I can't explain why, but today I am bursting with gratitude for the people around me. Today is going to be a good day.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
40 days
Last Wednesday, Adrian, Gabriel and I dragged our bottoms down to church to receive ashes and a blessing to welcome the wonderful season of Lent. For many of us Catholics, it is one of the two or three holidays where our Catholic guilt really kicks in and forces us to attend because not only is it a day of holy obligation, but also it's the first of the forty days we take to prepare ourselves with prayer, repentance and self-denial for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Woohoo! Sounds like a party! Or...not. Every Catholic from ages 14-65 chooses something to either give up or add to their normal life in order to become closer to God. Many use it as a good time to kick a habit, though I would wager that probably wasn't the original intention...
he's going along with it without a choice that instead of giving up something, we would choose to attend church every Sunday during Lent. Really, we should already be doing it and not acting like it's a chore, but let's be honest, we're lazy. We really enjoy lounging around, making a large breakfast, napping and doing a whole lot of nothing on Sundays. And Saturdays. Basically all weekend long.
I personally have given up the same things over and over since I was young - soda, chocolate, meat, swearing - so I really wanted to pick something that would be meaningful and hopefully develop into a good habit. The thing is, we have a really nice church here in Santee! Everyone is so friendly and nice (at least, the handful of times we've gone they were) and I really feel like we could make some nice church friends. Hopefully making this commitment will help us to get there more often because I definitely think it is something we are missing out on.
I truly hope - maybe for the first time in an extremely long time - that this Lenten season does encourage my own spiritual growth. I have been so stagnant and unmoved in my spiritual life and feel like it would be so enriching to feel and live in God's love again. Maybe it's time to start cracking open the Good Book again...
Giving up something for Lent fosters self-discipline and tempers our desires. It is a form of fasting. It is a form of penance. It promotes spiritual growth.Adrian and I have decided
I personally have given up the same things over and over since I was young - soda, chocolate, meat, swearing - so I really wanted to pick something that would be meaningful and hopefully develop into a good habit. The thing is, we have a really nice church here in Santee! Everyone is so friendly and nice (at least, the handful of times we've gone they were) and I really feel like we could make some nice church friends. Hopefully making this commitment will help us to get there more often because I definitely think it is something we are missing out on.
I truly hope - maybe for the first time in an extremely long time - that this Lenten season does encourage my own spiritual growth. I have been so stagnant and unmoved in my spiritual life and feel like it would be so enriching to feel and live in God's love again. Maybe it's time to start cracking open the Good Book again...
Sunday, January 30, 2011
When in doubt, brag about your child
There hasn't been anything extremely exciting going on in our world aside from massive amounts of work, school and being extremely busy with our baby. Unfortunately, a combination of exhaustion and stress leaves me lacking creativity in composing interesting and thought provoking posts. Instead, I just thought I'd talk about Baby Gabe and how awesome he is.
He is currently saying so many words, there is no way to keep track.
He speaks in full sentences.
Right now he is obsessed with the books Hungry Little Caterpillar and Elmo Goes Potty - we read them about thirty times a day.
He is utterly obsessed with fruit snacks.
When he goes to bed every night, we say a prayer and he finishes it by saying "Amen!" Then he puts Elmo and his monkey to sleep next to him with a blankie.
Thankfully, his favorite movie has switched from Monsters, Inc. to Despicable Me.
In one month from Tuesday, he will be turning 2; I still have no idea what we are going to do for a party, though I think we're leaning towards having it at our house.
Lately, he has been telling other people "I love mommy and daddy," and that just about bursts my heart wide open every single time I hear it.
We tried to put him in a big boy bed for one night, but he wasn't ready; he feel asleep and lasted until about 4am, but then slept in our bed. We're going to wait a little while to try again.
He went all day recently without a diaper! Granted, he went potty in his diaper as soon as we put it on, so he's still not ready to go on the potty yet.
He is currently saying so many words, there is no way to keep track.
He speaks in full sentences.
Right now he is obsessed with the books Hungry Little Caterpillar and Elmo Goes Potty - we read them about thirty times a day.
He is utterly obsessed with fruit snacks.
When he goes to bed every night, we say a prayer and he finishes it by saying "Amen!" Then he puts Elmo and his monkey to sleep next to him with a blankie.
Thankfully, his favorite movie has switched from Monsters, Inc. to Despicable Me.
In one month from Tuesday, he will be turning 2; I still have no idea what we are going to do for a party, though I think we're leaning towards having it at our house.
Lately, he has been telling other people "I love mommy and daddy," and that just about bursts my heart wide open every single time I hear it.
We tried to put him in a big boy bed for one night, but he wasn't ready; he feel asleep and lasted until about 4am, but then slept in our bed. We're going to wait a little while to try again.
He went all day recently without a diaper! Granted, he went potty in his diaper as soon as we put it on, so he's still not ready to go on the potty yet.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Baby on the brain
Since having Gabriel, I've been known to get the itch. No, not that kind of itch, you sick-o; I get a little baby crazy. Until recently, I had been completely content with our one little bunny, but then one Facebook acquaintence friend got pregnant. And another. And then all of a sudden, it was like everyone who had been pregnant during, before or after me (with Gabriel) was now pregnant again.
Maybe I'm just noticing it now because we started trying again in November. Maybe it's because pregnancies go in cycles -- everyone who was having babies with me is now ready for the next one just like we are. All I know is that everywhere I turn, every Facebook profile I look at, I see ultrasounds, little newborn noses and toes, double-lined sticks and smiley faces. Married girls; unmarried girls; first, second and third children.
I know that I shouldn't be jealous, I should be happy for all of the women around me who are so fertile that their husbands could impregnate them from the next room. But I am - and I'm kind of sad, and kind of bitter, and a little unsure. I've been telling friends that it really doesn't matter and that it will happen when it's supposed to, trying to say it so many times that I convince myself. I've told Adrian "it'll happen when it's supposed to" and given it up to God and done all of the things that I'm supposed to do when you're trying to get pregnant and it doesn't happen right away. It still doesn't make me feel better.
Now, I realize that I'm jumping the gun a bit with this whole thing since technically we've only been trying for 3 months, not long in the grand scheme of things. 85% of couples get pregnant within the first year of trying and only about 20% on the first try.
I'm not sure if I've ever talked about fertility on this blog, but one of my biggest fears from before I had Gabriel was that I would try to prevent pregnancy my whole life and then when I really wanted to try, I would be unable to get pregnant. Even though I've had a child already, I'm still scared. The ability to get pregnant is one thing that I think women take for granted during the first quarter or so of their lives, at least I know I have. I've made plans for three, no two, or maybe four kids, who knows? But I've always assumed the number would be higher than one, never thinking that I might not actually possess the ability to carry this so-called plan out. Crazier things have happened.
Either way, I know that my plan will never turn out as I expect it to, whether good or bad. As much as I hate to use the cliche as a mantra, I just have to remember it will happen when it's supposed to (bleh!!).
Maybe I'm just noticing it now because we started trying again in November. Maybe it's because pregnancies go in cycles -- everyone who was having babies with me is now ready for the next one just like we are. All I know is that everywhere I turn, every Facebook profile I look at, I see ultrasounds, little newborn noses and toes, double-lined sticks and smiley faces. Married girls; unmarried girls; first, second and third children.
I know that I shouldn't be jealous, I should be happy for all of the women around me who are so fertile that their husbands could impregnate them from the next room. But I am - and I'm kind of sad, and kind of bitter, and a little unsure. I've been telling friends that it really doesn't matter and that it will happen when it's supposed to, trying to say it so many times that I convince myself. I've told Adrian "it'll happen when it's supposed to" and given it up to God and done all of the things that I'm supposed to do when you're trying to get pregnant and it doesn't happen right away. It still doesn't make me feel better.
Now, I realize that I'm jumping the gun a bit with this whole thing since technically we've only been trying for 3 months, not long in the grand scheme of things. 85% of couples get pregnant within the first year of trying and only about 20% on the first try.
I'm not sure if I've ever talked about fertility on this blog, but one of my biggest fears from before I had Gabriel was that I would try to prevent pregnancy my whole life and then when I really wanted to try, I would be unable to get pregnant. Even though I've had a child already, I'm still scared. The ability to get pregnant is one thing that I think women take for granted during the first quarter or so of their lives, at least I know I have. I've made plans for three, no two, or maybe four kids, who knows? But I've always assumed the number would be higher than one, never thinking that I might not actually possess the ability to carry this so-called plan out. Crazier things have happened.
Either way, I know that my plan will never turn out as I expect it to, whether good or bad. As much as I hate to use the cliche as a mantra, I just have to remember it will happen when it's supposed to (bleh!!).
Monday, January 24, 2011
Team Gonzo
My family has started a weight loss blog if you're interested. You can see it here.
We're all talking about what works for us, sharing motivation, talking about our struggles and trying to keep each other accountable. It's kind of nerdy but you guys might like it.
As for my own weight loss, I'm literally at the same weight I've been for over 8 months. I guess that's a victory in itself, but it's getting old.
I keep re-committing every other day to staying on the WW plan, but unfortunately when a plate of cheesy potato skins smothered in onion and bacon gets put in front of me, I just can't say no.
I can't explain the lack of motivation...HELP MEEEEE!
We're all talking about what works for us, sharing motivation, talking about our struggles and trying to keep each other accountable. It's kind of nerdy but you guys might like it.
As for my own weight loss, I'm literally at the same weight I've been for over 8 months. I guess that's a victory in itself, but it's getting old.
I keep re-committing every other day to staying on the WW plan, but unfortunately when a plate of cheesy potato skins smothered in onion and bacon gets put in front of me, I just can't say no.
I can't explain the lack of motivation...HELP MEEEEE!
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