I had intended to write up a few posts in advance of the new baby, and schedule a couple each week. But that hasn’t happened. Instead, this is my tenth post in as many days. Apparently, the new plan is to make you all so sick of reading my blog that you’ll be grateful for a reprieve.
Anyway, here’s a post about some stuff I’ve made . . .
A real book!
Here’s the cover of my book! It’s a question and answer catechism for kids, focusing on preparing them for their first (then all their subsequent) confessions. My goal was to write something for people who weren’t happy with the standard “God made rainbows and you are special” version of Catholicism that seems to be what’s usually offered to kids, but who wanted something a little more accessible than the Baltimore Catechism.
Also, a fake book.
Last week, during the Advent Jesse Tree Set giveaway, I posted a tutorial on how to make the ornaments yourself, which included a link to Shutterfly in case you wanted to buy a copy of the book I made with all the readings. However, it turned out that that was an old version of a Shutterfly book and it wasn’t available to be ordered. But I was able to get it converted to a new version, and I reformatted it, and while I was at it I replaced the readings so they are now New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. I honestly don’t know what version the first book included. Back when I first put it together I’m not sure I knew that there were multiple versions of the Bible to choose from.
Anyway, it’s fixed and better than ever and if you’d like to buy one you’re welcome to do so. I’m not making a commission or anything, but if it would help you in your celebration of advent . . . have at it!
If you live outside the US, you can’t order Shutterfly books, so here is a google+ album with all the images in case you’d like to download them to your own computer and create a book yourself.
Anita’s Godfather, Scott Corie, is in the LA Diocesan seminary and will be ordained to the diaconate on Saturday! Unless I’m having a baby, we’ll be there. As a gift, I made him a cope, humeral veil, and stole. My mom gave me my first sewing lessons when I was a little girl, and I’ve put a lot of time into figuring it out as an adult. But I certainly wouldn’t say I am an expert. I have sewed a LOT of baby blankets, and curtains, and dresses for the girls, but this was by far the most complicated thing I’ve ever attempted.
Brother Scott is a 6’5″ Scotsman for starters, so the thing is enormous! And I didn’t have a pattern, so I was totally winging it. AND it was expensive fabric, so if I blew it . . . yikes. Oh, and have I mentioned that I’m pregnant?
Anyway, it was the most stressful thing I’ve ever attempted to make, but I finished it on Sunday and I’m really pleased with how it turned out!
Please take a moment on Saturday to pray for Brother Scott and his classmates. We’re so proud of him!
P.S. If you are a liturgical garment expert and I have done something improperly, please be a dear and DON’T tell me. Awesome. Thanks.
Since we don’t find out if we’re having a boy or a girl, I always make two baby blankets. One for each. Here they are for this go round:
I was lucky enough to get to see an advance copy of Haley from Carrots for Michaelmas’ new liturgical year e-cookbook. It’s called: Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year. I’m looking forward to posting a whole review soon, but until then I’m just going to taunt you with the fact that *I* got to make her Simple Black Beans and Rice Recipe already and it was amazing! I made a triple batch and we ate it for dinner, put some in the freezer, and brought some to a friend who just had a baby last week. Yum.
In related memes:
And I was saving this spot in case I needed it to introduce the new baby. But since, as of post time I have yet to go into labor, let’s all take a moment to bond over those two most Catholic of endeavors: giving birth and games of chance.
If you read all the birth stories I posted this week, you’ll know that these are my current ranges . . .
- Time of Labor: 1.5-50 hours
- Dates: +/- 3 days from my due date
- Weight: 7 lbs 5 oz – 9 lbs 1 oz
- Time of day: morning, noon, evening, night, I’ve had them all
- Current ratio: 4 boys, 2 girls
- Due date: November 27
So, leave a comment with your best guess for this baby. Date, time of day, length of labor, weight, and boy or girl. Whoever gets closest gets bragging rights and a shout out on the blog and maybe even a fabulous prize if I get around to it. But, I might flake on that part. Bragging rights for sure. And the shout out.
Update: Haley has generously offered to give the winner of our baby pool a FREE copy of the awesome ebook I mentioned in take 5! So you will get a fabulous prize and you won’t even have to wait to see if I can find my way to the post office.
But if you want your own copy of the ebook in time for dinner tonight, go here and buy one today. It’s on sale for less than $5 only until Thanksgiving! And maybe the baby won’t have come by then. Do you really want to take that chance?
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p.s. Thanks for all the great Netflix suggestions, I’ve been trying them out and will update you guys at some point. I figure I’ll probably get some more Netflix time than usual over the next few weeks!
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p.p.s. Thanks to everyone who voted for Catholic All Year over the last week or so at The Homeschool Post. We did not win, but ya know, honor to be nominated, yada yada yada. :0)
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Happy Weekend everyone!
Will the release date for your Confession book give me enough time to prepare Gianna for her first confession in he spring? If not, I hereby request an advance copy. 😉
My baby guess: Nov 25, midday, baby girl, 8 lbs 2 oz, 7 hour labor 🙂
Well, you'll get a couple of months anyway, that was the idea. But since I just happen to see you every Friday I'll bet we can work something out!
what?! You guys see each other every Friday?? I'm jealous.
As of a month or two ago we go to the same homeschool park day!
November 26th (my sister's birthday) in the morning, 7 lbs, 9 oz, 5 hours, girl :). Have a great Friday!
Loved the quick takes, thanks!
November 29
10am
3 hours
8 lbs 1 oz
boy
Your book looks great! Congratulations! I also love the vestments you made! I'm going to be nice and guess November 22, 12:00pm, 4 hours, 7.5 lb, girl. I'll keep you in my prayers!
Nov. 30 (don't hate me–I just like the feast day!) 12:51am 6.5 hours, 7#14oz girl.
Congrats on the book–can't wait to order it! I'm a Baltimore Catechism girl myself (product of my upbringing) but I'm sure this will be a welcome resources for my littles. And the church vestments?…um…once upon a time I bought a pattern and actually took measurements of a priest to make him a set but never got beyond that. I say it again…I want to be you when I grow up.
I love the Baltimore Catechism too! It's what I've used with all my kids. This will also work as a companion 🙂 because it's got things like an examination of conscience for kids, and an introduction to the saints. And while *I* love the Baltimore Catechism illustrations and I think kids love them, they do kinda freak out some grownups. Maria's illustrations are really sweet, so I'm hoping it will be something that people outside our inner circle will be comfortable using too!
I'm guessing
Nov. 27
Girl
8' 1"
4 hour labor
11 PM
We'll pray for you! And congrats on the book…looks good.
But, since tonorrow is my birthday, I'm also guessing tomorrow, because it's a cool day and I'd love to share my birthday with a Tierney baby. So….
Nov 23rd
4:00 PM
Nov. 24
Girl
7 lbs 6 oz
3 hours labor
4 am
And wow, congrats on the book!
Nov 28
3.25 hours labor
7lb 6oz
11:05am
girl named Lucy (I hope I haven't wrecked the surprise. =) I just really, really love the name Lucy and I think it fits beautifully with your family names and Adam would have been Lucy if he had been a girl.)
I can't believe you MADE vestments…without a pattern. for yet another reason, you are my hero.
Also…does this mean that there are 14 Tierney baby blankets out there somewhere?!?
Again, hero.
Sometimes I've saved the blanket for the next time around, sometimes I've given them away, so no there's not a stack of might have been baby blankets!
Congratulations on the book! Very cool!
Hmmm, my guess is November 25, 1:00 am, 2 hours labor, girl, 8 lbs 2 oz
Gah! I'm cardless for now due to some not-by-us charges on our credit card. And I really want to buy that book NOW so I can start making those black beans and rice (which look meatless no?). Oh well. I'll just need to spend the money next week.
I'm gonna guess:
Due Date
4 hours
2am
boy
8lbs 3 oz.
Congrats on the book!
Nov 28th, a baby girl at 6:30 am
4 ~6 hr labor
forgot weight ~ 7 lb 9 oz
November 27
Boy
Noonish
3 hours
8 lbs. 2 oz.
Can I request an advance copy of your book, too?
Yay! I love your book already! I think it sounds perfect. I think accessible catechisms are where it is at! Oh gosh…
K. Girl. 8 lbs 5 oz. (Although you're such a great pregnant lady you don't look like you could have the big a child!) 3 hours labor. Nov 27. 7 pm. Because you'll want to finish school, make everyone dinner, then saunter to the hospital in non-peak hours – but that's probably still peak hours in LA….Good luck!
This is fun! My guess:
November 28 (happy Thanksgiving!)
8 a.m.
3 hour labor
girl
8lbs 5 oz
How ironic? I just published a book about Jesus and rainbows.
Kidding.
But…
I do teach second grade Religious Ed and am always looking for new and better ways to bring them closer to Jesus…looking forward to your book! We start our lesson on Penance, forgiveness and healing in a few weeks.
And I just started reading your blog, so I don't feel I know you well enough to guess on the birth…I am still in shock and awe over all of things you manage to make WHILE making children. God Bless!
Beautiful vestments! How did you do the IHS?
My guesses: 5 hour labor, boy, night, 7lb13oz, Nov. 24th
First, it's pretty modern, I did a google image search and printed it out and traced it onto the fabric.
But THEN because I'm a nerd even for embroidery, I used the Bayeux Tapestry method to hand embroider it.
I've been told about your wonderful blog by my sister-in-law a month ago and have be glued to it ever since! I LOVE your "parenting with authority" and "always say what you mean" pages. Very inspiring and helpful! Here are my predictions for your little bundle 🙂 Congratulations!
November 25
Late morning- early afternoon
4 hr labor
Girl
7lb 4oz
The garments for Br Scott are amazing. I saw some of it in the making and I who taught you to sew can't see how you did it without a pattern. What an accomplishment!!!!
I can't wait to get the Little Book on Confession for all of my Grandmother friends. I was it in progress and it's wonderful and you'll love it.
We are planning on coming up to Northridge on Tues and picking up the pies at the mission on the way so here are my baby coming guesses: arrive on 25th at 4am with 4 hrs labor, weigh 8lbs 4oz, 21" in length and be a boy even though I'm hoping for another girl, have blue eyes, blond fuzzy hair and look exactly like all of the other boys.
Nanacamille
I'm seriously impressed at the liturgical garb you made for Brother Scott! Too cool! I still haven't gotten up the guts to make any liturgical wear for my pastor husband, poor guy will just have to wait while I make a million tunic tops for the baby instead 🙂
My guesses for the baby are as follows:
Baby GIRL (because I like to even up the numbers)
Born 1 day before her due date
Born in the morning
After a short labor (2.5 hours?)
Here's my guess:
December 1st
Easy going little boy
Morning birth
18 hours of labor
8 lbs 5 oz
Good luck!
Boy
November 27th
Afternoon
4 hours of labor
8lbs 8 oz
November 24th
7:33 pm
2 1/2 hours of labor
7 lbs 11 oz
Girl
You are a blessed family…I say November 28th, AM, 1.5 hours of labor, 8 pound 4 oz, healthy and happy baby. Then you will have the rest of the day to celebrate and give thanks! Praying for you both
The vestments are beautiful! If you were not about to have a baby, I would try to convince you to make some for a dear priest friend of mine.
My guess… a sweet little girl born Nov 29 after 3 hours of labor. She'll be born in the a.m. but she's very sweet and lets you have breakfast and a shower first and maybe read a story to her big brothers and sisters. She will be your first baby born with brown hair but otherwise she'll have that same adorable Tierney newborn look
Oh yeah and she will weigh in at 7 lb 6 oz
I'm going to guess November 26th, 4:30pm (after 6 hours of labor) – Girl 7 lbs. 13 oz. Good luck to you!
I'm going to guess Nov 27 around 10pm 🙂
You make 2 quilts in advance? Wow! What do you do with the "other" one?
Nov 26 (my birthday)
3pm
4 hours long
8 lbs 3 oz
girl
November 28
11:30 pm
3 hours of labor
8 lbs 12 oz
girl
I think the vestments are amazing! I am looking forward to your book too. My daughter is helping this year with the 2nd graders who make their first confession in January. I am hoping we could use this next year as we won't have a set curriculum for the Religious Ed and my daughter loves the Baltimore Catechism.
Nov 28, 4pm, 2hrs, 8lb 6oz little turkey, um I mean girl!
Best wishes on your day of joys and fruitful suffering.
Praying for you! I also love the book cover and the baby blankets. Here's my input:
Nov 28
2am
6 hours
8 lb 14 oz
boy