are you doing things differently (if you are doing anything different) with this birth?

Oh, no, babytoes!!! You asked me about birth... I may not be able to stop talking (typing)!!!!

Before I started dating my future husband, I was of the opinion that I would NEVER have a child.  And, that if I did I would *definitely* just take the drugs. Why would anyone put themselves through that kind of pain when they didn't have to?!  My mom had natural childbirth with all three of her daughters, but other than saying "I had you naturally," she never really gushed about it or talked about it much beyond, "I was expecting it to be worse than it was."  Somewhere along the lines, things changed.  By the time I got married, I wanted 2 kids and soon was thinking about natural childbirth!   <---- what my 17 year old self would have thought about my change of heart.

My first daughter was born in a hospital under the care of an OB. My mom encouraged me to look into the midwives in the practice, but I blew her off.  "What would a midwife know about birth!?"  ha ha ha!   <--- current Jodie's reaction to past Jodie's thoughts.  Anyhoo, I was convinced that I would have a natural labor and birth, and the doctor played along.  He got really nervous when I went overdue and DD1 was measuring large (9lbs3oz) on ultrasound.  "You can do it, you should be able to do it," he said trying to convince himself more than me.  During a vaginal exam that day, he stripped my membranes without telling me or asking me.  I am annoyed about that now, but I probably would have consented at that point.  I had been having contractions 7-10 minutes apart for about 8 or 9 days at that point, was 3 cm dialated and ready to be DONE!  The next  morning I was in labor, I got the bags packed and headed off to the mall to walk around....didn't want to get there too early!!! Well, the mall thing lasted all of 5 minutes.  By the time I bought my lemonade, I was "ready" (or so I thought) to go to the hospital.  Well, I got there and I was still 3 cm.  So annoyed.  For the next few hours, I was left alone.  I played cards with DH only having to stop for contractions, but returning to a typical suny disposition in between.  My mom and MIL showed up. After I was there for a while, maybe 5 hours or so, Doc came in to check me and I was 5 cm.  WHAT THE *****!?!?!  I should be 8 by now!!! Grrr...  So, she talked me into letting her break my water.  After this, things got intense and yeah... we'll leave it at intense. I was no longer sunny.  lol.  Just quietly going through hypnobabies thinking, 'I should have practiced more.' During the 5 hours after my water had been broken, I sat a little in a bathtub (no relief... but my whole tummy wasn't submerged b/c it was just a regular tub).  Mostly, though, I sat on an exercise ball and had my DH and mom and MIL doing light touch massage on my arms and lower back.  (When I mom tried to put strong counter pressure on my back pain, I went through the roof! Only time I 'lost it' during the whole labor.)  5 hours after water was broken, I asked them to check me.  I was STILL at 5cm.  They started talking potential of pitocin in a few hours if I still hadn't progressed.  They left the room.  I  told DH I would be getting the epidural right before the pitocin if they had to give that to me.  He then pulled out a piece of paper that listed all the side effects of epidurals on it. (Why did I tell him to do that?!  I thought!)  Ugh.  20 minutes after the last check, I called to be checked again.  I felt different....  Well, wouldn't you know... I was 10 cm.  Pushing took 4 hours.  2 1/2 on my back (I knew before going into the hospital that I 'wouldn't' push on my back, but at the time, I just did what they told me to do.  I spent the next hour alternating b/w hands and knees and birth bar.  Finally, a nurse told me to get up and walk around.  I thought she was crazy, but that did the trick!  Lucy came flying out once she was 'unstuck.' She was posterior and stuck behind my pubic bone, so she came out with a weird bump on her head that I thought would stay there forever.

Do you see that?!  Talk about scaring a first time mom.  After I digested the whole experience, there were a lot of things that I vowed to do differently next time...If there was a next time.  (I sunk into PPD that was undiagnosed and unnoticed for almost 2 years and didn't know for a long time if another would ever happen.)

When DH and I started TTC 2 years later, things took a while.  I made an appt with a mw for a 'check up' and to really check her out to see if I liked her for when I was pg.  I talked to her about how long things were taking (oh! The days when I thought 4 months was a long time!) and my concerns.  She said, "That's not a long time. I'll see you next month."  Well, she was right, I got pg the following cycle and since I liked her enough, decided to have her as my caregiver for pregnancy with DD2.  Care with a mw was sooo different than what I had experienced with an OB.  My appts went from 10 minutes (with the OB) to 30 minutes.  Even if I had no concerns or things to talk about and the appt could end at 5 minutes, Pat (my mw) would keep me in there and we'd chat for the remainder of the time. Where I'd be birthing was a birth center attached to a hospital and I decided to go for a waterbirth.  When labor started, I knew not to go in right away, so off to the mall I went.  (What's with me and the mall?  I don't know.)  The ladies (who I know) at the Disney store were shocked that I was in labor with "how well I was doing."  So, from 1 pm-7 pm, we (DD1, DH and I ) walked the mall,then dropped DD1 off at MIL's house and then back to the mall... I kept my mw updated via text.  At 8:30, I called her to tell her it was time to go to the hospital and that I'd be there in a half hour.  When she asked me what I was doing at that moment, I told her shopping for patio furniture.  (I later found out that she thought it was still too early.)  I got to the hospital and in my room by 9:30.  My contractions slowed.  She checked me and I was 4 cm (only one more than I had been that morning at my prenatal appt.).  I was not discouraged.  I knew that it was just my body sowing down for the 'checking in' process.  At 10 or so, she left to take a nap since she thought it'd be a L.O.N.G. night.  Once everyone but my mom and DH left, things picked up as I knew they would and were pretty intense.  DH filled up the ball that was a God send last time... and UGH!  It felt terrible.  I only wanted to be walking and standing while leaning on DH.  My mom sat on the sidelines b/c I ONLY wanted DH. I remember telling my husband that this was "not as glamorous as I remembered."  (He later asked if I thought it was glamorous the first time! lol... well, I guess not.) Contractions were strong and coming almost back to back  At 11:30, the nurse checked on me to see how I was feeling and I asked how I would know to go into the tub... I don't want to go in too early and blah blah blah.  'You will KNOW! You will really feel the need for pain relief," she said.  Ok, I can prob make it a little longer.  She left, and 5 minutes later, I called her back in and asked her to get Pat so I could be checked.  Pat came in (later she told me based on my disposition that I was prob a 6 or 7) I was fully dialated!  They started filling the tub the rest of the way (it was already half full) and I had DD2 a little while later all following my own instincts!  Bonding was immediate and strong (I didn't have any feeling of natural bonding the first time).

  But 5 minutes after the birth, mw gave me pitocin "since she has the heplock" to "help the placenta come along."  Ugh.  How annoying.  After processing everything, I decided it was *almost* ideal.  I didn't like the pitocin thing and I didn't like fighting about vaccines/cord cutting/eyedrops/etc. in the hours after birth.  I didn't like that I wasn't *allowed* to co-sleep.  I didn't like having to stay extra long b/c I didn't get enough antibiotics in labor (I was Group B Strep +).

After DD2 was born, I had a God-given calling to open my fertility to His Will (which I was opposed to at first) and then a miraculous change of heart and then an even more miraculous change of hubby's heart regarding having more children.  Sooo... Now comes #3!

This time, I am changing things up again with a homebirth.  I have been feeling really private during this pregnancy.  I even feel *too exposed* doing simple things like grocery shopping. So, I think this is the right move on an extra level. (For my first two births, I wanted all the women in my life to share in the birth... this time, uh... no.  Just DH, please.  lol)  We will be asking DD1 if she'd like to be there, too. And my mom will take care of her needs if she decides to watch her new sibling's birth.  I am looking forward to co-sleeping in my own bed after and not fighting for no unnecessary interventions.  I am looking forward to turning this labor into an unhindered prayer.  I know I have mentioned it before, but I will again here. I LOVE labor.  I really view it as a time to be truly in touch with God and to experience how I have been made in his image in a truly 'unique to females' way.  I hope this time lives up to my great expectations.  I think this birth will be really healing... When I opened my fertility to God's Will, I had 2 miscarriages and have spent a bit of this pregnancy in fear because of recurring episodes of heavy (unexplained) bleeding...  My assumption is that after this birth, I will feel like I'd choose to go through all the pain (saddness/grief of loss, fear) in order to #1 fulfill my calling and #2 have the experience of birthing another healthy baby.

I told you I'd not be able to stop typing!!!

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

Oh and definitely tell us about your meeting story and love story with your DH!

This is second to talking about birth in "fave things to talk about" for me! lol. 

My DH is my BFF from high school's big brother. (He's 6 years older than us.) I first met him (I think) when my friend (Jen) took him to a football game.  They left before halftime and he says that when he was leaving that he felt this tugging at his heart that he should go back to stay with me.  He says he didn't connect it with "liking" me in anyway (at 14 and 20 years old, I suppose that would be kinda creepy...lol) but just an aching in his heart for leaving me behind.  Over the next 3 years, as we got to know each other, a joke developed about us getting together when I turned 18.   About 5 months before my 18th birthday, we were at a party at his parents house and ended up innocently sleeping in the same bed.  (really!!! No funny business.  we both had to get up early. I had to be at work at 6am the next day. And he had to continually check on his brother who had drank too much and all other beds/floor spots were taken.) This is when he decided that on my 18th bday, he would really ask me out and send 18 roses to my school on my bday.  My bday came, however, and I had a boyfriend.  So, he refrained.  The following month, there was another party at his house (Sounds like I was a big drinker, lol... I wasn't. I was pretty straight edge until I was out of high school.) and I went and he was there. We really flirted and when things were leading up to a kiss, I stopped things.  (I still had a bf, though the relationship was ending b/c of bf's drinking.)  A couple of dayslater, I broke up with bf and wrote an email to Vince (DH) about my true feelings for him.  We decided to go out on a date despite the fact that he was moving to Maryland the following week.  The first date went really well.  The ssecond went well.  Then he left for a job in Maryland and we talked on the phone for 6weeks... When he came back to visit over Valentine's weekend, we went out again.  We exchanged, "I love yous" and he asked me to my prom.  :)  I said yes and have been saying yes ever since.  :)  I moved to Maryland to go to college there.  He asked me to marry him after 1 year and 3 months.  1 year and 3 months after that, we were married (at ages 20 and 26)!!!  We just had our 10 year anniversary of our first date and I still swoon thinking of it all.  

I feel really lucky.  I am constantly amazed at how well we work together... How can it be?  I wonder... He is such a great father and husband.... How did we end up so lucky?    We are both completely different people than we were when we first started dating.  Yet, somehow, we have changed in the same ways where it really matters (politics, faith, raising children, etc.)!  Swoon!  Sorry, ladies, for gushing so much.

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

Oh... And what brought about your decision to homeschool your kids?

This is a good question!  :)  The decision was made over the course of a conversation, but my heart had been being prepped for months.  

I had always been vehemently opposed to homeschooling.  There was one family in my extended family who did it (they were the only home schoolers I had been exposed to) and their reputation was *weirdos,* to be honest.  I had no interest in doing that to my kids!!! (Now that I know the family as an adult and I can judge their weirdness for myself and I find them very sweet and enduring. And if my kids turned out with half as much kindness and generosity, I'd consider myself lucky!)

It all started in a half-priced books store (You thought I'd say mall, didn't you?!  lol).  I was in the kids section and DD1 was browsing and I was wearing DD2.  There was another family in the Children's section.  Two of the girls sitting on a stool looking at books and a son and mom talking.  Upon noticing me, one of the girls (maybe  or 8 years old) stood up without prompting, walked over to me and said, "Here.  You can have my seat."   I watched the family the rest of the time and out of no where found myself asking the mom, "Are your children homeschooled?" (Where did that question come from?  It was a Saturday afternoon.  Likely they weren't!) "Yes," was her simple reply.  "I can tell," I said.  "They are amazing."  What?!?! I thought.  Did I just describe home schooled kids as amazing?!?!  What?!?!  Seed planted... and like all seeds, forgotten about... until later.

Fast forward a few months.  It was a Saturday.  DD1's first day of preschool was on Tuesday and I kept having these terrible visions of what would happen when I drove away... her screaming, yelling, begging for me to come back.  I asked DH, "Do you think that we should really be sending Lucy to preschool?"  Long conversation short, no... let's pull her out and do stuff at home for a year.  Really, she wasn't ready. For the next two weeks, I researched homeschooling like it was my job.  What started out as researching how to do preschool at home turned into researching homeschooling as a legit option for the education of our children.  I stumbled upon 'Well-trained Mind,' devoured it in three days (have you seen how thick that book is?!?! ) and my mind was made up.... It was like everything clicked into place.  Now to approach the husband.  I showed him the book and had been sharing the research over the last couple of weeks... To my surprise, he was all about it!  So, it was decided.  We would be homeschooling our kids following (and tweaking as needed) the Classical approach to homeschooling.

This is just another example of how DH and I have changed together at the same time with little to no conflict about it!

[Chapsie]

Jodie, you know I'm like your biggest fan, haha. . I loved reading your stories because I see so much similarity between us!

My husband and I married at 21 and 25 and did most of our dating prior to engagement long-distance! (I lived in Orlando and he lived in Buffalo, NY.). First baby- posterior and stuck on my pubic bone! Pushed over 3 hours before a c/s! Had PPD. Had an awesome labor (I also love labor!) with second baby and lots of natural bonding. . Then... 2 miscarriages. And now baby #3! I have also looked into homeschooling even though I always thought I'd be against it (I thrived in public school). So-- lots of interesting parallels!

I am so interested in your decision to leave your fertility in God's hands. I have been following several blogs of large families with similar callings on their lives. It has always appealed to me, but my DH would need a miraculous change of heart like yours did! As it is, he didn't even want to have baby #3 at first, but saw how important it was to me after the MCs.

Can you explain more about your homeschool curriculum and the book you read about it? My DS is starting kindergarten in the fall and I am intrigued about homeschooling and am always curious about how it works for other families. I will most likely send him to public school, but I feel a strange tug at my heart to at least research homeschooling!

What are your favorite hobbies? What do you and DH like to do together when your kids are at a babysitters?

What was your favorite vacation?

How many brothers and sisters do you have? ( you said 3 girls, right?)

[spughy]

I'm also curious about your approach to homeschooling.  I'm very much in favour of it generally but when my DD was preschool/kindergarten age it just wasn't a good fit for her personality - the structure of Montessori and the closer bonding with the same teachers over multiple school years looked like it would be a better choice for her, and that's certainly been the case - she is absolutely thriving in school.  Nevertheless, I do dream of homeschooling... but most of the homeschoolers I know follow a more unschooling route.  I'm wondering what led you to follow a classical homeschooling path (by that I assume you mean that you take on a traditional teacher-type role?)  I've heard a lot of unschooling advocates, but I haven't had much exposure to traditional-learning-at-home advocates. 

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 


I am so interested in your decision to leave your fertility in God's hands. I have been following several blogs of large families with similar callings on their lives. It has always appealed to me, but my DH would need a miraculous change of heart like yours did! As it is, he didn't even want to have baby #3 at first, but saw how important it was to me after the MCs.
 

The day I gave birth to DD2, I felt the STRONG tugging at my heart to have more children.  I knew it was a divine calling...and  I was NOT happy about this.  I was ready to be done and 2 was more than enough.  My daughter had a sister and a lifelong friend.  That was the extent of my responsibility regarding having more than one child.  But, when you get a divine calling, you can't just say "no" without putting up a fight.  "I can't do that... No way..." I whined.  More tugging.  "I don't want that.  I am done. You are lucky I had 2."  More tugging.  "Ok, God.  If you want this for me, You are going to have to change my heart.  I don't want this for my life.  If you can change my heart and make me want to do it, maybe I could say yes."  I fell asleep that night and woke up the next morning desperately wanting another child... and more than another... I wanted A LOT more!!!  Amazed, I prayed, "ok.  You did it.  But this isn't going to be easy.  My DH doesn't want this!  We have already settled the conversation.  No more.  If you really want this for us, you are going to have to change his mind, too.  I can't do that!"  I kept the news about my new desires to myself.  By the time DD2 was 2 weeks old, DH was already talking about having a couple more and within a month was talking about seeing us with five and being surprised by a 6th...  OK,  So I guess God fulfulled his end of the deal, I will do mine.  (Imagine my surprise and discontent when the next two pregnancies ended in miscarriage!  "How could He do this to me?  He was the One who wanted me to be open, I answer in obedience (ok, ok... reluctant obedience...) and now THIS?!?!  TWICE?!?!  What.  The.  Heck?!?!?!)  

So, like I said, I am assuming there will be much healing with this birth and this child... I have been surprised before, however.  What I do know is that no matter how it goes down... really, no matter what happens... God is good and I feel good about fulfilling my calling.  

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

Can you explain more about your homeschool curriculum and the book you read about it? My DS is starting kindergarten in the fall and I am intrigued about homeschooling and am always curious about how it works for other families. I will most likely send him to public school, but I feel a strange tug at my heart to at least research homeschooling!
 

Originally Posted by spughy 

I'm also curious about your approach to homeschooling.  I'm very much in favour of it generally but when my DD was preschool/kindergarten age it just wasn't a good fit for her personality - the structure of Montessori and the closer bonding with the same teachers over multiple school years looked like it would be a better choice for her, and that's certainly been the case - she is absolutely thriving in school.  Nevertheless, I do dream of homeschooling... but most of the homeschoolers I know follow a more unschooling route.  I'm wondering what led you to follow a classical homeschooling path (by that I assume you mean that you take on a traditional teacher-type role?)  I've heard a lot of unschooling advocates, but I haven't had much exposure to traditional-learning-at-home advocates. 

 

I, too, thrived in traditional school (I went to a traditional-style catholic school and did very well academically and socially and so on...  DH went to same school and didn't like it at all...)  I remember, though, being told often that I couldn't work ahead.  When I finished with an in class assignment, I was told to rest my head on my desk and wait on the rest.... That just doesn't sit right with me.  On the other hand, if a child falls behind in a subject, they are left behind.  I love the idea of my child learning each subject at his or her pace.  If DD1 is 2nd grade and at 4th grade level in math and a 1st grade level in reading, why can't she be learning 4th grade math and 1st grade reading?  I really like the tailored personal education aspect of home schooling in general.  That is the biggest draw for me.

 

 

However, a classical education is unlike what one would get in school.  It is more than 'school at home.' It is a language intensive (not image-focused).  It is history intensive (all subjects that can... like literature, science, art, music, etc...are studied along the history timeline.  For example, you read the plays of Shakespeare as you study the 16th century. At the same time, your science curriculum lines up with discoveries made at the same time, paintings and music done at that time). It trains the mind to analyze, draw conclusions, have self-discipline.  The main point is to develop students who can do more than read and write and calculate.  It trains them to want to UNDERSTAND.  Things that my children will be taught/experience that most students will not be exposed to are piano, Latin, LOTS of hands on experiments (there are NO science textbooks... all experiments) and by the high school years, the education uses entirely original sources...literature, science writings, study of original scores for music, etc. The book, The Well-Trained Mind, outline general curriculum and offer their suggestions for materials to be used.  So, we will be using that as a spring board and tweaking when we see fit.  

 

For now, though (DD1's in K) classical education follows a sort of unschooling, learning through life idea with the exception of learning to read.  So, that is our main focus.  Reading together, reading lessons and basic living with me always looking for potential 'teachable moments.'  "DD1, can you cut this sandwich in half?" "I have to double this recipe.  It says I need 2 cups of flour.  If I double it, how many cups do I need?"  Next year, we will start a more structured day.  History is approached as a story and art projects and I am sure that even DD2 will love getting in on the action! (I am most excited about the history for next year.)  So, while I will generally have a teacher role and in some subjects (like I do for reading lessons and probably will for math) where I act as a private tutor/teacher, most of the time, I plan to approach it as a lets learn this together, read this together, do this together to find out how the world works.

 

We will enjoy extra curriculars through various home school groups (we are a part of one now, but will probably join a co-op for more opportunities next year).  Oh, the more I talk about it, the more excited I get and the more inspired I get!  Thanks for this question!
 

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

What are your favorite hobbies? 
 

I LOVE crafting!!!! I make many of my girls clothes.  For each holiday (including but not limited to Easter, Valentines day, st patricks day, memorial day, 4th of july, halloween, thanksgiving, and christmas), I make coordinating outfits for my girls and myself to wear. 

  

Here we are two thanksgivings ago.  Yes, my skirt and headband match the girls fabrics, too. lol.  The other is last St. Patricks day.  

You get the dorky idea! ;)  Each year, I make Christmas pajamas so we can all be cute and coordinate for opening presents Christmas morning.  Makes the pictures look so good. Especially considering that my usual pj choices are NEVER cute! I also do Halloween costumes and general outfits (mostly dresses for the girls and skirts for myself).  I may try to venture into the land of somewhat useful and make some diapers for this baby, but we shall see.  I make my own baby carriers (mei tais and wraps similar to the moby wrap). I make blankets, play mats, etc. too!

I also enjoy include crocheting.  I made the girls some hats (with earflaps and braids to look like Rapunzel) for Christmas this year. They loved them.) I am trying my hand at crocheting cubes for storage of toys, but it is taking FOREVER!  I may just have to sew some. 

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

 What do you and DH like to do together when your kids are at a babysitters?

Our normal everyday things that we like to do together are watching TV on DVD (we usually watch "The office" over and over but now we are watching "The wonder years!")  Other things we do regularly are just talk... about our days, our goals, our dreams, our concerns... we like to talk, too. :)

When we have the kids with his parents or my mom, we like to go out to eat.  :)  We love to eat out.  It is the one thing we miss from our 'life without kids' days.  We used to eat out A LOT! And it's nice to do those one on one dates once in a while, but really, our kids go to bed at 7/7:30,so we have a 2-3 hours every night one on one. (We spend only 1 (sometimes 2) day per week doing separate things.)

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 


What was your favorite vacation?
 

My favorite vacation was one we went on last summer.  When we were pregnant with Papaya, DH brought up going to Disneyworld and I was totally NOT into it.  I didn't want to walk around the park 6 months pregnant and really, Disney?  Ugh.  How predictable.  How commercial.  How lame. When we lost the baby, DH decided that we were going to Disney. Fine.  Ugh.  

Well, when I got there, I  turned into a little girl again.  I legit was Disney-ified, as I call it.  Meeting the princesses, Mickey, Minnie...swoon!!  "it's a small world" made me tear up.  It was the best. vacation. ever.  Add on top of all I was feeling the fact that I got to watch my kids experience it.  Ahhhh!  The best! :D

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 


How many brothers and sisters do you have? ( you said 3 girls, right?)

I have two sisters.  I am the oldest, then my 26 year old sister (who is technically a member of this DDC) and 22 year old sister.  We grew up with our mom (saw dad occasionally... it was a really bad situation there).  So, it was a house of all women and one bathroom.  This probably explains my complete and total fear of having a boy (we don't know what we are having).  I always say, "I grew up with all girls... The first man I lived with was my husband and he came fully trained!  I don't know what to do with a boy!  I am afraid of boys!!!"

Back to the sisters... all of us are close now.  We have gone through our times of distance (mostly when I distanced myself from them as a 13-18 year old), but we enjoy happy sibling relationships as adults.  :)  

[chocolatechip]

Jodie, you are so good on this forum of keeping us organized and starting up interesting ideas and keeping track of them (like these spotlight threads!). Are you this organized in your non-internet life as well? Has your personality always been like this? Is there anything you like to do that's really messy and UNorganized? 

Just have to chime in a bit on the homeschooling, as I was homeschooled my entire educational life except for kindergarten and college. Back then, it was all just called homeschooling.  Based on today's terminology, we were more of the unschooling sort. But it was interesting to hear your description of the more classical approach, because I think that was kind of how my mother viewed the world, even if we didn't have a particular curriculum for it! We all played instruments of various sorts, studied languages, did science experiments... And there's a lot to be said for just going out and observing the world, in terms of learning. 

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by chocolatechip 

Jodie, you are so good on this forum of keeping us organized and starting up interesting ideas and keeping track of them (like these spotlight threads!). Are you this organized in your non-internet life as well? Has your personality always been like this? Is there anything you like to do that's really messy and UNorganized? 

Ha ha ha!

I have to laugh because I am really not that organized at all.  lol.  At least I don't feel organized.  Although, I do admit that I give the impression of being organized because of the vast amount of things I decide to take on.  I have gotten the "you must be super mom" comment with the sewing and homeschooling and baking and cooking, but really, I am always feeling like I am hardly keeping up because there are so many things I *want* to do that I don't get around to!  

I have never been organized at all, but there was an unexplained  major shift in my personality between 7th and 8th grade and by the time I got to high school, I was the involved in everything type.  Senior year (for example), I was class president, in student council, in National Honors society, 3 plays, drama club, english speaking competition, speech competitions, a tour guide, a royal ambassador (traveled to grade schools to talk up my high school) and spanish club.  I also weasled my way (somehow) into doing morning announcements everyday!  I was insane.  This carried over into college and eventually I totally burned out during my 3rd year of college. (At that time, I was stage managing 3 plays at once, working as a waitress 20 hours a week, working 10 hrs a week as a costume technician, taking a maximum course load and being a newly wed.)  From that, I learned I have a tendency to overcommit. Now, I really try to limit my outside of the home engagements and seriously consider my husbands advice and opinion before taking on any extra projects.  He's usually right on about how a certain outside the home commitment will effect our family (all I see is how much good I could do or fun I could have), so I appreciate when he is upfront and tells me something may not be a good idea (like the cupcake business I had started that grew WAY too fast for me to keep up with, for example).  

My house has always been a disaster, but now that I have moved and I have 1 extra bedroom (used as a play room) and an attic, I really feel like everything has a place and I am finally able to have things stay semi-organized.  I really have to work at it, though, because I really just like to loaf around  or be on the go (when not pregnant...ha ha!) and I have to be home to keep things any sort of clean.  My DH is a natural neat freak and clutter stresses him once it passes a certain threshold, so I do make an effort (especially since the move) because although I am not a natural cleaner, I do like things better that way, too!  My latest craze has been working on the kids.  I decided last week that I cannot be the only cleaner in the house and that they have to help out!!!  So, starting in the middle of last week, we started a new system where they put away what they are playing with BEFORE playing with the next thing.  It sounds like a simple concept, but now that it is sinking in (I heard DD2 ask DD1 to play a new game today and DD1 replied, "not yet, cuz first we have to clean up these toys. Then, we can play that!"  And I walked into their room this afternoon and despite a full day of costume changes, there was only one pair of clothes on the floor) it is really really helping! :D  I don't feel like I am following them around the house cleaning up after them!  What a relief!

[babytoes]

Originally Posted by chocolatechip 

Jodie, you are so good on this forum of keeping us organized and starting up interesting ideas and keeping track of them (like these spotlight threads!). 

I have to second this! During the summer when I was struggling with what to do about having some help me lead the group, since it was becoming obvious Kalamos wasn't with us any longer, I watched the board closely for a few weeks to see who was the most helpful to others and active. I knew that I needed someone that would take over and do what needed to be done. When you took the reins on reposting and fixing the who's who board, I knew you were the right person for the job! 

I am so appreciative to you, Jodie! You have not only organized the board with interesting topics, but you are there to give excellent advice, and even took the time (which was an incredible thing during the holidays!) to managed the bead swap. Thank you so much for all of your help, I am not as active as you, but knowing you are here for our fabulous ladies makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside    You were the best woman for the job, THANK YOU!!!

[chocolatechip]

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

Ha ha ha!

I have to laugh because I am really not that organized at all.  lol.  At least I don't feel organized.  Although, I do admit that I give the impression of being organized because of the vast amount of things I decide to take on.  I have gotten the "you must be super mom" comment with the sewing and homeschooling and baking and cooking, but really, I am always feeling like I am hardly keeping up because there are so many things I *want* to do that I don't get around to! 

I was definitely wondering, because I feel like I am very good at organizing official things that I'm in charge of, or helping other people get organized, but not that great at being organized just for myself.  So it's interesting to hear that you also don't feel as organized in the rest of your life! Heehee! Though WOW, you do like to take on a lot of things at once. Do you ever sleep? 

[scruffy too]

I don't have a question - but I've loved reading your in depth responses!!!!

Thank you so much for all you've done for the DDC online and with the bead swap!!  You're a huge part of what made this DDC so important and meaningful to us all!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!