Mama-luia

{I have decided to do a "Stuff I like" series for the next while. I often have NOTHING interesting to say when I sit down at the computer, so this might give me some inspiration. Hope you like it. } I used to fantasize I was required to wear a school uniform. In grade five, I actually insisted from time to time for my mom to braid my hair into tight pigtail braids so I could match my kilt, tights and blouse-sweater vest combo. Don't worry, I also wore jeans to school. But I loved wearing a kilt. I thought it made me more "ready" for school. Boy, was I excited when I discovered that the crazy university I was moving to the middle of nowhere to attend had a dress code. Years later, my childhood dream came to fruition. Then I got married, pregnant, gave birth, yada-yada, and here I am, a stay-at-home mom. What a beautiful vocation! It's also a "career path", too, you know. I say that because I want people to know I willingly chose this; I was...

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this blog entry. Please, go read it. It made me feel CAPABLE of being a career stay-at-home mom (one who likes sleep way more than housework). {Also, I know some of you have likely noticed the "doom and gloom" blogs lately. I haven't been myself. I'll acknowledge that. But PLEASE don't make me call it the dreaded "PPD"; I know it's silly to fear such a label, but I don't want to give "it" a name. Either way you slice it, I've sought help from my understanding mother, my good friend and naturopath and a funny little homeopathic remedy called Ignatia . I feel like half a million bucks, and have strong reasons to believe that will be doubling soon.} Oh yes, and about the blog entry I recommended. She also has a whole series on laundry which is quite riveting. Yes, I said "riveting" and I was talking about laundry. She's just that darn good.

No time for a "real" blog entry so feast your eyes on my bullet point-style life of late. Our little cutie with his grandpa We celebrated my brother's ____ birthday (age withheld for his own sanity's sake) last Monday. Two different kinds of cake, of which I had both (I'm still "eating for two", right?) ** see below for further sugar-revelations We went to a beautiful wedding this weekend of a good friend! I pulled off bridemaid-ing it AND breastfeeding on demand. Wow, it was exhausting, but exhilarating. The bride and groom were adorable; so prayerful and happy and in love. This is the stuff which affirms us "old fogies" in our vocation (I say with sarcasm). Sunday was delicious dinner with the family and peach-upside-down cake. I had two slices... ... which led me to adopting Jaclyn's quasi-Dr. Oz diet the following morning. I must face facts: I am a sugar-addict (and the proof is in the pudding: day two and I find myself dying for ice c...

I have been mulling over this post since I was in the hospital after Noah's birth. I can't hold it in any longer. I want to write about the pain of having had a cesarean section. As I prepared for childbirth, I set "avoiding a c-section at all costs" as my primary goal. My dear sister had a difficult recovery after hers, and the pain of it terrified me. What I didn't think I could have possibly comprehended was the emotional pain I would undergo. It's strange really, that almost four months later, I still feel grief. I have such a beautiful baby. He is healthy, happy, and so very loved. Why, then, do the circumstances of his birth still sadden me? Is it because I set my hopes so high, and so in the opposite direction, of a surgical delivery? Really, in an age where women actually opt for a c-section -- as though it would somehow be more accomodating to their lifestyle?! What lifestyle is that , I wonder?! -- hoping for a homebirth is as opposite a...

I am feeling well, but tired. Life is busy, just in attempting to "do things" -- useful things, like eating nutritious homemade food, making said food, keep an orderly home, and of course, delight in every waking (and sleeping!) moment of my darling. That cliche about babies growing up so fast is true. He already seems so much more grown up, Hence I am intent on relishing him in his infancy while I can. And now, so can you. Cuteness to the max, no? PS Please ignore the tim e-stamp on the picture on the one picture. For some reason, my Kodak EasyShare thinks Noah is already two years old.

I can't believe I am about to say this but. . . there are only 155 days left until Christmas! (Now don't you just want to slap me?!) In all seriousness, though, I am ecstatic at the idea of Christmas '09. I am certain it is because it will be my first Christmas as a mom (with a child ex utero). Now we can establish our own family traditions, decorate our own tree, watch with delight as Noah opens his first Christmas presents. I might even cook a turkey! Why, though, am I blogging about this during the summer? Let me first say this: I have extremely high ideals for our family. I suppose this isn't different from most mothers! I regularly fantasize about a smooth blend of attachment parenting, distributism, delight-led learning (through Montessori and Waldorf-inspired education), apostolic farming and general togetherness centred around the liturgical year, with, of course, appropriate crafts to reflect the Church calendar. I realize I am not capable of meeting such high...

1. We're really beginning to make this place feel like home now! I am so excited that Patrick has been putting up our art (as I don't trust myself with a hammer). Meanwhile I sit in a half-lotus on the glider, and frequently interject with "Noo, not there. THERE!" (The reason I am confined to the glider is due to nursing, not laziness, FYI.) 2. On the subject of homemaking, I attacked our library with a vengeance today, sorting Theology into Scripture, Magisterial documents, saint lives, dogmatics and spiritual theology. Then onto philosophy, history, and literature (with equally obsessive sub-categories). My big concern, though, is where to put the "popularizers"? You know, Christopher West , John Eldredge , Rick Warren (cough) , and the like? I hate putting them into Theology with the likes of Garigou-Lagrange, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Teresa of Avila, among others. My compromise? A "Christian Living" section. Sidebar: while visiting w...