And a Baby Makes Three…

August 10, 2021August 18, 2021 ~ katdryden ~ Leave a comment

Ready or not, baby Dryden is on the way!

In typical first-time-parent-fashion, Creighton and I are equal parts thrilled and terrified about welcoming a child into the world.

It’s a funny thing, becoming a parent…it’s the most grown up I’ve ever felt while also the most out of control I’ve ever felt. But I’m (re)learning the most valuable lesson: that God is sovereign over timing, that He sustains and produces life, and that no fear should overcome us because He is in control.

To share a little more, I’ve decided to format this blog post in the form of an interview….yes, I will be answering questions that no one asked (ha), but that I as a reader would be curious to know. So here we go!

How did you find out you were pregnant?

Creighton and I had been open to the idea of pregnancy, but not super hopeful that it would come quickly for us. I have an on-going health issue that reared it’s ugly head at the beginning of 2021 and my doctors had warned that it might be a long road to conception. We had only been married a year and weren’t in any hurry…plus, we truly believed that God would give us the family we needed in the way and timing that was best. We loved the life we currently led with just the two of us, so we just lived our normal lives for a few months, knowing that we could get pregnant, while also knowing that it could never happen for us.

One really rainy Monday, I took a pregnancy test for reasons that you might expect, but strange as it sounds, I really thought it would be negative. In fact, I would’ve bet money on it. You see, that pesky ongoing health issue was not exactly under control…and, if I’m being totally honest, I also have this other pesky condition that is more of an emotional problem: I truly believe good things won’t come to me because I’m not worthy of them. I know, that’s deep and dark and not at all true, but I constantly struggle to believe God will give me good gifts. I just assumed pregnancy wouldn’t go my way.

But wouldn’t you know, I picked up that pregnancy test after the allotted three minutes and there were two pink lines.

It’s sappy, but my first response was tears of joy and gratitude. I just kept saying “thank you” out loud, knowing that God had given us a gift—one I knew I didn’t deserve (re: my ongoing feeling that God withholds me good things due to my sin), and yet, He gives and gives and gives. I truly couldn’t believe it.

Also, one cool thing about when we found out: the 22nd has become “our lucky day,” due to the following:

Our first date was on June 22, 2018
We were married on February 22, 2020
We found out we were expecting on March 22, 2021

Hooray for the 22nd and the reminder of God’s kindness to us that it continually brings!

How did you tell Creighton?

Well, weird as it may sound, Creighton was NOT the first person I told. I knew he had a busy work day, so I instead immediately texted my best friend Bailey (I think I needed another human being to verify that my eyes did not deceive me in that moment.). Bailey is such a celebrator of people and also had some recent experience with pregnancy, so I definitely picked the right mama to call. One of her texts really stuck with me…she said, “Kat, you have a little soul in you right now.” Isn’t that cool? She also encouraged me to tell Creighton in a fun, creative way, so here’s what I did…

I already had on the docket that day to buy some baby books for a friend’s shower, so I went to Barnes and Nobels and grabbed some, along with an additional book called, “Becoming a First Time Dad for Dummies.” My plan was to have the books on the counter when Creighton got home from work and tell him to check out the things I bought for our pal, Michelle. I knew he’d question why I got the Dads for Dummies book and that’s when I’d whip out the positive pregnancy tests (yes, “tests.” I took no less than THREE just to make sure they all had the same answer, HA.). But when Creighton got home, he sweetly came over, gave me a hug, and jokingly said, “You’re so pretty, I could marry you.” I seized the opportunity and said, “Am I so pretty you could have a baby with me?” He didn’t get it and just said “of course,” but when I showed him the positive tests conveniently hanging out in my back pocket, he immediately understood and a giant grin filled his face. I later gave him the Dads for Dummies book even though it didn’t become part of the actual baby reveal…and I immediately regretted that gift because he’s used the first line against me so many times. It says: “Don’t let your partner tell you differently: Pregnancy is hard on dads too.” EYE ROLL, AM I RIGHT?

Right after I told Creighton…celebratory Chinese food in the background, naturally.

Do you know the gender?

Boy

When are you due?

We will have a little Thanksgiving baby—due November 24th. Hence his nickname: Turkey.

Have y’all picked a name?

I think so, but we haven’t 100% committed. I have had a list of much-loved baby names on my phone since I was in college, but turns out actually naming a baby is harder than one would think.

Weird food aversions?

Only during first trimester: I couldn’t stand the taste/smell of peanut butter, turkey, or mints.

Food cravings?

I don’t think I’ve had any. I eat about the same as always (just much, much more).

Strangest part of pregnancy?

Heightened senses all around. It’s very bizarre. I was deep in my first trimester during the peak of spring, and I swear there was a day in early April when I walked outside and it smelled like I was walking past a bakery. The air smelled so sweet that it was overwhelming, but Creighton promised me it smelled normal…I think I could just strongly smell the blooming flowers. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. Another time, I was on a walk and passed a pizza delivery man. I don’t know what possessed me to say this, but I asked him, “Is that a BBQ Chicken pizza.” The guy laughed and said, “good nose.” The heightened smell has pretty much subsided, but I do feel like I’m still more sensitive to smells, taste, noise, and touch even today at 25 weeks pregnant.

Did you have a feeling it would be a boy?

No! I 100% thought the baby would be a girl. I have no idea why…maybe because I grew up with all sisters and that’s all I’ve ever known? BUT, here’s a funny/weird thing. During my first trimester, I had probably 3-5 dreams about the baby and in the dreams the baby was always a boy…and always named Charlie. Weird, right? Now, I don’t think Charlie will be our boy name (though, it was a contender!), but I can’t help but wonder if the subconscious self can determine gender before it’s even proved. Who knows, probably not. Though, two of my girlfriends with multiple kids have confirmed that they’ve always had dreams that aligned with the gender of their children before actually knowing the baby’s sex. Pretty interesting, huh?

Best moment in pregnancy?

Finding out
Telling Creighton
Seeing the baby’s sonograms…especially the most recent one! See below!

Scariest moment in pregnancy?

We almost miscarried at 9 weeks. It all ended up being ok, but we definitely had a rocky few weeks.

Second trimester symptoms?

Second tri is SO much easier than first trimester (see ya never, nausea). But about week 21 I started to feel a little more “pregnant.” Here’s what I mean…

Heartburn (coconut water helps so much)
Back pain
Trouble sleeping
Constant urination
Fatigue is coming back (which for a go-getter like me, is just plain annoying)

Movement?

Yes! About week 21-22 I started to feel daily kicks.

Weight gain?

I would normally NOT talk about my weight gain on this blog, but I figured if I were the reader/had never had a baby before, I’d want to know! So, Yes to weight gain…so far about 15 lbs (I’m 25 weeks for reference). I feel pretty good about it, but my outfit choices are starting to be limited.

Prayer for the baby?

Creighton and I pray for the baby every night. My main prayer is that he would grow into a kind, humble man who loves Jesus and others well.

………………………………………..

Phew! That was a long one. Thanks for caring enough to read.

KAT
Currently listening to “Strawberries” by CAAMP

When Dealing with Frustration

September 5, 2019 ~ katdryden ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes life puts you in a funk.

If this picture doesn’t just scream frustration…only thing worse than ruining your hairdo in your sweater is putting fitted sheets on a bed. Oh, or trying to stuff the air mattress back in the bag. Am I right?

Perhaps you’ve been feeling unappreciated or listless.

Maybe things haven’t been coming together for you, despite your best efforts.

Or, you may have found yourself in a season of waiting, where try as you might, you can’t control a darn thing.

You’re frustrated.

Frustration is one of my least favorite feelings in life (…Besides the feeling of being itchy. That one takes the cake.). And one of the most annoying facets of that feeling is that it often leads to other undesirable feelings, such as:

Anxiety
Self-doubt
Doubt in God and others who love you
Anger
Confusion
Jealousy

It’s a real problem. And to be honest, it’s one that’s plaguing me right now.

For me, frustration typically manifests from one specific arena, but then touches every other aspect of my life in numerous ways. For example, maybe the main frustration is work. But then, because you’re feeling some (if not all) of the feelings listed above, you start feeling frustrated by your significant other, by that thing so-and-so posted, by the humidity…the list can go on and on. Frustration has a ripple effect and, if you’re not careful, it can penetrate every aspect of your life.

So, how does one tame the frustration beast? This is what has worked for me lately:

Allow yourself to be frustrated, but only for an hour.
It’s ok to feel frustration, but you simply cannot allow it to fester. So give yourself a time limit. Feel frustrated. Go to a trusted friend or family member that is NOT a part of the situation. Pout a little. …but then, do not stay in that place. After an allotted time, make a game plan. For example, if you’re frustrated with a friend, feel that frustration and feel it BIG, but then after an hour, choose to let it go or confront the problem. Either response is fine, but don’t continue to sit in it.
Go for a walk, run, or complete a workout.
You’d be surprised how often frustrating situations are built up in your mind due to stress. Try being active and see how you feel after.
Pray. Read your Bible.
If you’re a person of faith like me, this is by far the best route to begin with. Often times my frustration begins with pride. Opening my Bible or talking to God about it always reminds me that life just isn’t about me. When I gain that bigger picture of His goodness and His grace, I’m able to have more grace with others and myself.
Bring frustration to people.
Maybe this is obvious, but if you’re willing to embrace the awkwardness of actually talking to someone who’s caused frustration, it’s likely that your negative feelings will evaporate quickly. Now, if I’m being honest, this is not always the case. But more times than not, frustrations are formed from miscommunication, and simply talking it out and can do a world of good.

Kat
Currently listening to “Say It” by Maggie Rogers

2016.

December 28, 2016December 28, 2016 ~ katdryden ~ Leave a comment

It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away from 2017 at this point in the ball game.

b-and-w-from-shiloe

2016 has been a very diverse year for me. Part drama, part comedy, a little tragedy, a whole lotta change and some surprising consistency. Overall, I’ve come out of 2016 with some good lessons and memories in my back pocket.

Here are some highlights.

WINTER

Cousin Emma made it to state in…Ag? FFA? Something like that. I went to see her and my farming ignorance gave everyone a good laugh throughout the night. Still, I was super impressed by this cool cousin of mine!

SPRING

Processed with VSCOcam with g3 preset

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset — My goofy, lovable Nebraska besties came to visit the Big D in May. Twas a highlight of my year for sure (particularly the moment when Kara partially fell into White Rock Lake).

I got a new job at this wonderful place last May.

SUMMER

Processed with VSCO with x1 preset — The friend on the right moved to NYC in June. Cool for him; terrible for us.

Processed with VSCO with g3 preset — Fourth of July. On a boat.

Another big thing in the year 2016: babysitting. And dog sitting. And house sitting. And basically just any type of sitting that gave me some extra cash.









FALL

WINTER (AGAIN)

2016 was a full, wonderful year. A real year of dreams.

“Who am I, Oh God, and what is my house that You have brought me thus far?”

-1 Chronicles 17:16

KAT
Currently listening to “Auld Lang Syne” by Bing Crosby

Fear.

November 28, 2016November 28, 2016 ~ katdryden ~ Leave a comment

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What’s your worst fear? Spiders, being chased, a college final?

I’m scared of many things. In fact, I once told a friend about a guerilla that had escaped its cage at the Dallas zoo and caused all sorts of terror in the typically happy, kid-friendly environment. To this, my friend said, “Oh, so you’re super scared of guerillas?” My response… “well, sure, if I were being chased by one.” Moral of the story: I’m often scared of things that will never happen to me or that I have no reason to be scared of.

Fear has found many forms throughout my life. Some of those ways make sense…who wouldn’t be scared of tornadoes, man-eating snakes, or killer clowns? But other great fears are a bit more complex. You know, those internal fears that eat. you. alive.

Today, I’m sitting with two fears that made appearances in my life this morning: failure + being unknown.

Let’s start by talking about the former.

I totally failed at something this morning. Like, 100% failure after trying really hard. Isn’t that everyone’s worst fear–that you will give something your very best shot, and yet fall short? Perhaps for some, failure brings feelings of depression or self hatred. For me? Just fear. Fear that I’m not who I should be. Fear that I’ll never “reach my potential” (whatever that means…). Fear that I’m not enough.

The other culprit in my oh-so-scary day came from a super non-threatening comment that I took out of context. Upon hearing words that seemed untrue about myself, my brain immediately told me lies like you’re unknown/unloved/unseen. And there, ladies and gents, is where the fear set in. I was having an identity crisis with the best of ’em.

I almost named this post “The Panic of Being Unknown,” because isn’t that how it feels when you realize that you might not be known by others or, even worse, yourself? I felt unknown by myself when I didn’t succeed, as I have always identified with being an achiever. I felt unknown by others when someone said something that didn’t line up with who I perceive myself to be. Panic leads to fear, and fear leads to a whole lotta misery.

Here’s the truth of the matter: I’m still very much dealing with this identity/fear thing. I don’t have it down, so I won’t even try to wrap this post up with a pretty bow. But I will leave some Scripture below that reminds me of where my real identity lies. Not in successes; not in popularity; in Jesus Christ alone. And when He alone is the object of my identity, I find a different emotion in my life: peace.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” -1 Peter 2:9

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” -John 15:15

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'” -Isaiah 43:1

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
-2 Corinthians 1:21-22

“And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.” -Luke 8:47

KAT
Currently listening to “Pieces” by Amanda Cook

Trying to be Brave is Being Brave.

November 27, 2016November 27, 2016 ~ katdryden ~ Leave a comment

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Four and a half years ago, I graduated from college with little to no clue as to how I was going to make my way in the “real world.” I decided to move to Nashville on a whim and boy oh boy did adulthood kick my rear.

A bright spot during that time was my church, Midtown Fellowship…a small, quaint PCA church in my neck of the Nashville woods. In fact, my church was probably the hardest thing to leave when I moved to Texas last fall. I loved the worship, the youth group, and the accessibility of the church—it was open and welcoming to all, at any time of day. Midtown was a place of rest for me during many trying times. And for that, I’m truly thankful.

That being said, I’d like to share with you my favorite sermon from my pastor (or former pastor, if you will), Russ Ramsey. I admire Russ’ ability to story tell through sermons, as well as his kind and honest demeanor. The sermon Trying to be Brave is Being Brave actually happened after I no longer attended Midtown (three big cheers for podcasts!). I was newly transplanted in Texas and life felt wobbly at best.

I’ve listened to this sermon many times in the past year, and often find myself in tears. To be brave for the Lord is good and hard. I so resonate with the line, “I love Jesus. And I fail Jesus. And yet, I love Jesus.” So if you’re struggling to understand God’s plan or if you just need the reminder to be brave, then give this sermon a listen.

KAT
Currently listening to Carole King (via the Gilmore Girls Reunion series)