[null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wbmf_IaiiH4/VFJ72-aFS1I/AAAAAAAAPh8/lf88THQRsME/s1600/101_0524.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wbmf_IaiiH4/VFJ72-aFS1I/AAAAAAAAPh8/lf88THQRsME/s1600/101_0524.jpg", "rendered_width": 400, "rendered_height": 300}, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L78IkglR4ZU/VFJ7230su_I/AAAAAAAAPiA/loS7T2aUUgg/s1600/101_0525.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L78IkglR4ZU/VFJ7230su_I/AAAAAAAAPiA/loS7T2aUUgg/s1600/101_0525.jpg", "rendered_width": 400, "rendered_height": 293}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png", "src": "http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png", "formatted_filename": "pixel", "alt_text": "Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..."}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZOkXiF0Sos/VkzLgiuRF6I/AAAAAAAATUM/_i-TiXGbGmQ/s1600-r/Newest%2BProfile.png", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZOkXiF0Sos/VkzLgiuRF6I/AAAAAAAATUM/_i-TiXGbGmQ/s1600-r/Newest%2BProfile.png", "formatted_filename": "Newest BProfile", "alt_text": "Hi!", "rendered_width": 260, "rendered_height": 260}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvLa2JDZpLw/WdEUCiyP6mI/AAAAAAAAWeI/wjJPwLJL694fDJtG3qqQcqWE-RIE6E-gQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Book%2BComing%2BFramed.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvLa2JDZpLw/WdEUCiyP6mI/AAAAAAAAWeI/wjJPwLJL694fDJtG3qqQcqWE-RIE6E-gQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Book%2BComing%2BFramed.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Book BComing BFramed", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 212}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01nyKY-heKg/VtuSgVLvUkI/AAAAAAAAUPI/5ck_Wo-WeBM/s1600-r/Amazon%2BLink%2BImage%2B2.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01nyKY-heKg/VtuSgVLvUkI/AAAAAAAAUPI/5ck_Wo-WeBM/s1600-r/Amazon%2BLink%2BImage%2B2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Amazon BLink BImage B", "rendered_width": 300, "rendered_height": 181}, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8FQlhavVfg/VtuSTlTxboI/AAAAAAAAUPA/Nfvpfkuo2RE/s320/Amazon%2BStore%2BLink%2B2.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8FQlhavVfg/VtuSTlTxboI/AAAAAAAAUPA/Nfvpfkuo2RE/s320/Amazon%2BStore%2BLink%2B2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Amazon BStore BLink B", "rendered_width": 280, "rendered_height": 148}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnSiQgsmTa4/V8np2iAv0YI/AAAAAAAAVVs/nPkQwulH9n80d6Vzdj-0qBMBiuWe5YVvQCK4B/s1600/Scriptures%2Bfor%2BMiscarriage%2BSidebar%2BNew%2Bwith%2BPrintable.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnSiQgsmTa4/V8np2iAv0YI/AAAAAAAAVVs/nPkQwulH9n80d6Vzdj-0qBMBiuWe5YVvQCK4B/s1600/Scriptures%2Bfor%2BMiscarriage%2BSidebar%2BNew%2Bwith%2BPrintable.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Scriptures Bfor BMiscarriage BSidebar BNew Bwith BPrintable", "rendered_width": 330, "rendered_height": 200}, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMxelvzxyW0/Vt2qSa4RmcI/AAAAAAAAUQI/t-aurYKAK84/s1600-r/The%2BBattle%2BThat%2Bis%2BMarriage%2BGray%2BNew%2BSidebar.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMxelvzxyW0/Vt2qSa4RmcI/AAAAAAAAUQI/t-aurYKAK84/s1600-r/The%2BBattle%2BThat%2Bis%2BMarriage%2BGray%2BNew%2BSidebar.jpg", "formatted_filename": "The BBattle BThat Bis BMarriage BGray BNew BSidebar", "rendered_width": 330, "rendered_height": 200}, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFAbpE7zbH0/Vt2gCxaObqI/AAAAAAAAUPs/wxyQ5Jyo3qY/s1600-r/Pregnant%2BWorks%2Bof%2BMercy%2BNew%2BSidebar.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFAbpE7zbH0/Vt2gCxaObqI/AAAAAAAAUPs/wxyQ5Jyo3qY/s1600-r/Pregnant%2BWorks%2Bof%2BMercy%2BNew%2BSidebar.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Pregnant BWorks Bof BMercy BNew BSidebar", "rendered_width": 330, "rendered_height": 200}, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dLSRgic2NU/Vt3aydDlQRI/AAAAAAAAUQo/ybO252JErtY/s1600-r/Motherhood%2BIs%2BA%2BMuscle.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dLSRgic2NU/Vt3aydDlQRI/AAAAAAAAUQo/ybO252JErtY/s1600-r/Motherhood%2BIs%2BA%2BMuscle.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Motherhood BIs BA BMuscle", "rendered_width": 330, "rendered_height": 200}, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9XSEdcq2_0/V6j6veQ7_6I/AAAAAAAAVKg/tUcG_C96pTQBKqEasn4UOcK9CYfSAzCbACK4B/s1600/Battle%2BScars%2BSidebar.png", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9XSEdcq2_0/V6j6veQ7_6I/AAAAAAAAVKg/tUcG_C96pTQBKqEasn4UOcK9CYfSAzCbACK4B/s1600/Battle%2BScars%2BSidebar.png", "formatted_filename": "Battle BScars BSidebar", "rendered_width": 330, "rendered_height": 200}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EnqMLqyFB48/Vid7XDti_YI/AAAAAAAATBA/blNeDOwojY4/s1600-r/Elizabeth%2BMinistry%2B180.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EnqMLqyFB48/Vid7XDti_YI/AAAAAAAATBA/blNeDOwojY4/s1600-r/Elizabeth%2BMinistry%2B180.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Elizabeth BMinistry B", "rendered_width": 180, "rendered_height": 218}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZgkJFuPz8Y/U9fdnCK0fUI/AAAAAAAAOYY/3EtUdOPzxWE/s320/St.+Raphael.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZgkJFuPz8Y/U9fdnCK0fUI/AAAAAAAAOYY/3EtUdOPzxWE/s320/St.+Raphael.jpg", "formatted_filename": "St", "rendered_width": 160, "rendered_height": 200}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.betterthaneden.com/2014/10/fun-updates-all-saints-day-and-some.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X8Sv26ySw6g/Vdt2e2aeEZI/AAAAAAAASdI/u8VIhmyuq64/s290/Credo.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X8Sv26ySw6g/Vdt2e2aeEZI/AAAAAAAASdI/u8VIhmyuq64/s290/Credo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Credo", "rendered_width": 208, "rendered_height": 208}]

Fun Updates, All Saints' Day, and Some Opinions Needed

Outside my window...
A brisk gray fall day

Thankful for...
a healthy bambino!
I had my first appointment with my midwife the other day!  We had a small scare when we couldn't find the heartbeat after looking for about five minutes.  I'm over ten weeks along now and that was unusual for me to not hear it by this point so we were kind of surprised.  I wasn't really worried and felt at peace since I've been so sick but Brian got pretty scared.  So we headed over for an unexpected ultrasound straight from there just to make sure everything was okay.  And baby looks beautiful.  He or she was flipping all around and waving and even had hiccups!  Heartbeat perfect.  It is so so incredible that this wee little one just an inch and a half long had hiccups and all his or her main parts.  Oh, and there was only one.  Not gonna lie, I've had a twin feeling this pregnancy since it's been so intense but nope, just one in there :)

Little kumquat baby is measuring at exactly what my due date guess was.  This was the first time I wasn't exactly sure on the whole conception date so it was nice to have that affirmation that my guess was right!

I do have a small subchorionic bleed that is really common.  A lot of women have them and never even know it and they heal on their own.  But since we happened to have the ultrasound, it showed up.  The tech just said I should avoid lifting really heavy things or exerting myself too much and I was like, "done and done."

Also so thankful for two amazing births I doulaed at this month.  One at home and one a home birth after cesarean.  What a blessing to be there and share in such incredible moments.

Thinking about...
ah, things have been nuts lately.  Once All Saints' Day is over life should calm down a bit?  I'm looking forward to that.  Settling in for cold weather and preparing for Thanksgiving and Advent and Christmas.  Hot cider or tea in hand, finally having some evenings where both Brian and I are home, hopefully not feeling yucky anymore...that sounds delightful.

how to take help.  It's kinda nice :)

Struggling with...
you know, first trimester stuff.  Grateful for only a few weeks left and (hoping!) to feel much better soon.

frozen, gifted, and easy meals.
Two more friends made dinner for us and I was able to use them on days when it was SUCH a blessing.  How nice is it to have a meal made for you???  So nice.  If I had the choice of any sort of luxury, I think it would be having a personal chef.

A gift of custom-made donuts also arrived on my counter this morning.  Seriously.  Custom-made.  Long story short a friend of ours has to do huge bulk orders at this bakery and the owner offered him some special donuts or something and our friend requested some for me!  Peanut filled with homemade bavarian cream.  Oh my goodness.  The best two donuts combined into one.  Amazing stuff.

All Saints' Day costumes!
I even pulled out the sewing machine.  John Paul and Michael's are done and I just need to do some ironing and organizing for the littles.  I should be doing that at this very moment but I haven't popped on here in far too long to share.  Plus, typing means I can lay on the couch :)

our group just finished These Beautiful Bones by Emily Stimpson.  REALLY good.  I highly highly recommend it.  On my own I finished My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell which made me cry.  Very good memoir.  Next up is the copy of Edith Stein's collected works that just arrived in yesterday's mail.  A bit headier but I'm looking forward to it.

to our All Saints' Day party on Saturday.  It's on the 1st this year so we're not sure what's happening on Friday evening yet.  It's going to be in the forties and rainy (because Buffalo) so that might decide it for us anyway.  Someone really needs to move Halloween or some sort of similar pseudo costume neighbor celebration thing to like, August or September, right fellow Northerners?  I'm not anti-Halloween necessarily but I am anti-walking-around-in-the-freezing-cold-and-rain-with-tired-wet-kids-on-a-darkly-lit-country-road. Maybe it's a better night for hot cider, a warm house, caramel apples, and a good saint movie?

housework has been at a minimum.  It helps so much that Brian has been so on top of things the last few months.

for so many who long to conceive.  It's such a fine line sharing our blessing while knowing others suffer and long for the same.  I can't explain it but I do think of that often and try very hard not to take this gift for granted.

for those who have lost children and are grieving.

for all of you who shared your intentions with me.  Thank you for letting me do that.

Worth a Click...
How to Be My Friend...When You're Expecting and I'm Not by Molly

Tweedle Dee and Twaddle Dum:  Balancing Quality Children's Lit with All the Rest another great one from Molly.  I love her list of requirements for books.  We go by exactly the same model.

We've Had Three Kids and Doulas With Each - Why We'd Do it Again by Nell

Hey Young People, Now's the Time to Get Married by Matt Walsh

Halloween {A Failed Catechesis on Holy Death} by Melody.  Some very thought-provoking stuff.

I used to be good at collecting links to share with you...should I do that again?  Most of what I find share-worthy I've just been sharing on the FB page.  Any opinions on the matter?  What say you?  Do you even care?

Oh!  And opinions on the new headshot photo?  I finally updated that blurry shot from years ago.  I thought it wasn't that bad but when Brian saw it he was all, "why does your face look like that?  Why are you scrunched up?"  (Don't worry, he's the same guy who tells me I'm beautiful - and means it! - when I'm feeling my grossest.  It's just funny that the one time I think I look decent is the one time he disagrees :) )  So, is it awful?  Too scary close?  Do I look scrunched??

A picture thought to share... I think this updated pic, however, definitely beats that first one :)

Posted by Mary @ Better Than Eden Labels: Baby, Daybook

 Get Better Than Eden in Your Inbox The Best of Better Than Eden Under the Patronage of St. Raphael the Archangel And Other Things I Write