What blogger do you want to be when you grow up?

Do you ever think to yourself: When I (figuratively in a bloggish way) grow up I want to be a blogger like (insert name of awesome blogger here)?

There are many big name bloggers that I admire.

I adore Kelle Hampton's photography. I'm learning so much from her about composition and focal length choice and I just can't get enough of her precious little Nella. Her pictures alone show the great value and dignity of children with Down's syndrome. She has a remarkable ability to embrace the beauty in everyday life.

Everyone loves Margaret in Minnesota. Her humor and absolute honesty draw me back to her blog time and time again.

Betty Duffy and Simcha Fisher's writing regularly blows me away. These women have more intelligence, wisdom and wit in their little finger than I can ever hope to aspire to. I never miss anything these women write.

And then there's Jen Fulwiler. Oh my goodness. This cradle Catholic has learned so much from this former atheist. What a blessing she is to the Church.

But, as a blogger, I hope to one day be like... Karen Edmisten. She seems so down to earth, yet also wise, so intelligent, yet also accessible. She has such a beautiful writing style. Any book she recommends I know I will love; and, I hope to one day have relationships with my children that are as deep and meaningful as the relationships she has with her equally intelligent and witty daughters.

So, what blogger do you aspire to be?

Catching up #1

We just returned (just? we've been back for a week!) from our annual vacation at the lake with Eric's family. Even before the trip, it's been a very busy summer and my blogging has taken the back burner. But, the three older kids are going to Eric's parents house for a full week starting on Saturday so I'll be going into "catch up" mode while they are gone. I'll be catching up on some cleaning, organizing, shopping and, of course, blogging. I plan on doing a short post everyday (will see if it actually happens or not, I do still have a 7 month old staying at home with me) to catch you all up on what has been going on in our lives. I'm really looking forward to it! I've missed my neglected little blog!

One month old and chubbing up nicely

My how time flies!


That's her first grin caught on camera. Most of her smiles, though, happen when she sleeps. She will also sleep with her eyes open. I've heard of people who could do that but I've never actually seen it myself. Clara will be in full REM sleep with her eyes wide open and smiling away.

She's a good little eater (as evidenced by the chubbiness of her cheeks) and is getting to be a better sleeper. Last night she only woke up once between 10 pm and 5 am. That's progress!


It's amazing how different the entire household seems since Clara arrived. With three kids, Eric and I were already outnumbered, but now that we have our fourth, it really feels like we're outnumbered. Someone (or more than one someone) always seems to need something and sometimes it feels like we're on a run away train. We just can't keep up. And, that's okay. The house is just going to be in complete chaos for awhile until Clara gets older and the rest of us can adjust. The older kids are going to have to take on more responsibilities and we'll have to work together better as a team. I'm also trying to identify ways to organize us better and Eric's been throwing lots of stuff away. We just don't need unnecessary junk adding to the chaos.

I have a bunch of posts in my head that I want to write. I don't know if or when they'll get done, but I'm going to try to post as often as I can. I'm keeping up with reading all of your blogs but sorry that I haven't been a good commenter. That will come again in time! Thank you for coming by my blog and commenting when you can. This blog really helps me deal with stress and all your support helps me keep my sanity!

AWOL

So sorry that I haven't been posting much lately. Life has been changing and my blogging is having to change along with it. Some of the changes are very good, like my new photography hobby that has been so enriching. And, some of the changes are just part of life as a wife and mother of three growing kids. Extracurricular activities and Eric working lots of overtime lately have upset my normal routines.

But, I will continue blogging. It may be sporadic for awhile, so please bear with me. Blogging will find a place again in my life and in the mean time I am continuing to read all of the blogs of all my wonderful friends. Thanks for sticking with me!

I will post here again soon, I promise

I've actually been working on my 7 quick takes for 7 Quick Takes Friday for the last week and I'm still not done! I'm trying to be a good blogger. I will get a post done...eventually. Don't give up on me!

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my bloggy friends a very Merry Christmas! I'm sure you are all busy like me, wrapping the last few gifts, making insanely rich Christmas goodies and running to the grocery store for those last two forgotten (and essential!) items.

But, don't forget to take a minute to hug your family, enjoy the Christmas lights, indulge in those insanely rich Christmas goodies, and thank God for the best gift of all, his Son.

Merry Christmas, friends!

The Not-So-Fabulous Mom

We just got back from Elizabeth's gymnastics class and now we're home in a somewhat darkened house listening to the rain come down outside. I love days like these. Rainy days encourage me to slow down, to breathe, and to read and snuggle more with my kids.

As I said in my last post, these gymnastics classes are wonderful for my little girl. She's rather timid, not just socially, but physically as well. She will never be a dare devil! Gymnastics is encouraging her to speak up a little more as well as take some risks that she normally never would have done. It is so fun to watch her blossom.

During her hour long class, I try to keep Gustin contained and I can't help but to observe the other moms. Some watch their kids intently, some seem to be very busy with papers and planners, others make one call on their cell phone after another and some sit and chat with each other. They are all so different, except for one thing, they are all fabulous.

By fabulous I just mean that they are everything that I am not, namely perfectly put together. A Fabulous Mom's clothing is unwrinkled and fashionable, her toes are pedicured, her hair is perfectly cut, colored and styled, her makeup is impeccable and her accessories coordinate. Please don't think that I am saying that there is anything wrong with that, it's just that it's not me. Today I had my freely graying, slightly-damp-from-my-shower hair pulled back in a quick ponytail. I used wrinkle remover spray on my shirt to quickly try to smooth it out before I went out the door. I was wearing $5 flip flops though I did actually get a light application of makeup on before we left. I don't think there was anything wrong with that either. The way I was dressed suits my personality and aligns with my priorities.

So how come when I'm around Fabulous Moms, I start to feel insecure about my looks and my priorities?

Why do we mother's feel threatened just because someone else is doing something differently than us? It could be the way we discipline our children or how we show love for our spouse or the way we feed our families. We make choices that we think are best for us and our families, but then as soon as we see someone else doing it differently, we immediately question our decisions.

Maybe this tendency is a good thing. It makes us constantly reevaluate our choices and make sure that they do align with our priorities. But, it can also create anxiety, lack of confidence or can even pressure us into making choices that do not align with our priorities.

I guess these feelings are common when you live a counter cultural lifestyle. Being a practicing, orthodox Catholic stay-at-home mom is certainly not a lifestyle seen on TV or in the movies or even on my street in my neighborhood.

I don't know if there is a point to this long and rambling post. But, one thing I have realized as I have been writing it is that I am so thankful for blogging. Through blogging I don't feel so isolated as I struggle on a daily basis to be counter-cultural. On any given day I can connect with moms (both Fabulous and Not-So-Fabulous) all over the country and the world who live their faith. What a blessing.

My blogging has been a little light lately...

I don't know why, exactly. I guess we've been busy around here? We've entered the world of extracurricular activities and I'm having a bit of a hard time keeping up. But, I know that it will all just feel like it's normal soon. But, in the mean time we have a cub scout camp out this weekend that I need to make about four dozen cookies for.

Elizabeth started gymnastics classes once a week and it's been awesome for her! She actually speaks to her coaches! My shy girl is coming out of her shell!

Eric started his new job last week. I could go on and on about that. It's really been a dream come true for him and the most amazing gift from God, but the transition is also a little stressful. I'm not a big fan of change and now we changed employers & health insurance providers, we're now having to manage our own retirement funds, etc, etc.

This weekend I also have a baby shower for my first niece on my side of the family. And, I get to be the godmother! I can't express how excited I am about that!

Oh, I've really gotta run. School lunches need to be made. But, hopefully I'll be posting more around here again soon!

God bless you,

Blogiversary

Does that title make any sense? I was trying to combine the words blog and anniversary because my one year anniversary of blogging is coming up in a couple of days, but I think most of you probably read that title and said, "Huh?"

I started this blog to help me cope with some of my struggles with being a stay-at-home mom. I needed to be able to connect with other moms and faithful women. I needed to be able to voice some of my difficulties and concerns, things that my introverted nature often prevents me from doing with my "real" friends. I needed an opportunity to be inspired to live my faith daily and to make my home into a nurturing and loving environment for my children. I needed an outlet for some of my creative energies that had been mostly suppressed by the demands of life.

And, looking back over the past year, all those needs are being fulfilled. Some more perfectly than others. But, blogging really has been a blessing for me. I love writing this blog and reading the blogs of so many inspiring women.

So, thank you to all of you who have been on this journey with me. Thanks for your friendship, encouragement and support. I'm a better mom today than I was a year ago.

God bless you! All of you and your families are in my continued prayers.

I take that back...

I don't know when I'll get a decent post done. I'm still wading through laundry from our vacation and Jonathan and Elizabeth started both swimming lessons and vacation bible school this week. I'm in taxi mode. The days are zooming by.

Oh, and one other thing is stealing my time and attention. Flickr. I'm becoming obsessed with it. I'm slowly uploading all my favorite pictures and figuring out all the cool things I can do with it and, of course, checking out some amazing photography by people who actually know what they are doing. It's as addicting as blogging! I think I need to set the timer when I sit down at the computer. When it goes off I must. get. off. the. computer. Really. It's getting ridiculous.

New Banner

My new banner is a picture taken at Eric's parent's house at Spring Break. That's Eric's dad with Gustin in the sandbox and I'm pushing Elizabeth on the swing. This picture shows my favorite kind of day. Slow paced, relaxed, with family, outside.

But, I seem to always pick banner pictures that have a mix of very light and very dark colors in the upper left hand corner where the title goes. It seems that a black font color makes the title show up the best, but it's not great. Does anyone know how to move the title so I could place it in a spot that is easier to read? I can't figure out how to do it in blogger.

Blogroll addition

I added another blog to my blogroll. It's Mary's Aggies and is a blog by the pastoral team at St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M in College Station. I can't believe that I didn't know about it and that I found out about it through a former t-sip. It's a great blog with lots of information, resources and reflections.

Also, in case you haven't heard about it, here's a link to Mary's Aggies where they posted a link to the latest papal encyclical, Spe Salvi (which means Saved by Hope).

My evening

It's Friday night at 8:30. Eric is at some work function and won't be home until late. All three of the kids are asleep and the house is quiet (alleluia!). I've caught up on all my blogs that I like to read. This is the perfect time to write a meaningful and thoughtful post like I always wish I had time to do. But, I can't think of a thing to write about. Not one little spark of an idea. That mental list of blog post ideas that I keep in my head has gone AWOL. So, maybe I'll go read a book, or watch a movie. Or, maybe I'll go to bed early and get some much needed sleep.

Good night everyone. May the Lord bless you and keep you and fill your heads with meaningful and thoughtful posts for me to read tomorrow!

Search engine hits

This blog so far has gotten a whopping two hits from search engine searches. What cracks me up is what these internet surfers were looking for. I hope they were satisfied, but I really think I need to change the content of future posts on this blog. There seems to be a theme growing...

Search key words:

diaper change (see this recent post)

toilets that spontaneously flush (see this post from the early days of my blog, a whole month ago!)

Can you tell I'm a new blogger?

Three posts in one day, I just added my favorite blogs to the sidebar and now I just finished creating a signature. This is so much fun!!

Which one do you like better?
This one that is no nonsense...


Or this more feminine one...


h/t: Moms Who Blog (for the signature)