the present moment // found some sunshine

Thinking about // Nell over at Whole Family Parenting was talking about getting things done. I loved her energy and how she shared about her dad being known as a human doing rather than just a human being.

I need to take notes. My mom is a human doing. I am not. It's not so much in my nature, but I need to take note. I'm pretty lackadaisical and enjoy finding rhythm in my day-to-day than having plans and schedules. But, this approach often allows for some of the smaller daily duties to get lost.

I'd like to be more of a doer as well as enjoy our daily rhythms. Thankfully, there has been grace today and a lot of doing has been happening. Pray that I learn/figure out a little way for me to be fruitful in consistency.

***

Also, with all the Breastfeeding Awareness posts happening this week and month, I've been thinking about sharing about my breastfeeding journey. I've been through it all, bad latches, thrush (more times that I will ever care for), mastitis, engorgement, night nursing, day nursing, etc. etc. etc. I feel I have lots to share, mostly in the thrush department. Given that I've had some terrible and resistant bouts of it, I'm pretty sure I have healing down pat - also, all mostly using natural alternatives because taking oral antibiotics never did a thing for me.

Anyhow, hopefully next week I can organize my thoughts enough to share. Thrush is so incredibly painful, part of me wishes I had already shared on my go-to treatment, but as time and life would have it, I have not.

Reading // My Facebook feed. Honestly, with all the tragedy going on, a part of me just wants to step away from all things current events related. Doesn't mean I'd stop praying, but it would lighten my heart just a little bit. And, a lighter heart is good for me.

As for books, we've been going through lots of Dr. Seuss in our house. My tongue usually starts to feel a bit on the funny side towards the end of the day. Especially after Fox in Socks By Dr. Seuss. As Dr. Seuss warns at the start, Take it SLOWLY! This BOOK is DANGEROUS!

Loving // My family. Loving my boys. They are at a really sweet age. Playing together, fighting together, talking together, sharing together, exploring together. I am loving the together! It's so sweet! And, my husband. Last night at bible study he flirted with me in a way that made my heart skip a beat. I felt like I was back in college meeting him for the first time. Funny how the littlest thing can so easily take us back to such a fun and sweet time. Haha, he thought I was ridiculous, but my heart really did melt.

Thankful for // I'm thankful for so many things right now. As much as I complain about the lack of sleep, back pain, or now my wonderfully pulled muscle that makes me walk funny (Gee whiz! I am feeling old!), things are really great right now. We are blessed with wonderful family, wonderful friends, and a beautiful faith. God is good. And, I'm thankful.

In the Kitchen // Between a playdate yesterday, bible study last night, and leftovers for lunch and dinner today, I haven't needed to cook for two whole days! Yahoo! We had a chili soup that lasted well and coconut milk and lemongrass chicken that has also made it to our dinner table a couple times this week! The coconut milk and lemongrass chicken is this recipe I've mentioned before but this time I made it with only chicken breast and in the crockpot. I'm a fan. Less fatty/greasy. Still flavorful and wonderful. 

It's been awhile since I baked or made a fun dessert so I definitely do need to reconcile that. Hopefully with this amazing cake from Shower of Roses. It's a maple bacon upside-down cake! What??? I know. I really need an occasion and asap!

Praying // For all the turmoil in the world. For hearts to soften and heal. For wisdom for all in power to do what they can to make our world a better place. To protect. To serve when we can. There is so much tragedy right now. 

Also, praying for all women who have lost a baby recently, who are suffering with infertility/sub-fertility, and for all women who are striving to live a life in love with Our Lord so that He may be known more.

Praying for my family, near and far. Praying for friends, near and far. And, praying for all the intentions of my family and friends. 

O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil
, who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day. 

St. Michael, pray for us. Amen.

Captured // With all that's going on in the world, I'm thankful I can walk outside our home and find sunshine. The beautiful glorious sun in all it's wonder. The same sun that lets us have our playtime and enjoy His simple Goodness.

Evening swing. He's getting ready for bed.

Bigfoot is getting to an age where he is engaging in more independent and creative play outside. Aside from him loving playing sports all the live long day, he is now venturing more. Fun times.

Love the sun!

Little sweetness.

Brother see, brother do.

Throwing rocks at the slide, because it's fun.

They both really enjoy this. Maybe it's all the noise.

My little climber. Woah! Woahhh! WoaahhHHHH! Now, every time he does something new or slightly daring you can here him saying these words over and over and...

Bold.

Summer fun.

Summer sun.

Time in his little fort. He always finds himself in this little space.

He is so stinkin' cute! I mean, really! I love his little face!

This little monkey is quite the cutie too! I share more pictures of his playground adventures here. He climbed up a level on the jungle gym. Something he's been trying to do for months!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with Jen and Jenna for 7 Quick-Takes and Currently. Click on the links to go enjoy other wonderful women!

           

Chango skills

Bigfoot has been trying to climb up a level on this jungle gym since he saw some older neighborhood kids having their fair share of fun climbing to their little hearts desire. He spent some time at the slides, running like a cheetah, throwing pebbles at the giant slide, and swinging. Eventually he made his way to his little mountain.

He hung around, per usual. Nothing big, but still fun.

But then, you could just see his little brain churning. Trying to problem solve his way up the bars of fun.

Little brother found his way over too. Like I always find myself saying these days, Brother see, brother do.

After some more trial and error, things started to click. Grasps had more purpose and foot placement was more intentional.

Trial and error. On he went.

Till something happened!

He did it!

And, not only did he climb up level numero uno of the jungle gym, his dismount was pretty fantastic.

And, seeing the joy, pride, and excitement in his little face was worth every second! So glad I caught this new little skill on my phone camera!

I could have watched you climb up and down all day. You were amazing, brave, adventurous, and quite the little problem-solver. While you were climbing and dismounting there was always a slight hint of panic mixed with exhilaration that could be seen in your eyes. So glad you were able to enjoy the ride of accomplishing this little feat. This is what his non-panic/disbelief/extremely excited look was after the very first time he dismounted. Submitting this gem of a moment for Theme Thursday over at Cari's.

Well done my my little chango! Well done.

Photo Party: My little Edel

Never got around to sharing the few photos I took over the weekend while at Edel. I wish I took more pictures with people and moments, but this photo party shares a bit of my little story. 

My Crazy shoes that I wore for Cocktail and Crazy shoe night.

Leaving DFW. Oh, how I really dislike HWY 35. There are no words for how horrid it can be.

This cutie was excited Lily was along for our travels.

And, Lily is always excited to have someone to snuggle up to.

This boy hates to travel. I mean, he really really really dislikes it. Two hours and forty-five minutes in and he called it quits. The last forty-five minutes were rough. No thank you, Austin traffic. No thank you very much!

I took a selfie because I really was so excited to finally be out of the car and in Austin!

Love downtown Austin. Such a sight!

My weekend really was filled with way more relaxation time than I'm used to. This was definitely a major favorite of mine. My little introvert heart basked in the alone time. And, the part of me that loves to linger and do things slowly and diligently, absolutely loved not being rushed to do anything.

All dolled up for Friday night. Red nails. They make me feel fancy.

Ahhhh. *happy sigh* Ordered room service on Saturday morning after my husband and in-laws took the boys to a park and off for a train ride. I loved Saturday morning. I mean, really loved it.

After registration and Marion's beautiful talk I bought this beautiful bracelet from On This Day Designs. I love it! And loved shopping around at all the vendors mixed with a massage and getting my make-up done. I'm telling you, Edel was uh-mazing!

Everything about this evening was wonderful. Dinner was delicious! Margaritas were just right. Words were oh-so-encouraging for my mama heart. And, the music and dancing and smiling faces were good for my soul.

I love Cassie, and absolutely loved getting to catch up with her and spend time with her. Such a gift! You are missed up here in the DFW, Cass!

Sunday morning could not have been more wonderful. I loved Mass at the cathedral. I wish I could go here daily! How amazing? Such a beautiful gem Austin city has! Even though Linus was not having the easiest of times (Mass time meet Linuses' lunch/naptime.) I loved everything about Mass that morning. The readings. The hymns. Just perfect!

And, back home. We made it back in one piece - mostly. My little cathedrals got straight to work, as you can see, and I couldn't help but laugh. What we do is tough, but I'm so glad to know that there are so many wonderful women I am walking alongside with through this journey called motherhood.

Venerable Edel Quinn, pray for us.

Embrace the Ordinary {1}

When I think about what it means to truly embrace the ordinary I think of how my life has flopped since becoming a mama. I never knew how incredibly ordinary and yet completely foreign my days would be.

I never knew that a simple trip to the store would be everything but simple, and yet still something I would be called to embrace. Called to embrace the little tidbits of fun in the form of smiles and giggles that my kids would offer throughout our errand. Or, called to embrace the tears and tantrums because they're having a hard time and need their mama for whatever toddler reason they decided on at that time.

Gina over at Someday Saints started a new link-up which I'm excited about. It's called Embrace the Ordinary.

You see, Gina's right! Our sweetly simple, day-to-day, ordinary trip to the store is where I was called at that time and wherever I am called is where I am meant to be. And, wherever I am meant to be is where I can learn and know Him who loves me more than ever. My daily ordinary is where I can find His Beautiful Face if I choose to seek Him.

Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. 

-Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I never knew that vacations or trips back home, something we've done for years, would look so very very very different. I never knew a sweet trip to the beach would be as exhausting as it would be relaxing. Or, as despairing (at times) as it would be filled with a joy I've never known before.

I never knew my sleep would not be my own. That I would yearn for a complete 8 hours of sleep (uninterrupted) as if I had been starved for a whole year. But still, in my exhaustion, experience the sweetest snuggles filled with the sweetest love I've ever known.

I never knew waking up in the morning to begin a day of service and self-giving would bring me so much personal struggle and personal growth. The kind of growth I've prayed for since before I can remember.

Use me, Lord.

Help me to share Your Love. 

Help me to know You more. 

I want to serve You. Show me how.

I never knew that in this place I would find answered prayers from long ago. Answered prayers that I sometimes embrace joyfully and other times, not so much.

My list of I-never-knews can go on forever. And, I'm thankful for that in this moment. The list can go on forever because there is so much ordinary in my day-to-day. And, it is good. So very good. Even on our worst days.

So, with that, I'm thankful for this link-up that will help encourage me to continue to seek to embrace my daily ordinary with a joyful heart. A thankful heart. So that God has room to work in and through me.

At the end of each of these ordinary days, my sin is what keeps me from sharing the true and beautiful desires of my heart: To make a beautiful home filled with love and goodness for my husband and my boys.

I shall accommodate myself to them as far as I can, and as long as I live I shall serve God in them in unfeigned love. 

-St. Bernard

The hard thing is my struggle not only hurts me but my family too. This is such a challenging reality that I have yet to reconcile. I'm not good at putting others before me. It does not come naturally to me. I just pray that while I'm working through this, trying to be the mother and wife I know I desire to be and, with God's grace, can be; my family will still feel loved more than they know. Because the truth of it all is that I love them more than they'll ever know. Each one of them. I just have my struggles at embracing my little place in life (especially on no sleep with a dose of major back pain). My little place that is truly good and beautiful is just that. And, with God's grace, I pray that I embrace it - with more smiles and joy than grouchiness and short-tempers!

Here's my new little prayer that has been helping during my difficult times:

Come Holy Spirit. It is good that I am here. Amen.

After the Edel Gathering, I came back refreshed, yes, but also knowing that what we do is tough. Which is why, when Haley shared some wisdom from Lewis, I felt encouraged, solidarity, and like I need to stop resisting my little path to Home.

The more we get what we now call ourselves out of the way and let Him take us over, the more truly ourselves we become. 

-CS Lewis

I know it's a lengthy, Embrace the Ordinary, but thanks for hanging around! Promise the next one will be a little more to the point. Till then, here are a few photos of my recent ordinary:

The boys love emptying toy bins and running around with them over their heads blindly or scrunching themselves up inside. The best is when daddy uses his muscles to lift them. Homemade roller-coaster.

Drums and cars are on the daily lately. Lots of zooming around and banging on anything and everything.

This little boy *loves to drum. All day. Every day. My ears will thank him when he learns the art good of music.

This boy loves to snuggle. I love him for it too, because I am all about the snuggles!

Days with no-naps usually have afternoons that look like this. Not too terrible. This time of day is when I really need to learn to get out of myself. 

Our snuggler has been getting out of bed (nightly) lately to come sneak into ours. I or my husband wake up with him smashed up against us. Because - snuggles. I know he won't want to do this forever. So, for now, pray I can embrace the sweetness as well as continue to encourage the return to his own room to snuggle with Curious George.

This teething toddler has wreaked some major havoc on my sleep. But the way he needs/wants me is sweet and truly filled with a good love.

Ah, yes. Beer is good. Especially with my love. I love these nights together, babe. I really do.

They're good together - these brothers. And, I love them so much for it. I love them so much for this and more.