We're Going on a Babymoon!

A few weeks ago, I decided to get to business and book us a babymoon before baby's due date got any closer.

Wait. What's a babymoon, you ask?

Think of it as a reverse honeymoon. You're celebrating this big occasion in life by going on a vacation, but instead of going after the big event, you go before, since going after would mean you'd be brining a baby along with you.

Basically, we're going on a vacation to celebrate the upcoming birth of our child. And getting one last trip under our belts before baby makes us stay put for a while.

So, when we started brainstorming places to go, we knew we wouldn't want to go too far since I'd be 30 weeks pregnant during the week we put aside for this adventure. That ruled out a lot of options, including flying.

I also knew I wanted some place that would be affordable, yet luxurious or romantic or unique, and definitely relaxing.

And I put a 6-hours-away-by-car max on our travel, 'cause this pregnant body doesn't want to sit still in a car much longer than that.

That narrowed things down quite a bit.

Within a 6-hour driving radius of Memphis, we've got places like...

Nashville (3 hours), but we've already been there, done that a lot.
Chattanooga (6 hours), but I wasn't getting the luxurious vibe.
Land Between the Lakes (3 hours), but again, not luxurious.
Little Rock (2 hours), but who goes the Little Rock on vacation? It just didn't seem special. (No offense, Little Rockers!)
Hot Springs (3 hours), but been there, done that too.
St. Louis (5 hours), which could have been romantic, since that's where John and I met, but since we both lived there for a while, it didn't quite feel like "getting away."
Memphis (0 hours), which would have been a nice stay-cation, but like St. Louis, wouldn't have felt like much of a get away.
New Orleans (6 hours), which we almost decided on, but at the last minute realized it'd be too much walking for lazy ol' me.

And then we found it. Our babymoon destination!

After several hours of online research and hemming and hawing over finding the perfect destination, I finally found it.

Eureka Springs, AK in the Ozarks, exactly 6 hours from Memphis!

While asking around for suggestions, a coworker mentioned Eureka Springs, but I hadn't really given it much thought. It looked nice and all, possibly even romantic, and definitely relaxing, but didn't have that unique wow factor.

That is, until I found a place where we could rent a TREEHOUSE!

Or a HOBBIT HOLE!

Or a CASTLE!!

So get this, you guys...

WE'RE STAYING IN A MINI-CASTLE! :)

Our castle-for-two has fireplaces, a luxurious five-head shower, a private jacuzzi, and even a secret passageway!! Plus all the other lovely amenities you'd expect... wifi, mini-kitchen, plushy bed, cable.

AND it was super cheap to stay since we're going during the off season. Sure, it may be a little cold, possibly even snow, but that's what those fireplaces and jacuzzi are for, right?

Plus, reviews of the place online are all GLOWING. Somehow, I hit the jackpot!

This momma can't wait to get away!

Ok, so time for me to admit it. I'm a planner. I spend hours online, researching and reading reviews to plan the perfect trip. I'm not the type that can just show up with no plans and enjoy the spontaneity of exploring a new city. Eeek! That sounds so stressful to me. This lady has got to have a plan to make the most out of every minute away. And thank goodness, I have a husband who doesn't mind putting all the planning in my hands.

So, in addition to booking our castle (hehe, it's fun to say that) and hoping to spending many hours lazing about there, I've also already found about 20 restaurants that sound yum, super cool looking shops that are calling my name, museums for exploring, other sights to be seen, and this beautiful chapel that I can't wait to photograph the heck outta.

Oh, and of course I've booked us a couple's massage. John's will be extra special because it's a chocolate massage. Yummmm! (Shhhh, don't tell him. It's a surprise!) Oh heck, mine'll be special too: a prenatal massage fit for a pregnant queen! We never do massages since they're usually so expensive, so this will be a royal treat!

This is shaping up to be one lovely babymoon!

We depart later this week, so expect for things to be hush on the blog for a little. And then expect a Eureka Springs Babymoon recap post, including a big picture dump, I'm sure. You know how I roll.

Eureka Springs, get my castle ready because here we come!

To All You Still in the Thick of It

I've been thinking of you all a lot lately. And I wanted to say I'm sorry.

I'm so, so very sorry.

I'm so sorry you still feel the pain of infertility day in and day out.

I'm so sorry that pretty much every post I make from here on out is going to remind you of your pain.

I'm so sorry that you have to put on a happy, supportive face whenever you stop by these here parts of the internet.

I'm so sorry I couldn't take you with me when I left the infertile island.

I wish I could bridge the gap, but I have no idea where to start.

I just want you here on this other side with me. I want you here so bad, it hurts.

I want you to know what it feels like to take a pregnancy test and actually have it turn positive.

I want you to know what it feels like to tell the world that you're pregnant and have each person respond with only the purest joy that ever existed.

I want you to know what it feels like to finally get to buy all those maternity clothes and baby necessities you've always wanted.

I want you to know what it feels like to not have to cringe, or cry, or hide when another friend announces another pregnancy.

I want you to know what it feels like to have a little one growing inside you, kicking and squirming at the most random times, bringing a smile to your face with each and every movement, no matter what time of day.

I want you to know what it feels like to finally have dreams come true after helplessly hoping for so long.

I want you here so bad, it hurts. 

I want to take away your pain.

And if I could, I would in a heartbeat. Because I know now, more than ever, that your pain was never supposed to exist.

I know this simply because of how right it feels to be on the other side.

And knowing and feeling that makes me hurt for you all the more.

Infertility was never supposed to happen. You were not supposed to have to suffer so hard, so long, and so alone. You were not supposed to be so horribly cursed.

Why can't I take it away?

I'm sorry that all I have for you now is prayers.

And support, if you ever need it, but I also understand how that might sting coming from a pregnant gal.

I'm so sorry.

Just because it seems like I've moved on in many ways, doesn't mean I've forgotten you. Far from it. In fact, I think of you all now more than ever.

Know that I'm angry for you.

I hurt for you.

I question for you.

I think often of you.

I'm praying for you.

Lord, please take it. Take their pain away. Take their suffering. Take their sadness, their loneliness, their barrenness.

Let them feel alive again.

Free them from the chains of infertility.

Let them be joyful. Let them be fruitful.

And let me remember always to keep them in my heart.

Amen.

3 Tips for Building a Maternity Wardrobe on the Cheap

Enter: the bump!

It's cute, it's fun, and, in most cases, it's the first very obvious sign of your growing bundle of joy. 

You love it. You really, really do! 

But soon you realize, things just ain't gonna fit like they used to. 

So what's a gal to do? 

With a baby on the way, it's not like you've got an abundance of cash lying around to grow the wardrobe. At least, not most of us average folk anyway.

Lucky for us, building a maternity wardrobe is actually very easy to do on the cheap!

First of all, you only need stretchy waistlines and slightly-longer-in-the-front tops and dresses for a few months during and after pregnancy. Then you'll tuck 'em away until you're ready to use them for a few months during and after your next pregnancy. This means you don't really need to invest in many high quality, built-to-last-forever items. 

And secondly, well... that's where my tips come in! 

Now, since this is only pregnancy numero uno for me and I'm only 26 weeks in, I may not be the best expert here, but these tricks have worked for me so far. And I hope they can work for you too! 

Let's get right to it.

1. Work with what you already have.

The best first step in putting together an inexpensive (and awesome) maternity wardrobe is taking note of the non-maternity items in your current wardrobe that would still work with a growing bump. Why buy things you already have, ya know?

Flowy shirts, wrap dresses, and yoga pants are great examples of such items. At least for wearing through the 2nd trimester, I'd say.

top and undershirt from Old Navy Maternity

And in addition to your non-maternity items that straight up fit over your cute popped belly, there are also a few other items you can easily adjust to fit your growing body.

For example, your bras! No need to purchase new ones if it's just your band size that's expanding. Instead, buy yourself some of these: bra back extenders. Thanks to those cheap little suckers, I'm still wearing my pre-pregnancy bras and they're still soooo comfortable. So, until my cup runneth over, AKA my cup size increases, you'll find me comfortably fitting into my old bras, and cheaply. 

You can also wear your non-maternity jeans (and any sort of zip-up pant, really) for a bit longer with this little helper: the Bellaband. You keep your pants unzipped to fit the belly, while the stretchy band does the hard work of keeping your pants up. I wore mine regularly during the first trimester and it was lovely. 

So, don't discredit your non-maternity clothes too quickly. With a quick sort of all your items and a few inexpensive helper items, you might already have more to wear than you realize!

2. Borrow, borrow, borrow!

Early in my pregnancy, I was blessed to have a friend offer me her maternity wardrobe. Talk about growing the wardrobe for cheap!

Think about it, though. Like I said before, you only wear maternity clothes for a few months during and after pregnancy. So if you have a friend or relative who's recently had a baby, chances are she's packed those clothes away and planned on forgetting them until the next pregnancy happens. So while they're not being used, it's the perfect time for you to swoop in and kindly ask if you can borrow a few (or ALL) of her items. Sure, asking might be a bit awkward, but what's the worst that could happen, really? She says no? Yup, actually, that's probably the worst that could happen. Totally worth the awkward asking and probably receiving free maternity clothes, if you ask me. 

tunic from Old Navy Maternity

There are just a few tricks to making this borrowing tip work right...

You've got to find a friend who's generally the same shape and size as you. But that shouldn't be too challenging, as the stretchiness of most maternity items makes it so that you don't have to be a perfect shape and size match.

You've got to find a friend whose style is similar to yours. Otherwise you're just going to feel like you're awkwardly wearing someone else's clothes for several months.

And you've got to be relatively clean. If you're the type that spills stuff on everything, you may not actually be a good candidate for maternity clothes borrowing. In this case, I'd find a friend who's done growing her family and see if she wouldn't mind giving you her maternity wardrobe for keeps. 

3. Shop the sales. 

Once you've sorted through your normal wardrobe and begged a few friends for borrowed maternity clothes, there's only one thing left to do.

And that's SHOP!

top from Pea in the Pod

Ladies, I cannot even tell you how many awesome, inexpensive maternity items there are out there waiting for you to buy. All you have to do is look. And I especially recommend looking at the sale items.

Aside from the maternity leggings I'm wearing in the pictures above, all the other items were bought very inexpensively from the sale racks of shops with HUGE maternity sale sections. 

The jeweled top from Pea in the Pod, originally around $70, I bought for around $25.

And the green top and gray tunic from Old Navy, I bought for less than $10 each. 

Cheap, cheap, cheap! And yet all decent to high quality items! 

Here are my go-to maternity clothing shops for items on the cheap:

Old Navy

For inexpensive and decent quality, this is my favorite! Just look at that sale section!! And they usually have some sort of 20% or 40% sale going on on top of their already discounted items, so if you're looking to bulk up your maternity wardrobe on the cheap, make this your first stop. 

I'm definitely not usually an Old Navy shopper, but their maternity items just can't be beat, especially if you're looking for standard items. Their jeans are wonderfully comfortable and affordable, as are their black slacks, and all their tops, really. I do recommend reading reviews on items to get your sizing right. Their maternity items tend to run a little snug, so I generally size up, but it really depends on the item.  

One little bit of a bummer is most of their maternity stuff can only be bought (and returned) online. Meaning you can't try on anything before buying. And if you don't like, you have to ship back. BUT! I say it's still worth it. You just have to see those discounts to believe me.  

The Gap

The Gap also has a great maternity sale section, mostly online. And they also have sales on top of their sales going on all the time too. Their items are a little more expensive than Old Navy, but also higher in quality. Pro tip: You can combine your online shopping carts from Old Navy and the Gap since they're both owned by the same company, thus saving you on shipping costs. You're welcome!

Pea in the Pod

For really high quality items, this is my go-to. I do have to be careful not to be tempted by their non-sale stuff, because that stuff is WAY out of the budget. But it's easy enough to avoid their lovely non-sale stuff because their sale section is, just like Old Navy, ginormous! I highly recommend shopping at a Pea in the Pod store, as they have a great big sale selection available and you get to try it on before buying, but if that's not possible, online works great too! 

It's worth noting that you won't ever see Maternity Destination or Target on my go-to list. While their items are cute, I find the quality is lacking, sometimes severely. And since you can get higher quality items from the maternity sale racks of other the shops, I'd say skip 'em. But that's just my two cents. 

---

So, what do ya think? After all those tips and tricks and sale shopping links, does an inexpensive maternity wardrobe sound doable?

I sure hope so!

I will say, I think it's totally worth investing in just a few super high quality, more expensive, non-sale-rack maternity items if you've got room in the budget. Occasions like baby showers and that maternity portrait session you just booked kinda call for it. The key, though, is balancing those few expensive items with a whole bunch of non-budget-breaking items. Mix and match the costly with the non-costly to your heart's content, and with these three tips, I bet no one will be able to tell how very affordably you just built your maternity wardrobe.

In fact, within the next year, I bet pregnant mamas will probably be asking you if they can borrow your maternity wardrobe.

Feels good, doesn't it?

And to the ladies who have done this pregnancy thing before: What are your wardrobe building recommendations? I'd love to hear your tips in the comments!

Happy thrifty sorting, borrowing, and shopping, mamas!

Mama Holi Had Her Baby!

Mama Holi just sent me a text and asked me to announce her happy news! She's been meaning to post on her blog about it, but snuggle time with her new cutie and the usual post-delivery soreness and exhaustion have kept her from interacting with the bloggy world. 

So, just to keep you all in the loop, she asked me to share the precious details here! And I'm honored. :)

Eileen Marie

Born January 27, 2015 at 12:01am

8 lb 3 oz, 22 inches

So, so sweet! And her intuition was right all along... it's a GIRL!

Check out her blog for a full birth story, coming soon!

Stephanie's Recipes: Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

This smoothie, y'all.

OMG.

(We interrupt this regularly scheduled recipe to mention that the G stands for Goodness in these here parts of the internet.)

I whipped this bad boy up a few days ago for a quick lunch and OMG. Just one sip and I was already saying things like...

"This is the best smoothie I've ever had in my life."

and

"Can I have another one yet?"

It was love at first sip. 

No joke. As soon as that first delicious sip crossed my lips, I was hooked. It's a serious addiction. 

I've always loved a good PB&J, and now I'm doing my happy dance because I have a healthier version that tastes just as good. 

It also works fantastically as a guilt-free-ish dessert. Just sayin'.

Nom nom nom nom!


Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

Ingredients
1 medium banana, frozen
4 large fresh strawberries, sliced
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
1 cup milk

Directions
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Serves 1.

Side note: Use any type of milk you like. I went for cow's milk, 2%. But I bet it'd still be a home run with almond milk or soy milk.

Enjoy!

Sheenazing Nomination WHAT?!

Ummmmmmm, you guys!!!!!

I

AM

SO

STINKIN'

HUMBLED.

I came home from my Creighton Model practitioner training all energized and excited and then my excitement gets ONE UPPED by an email from the Bonnie of A Knotted Life saying I've been nominated for a Sheenazing Award!!

IS THIS REAL LIFE?!

Pinch me! This isn't real!

Surely you meant to nominate a different blog, right?

I can't even.

Apparently, as your kindness would have it, I've been nominated in the Best Under-Appreciated Blog category.

Wow.

Just wow.

You do understand that I'm just a normal girl blogging about her every day, normal, kinda nerdy, kinda boring, always Catholic life, right? Like, my blog is not nearly as cool, hip, awesome as any of the other blogs on those lists of nominees, right?

You get that, RIGHT?

And then when I found out that at least three of you lovelies had to nominate me to make it to this voting round.

Wow.

Just wow.

H-U-M-B-L-E-D.

I don't know what to say other than what's appropriate to say: THANK YOU!

ThankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouTHANKYOU!

Just knowing that this little infertility blog has made a difference in this little corner of the Catholic blogosphere makes my heart smile really big.

I started this blog for a few reasons. To keep in touch with family and friends. To keep a record of our infertility journey. To find support on said infertility journey. And, probably most importantly, to be support to others going through the same stinky thing. Because infertility is better met with a big support network. At least, that's what I think anyway.

So that's probably why this nomination means so much. Because, if I can go ahead and assume, it's because my silly little blog has made a difference for some of you. And that means the world to me.

By the way, you realize you've nominated an infertility blog, right?? I mean, we're usually the ones that get ignored or passed over or forgotten because we don't have a bunch of cute baby pics and hilarious baby-pooped-everywhere stories to tell. Just stories about meds making us crazy and surgeries and doctor visits and empty wombs.

I mean, I guess the past year has been quite eventful for me. Almost adopting, hosting that Little Happies link-up, Stitch Fixin', and then being super-surprise-blessed with a pregnancy. But infertility is still at the heart of it all. And you know that, right?

Wow, guys.

Just wow.

You all are too, too nice.

I'm blushing!

Ok, so here's the part where I tell you to head on over to Bonnie's blog and VOTE!

But seriously friends, I am NOT looking for votes. No siree, pinky promise. I kid you not when I say this nomination is way more than enough. And that's the only reason for this post. Not to tell you to vote for me (please don't!), but seriously just to say thank you.

I am humbled.

(Have I said that enough yet?)

I do, however, want to encourage you to go take a look at all the other awesome blogs doing awesome things and vote for them. Or if not vote, just take a looksie. That list of Sheenazing nominees (and honorable mentions!) is a whole kitten caboodle of legit Catholic blogs out there waiting to be discovered by YOU. So take this opportunity to find some new ones. I know I will!

And thanks again, friends. Thanks times a million!

<3

Creighton Model Practitioner Training: We Did It!

I know you're all sitting on the edges of your seats, waiting to hear how Creighton Model practitioner training went.

Guys, we did it!

Stephanie + Sew = brandy new practitioner interns <3

8 days and 7 nights of learning, studying, sleeping, rinsewash&repeat.

They don't call that bad boy an immersion course for nothing, I tell ya.

Sew and I arrived the night before classes started and settled into the house we were borrowing, AKA a priest's house. He was out of town. On an unrelated note, he also apparently stores old dead fish in his fridge, so we had to use the backyard and (thank Heavens) the low, wintery temps as our refrigerator for the week, to avoid our food absorbing that stink and gagging over fishy smells every time we opened the refrigerator door. I do not joke, folks. It was smmmelllllly. But mostly hilarious. I digress.

After settling, we met our teachers and three other classmates for a pizza dinner. Turns out, not only was a blessed to be taking this course with Sew, I was also blessed to be taking it with a blog reader!! (Hi, Stephanie!) Crazy small Creighton world.

From there, it was just a whirlwind. The first two days of classes are Anatomy & Physiology ON STEROIDS. Vulva this, ovulation that, estrogen and progesterone and pituitary gland, OH MY! So much to learn and so little time. But we did it! On day three, we took a big, fat mid-training Anatomy & Physiology test and ROCKED it. It felt so good. Then we went on to learn all about charting mucus, working with clients, how to keep a good record of our teaching, and all the other nitty gritties that come with the life of a practitioner. Basically, it was more information overload. But we absorbed it and came out on the other end ready to do this thing. We ACED our final exams, felt huge weights lift from our shoulders, and headed on our merry way back to our hometowns, excited to take on our first clients.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wee bit scared. I totally am. I'm afraid of taking on too much at once. I'm afraid of messing up somehow. I'm especially afraid of not being able to find enough clients in the east Tennessee area once we move.

But none of that is worth fretting over. Yet.

We're still in the prepping phase now. We teach our first Introductory Session next weekend (eek!) and then get the ball rolling from there. Lucky for us, we've connected with the NaPro doc here in Memphis, so he's basically handing us a gazillion clients ready to go. It's pretty amazing. And scary. But mostly amazing.

Practicing the Intro Session

I get to teach women about the beauty of our natural cycles. About God's perfect design for our bodies. And how, with just a few extra observations each day, we can know so much about our gynecological health.

I'm seriously going to be opening some eyes, people.

My new job rocks. :)

And if I wasn't sure enough that this was a Divine calling, check out what God planted right in my face the day I returned from training...

At Mass on Sunday, I hear this responsorial psalm: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will. 

Yup, sounds about right.

And then the Second Reading was all about... well here, just read it:

Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6: 13C-15A, 17-20
(Emphasis in bold by me.)

I mean, if St. Paul wasn't speaking to the NFP teachers of his time, I don't know who he was talking to!!!

I kid, I kid. I'm sure lots of folks heard lots of different things in this glorious reading this past Sunday, but my heart was looking for confirmation in my new role as a FertilityCare Practitioner Intern. And it definitely got it. Thanks God!

Gosh, pretty sure "Therefore glorify God in your body" needs to be my new tagline or motto or something.

Oh, and if you have no idea what any of this Creighton/NaPro mumbo jumbo is about, call me up, email me, let me know. I'll tell ya all about the Creighton Model and then some. You're gonna love it.

And if you do know what I'm talking about, THANK YOU! Thank you for the support, the encouragement, the prayers. I would not have made it through, heck, I wouldn't have even gone if it weren't for all of your cheerleading and gentle nudges along the way. You guys rock.

Now here goes nothin'!