marital bless: September 2009

Wedded Wednesday

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wedded Wednesday is a collaboration
of married bloggers sharing their inspirations,
anecdotes, struggles and thoughts regarding
the amazing union of two separate people, as one.

Family Tradition

Anyone else now thinking about the Fiddler on the Roof?

Growing up in a divorced home, I feel as though I have very few family traditions that I want to carry on. New traditions are ideal, but I feel like they are something that can not be forced.

Tony and I were just discussing two traditions that my Mom and Dad were very consistent with and that I remember even though I would have only been 6 years or younger.

The first is the family hug. It may seem mundane, but I clearly remember my Dad gathering us together, my brother and I smooshed in between him and my Mom, yelling "Family HUG!" Tony and I have started this already with Isaac. Although I'm sure it will get more difficult as he grows older, he's a willing participant in being smothered in kisses right now. :)

I can't remember what I said, but Tony's response definitely made me tear up. I believe I was speculating on how long the family hug would be sustained and Tony said, "Who knows, maybe he'll be heading out to college and being the one yelling 'Family HUG!' as he gathers the family together." Something about that mental image just kills me. I hope that I raise a son who does just that.

The 2nd tradition is the "I Love You" hand squeeze. This one was continued by my brother and long past our parents stopping with us. It's simply squeezing someone's hand 3 times to symbolize saying I love you. Perfect when crossing the street, trying not to cry or simply when holding hands to say grace before a meal.

I tried it out with Tony the other night, explaining it to him {I'm sure we're not the only ones who do this!}. I was caught off guard a few minutes later when he questioned why I squeezed his hand 4 times, instead of 3. Not missing a beat, Tony told me 4 squeezes means "I love you, sexy." LOL!

Do you have family traditions that are unique that you hope to pass onto to your family?

The non picture variety.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Isaac really doesn't like sleeping through the night anymore + Emergency Vet following a full day of Nadia's wedding = me on the verge of exhaustion and a pending cold. :(

Callie ate a berry from my bridesmaid bouquet Saturday night and instantly started to have troubles breathing and swallowing. She was even keeping her tongue extended out of her mouth. Tony and I rushed about the house frantically trying to pack up Isaac while identifying the closest emergency vet. Upon arrival we were notified that it would be $155 to be assessed . . . Long story short, we got there at 1:10 and left at 3:10. Thankfully our little girl was okay, but apparently would have been fine without the trip. We paid $250 for vomit induction, which didn't work. Regardless, she's okay . . . but now I'm not.

We got to bed at around 4:00 and Isaac was up for the day at 9:00 or so.

To say I'm feeling it is an understatement. We still can't get him to go down successfully in the pack n play.

I'm very out of it, have a sore throat, sniffles and body ache. Thankfully no fever or the like, but I feel like if I could just get one night of good sleep . . . Unfortunately no one can give me that accept for Isaac and reasoning with him has proven difficult. :)

In other news:

- I have a 5 month old son {and an overdue blog post}.

- My hair has stopped falling out.

- Nadia's wedding was not without drama, but I feel like I was able to support her very well!

- I had my first pending client meeting for a very quick wedding following a short engagement . . . but just found out today that they chose another photographer. I'm trying to not be disappointed, but I'm failing. Bummer.

- I'm kind of sucking at life lately {hush it Gina}, example a: Tony and I made double date plans with Matt and Gina Thursday night, since we'd be in their neck of the woods to pick up my bridesmaid dress. En route to pick up my dress I decided to call Nadia to see if there was any last minute details she needed help with before the rehearsal and wedding. I left her a funny message and within minutes she called me back, without listening to the message. She seemed kind of short, but I didn't think much of it, as I vaguely remember the stress. Responding to her quickness, I went to close our conversation with "Well, see you tomorrow!" Without a second hesitation, Nadia said "Tomorrow? I'll see you tonight!" Thinking that I forgot about some detail regarding the programs or the like I stumbled out, "Tonight, what's tonight?" Um, yeah. The rehearsal. THE REHEARSAL. Are you kidding me? I was able to cancel and reschedule with the alterationist for Friday and frantically tried to get a hold of Gina, as I notified Tony of our change of plans. I made it to the rehearsal right on time, but seriously? SERIOUSLY? How embarrassing.

I know there's more, but I honestly can't think right now.

Nadia's Wedding

Monday, September 28, 2009

Nadia's wedding was this past weekend at the gorgeous Semple Mansion. She's off and married, enjoying her honeymoon in Costa Rica!

The day was beyond amazing, with fabulous 80* weather. Nadia is one of the most meticulous people that I know and the day reflected that. With everything and everyone in their place. The ceremony was touching and it was evident that Aaron and Nadia put great thought into every musical selection, reading and word spoken. I was so proud to be involved in their day!

I just wanted to share some of the getting ready shots that I was able to take before Graddy Photography arrived.

About Sleep

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Sleep has suddenly become a commodity again as our precious little guy has found himself liking a new schedule.

Putting Isaac down was relatively easy for the past 2 months or so, we followed his cues and began his bedtime routine somewhere between 7:30-9:30. This included bath, dry butt time {simply air drying his body and allowing him bum some time uncovered}, Five Little Monkeys and then nursing him to sleep, before placing him in the bassinet portion of his pack and play.

This schedule no longer stands. I seem to have gotten a little worse at reading his cues and seem to be making a mess of when he's sleepy, just hungry or simply comfort nursing. Monday night was brutal. Isaac would start crying instantaneously when placed in the bassinet. He would be shushed and rocked until clearly sleeping, only to repeat the crying upon placement, which began the cycle all over again . . . until 2am.

Tuesday was a little better {we removed the bassinet} and last night was the best . . . but I resorted to my last resort, allowing Isaac to nurse in bed while I lay on my side with him. After about 20 minutes of cuddling and ensuring that he was asleep, we then made the transfer to the pack and play.

This led me to think about Isaac's sleep situations. When at my Mom's he will be laid down in a swing, on the floor and in a pack and play. At home he either naps on me, sleeps in his pack and play or nurses in the bed with me in the morning. He clearly has a variety of sleep situations, some with movement, some without, so I don't see an issue with that . . . I struggle with wanting to return to our old routine, but I know that just because it worked doesn't necessarily mean that I had anything to do with it's successfulness. Tony said it best in response to my saying I wanted to go back to the old schedule, "this is the new schedule."

I love co-sleeping and am not that concerned about the smothering topic, which I know is a hot debate {I fall more on the side that most cases are due to drugs/alcohol}. What would concern me is the long term disadvantage in having an independent child who can sleep on his own . . .

Wedded Wednesday

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Wedded Wednesday is a collaboration
of married bloggers sharing their inspirations,
anecdotes, struggles and thoughts regarding
the amazing union of two separate people, as one.

Marriage is a Profound Mystery

Do you ever have those moments in your marriage where you look at your spouse and wonder how you ever managed to stumble across a life so good? Usually these fleeting seconds are days or weeks away from the times when unfortunately you look at your spouse and wonder how you could ever be with someone so {fill in the blank}.

Tony and I have both found ourselves in positions of support to married friends recently, in various degrees. For some it's been simple encouragement, for thankfully a small few, it's been more desperate as they've chosen to end the relationship or been on the receiving end of that decision.

We've never felt like we have a "secret" to our marriage, heck 3 years isn't much of track record, but we've both had a sense of security in our relationship. One that we know must be kept up so that the tension is never slack nor too tight, just taunt. We are not immune to taking each other for granted, but I think we are very aware of when it is happening and fight like heck to make sure that we either change our course or speak up so that the other notices as well.

I'm interested in what the future holds for Tony and I as we raise our family, intact. It's something that I've only viewed from the outside and I look forward to understanding intimately. It's a promise that I make to Isaac daily.

These are four separate thoughts that only seem to align in my head, but have weighed on me heavily lately. I think what I'm trying to say is that my husband is my greatest blessing, but most vexing annoyance. We've been called to support our friend's marriages, but I'm not sure why as I think we have a normal relationship. Keeping each other constantly in check seems to be a strength. I don't know what a healthy relationship between Tony and our children will look like, but I'm excited to find out.

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5: 31-32

Take me out to the ball game!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

This past weekend, Tony and I took Isaac to his first and last Twins game at the Metrodome. It's not that we had a bad experience, you see, the Twins will have a new home next year, Target Field. Amazingly I hadn't made it out to a game yet this year either, so it was important that both of us could check this off our '09 to-do list! :)

With the Metrodome signage.

Not sure if it made sense to anyone else, but we figured we'd try! "Cirle me Bert" is a part of the FSN broadcasting of the game. Sadly, we were not circled. :( I think this was our best shot lol, we don't get to say it's his first game again!