You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves. ~ St. Francis de Sales

It's so cold out!

Missing park weather days on a day like today!

"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." -Blessed John Paul II

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas

A year ago today, I was ready and excited to celebrate this feast day. I wrote about it here and here. But, this year, we have yet to even begin decorating our home, much less our beautiful and bare Christmas tree that sits in the corner just waiting for us to adorn it.

This year, our little Bigfoot has been struggling with a cold that has been absolutely vicious. It has somewhat affected me and seems to be seeping into the world of my husband slowly but surely. I have not had time to think about putting up all the fun decor in our home because our son has not been well and has needed me. He's needed his mama to hold him, comfort him, reassure him, give him his meds, take him to the doctor, help him sleep as well as possible, endure this new whiny cry that decided to make it's appearance the moment this terrible runny nose and cough set in, be patient with him, and he's needed me to be there for all the other happenings that go along with a toddler who is just not feeling well.

Needless to say, I can't wait for our home to transform and become a visual representation of our preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Advent the time of preparation. The time that started this past week. A time to reflect, celebrate, pray, and to prepare the way for the coming of our precious Savior. All these things are good, but, this year our time started differently. Our time started with our Bigfoot catching a cold. I know there is good in this. GeekMan and I have been able to serve our child. Probably no where near as beautiful and wonderful as our lovely Mother Mary served the Christ-child, but with her prayers and His Grace, I hope we've done as well as we could for where we have been these past few weeks.

And so, Advent has started. Even though we aren't yet decorated within our home, I know our hearts are just so excited. We've talked about this wonderful time. We talked about our exciting plans to prepare ourselves, our family, and our home. Yet, as life would have it, we have been humbled and asked to prepare ourselves in a way that was a little deeper than our original thoughts. We've been asked to see beyond ourselves and serve. To love selflessly. To be present to the beautiful child that God has shared with us.

For now, we will continue to try and be as present to His Will for us in these days. It has been difficult and trying (especially the whole I'm 8 months pregnant and not getting any sleep part), but I'm grateful for a brief moment to reflect. And, thankfully, our Bigfoot is on the mend. We are finally seeing the light! Glimpses of our sweet ones joy and energy are slowly but surely resurfacing, which we could not be more grateful for. We just pray that he continues on this track (it is so hard to see your little one suffer!!!).

As much as I've been consumed in my son, I hope I'll be able to see that He is also calling me to see His Face. I pray that I can see that as a blessing. Decorating can always happen tomorrow. And there are so many wonderful feast days to celebrate this month!

G'night!

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us.
Holy Family, pray for us.
St. Nicholas, pray for us.

"Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you." -St. Augustine

"For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." -St. Therese of Lisieux

Early Days

My precious Sweet P,

We knew...we just knew that you were with us from the very beginning, which was such a gift and blessing. It just so happened that you were probably very newly conceived during our trip for Uncle A and Uncle Godfather's graduation back at the end of May. Your presence with us explained why Mama wasn't feeling well throughout the weekend. During the drive I would credit my nausea or fatigue to the windy roads and all that we were doing that weekend, but in the back of my mind I thought it may have been because of you.

The following weekend (a week after your conception), at the very start of your life, Daddy, Mama, and Big brother went down to the valley and made a quick stop in Corpus on our way back home during the weekend. A main reason we were making the trip south was because our friend was being ordained a priest and we did not want to miss such an amazing time in his life. Honestly, Sweet P, that weekend was filled with such gift because of our dear friend. His ordination was one of the most beautiful events we have witnessed to date filled with such amazing Grace and Goodness, and we were so happy to share it with you and Bigfoot.

After Fr. Andy's amazing ordination, he gave his first blessings. We all waited in line anxiously to be blessed by our friend, the newly ordained priest. As he was giving us our blessing, we mentioned to him that you were with us, and he included you in that beautiful experience. Sweet one you have been blessed in a special way, as have Daddy, Mama, and Seph, and for that we will always be grateful to Fr. Andy.

Words really cannot express the overwhelming beauty that we saw that weekend, but we are so grateful that our hearts were there to witness Our Lord's goodness, joy, and love through our dear friend. Fr. Andy was glowing. He was radiating a peace that made me shed tears of joy. I thank God for picking such an amazing servant. So grateful that we were able to be at the first Mass he presided over (again, no words can express the goodness and joy that flowed). And finally, I am so thankful to God for sharing Fr. Andy with our little family.

Dearest Sweet P, your early days were a gift. Thank you for joining us when you did. Thank you for sharing the signs that you did with Mama, so that she could know you were with us. And, thank you for being so sweet!

Love,
mama

PS Sweet one, I'll try to recap our pregnancy thus far on a week to week to do. I marked it all in our calendar, so I just need to sit down and get to it :)

~~~

"The priestly vocation is essentially a call to sanctity, in the form that derives from the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  Sanctity is intimacy with God; it is the imitation of Christ, poor, chaste and humble; it is unreserved love for souls and self-giving to their true good; it is love for the church which is holy and wants us to be holy, because such is the mission that Christ has entrusted to it.  Each one of you must be holy also in order to help your brothers pursue their vocation to sanctity." -Blessed John Paul ll (Rome, Italy, October 9, 1984)

Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy. -Blessed Mother Teresa

Sweet Hiccups

Dearest Sweet P,

You are now having regular bouts of hiccups throughout the day. I love knowing you are in there - safe and cozy - doing what needs to be done before you are in our arms.

i love you,
mama

God does not command that we do great things, only little things with great love. -Blessed Mother Teresa

Papa and Nana Time

After our travels for my grandpa's funeral we had another weekend of travel to follow. A weekend that we had planned on. A weekend to spend with my parents. And, any extra time we could get with family after experiencing our loss was definitely welcomed by me.

We met Papa Ram and Nana near a lake in Austin. It was a nice and beautiful retreat from city views. Joseph did well during the drive, it was this preggo mama that was having the trouble.

Pregnancy with our first, compared to this one, was easy-peasy! Nausea was very manageable, I felt great, and was able to get my exercise on like no ones business all throughout the 9 months. This time around, my nausea was unmanageable (majorly), I struggled with very low blood pressure, and I get my exercise in when I can (in other words, rarely). All in all, I do feel good and am grateful to be out of the first trimester, but good night! my little Sweet P. You have kept your mama on her toes! So, aside from my oh-so-wonderful preggo symptoms, we made it to our destination!!

Here's our Bigfoot. He wasn't sure what to think about Papa's hat and sunglasses.

We got enjoy some great pool time. Our little one loves being in the water!!

And splashing!!!

Lots and lots of splashing!

He was getting passed around. Laughter and smiles were plentiful.

Papa and Nana ate up their time with their grandson, and GeekMan and I were able to have some fun times together in the rec area. I dominated in ping-pong, because that's just how life is. Meanwhile, he took most rounds of air hockey. 

After a day full-o-fun, the little guy was pretty subdued. 

We took some strolls and enjoyed seeing all the deer and beautiful nature God has shared with us.

Little guy was good at getting tuckered out with all the fun he was having.

We went to eat at the Oasis (finally!). We've heard about this place by so many friends and family members. 

Bigfoot was not a fan of any of the statues. Not even the puppy!

Daddy was his safety from all the weird statues that surrounded the shopping plaza connected to the Oasis.

As were Papa and Nana. 

Bigfoot was not in the mood for pictures.

But Papa and Nana always take a great one!

We had such a great weekend and were thankful that we were able to spend time with my parents, especially after losing my grandpa. Living far from family makes any together-time great, special, and precious. Time that we love to experience and always are a little sad to leave.