A Week to Remember

First off, apologies for not having written in nearly a week - I'd meant to be more regular! But, at least I'm writing every few days and that's certainly better than I've ever done. So I'm alright with it.

Here's an update on this week's meals.... they went pretty well!

For Tuesday's menu, I made a meatless lasagna (which I'm going to start making WITH the meat now...) with a salad (spring mix, topped with chopped almonds, parmesan, and raspberry vinaigrette), and some wonderfully crusty Italian bread. The lasagna came out alright. I've done better in some respects, but I definitely think lasagna is one of those recipes you have to tinker with over time to really get that "family secret recipe" effect. So, I'm going to be patient with that one.

As for the bread.... I have to take a moment to rave and rant about this bread because it is THE BEST I have ever tasted. (This is the second time I've gotten it.) The best parat about it is that it's only three bucks at Meijer, and it is called an "All Natural White Mountain Boule." (That's what the label says.) And wow.... if you just pop it in the oven to crisp for a few minutes, it comes out perfectly chewy on the inside and the epitome of crispiness on the outside. It's heavenly. And I love it.

Wednesday night, I made double baked loaded potatoes with broccoli. Not much of a sophisticated dinner, but it was delicious and filling. We each had half a head of broccoli, so I'd say we both had our vegetable quotient for the day! And the potatoes came out great.

Thursday night was my victory night.... it was perfect. I made omelets and hashbrowns (the way my Mom makes them, which is little cubes of potatoes fried in tons of butter). It was perrrfect, I tell you. The omelets had sausage, finely diced green pepper, and shredded cheddar cheese.

And that's the cooking update. :)

So..... I've had an epiphany. I think I've realized that all I need (in order to feel productive and motivated and just...better,) is to get out more. Cillian and I visited a good friend and her little boy today for the afternoon and it was a wonderful time. Just the thing I needed. I came home mentally and emotionally refreshed, made dinner (fettuccine alfredo, fresh green beans, salad and bread), cleaned the kitchen and commenced to finish the laundry and straighten the upstairs. So, I'm thinking about starting to go to some kind of support group for mothers and see how getting out of the house on a regular basis goes. That and setting up more "playdates." (I put it in quotations because they're more for me than for my three-month-old at this point.)

Today was a very, very good day. I got a lot done, had a shower, visited a friend, got to drive, and came up with the beginnings of a new piano composition (something that has not happened in months.) Glory to God for all things!

A further explanation for my previous post, "Hypocrite," so as not to be misunderstood (I fear it may have been misleading): I am not depressed, as I may have led some of you to suppose. And I am fortunate not to be suffering from any baby blues. I am simply adjusting and trying to figure out what's "real." I apologize for any misunderstanding I might have projected by writing as I did. I assure you, I am completely happy! I have recently learned that I really need to be ok with what I am capable of accomplishing, whether it be simply getting showered one day or cleaning the whole house the next. I am not superwoman (yet...haha), and I shouldn't beat myself up for not meeting my lofty expectations - though they be for myself. I have to be a realist for now, not an idealist. I'll be much happier with things if I just accept that I can't do everything. So there you have it!

It's been a very good week. I feel more balanced and much more grounded. I'm realizing it's ok to be emotional if I have to be, because I've never gone through so many changes (and changes of this monumental nature) in such a short time before in my whole life. I'd be in trouble if I wasn't being somewhat emotional. So this week was somewhat of a milestone because now I have a feel for what direction I need to head toward. One step at a time, Natalie... one step at a time.

I'm excited for the weekend. Both of our families are coming tomorrow to celebrate my birthday a day early with us, and I'm eager to see all of them. It'll be a fun time. Two more days until I'm entirely LEGAL!!!!

I think I'll leave you with the Quote of the Day...

"In marriage the festive joy of the first day should last for the whole of life: every day should be a feast day; every day husband and wife should appear to each other as new, extraordinary beings. The only way of achieving this: let both deepen their spiritual life, and strive hard in the task of self-development."

~ Fr. Alexander Elchaninov, Diary of a Russian Priest (from the book "Preserve Them, O Lord")

That is one of my favorite quotes of all time from one of my favorite books of all time. Very spiritually enriching.

Ordinary

Today is simply an ordinary day - it's a Wednesday. Cillian and I woke up at 11 AM this morning and started the day off to a bit of a late start. He was very happy this morning, which I always love. It puts me in such a good mood when he's awake, smiling up at me from the side of our bed. So we had our normal routine: feed, change, I change (or shower and then change), and then we say our morning prayers and go downstairs for breakfast. On the occasion that Cillian goes straight back to sleep after his morning feeding, I turn the monitor on and try to get as much done as I can (usually laundry) before he wakes up again.

The rest of the day normally consists of play, feed, change, sleep, repeat. Sometimes while he's awake and happy, I'll let him kick around in his pack n play while I plink some piano for him.

I've composed a waltz for him that I've been perfecting for a year now. I decided to entitle it Cillian's Waltz since, when I was pregnant with him, he would kick particularly playfully when I performed it for him and now, he likes to "sing" along.

Sometimes, I read, sometimes I write, mostly something on the computer, which is not how I'd like it to be. I need to restrain myself from so much media... I really use the computer too much, I think. I need to rediscover my love for reading and practicing hand-writing (letters and journalism alike) and drawing and knitting. Productive things I could be doing with my hands other than getting better at....typing, I suppose.

I think the most eventful thing about this post will probably be the Quote of the Day, which I'll leave you with.

"Everyone is made in God's image; but to be in His likeness is granted only to those who through great love have brought their own freedom into subjection to God. For only when we do not belong to ourselves do we become like Him who through love has reconciled us to Himself. No one achieves this unless he persuades his soul not to be distracted by the false glitter of this life."

~ St. Diadochos of Photiki