Thursday, April 24, 2014

Mary on her sixth and other things

This week has been weird. With the vid and Hallie and Grace's introductions, I feel like I have a bunch of new friends. HI! Who are you? Do you blog? How can I get to know you? I'm so glad you found me. At first (I admit) I kinda stressed about what I would blog about next, but then a dear friend said to me "I couldn't imagine ever saying anything worthy of the attention of >32 people!" And I thought "you're completely right!" So I guess I'll just continue about saying normal, unworthy things. You're welcome.

But truly, I'm so happy your here. Happy.

Real quick about the vid and my future follow up post. I only have one question so far. Are you sure? If you don't ask me questions all I'll do is ramble and that could potentially be so lame. It's up to you guys.

Back to normal/boring stuff:

Today Mary is 6. If you haven't met her, you could just imagine a Ramona Quimbyish girl, riding a rainbow, eating nothing but cake sprinkles, singing the Sound of Music, Irish dancing everywhere and being the sweetest to small children and insects. She genuflects in the most sincere and flairish way and she has been known to dramatically brush the robes of our priest or deacon with her hands and she flits by during communion. She dictates intensely complicated and wordy letters to family and friends (ex: dear Johnny, oh my brother, my brother dear. How I love you on your fourth birthday. Oh brother, you make my heart sing and you're as nice as the springtime. ETC) She makes me paper jewelry on a regular basis and requested "spaghetti and-a meatballs" (Italian accent included) for her birthday dinner. I don't even know if she likes spaghetti and meatballs but I know she likes saying things like "spaghetti and-a meatballs." And those are some of the million reasons why I love her.

I also love her because she taught me the biggest lesson in "family planning" of my life. It took us almost a year to get pregnant with Hero. That was fine but always in the back of my mind was my mothers history of miscarriages and my two rounds of radiation I had after my thyroid cancer diagnosis. I didn't know if either of those things held any weight in the fertility department but I always wondered. Maybe many children would not be my story, and the very least, getting pregnant quickly would not be my story. And then six months after Hero was born I found out I was pregnant. I remember crying. And feeling so terrible for crying. I knew I would love her, but all I saw was my wiggly six month old on the floor and I thought "how am I supposed to do this again already?"

But you know how the story goes, the baby comes and you just do it. And it's so filled with happiness that you'd never trade it. I remember thinking specifically when she was born "I would not have wanted to wait another second for you."

And I knew then that I'd be singing the same song with any other baby that came our away.

I would not have wanted to wait another second for you.

I imagine a lot of mothers out there are scared. Especially for a second bb. That one cracks wide open the idea that you couldn't possibly love another one as much. I promise times a million it will be the best thing even if right now it's the scariest thing.

It's so sweet to me that she was such an unexpected joy. If we hadn't named her Mary Josephine she could easily go by that - unexpected joy. Wild surprise, crazy love, amazing grace. Love you, baby girl.

(Speaking of baby girls...Phoebe!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

39 comments:

  1. I'm the creepy new follower who is commenting a second time today, I will tone it down soon, I promise. Both of my older girls sound exactly like Mary, I could imagine them loving her and following her around everywhere (because she's OLDER!! Always the biggest deal). Anyways, happy birthday to your sweet girl!

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    1. Don't tone it down! I feel so un-lonely when you comment. Girls like this are such gems, lucky you!

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  2. I'm so glad to have found your blog through the YouTube video! Amazing answers to all the questions btw, my husband and myself were both really impressed!:)

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  3. I came for the Soulpancake video and stayed for the unabashed talk of encapsulating placentas and enjoying smoking a clove now and again. Beautiful.

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  4. You're Mary sounds like such a love. I think she would get along so well with my Hannah (their letter dictation sound very similar). I love dramatic, Ramona Quimbyish little girls. So fun. Happy Birthday to her!

    I'm a new reader and am loving your blog. You're seriously making me want to live in Fillmore. (We're planning to move back to CA soon).

    Loved the video, btw. God bless!

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  5. I trust Grace's recommendations... and I love funny. That's why I'm here! What I'm very curious about is who you are... there doesn't seem to be an overview. You've only been Catholic 8 years, did I read that right? What does that mean? What's the story? Something about cancer? Or is that super creepy to ask? Or is it located somewhere that I can find in your blog history?

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    1. Not creepy!! I don't know if I've ever talked about it in depth. I had thyroid cancer at 17! That's about it:/ I think if my memories from the cancer banks were from an age other than 17, I might have more to say. I'll update more on the conversion soon!! :)

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  6. I will follow anyone Grace says to follow. Love this post. Having my first child, a 4 month old baby girl, I love how much you can feel the love in your posts! I get it!

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  7. Started reading awhile ago, so I figured I would introduce myself! Love the blog -- I love getting my fix of children and babies from the blogs, as I don't get to see many in real life these days.

    And thanks to your tip on the St Josemaria app, I've gotten my prayer life a little more scheduled, which makes reading worthwhile!

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  8. Happy birthday, Mary!!! I remember when we met you guys Mary was just a wee babe perched at the Tierney's counter and I thought she was just the cutest. When Jacob and I were driving home I told him I was in love with her!

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  9. Found your blog last night and spent many a hour with archives while baby fussed and only slept being held! Your family is lovely and makes wish for more babies! Love your blog, it's my new fav!

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  10. So sweet! We just had our first and I must say I'm a little nervous about being pregnant before shedding the extra poundage I gained with our little boy Pio, but God's timing is always the best and we're excited for a large family in our future, God willing! I'm so happy to have started following your blog recently!

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  11. I clicked over from Grace's, and I'm loving your blog! Great job on the interview!

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  12. Questions:

    -You say in the video that your dad converted to Catholicism, what about your mom? Did your dad's conversion play a role in yours?

    -What about Kirby-what was his religious background? How did his family react to his conversion?

    -How did you meet?

    -Do you have birth stories on your blog?

    Thanks!

    P.S. I LOVED the interview that you did because you made Catholicism seem so filled with love, joy and life. It is all of those things and more, of course, but so few people seem to realize that. I was so happy to see the Church being portrayed as it really is and to get to know you a little bit.

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  13. Thank you for the truthful joyful portrayal of Catholic motherhood.

    How can I best help my evangelical friends interested in CatholIcism but not yet ready to join?

    How do you deal with momma exhaustion?

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  14. I remember crying when I found out I was was pregnant again. I couldn't imagine how my love could be divided between two (which eventually turned into 7). But I remembered an old Family Circus cartoon where the mother says her love is not divided but multiplied.

    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/128493395592316344/

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  15. I came over from Grace's and I am tempted to go through your whole life (blog) just as she suggested ;) I love to peek into the lives of young Catholic families, and though I just had #2, it is great fellowship (in a way)to see how others live in such life giving ways! It's unfortunately so counter-cultural, that I'm so glad to see great examples online.

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  16. I hope you're right! Our third is due in a month and right now I feel terrified. Absolutely terrified.

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  17. Saw your great video and read your blog while up with our baby or while fighting off the pregnancy sickness as we are expecting our fourth. So great! Thanks!

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  18. Another new follower here! Saw the video on Kendra's Facebook. I'm also a homeschooling mom of 5 and we live in south Texas. Your video and blog are so very real, so I say just keep doing what you're doing! Fellow moms like to read about other moms' real lives...vomit and all! And now, there is puked-on stuff to wash! Happy Easter week!

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  19. I'm loving your blog and am also creeping through your archives! My hub and I always dreamed of a large family. We have infertility and God has answered our prayers with 3 little cuties (under age 4) through the blessing of adoption. It's been the happiest and most joyful whirlwind ever and we can't thank our children's birth moms enough for their courage and selfless love! I love Catholic mom blogs and would love to read your conversion story when you have free time (haha…) Happy Birthday to your precious daughter! She sounds like a lot of fun! :)

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  20. I'd love to know more about how you home school...like truly, how on earth can you keep a home running for 7 peeps (including newborn and baby) and find time to school??! Awe-struck here!

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  21. This is particularly moving for me. Our first was unplanned but it was our second baby who, while trying to figure out NFP was conceived and I was angry! But when he was born... "I would not have wanted to wait another second for you." describes exactly how I felt. Those words will stay with me forever. Boy, oh, boy do I lurve me a good Catholic blog. Happy birthday to your little girl!

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  22. New follower from Grace. Your questions:
    I'm Lauren. Young mama to one little soul, not a Catholic- renegade Lutheran! :D I loved the video so much and have been reading some of your past posts- making me laugh very loudly. I blog (very occasionally) at Faith & Macaroni. I stay up too late, enjoy a good cookie, and am a military wife. Can't wait to read more (just keep doing what you're doing).

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  23. came over here from camp patton, though I only discovered Grace's blog recently. And then I stalked this site for a couple of days waiting for you to post. Ha. Love the room renovation, haven't made it too far back in the archives, love your attitude towards mothering, your writing, all of it! While you are taking requests, I'd also love to hear your conversion story (I'm a non practicing non denominational non blogger, but have found myself searching a little lately...), how you feed your family (we have three and I struggle), and a house your. I seriously love your style from what I've seen of the kids' rooms. Also school! talk about school! We are starting to officially homeschool #1 this fall and I always love to hear about how people manage schooling with other young kids in the mix. My name is Anne, but I can't do name/url because I'm a nonblogger at the moment (not that I haven't started at least 1,000)...ramble/gush over!

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  24. I found you via Grace, but also love Kendra's blog! Your room reno. sealed the deal for me! I do the same thing when my hubby rarely goes out of town. Told hubby last night we need to ditch our MidWestern winters and move to Fillmore because you made it sound so perfect.

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  25. I have an 18 month old and I just know she's going to be a little Ramona Quimby. Mary is beautiful! What an adorable little letter writer (say that three times fast).

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  26. Hi new electronic mommy friend! Sent over by the other Catholic mommy bloggers who love you. Keep up your real self :)

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  27. Oh! I get this. I think it's kinda a big tangle sometimes - emotions and babies. But I've felt the same way you have with my babies. Especially when they come close together, overwhelming but incredible. And cute video too!

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  28. Mary sounds like a delight! Thank you for telling us about her! Seems to me you could just keep telling us about your kids and it would still be fun. But also, because I'm a convert too, it would be fun to hear about how Catholicism is and isn't what you expected, what's different from Protestantism in odd ways, and stuff like that. Those of us who are converts are lucky that we can see things with fresh eyes, seems to me.

    I'm here from the Have a Little Faith video, too. It was very cool!

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  29. Oh, and I blog at phantomdiver.blogspot.com, but I don't post very often. :-/

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  30. I just discovered your site from Kendra's lovely post about you. I know just what you mean-- my second came along earlier than expected. At first I was pretty freaked out. Now I can see the beauty of God's timing, and I thank Him daily for blessing us with our sweet boy.

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  31. Hi, Blythe. I'm a newish reader, too! My name is Cami (not really a blogger, mom of 4, converting to the Catholic faith). I came via Grace's link and I love your blog. Happy birthday to your Mary Josephine. She is precious!

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  32. I am a new follower (you seem to have a lot!). This post made me tear up. I love "I would not have wanted to wait another second for you." It is so true. I can say that even with planned pregnancies it always feels like "Can I do this?" The answer is always "Yes". I love the way you write.

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  33. This is just beautiful. Happy birthday to your sweet daughter. She sounds like so much fun! "I would not have wanted to wait another second for you." Love that sentence. It's so true.

    P.S. I loved your video too.

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  34. rock it. visiting from Grace/Hallie and I write for realhousekeeping.com keep on keeping on, blythe! Lived in Cali for a bit when I went to Westmont for two years then transferred after a love-hate relationship with being so far from the south, where i'm from originally. love your blog and all of it- keep it coming.:D Since you asked I'm introducing myself!

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