Is it just me or

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…is anyone else mildly annoyed when bloggers say they have “HUGE NEWS”… but then all it turns out to be is they painted their bathroom one shade lighter than the original?  So I’m not going to say that.  But I am going to share the good things happening for the Svells which I’ve wanted to get down in a blog post forever but I just haven’t been able to because… well, you’ll see*.

Nice and easy for you, let’s do a bullet list. Least “HUGE NEWS”, to most “HUGE NEWS”. So that means if you want to know the biggie, one must make the Herculean effort of scrolling to the bottom. (Or silent troll me on Instagram, like a good little lurker, because I’m sure to photographically spill beans there too, eventually.)

+ New prints are available at Brass & Mint co.’s Etsy shop. Can I just say how bad the carpal tunnel was after digitizing this print? I can. It was sufficient.

Do it again chesterton

 

+ I’m going to be on The Jennifer Fulwiler show!  Totally not a big deal, I mean, yes, I’m freaking out. But it’s just for a few minutes, this Wednesday, May 10th, to talk a little bit about my shop for Mother’s day for her Vendor Hour segment.  If you listen to her, I’m scheduled to be there around 3:50pm Eastern.

+ I am going to Edel this summer. Catholic Mother’s Hooha. Catholic bloggers meet in real life. Internet nerd dreams come true. I’ve always wanted to go to Texas.

+ I am going to Edel BY MY SELF. That’s a Friday, Saturday, and a Sunday of flying, eating, bathing, sleeping in a nice hotel, not having to talk if I don’t want to, and having my thoughts to myself in general FOR. THE. FIRST. TIME.   SOLOooo, I’M FlYiNg sOLo.   …well, almost.*

+ I am going to Edel –AS A VENDOR. Like, yeah. Selling my Etsy shop prints! I’m kind of sick to my stomach in anxiety about taking my little prints and standing at a table with them hoping someone will notice them and me and maybe they’ll stop and buy one? Maybe they’ll just kind of do a slow walk-by with their hands clasped together behind their backs and go “mm-hm.” and pass on to something more neat? I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing, but Craig was like “DUDE, GO.” so, dude, I’m going.

+ We have a family vacation planned this June, similar to last year, with Craig’s mother’s family. It’s our second ever vacation, and I’m grateful and excited, and will overgram it just like last year, no diggity.

+ CRAIG AND I ARE GOING TO SEE COLDPLAY. 

+ CRAIG AND I ARE GOING TO SEE COLDPLAY. 

+ CRAIG AND I ARE GOING TO SEE COLDPLAY.   My tears are real. Every teardrop. Is A Waterfall.

And the hugest of newses:

+ *Baby Svell Number Five is a’swimming and a’kicking. 

Pardon the Easter photo recycling, but that's all the creativity I've got for now.
Pardon the Easter photo recycling, but that’s all the creativity I’ve got for now.

FIVE. I’m alive. Feeling better from fatigue and morning sickness with each passing day. The boys are over the moon. I actually have a video of them jumping and screaming in delight, but I’m too lazy to put it here. I might later throw together another 6 hour long youtube vid like I did for Jude. 

Guys, let’s just halt all speculation right here and now– it’s a boy. I just know it. I mean, I don’t ACTUALLY know. But I do. I could make your eyes glaze over about a study I read about how girls in utero activate the mother’s immune system and it affects her state of inflammation, and since I have an autoimmune disease which has now, with the exception of some mild foot pain, actually gone dormant and I am totally off of my immunosuppressive medication,  I strongly suspect it is being kept in dormancy because, according to that study, a boy would not stir up aforementioned inflammation like a girl would.  I might be interpreting it wrong. But I think not. I do art.

I don’t know. I just read this one and it says the exact opposite. But it’s not a science-based site.

BILL NYE! WILL YOU HELP ME DETERMINE THE SEX OF MY EXTRA CHILD????

Please?
Bueller?

38 Comments

  1. Congratulations!!! Solidarity in the all-boy tribe. I have 5 boys, and felt like I just knew that the baby was a girl for about a week, then…. reality set in. I am and always will be a boys’ mom, and now I know it.

  2. Yay for babies !!! Love the anouncement !!! Thank you for wanting to find out and not making us wait !!!

  3. Congratulations!! My doctor actually said the same thing about female pregnancies as your unscientific article! Which makes it scientific, right?
    I have three boys and the same condition so you give me a lot of hope! Thanks for writing.

  4. Best news ever, ever bit, but the baby bit is the best best best news ever.

    I think it’s time for a girl. Maybe God thinks so too?

  5. Baaaaaahaha, that last line. Carolyn you kill me. Congratulations! I wish I were going to Edel this year, have the best time and when all your prints sell out, please make another run for Etsy for those of us who can’t get there to buy them in person. <3

  6. Congrats! On all of these momentous occasions. Also, not sure you know the current meaning of “hooha”… might want to check that one. Or maybe it was intentional? I’ve got 2 girls (and an inkling that if I have more kids they will also be girls) who will be looking for husbands one of these days, so you keep having boys, okay?

  8. Oh Carolyn I’m beyond thrilled for you on ALL the news!! A new baby! Yay! And if it’s a boy how amazing to have a house full of brothers:) and if it’s a girl well how exciting and amazing too! That baby will sure be lucky to have a house full of siblings! And your solo trip-SO exciting! And no one will just stroll by your amazing work! I’m sure you’ll sell out and wish you had brought more!:)

  9. Yay!!!!!!!!!! All kinds of good news but from one person who deals with autoimmune stuff (and who has #4 on the way) the last part is my fave <3 Thank you for your witness!!!!!!!!!

  10. i knew it. i knew it. i knew it!!!!!!!!
    congratulations!
    all of your huge news are HUGE news (Edel, JF show, Coldplay, summer vacay!) those are all awesome news. but baby 5 is even COOLER.
    congrats again.

    1. Sarah- thank you friend. I’m praying for you in your final preggie days! Only you can rock heels and handbags like that 😍

      1. Your artistic work recaptures memories and virtue which brings us JOY.

        Congratulations on #5 bringing the world hope

        Aunt Barb and uncle Stan

  11. Congratulations on #5!! And I am SO EXCITED you are coming to EDEL (me too!) I will come buy your prints – and hug you in person like I’ve always wanted to do. :)

  12. I may be biased, but this might be the best list of happy things I’ve ever read. I am so happy for you! And me! ;) I cannot wait to give you a hug at Edel! xoxo

  14. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For all the wonderful things happening, but most of all for your new precious baby! One of these days I will be able to swing an Edel. I just happen to be in the third trimester every other summer ;)

  15. First of all congrats on #5! Very exciting… I am due with our #5 in early November and kind of nervous, but know that other women are not only surviving but thriving with even more than that! 2nd of all I love your artwork and am dropping hints to my husband about Mother’s Day gifts 😀 I bet you will sell out at Edel!

    1. Oh congratulations to you too!! Yes- a family friend once told us, get past the first three and it gets so much better. I have found that to be true. With each baby I’ve been given the maturity/wisdom, (maybe?) to cherish more than I thought possible, and to actually enjoy the newborn phase. It’s my favorite now.

  17. All the CONGRATS! What a year – solo traveling, Edel, Coldplay, and a baby?!?!????!!!! So many good things. Very happy for you and now sad I’m not going to Edel.

  18. Congrats! I am a mother to four strapping young lads and was very much convinced that number five was going to follow suit. Needless to say, we now have a two month old princess. I still don’t quite believe it. I am convinced that our whole community was pulling for a girl…she received more gifts than all four boys combined. Either way, as you know, you are carrying the child God meant for you and your family. He or she is the perfect fit!

  20. It was like I kept getting more and more goosebumps with each piece of news that you shared until at the very end when I thought it couldn’t get any better than COLDPLAY… Boom, all the feels and tears in my eyes :) I am so happy for you Carolyn!!!! I’ll keep you in my prayers as always <3

  21. Hooray! You are amazing!! Enjoy all your trips, concerts, and vending. Super excited for your news, big and small!!

  22. Great news on all fronts!!! Edel and vacation and baby and coldplay. SO very excited for you all.

  23. Congratulations!! And so glad to hear that you are getting some relief with the pregnancy🤗 so jealous that you get to go (almost) alone to Edel….sigh!! Have a fabulous time!

  24. lol. What say you science guy?!

    Also, I am so jealous about not going to Edel because when am I ever going to meet you?!

    Also, also, totally a boy, because that’s how life is. Are you going to find out before baby arrives?

    1. I HAVE TO FIND OUT for my nerves’ sakes.
      And oh I wish you were coming and bringing that squishy little baby boy with you.

  25. I’m going to be at Edel too!!! And congratulations! Prayers for you and baby S!

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