Surprise Visit

These past 17 days of Pearl-ness have been wonderful, sleep-deprived, hysterical, exciting, overwhelming, humbling, and so much fun!

We definitely struggled in the beginning with nursing and still have a few hurdles but for the most part we're doing well. Pearl is putting on weight and loves to nurse. She is definitely a milk monster. We're just working on her latch technique.



I haven't much time for anything since I'm sleeping when she sleeps and when she's up I'm nursing or trying to feed myself. I lost 20 pounds in the first 2 weeks! I was quite surprised to see that much come off so soon. The swelling in my feet is all gone but I still can't wear my wedding rings yet. Hopefully that will continue to improve. I miss wearing them.

On Sunday we were blessed to have a surprise visitor. My best friend, Sr. Giovanna Mariae, made her first vows on the 15th of August with the Sisters of Life. She is on her home visit and was able to come see us for two days. It was so amazing to spend that time with her and have her meet Pearl. We had planned to attend her vows but with Pearl due on the 10th had told her in Dec. that we would be unable to attend. So it was such a joy to have her visit for two days and tell us about her profession. I eagerly await photos taken by her family who were there.



So now we're on our own for a few days and then more family comes to visit this weekend. Hopefully by then, my DH will be feeling better. We're not sure what it is but he is highly allergic to something in the house. It just showed up a few days ago, but he is completely covered in hives. We're not sure if it's a new chair in the house or the baby wipes we had been using. They contain lanolin and some people have an allergy to that substance. I tossed those wipes and got some hypoallergenic ones and we've moved the new chair out of the way for a bit. Yikes!

So we're doing really well. Busy with the babe and thinking that at some point I'll have a routine:) But each day is a gift and I'm enjoying it so much. Thank you for all the lovely comments! I am feeling really good. Once we got through the first week my mobility picked back up and I wasn't as sore. We had family visit the first weekend and it was nice to use their extra hands. Pearl even has some adoring fans...er, grandparents!



Yesterday was our anniversary and today's Mass was offered for our family and intentions. We took all of you in our hearts!

My Main Man

To follow the trend of including a video tribute to the DH, here's the one I thought was appropriate. We haven't seen the movie yet, but it's on our Netflix list. DH is anxiously awaiting it:)

1. Who is your man? "He, who refuses to be named"

2. How long have you been together? 2.3 years

3. How long did you date? 6 months courtship, 6 months engagement

4. How old is your man? 28

5. Who eats more? Definitely him

6. Who said “I love you” first? He did...Nov. 18th, in an email:)

7. Who is taller? He is.

8. Who sings better? Me

9. Who is smarter? I'm more book smart, but he is more hands-on/practical smart.

10. Whose temper is worse? Definitely mine. I keep it all inside till I can't stand it. Then the Green Monster appears.

11. Who does the laundry? Me

12. Who takes out the trash? He does.

13. Who sleeps on the right hand side of the bed? If you're looking at the bed (him), if you're in it (me)

14. Who pays the bills? We go over everything together. He is the primary breadwinner. My income is put into our savings.

15. Who is better with the computer? Him.

16. Who mows the lawn? N/A

17. Who cooks dinner? We cook together all meals. We enjoy it very much and work well together.

18. Who drives when you are together? Mostly him. I have stupid night vision that I worry about when driving in the dark.

19. Who pays when you go out? Whoever gets to the wallet faster. Doesn't really matter, though.

20. Who is most stubborn? Tie

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Him, hands down.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Tie. We live in the middle of each, so we travel once a month and rotate between them.

23. Who kissed who first? He made the first move. First attempt was New Years Day on a beach while visiting with his family. However, I fell into the sand...yup, I sure did. Which was good because it broke the tension:) In actuality, the official first kiss took place a few days later on my birthday. We were watching a football game on TV.

24. Who asked who out? I initiated the email contact and suggested we meet (a month and a half after emailing started), and he suggested where to meet up. Weird how God works there. I always made fun of people who met online and said I wouldn't make the first move.

25. Who Proposed? He did right outside my favorite perpetual adoration chapel.

26. Who is more sensitive? He's more sensitive; I'm more emotional, if that makes sense.

27. Who has more friends? We share.

28. Who has more siblings? I do. I am the oldest of 3. He has one sister.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? He is the head of our family.

I am tagging anyone who wants to play. I will not put pressure on any selected group of you to play. But I hope you let me know if you do.

H/T to Esther...again:)

Our Anniversary

Today is our anniversary.



I remember waiting at the back of the Cathedral with my bridesmaids...my sister, my future sister-in-law, my roommate from college, my roommate from my year of service in Washington DC, and my best friend soon to enter the convent. I thought of my best friend from Grammar school already a novice with the Sisters of Life, who was unable to be there with me. Knowing that she was praying for us as we prepared to pledge our lives in covenant through Him.




Standing before God and our friends and family was so solemn. Afterwards everyone told me how serious I looked. In retrospect, I can say that it was serious. I was now pledging to help you get to Heaven!! That is a serious job...not because I don't think you are going to get there:) but because sometimes I don't feel qualified for such an awesome task.





After we received Holy Communion, we went over to the statue of Our Lady and consecrated our marriage through her intercession. It was the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa.



It wasn't until we were walking out that I felt overwhelming joy and peace. So that's when the smiles came. We had so many people there to share that day with. About 30 of our friends from University had come up the night before and joined us for a Holy Hour of Adoration. What a beautiful way to truly enter in. We had that hour at the same chapel in which my DH had proposed.



Each of the tables at our reception had a saint's name marking it...not a number. We wanted to truly involve the communion of Saints in our wedding. It was such a fun way to gather people together.





Our cake was very simple with just the same flowers as my bouquet gracing the top tier. DH's cake, however, was a chocolate cake with the emblems from his Pittsburgh teams--Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates:)



I think we spent almost the entire time of the reception going around to try and talk with everyone who had come and just thank then for their presence and their prayers. This was a rare silly moment of us together.



At the end of the evening, we headed back over to my parents house to get our luggage for our honeymoon trip to Kauai, Hawaii. This was us just before we left the reception.

This past year has been filled with many challenges, many joys, and many blessings. There is no one else I would rather share it with. Thank you, Lord, for my husband, my ezer.

8 Things About Me and DH: A Meme

H/T to Nutmeg

1. We met via Catholic Match. I had joined as a joke for a friend and he had joined since his cousins persuaded him to. I had just moved to the area and was seeking good Catholic Fellowship. I saw his profile that first week, but waited a week to send a message. My roommates coaxed me into sending him the message...and for that, I am forever grateful.

2. At our first meeting, one of the first questions I asked was in regards to his sports teams preferences:) We also learned that I had met his sister years before while she was attending the university in the town I grew up in.

3. We had 4 dates in 5 days that first week. After that 4th, I woke up knowing that He was my "ezer"--my helpmate. He took a bit longer:) At the end of that month he went on retreat and surrendered our relationship in prayer to Our Lord. In his prayer, it was confirmed for him to pursue me.

4. Our relationship was a bit of a whirlwind in some respect. We dated for 6 months, were engaged for around 5, and were married 2 weeks before the anniversary of that first date.

5. He proposed outside of the perpetual adoration chapel in the town where I live. We had driven up to see my family and went to the chapel for some prayertime. Before entering, he took my hand and knelt down and asked me to be his wife. When he opened the box, the ring literally flew out!! It had caught on the clasp and was propelled forward. Thankfully, it landed at my feet. That's the Spirit for you.

6. Our personality types suit each other. I am more of a guardian and my DH is the comforter. In my terms: I tend to pick justice, he tends toward mercy. So we both learn from each other and are challenged to grow in our weaknesses.

7. We have big ideas...note that I said ideas. God laughs at plans. We pray that He will purify our desires and align them with His. That said, some of our ideas involve buying lots of land, building our own house (with our own hands), making bio-diesel from avocados, living in Italy for a time, homesechooling, pilgrimmages to marian shrines, etc.

8. Our song is "How Do I Love Her?" by Steven Curtis Chapman. Lyrics here.