I was really trying to be successful at 7 posts, 7 days. But in the end you win some and lose some, right? This weekend ended up being low-key but filled with visitors and friends, which was wonderful!
We absolutely love hosting at our home. Whether it's game night with friends, a spontaneous drop-in from Fr. Alan, or weekends with family, it is when there are shoes by the front door and the couches are full that our home feels most alive.
This weekend was especially fun because on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons Brandon's family was here to keep us company.
We celebrated a few birthdays by eating cake with the richest/sweetest frosting ever.
So...maybe I only finished 5/7 posts. But the way I see it, I was able to blog way more than usual this week and I was also able to spend time with important people in our lives. And that's a win.
1. My child is a nap-striker. Which would be just fine if I didn't want to read or write or bake or nap or work or sit and stare out the window...
As I rock and bounce and shhsh him for at least an hour a day, I'm always left wondering, "Should I just try cry it out?" But then I start thinking about him standing in his crib (because he does not stay laying if he's not soundly asleep) and reaching for the door and crying and I just can't bring myself to do it. I always wonder though...what if he actually isn't feeling good? How can you tell the difference between a baby who is fighting sleep and a baby who genuinely needs his momma?
Funny thing is, I guiltlessly let him cry when I need to take a shower...
2. Speaking of sleep, we've had a few rough nights around these parts. My 10 month old has indeed slept through the night before but now is waking up at least twice per night and usually one of the times he's up for a good hour. Ugh. It feels like we're dancing and he's leading and if I do something wrong he crys.
Bounce bounce bounce with his head in the crook of my left arm, on his side, while sshsh, sshsh, sshshing and then sway sway sway, little bounce, little bounce, sway sway, little bounce, sway sway sway sway, little bounce, sshsh sshsh, stand perfectly still and then little bounce, little bounce, sway, still still...until he's so sound asleep he's snoring. And then I gently lower him towards the mattress and those little eyes "pop!" open, back arching, waiiiilll. Back to the bounce bounce bounce...there was one night where I literally tried 10 times to lay him down.
And, yes, I have most definitely tried to lay him in his crib awake but then there's just screaming and gnashing of tooth (because he only has one!). I've tried to lay him down and sit next to the crib, I've tried holding his hand or rubbing his back or even rubbing his feet...
Truly the only thing that works is saying Hail Marys until he falls asleep and stays there when I lay him down.
I should also mention that this isn't an every night occurrence and I'm not feeling desperately tired or weary or anything...truly I should just stop complaining and remember it is indeed a baby whom I've been blessed with caring for. He surely won't be a baby for long and so it's pretty much a gift that I get to hang out with this little baby in the middle of the night....right?
3. Oh! And he (finally) has a tooth! It only took him ten loooong months, six of which we were positive his fussiness or having trouble sleeping "must just be teething..." Why, yes, we are first time parents, why?
4. This weekend's weather doesn't exactly look....promising. -25 for the "RealFeel"? I think that means that the RealFeel for my weekend will be 71, because I don't want to leave my house. But, to look on the sunny side, this must be one of the last frigidly cold weekends we have, right!? I mean...the Polar Vortex will need to move on and visit other planets soon, right?! This arctic weather definitely makes me anticipate spring that much more. Think of how much we're going to enjoy it once it hits even 50 degrees. I'm positive you will see people sunbathing and running in shorts...
5. Lent begins on Wednesday and Brandon and I have been discussing what we'd like to do together this year to prepare ourselves and our souls for Easter. Our #1 goal is to be upstairs by 9pm so that we're asleep by 10. For some reason it always takes us right around an hour to get ready for bed. What is wrong with us? Well, actually it's because this is when we get in the bulk of our chatting for the day. Which leads to our #2 goal: no smartphoning after 9pm. Both will be quite the challenge for us.
6. Yesterday I blogged about FUDs and how they can get in the way of positive thinking and living in the present moment. We all struggle with FUDs. Can you think of a fear, uncertainty, or doubt you're experiencing right at this moment in life?
Now here's a little inspiration for your weekend. What I want you to do is take the next minute and a half to watch the video below. Overcome that wolf within--you can do it!
7. Happy last Friday of Ordinary Time! Feel free to indulge all weekend and party like it's Fat Tuesday! ;)
Today's post is linked to Jen twice (and has anyone else ever noticed that her link-ups are all about the number 7?!) Number 5 for 7 posts, 7 days and an addition to the 7 Quick Takes link-up.
Earlier this week I was hanging out with three friends and
their babies, all under 2 years of age with Silas as the youngest at 10 months.
All four little ones were playing nicely for the most part, going from toy to toy
peacefully and taking redirection calmly when they probably shouldn’t grab a
toy out of another kid’s hand or throw that ball at someone’s face. Us mommas
were happily sitting against the four walls of the room, chatting about life
and baby names and remodeling projects and spring while sipping tea and intermittently
playing with our littles.
If you cropped out Silas and I from this room you’d see basically
our typical weekday afternoon at home: I hang out on the floor watching as he
sprint crawls towards a toy, chews on it for a bit, and then sprint crawl
towards another. We look at toys and name their colors. I hold him on my lap
while flipping through a book and then tickle his tummy just to experience one
of his perfect little chuckles and smiling eyes.
Yet this felt different. Sitting in that room of toys, light streaming
through the window-covered walls, chatting with three other stay at home moms
felt like a retreat from everyday life. I noticed how free this afternoon
conversation felt. It was missing my typical distracted train of thoughts, the
ones that somehow plow me over without warning, chugging along filled to the
brim with my “shoulds.” Why didn’t I finish the laundry yesterday? The sink
really is starting to get full. Do I read enough books to him? I should try to
be on my phone less. This carpet needs to be vacuumed and look at all those handprints
on the fireplace doors.
I facilitate a class at a university in town and today we
talked about our FUDs: Fears, Doubts, and Uncertainties. Everybody has FUDs, showing
their annoying little faces in many corners of our lives. My own doubts distract me, cause me to
mistrust my ability to raise this tiny child into a confident, humble,
Lord-loving, joy-finding man. I’m uncertain if I’m as productive as I should
be, as focused as I could be, as domestic as I need to be. I fear what could
happen if I lose the balance between me-time and we-time.
It’s so easy to be controlled by our FUDs. Like an oil
spill, our fears and doubts and uncertainties leak into our thoughts, drip,
drip, drip into the ocean of our minds, tainting reality. Dwelling on the “could’ve,
would’ve, and should’ve” takes us right out of the here-and-now, instead
thinking hard about the past and future, on what cannot be undone and what has
not yet transpired. Our fears, uncertainties, and doubts blur what is good and
true and takes away the gift of the present.
While watching the babies play I was relaxed and engaged,
both in the current conversation and in what Silas was doing. There was no mom-guilt,
no distracted thoughts... things I “should” be doing didn’t even
cross my mind, because I was there to socialize and that was exactly what we
were doing.
It made me yearn for this peace when I’m at home, sitting on
the floor just me and Silas. While of course cleaning around the house and laundry all need to get done, Ican't allow doubts or fears or uncertainties to motivate my behavior or overtake my thoughts. I’ll be aiming to control the FUDs that sneak in and instead
choose to focus on the gift of taking care of my son, enjoying these peaceful, fleeting moments with him.
Today's post is number 4 for 7 posts, 7 days. To read more and maybe find a few new blogs to follow, visit Jen!
Just like many women, I use a plethora of products to beautify myself...but rarely do I talk about them. Today I'm coming out of the dark and sharing my five favorite, tried-and-true beauty products:
Would you like to witness a miracle? Use this mineral veil after applying the rest of your makeup. It makes your face look flawless and keeps your makeup in place all day. I learned about this stuff when I was 17 and have since received it every year for Christmas from my mom. In high school and college I was never a foundation wearer--sometimes I would wear tinted moisturizer, but that was it! For my wedding day I bought the BareMinerals Foundation (in Fairly Light for this very pale girl!) and liked it so much that I've used it almost every day since. The mineral veil is $20, and that may seem like a lot, but I promise it always lasts me right around a year (and then Christmas comes around and what do I receive!?...)
Let's just say I've been around the block with many a mascara, always searching for the right one. I tried out Full 'N Soft per Grace's suggestion and oh my sweet goodness gracious I really like it. This stuff stays on but doesn't get flaky and makes my lashes look longer and fuller without feeling heavy and clumpy. Cha-ching!
For the nights when you know you really should wash off your makeup, but you really don't feel like it (otherwise known as 23/24 nights over here.) These are the best. Pre-moistened but not drippy, they make my face feel tingly clean but not dried out and can even take off waterproof mascara in a cinch! I once bought some generic brand because I'm frugal and a sucker for a good sale...for the following 50 days my face wasn't quite so happy and I was wishing I had spent the extra $.30. SO worth it.
I have used this eyeliner literally since I began wearing eyeliner because it's what my mom uses too (thanks Mom!) I've always worn it in Espresso because black eyeliner just seemed like I really wanted to be goth or something. What I love about this is what you don't have to do: you don't have to use a sharpener, you don't have to press hard, and you don't have to find a sponge because there's one attached! It goes on nice and smooth and doesn't smudge. Winning!
So I'm sure this must be cheating or something because I've already talked about LPAD in a previous Five Favs but I just wouldn't be able to face the mirror if I left this off of my favorite beauty products post...I love it for every season and there's no convincing me that another color will ever take it's spot in my heart.
Do you have any beauty fav's I should know about? I'm pretty susceptible to trying new products and would love to add something to my ever-present Target list!
Today's post is killing birds with stone: Number 3 for 7 posts, 7 days hosted by Jen and an addition to my favorite link-up hosted by Hallie.
So if you follow me on Instagram this post is going to be bore-ing and somewhat redundant. If you don't, read on and you will see the kinds of things that are a ten month olds fave things ever. (hint: they're not toys!)
Yes, even chins make fabulous playthings...
Other un-toys of note: cardboard, eyeglasses, fake trees, wooden spoons, air vent, fingers, pot lids, antennas, chairs, knobs, pencils, fireplaces, remotes, and blinds.
I realize that having posts full of pictures is treating this like a photo album instead of a blog. I'm aware of the situation and will rectify it at my earliest convenience. --Management
Today's post is number 2 for 7 posts, 7 days. To read (much) better ones, visit Jen!
Lately I haven't been blogging as frequently as I'd like. So that I don't have to take responsibility, below are what I choose to blame my lack of writing on:
Mostly, though, is this guy:
In attempts to rectify my lack of posting, which obviously isn't my fault at all, I've chosen to join Jen and more than 275 others and participate in 7 posts, 7 days.
If you like hearing from me, you're in for a treat of a week! Subscribe via email or bloglovin' or feedly or whathaveyou and wait anxiously at your keyboard because there's 6 more posts coming atcha! If you're not interested in following my random thoughts throughout the week, you may want to take me off of your feedly for a little while...
Have you ever read a blog post out-loud to someone else? Have you ever had one of your posts read out-loud to you? I endured both today as my silly family requested me to read a post using the same inflections that I used in my thoughts when writing it. Then my sister wanted to read a post to me in the way she "hears" them when she reads. It's really quite a different experience to have a live audience, an instant response to things I wrote, actually hearing them laugh and seeing them smile. It was encouraging and humbling, and I actually encourage everyone who writes anything to try this out sometime. Maybe having a "live audience" would be a good way to proofread/edit any writing you've done.
Today ends my 7 posts in 7 days with Jen over at Conversion Diary, which actually ended up as 6 posts in 7 days. There were a few other bloggers who admittedly had much busier days than my Friday and still managed to get a post in...to you I say "Bravo!" and to me I say "Better Luck Next Time!"
You just can't win them all right? Except I never used to accept that as an answer. It seems as though my perfectionist tendencies have been digressing in the last year or so, and I'm not really sure if that's a good or bad thing. Probably good for my sanity, bad for my productivity. If you would have asked me 3 years ago if I was okay with not meeting a deadline or someone's expectations, I would have told you absolutely not--especially if it was something I had "challenged" myself to. Perhaps I've chilled out a little bit. I do think I look at life's troubles a little bit more in the correct realm of reality now. And so I'm accepting the fact that, for me, 6 posts in 7 days is just going to have to be good enough.
Wishing you a fabulous week ahead. (and wishing Jennie a very Happy Wedding Week!!)
Well, I think the intention of "7 posts in 7 days" was to do a post a day...that's not exactly how it's going to shake out here, though. I'll still do 7 posts, there will just be a day with two!
Yesterday ended up wayyy crazier than I thought it could have been, with not one single moment to sit at a computer. So, Happy Saturday! and 7 Quick Takes...just about 10 hours late...
1.
Yesterday required coffee. Actually, the last 4 days required caffeine of some sort as little man thought it appropriate to wake up a little more often and I thought it appropriate to not go to sleep until about 2 hours after he had already been asleep. I've been trying not to drink it everyday, as it seems like some of the "experts" recommend not as much caffeine when you're nursing. But it also seems that the experts want you to be awake long enough to care for your child, true?
2.
I'm staying at my parents for a whole 9 days! This is probably the longest consecutive stretch of days I have been here since...oh...junior year of college? But my youngest sister had complete ACL repair surgery on the 17th, and needed a "nurse" to be around to do little things like put her on the ice machine, get her food, etc. So this week I'll be doing multiple types of "nursing". I'm kinda excited to spend so much time with the fam (and I know they're excited to spend so much time with Silas) but I will definitely miss seeing the hubs every night!
3.
The reason it worked out so well for me to be here this week is because I have the privilege of being the Matron of Honor in a wedding near my parent's house next weekend and the Bachelorette party is today! (woot!!) So fortunately Brandon is in town both weekends, but will just have to make the 3 1/2 hour drive back and forth by himself.
4.
Silas will be hanging out with Dad and GG (my mom) this evening while I go to the Bachelorette party. Next Saturday we are leaving him with GG and his aunts again. This will be the first time I have ever been away from him for more than a few hours. While I'm super excited for being out with the girls tonight and getting to just focus on my lovely friend the Bride for the wedding, it will be so weird not having 100% focus on Silas during these times. It's not that I'm nervous, perse (I know he's in really good hands!), it just seems weird to be away from him after I haven't for so long!
5.
We forgot the milk. Yes, the one thing little man needs to stay alive. Don't worry, we remembered other silly things, like his Bumbo seat and some toys....ugh. I had been pumping this week to ensure that we had enough for the Bachelorette party and wedding...and it's sitting nice and frozen 3 1/2 hours away in our freezer. fail. So now I am frantically trying to pump after every feeding and having a bit of a supply issue (although I'm sure by tomorrow I sure won't after pumping so often today!) I really hope we get enough for him to eat while I'm gone. Brandon might have to drive to the Bachelorette location in order to pick up some freshly pumped milk. Such is life. (I still can't believe we forgot the milk...)
6.
In better sounding things, I really am so excited to celebrate my dear friend Jennie today. We met in college and I'm pretty sure we first bonded over the fact that we are "lame" aka really like to just hang out over a cup of coffee and talk about life as opposed to party-hardy and all of that un-lame stuff. Since then we have spent much time together and basically were involved in all of the same things in college. She was my church buddy and my travel buddy (Colorado, Mexico, Florida, the gym) and I am just so blessed for her presence in my life--and now she's marrying the love of her life!!
7.
It's freaking cold out. A high of 66 at the end of July in the Midwest? This cannot be real. But I am absolutely not wishing it was 95 and humid, don't get me wrong. I guess I should've just looked at the weather when packing my shorts and tank tops.
Check out more 7 quick takers who probably posted them on time!
Let it be known among all nations that although the day is only half-through, I have already deemed it a success.
1. I ate breakfast this morning with my husband. This only happens about half of the time...or maybe even less. Every morning once he is showered and dressed, he gently wakes me up to see if I'd like to join him for the most important meal of the day. Some Most days I whisper "no" and immediately fall back into dream-land. But then I get woken up by a hungry baby and have to nurse before I've eaten, the whole time hearing from my stomach who is cursing my earlier laziness. So today I dined with the hubs before 7am. And I'm not really sure we said more than two sentences the whole time, but time spent together in silence is better than no time at all, right?
2. Silas woke up smiling like he'd won the lottery and about 45 minutes before he was due to eat. So I hurried and dressed us both, threw him in the stroller, and walked into the sunrise...ok, you know it wasn't that early, but I was so impressed with myself when we walked up the driveway at 7:50am. And I was a girl on a mission because we walked to my absolute favorite coffee place and I got myself a latte, and the special none the less: Almond Amaretto. Yes, it was indeed as good as it sounds. (and yes, I did happen to spill it all over my phone and the stroller and a baby blanket as I was trying to one-handedly push the stroller while sipping my latte. But it was worth it, dang-it!)
3. Baby Boy was hungry by the time we got home, but only politely fussed while I pulled the weeds in front of our house, which probably haven't been pulled at all this whole summer. And when you own a weed-eater but it doesn't want to stay running for more than 2 minutes, they probably should've been pulled 2 months ago. So I felt pretty proud of myself for knocking that off of the to-do list.
4. Silas was kind enough to allow me to saunter around Hobby Lobby with little more than one squeak. I was able to adequately interpret said squeak to mean, "Excuse me mom, but I'd like my pacifier so that I can take a little nap while you wander around and look at things you don't need for the next half hour." He then graciously gave me permission to run to the mall to do a bit of gift-buying for a certain Bachelorette party this weekend, so I strapped him in the Ergo carrier (boy, do I love that thing) and off we went!
5. I have consumed lunch and have plans to make dinner, and they don't include 5-minute boiled ravioli and spaghetti sauce from a jar (my husband will be pleased!) Actually, I'm going to make Creamy White Chicken and Artichoke Lasagna. If you asked Brandon he'd probably want to say, "It's about time because we bought the ingredients over 2 weeks ago," but he wouldn't say that because he's really patient and nice to me.
So, yes. Today is a success. And maybe I should reward myself with a nap. I wouldn't want to set the bar too high for tomorrow.
~Danielle
(I'm writing everyday this week thanks to encouragement from Jen. Check out her page to see others who are taking up the challenge!)
Post-baby I've been feeling a little bit like I have nothing to wear. Now, this is probably not all that true. The nugget of truth is that my body has just shifted a little bit, and so things I used to feel great in really don't do it for me anymore. Also, I need to make sure everything I wear is nursing friendly (I never thought I'd ever be wondering if a particular shirt allowed me to get my boobs out quickly enough!)
So I took advantage of a sale going on at Old Navy and a rewards card I had. We don't have an ON in town anymore, so I treated myself to a little bit of online shopping one afternoon. About a week later, 10 different shirts (for just around $50--can you believe it?!) showed up on my doorstep.
So, of course, I've been wearing said shirts for the last few days.
It's Friday afternoon. Danielle greets Brandon as he gets home from work. She is wearing a black maxi skirt and blue-and-white striped shirt.
Brandon: Hi darling! You like nice today.
Danielle: Aww, thank you.
B: You almost look like someone from the Sound of Music.
D: ...
B: Like you're ready for the Swiss Alps!
D: ...is that a good thing?
B: Ya, definitely!
Um, okay, so my husband has a strange affinity for the Sound of Music??
But wait. He continues with more compliments just days later.
It's now Monday afternoon, and again Brandon returns home from work. Danielle is at the top of the stairs as Brandon enters the house, wearing jeans and a button-up shirt of a brightly colored plaid pattern. It happens to be tied at the bottom because it was easier than ironing the wrinkles out of that spot, with a pink tank top peeking out of the bottom.
B: *excitedly* You look like you belong on that Beverly Hillbillies show!
D:*raises eyebrows*
B: Or kinda like Daisy Duke. Only without the short-shorts.
D: Is this a compliment?
B: Ya! They only pick good looking girls for those roles.
D:...Thank you...?
Now, I do appreciate how blessed I am to have a husband who gives many (very honest) compliments. After long days of being spit up on and hanging out on the floor, it's nice to hear that he still finds me attractive. His comparisons, though, are quite unique, dontcha think?
~Danielle
(I'm writing everyday this week thanks to encouragement from Jen. Check her page out to see others who are taking up the challenge!)
Have you ever come in contact with someone who just a little bit annoys the heck out of you and you're not quite sure why? And post-hanging out with said person, you feel really awful because you realized that pretty much the whole time you were being a judgmental jerk?
Ya, I've been there too.
I have to say that the one things that gets to me the most is when someone tries to "win" in every conversation. You know the kind. During the course of every conversation you find out that you definitely weren't as successful as they were in high school, you could not have possibly been more stressed out than they were when planning your wedding, your weekend was surely not as awesome as the one time they...
I'm pretty sure that it's my own pride which is annoyed by this kind of person. I don't like being told that I had it way better or had it way worse, and I defensively decide that person is trying to "win" that conversation. And yet, the thing that annoys me is when I feel like other people are prideful. Obviously I exude the exact same "character flaws" that I am judging in others. Actually, I am probably 320 times more prideful than they are, which is exactly why that trait bothers me about them--because I can't get away from it in myself. Talk about seeing the speck in your neighbors eye when you have a beam in your own.
So I've been trying something new lately. When I feel like I am beginning to be annoyed and/or judgmental in a conversation, I just decide that the person I am sitting across is my absolute favorite and I don't get to see them often. Because, think about it, when someone is your favorite, you totally let those little things go. You enjoy every moment you have with them. You aren't sitting there being annoyed, thinking about how they are saying something or if they are trying to outdo you. Instead, you just really want to know what's going on in their life, you hang onto what they are saying because it's bound to be great, because you want to remember it later. When someone is your favorite, you love them past their flaws and many times don't even see them! Not only does this "choosing favorites" help keep me less judgmental, it also has the capability to exponentially improve my relationship with that person! I know I am more likely to show them compassion and charity, as they deserve.
Because, truly, when someone else annoys me, it has nothing to do with them and everything to do with me.
~Danielle
(I'm writing everyday this week thanks to encouragement from Jen. Check her page out to see others who are taking up the challenge!)
So, this week (7/21-7/27) is National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week and in honor of it, I've decided to tell our story along with some of the reasons we've become pretty passionate about fertility awareness. (Note: Fertility awareness and NFP are the exact same thing. However, I think some people equate NFP with the rhythm method, which it is not, and sorta has a bad reputation. Being aware of one's fertility and the signs that go along with it are exactly what Natural Family Planning is, whether or not not that person actually has a "family" in mind at the moment.) This story starts out with the fact that I was a whopping 21 years old when I found out that Natural Family Planning was a thing. It seems crazy to me, but somehow I missed that the church isn't okay with birth control. I missed it, or didn't care at the time so I ignored it. As someone who decided early on that it "don't mean a thing if you ain't got that ring"--aka: I was waiting for marriage--I guess it was a subject I didn't really need to know about either. It was at the FOCUS Conference in Orlando, FL over New Year's when I was a senior in college that I heard for the first time what birth control really did to a woman's body. It was at this same conference that I heard the term "NFP" thrown around as an answer to this. It was during a session at this conference that I came to understand just how serious the church was about not using birth control. It was also during this conference that I met the man who would be my husband. Divine intervention, much? So I get home from this fabulous conference (which really didn't focus on fertility issues, I just happened to attend a few speakers who talked about it!) and am "talking to" this wonderful guy, and the subject comes up. I remember Brandon saying that he knows his wife will never be on birth control. woah. Either this man is crazy or wants 23 children. I didn't think that I agreed, so pushed him on it, although I'm not truly sure where the confidence to talk about something like this with a cute guy I had recently met came from. Conversations continued as we dated, and I began doing lots of research. Now, if you know me in the "real world," you might know that anytime I ever have a question or concern or thought about anything, I do research. What this really means is I google my question and read perhaps every article/blog/forum ever written about the subject at hand. (You can imagine how many times I have googled something since Silas was born three months ago. If you guessed at least 30 times a day, you'd probably be right. I just like having information from a variety of sources!) I do typically stay away from wikipedia, because in college my professors told me it was bad, although I'll use it to cross-check information sometimes. Anyways, over the next year I began looking at things like the USCCB website for Marriage and Family, the Catechism, websites on NFP, listening to "experts" talk, read Good News about Sex and Marriage by Christopher West, and chatted with some women in a Bible study (we happened to be studying the Feminine Genius and JPII's encyclical, Mulieris Dignitatum). Exactly a year after we met at that conference, Brandon got down on one knee and proposed in the most wonderful way at the most wonderful place and I cried, which rarely happens. That's another story for another time, I suppose. My "yes" meant that I got to spend the rest of my life with him, and also meant that I would need to start thinking about this fertility stuff a little harder.
He proposed on that bridge behind us, my favorite on the Riverwalk, where we had our first date.
In the months that we dated I experienced a conversion of sorts. It's funny how I thought I "disagreed" with the Church, and now so passionately agree with her after doing this extensive research. It's also funny how the Holy Spirit sure has a way of changing my heart and head. Three months after we became engaged, I started learning the Creighton Model Fertility Care. Five months later we were married, and by that point I felt like we had the observing and charting down. I didn't choose that NFP was right for us solely because that's what Brandon wanted. The good Lord knows (as does Brandon) that if I disagree with something, I make it known loud and clear. I also didn't decide NFP was right for us just because the Catholic Church says so. Perhaps I should be able to do that, but I guess when I was thinking about my own future and that of my family, I was too stubborn to just accept this teaching without asking a million questions first. I feel so blessed that the Catholic Church encourages questioning! So why do I choose NFP/fertility awareness? I choose NFP because it takes the burden off of me and places it onto us. I watch my body's signs throughout the day and Brandon records them at night. He has as much of the responsibility of our fertility as I do. It's not up to me to remember to take that little pill each day. Also, it's not a conversation about whether I have a "headache" at night...it always has to do with our fertility and whether we're open to children at that time. I choose NFP because it increases our communication. Discussing things like mucus signs are awkward at first. But over time I have found that it increases our ability to relate to one another. Brandon is able to predict my moods based on our chart. (I kind of hate that he's always right on...but I kind of love that he is so in tune to my ups and downs that he's able to care for me better because of the information!) I choose NFP because we're working with our bodies, not against them. Birth control is one of very few medications that actually makes a woman's body work differently than intended. NFP is completely natural, no chemicals whatsoever are going into my body. Which means I have no side-affects and never need to worry that I forgot to take a pill. wooot. I choose NFP because it's cheap. Yes, you have to pay for the introductory session, the follow-up sessions, and the chart materials...but once you know what you're doing, there are very little costs associated! I choose NFP because it gives me knowledge about my own body. It is rather incredible how smart God made women's bodies--I absolutely love knowing so much about what is going on in there! Through the Creighton Model, we've learned how to speak the language of my body/fertility. I choose NFP because it can be used to avoid or achieve pregnancy. We used the system to avoid pregnancy for 10 months. Silas was conceived on our first "try"--boy, are we blessed! NFP took the guess-work out of it, each and every day you know whether or not you're fertile.I choose NFP because I can live out my Catholic faith, showing respect for my body and fertility! ~Danielle (I'm writing everyday this week thanks to encouragement from Jen. Check her page out to see others who are taking up the challenge!)
Joining Jen over at Conversion Diary for 7 quick takes (although I'm a little late, as it's supposed to be 7QT Friday!) 1-- I never thought I could love interrupted showers so much. On the weekends when the hubs is home, I don't have to have the baby monitor sitting on the toilet and peek at it between washing and conditioning and loofaing and shaving. I also never have to jump out mid-shower and run to the crib to put in the pacifier so that I buy enough time to wash the conditioner out of my hair and hope that the suds from the shampoo cleaned off my body enough. My shower lasted at least 7 minutes, I was able to blow dry my hair, and Brandon soothed Silas to sleep when he had is mid-morning fighting off sleep fussy time. 2--Silas attended his first wedding yesterday and was such a little gentleman. He fussed a little bit towards the end of mass to let me know that he'd rather me be standing and bouncing, but was absolutely content once that happened. He also let multiple people pass him around and touch him and goo-goo, gah-gah at him.
Both of my boys ready for the wedding in their white collared shirts.
3--We were standing chatting with some friends during cocktail hour. An older woman then came up to me holding Silas and said, "Oh my goodness--he is just so pretty. I could have thought he was a little girl with his big eyes and long eyelashes and perfect little lips! (Makes a squishy, gushy face at Silas) You are just so pretty!" I said "thank you." What else do you say to a comment like that?! I know she was trying to be complimentary, but really I just felt a little bit weird. 4-- Ever overhear bathroom stall talk? And you feel awkward listening to an entire conversation between two other people, but you're in the next stall over and you just can't help it? Old Woman #1: It's getting so cold in there! Old Woman #2: Yes, I thought so! But maybe we're just getting old. OW #1: Oh forheavenssake, my door just opened. (louder) If someone walks by could you just close my door?...Oh, who cares, everyone has a rear end! I don't care. Oh, to be old and carefree about who sees your rear end. 5-- I've decided to take on Jen's challenge to blog every day this week. I've really wanted to be writing more, both because I love to write and it helps me have an "adult" way of expressing myself when my days are so baby-focused. 6--This week (7/21-7/27) is National NFP Awareness Week: "Pro-woman, Pro-man, Pro-child." Check out the USCCB website for more info. Planning on posting our "story" later on this week. 7-- Little man hit the 3 month mark on Friday. What a privilege it has been to be momma to this little guy!
That's it for this beautiful Sunday! Check back this week as I accept the challenge of posting everyday for 7 days!
So I found out about this really cool idea for April called BEDA: Blog Every Day (in) April. I thought to myself, "What a great way to make myself commit to blogging. I love writing and continue to wish for outlets. I will triumphantly join the BEDA movement!"
Now, as you may have noticed, today happens to be Tuesday, April 3rd, and here I am. Writing my first blog of the month. And probably only my 3rd blog of the year. Fail, indeed.
But today is exciting and hopeful nonetheless. April 3rd marks 7 months of marriage for me and the hubs. Today marks one month since we moved into our house. It is also the first time I've gone grocery shopping since we moved into the house. Let me tell you...that makes for very creative meals.
I'm excited at the prospect of blogging daily about my journey towards joy. I've been noticing lately that bliss can be uncomfortable and beautiful at the same time, and look forward to contemplating this in the near future.
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