Making a bit of Christmas.

We aren't doing too much this year in the way of decorting or gifting, as we are pregnant and leaving for my parents' house on Christmas Day, but we did get an oh-so-sweet-smelling tree and feeling a burst of energy, I managed to make 7 kinds of Christmas cookies over the span of two days to give to a few friends. Hubby has had this week prior to Christmas off work and school, and I wasn't tutoring. It was lovely and peaceful to spend that time together cooking, cleaning, playing board games and doing a bit of baby-planning.

I think I was wondering how to balance myself while hanging the lights...

I really enjoyed getting back to baking and creating these delicious, holiday family-favorites.

We wish you all a very blessed and joyful Christmas season. May the Savior's birth fill your hearts with an abundance of peace and love.

3 years.

3 years...this past year has been one of much growth for us as we continue to learn, pray, communicate and forgive in this vocation of marriage, while also enjoying so much fun and laughter. We celebrated last night with dinner out, and then shared dessert and coffee under the moon and stars at the beach. We realized that this would be our last anniversary as merely a couple, as we approach the date when we will be a family. We talked about the changes that will take place to ourselves as individuals and as a couple, resolving to make time to nourish and listen to each other amidst the expected distractions of a little one. Although I am a million x a million times excited for, and ready for this baby, this anniversary was slightly bittersweet for me. We have had so many wonderful, uninhibited, carefree, wrapped-up-in-each other times these past 3 years with just the two of us, times that we will not have in quite the same way in the future. More than anything, I am so grateful for the time we did have alone; God in His wisdom knew it was needed to provide a strong, trusting, loving foundation for us both to lean on during the upcoming years. Now, bring on the baby(ies)!

Love you, hubby.

A time of waiting.

Although this has been a busy Advent season for me thus far, with my tutoring job, helping with our church's childrens' Christmas play, and getting my choir ready for Christmas Masses, I have been fortunate to remember to reflect on the correlation between Advent and pregnancy. Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the Lord to enter anew into our lives and hearts. It is a time of much anticipation and wonder at the saving gift from God the Father that descends to earth in the form of a tiny, helpless babe. It has been a blessing to also reflect this year on the Blessed Virgin as a pregnant woman; her possible joys, discomforts, uncertainties...but her never-failing trust in God and perfect obedience to His will for her life. What an example to all women and especially mothers-to-be! This for me, so far, has been one of the most challenging experiences in my life, with emotional ups and downs, doubting myself, physical changes, etc.; and to realize that Mary experienced some of the same things with such trust and grace has been an encouragement. Of course, being free from original sin, I'm sure she handled things MUCH better than I, but knowing that she underwent this same journey into motherhood, enables me that much more to turn to her for her prayers and guidance during this time. It has been a beautiful blessing to be pregnant during Advent, and I am thankful for the promptings to contemplate these things at this time, instead of focusing on my tiredness or discomfort. I have tried to remember to humbly say with Mary, "I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to Thy word." Knowing, as witnessed time and time again, that He has designed the perfect plan for us and for this little boy, provides me with a huge amount of peace despite the looming unknowns of parenthood. :)

25 weeks.

Finally starting to feel a little more like myself, except getting used to a certain protrusion. Andrew loves seeing my tummy grow...that's a good thing, as it only gets bigger from here on out! Time to start catching up on all I didn't do during my period of nausea...a bit of organization needs to occur around the home.