Full of (therapy) beans

One thing of Lilly's that I just knew I couldn't get rid of was her therapy pinto beans. (She also had dried chick peas but I was OK dumping those into her brother's box of beans that he plays with.) I had them saved in a baggy in the attic and then I read an idea by Caleb's mom about how she was had saved her son's therapy beans and noodles and someone had suggested putting them in jars. What a great idea!

Once when our family was on a walk, I found an apothecary jar that was out by the side of the road with a pile of junk. I grabbed it and brought it home. Lilly was with us. :) I've had it on a shelf but hadn't figured out the perfect thing to put into it until I heard about the beans in a jar idea. Lilly's therapy beans filled the jar perfectly. It was very satisfying.

To see pictures of Lilly playing with her beans click here. She liked to play with them with her hands - and feet.


While I was looking for the above link, it made me smile to find this link to a short video of me rolling Lilly from side to side. She always thought this was wonderful fun! It always made her smile!

Today I had my first appointment at the birthing center for "the new baby." The birthing center is the only free standing one in the state and is about 50 minutes away. I went there for care with Lilly and my son and was so pleased with the care I got. The center is only 5 minutes from a huge hospital where Lilly had a lot of appointments. So it was sort of sad driving there and thinking of her and missing her. But it was good to be at the center today - to have several people say "welcome back." And the midwife that delivered Lilly came out of a meeting to give me a hug. For some reason - that made me want to cry. But it was so good to see her.

I firmly believe that this new baby is a gift from God. ALL my children are. But this one seems extra special because of Lilly. I was so very very grateful to hear the baby's heartbeat today. I had been nervous off and on that I was going to lose the baby, for some reason. So it was just such sweet relief to hear it.

Due date is September 16 or 18. I don't know what to except - my son was born a few days early and Lilly was born 2.5 weeks late. My next appointment is in 6 weeks and we'll have our first ultrasound shortly after that. Now I'm sure that will bring up a lot of memories! But we'll cross that one when we get to it.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." -Matthew 6:34