*precious* Christmas Story

Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring. ~St. Catherine of Siena

O souls who in spiritual matters desire to walk in security andconsolation! If you but knew how much it behooves you to suffer inorder to reach this security and consolation, and how without sufferingyou cannot attain to your desire but rather turn back, in no way wouldyou look for comfort either from God or from creatures. You wouldinstead carry the cross and, placed on it, desire to drink the puregall and vinegar. You would consider it good fortune that, dying tothis world and to yourselves, you would live to God in the delights ofthe spirit, and patiently and faithfully suffering exterior trials,which are small, you would merit that God fix his eyes on you and purgeyou more profoundly through deeper spiritual trials in order to giveyou more interior blessings. -St. John of the Cross

He who attaches himself to the earth remains attached to it. It isbetter to detach oneself little by little instead of all at once. Let us always think of Heaven. -St. Padre Pio

Where'd November go?!

Wow. November has come and gone, which means that Bigfoot’s month 5 has also disappeared from one day to the next. Going from November to December feels like going from a Monday to a Tuesday. It happens so quickly, and if you’re not careful, you will miss a whole month worth of goodness!

Now, where to start? I’ll let the few (sad but true) pictures I’ve taken be my guide for month 5.

For starters, my sweet, our Aggies have not been doing so hot. You and Daddy watched Aggie football like all loyal and true Ags would.


Even though it was a difficult season, we have much to look forward to next season (*hopefully*). Anywho, you and Daddy have had some man time watching sports and you seem to enjoy it.

Now, don’t hate me for posting this next picture.
So cute! Sweetheart, you’ve been doing this funny noise with your mouth lately. I think you find it entertaining. Either that, or it helps sooth your teething gums - I think. Regardless, you are so cute when you do it. You make this *smack* *smack* noise - pretty fun. (And, my apologies for trying to get another wear out of this PJ. This was the last wear before it was put to rest with all the other abundances of clothes you’ve outgrown).

You have ample time in your jumperoo, which you love!. We have already raised it one more level which seems to suit you better. Crazy to think how fast you’re growing!?! Also, I absolutely love watching you discover new ways to play with all the toys and gadgets on this play gym. You’re always searching and discovering.


We made a trip to see Grandpa, Yaya, and your Auntie in San Antonio. You had so much fun spending time with them and being outside.




And this trip was followed by our Bible Study family trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Again, you absolutely loved being outside and enjoying the weather and beautiful Fall colors that surrounded us. You had tons of fun time with all the other Bible Study kids, and Daddy and Mama got to enjoy their Bible Study friends in a new setting. We played board games, ate wonderfully, laughed, joked, shared stories, and just had a great memorable time.




Bye Bye, lovely cabin.


Upon arrival home, you had a few bad days and nights of naps and sleep. I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on until I put my little finger to your bottom gums and found the culprits. You cut your first two teeth. The bottom two. Congrats, little one. You are well on your way to solids!!

I have yet to capture the two new teeth! Below was one of my first attempts. Ha. Enjoy.


You officially graduated from swaddlehood, my dear. You are sleeping without your swaddle and this is one of the pics that we have right before you started going swaddle-less.


Also, Mama made some of her pumpkin spice cupcakes with maple syrup cinnamon cream cheese frosting - YUM! They were made for Daddy’s work, but Mama got to enjoy a few before the send off and eventually you will too! :)


You grab at everything! You are curious and love grabbing things - old and new.


You also love putting everything in your mouth once in your grasp. And you and Lily continue to nurture your ever blossoming furry friendship.




Daddy has worn you a number of times with his baby carrier while playing fetch with Lily. You absolutely love this because it feels like you are playing fetch with her. You laugh the whole time.


Uncle A and his girlfriend came to visit and loved every moment. They love you tons and really enjoy spending time with you and your little bundle of fun.


haha. I think in the picture below you’re telling Daddy to stop talking so you can squeal, or laugh, or do something that would bring an “Awww” face to all present.


You have been enjoying your tummy time so much. You continue to roll over to your tummy like nobody’s business. You are starting to worm around just a bit. You turn into the most wiggly worm while Mama or Daddy changes you and you think it is the funnies thing. I love cuddling with you, as does Daddy. You are sweet and precious and we continue to love you more and more as each day passes.


Thank you for all the wonderful moments in the month that likes to fly. This November may have happened fast, but according to your month-to-months we still have more November to share in your 6 month post. :)

we love you. WE LOve you! WE LOVE YOU!!! xo

Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were toabandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow Hisgrace to mold them accordingly. -St. Ignatius of Loyola

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able tosatisfy the heart? -Saint Gerard Majella

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception

I feel like I’ve been MIA on writing. I probably feel this way because my thoughts have been so scattered with all the packing, traveling, packing, unpacking we’ve been doing this past month. I’m still trying to get into the swing of things back in our little home. Hence, the lack of posts.

You wouldn’t think travels would throw someone off so much, but I definitely felt the toll of November. Thankfully, Bigfoot seems to be coping way better than his Mama here. He seems to just go with the flow of life and all it brings his way. I admire this in him and pray that he keep this beautiful and innocent approach to life forever.

I, on the other hand, need to work at it a bit more. Hopefully, I’ll eventually find the balance that I’m looking for. And then I’m sure it will get thrown off again. But, at the least, I can start expecting it to get thrown off? And then, maybe, just maybe, will I be able to approach it better. Key word here is: Maybe.

I titled this post Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception, but apparently, my little heart had some other things to share. I mentioned earlier about having scattered thoughts, I really wasn’t kidding! Especially in regards to all the different posts I’ve thought about writing - Bigfoot’s 5 month update, Bigfoot’s travels to my hometown and all the wonderful family he met, a post on Thanksgiving, a post for how thankful I feel about being able to stay home with my sweet boy, a post about how grateful I am for my husband, the blessings of friendship, our decision to cloth diaper, how we decided to use cloth wipes for our little ones bum too, and for that matter, parenting and the plethora of decisions that come with it; I’m sure if I let myself I could keep adding and adding to this list, but I’ll stop for now. Like I said, many things to write, just haven’t had the calm to sit down and do it. Scattered posts floating in my brain. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Holidays. Holiday shopping. Advent. Feast of St. Nicholas and fun family to-dos. Waiting on the Lord. Family/Advent traditions. All the different holiday crafts I’ve been working on in our home. Pinterest! Bigfoot’s new milestones of rolling around, sitting endeavors, more squealing, more baby babble, tummy sleeping, and tons more!

Wow. Haha. I am scatter-brain.

Well, in an effort to write a little something about what I initially intended, I will say that our little family will be going to Mass later to honor Our Lady and to celebrate her immaculate conception. I’m so grateful for Our Lord’s Mother. It’s really pretty hard to put into words all that she means to me. But, I can say that I am grateful. Grateful for her Fiat. Grateful for her parents, Anne and Joquim. Grateful for her life. Grateful for her prayerful presence in my life and the life of my family. Grateful for her love for her Son, Our Savior. Grateful for the role she played in our salvation. Grateful for her motherhood and for her womanhood. And so much more.

“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Luke 1:42

Till next time, I wish you all a Happy Feast day of the Immaculate Conception.

Sweet Mother Mary, pray for us.

This translation makes my heart and soul happy :)

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

If human beings are ever to discover anything big, they must always be making themselves little; if they magnify their ego to the infinitethey will discover nothing, for there is nothing bigger than theinfinite; but if they reduce their ego to zero, then they will discovereverything big-for there is nothing smaller than the self. -Archbishop Fulton Sheen

People say that they will do; Christ says when we do, then we willknow. The seeds of truth sprout in the soil of obedience. -Archbishop Fulton Sheen