100 Random Things About Me

I got this idea from another blogger.

1. I was born in New York City and raised there until first grade.

2. Then we moved to Greenwich, Connecticut where we lived until I was in High School.

3. First grade through Ninth Grade I attended the Greenwich Country Day School. It was a good school, and I think back on my years there fondly.

4. There were only 40 students in my class, and 3 of them became celebrities - Bryce Dallas Howard, Madeleine Sackler, and James Lawlor (co-produced The Lottery film with Madeleine). 6 out of 40 graduated from Harvard University, and 15 out of 40 graduated from Ivy League schools.

5. I was the first in my class to get married.

6. I was the first in my class to have a baby.

7. By the time I was pregnant with my third child, another classmate had finally gotten married. Several of my former classmates are now engaged. I know this thanks to Facebook.

8. I am impatient.

9. I met my husband when I was 17.

10. I converted to Catholicism when I was 19.

11. I got married when I was 21.

12. I was still a Senior in college when I got married, and I don't regret my decision since we had been together for a long time and got married for the right reasons.

13. I married my best friend, and I thank God for him everyday. I've never had any regrets, only sincere gratitude and appreciation.

14. I graduated from Boston College with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Patristics.

15. I am an only child.

16. When I was a little girl, I had imaginary brothers and sisters.

17. When I was younger, I wanted to be a famous actress.

18. At another point I wanted to be an Admiralty Lawyer.

19. I am 27 years old.

20. My greatest achievements are my two sons. They are my world.

21. When Jules was a year old, I took a job as the doula coordinator for a local hospital. I did most of the work from home, but hired a sitter one day a week for a few hours. The sitter quit after day 3 on the job. I can't blame her. Thankfully, my husband was able to arrange to leave work a few hours early on Fridays so he could be the one to watch the boys.

22. I left the job after 3 months (my employer knew I was only trying it for 3 months). It was a great experience, but it interfered with my family life. It made me all the more grateful to be a stay-at-home mom.

23. Someone I loved very much died, and I still think of him often.

24. I have been the recipient of a miracle.

25. Because of this, I am advocating for the canonization of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

26. I had both of my children outside of the hospital setting without drugs. I wouldn't have it any other way unless there was a real medical emergency, or I had reason to believe my pregnancy was high risk.

27. My second son was born in the water, into the arms of his father. We had a midwife there, but she acted more as a "lifeguard."

28. I am a certified childbirth educator teaching The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth.

29. I love teaching.

30. I love attending births as a doula.

31. Even though I left my job at the hospital, I still volunteer as a doula there several times a month.

32. My 2 sons both have 3 popes names - our last name is a pope's name...our first son is Leo Benedict and our second son is Julius Alexander...we love the theme so much that all of our future sons will also have 3 popes names.

33. We don't find out what we're having. We like to be surprised.

34. Since everyone is asking, no, I am neither hoping for nor trying for a girl. I like that God's in charge, and I trust He'll send me what I need. Thanks.

35. My favorite show is Little House on the Prairie.

36. My favorite color is brown.

37. My favorite food is sushi.

38. I also really like Quiznos subs, especially when pregnant.

39. I taught myself how to cook when I got married, and I think I'm pretty good at it.

40. I love to entertain.

41. I used to love to read, though I find that I don't have much time for reading anymore.

42. My favorite pizza toppings are mozzarella and tomato sauce with smoked bacon and feta.

43. I think my first son is a combination (looks wise) of Ben and me, but I think my second son looks just like me.

44. My second son is also impatient, just like his mama.

45. My temperament is melancholic.

46. I am a deep thinker, and I tend to over-analyze things.

47. I don't drink.

48. I used to smoke cigarettes, but I quit.

49. I don't dye my hair. It is naturally reddish...and I have the fiery personality to prove it :-)

50. I have freckles.

51. I look forward to summering on the Cape every year. I've been going to the same spot for 27 years.

52. My grandfather, Robert Motherwell, was a famous artist. I was his only grandchild. He was my mother's father.

53. There is a town in Scotland called Motherwell. They apparently have a good soccer team.

54. At one point he was married to Helen Frankenthaler, another famous artist, though she is not my biological grandmother.

55. I've been told that on my father's side, I'm also related to the inventor of the Ferris wheel. I've never confirmed if that's true or not.

56. I am mostly Scottish and Irish.

57. My father's father was in the shipping business and did quite well for himself.

58. I was baptized in the Episcopal church.

59. Apparently I threw up all over the priest during my baptism.

60. I think my eldest son, Leo, has a vocation to the priesthood. We'd never push it, but we wouldn't be surprised if later on he became a priest.

61. I am craving pizza right now.

62. I really like peace and quiet, but I don't get a lot of it nowadays.

63. I think having young kids is hard. It doesn't come naturally to me. I am constantly learning.

64. I love to drive (though preferably not with kids in the back seat).

65. I am an obsessive list maker.

66. I am a clean freak.

67. I love to be organized.

68. I am a minimalist.

69. Given my personality type, young children are a struggle for me, though I love them.

70. I am a perfectionist.

71. When I was in the working world, I expected a lot from those who worked for me, though I think I was a pretty fair boss.

72. Sometimes I miss the working world...or at least the recognition.

73. But I would never go back to it, and I'm grateful to my husband for working long hours to provide for our family. Thank you Ben!

74. My husband is the funniest person I know.

75. My youngest son, Jules, loves animals. He'll be in a rotten mood, and then an animal will scurry by and he'll burst out laughing. It's super cute.

76. My oldest son, Leo, is very musical. He loves to sing and can actually carry a tune surprisingly well for his age.

77. My mother-in-law was a singer, so it runs in the family.

78. I love the family I married into.

79. I don't see us ever moving out of Massachusetts.

80. I'm looking forward to buying a house where we can plant our roots.

81. I love decorating and being a homemaker. It's a real passion of mine.

82. If I were rich, I'd buy all of my furniture from Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids.

83. Having young children closely spaced has actually saved us money, because I shop less. Going to the store is just too much trouble!

84. I'm addicted to email.

85. And my iphone.

86. One of my closest friends is a woman I met online who has so much in common with me it's kind of scary. We email nearly everyday and met once in person which was really neat. I'm convinced we're long lost twins.

87. This baby is due in February, but will likely be born in March. I just have a feeling.

88. This pregnancy has gone by rather quickly thus far.

89. I'll admit it - I've already gotten out all of the newborn clothes, washed them, and hung them in a closet.

90. I LOVE baby clothes!

91. I find parenting incredibly exhausting, though I wouldn't trade it for the world.

92. Life is good :-)

93. It's important for me to hear myself say that, because I tend to focus on the 5% of my life I'd like to change as opposed to the 95% that's totally wonderful and beyond my wildest dreams.

94. I have had moments where I've been convinced of the presence of God; in tough times, I try to recall those moments.

95. God has been good to me.

96. God has been good to my husband.

97. He has been good to us in our married life, though we've learned some hard lessons early on.

98. Sometimes I feel old, even though I'm still pretty young.

99. Writing this all out on paper has been good for me.

100. I'm surprised how quickly I was able to come up with 100 things.