My mother-in-law came down for an unplanned visit on Friday night: what a treat!
Bella had the best time playing with her grandmother on Saturday morning. She was very affectionate and interactive and enjoying the company. Well, except when grandma tried to take Bella out to play and Bella decided she really wanted to go for a ride in the car. That excursion ended quickly in a meltdown. Excusable, though, because Bella was ready for her nap.
And the visit had an unexpected perk for me too. This week I’d pulled out the sewing machine and brought up my bins of quilting materials from the basement (probably should have waited and let Dom carry those up for me!). So when she asked if I’d been doing an sewing, I told her I’d not done anything since before Bella was born but I was planning to start a quilt for Sophia. Then yesterday afternoon, when she’d gone on to visit other family, I was inspired to get to work. I cut and pieced the quilt top before dinner and so all I have left to do is quilt it.
I’m really happy with the way the top came out. Four of the fabrics in it are also in Bella’s quilt, so there will be a nice common theme. But the pattern is very different, simpler for one thing.
It’s funny but as hard as I try I simply cannot bring myself to make asymmetrical or random quilts. I thought I was going to do so with this one; but as I placed the pieces and moved them around, I found that I’d made a pattern after all. I guess that’s really just my style: I like looking at other people’s crazy quilts but when I make my own, I like order and formality.
Long-time lurker here.
I’m expecting my first in February, and Advent already is meaning more to me than it has in the past. I love Advent, don’t get me wrong, but it is SO easy to get caught up in all the wrong details. With a little one growing inside me, and moving so often that you just can’t ignore it, you really become aware of what it means to wait in joyful anticipation. I love it.
“I think of a nice neat organized spiritual life (or any nice neat life, lol) as a good that I give up for my vocation – sort of like celibacy in the religious life. It would be good for me to be able to have that prayer life and ability to focus at Mass but, like celibacy to a sister or priest, my vocation calls me to give it up for a higher good for my vocation – children.”
That’s a very good way of putting it, a nice comparison. We give up one good for another.
I also used to go to daily mass… Dom and I used to go together almost every morning in the year before our marriage. Then all too quickly it ended with our honeymoon baby.
It also helps me to remember that this is merely a season. All too quickly it will pass. There will come a day when there are no more babies and no more toddlers… and as impossible as it is to imagine now, I am sure it will come all too soon. I just think of how much time my parents have now that all their children are adults.
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what to do for Isabella with Advent. I think I’ll make that a separate post, though.
Lydia, welcome and thanks for commenting. Congratulations on your joyful expectation. I’ll add you to my list of pregnant moms I’m praying for.
Melanie,
One of the primary draws to the religious life that had me considering it on and off for 7 years before getting married was the prayer life. I used to go to daily mass as well AND be able to pay attention to everything. Between Cecilia and now Felicity, of course such a prayer life and focusing on everything at Mass are some of those things I miss from life before children but I think of a nice neat organized spiritual life (or any nice neat life, lol) as a good that I give up for my vocation – sort of like celibacy in the religious life. It would be good for me to be able to have that prayer life and ability to focus at Mass but, like celibacy to a sister or priest, my vocation calls me to give it up for a higher good for my vocation – children.
I have to admit I’m not sure, beyond an Advent calendar ( ALL the doors of which she still wants to open every day) and Advent wreath (Cecilia and fire don’t mix well) and explanations, how to make Advent more attainable for Cecilia, but I think our Church using more Latin may help as well. Let us know if you have any ideas. Or how to have a Christmas tree that stays standing with a toddler.
One thing I do though, unable to attend daily mass, is watch EWTN’s mass. … It is better than nothing.