1. I never know how quick these quick takes will be because it's usually during naptime. Oh yes, my friends, both kids are currently sleeping right now. Their naptimes have been overlapping this week and it's nice to get an hour (sometimes two!) to myself...although today I let my little love nap on me awhile after nursing. You can't get those moments back, you know?
2. I'm not sure if I'll write more on this or not, but I'm emerging with a deep, beautiful breath of fresh air after being treated for postpartum depression. (I went the natural progesterone route thanks to the amazing Naprotechnology.) It's been a hard and humbling postpartum, yet the reality is there have been good and beautiful days, too, even during the hard. Not every day was dark or depressing, but I am so grateful for my loving and compassionate doctors helping me get to a better place. My OB even prayed over me during an appointment and reminded me that the devil often tells us negative lies about our motherhood to discourage us. Best. Doctor. Ever. She's a saint.
3. I thought I loved our son and was bonding even in the midst of the struggles, but man, lately the mama love has been kicking into overdrive and I'm just so in love with this little guy. I think there's an even stronger bond having gone through our struggles together-- him with his reflux and me with the PPD. He's cooing and smiling these days and I just melt. Our sweet big sister is loving him too. She often shares stuffed animals and toys with him and likes to lay on the ground beside him. ;)
4. We currently have a young man living with us who is going through a rough time without a job or a home. I was at first opposed to the idea when my husband presented it and even said no (um, hello, we have a toddler and a newborn and I can barely keep it together!), but during prayer time a few days later I strongly felt called to tell him I changed my mind. It's been amazing to feel the grace and affirmation from God...we are definitely confident we are supposed to be doing this and we pray (and ask your prayers!!) that we can help him find a job, a home, and a deeper relationship with the Lord.
5. Does anyone feel in denial that we're a week into June already??? Slow down, summer!! I've been starting to make a bucket list for the summer. What are you desires or plans for these months?
6. My sister-in-law had a reflux baby a few years ago and has been a great rock for me with understanding the difficulties of the diagnosis and treatment. She and her husband sent us a Roku and subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. If you know me and P, we have been living under a rock with just a handful of antenna channels so this is a pretty drastic change for us!! Thankfully we're too busy with the kiddos to fully binge-watch, but we've definitely enjoyed The Crown and Fuller House so far. Okay, just me for enjoying Fuller House, ha!! Hit me with you favorite Netflix shows or movies!!
7. How about summer reading recommendations? I'm currently into three stellar books right now: Only Love Today, by Rachel Macy Stafford (my new mantra, seriously-- we all need to live life this way); What's It Like to Be Married to Me?, by Linda Dillow (great marriage book so far-- even just the title makes you think!); and My Daughter's Legacy, by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould (fiction by my fave author Mindy).
7.5...because I forgot to mention GARAGE SALES! You guys, I'm getting so many great deals!! Adorable Melissa and Doug toys, a video baby monitor, cute linen lined storage baskets...one of my favorite (geeky?) summer pasttimes...
And some photo dumping just because.
Linking up with Kelly! Happy weekend, friends!
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've commented before but just wanted to mention that your posts are a joy and encouragement to read. I have read your reflections on here off and on since you and your husband were engaged — I believe I found you through The Catholic Young Woman blog a few years back. :) Anyway, thanks for sharing the real and beautiful pieces of your life through each season. God bless you & your family!
A fellow sister in Christ,
Elisabeth
I'm so thankful that God has been helping you through the PPD and that you have an awesome doctor!!! That is really, really awesome :) I will pray for you as you continue to navigate the newborn days, and as y'all help that young man.
ReplyDeleteI am also in utter disbelief that June is already here; I think part of my disbelief is due to us barely having springtime (we even had some days of frost and freezing in April, and temperatures for the past few weeks have been jumping around the 90s). My son's birthday totally snuck up on us, but it was low-key and fun. In the coming months, I'm planning to visit family and friends in Kansas before baby gets here, get in a better routine with writing, maybe take a family pilgrimage to a local shrine and/or a daytrip somewhere, and invest more time and energy into being present to other ladies at my parish (we have a mom's group that has been meeting sporadically for a while, so I'm really trying to be intentional about seeing them more frequently because these ladies are awesome).