The Wedding, Maternity Jeans, & Knitted "Soakers"

The Wedding

...was everything I imagined it to be and more.  The people who love us most -- our parents, our kids, and of course my very best friend in the whole wide world -- made the long drive to our house to witness Miner and I exchange our vows and finally become husband and wife after 14 very long years of "engagement."  It was beautiful.

The Justice of the Peace was a dear little Cajun man not much taller than me.  He had the softest, kindest eyes, and he seemed genuinely happy to be there doing what he was sworn to do for the City of Lafayette.  He knew what the occasion meant to us, and even if he's conducted hundreds and hundreds of ceremonies before ours, he led us through our vows and commitments as if it we were the only couple who have ever been in love in his district.  I couldn't have hand-picked a finer person to marry us.

Our rings are taking some getting used to.  Neither of us is accustomed to having anything on our fingers, but it's a delightful little habit.  Every time I glance down at my finger and see the shiny band there, I think to myself, "Mrs. Refiner...."

Shopping for Maternity Jeans

...has proven to be a lot more difficult than I'd anticipated.  Old Navy's having a great maternity sale right now, but unfortunately, their jeans are just not up to par.  The size I tried on -- which should fit me, according to the size chart -- just swallows me up!  Granted, I'm not even two months along yet, but still...I'd think at least the hips and thighs would fit.  Nope.

Instead, Miner ordered a few things from Gap, including jeans.  I hope at least the jeans fit, because my regular ones have gotten too uncomfortable.  I can barely snap them closed, and I really don't like the feeling of walking around with the fly undone.  Makes me feel like slob.

Knitted "Soakers"?

Thumbing through the latest issue of People magazine, I came across one of those "Got Milk?" ads.  Those ads are usually pretty unremarkable, but what caught my eye was what the infant in the photo had on over his diaper:  a knitted "soaker."

 
I'd never heard of a soaker until I came across the term while looking for baby bloomers knitting patterns.  Apparently, soakers have been around for quite some time.

I've already decided I'll have a nice supply of these by the time the baby's born.  They look so comfortable, and there's just something so wonderfully pure about natural fibers on a baby's skin.

Keen Nose, Current Cravings, & Now the Kids Know

The Smells! The Smells!

This heightened sense of smell is just about to do me in.  Anything deviating from the default fragrance of nothing either makes my stomach lurch, my throat clench, or gives me one heck of a migraine.

For instance, today, I gagged at the smell of...

• Ramen noodles
• the cat box
• the cat food
• Comet cleaner
• baking clay
• too many different kinds of candles in the candle aisle at Walmart

Strange thing about it all is that I've never exhibited this prenatal symptom before, not with any of the five pregnancies before.  Guess that just goes to show that every pregnancy is special, and one can never be surprised.

Current Cravings

• tommy toes (still)
• cottage cheese
• Babybel cheese wheels
• sharp cheddar cheese
• olives
• V-8 tomato juice
• 1/2 water, 1/2 lemon juice
• cucumber

I already have a difficult enough time with milk products, but now that I'm consuming them in larger quantities, I'm afraid my digestive system is going to completely freeze up.  Then where will I be?

To compensate, I bought a big jug of that good ol' standby, prune juice.  I don't mind the taste of prune juice at all.  Or the texture.  I actually like it every now and then.  (This is all coming from a woman who loves buttermilk.)  And that's a good thing, because prune juice is going to be my only saving grace.

Now the Kids Know

After dinner last night, we finally sat down all the kids in the living room and put it like this:

"On Saturday, we're getting married."

Stunned silence, wide eyes, some skeptical squints.

"Are you joking?" Priss asked.  She was entirely serious.

Moe threw her head back and stared at the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" I said.

"Nothing, I just think you're kidding."

"No, it's really going to happen this time.  We're having a wedding here at the house."

Then, squeals and lots of hugs and kisses.

Rocky was the only one who kept his seat and his calm.  He had one thing to say: "Yay, health insurance."

Disclosure, Kid-made Cake, & Rings

Telling the Kids

Okay, so Saturday's "The Day."  It's all set.  Both sets of parents are privy, but the kids are still in the dark.  Just one of those things when there's so much going on, a person can't get a word in edge-wise.

But tonight, perhaps over dinner or after dinner, Miner and I will sit down all five of them and say something like, "Well kids...we've all been waiting for this for a long time, and the time has finally arrived.  We're getting married this Saturday."

I foresee many giggles and gasps; the older ones will probably say something like, "It's about time!" or "Gee! I thought it'd NEVER happen!"

Then there will be lots of questions, and surely, Priss will run away with all the girly details like the dress and the cake.

And then we'll have to establish the fact this is a small affair without all the conventional bells and whistles, which we'll save for the "Big Wedding" down the road.  That will probably be disappointing for Priss, but there are plenty other details she can tend to.

Kid-made Cake

For instance...the cake.  Mom offered to buy us a wedding cake made to my specifications, but honestly?  What I really want is for the kids to be in charge of that.  They can work together to bake a cake here at home, ice it themselves, and even decorate it.

They'll even make the cake toppers.  Sculpy clay is the perfect medium for a little cake topper sculpture, and the kids sculpt so well.  They got clay and paints for Christmas, so whatever they come up with will not only serve as a centerpiece of the day, but also, a wonderful keepsake for all of us.  I giggle myself when I think of how happy they'll be to see their creation in the middle of the table instead of something store-bought.

Rings

No rings yet.  We know exactly what we want, but there's no way the rings will be resized in time for the ceremony on Saturday.  Instead, we're just going to get the closest appropriate sizes, bring them home for the ceremony, and then have them resized afterward.   Yeah, it's a slacker, rush-job kinda thing, but it doesn't bother me a bit!  I just want to have something on my finger.  We can worry about perfection later.

Mother-in-Law still doesn't have the 4-1-1

No, he didn't tell his mother about the baby, yet.  "There just wasn't a good time to do it."  (smile)  That very well may be, but I know he's just shaking in his boots and would rather she come upon that information through the power of clairvoyance or some such.  Perhaps seeing a sign in the crust of a bagel.

Monday Morning: Marriage License & Let the Cat Outta the Bag

Tomorrow morning, I'll be truckin' myself down to the Clerk of Court to obtain a License for Marriage.  In 84 or so hours, I'll be Mrs. Miner Refiner.

What changes will this bring?

For one, I won't be white-lying anymore when I say "...my husband..." or when I sign Lola Refiner on certain documents.

I'll actually have a ring.

The kids will finally be able to say their parents are married.

I can join the local Christian homeschooling association if I want to (though I'm perfectly happy in the one I'm in).

We'll finally be a one-surname household.

I do regret we couldn't wait to plan a wedding as we would've liked before it became official.  That will take a little of the sanctity out of the "real" wedding when it finally does come around.  And I'll have to wait another year or so before I'm back down to my pre-pregnancy size, because there's no way I'm going to wear a bridal gown while I still have a baby pooch.

And tomorrow, we tell the kids about little #6 on the way.  More than anything, I'll be thankful they finally know the truth why I've been so out of it lately, and maybe they'll take it upon themselves to help out more around the house.  I already feel guilty enough, not having the energy to keep up with routine.

Lastly, I've got to give myself a pat on the back for passing on the evening cup of coffee for the past couple nights.  How many years has that been part of my bedtime ritual.  Instead, I opted for hot chocolate, which really isn't much better in the way of nutrition (if it's made with hot water, as mine was tonight), but at least it's not coffee.  I was able to say "No" again.  It's a start.