Daybook – New Year 2011 Edition

*and an update on baby Rutchik*

Outside My Window ...

It rained and all the snow melted, but it is oh so cold! On the plus side, our dead van has been towed into our garage. Does anyone know what to do with a dead van? We don’t want to put the money into fixing it, but it is a hard call as the week before it broke we put a lot of money into it. Grr.

***

I am listening to...

Nothing. The gals are sleeping. Joseph is working and I am “working” and enjoying some alone time on the computer.

***
To Live the Liturgy…

I am really feeling the lack of community I once found at Church. We have not officially joined a parish here. This is due in part to the fact that we are almost sure this is a temporary place for us. Once Joseph is done with school, we could move (again) anytime. Such is the economy! Before I get comments on the importance of joining a parish, I get it. I do. We are introverts and it takes a lot of work for us to build a community. I just don’t see the point when we don’t know where we will go to Church a year from now. But, I am hoping our next location will be permanent. We are leaning towards Catholic schools for our girls and I can’t wait for the community that will bring!

***

To be Fit and Happy….

Oh boy! I gained 5lbs the week of Christmas! I hadn’t gained any weight in the first half of this pregnancy, but I am making up for it now! I have never felt well enough to get the pregnancy hunger women talk about. I thought it was a myth. It is not, I assure you dear reader!

***

I am thankful for ...

A dear friend, and our two husbands who took the children last week so we could have a mama/work date at Panera. I am blessed with so many faithful women as friends. However, this friend is the only other writer/mama friend I have who truly feels her family is her first vocation AND feels called to a career in addition to her vocation. This has been a great blessing to me. She is a speaker and writer who recently revamped her blog, Women at the Inkwell. Go check out her New Year’s reflections. I promise you, if you’re a mama you will not be disappointed!

***
From the kitchen ...

I’m trying to get better about cutting our grocery bill. I’m too ashamed to even share what it has been these past few months. I know it is due to fast runs here and there, and laziness. So, for the first time ever I have planned our meals for the week!

Sunday: Salad and hot sandwiches for the Packer game
Monday: Breakfast for supper – pancakes, eggs and sausages
Tuesday: Roasted Turkey, potatoes, carrots
Wednesday: Turkey and wild rice soup, salad, rolls
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Turkey burgers, Mac and cheese, apples
Saturday: Pizza

***

I am creating ...

Writing goals for the new year. I am currently only working on one assignment, but there are a few calls out with deadlines in the next month. The above friend and I are also working on a non-fiction book for mama’s.

***
I am reading….

I have continued my tradition of reading a classic over the Christmas break. I love classics and find myself more and more disappointed with my education in literature as I unlock these treasures I missed as a child! This year’s book is no disappointment! I am currently savoring the last chapter of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Where have I been? This book is amazing, and really messed up. Perfect for me!

***
Towards a real education ...

Continuing with our “book nerd” theme of life over here!

I made a special request for Christmas that the gift of toys be limited. The gals ended up loving the toys they got and, my dad did a wonderful job shopping for the gals off the list of children’s classics I gave him. Needless to say, we have been reading so many good books for little minds.
For myself, I have been putting a favorite childhood series on my Christmas list each year. Last year I received Anne of Green Gables and this year’s treasure was the complete Little House on the Prairie books.

Although I don’t feel the call to homeschooling, I strongly believe in education in the home and can’t wait to share these books (and some geeky activities to go with them) with my girls.

***

Bringing beauty to my home ...

Structure, calm voices and enough alone time for all so we can accomplish these things.

***

I am hoping and praying….

That as Joseph finishes up his thesis everything falls into place. Timing is big here as a baby is coming and this mama is done living in this state. I’m ready for stability. Finishing Joseph’s master’s degree was the right decision for our family, but I am praying the new year allows us to reap the benefits sooner in the year than later.

***

Around the house ...

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Our tree died while we were away, so Christmas is all put away around here. It feels good.

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One of my favorite things ...

The kicks I’m feeling from the baby. This one is a shy baby, but there is really nothing like feeling them kick.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Lots of work around the home and my job this week.

***

New Year’s Resolution/Word of the Year

I tend to keep my resolutions private. However, I am proud to say I met all of my writing goals for 2010! I am still working on praying about what they will be for 2011. The problem I am coming across is that for them to really grow beyond where I currently am, I am going to need time away every week to work. Joseph and I are talking about the possibility of getting a college girl once a week to come stay with the girls so I can go out and work. We’ll see what prayer and discernment bring. I also need to remember we will (God willing) be adding an infant to our home this year.

***

Baby Rutchik

Well, if by chance you are not on FB (find me if you are), we are expecting baby girl number 3 over here! I just knew it! We could not have avoided finding out if we wanted to. The first image that came up when she began the ultrasound was the “money shot.”

“And that is a baby girl!” I said before she even looked.

“Sure is!” the tech said.

We are really excited to stay “Joseph, Holly and the girls.” We were having a hard time with a name but think we have settled on something. The only issue is the name we picked is a name of many nicknames. Joseph is settled on using the later part of the name and I like a different form. I won’t share as I am sure we will change our minds. But, it has been over a week and I’ve started calling her by name when speaking with my husband. So, if her name is to be something else, it better strike us soon.

***

Picture Thoughts

I turned 30 over Christmas. Yes, 30. I thought it would be really hard but so far I am doing well. This is what it looks like to be 30 and pregnant with my 3rd daughter - in a bowling alley.

Two of the best blessings in the world on Christmas morning.



Daybook 1/25/10

Outside My Window ...
It’s winter – again/still/always. I’m convinced I suffer from seasonal depression. I’m in serious need of sunlight.

***

I am listening to...
The ticking of the clock. The gals are asleep, and I should be working.

***

To Live the Liturgy…
It looks like we may be joining a parish we would have NEVER seen ourselves joining. We’ve been praying about where our family should be, and think we have an unexpected answer.

To be Fit and Happy….
I’ve got my routine at the YMCA down pretty well! 2 miles on the treadmill and then a half mile in the pool. I’m actually really enjoying it, in part because the additional work out time leads to more music listening time – and I love music. My only fear is that the whole process takes about 2 hours. From the time I start packing the gym bag to the time I return home, it’s about 2 hours. The actual workouts themselves don’t take nearly as long, but when you add in the shower and the travel time – I can’t get it below 2 hours and I really, really don’t have 2 hours. Ideas?
***

I am thankful for ...
Some down time. I don’t actually have anymore time in a day, but I have let to house work go go go go go go! It does really bother me that one could muster together a good size snack from what can be found on the kitchen floor and the gals have taken to finding every shoe in the house and hiding them – but I just can’t keep up. So, I’ve decided to just let it go and trade that time for fun playtime with the girls – something that has been lacking and I have been feeling a lot of guilt over. It’s been so nice to spend some time with them.

***

From the kitchen ...
We’re waiting on payday over here. So, it has been my job to keep creative in the kitchen as to not spend money on anything other than bread and milk. It’s been kind of fun, but I am starting to dream about a trip to the grocery store and all the wonderful things I would rather be making. Because we have been eating healthier, our grocery bill has gone up – a downfall to this whole fitness thing, and one I don’t know how I’ll maintain without redoing the whole budget.
***

I am wearing ...
A pro-life T-shirt and cotton capri pants. I should get dressed, really I should. But, I just can’t bring myself to do it when I don’t feel well, and I don’t feel too well.
***

I am creating ...
Essays, essays, essays. Yup, that’s right, I’m back on a writing kick. I’ve been up until 3 or 4 every night this week – and that’s how I like it.
***

On my iPod
The only music I have. I lost my I-Tunes account in the death of my old computer. I don’t even know my user name or password for I-Tunes, so I fear everything except for what is on my Shuffle is lost. If anyone knows how to help, please fill be in!

***

Towards a real education ...
Tessa is working on her colors and Anna Clare is working on using words instead of having an emotional breakdown. Neither one is really going all that well.

As for myself, I’ve been reading a lot of writing craft books.

***

Bringing beauty to my home ...
We’re still laughing over here. I am so longing for a home of my own. I hate white walls so much and just want to create a space for my family with no restrictions. With rounds of genetic testing and more medical bills piling in, I don’t see the day of homeownership coming anytime – ever. So, I need to learn some new ways to make myself, and my family feel at home. We’ve been here 4 months and Tessa keeps asking to go home. When we’re away and say it’s time to go home, she gets really excited, until we pull in here. Then she starts screaming and crying and saying she wants to go home. I don’t know what to tell her. I wonder how long this will last.

***

I am reading ...
A few books of essays and The Hour I First Believed.

I am hoping and praying….
For the genetic tests we’ve got sent off. We should hear at any time now and if we don’t hear anything today, Joseph will call in the morning. It could go so many ways, and cost sooo very much. I’m praying for simple answers on both fronts.
***

Around the house ...
A writing space for me has been created! I’m so happy. Space is limited, so a nock of my own feels like heaven!

***

One of my favorite things ...
Giggles. We have lots of giggles around here these days. Tessa and Anna are really learning to play well together. Even when they fight, Joseph and I have to hide our laughter because it is too, too cute.
***

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Work. Joseph and I both have so much work to do this week. We are tag teaming everything from who is in charge of the girls to who gets to be sleeping. I’m really stressed and so is he. But, I’m hoping to get away and take the gals to the pool at the YMCA one afternoon this week. They have a slide!
***

Picture Thoughts

I recently had the misfortune of learning one M&M has 5 calories and so, I’ve been spreading the bad news. It’s all I can do to keep myself from eating them because once you know something is super bad for you = you crave it like CRAZY. And, by using the word “you” I clearly mean “me”! This picture was taken over Christmas, when Joseph and I visited M&M world in Las Vegas – before I knew what I know now. Happy snacking!

My Heart’s At Home Daybook – April 20th, 2009

Outside My Window ...

There are birds! Oh thank goodness the birds are back and they have been snowed on three times. Here in Wisconsin that means spring. Unfortunately, our little patio slab is not ready to greet the spring. I have yet to get the potted plants out from storage and the people who live above me have throw some old cigarette butts onto my patio. Maybe a welcome back spring patio spruce up this weekend?

I am listening to...

My little buddle of winter joy who still screams the better portion of the day. I was hoping she was turning a corner with the liturgical year over Easter, but a little flu bug is making her even more agitated than normal.

To Live the Liturgy…

Anna and her colic self is still weighing on us as a family, but we continue to not let ourselves get spiritually lazy due to our tiredness. I am learning to offer up our difficult days and remind myself of all those beautiful women out there longing for a baby. We also have reached that point where we need to start going to an earlier Mass. Our usual time is too late and running into lunch and nap times. We think Tessa may learn better if she is not hungry and tired.

To be Fit and Happy….

I require alone time to be happy. There, I’ve said it. Whew. It has taken me since the moment I became a mommy to say it out loud. It makes me feel like a “bad” mama because I can’t have someone on me 24/7 I just don’t enjoy that. But, I have come to understand, through prayer, that in order to be a good mama, I have to be a good, happy and healthy Holly first.

The "Easter Bunny," my dad and grandma, got us this very girly double stroller for Easter this year!


I am thankful for ...
So many things this week! I continue to be amazed at how much I love my family, and how much they love each other. Tessa has taken to trying to make Anna stop crying and it just melts my heart! She tries burping her, hugging her and mommy’s personal favorite, trying to change her diaper. Walking in on a 17 month old trying to change a 4 months olds diaper is very funny, and messy.

I am also thankful for our livelihood this week. My husband has a wonderful job working for The Apostleship of Prayer (http://www.apostleshipofprayer.org/) and I have been blessed with a work at home job I am enjoying.

From the kitchen ...
I have been learning to play the sales and coupons game and have done well with cutting our grocery budget by $200 dollars this last month! I can’t believe it and it feels so great. It has kind of become a game for me. Last night I found some meat on sale so this week we will be having hamburgers, tacos and a special treat for my husband, a roast.

I am wearing ...
Blue short (that may or may not be maternity ...opsie) and a tie-dyed T-shirt. I am not wearing any socks and my feet are dirty. Ahh, spring is here!

I am creating ...
Memories with my family. I have decided I need to cut back on some projects and decide what I really want to do and give up the rest. This is an attempt to actually finish an art project. I can’t bring myself to give up scrapbook completely, so I am thinking of making a book for each one of my children. I have been writing a lot more this week and this makes me feel so good.

On my iPod
I’ve been listening to more musicals lately and it makes me long for the days that is all I would listen to. The past few years have brought about many wonderful changes and blessings for me, but listening to musicals makes me feel like I’m meeting myself again!

Towards a real education ...
For Tessa’s learning time we have been working on learning about Mary, (GG’s Maammmwhaa as she would say) shapes and counting to 3. I am thinking about moving into colors but would like for her to recognize and be able to say the names of her aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa. So, we will see where the week take us.

Bringing beauty to my home ...
Elizabeth at In The Heart of My Home, http://ebeth.typepad.com/reallearning/ has been posting the below in her Daybook. I couldn’t have said it better, thank you Elizabeth. If you haven’t checked out her blog, please do so! It has brought such encouragement to me as I start on my “mommy” journey.

“Ever notice how beautiful a house becomes when Mama smiles? I have and I'm endeavoring to make my house so beautiful much, much more often.”

I am reading ...
oh goodness! I am picked up so many things this week, but never actually started one. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is next on my life of “fun” reads.

I am hoping and praying….
For good news at the Marfan’s appointment Anna has a week from today, and for good news at Joseph’s Marfan’s appointment later this summer.

Around the house ...
I am hoping to get a handle on the master bedroom, it seems to lose its “living space” availability too easily. I would also like to get new pictures in frames and redo the wall I spend my days looking at. I have never been happy with it and it is really starting to bother me. I love decorating, so this should be a fun project. ***One of my favorite things ...Tessa’s hair. As it grows out and her beautiful natural curls come in, the back is taking off while the front and sides lag behind a bit. Therefore, she is ROCKING A MULLET!


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
My husband and I both have a lot of “work” to get done this week, so things will be busy. Daddy has a conference on Saturday so trying to keep up with the cleaning and cooking is key in order for Sunday to truly be a day of prayer and relaxation and not catch up.

I fear Tessa may need to be taken into the doctor as well. Ohhh, how easy it will be when my children will be able to tell me when something hurts….

Picture Thoughts
My picture thoughts will have to wait. I can't figure out how to add a picture anywhere but at the top of the page and after being very creative to get the one picture in on this post, I am deciding that taking the screaming baby out of my hubby's hand is a better use of my time right now:) She'll be five months next week! Can't last forever.....right? Really, I'm asking!