Eyelashes

The bigger Louisa gets, the more people have been commenting about how she looks like her daddy. I have to agree, and it's fine by me! (I happen to think I have a very attractive husband :) One of her features that looks like she most certainly got from Mike is her eyelashes; oddly enough, since I have very short lightly colored eyelashes - Mike's are thick and plentiful. I think Lou's get longer each day. (If you click on the picture you can see even better) I love them!

Too Busy

Just a quick update on the facebook thing. Why haven't I gotten rid of it yet? I'm too busy to write down the emails that I want to keep and cancel the account! Maybe it would have been wiser not to be so hasty and only give myself a week, or maybe I should just keep it after all. The good news is I haven't been going on it at all lately. After making such a public profession I feel like I would be very flighty to change my mind (pardon my stealing my sister-in-law's word :)

Yesterday continued...

A few more pictures from yesterday...I thought I would post them because yesteray really was a glorious day and I took many nice pictures. Today isn't shaping up the same way (as far as the weather goes) so I want to keep up the memory. But I am looking forward to a visit from a friend, Mike coming home for the weekend (even though he is probably going in Saturday for a while, oh well), and another friend's bridal shower tomorrow - woo-hoo! Happy Friday to you!

A breath of fresh air

A few breaths actually... Louisa and I took a beautiful meander down at the beach. I actually took her out of the stroller for a few minutes, something I haven't really done before. It was just so nice out I felt like she would have wanted to enjoy the open air for a bit. She did like it for a while, but then decided she wanted to be back in the familiar, snuggly car seat, after which she settled right in for a little snooze. Ah, the life of wife and mother is amazing. Days like today make me feel grateful that I didn't buy into the whole feminist thing. So many others have put it more eloquently than I ever could; but I am finding that the vocation of motherhood is simply wonderful and utterly grace-filled. I wish more women could experience it without feeling the pressures of modern society to be "liberated" from the home. I am grateful to be living this life because I know that running a home and raising children is something that can be completely fulfilling, and not only that; it is a job that contributes an undetermined amount of goodness to society. I am convinced that almost every evil in society can be at least be partially traced back to a bad home life. Children need so much more nurturing and attention from their parents than they are getting. It's very well documented that children who do better in school come from whole, happy families. Now I'm not saying the mother has to stay home in order for the family to be happy. But it seems like working outside the home and creating an atmosphere of peace, wholeness, and love can, and does, overwhelm many women. It just seems like there wouldn't be enough hours in the day to do it all! Thankfully, I don't feel called to "do it all" or to "have it all". I feel content and comfortable making my home my only domain.

And by the way, even though I am not working outside the home, I am not bored one bit! Just take today for example: I have already done a gamut of things; nurished my baby, changed her, played with her, tidied the house, checked up on the news, gone to the beach, and now I'm writing in my blog (and its only noon!!) Whoever says the life of a stay-at-home mom is boring is very much mistaken. I know its going to get much busier as time goes on. Adding more children to the mix, plus homeschooling, volunteering, etc. is going to make my days even more full (and probably more challenging, yikes!) For now though, on this gorgeous spring day, as I take care of Louisa and think about motherhood; I know without a doubt that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

(wow, I honestly didn't mean to write that much - it all just came tumbling out. I guess it came from all that thinking I was doing while on our walk :)

She doesn't have to do much to be cute

at least in the eyes of her mama...

Also, I love this post from a new blog I found. I read it today, at the perfect moment, and found myself smiling with delight because this is just want I want for my family.

Easter Sunday

Easter is my favorite holiday since becoming a Christian. Ultimately it is all about the most important event in the history of the world, the Resurrection of Christ. In the Eastern rite we sing over and over (and over and over): Christ is risen! This is my second year going to the Byzantine church for Easter Sunday and I LOVE love love it. It is the most beautiful liturgy of the year, and the longest (3.5 hours!) The church is transformed from the bare holy week decorations to white Easter lilies and gold everywhere. It is a feast for the senses, truly. I felt especially blessed this year to be celebrating for the first time with a husband and a baby. God is good; Christ is risen!

(Kristina do you recognize the dress you got for Lou? I about melted when I put it on her, she looked SO unbelievably cute)

First of all, it's Holy Thursday. I can't believe how quickly Lent went by this year. Part of it probably has to do with having a baby. I didn't feel like I grew very much spiritually this year. But I've learned that Christianity is more than about feelings. I had a good confession last weekend and if nothing else, that confession made Lent meaningful for me. So anyway, today, on Holy Thursday I hope to focus on Christ's self-sacrifice. I hope to emanate him as I continue to live for my family, and not only for myself.

Thank you for the encouragement, I needed that. I am so grateful to have some experienced mama's reading this blog because I know you've all been through many of the same things. I appreciate your wisdom and camaraderie. I also appreciate my friends who care about me so very much. I am feeling better, more upbeat now that the flu symptoms have passed. Still sore, but I think I'm on the mend.

We went to the doctor yesterday and I just thought I would share some of Louisa's stat's at two months:

Weight - 9lbs 13 1/2 oz. - 25th percentile

Height - 22 1/4" - 47th percentile

Head Circumference - 39.2 - 65th percentile

We love our pediatrician. Louisa is always so good with him, he has a way with babies; he's so calm reassuring to us too. Did I ever mention how he is the son of the pediatrician I had when I was a kid? Neat, huh. He said Louisa is in "great shape." I'm so thankful that she is healthy. She did receive vaccinations. We declined the HepB shot, but went ahead with the rest of them. Louisa did cry, but she did fine the rest of the day. Slightly sleepier than usual, but not too noticeably.

The picture is of her in her sling. I was going to say that this is her after her shots, but it would be inaccurate. She just looks as if she is saying "I've had enough!" But really she is fine.

I hope the rest of your Holy week is full of blessings. I won't be blogging until after the joy of Easter Sunday!

The Drama continues...

I am sad to report that my nursing woes have still not been resolved. Sunday night around 3am I suddenly began shivering uncontrollably and quickly developed flu-like symptoms. I kind of freaked out before we finally pin-pointed the problem - I had developed Mastitis. The reason I was scared was because these weren't the types of chills I've had before. I couldn't stop shaking, even when Mike heated up towels and wrapped me in them. The next morning I called my OB and then had to go in. Since then I've been feeling crummy times 10. My wonderful mother in law came over Monday to help me take care of Louisa. I don't know what I would have done without her help...I was not up for anything. The infection is in my right breast - I won't go into details, but it is quite high on pain scale. You guys, what is wrong with me? Will I ever get breastfeeding right or am I doomed to make every mistake in the book!? I'm still feeling very icky, I feel like I have the flu. I shouldn't be on the computer - I should be resting - but Louisa's little eyes won't stay shut. She is in her swing cooing at her toys. I hope she will eventually fall asleep so I can crawl into bed and shut the world out.

(Calla Lilies from my grandma to help cheer me up)

The Mother Moon

As the tranquil evening moon
Looks on that restless sea,
So a mother's gentle face,
Little child, is watching thee.
Then banish every tempest,
Chase all your clouds away,
That smoothly and brightly
Your quiet heart may play.
Let cheerful looks and actions
Like shining ripples flow,
Following the mother's voice,
Singing as they go.

by Louisa May Alcott

This girl is saying goodbye to Facebook.

Facebook is taking over the world. I'm convinced of that...and I don't want to be part of it anymore! I read this post by Michael Medved's wife, and it occurred to me that I agreed whole-heartedly with her. It has become too overwhelming. TMI. I seriously don't need to know everyone's fleeting day-to-day (no, minute to minute) thoughts. I appreciate connecting with friends, sharing photos, and many other good aspects that facebook brings. However, I feel that I've come to a point where I want to simplify my life a little, and this seems like the place to start. No more checking facebook several times a day and wasting my time. Time, I've realized since becoming a parent, is more precious than ever. No more pathetic little bursts of excitement when I get one of those little red flags. NO MORE! I am a bit sad, I will admit, because I'm sure there will be days when I'll want to shoot out a hello to an old friend from college, or something like that, but I know that there is always the telephone and email. So in one week, I'm going to cancel my account. Cancel 3 years of activity (I have 300 friends, 15 albums, over 200 messages...) I think I will breathe a big sigh of relief when it is done. I'm not trying to be a rebel, I'm just trying to follow my instincts.

There are some cute things around here...

Here are some of the pretty things (some baby-related, some not) that I enjoy looking at everyday here in our little apartment

We love the collection of Classic Pooh Bear things they have at Target. It reminds me of my childhood. I think the characters are so much sweeter than the modern ones. And Louisa LOVES her mobile that we just put up. She will seriously sit in her crib for 45 minutes perfectly content to stare up at Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet. Sometimes, if we're lucky, she'll even drift off to sleep with no help from us! (Or, if that doesn't work, we try this)

The tablecloth is also from Target. I think it's darling!
And, as you all know, this little babe is the cutest thing this side of the Mississippi. The blanket was made for her by a friend from church. Isn't it nice?