Holy Week

This is a very spiritual time of year for me. This year I am especially reflective because I have spent the last 7 months going through the RCIA process, which is Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults. In other words, I have spent this year in the conversion process from Missouri Synod Lutheran to Catholic.

This was a life-changing decision for me. I spent all of my life as a Lutheran and never thought about changing to a different religion. That changed, of course, when I met Randy. Through college and while we were engaged, we usually went to Catholic church. I'm not sure why we defaulted to that; perhaps because of the Saturday night services (?). After we were married, we only went to Catholic church together. We discussed my becoming Catholic, but never seriously until late last summer (2009). We found out I was pregnant in July and it seemed like the natural next step for our family. We wanted to baptize our child as a family of one religion.

I began the RCIA process in September with Randy as my sponsor. We went to classes every Thursday night for several hours. Sometimes the nights got long, especially when we had to sacrifice other things that were maybe more fun, but they were definitely worth it. We have grown as a couple through this process and I think we have both learned a lot.

This Saturday night, at 8 p.m., I will become Catholic. I've still got some work to do this week insofar as getting myself emotionally ready for the process. I've been so busy with my baby girl, work, grad school, etc., that I haven't been as centered as I'd like. I'm not sure how I'll react Saturday night when I am fully initiated - though this is an exciting step in all of our lives (mine, Randy's, Quinn's), there is still a grieving process involved as I leave a part of my old self behind.  I can't help but feel sad knowing that I'll never take communion as a Lutheran again; I wonder, also, how I'll feel when I step into Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia, the church in which I was baptized, confirmed, and married. I have a feeling that the next time I go to church there with my mom will be a tough morning.

Anyway, to focus on the future....I am nervous, excited, overwhelmed...everything. Wish me luck during the rest of the week as we attend Holy Week services and I prepare myself more fully for the next step in my spiritual life!

Fun with the Meyers!

Earlier today, my brother, Paul, sister-in-law, Steph, and their cuties Casie and Camryn came to visit! We were so excited to have Baby Quinn meet her cousins! The girls were so well-behaved and very gentle with Quinn! Camryn had fun playing a fern planter that we have that is shaped like a dog. She also enjoyed trying on some baby clothes!! They were a tight fit. :-)

It was really special to have the Meyers visit. I wish we got to see them more - they live in Cedar Rapids. It was so nice to have lunch and a relaxing afternoon visit! Love you guys!

Early Easter!

This past Saturday, Randy and I traveled to Carroll for Randy's family's Easter. Forgot the camera, so no pics of that....good times with family and so much good food! This was Quinn's first family event with lots of people, and she did great! Such a good girl. :-)

Afterward we went to Westside to my parents'. Since he retired, Dad has driven bus for Windstar. He had a trip so he only got to kiss Quinn hello and was on his way! Randy and I stayed for supper and some relaxing time with Grandma Cathy.

Mini-update on Quinn

At the pediatrician's office today everything went well! Quinn was 7 lbs. 4 oz. when she was born and is now 7 lbs. 12 oz.! She hasn't grown in height at all but her weight gain is great! She is somewhere around the 60th percentile for both height and weight. Her big old head is in the 90's. :-)

Big weekend planned - trips to Carroll and Westside tomorrow and some special visitors Sunday! More to come soon.

Birthday Blues Part II

The rest of my birthday was not bad at all!! A lady dropped by to give us lots of coupons, gift cards, etc. for being new to the city of Waukee. After that, we ventured out to make a much-needed trip to Sam's Club. It was now past 7:00 and we were STARVING, so the birthday dinner of choice? Taco Bell. :-) One of my favorites, though, so no worries!

When we got to Sam's Club, Quinn was getting REALLY hungry, so I didn't go inside, I left Randy to his own devices with the shopping list. I fed her in the backseat of our new SUV. However, I didn't realize that there were child locks on the back doors, so I couldn't get out once she was done eating! Quinn's carseat is in the middle of the backseat so there was no climbing over seats to get to the front...it was kind of scary! I just had to sit and wait for Randy to get back, which he did eventually, though there were some problems with his card (as there always are when you are in a hurry).

Oh, and I forgot! Randy got me a great present. He came home with this bag just stuffed FULL of workout clothes! I am obsessed with Danskin workout clothes from Wal-Mart. I used to love the Danskin store at the outlet mall and am so glad that you can get decent quality clothes so cheaply at Wal-Mart! My goal for today is to return them and get them in the proper sizes. Don't worry, he doesn't mind. :-)

Off to the pediatrician for now - I'll post later if anything new with Q comes up!

Birthday Blues - Part I

So, today is my birthday. The big 2-5! However, I am not one of those people who really enjoys their birthday. They tend to get me a little down, though I am not sure exactly why. I don't have a fear of my own mortality or anything like that...I think I just always have these super high expectations of what the day is going to entail and then I am let down.

BUT...this year I had someone extra special with whom to celebrate. I am home on maternity leave, so Baby Quinn and I got to spend my birthday out and about! The day started out a little slowly. Quinn woke up and didn't nurse well, which is SO unlike her because she has been an awesome eater since literally hour one of her life. I gave her a bottle to try to get her to eat, and once it was done, she spat the whole thing up (all over Mom, yes. :-) ) She slept off her sour tum for a few hours in our bedroom while I diddled around upstairs.

We then went off to Valley West Mall. I had a 15% off clearance coupon for Penney's and wanted to use it today in conjunction with a gift card I'd gotten from my parents. I don't know how to use Quinn's stroller, so I just hauled her baby carrier around. For containing such a tiny gal, that thing is HEAVY! Well, I found a few things I liked for Quinn so we got those.

THEN, the best part. My favorite sandwich in the entire world is this roast beef sandwich from a restaurant called Iowa Bakery Cafe on 42nd and University, near Drake U. I went there all the time in college and always got the same thing. I try to get it when I am near campus for grad school business, too. However, I avoided the cafe for 9 months because my favorite sandwich is a preggo nightmare! I watched what I ate really closely while I was pregnant, and this sandwich did not make the cut because it had lunchmeat, sprouts, and bleu cheese on it - all things you are supposed to avoid! Needless to say, I enjoyed it very much today.

After lunch, Quinn and I have been snoozing, catching up on email and laundry, and just hanging out. We are excited to see Daddy when he comes home and find out what the rest of my birthday has in store!!

Some of my favorite hospital pics

1 week portraits

On Saturday, Randy, my sister, Beth, and Beth's daughter, Ava, went to get Quinn's 1-week portraits taken at Sears. I wasn't feeling well so I stayed home to catch up on laundry. They turned out super cute. Enjoy!

You and me and the baby makes three...

Hi! I have finally jumped on the blogging bandwagon. It's funny because blogging seems like such a "Jill" thing to do, yet I haven't gotten into it yet! Well, now that I actually have something (or someone, rather) to actually blog about, here goes. A lot has happened in the past few weeks, so I will sort of back up here.

At 10:55 a.m. on March 12th, 2010, Randy and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl, Miss Quinn Elizabeth Kasparbauer into the world! She weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz. and was 19 3/4" long. Quinn was almost a week and a half late, so I had to be induced. We went into the hospital at 8:30 on Thursday evening and before lunchtime on Friday we were a family of three!