Loving Lately: Mom of 3/Holiday Edition

1. Christopher & Banks Pull On Denim Jegging

These jeans are the ideal combination of comfort, style, and reasonable price point. They look and fit great, especially for this post-partum mom bod, and they are super comfortable with the elastic waistband. I've been a convert to high-waisted jeans in the last year or so (although, you won't see me tucking my shirts in) and these jeggings come up to just below my belly button. Best of all, they don't sag or stretch out, even after wearing a few days in a row! Which, obviously, is my modus operandi right now.

2. A Windham Hill Christmas

Christmas music is playing constantly in my house or car during this time of year. I love hearing seasonal tunes in the background throughout my day, and the collections by Windham Hill are lovely renderings of traditional favorites. Also, see below... I've been listening to this album on my Amazon Music account!

3. Technology, in general

And Amazon, specifically. I've ordered pretty much all of my Christmas presents here, as well as some new mom/baby essentials -- from diapers and wipes to nursing tanks and compression leggings. And you can't beat Prime 2-day shipping. We also use the Amazon Firestick with our television, and this means plenty of catching up on shows while I'm on "maternity leave"! My favorite shows lately have been Outlander, Poldark and Fixer Upper. I also love the Kindle app on my iPhone, since I enjoy reading during those late-night nursing sessions, and also the BabyHub app for tracking feedings.

4. All the coffee

Caffeine is a necessity when running on 2-3 hours of sleep at a time, and my older children are early risers, so dragging myself out of bed by 6am requires coffee ready in an instant. Pop a pod in the Keurig and we're ready to go! Once again, ordering through Amazon makes it super easy to keep these on hand!

5. Diaper Purse Organizer

I have all kinds of bag, purses, wallets, satchels and other carrying accessories (what woman doesn't!), but not all of them are "diaper friendly". This little organizer tote makes all the difference. Slide it into a regular purse or satchel, and suddenly it becomes a diaper bag! It also makes for much easier transition between purses -- mom's gotta stay stylish, you know. ;)

6. Scents of the season

I enjoy lighting scented candles year-round, but something about the smell of a Christmas tree, gingerbread or peppermint permeating the house really gets me in the holiday mood. These cute little tins by Paddywax also make great gifts or stocking stuffers!

What are your favorites this time of year?

Why I Listen to Christmas Music Before Thanksgiving

It's one of those things that has come along with the commercialization of the Advent season... the decorations spew forth, the gaudy tunes stream out in every marketplace, the red Starbucks cups appear, and all of the sudden it feels like Christmas. My gut reaction in years past has been to resist. It's too much, too soon! They just want me to buy stuff! And yeah, that's part of it. But that doesn't have to be the bottom line. We know Christmas is about more than just what the stores and marketers make of it. It's about more than shopping and eating and watching those cheesy Hallmark movies on Lifetime (which I love, by the way).

It's about celebrating the birth of our King.

Can you really put a timeframe on that? We live in a nation that has never technically been ruled by monarchy, but just the briefest glance at history shows we're pretty much alone in that. The nations of the world know what it is like to have a king, and history is riddled with celebrations of their births (and just as often, deaths). Even Americans have no trouble understanding the value placed on royal blood. So, when it comes to celebrating the birth of the King of Kings? Who, even before His birth, was destined to spill His blood and give His very life for my salvation? It is so humbling. And so celebration-worthy. It makes me want to celebrate every day of the year.

If you can be grateful beyond just Thanksgiving Day, then you can certainly celebrate Christmas beyond December 25th, beyond Advent, beyond Epiphany... straight through Easter and all the way back around again. Every Sunday we are reminded of His birth, death, resurrection, and the new life we have in Him. Christmas is a joyous celebration of that new life. And when I listen to Christmas music, the good kind (because the good ones are all about Him), I am reminded of that new life and my heart rejoices. Even as the leaves are falling, the weather is getting chilly, and nature around us seems to be dying -- life is bursting forth anew. Every day.

So, yes, I'm listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. And probably around Valentine's Day. And the Fourth of July. And my birthday. And whenever I feel like it -- which is pretty much always.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6 

Here are some of my favorites!

• The Gift Goes On - Sandi Patty
• Sleeping at Last Christmas Collection
• A Windham Hill Christmas: The Night Before Christmas
• Advent Christmas - Future of Forestry
• Handel's Messiah
• Joy: An Irish Christmas - Keith & Kristyn Getty

Music for All

I'm not always a fan of the mainstream Christian music that is played on the radio -- I'd rather listen to something more indie, good ol' classical music or hymns (I can make some recommendations if you're interested). But sometimes, a band will really hit the right note (no pun intended). The other day while driving out to the suburbs for work, I happened to have on The Message station on XM. Their playlist is really hit or miss, but all of the sudden a song caught my attention.... by the end of it, I was tearing up. It's a must listen: Tears of The Saints by Leeland

It may not be your style--I'm not as moved by most of the band's other music--but it's worth hearing what is being produced nowadays. I'm not the type of person to think that a single song will revive the world (solid, Bible-based preaching is a much better remedy), but it can certainly go a long way towards awakening. I'll try to post more updates every once in a while about emerging Christian musicians. What you listen to can have a lot to do with what goes on in your head.... and subsequently your actions.