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Ok, I’m just gonna let that unbelievable cuteness sink in for a second. Gwen Stella is almost 18 months and it just one of my most favorite-ist ages. Sure, they scale everything in sight and break things and color on the walls and freak out because you won’t them use their shoe as a spoon for eating guacamole or because they wanted that banana to be handed to them just BARELY peeled so they can peel most of it themselves NOT already peeled and therefore horrible and scream-worthy and disgusting and what kind of mother are you to hand your child a peeled banana let me promptly throw it on the ground and them squash it with my little toddler feet. But that magic 18 months- 2.5 years is also completely wonderful, hilarious, and precious. I’m a big fan of 18 months. So crazy. So fun.
The Quotable Lucy (3 years):
“Babygirl, why did you color all over your head with marker?”
“Oh, I just ran out of paper.”
Well, naturally.
This Week at Carrots:
I was, yet again, blown away by the grace, charity, and respect you amazing readers showed one another in the comments of Tyler Blanski’s guest post about veiling. I learned so much. SO much. And I love that it was a discussion. A conversation. Not a ‘to veil or not to veil’ battle of doom. Beautiful. Thanks for being the best ever!
The other big news is that Christy Isinger and I started a podcast! Episode 1 is up and you can check it out and find all the show notes at Fountains of Carrots. Our goal was for it to feel like drinking tea on the couch with some girlfriends. And that’s exactly what so many of you said you felt like when you listened to it! So glad.
But friends, these are the crazy eyes of a woman who launched a podcast AND is trying to wrap up the new ebook (More Feasts!) all in one week. What was I thinking? I swapped childcare with a friend this week and when I was my turn for alone time yesterday morning and I plopped down with a mocha and my laptop all I could think was, “brain. hurting. so tired. what was I thinking?!” But the end is in sight! It really is. And these are the saints we’ve got recipes and/or activities for:
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- St. Paul Miki
- St. Joseph
- St. Catherine of Siena
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha
- St. Maximilian Kolbe
- St. Augustine
- St. Andrew Kim Taegong
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Teresa of Avila
- St. Andrew Dung-Lac
So excited to share them with you! We’re still shooting for a Nov 30th launch date. So, coming soon! (And those of you who purchased the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle will be receiving your copy right in your inbox as soon as it’s done!)
Quote:
I thought this was just too funny/wonderful/timely not to share from dear old G.K.:
“A turkey is more occult and awful than all the angels and archangels in so far as God has partly revealed to us an angelic world, he has partly told us what an angel means. But God has never told us what a turkey means. And if you go and stare at a live turkey for an hour or two, you will find by the end of it that the enigma has rather increased than diminished.” – G.K. Chesterton
Links:
Parenting: Giving God a Great Return on His Investment: Cari Donaldson for Aleteia
On Being Bummed but Not Complaining: A Knotted Life (For the ladies not going to Edel this year, we’ll miss you! For those who are going, I can’t wait to see you!)
When Yes Is No and No Is Yes: Surviving Our Blessings
One of my favorite bloggers is hanging up her blogging to pursue other lovely things. So looking forward to Megan’s future endeavors!
Podcasts:
I absolutely LOVED this podcast interviewing Sr. Faustina of the Sisters of Life. So inspiring. So SO good.
This and That:
Gonna do some Amazon Christmas shopping? Did you know that you can support Carrots by using my Amazon affiliate link? I will receive a small percentage of the sale at NO additional cost to you. A huge thanks to those of you who emailed or messaged me asking for my link! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness!
And now, I have a little gift for you! Ignatius Press wants to offer a lucky reader a copy of the new book, The Accidental Marriage, a novel by Roger. B. Thomas. I haven’t read the novel yet (remember that little bit about trying to launch podcasts and finish our book all in one week…yeah…ahem, plate FULL.) But here’s some reviews from authors whose books I LOVED, and I trust their word:
“In The Accidental Marriage, Roger Thomas plunges into the hot button issues of our day. He fearlessly explores questions about what terms like ‘love’ and ‘marriage’ really mean, all the while drawing us into the lives of eminently relatable characters.”
— Jennifer Fulwiler, Author, Something Other Than God
“If I ever have to cross a minefield, I want to follow Roger Thomas. Mr. Thomas deftly weaves his way through the shibboleths of modernity, while flipping them on their heads with great respect, charity, and clarity. The prose is concise without being sterile, and pulls you into a story that will make you want to knock the antagonists on their butts, and urge the protagonists over each obstacle. These are real people in a real world that way too many people can no longer see through the fog they call enlightenment.”
— Michael Richard, Author, Tobit’s Dog
Just use the rafflecopter widget below to enter. (U.S. entries only, please.) Giveaway ends Tuesday at midnight EST.
And while we’re in giveaway mode, the winner of Cynthia Montanaro’s book, Diary of a County Mother, goes to Leah R.!
Sponsors:
Be sure to give some love to this month’s sponsors! They keep the lights on around here.
- Lilla Rose (consultant Mandi Richards)
- Ignatius Press
- Holy Heroes
- Toadily Handmade Beeswax Candles
- Diary of a Country Mother
Lots of love,
Haley
P.S. You can follow me…
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HER HAIR. Oh baby girl, your little top knot is a thing of joy to behold.
I am currently reading Magnificat’s Advent Companion. LOL Not really a book I guess, but I get very excited when Advent comes near.
I also have Parenting with Grace by the Popcak’s going once again. I have read it over and over and over again. It is helpful during the long days.
Yes, the turkey quote. Why all the poops on my walkway? Why digging up only half of my little garden over and over and over? WHY? Turkeys. My nemesis.
OMG I love Gwen’s hair and grin <3
Right now, I am listening to the Age of Innocence on audiobook and have Frankenstein ready to start on my nightstand.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey. It was excellent!
Our Lady of Kibeho
Oh, Gwen is so sweet! My daughter Lucy is almost eighteen months, too. I agree it is a GREAT age. I am currently reading Life of Christ by Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Hope you get some rest soon!
Oh I can’t wait until my little almost-2 year old has hair! She’s still rocking the bald look. And I am looking forward to more podcasts! The first was great, just loved the friendly chit-chat about life
My mother-in-law lent me Lisa Hendy’s The Handbook for Catholic Moms. So far so good, Lisa’s great!
“Playful” — a book about projects to do with kids (not that any of them will even happen but it’s nice to get ideas).
My 2 year old colored with crayon all over the furniture the other day and when I asked her why she’d done it, she said very matter-of-factly, “It happened.” Well, okay then.
Just finished Mansfield Park, reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Definitely was enjoying the first more than the second, but hoping for a good night’s rest with my 8 month old soon! Thanks for the giveaway, Haley!
So call me a nerd or call me crazy (or both, because I am) but I am currently reading Moby Dick along with the AP English students at the school where my husband teaches (the reading is open to the whole school community, and we are spreading it out over the course of the school year). And I am also reading The Screwtape Letters. Heavy material, yes. But it’s all good for the brain. Curious George all day can only do so much for intellectual stimulation
I’m currently reading My Sisters the Saints!
I’m re-reading Christopher West’s Theology of the Body for Beginners for a book group I’ve joined.
Jill the Reckless by PG Wodehouse. Brilliant, as always.
I am currently in the middle of Les Miserables, almost finished with a preview copy of Taylor Marshall’s new fiction book about St. George, plus I am almost overdue on a library copy of “Unwind” that I haven’t even cracked open yet. And I’m also theoretically in the middle of a book that uses Catholic teachings to show you how to use the method of loci–which is the “memory palace” idea that Sherlock Holmes and St. Thomas Aquinas (among others!) used to remember so much stuff. But I haven’t had a chance to open that one for weeks now! Still–it feels good to be immersed in so much fiction. I’d been on a nonfiction kick for a while, but fiction is so much cozier.
I’m currently reading Persuasion by Jane Austen.
I’m reading The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner. Beautiful prose and quite thought-provoking.
I’m reading Black Earth to Fifth Sun: the science of the sacred. Its about archaeology. I wondered if the new book will have quite as many fish recipies. We can’t eat fish.
OhMyGoodness, I about spit out my breakfast reading your take on 18 months. I have got to show it to my husband when he gets home – our 18-monther is currently flailing and screeching because I won’t let her go from the top of her high chair to the top of the fireplace mantel and ohmygosh, how did she get to the top of the high chair so fast anyway…I’m such a meany.
Glad to hear that all this fun lasts for a whole other year…
You gave your child an entirely peeled banana!?! I’m calling child services:-)
The Dairy of St. Faustina
I’m currently reading “Born Palestinian, Born Black–” not really a book but a collection of poems–for my Women and Folklore class. It’s interesting! Gritty at times but interesting.
Been reading a lot of Christian Romance and Romantic Suspense books put out by Harlequin Romance. Love the feel good quality of the romances without the “steamy” parts that aren’t necessary and love the suspense just because I love suspense novels! lol
I’m currently reading Kristin Lavransdatter. I’d never heard of it before your blog, but I love it!
I’m reading The Governess, a historical nonfiction about the lives of English governesses in the 18th-19th century, and how the institution of governess education perpetuated social inequality for women.
I haven’t been reading as much as I’d like, but I am reading the Harry Potter series with my sons.
I’m currently re-reading Pride and Prejudice. Also, just started Laura Fanucci’s new book Everyday Sacrament. It’s fantastic!
Thanks for linking to my post.
Congrats on all the good things happening in your life, Haley!
And thanks for the link. I appreciate it.
I love 18-2.5 too! Well, TBH, my first is only 22 mo right now , but I’m just obsessed. She is so fun and developing a cute little wit and sense of humor and nursing her baby dolls, be still my heart .
As far as reading, I’m in the middle of Discipline that Lasts a Lifetime by Ray Guarendi and the book of Judges
I’m between books right now. I just finished Outlander which was a great read, but I’m trying to decide if reading the rest of the series is worth having to skip the romance parts. I loved so much about it but NOT that. Blech.
I am currently reading Jesus the Bridegroom by Dr. Brant Pitre (AWESOME), The Sinner’s Guide to NFP by Simcha Fisher, and Anne of Windy Poplars!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I just finished reading Story of Beautiful Girl.
I’m currently reading Simplicity Parenting and also How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare. Thanks for the chance to win this book!
I’m diving into some Sherlock Holmes mysteries!
I just read Pride and Prejudice and will be reading The Diary of Elisabeth Leseur soon!
I’ve seen that book recommended in a few spots:) just went to listen to the podcast and can’t get it to open??:(
I’m reading FOOD: A LOVE STORY by Jim Gaffigan. So wonderful in the middle of a busy month!
Baby Gwen is so cute! I’m currently ready The Happiness Project.
I’m currently reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, and I’m about halfway through several other books. I can never seem to finish a book these days! :/ But one of the books I did recently finish (and loved) was Jennifer Fulwiler’s Something Other than God.
Yell Less Love More by Sheila McCraith
Just finished Pride and Prejudice for the Well Read Mom book club.
This book sounds so interesting! Thanks for the giveaway! I’m currently reading The World’s First Love by Fulton Sheen–a really great book about Mary
Haven’t had a chance to listen to the podcast yet, but I am looking forward to it!!
I am currently reading Acedia & me by Kathleen Norris. Very good! And also A Hero for the People by Arthur Powers–because I always need some fiction to sink my teeth into!
I’m currently finishing up Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s Rome Sweet Home. I had started to read it in the Spring and then packed it up when we moved. I couldn’t stop thinking about wanting to dive into that book again, so I dug through our book boxes last weekend, found it and promptly read the majority of the book in a single sitting.
Jane Austen’s Letters
Currently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Theodore Roosevelt: The Last Romantic by H.W. Brands, though I must admit, the biography has been on hold ever since I picked up Jane Eyre. I needed a break from Teddy for a little while. =) Also, I just got Francine River’s latest book Bridge to Haven for my birthday so I’m excited to read that one!
I am currently reading 100 Years of Solitude….and struggling. This is my 3rd attempt. So winning another will probably not help me finish this one, but what the hey!
Her face is happy and round like my little Norah! Wish I could just freeze her at this stage. I am currently reading nothing because every time I try I pass out! I guess that’s what happens with a 5, 3 and almost one year old, babysitting and tutoring. Don’t know how you do all you do, and it’s all great!
I’m currently reading (or listening to, as is more accurate) Emma by Jane Austen. Got way behind in the book reading department when the baby was born, so I’m trying to catch up on all my half finished books
The Tenth Circle, Jodi Picault- love her!
Good grief, I can’t remember the last book I read. I have a busy one year old who has been walking since she was nine months old. But I would love to read this book when naps and free time coincide.
I am currently reading a book about the history of the birth control pill + an anthology of primary sources called Dear Sisters in preparation for a history paper that is due….entirely too soon. Last really good book I read was Glittering Images. Really hoping my hold request for the next in the Starbridge Series is filled soon. If not, well….my semester ends just in time to reread A Christmas Carol before Christmas, and maybe start the copy Kristin Lavansdatter I’ve had since September.
I recently read Laughter, Tears and Braids: A father’s journey of losing his wife to cancer by Bruce Ham. Wow.
I’m working my way through St Teresa of Avila’s “Interior Castle.” I could go for a novel about now!
I’m reading What If? by Randall Munroe.
I just listened to “Food: a Love Story” by Jim Gaffigan. Funny!
That picture of your baby girl is insanely cute! She is close in age to our youngest. And I also love this age for all the reasons you mentioned … the bit about stomping on the banana is hilarious (probably would have been less so if it happened to me personally … but believe me, plenty of food gets thrown on a regular basis around here …)
Anyway, right now I am bouncing between reading three books, when I am not too exhausted at bedtime: “Prayer for Beginners” by Peter Kreeft [short, so I should have finished it long ago, but see aforementioned exhaustion], “The Little Oratory,” [love love love every page, so much good stuff!], and “Consider This,” the classical / Charlotte Mason education book by Karen Glass [very edifying so far].