Theodore's baptism

Little Theodore was baptized Wednesday. Everything went well, he didn't make a fuss at all, even after he was immersed. I'm very proud of him. He looked handsome and healthy in his gown. Our oldest son was able to serve the same evening and I am also very proud of him- he did things he's never done before to help the priest. Beautiful to see them together in front of the altar.

It is strange seeing your small baby plunged into a tub of water. Three times. I waited for him to cry after our priest pulled him from the font... and I waited, my heart pounding- then my baby boy sort of shuddered and cried out. I immediately thought of his birth, and the same feeling of watchful anticipation waiting for a first cry. An interesting juxtaposition, methinks.

Life is good. I should probably write more about homeschooling here, but I just don't have the time. It's going well this year, I am pleased. I am, as per usual, learning more than I am teaching.

Many years, Theodore!

Orthodox baptismal robe, and Just so

The baby is doing great. He's a fantastic sleeper, and just a really sweet little guy. His baptism will be next week, and his godparents have gotten him a baptismal robe that I am very excited about. I was hoping any Orthodox (or Catholic, or Anglican) readers of this blog might order their children's robes from this Orthodox lady, Anna. Handmade! She's been very patient and helpful to me and to Theodore's godparents. While I haven't seen his robe yet in person, it looks well made and lovely. Here is the website, and please share it!

My life as late is pretty much safely summed up like this: 'There is a Baby in the Cave. He is new and pink and fat and small, and the Woman is very fond of him.' (from The Cat That Walked By Himself from Just So Stories by R. Kipling)

radical thoughts

I suppose the thing I am about to write is radical to some (but of the barely ten people I know of read this blog...maybe some will agree). I have recently had to have a check-up most women have 6 weeks after their baby is born. I've been through this before, and they always ask if you need to start birth control for family planning. Usually, they recommend the pill. 


I've shared what I've come to know about this before. A few years ago, I had no idea what birth control pills actually did. If you read the insert of any type of hormonal birth control, you'll see three ways listed in which pregnancy is avoided. Usually, the inserts say something along these lines: The pill effects hormones so a woman does not ovulate. A woman cannot get pregnant if she doesn't ovulate because there is no egg to be fertilized. The pill also works by thickening the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones in the pill can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus. It's this third part I take issue with, and it's the part I have noticed gets the least amount of press. We don't want to hear this, and take into account what it really means is possible.


If you believe life begins at conception, and profess it, then you might want to look closer. If a fertilized egg is life, because that is conception, then an insufficient uterine lining disallowing a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus and thrive does what?


Pro-life and pro-the pill? Not possible. Does "sometimes" really matter? Yup. 

Churched!

Today my little Theodore and I were churched. It's rather a satisfying feeling for me. That sounds odd, but I mean I am glad to finally be in a place where I can be churched, where it's normal. I asked to be churched in the Anglican churches we went to, as soon as I read about it and found it in the prayer book. At the less (read, much less) traditional church the "priest", and I say that in quotations because he later asked to be just called by his first name, and not by Father, gave me a confused look when I asked about churching. At the more traditional Anglican church, where the priest taught catechism with a Roman Catholic book, and the congregation liked to pretend Anglo-Catholicism exists, the priest was at least aware of the existence of the practice anciently, but he had never done it and wasn't too interested in it. I am glad, now, to be actually churched, and to watch my son carried through the altar. Theodore smiled big at our gentle priest, and didn't make a peep. As soon as his churching was over, several women converged upon us to hold him. I watched my littlest boy gazing up at Christ Pantocrater on the ceiling in wonder from a good friend's arms. It was sweet to see.

This weekend...

...shall be wine weekend. 

You know you laughed. Sorry for the vulgarization.