Creepy Crawling

We have forward motion!  Benjamin is creeping all over the living room now.  I can't leave him alone on the floor for more than a few minutes at a time because I"m always unsure of how far he'll get.  We switched out the coffee table for the plush ottoman but there's still plenty of hard things for him to head butt.  He often concentrates harder on getting moving than how close he is to something :)

Ben and I got to spend a week with my parents and it was wonderful.  It's great to have so much help around all the time!  I walk in the door and hand him over.  It was also great to see so many friends and extended family as well.  I have a couple fabulous friends who are a step ahead of me in the mommy game and it was such a strengthening grace I was able to receive to simply be around them and witness their lives.  It still cracks me up to think back to our high school days and contrast that to our lives now.  It takes such humility and confidence to be a mother and I'm in awe of women who do it well, I hope I'm on that path.

Week Update

Quick notes from the past week:

- Thank you to anyone who sent sympathy cards to me or my family, it means alot to know that people care so much!

Picture courtesy of Joe's mom



- Ben dropped a night feeding this past week (well, for a few nights at least).  I can't tell you how different I feel when I've only gotten up once in the night!

- We enjoyed some of Joe's homemade beer last night with his family, it turned out pretty well!  The brand is Ben's Best :)  This first attempt was an American Pale Ale.

-Ben got his 2 month shots last week- I didn't like it very much.  There's something about sitting there watching someone put a large needle with chemicals into your child.  It seems so unnecessary at that moment.  I know it's important so I do it, but it stinks.

- I did pilates 4 out of the 5 mornings this week and walked 3 days - credit to my cousin Theresa for inspiring me to get my Pilates DVD out... I heart Denise Austin!

- Got to spend some good time with some girlfriends.  I can't believe how lucky I am to have such great women around me who are also striving to be good wives and mothers.  More on this topic later...

I'm finishing up my chocolate mini wheats and going to bed now.  I have to fast from now on for some scans I have to have done in the morning... probably a good thing after eating my way through the weekend :) 

Recapping... Easter blessings

It's official - I'm as bad at updating this as I am updating my journal... where did that journal go anyway?  Actually, my goal was to get in a habit of blogging on Sundays after we take my pic but the last 3 Sundays have been a bit unusual and wonderful.  So back we go to Easter first and then we'll recap the other 2 last weeks in the next two posts.

Easter was, is, and always will be great.  I love being able to say "Alleluia" again.  It's silly, but going all of Lent without it makes me miss it and get excited to sing, "Jesus Christ is Risen Today."  Joe and I hit up the Holy Thursday Mass and Good Friday Service as usual too.  I have to say, those two experiences each year truly help make Easter Sunday a joyous celebration and not just another Sunday trip to Church.  Realizing what all goes into the Passion is what makes being Catholic so amazing.  There's value in suffering and a real connection to the cross of Christ which enables us to say our alleluia's with such great vigor when God's merciful love is showered on us.  I was especially struck this year as to how much I have to be thankful for this Easter, how amazingly blessed I have been.  I feel as if I've been given a life I don't deserve between great new friends, a fabulous family (both blood relatives and in-laws), a meaningful job, nice house, parents, brothers and sisters I wouldn't trade for anything, a husband who I adore and especially now the little wrapped present of a person in my womb who I just can't wait to meet face to face.

Take a second and think of how God has blessed you in your life... see what I mean!