Preparing for our Catholic Birth {Plus Printable Birth Affirmations}
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April 2016
I have been quietly preparing for birth but thought I'd post quickly to share the joy of our final lap. It's a far cry from the fear-drenched waiting I used to do and I give thanks to God that He has healed so much of that in my mind and soul. Our guest of honor will be here any day (probably late rather than early) and we are waiting joyfully, if a bit impatiently.
I post updates more frequently on Instagram and Facebook than I do here. If you don't follow me there, here's a brief recap and an extra invitation...
YOU ARE INVITED...
To think of a pregnant woman you know and try to do one thing that will help her get excited about her upcoming Birth Day. As communities, we plan birthday, anniversary, sacrament, and holiday parties... but we tend to tiptoe into labor with many fears and reservations that can somewhat (or largely) dwarf the joy.
But the expectant mamas you know are quickly approaching a great day of celebration. Birth Day! The very first Birthday of their little prince or princess... and the first breaths baby will take on their earthly journey. A cause for real celebration! In spite of any trials, pain, anxiety or struggles which may come on that day... there is a reason to dance.
A word or token of real JOY from a friend can take a woman one step closer to touching the reality of that beautiful celebration. Have an idea for blessing her? Just do it.
If you don't follow me on social media, here is a little of what you may have missed. Snapshots of the time of waiting. Snapshots of blossoming joy....
I've been taking requests for prayer intentions to bring with me into labor. All of my readers are already included, but if you have specific needs that you'd like to share, please leave them in the comments or my email or Facebook. Labor is challenging and I'm a lousy sufferer... so this will help me make good use of it!
I made this special "Labor Rosary" with all of you in mind. Each bead a remnant in my collection... unique but somehow fitting together so beautifully. Like the Body of Christ. I love the feel of the different beads; their weights and shapes and textures.
We can advertise joy or fear to ourselves in the words that we use. This pregnancy, I wrote down my affirmations and finally hung them in our birth space. After printing them, I took out my watercolors and painted. I had forgotten how much I loved doing that. The pic at the top of this post shows some of them hung together.
I dropped the PDF’s into a file so that you can print your own if you like and decorate them with whatever medium makes you happy…or just leave them as is. The PDF is black and white - unpainted - because there's value in you adding color yourself…
Click below for these free printable affirmations…
For my affirmations, I also used:
WATERCOLOR PAPER that was light enough to run through my printer and sturdy enough to paint on. I’m not going to recommend anything specific because I don’t want to be the cause of your paper jam! But a light watercolor paper did work in my laser printer. Card stock can also work for this is you are light on water and works beautifully If you are using markers, crayons, or pencils. For that matter, really any kind of paper will work if YOU like it.
KOI WATERCOLOR KIT. You can use any watercolors (Crayola kids tins work fine!) but this little set is what I had and used. Nice quality and nice for taking out of the house because the brush hold water. You can also use watercolor pencils which would work nicely with this project.
KRAFT COLOR CARDSTOCK for background layer
MINI CLOTHESPINS and some neutral yarn. You can also use jute or ribbon. Find options paired together here: Mini Wood Clothespins with Twine.
The baby-who-is-no-longer-the-baby... getting ready to kiss her little brother. She is going to be absolutely surprised and smitten when he is born. But she will also have to go through her own stretching. I trust that God will provide the courage I need to continue to love her well.
Last baby bump shot. 39 weeks. And always in a bathroom with a dirty mirror... because I'm just not tech savvy enough to figure out a better way to do it. Or maybe I'm just lazy. I don't love the thought of sharing my belly with the public but I deliberately stepped further past my reservations this pregnancy. I have spent too many years of my life ashamed and burdened by my femininity. Not by the beautiful Christ-vision of womanhood I find in my Catholic faith... but by the world's which says that we are not beautiful enough. Ever. But God's design is awesome... and the pregnant body speaks to that.
Hidden yet not hidden.
Different but beautiful.
In the world but not of it.
Thanks be to God.
The time is close now and I can't wait to share our new baby with you!
originally posted in 2016
Baby is here! Read about our Catholic Home Birth Story HERE.
