Quick Takes Vol #49

1. My mother-in-law is a very dynamic, hard-working, rarely sits down for long person; so I often find her visits fun and a little exhausting. That is not to say that I don't really appreciate looking around my house afterwards and seeing all the little (and not so little) jobs accomplished either by her or thanks to her cheering and motivating.
2. My brother is currently through-hiking the Appalachian Trail (northbound-Georgia to Maine) and I received an email from him saying that his first week went well and that he is loving it. I'm going to enjoy I think pausing from time to time in the course of going about my daily life of work and family ~ thinking of him on the trail, wondering where he is now and wishing him well.
3. Pregnancy continues to go well with more movement felt by me, though not yet 'feelable' from the outside. One interesting difference from my pregnancy with Elisabeth; much less heartburn. Elisabeth was born with and has always had a full head of hair, following the old wives tale about heartburn~hair, will be interesting to see how much hair this baby comes into the world with??
4. 'No' has been a part of E.'s vocabulary for awhile now, but this week for the first time when I asked her to eat something perhaps one time too many it was accompanied by finger wagging. I guess she told me.
5. My birthday is in May, and so if any were blooming my mom would put a sprig of Lily of the Valley, on my plate at breakfast. So far I've not had any luck getting some to grow in my yard, so unfortunately there won't be any on my plate again this year. Remembering this little tradition of my mom and mine has me wondering what little traditions could I build into our home that Elisabeth and her siblings will carry with them long after they grown-up.
6. Current favorite foods in toddler-land, cheese pizza, oranges, and ice cream
7. This weekend we will be attending the baptism of a friend's son, and also (though to far away to attend) a friend's daughter will receive her first Holy Communion. It feels so fun and festive to attend these sacraments of initiation during the Easter Season.

My thanks again to Jen, of Conversion Diary for hosting this round-up

Small Successes: April 29th

Huge shout-out to my husband and mother-in-law, my willing partners in accomplishing the below:

1. The house got a good washing, getting off tons of dirt and mildew
2. Got a lazy-susan installed into a previously very disorganized cabinet
3. Trimmed a couple of trees in the yard badly in need, greatly improving the sunlight there.

Thankful this Thursday for:

increased bumps and nudges from Cashew

a happy toddler on her tricycle

friends and relatives happy to visit and help

a loving husband to laugh with and lean on

safe, happy home to return to to at the end of a busy day

love of God and the faith and grace to know it

Please visit Faith and Family Live and celebrate your own small successes

Ten on Tuesday: April 27th

1. Think back a decade, do you remember what your first cellphone was? Was it as cool as Zack Morris’s phone?
It was almost exactly a decade ago, and was a little gray thing which I really enjoyed but probably wasn't very cool.

2. What is the first children’s book you remember being read to you?

We had a series of Disney 'little golden' books which I remember being read to and reading to my sisters from.

3. What was your first car? Did you love it or hate it?

'89 Subaru sedan which I Loved!!

4. Who was your hero growing up?

Mary Lou Retton and Florence Nightingale

5. Think back to your first kiss. Was it everything you dreamed of?

As I remember, yes!

6. What was your first BAD hairstyle choice? (Extra points for embarrassing photos)

Wasn't my choice, but when I was about eight my mom had me get a short page-boy which I hated.

7. What was your first realistic dream? (One where you had to think “Oh dang, was that a dream?”)

Being in the olympics

8. What was the first phobia you remember developing?

I haven't liked bugs for as long as I can remember, but I can't think of anything I was that afraid of.

9. Which character on Sesame Street do you most identify with?

Bert

10. What was the hardest goal you ever accomplished?

Becoming a nurse

Please visit Roots and Rings to enjoy others take on these great questions and add your own.

Pregnant Pause: 20 weeks

Yikes! Twenty weeks, how did that happen? It is a little startling to find myself at the halfway point of this pregnancy. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for a smooth gestations that does not have me counting the days, yet it means milestones sneak up on me.

Continue to feel good with a baby bump which is beginning to become more and more evident depending on what I'm wearing ~ which is more and more an interesting mix of my 'fat' clothes and maternity stuff. Bumps and nudges are now daily occurrences, with the next milestone being when it can be felt from the outside. Several people have asked me what Elisabeth thinks of the coming baby, at this point she has no idea but I'm thinking that as my lap disappears and kicks can be felt she may start to wonder what is happening. C. has suggested that we get some "new big sister" books. Any suggestions??

The ultrasound this week went well, with Cashew growing well and all of the anatomy appearing normal. Much to the frustration of some family and friends the baby did not 'flash' us so exactly what flavor he or she is remains a mystery. I'm grateful that for a little while longer I get to imagine another little girl is joining our family or maybe a baby boy. Fun possibilities to imagine and wonder about.

Small Successes: April 22nd

1. Laundry is caught up and mostly put away, still switching out sweaters for shorts and t-shirts but have high hopes for this weekend
2. Started tomato plants growing!
3. Have started gathering quotes for replacing our fence (which has been falling into disrepair for a couple of years now.

Thankful this Thursday for:

increasing nudges and bumps from 'Cashew'

small phrases and big hugs from Elisabeth

dogwoods in blossom

an A-framing hardworking husband

the promise of each new day

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate your own small successes

Pregnant Pause: 19 weeks

With Chelsea's of Roots and Rings permission I am borrowing her wonderful post title and updating on how things are going and growing.

Currently 19 weeks and am feeling good, the queasiness is well past and the heartburn is not too bad yet ~ I did have a 'lovely' night earlier this week (no more tomato soup before going to bed). While I am not consistently feeling wiggles, I am fairly sure now that it is 'cashew'* moving around as oppose to ligament twinging.

Our mid-pregnancy anatomy scan is later this week which raises the question regarding finding out the baby's gender (if the baby is interesting in sharing). We are leaning to not finding out. We did not find early while carrying Elisabeth and that moment of Charlie telling me at her birth is very precious to me. Our nursery which we will be reusing is gender neutral as is most of our newborn clothes.

However some friends and family are complaining that the makes planning very difficult and that waiting is unfair and unrealistic. Is it??

*Because we did not know if Elisabeth was a girl or a boy, during the pregnancy we referred to her as Peanut and this baby is Cashew*

Book Review: Creating New Life, Nurturing Families

Creating New Life, Nurturing Families

Sidney Callahan, St Anthony Messenger Press

This book embarks on an interesting overview of love, sex, mothering, and service. While each chapter has its own topic, they build on each other to illuminate the author's vision of how to embrace the vocation of married life and mothering. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I did occasionally find the text somewhat dry and hard to stay engaged in. Some of the author's conclusions also seemed fairly obvious, but may be helpful for a new mother, or someone struggling with finding a sense of value for themselves within a society that often equates value with earning power. However, I very much enjoyed the chapter focused on sexuality, and think she did an excellent job explaining some of the historical factors contributing to the often paradoxical approach the Catholic Church has sometimes appeared to have about sexual issues.

The book is organized for use in study groups, with each chapter ending with questions, a biblical reading, and prayer. Callahan's themes of everyday heroines and transformation through suffering may make interesting discussion topics. I did wonder whether the experience of the book might have been enhanced by sharing the ideas with others.

I received a free copy of the book from the Catholic Company in return for my honest review. This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Creating New Life, Nurturing Families .

Quick Takes Vol #48:Catching Up!

As it has been a few weeks, with your indulgence allow me to catch-up on the events of the past few weeks.

1. Easter was wonderful, beautiful liturgies and time spent with friends. My husband and his friends performing "Roll Away the Stone" is to bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart.
2. Have been enjoying the warmer weather with some playground time, and its been amusing to see the difference a couple months makes in E. dexterity and courage; slides she nervously attempt in the fall she now rushes to.
3. Enjoyed a wonderful visit with my aunt and uncle visiting from Belgium, including a trip to Washington which while it pushed my french vocabulary to its limit was a great day of lovely weather and sharing of experiences.
4. Last weekend Elisabeth also participated in her first big egg hunt, and did very well ~ largely because she happily picked up eggs and showed them off, ignoring her bigger cousins rushing past her.
5. Am still trying to wrap my brain around the idea that I'm nearly to the half-way point of this pregnancy ~ but I am, and will this weekend be pulling out the bin containing the soft panel pants, for while my regular tops are still fine I'm done trying to make my 'fat' jeans last all day as I bend and play on the floor with an active toddler.
6. Mid-term ultrasound coming up next week, will we? won't we? should we? shouldn't we? Stay tune!!
7. Plans for the weekend: cleaning up and kicking back

Please visit Conversion Diary and enjoy the rest of the Quick Take round-up.

Small Successes: April 15th

1. Pushed my limited french knowledge to its limits and provided a tour of the monuments of Washington to my visiting aunt and uncle.
2. Met and cuddled my new niece!!
3. Renewed two of my out-of-state licenses.

Bonus in honor of the day: Paid my taxes!!

Giving thanks this Thursday:

time with family

cuddle new babies which grow and enhance my family

watching Elisabeth participate in her first egg hunt

safe travel

warm sunny days with gentle breezes

that we are Easter people, loved and forgiven

Please visit Faith and Family Live and celebrate your small success.

Ten on Tuesday: travel edition

1. What book, movie or song has made you want to travel to a particular place? (eg. I went to Prince Edward Island because I was such a Anne of Green Gables fan)

Me Too!! Spent our honeymoon there.

2. Aside from your significant other, who would you want to take with you on a dream trip?

My sisters

3. Where would said dream trip be to?

Outer Banks, where we would miss our kids but also laugh and talk and drink.

4. If you were hosting guests or providing tips, what three things would you show visitors to your hometown? (be it where you live now or where you grew up)

a)Constitution Center b) Valley Forge c) Longwood Gardens (where it is currently dogwood season)

5. If you had a long weekend ahead of you, where you head – beach, city or country/mountains?

Beach, though I am long overdue for a trip to the mountains.

6. Do you have a passport? If so, did you get it for a particular trip or just to have, in case?

Yes, renewed in order to go to a cousin's wedding in Belgium

7. Are there any travel souvenirs you collect? If not, is there something else you collect?

Magnets

8. If you could name a paint colour, what colour would it be and what would you call it?

Redish~purple which I would call Gloaming

9. If you were heading away for a weekend citybreak solo, where would you go? (forget about practicality here and flight times, assume you can get to any city in the world for the weekend)

Dublin

10. Is there a song or a smell or something that you strongly associate with a particular holiday/place/time, such that it always takes you back?

Away in the Manger, my first Christmas pageant

Please visit Roots and Rings and thank your lovely host, Chelsea and offer your own take on these questions

Small Successes: April 8th

1. Arranged childcare so was able to attend and acolyte (not sure if it serves as a verb) Easter Vigil.
2. Hosted twenty or so choir/church friends for Easter dinner.
3. Announced the anticipated coming of our second little one.

Giving thanks for:

warm days and soft breezes

tulips in the garden

snuggly toddler

good check-ups signifying health little ones

visiting family

Please visit Faith and Family Live and celebrate your own small successes.

Promotion!

After much consideration and giving her application due consideration keeping in mind her wonderful qualifications and potential for growth in the future, we have decided to grant the title of BIG SISTER to Elisabeth with fully rights, privileges, and responsibility taking effect in

Mid September.

Am currently 17 weeks and happy to report that the queasiness of the first trimester have passed and am awaiting (as is my neglected house) the energy burst of the second trimester.

Ten on Tuesday: April 6th

1. If you could travel back in time, would you? What decade would you visit?

Provided I can return to my time and home, yes I would enjoy time travel~perhaps 1950s

2. What was your best Halloween costume? (fun to make? most creative?)

My dad helped me create a jail/prisoner costume.

3. Do you like your name? If you weren’t called by your name, what would you want to be called?

Yes, I like my name ~ not sure what else I would like to be called.

4. In the past year, what is the BEST recipe you made. Please share it!

Fruited Chicken with Barley

5. Look around – what is the nearest object or picture hanging on the wall?

Lighthouse print

6. What was the last movie you saw in a theater? Would you recommend it?

Julie/Julia

7. Did you go to summer camp? Will you/do you send your kids to camp?

Attend nature day camp and gymnastic camp. Would consider camp if it was something my kids were interested.

8. What kind of ringtone do you have?

Nothing special

9. Where is the farthest away from home you have ever been?

Hawaii or Belgium, not sure which farther technically.

10. Has anyone ever written a song or a poem for or about you?

Not that I know of...

Please visit Roots and Rings to enjoy others answers to these questions and thank our host, Chelsea

Happy Easter!!

Angels, roll the rock away;
Death, yield up thy mighty prey:
See, He rises from the tomb,
Glowing with immortal bloom. ~Thomas Scott, "Easter Angels"

Happy Easter to you and yours!!

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born. ~Alice Freeman Palmer

Holy Thursday: Lord's Supper

In Remembrance
(Ragan Courtney and Buryl Red)

In remembrance of Me eat this bread
In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time
When God's own will is done

In remembrance of me heal the sick
In remembrance of me feed the poor
In remembrance of me open the door
And let your brother in, let him in

Take eat and be comforted
Drink and remember too
That this is my body and precious blood
Shed for you, shed for you

In remembrance of me always love
In remembrance of me don't look above
But in your heart, in your heart
Look in your heart for God

Do this in remembrance of Me
Do this in remembrance of Me
In remembrance of Me

Happy Trid!