Quick Pics

Birth story coming soon.....these are all I have time for now!! She does have a name but not a "blog" name yet. :)

Joy

Some swimming pictures from our week at Grandma's pool:

Dad and Lovey...looking very cute.

And my silly Lovey with Flower in the background.

The same Flower....Daddy in the water.



Self portrait: Lovey and I. Turned out not so bad too!

And our SumSum helping Dad out with the little ones. Don't get too many pictures of her.

And now....off to write more posts, probably with less pictures. It took 7 minutes to load these 5!

Sunshine Award, Post II

I have an update to add to my previous post. Because, well, I am at my mom's house and she has super fast internet.

So, additional "Sunshine" winners (you can find your award in the previous post):

Cas at In A Sea of Boys

Katherine at Having Left the Alter

Glenna at Knitting to Stay Sane

Papa K at Hands to War

Julie at Candy Rant

Sam at Thy Will Be Done

There. I feel much better. I felt like I left some of my better bloggy friends off the list yesterday. I am glad to include them in my "Sunshine". I realize that there is a man-blog in there. His blog gives me sunshine too. I like me a good man blog.

So go pick up your award already and post it on your blog. :)

Someone Thinks I am Special

Erin over at Running At Large has given me the "Sunshine Award". Thanks Erin!! (Award picture is at the bottom of this post.....because if I type after the picture the formatting goes away and I hate that!!)

I am really very humbled that my blogging is inspiring or otherwise brings sunshine to others. I started this blog as a place to get some things out, share pictures with far away relatives, and practice writing. It is weird how you end up making "friends" online that you have never met.

In the spirit (and rules) of the Sunshine Award....I am passing it onto the following bloggers (you are supposed to do 12, but I am just making a list without worrying about numbers) (and yes, some of these are knitting blogs, and some are batshitcrazy blogs too, they give me sunshine too, or at least good eye candy and a laugh):

Michelle at Stay at Home Mom Chronicles

Jenni at One Thing

Laura at God Will Provide

Ruth at Knittingbloggyblog

Digi (this is the batshitcrazy blog....but she makes me laugh)

And....now my son is up from his nap. That's it for me. I am sorry if I missed you. Oh, if I had time, I'd link Katherine and Cassie. Maybe another post?? Gotta run.

Take your award and pass it around. :)

Just Because

We need some Joy around here:

What an awesome big brother she has. I am so proud of the man my little boy is growing into.



Lovey says, "Spaghetti is good. But not as good as the mookies!!"



Sheesh. My Flower is SO CUTE!! I can't even stand it! She's started wearing my old ballet costumes around. So precious.

Proud papa and his other baby girl. She still needs prayers folks. Keep 'em coming.

And yes! One good picture of my boys together! I love you guys!

(I hope you enjoyed that, Aunt San.)

"I'm not really sure you want to talk to me right now."

This is what the automotive repair man, let's call him Brandon 'cause that's his name, said to me on the phone yesterday. I dropped my van off to have the front tires replaced and the oil changed. The front tires were bald, bald, BALD, I tell you. (I have been having nightmares about the car not stopping and crashing into buildings, other cars, people who shouldn't be in the road, and trees. My husband had one where he was following me in his truck, I had the kids in my car, crashed into a tree, car starts on fire, he gets the kids out, goes back for me, car blows up. Time to get new tires.)

Brandon said to me, "Just the tires and oil, right?" I said, "Why don't you take a look at the brakes while you're up there and then call me and tell me what you see. Just look, ok?"

He looked. And he called. Just before he called, I balanced the checkbook. I had sat down at the kitchen table with a stack of bills, picked which ones were getting paid, and pulled out some envelopes. When I picked up the phone and said, "What's up?" he uttered the phrase above (look to title of post).

Apparently the "weird" noise I was hearing was the fact that my calipers were FROZEN - not like cold frozen.....like rusted to the point where they would not move even when he tried to use a pry-bar to get them to budge. Replace?? Yes, unless I want to risk death every time I try to slow down. We all know about the aforementioned nightmares. No need to induce those again.

So along with my tires came a new pair of calipers and brake pads (and maybe rotors, but I'm not so good with car terminology, so I don't remember what he said about those).

Cha-ching. I said to Brandon, while we were still on the phone, "Well. You just saved me a bunch of time. No need to pay those bills, write out checks, and drive them to the post office." :)

Being the nice guy he is, he actually apologized. I pointed out to him that it's not his fault. It isn't as though he called me and said, "The speakers in your car are really kind of on the puny side. You need to spend $600 and get some good sub-woofers in there."

I do have to say, the new tires ROCK!! I am not slipping and sliding everywhere. I can get up my driveway like a regular car can. I can turn while slowing down.

Life is good. Even if I did spend the rent money.

Invention Lets Pregnant Women Hold Models of Their Unborn Babies - Science News | Science

This amazing article was shared with me via my friend laurazim on the "bookface". I had to share it here. Go read it. I'll wait.

Invention Lets Pregnant Women Hold Models of Their Unborn Babies - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com

Did you click on the link in the article for the "Full Article"? No? Ok. Here it is. I'll wait again.

Did you check out the pictures? Well, if you missed them, here they are.

Ok, what do you think?

I think we *just might* put a small dent in abortion, God willing, if became standard procedure at your 8-12 week prenatal visit to get a model of your own baby to take home.

I'm just sayin'. Pass it on.

~H

More Pictures

Just 'cause I know there is at least one person reading this blog who hasn't seen us in over a year. :)



I will assume my husband and not some random stranger snapped this pick of us sleeping.


And here's My Lovey sleeping on My Love.

And this is my princess. She's too precious for words.

Thankful This Advent Season

I am thankful for my $200 heating bill this month.....because it means I have a home to heat.

I am thankful that my jeans do not fit....because it means I have enough to eat.

I am thankful for the constant "noise" of my home....because it is filled with love.

I am thankful for the chaos of my days.....because it means I have a reason to organize.

I am thankful for the kids bickering....because it means I have been blessed with a large family.

I am thankful for the dirty laundry.....because it means we have clothes to wear.

I am thankful for the dirty dishes....because we have food to cook.

I am thankful for occasional argument with my spouse....because it means neither of us have to be perfect.

I am thankful for confession....because He has given us a Sacrament for His Forgiveness.

I am thankful for the Mass.....because it means we have a Savior.

I am thankful for my cross....because it brings me closer to Him.

~H

Give Thanks to He Who Gives You the Ability

"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and
your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God.

You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today."

Deuteronomy 8

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes folks. It's my birthday today. I will not tell you how old I am. But I will tell you that I am the age my husband was when we met. Hmmm.

To celebrate my birthday I have decided I am going to do a post somewhat like my last post, giving you quick ideas that have come to mind throughout the day and week. But since it's my birthday, I don't have to do any special sorting or thought arranging whatsoever and can put them in whatever order, going forward and jumping back in thoughts whenever I want to.

Let's get started. My new hair-do. Remember Sally Field in "Steel Magnolias"? M'Lynn? Remember when Julia Roberts a.k.a. Shelby told Annelle to style her mom's hair into a brown football helmet? Well, after much consideration upon waking in the morning, my new do is just like M'Lynn's brown football helmet. Here's a picture of it fresh out of the shower for your viewing pleasure:

What led me to chop of my long locks you ask? Showering. Have you ever tried to shower with a baby in your arms? If you haven't, I highly recommend it if only for the exercise in problem solving. Your brain will thank me later.

Seriously though, I got sick of trying to find time to wash my hair. Washing your hair while holding onto a baby is quite the feat. I had to contort my body in all kinds of neat ways in order to shampoo, rinse, condition, and rinse without getting any in my baby's eyes or even on his skin for that matter (because I'm a little obsessive and ALL MY KIDS have funky dry skin and I am convinced that if a drop of my hair stuff were to touch him it would result in instant bad reaction).

And I was always wearing it up in a pony tail or bun, or something like that. Anyway, it was getting to be a nuisance. I love, love, love my long hair. Really I do. Every time we add a new member to our household I try and hold out as long as I can. Once I hit about 2 months I go crazy and decide to chop it off. My husband, bless his heart, always tells me how beautiful it is - even though I know he loves the long hair too. Thanks dear.

How come the second I sit down to write a post somebody needs me. That sucks.

My son spent the night at a friend's house last night. He called this morning to sing me "Happy Birthday". He sang me the "you live in a Zoo" version. Then he said, "You know you do live in a zoo Mom. You have 5 kids." That was cute and sweet. Thanks little Wobs.

My youngest son has spit-up on me twice since I started typing this. Yuck. Good thing I'm not planning on wearing these clothes later.

One of the homeschool groups my family belongs to has a monthly "Mother's Night Out" or MNO. This month it just happens to fall on today, my birthday. Yippi!! I found myself ignoring these opportunities to get out of the house last year. I thought it was silly and where were all these moms finding time to go out. I had better things to do. But this year, I decided to go to one. After the first one I was hooked and I absolutely decided that I was an idiot and a little pompous for judging the other mothers last year (sorry guys!).

They were onto something good. Getting out of the house once a month without your family (meaning without anyone who doesn't need you for a food source, nurslings are always welcome and mine definitely goes!) is a great way to take a break and recharge. It also gives you something fun to look forward to all month. And for my new venture into frugality, something to save for each month and feel good about rewarding myself with. This month is Japanese.

Frugally speaking, it was suggested to me by a friend of mine and fellow blogger that I add a new category to my blog entitled "Frugal Fridays" where I give you a breakdown of my savings for the week - good deals, good coupons, good garage sale buys, etc. I think she might be onto something.....

Anyone out there have a husband working nights? Anybody? I have a question just for you. Do you, or shall I say, does your husband try to keep on the "night" schedule on the days he has off, or does he stay up and get all screwed up on sleep just to spend time with the family? Which do you think is more beneficial/works better for your family and why? We are having a hard time adjusting to this whole Daddy works at night thing.

Thank you to the commenters from the last post. It is sooooo nice to get feedback and comments. And to know that someone is reading this. :)

I hope I didn't jump around too much for y'all (a little of my Texan beginnings coming out there).

Posts to Ponder

Please read these wonderful posts. I wish I had written them, or something as meaningful as they seem to me. Alas, I am happy to simply be able to share them with you.

How Would You Know

Your Vote and Eternal Salvation

Why I Homeschool

More Letters From Earthcamp

Why Pro-Life

+JMJ+ Pray For Us!!

On my knees,
H

More for those we love who are far away.....

Here's a few more pictures for you Aunt S. They're getting sooo big!!

She's a big girl.

And she loves it when the camera is out! Here's some rare footage of the two of them in the tub. She doesn't usually want a bath and he usually gets in the shower with me - so this is rare indeed.



This is me with them both in slings. Am I crazy? See his little head there poking out of the top in a hooded sweatshirt? Too darn cute!!

Oh, and my Little Man with Daddy. They are so sweet together. My husband's just a great big Teddy Bear.

I didn't realize until now how tired I look in this photo. Oh well. Not the best pic of me but those two sleeping blondes are great.

It is right to give Him thanks and praise!!

And now for some things to be thankful for.......

Wobbers and his Little Man. He's such a proud big brother

Ain't he cute?


Ok, this is WAY cuter! Isn't that the neatest little face?

Awake in Mama's arms...waiting for the milk.....

And completely out!

I just love my little people. They're such nice way to start adults. :0)

More political stuff tomorrow. Smile today!!

Per Request.....

Here's the pictures YOU asked for (you know who you are):

Isn't she beautiful? Of course, she thinks she's 18, but we're working on that. :)

Another beautiful girl? Or is it time to start saying "woman"? Either way, they grow up too fast.

Two more fast asleep on Mama's lap. So sweet.

Here they are again. Teenagers. Gotta love 'em. Don't they look sweet? You'd never think it be difficult to parent one of these little ones.

Oh, and there they are. My three little babies and my big Baby. Poor guy. He's been temporarily replaced with my Little Man. I'll be back soon, Honey, I promise.

~H

Sing His Praises!!

The power of prayer really is a mysterious and glorious thing. I know many people who always feel like God never answers them and I even find myself wondering at times if He's listening. But in the end, His timing is always perfect and prayers are always answered, even if not in the exact way or time period we would like.

My husband today, thanks be to God, came to Mass. Not because I badgered him, guilted him, or forced him to. Just because. I want to personally thank all of you who have been praying for my family and my husband. Those prayers are not falling upon silent ears. Jesus, Mary, and all the Saints in Heaven have interceded and His Will is being done.

There was even mention from him (my hubby) of confession today. Confession!?! Can you even imagine? The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways, and I happen to know some of those ways are through the wonderful aid of prayer from regular folks, like you and myself.

Please continue to pray for our family. We are so grateful for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Pray for the conversion of hearts and pray for the unborn in this wonderful month of Life.

~H

Love Affair

I have a confession to make.

I am in love with someone who is not my husband.

The affair has been going on strong now for almost 6 weeks.

I see him everyday. He makes me feel like I am on top of the world. When we are alone together it is as though time stands still and all the cares in the world are mysteriously gone. He makes my heart melt every time I lay eyes on him. His voice is like a spring melody, taking me away from all the troubles of today and transporting me into an infinite oblivion of ecstasy.

Who is this marvelous one, you ask? Where did I meet this fine, young specimen?

I first met him (I'm a little embarrassed to say...) in my house. I know, I know. The nerve I have to meet him in the very place my husband and I call home. My lover and I had our first winsome embrace right here in my kitchen followed by hours and hours laying in each others' arms in my bed.

Some nights, while my husband was at work, I would lay awake and stare at him while he slept soundly next to me, awing the the magnificence of his perfectness. Now that my husband is working days, we meet coyly in the early mornings basking in each others' light.

What can I say - I love him. Every time I curl my neck around his and breathe in his sweet aroma I am drunk with affection. Simply being in his presence makes my world complete.

Of course, I am speaking of no man. I am not speaking of a tryst with some random stranger.

I am in love with my baby, my Little Man. I am in love with the one God has sent me to love and that I have been waiting to meet for most of the last year. Funny thing, God's timing. It's perfect. His masterpiece, us humble humans with our free will, has been created with perfect attention to detail. I can no longer focus on anything other than the boy who needs the most of my time, my caring, my nurturing than I could ignore the sunrise and set. He has created us this way, and it is beautiful.

I love being in love with my baby. This is one of the magical times of motherhood and it goes by so fast. He designed it this way. And I am so grateful. There is no one else on this earth I would rather be with. I know these swelling emotions will fade with time and I will once again care to see my husband as my lover, my soul mate, my everything. But for now, when my baby needs me the most, when it is my job to show him that the world is good and full of love, I am so thankful for His wonderful genesis in our lives.

Don't You Just Hate That?

You know what I'm talking about. You get all nice and comfy with a particular blog. You're used to they're timely fashion of posts showing up daily or every other day. And then, WAHM! - nothing, I mean nothing - for over a week.

The nerve of some people.

Ok, so I got a little behind. It isn't like there's anything else on my mind or in my hands. Not like I'm carrying around a newborn or anything. No toddlers here. Nevermind the housework. Or school. Not like I'm studying to be a midwife or anything.

So my dear readers, I apologize profusely. Please do not hold it against me. I will update more ofter. I will allow you to read my humble musings and rants. I know you enjoy them so (or, at least, I hope you do).

The word of the day is - thanks.

Thanks be to God, yet again (isn't He great!!??). My husband has a job....in his chosen profession. He is officially a Deputy Sheriff. Has the badge and everything.

Well, that's all. Until tomorrow. Or will that still be today? I don't know one way or the other. The kids are driving me crazy. Crazy, I tell you.

God's Perfect Food

If God Almighty came to you and said, “I myself have designed a special food that will strengthen your baby’s body and develop his brain, which will comfort him and cheer his heart, and lay the foundation for his lifetime health and well-being. I have given this food into your keeping; I have placed it in your body; it is my loving provision for your child”—who would reply, “No thanks, no divine gifts, I’d rather give him a can of Similac”?

This is a favorite quote of mine from an article entitled "Milk of Kindness" by Juli Loesch Wiley.

The wonders of what He has created for us never cease to amaze me. I am especially at awe, even having done this before, at the joys of the nursing relationship He has in store for me and each one of my children. Is there anything more precious than the look of contentment on a newborn's face as he drinks in the nourishing liquid that has been created uniquely for him?

What does breastfeeding do besides provide the perfect food for your baby? It teaches them that the world is good. They learn that they have power - the power to elicit a response, and that their needs can be met in a loving relationship with one person. Babies are born expecting to be breastfed. There is no other way they have to learn that they are important, that the strange new world they are in is good, and that they will be taken care of always.

Does breastmilk have other benefits? You bet. Each mother makes a unique milk destined for her child. (This is not to say that her milk could not or should not nourish another child. In the lineage of what is best to feed your baby, someone else's milk comes in 3rd after your own milk (1), your pumped milk (2), and before formula (4).) Her milk changes and adjusts to her baby's ever expanding needs. It is something that a commercially made formula could never mimic nor even come close to resembling.

When a child is sick, his mother's milk will adjust, giving him more antibodies to put him on the path to wellness faster. Mother's milk has other healing properties as well. It will cure pink eye, help a cut heal faster, and soothe diaper rash.

Aside from the scientific and spiritual qualities of breastfeeding as the more endearing qualities. Nothing can fully explain the bond between nursling and nourisher. Knowing that you can fulfill the every-need (hee, hee, I made up a new word) of your infant is satisfying to say the least. It is an accomplishment that makes you stand up tall at the title of Mother.

Other things I love about nursing:

Milky breath of my baby
Non-stinky diapers
The "milk-drunk" face
Watching baby suckle the air in his sleep
Suckle-swallow sound of my nursling eating in the dark
Waking up to little grunts asking, "Please may I have some?"
Staring into my nursling's eyes as he stares into mine

I am so thankful to God for the awesome grace and blessing to be able to nurse a child again. It is one of my favorite parts of motherhood. It is a special relationship that only I can have with my children, that no one else can duplicate. It is The Way It Was Meant To Be.

As the Psalmist (22:9) says: "It is thou, God, who took me from the womb, And kept me safe upon my mother’s breasts." And so, entrusted to me by God, I shall, too, keep my child safe upon my breast.

~H

My Dear Baby

Before you were even born, He knew you and loved you. Before your conception even took place, He knew who you would be and how important your life would be.

We also knew you and dreamed of you from the moment we met. Your journey to us was a long awaited for miracle that we prayed for, hoped for, and thought of everyday. Trials of when and if you might come plagued us. Some days, as the wait seemed to go on forever, we even lost sight of our hope.

We imagined you'd be along sooner than you were. But you came right when you should have. His timing in bringing you to us was perfect, just as your little body was perfect in every way when you arrived.

When news of your arrival came, we were overjoyed with happiness. Finally, a sign that you would be in our arms one day. Hearing your heartbeat for the first time brought tears to my eyes. And feeling your first movements was pure bliss, making me laugh out loud with excitement.

Your early weeks in my womb were accompanied by nausea and fatigue, but it was a battle worth waging with a conclusion worth fighting for. As you grew and crowded my body I imagined with joy what it would be like to finally hold you in my arms.

My labor with you was long and drawn out. You took your time figuring just the right hour to enter this world. It was a stormy, rainy Friday afternoon when you finally took the last leap from water baby in my belly to breathing baby in my arms.

I will never forget pulling you up from my womb and looking into your eyes for the first time. They were wide open, taking in all there was to see, seeking deep into my own eyes to cement the connection we had started so long ago when you first began to grow inside me. Just thinking about it now makes me cry at the wonderful memory I was so blessed to be given by you.

Every moment we have shared together has been wonderful. Nursing and nourishing you has been the most fulfilling role as mother I could ever have hoped for. Watching you learn and grow takes my breath away. Your laughter could brighten even the darkest day, and your sweet little voice is the most precious thing I have ever heard.

Keep being who you are. Grow up you will. One day soon you may not even need me anymore. I will cherish the years we have spent so close together, nursing, sleeping, walking, crawling, snuggling. You are the most cherished gift He could have given us.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl. I love you.

Mom