Breastfeeding Immodest? Whatev.

I was made aware of a blog via this post. A pictoral essay addressing the issue of breastfeeding as being immodest. Since determining something as modest or immodest rests largely within the culture of that thing, there seems to be wide latitude as to what one can consider modest. Did I mention modest enough in this post? Well this one addresses the issue much more succinctly.

"Follower" question

For blogs! Does Google have a widget to show on my blog the blogs I follow? Or do I just need to manually enter them into my blogroll on the side? I update infrequently enough as it is, I just thought a little code,script,cool google dohicky could do that for me.

Lost--again

So back in February, the final season of Lost premiered. Are you watching? Here's my question, who was the one that convinced Ben that he needed to kill all the members of the Dharma initiative?

Lent

The past few years I've been pregnant and/or nursing a small babe. This year Tub of Love is a little older, so I'm making a greater effort to fast and abstain. I'm definitely out of practice. Ash Wednesday was hard! Thursday saw a hearty, healthy breakfast to make up for the lack of calories the day before.

The fast was to good effect though, showing me how attached I am to my creature comforts. There is definitely room to become less attached to worldly things so that I may seek to follow the ways of the Lord. I'm sure to succeed at times and falter at others, but overall it will be a good spiritual workout.

So I say, Bring it Lent. Let's see what you got.

How exactly should we fast?

The Lord doesn't leave us hanging and answers the question for us quite succinctly.
Today's first reading:

Is 58:1-9a
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”
Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Routine? What's that?

I only realized how much Christmas blew our routine out of the water until now, as we're in the second week of trying to get back into a routine.

Christmas is Cancelled

Today was the day my side of the family was gathering to do our Christmas celebration. Many of my siblings travel to visit with in-laws (myself included) on Christmas. We had to stay home with the rest of the family celebrates without us. Nod, I'm glad Mrs. Nod is on the mend, I just wish you'd kept those Nod-germs at home. As a result of those Nod-germs going polska, we had to cancel Christmas.

Immaculate Conception Not Annunciation

So December 8 is not only Elizabeth's birthday, it is a Holy Day of Obligation. All day I knew we were going to mass, but I completely flubbed why. I thought it was the Annunciation. Nope, not. It was the Immaculate Conception.

I guess it's a very Catholic sort of mistake.

Announcement

Tim made awesome, great, totally rocking cupcakes. He's the man! He loves his little girl! He makes cupcakes, purple frosting and even purple cupcakes! Go Tim!

Purple Frosting, Purple Cupcakes

So, it wasn't hard to make purple frosting at all. I bought some frosting and some food coloring. And Tim made the cupcakes. He made purple frosting and purple cupcakes too!




Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed her party. Thanks to everyone who came.

Upside Down

I'd like you all to check out this video. Click on the link, then scroll partway down the page to play it. Very neat.

Child Birthday Party Planning

Elizabeth is days way from turning three. It's an exciting birthday because she's now old enough and aware enough to understand what a birthday involves. As she explained to her Daddy last night, "It's Advent. My birthday is coming. My birthday. I am excited."

Did I mention that she's speaking in complete sentences now and it's a pleasant surprise?

Anyway, we went to get party supplies for her family birthday party. I thought she would choose a theme like My Little Pony or Dora or something. Instead she liked the idea of so many possibilites but she didn't want to commit. In the end, we went with a party theme of


Purple.



That was the one steadfast decision she made. She wanted purple plates, napkins, and plastic table covering.

I'm wondering how hard it would be to make purple icing on some cupcakes?

Logic Proof

Doing Laundry=Being able to pack for our Thanksgiving trip=Being able to leave for our Thanksgiving trip=Being at Thanksgiving. Laundry=Thanksgiving

Broke a Blogging Drought

Ok, after spending my computer time doing some other things, I've finally found (or made) time to get back to my blog. Now to update you with some going-ons of the past few months.

Big kids have started gong to preschool a few mornings each week. They come home with all sorts of crafts and I send in all sorts of checks for fundraising efforts. Annie is learning about Native Americans, corn, a variety of animals, and crafting techniques. I'm sure Elizabeth is also learning things, but she usually only reports that she played with her teachers.

Baby is nearly 8 months old. To date she sits, crawls, pulls up, attempts to balance--which she does best when reaching for the phone or remote control--, has taken steps when holding on to something, signs "hello" and "so big", prefers to feed herself, yet gets most of her nourishment from nursing. She still cosleeps, at times likes or endures being worn, and enjoys getting to be around her sisters and daddy. She is a social baby, but is starting to get a good dose of separation anxiety. Might be an interesting challenge as the holidays and lots of family time approaches. She is a hefty 20lb +. Her first year is passing so, so quickly.

As for me, I parent, houseclean, avoid housecleaning, and am now trying to get tasks done in preparation for the holiday season.

Coming up--Elizabeth turns three.

Introducing A Local Babywearing Blog

I belong to the babywearing group that operates in the local area. We've recently launched a blog. Check it out!

Fifth Anniversary

Very happy celebration for our fifth anniversary, and here's to five more very happy years together!

Mary Sits!

Mary sits!


(Be on the lookout for a few post-dated blog posts. Not a lot of computer time lately, so it's taking a little while to get them written, edited, and posted. Stay tuned.)

Honest Scrap

Oh Wynken, thank you so much for thinking to include me in your Honest Scrap tagging challenge. I learned about you and now you'll get to learn about me.

Now, 10 Honest Things about me:

1. I want to live at the beach. If I could, I'd happily buy a second home or retirement home on the beach...most any beach, it doesn't matter.
2. I depend on coffee to feel like the day has started.
3. Back when I was employed, maintaining files was a big time-consuming part of the job. Now that I'm a mom at home, it's the first thing I put off doing.
4. I don't like putting off cleaning the bathrooms or sweeping my floor.
5. I've finished my Christmas shopping for the children on the list
6. I haven't started for the adults on my list
7. My keys went missing and turned up under the grill (located on the deck)
8. I love photos of my kids
9. The last book I read was MaryBeth Hicks's "Raising Geeks"
10. I've recently begun watching 'Cosby Show' reruns

Preschool Playdate

The girls and I are headed over to the playground at preschool. It's kind of a summer mixer, get-to-know-you, sort of event. Annie will see some of her friends from last year's class, and Elizabeth will be meeting some of her classmates for the first time.

Lots of firsts around here these days.

New tooth!

Mary, at 19 weeks of age, has sprouted her first tooth. I felt the sharp edge last night at bedtime, when she grabbed my hand and started chomping. The new tooth cutting seemed to trouble her & keep her from falling asleep.

In other developmental news, she rolls from back to tummy and from tummy to back. Her sisters delight her and provoke deep belly laughts. She will post, and use her legs to push herself forward. This often results in her face mashing into the carpet rather than any kind of scooting forward, but she's working on it. She is also working on strengthening her back muscles to sit unassisted, but she still needs some assistance as yet.

These first four and half months have flown by.