Ok, I'm hooked. A link-up that lets me talk about something as silly and girly as clothes, while encouraging each other to give our best efforts for Jesus, and gets more comments than my regular posts. I think these What I Wore Sundays might be here to stay.
That is....until I'm in my oh-so-pleasant postpartum bod trying to find something to wear that I can nurse in/isn't horribly unflattering. I may have to take a break for a few weeks.....
This week's outfit is brought to you by cheap and undergrad.
Dress/Oversized T-shirt: Walmart brand-via consignment store. A closet staple. Not quite so short when I don't have a beach ball tucked under it.
Tights: Walmart
Sweater: Forever 21-back in college when I had money and didn't hate malls
Flats-Maurices-again, from college
Crooked Necklace-same as always
Dilapidated Bird House: our neighbors-nothing we can do about it
And Hannah was just too cute to leave out of this week's photo. Her outfit is compliments of Oma's birthday gift. With a borrowed sweater and hand-me-down shoes that I'm having a hard time admitting are too small.
I made it through Mass without having to leave for the bathroom. Hannah did not make it through Mass without having to leave for time-out. Oh my-she did.not.stop.talking. Incredibly frustrating-but heartwarmingly cute when she pointed to the Host during consecration and said "Jesus body!" Not as cute when she loudly proclaimed, "Mommy bra. Hannah no bra. Nuh-nuhs baby," while patting my boobs.
My big girl turned two years old yesterday. It was an absolutely amazing day and I teared up at least a dozen times. I have a post in draft capturing the sweet details that I don't want to forget. Let's just say that her present was epic and we are the best parents ever. The Chik-fil-a was delicious. And hearing her dance around the house saying, "Happy Hannah Birthday!" will never get old.
Two years old and almost a big sister.
-2-
Baby is head down but sunny side up right now. I know that's not the end of the world, but I'd like to avoid the extra pain and hassle that comes with a sunny little babe. Especially after reading this birth story this morning. The tricks I've been trying haven't worked yet, so I decided to see a chiropractor yesterday in hopes that little guy/gal will rotate.
Oh my.
I've never been to the chiropractor and had no idea what to expect. I thought it would be similar to a relaxing massage. So instead when I was man-handled for about 50 seconds and told I was finished, I was a bit shocked. But wow did it feel good! By the time I got home, I didn't even feel pregnant. Not sure if it's worked yet-we are still trying everything we know at home. I wish I could go back twice a week like the doctor suggested-but goodness that's a lot of money.
I always heard that you'll get addicted to the chiro once you start. Now I understand why! I would give up chocolate, coffee, facebook-anything! If it meant I could regularly feel this good.
-3-
A dear friend and one of my favorite bloggers got some super exciting news yesterday! After being told at an early ultrasound that she was definitely pregnant with only one baby-the gender reveal ultrasound definitely showed TWO! Her husband's flight was delayed and he missed the appointment. I can't imagine her shock when those two heads flashed up on the screen. And then having to wait several hours to tell him??? What a crazy day for her. I'm so excited for her-she's such a great mom.
-4-
And even though I'm head over heels happy for her, it doesn't take away the sting of remembering that that should be us. I miss the baby that we won't meet until heaven. I'm sad that his or her little life won't be celebrated and remembered the way that other twins are celebrated. Maybe it's hitting me harder as we approach our due date. I should be pushing two babies out. We should be the parents of three children. I'm beyond grateful for the little life within me-but I'm sad I won't get to meet his/her sibling in a few weeks as well.
-5-
Um, Lent starts in a few days. What the heck? It is really sneaking up on me. I asked Ted what he thought we should "do" for Lent and he said "have a baby." A fine idea. But I better come up with something else too. I'm thinking about trying to do a daily rosary. I have never been able to stick to that. Am I absolutely insane for thinking I could do it while welcoming a newborn? Lots of hours awake at night nursing right?
-6-
I've been listening to this song a lot the last few days. Trying to remain calm and focused on Our Lady and Jesus in the days/weeks leading up to another life changing birth of a child. So beautiful. My patron saint for 2013 is Mary, Queen of Peace (yet another post in draft) and this song is about as peaceful as it gets.
-7-
I'm making beans and rice with a ham hock for dinner tonight. I make beans and rice all the time but I've never used a ham hock. It's from the pig we got last Spring and I'm just now getting around to using it. I consulted a few recipes online-but for the most part-I'm just making it up as I go along. I do this all the time and 95% of the time-it turns out great. Then I pat myself on the back and tell myself what a good chef I am. And when I fail miserably I cuss the recipes. Yes-the ones that I didn't listen to.
Lisa Schmidt even mentioned me on her show this morning on Iowa Catholic Radio.
As the Catholic Mom article mentions, World Marriage Day is fast approaching (this coming Sunday!) I encourage everyone to think of just one thing they can do for their spouse to show their gratitude. You can always write a Why I Love My Husband blog post and link it up here!
I've read so many great posts by bloggers I would never otherwise "met" since I started the series almost two years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't realize I had the comments turned off and no one was able to share their link until just recently. Ooops. It's fixed now, so link away!
There's a link-up called Marian Mondays that I discovered through Sarah at Oh My Soul. Obviously-I want to participate. This blog is named for Mary, after all. And my blogging goal is to become more like her. So linking up with reflections about our Blessed Mother on a weekly basis seems like a wonderful idea.....
...but my soul is a little frazzled right now. Not really in the reflection mode. It's floating somewhere between survival and preparation. I'm sure Mary's been there, right?
I hope to join the link-up in the future. But for now, I'm going to refer you to my friend Haley. She just started a series on her blog about how Catholicism empowers women (not the opposite as secular media and pop culture would have you believe) and her first post is beautifully written. All about Mary.
So go check it out. You'll get much more insight from her than you'll get from me. At least for the next few weeks.
This is my first (and quite possibly my only) time linking up with Fine Linen Purple to show off my Sunday best. Taking a picture, uploading, and putting a post together in a day's notice is usually just too much for me. But I opted for coffee instead of a nap this afternoon. And really it's just an excuse to take another bump picture. 37 weeks-any day now. Or a month-whatev.
So without further ado...
Sweater-H & M via consignment store. I've never even been to an H & M, but I own a lot of clothes from there.
Tights-Walmart-a few years ago.
Boots-Christmas gift from my mom last year.
Necklace-Chain from Ted Christmas 2011. Miraculous Medal from my mother-in-law a few years before that.
I was really comfortable in this during Mass, but by the time we got out I was already hot. It's only February dangit! I wanna wear my boots!
It's also the same outfit I wore when we gave our little marriage talk Thursday-except with flats instead of boots. I knew I'd see some of the same people but I just hoped they would assume I was so pregnant that I had nothing else to wear. Which is pretty much true.
Hannah was her usual squirmy but semi-quiet self this morning, even though Mass was over an hour long. I can no longer kneel in our tight pews. And Ted is a saint for wrestling Hannah when I've run out of energy.
Ted and I were asked to be on a panel discussion yesterday for Catholic Schools Week. The topic was vocations and it was in front of 160 middle schoolers. We were joined by a priest, married deacon, and a sister. Ted thought we were one of several couples asked to represent the vocation of marriage and had no idea that we were it until about five minutes before it started. Despite our being way underprepared-I think we did a pretty decent job.
-2-
One of the questions asked was, "What surprised you most about your vocation?" I gave some flaky response about how a husband is really different from having a college girlfriend as your roommate. Ted gave a beautiful monologue about how surprised he was to learn that he only loves me more and more as the years have gone by. How he thought he loved me on our wedding day but that his love grows deeper and deeper every year. And how that taught him about God's love for us-He loves us so much that we can't understand how strong it really is. When we think we know it-it just gets deeper and deeper.
You could see every girl in the room swoon. My face was probably bright red and I was trying to tone down the smile on my face.
Seriously-I married the most wonderful man in the world.
-3-
After the panel we went into a few elementary school classrooms to talk about marriage.....yes to 1st and 4th graders. The teachers were supposed to have an activity planned for us but not a single one actually did that. Good thing Ted's married to an extrovert who is particularly skilled at talking-I just winged it and it went fine. We talked to them about the three vocations in the Church and got them to ask us questions about what it's like to be married. Some of them were really good. "Who takes care of the baby the most?" "Do you fight about money?" "Do you spend all your time together or are you apart?" "What in the world is a fisheries biolgoist?" And others were.....just amazing. "Um.....I was wondering......do you.....when.....what about.....what color is your daughter's hair?"
Obviously the message really sunk in.
-4-
Hannah had a big day yesterday. I needed to find a substitute sitter while I did therapy in the morning so she went to a friend's house she had never even been to before. Then, during our vocation talk, another friend came over to watch her whom she had never even met. She is AWESOME with both of them. No tears. Waved bye-bye with a smile. Even went down for a nap with no drama. She's getting so big and confident. My anxiety about leaving her during labor and delivery is definitely getting better.
-5-
I've been eating 3-4 bowls of cereal a day in the last week. And not even the pretend-healthy kind. Apple Jacks and Lucky Charms. I never buy cereal. Empty calories. No protein. Too much sugar.
Blah blah blah-I'm 9 months pregnant and want some cereal. I'm still eating eggs for breakfast. And eating the cereal with fatty raw milk. So that counts for something right?
I think I'll go have another bowl before finishing these quick takes....
-6-
Speaking of food, you have to watch this. I've seen it on facebook for a week or so but didn't click it until today. Oh my. So so funny. Anyone who has had to go gluten or dairy free will most definitely laugh at this.
-7-
Unfortunately, the video reminds me that my days of eating whatever I want might be numbered. I know I'll be able to go gluten and dairy free again if the baby needs me to-I did it for over a year while nursing Hannah. And I survived.
But it sucked. And darnit I really hope I don't have to do it again. 37 weeks this weekend....we shall see soon!
