October video roundup

Cyprian loves his Jumpster...especially when someone is watching him jump.

Supported sitting around 5 months



Peekaboo fun



Playmat fun



Exersaucer fun



Teresa surprised me with her mouse skills at 2 and 3/4 years old: I put a piece of tape on the spot where you click and she started zooming and clicking away! Here she is playing on Starfall.



I love it when David holds both the children. Teresa "fishes" quite well with her magnetic puzzle. Cyprian would like to eat the fish.



Eating a Cyprian pizza



All Saints costume (borrowed from Katherine L.)

Grandma Rita's visit

My grandmother came to visit us for 5 glorious days. Although the weather turned a bit chilly and everyone in our family fought colds, keeping us on the down low for most of the time together, we thoroughly appreciated her company. I would have been a wreck without her here: Teresa was miserable from her cold, Cyprian was waking every 2 hours or less at night and crying in pain (cold or dairy sensitivity, we're not sure yet), I was exhausted and cranky (from the waking, cold fighting, and abstaining from dairy), and David worked the full weekend. Oh, and our dishwasher is broken, so we have to wash everything by hand.

I lost my patience frequently and barely got us to Mass on time on Sunday, but things would have been far worse without Grandma Rita (as David dubbed her for Teresa) here to hold and soothe the baby, play with Teresa, wash and dry dishes, fold diapers (three loads worth!), and all sorts of other things. She even enabled me to get an occasional nap!

Grandma discovered that bouncing Cyprian while letting him look out the door at the sunny yard and passing cars eased his suffering.

In honor of Grandma's visit I planned a tea party with our neighbors as guests. Grandma hosted so many tea parties for my siblings and cousins and me over the years...fond memories. In honor of it being Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th), we made it a Pirate Tea Party. Argghhh!

Carowinds

We live less than 10 minutes away from Carowinds amusement park and pass it almost every day driving to and from the highway. I have been a long-time lover of roller coasters and other wild rides, and it seems Teresa is equally attracted to them (even though she won't be able to ride the big rides for several more years). David is eager to get Teresa comfortable in the water so she can pick up swimming skills. All of these factors contributed to our decision to purchase season passes to Carowinds again (only David and I need them, as Teresa is still able to get in free).

David has made great use of his pass already this spring and summer, taking Teresa to ride the kiddie rides or play in the water at least 4 times. She can't stop talking about her visits to the park or how much she wants to go again; it's often the first thing she tells strangers who make the effort to chat with her. "I go Carowinds!" she smiles. "I ride in boat!" (They have a boat ride for the little ones.)


We decided at the last minute (as usual) on Monday morning to go to Carowinds as a family for the first time since Cyprian's birth. I worried about all sorts of things that could go wrong (mostly about the baby being too hot) but tried to remain positive. In the end, we all had a great time. We set up in the shade, where Cyprian slept for most of the visit. David and I took turns being with Teresa in the water at Kookaburra Bay, and he took her for a ride down the lazy river. I sat with Cyprian and soaked up all his smiles (unfortunately, none made it onto the camera). I even nursed him without trouble while wearing my swimsuit. When Teresa took a snack break, David and I took turns going down one of the water slides. And on our way out of the park David insisted I do one ride. So I gave the Intimidator another try and found it thrilling. Nothing matches that experience of weightlessness!

Meeting cousin Aliyah

David's sister Jenny, her husband Theo, and their daughter Aliyah came to Charlotte this weekend to visit David and Jenny's dad in the nursing home. We were delighted to have them over last night for a casual evening. We got to meet Aliyah for the first time since she joined their family (our family!) in November. She is now 5 months old and OH SO CUTE!!!

David caught just a few pictures during the girls' play time - sorry there aren't any faces showing, but you can get an idea of the fun they had together. :)


The recycled plastic recycling truck was an awesome gift from Jenny and Theo. Teresa's showing Aliyah how to put the recyclables in the sides of the truck and dump them out the back. Aliyah thinks it's gnawly! ;)

Kinlee drooled

Just sharing because my littlest niece is so cute...

There she is again, on the sidelines of a "ladies' breakfast" picture I took with my mom and sisters:

12 weeks pregnant

I haven't been much of a blogger in the past year or two, so I rarely post information in a timely manner. I'm much more likely to use Facebook to share news. It's not likely I'll become a regular blogger again, but this week - why not?

Yes, I'm pregnant! I'm due mid-May 2011. This time around I don't get an ultrasound until 18-20 weeks, so all I have to show for this pregnancy is the positive home test. Ta da!


The test confirmed our blessing on September 7th. I had my first OB appointment at 8 weeks (nothing too interesting) and my second appointment on Tuesday (at 12 weeks). I got to hear the baby's heartbeat, which is always a joy. My nausea has been about the same as it was with my last pregnancy, starting around 6 weeks and just now starting to subside (I hope). I don't get sick, but I feel ill and headachy and have no desire to eat until the afternoon. I don't get too exhausted, but that's probably because I'm blessed to get about 8 hours of sleep most nights and a little nap several times a week (while Teresa naps). It's SO NICE to be home this time, rather than slogging through my work in an office. :D


Here's an interesting tidbit about the pregnancy test: it cost me 20 cents. Sure beats $9, right? At Katherine's suggestion, I checked online for cheap pregnancy test strips. When you're not sure about your return of fertility and might want to use several tests before one comes back positive, it's good to get them at a low cost. I discovered several packages up for bid/sale on eBay, including a set of 5 for 99 cents - with free shipping! I snatched them up and waited for them to arrive in the mail - from Hong Kong. Nothing fancy, but they work. I had one negative one (previous cycle) before this positive one.

Honey Do lists work

So the day before he went back to work for 3 days straight, David asked me to make him a "honey do" list. I wrote down about 7 things, one of which was "look for camera and/or start making replacement plans." After a brief post-lunch rest, David PLOWED through that list. He was amazing. When he started the camera search, he decided to look in the hall closet. Therein hung his winter coat, which is certainly too warm for these days in Charlotte but not too warm for a cold night camping...the last time he wore it was in Virginia. Guess what he found in the pocket?

Our camera is back!!

Here are some pictures from the camping trip:

Hanging out with Aunt Shannon

Running away from Aunt Katy

Sampling camp food with Aunt Jenny

Riding with Papa for a hike

Snoozing in the tent

Servants of Mary

Thank you to everyone for your kind words, support, and loads of prayer for my grandmother. She was moved to River Region Hospice House in Harahan, LA from the ICU a few days ago. My mother has gone down to New Orleans to help the family take care of my grandmother during her final days.

God is listening to all of your prayers! My aunt "heard" of a congregation of Sisters who minister to the sick and dying. She tracked them down in New Orleans and contacted them. These Sisters are in high demand for many reasons by many people, and so my family didn't know if they would be able to spare one of their 12 to attend my grandmother during the night.

The Mother Superior of the convent consented to visit my grandmother in the hospice house. After that visit, the Mother Superior simply said that she would have one of her Sisters come over that very night.

How fantastic is that! God is great! Now my grandmother can have someone by her side 24 hours a day.

The Sisters sleep during the day and they have the patient's family members pick them up in the evening from the convent. After spending the night with the patient, the Sisters ask to be returned to the convent by 6:00 AM the next morning. On top of all that, they are all licensed or certified: CNAs, LPs, or RNs.

Here's a blurb from their website:

"Our congregation was founded on August 15, 1851 in Madrid, Spain by St. Maria Soledad Torres Acosta. She was a saint of great vision who placed her complete trust in God and instilled within her daughters this same spirit of love. We go out to the abandoned, sick and dying, discovering the face of Christ in all we serve with the sole desire of alleviating the suffering of others for the love of God. Our mission is to care for the physical and spiritual needs of the sick, preferably in their own home environments, free of charge. This we believe is the uniqueness of our mission and calling."

While they do not charge for their service, they receive donations. Please consider donating to these Sisters who are doing a great service to God and our family.

They can only accept checks made out to "Servants of Mary." You can send a check to:

Sister Magdalena Quintero, S. de M.
Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick
5001 Perlita Street
New Orleans, LA 70122-1999

Thanks again to everyone as the prayers are needed.

My Grandmother's Passion

My grandmother did an amazing job handing down the faith to her family. As the matriarch on my mother's side, she handed down valuable traditions and truths of Our Lord through the Church. My own mother followed suit and now Frances and I are continuing the transmission of faith with the guidance of Holy Mother Church.

In the past months, my grandmother, Rose Goss Robinson, has been in and out of the hospital going through difficult inpatient stays. In the last few weeks, she didn't get to go home as she bounced from the hospital to a nursing home and back.

Currently, she's in an ICU and they're not giving her much time to live. She suffers from infections, pain, a large regimen of medication, and being in an ICU. The Catholic Church teaches that God lives in every soul and He is present in our suffering. I know He's with my grandmother, consoling her through these difficult moments.

I ask for prayers for my grandmother that the grace which pours from His Sacred Heart through the Immaculate Heart of Mary may fill the cup of my grandmother's soul and grant her the peace that has been promised to all of God's children. I also ask for prayers for our family who love her very much.

St. Ann, pray for us.

My loves

Thanks to our Grandparents and Parents

Today the Church celebrates the Feasts of St. Titus and St. Timothy. In the first reading, St. Paul, who knew St. Timothy personally, remarked on the faith of his grandmother, Lois:

"...as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you." (2 Tim 1:5)

The deposit of faith safe-guarded by the Church is fostered by family from one generation to the next. I am so grateful for the faith of my grandparents Rose, Murl, Sam, and Marie, who passed it on to my parents. It's also good to see Memere, Pepere, and Mrs Rita filled with the Lord's joy, which they have passed down to their children and then to Frances.

While Frances and I have chosen to receive faith as a gift from the Lord, it is encouraging, hopeful, and peaceful knowing that it's part of our families' heritage. We look forward to any suggestions to help bear fruit in Teresa and any more children the Lord blesses us with.

Photo Credit: www.traditioninaction.org

Grandpa meets Teresa

My dad came to visit Teresa for the first time last week. He got a lot of "big grins" out of her, as he called them.

Teresa also had some sad times while her Grandpa was here. Here are two videos from his visit:

Quick Housing Update

I haven't thought much about blogging lately, mostly because we're putting so much mental energy into the search for and choosing of a home to purchase. The seller of the Killingdeer house refused to come down much from his asking price, which we believe is more than the house is worth. My dad visited us earlier this week and I took him to see the house, which he confirmed is in need of much work. Therefore, we ended negotiations with the seller on Tuesday and returned to house hunting. I believe it is providential that we did not end up with the Killingdeer house...God surely has something better for us in mind. Now, if only we could determine what that is, and soon!

Here's an opportunity for you to help us: do you or have you ever lived in a house with one large living space? How do you use it? How do you keep it tidy (especially considering children's toys)? My second choice house has a split bedroom plan (master on one side and two other bedrooms on the other side) and a long great room with the kitchen off to the side. The great room has a window, a fireplace, and a sliding glass door to the backyard. There's a chandelier over the dining area, and the rest of the room is wide open.

David is wary of buying the house because he's not sure how we would configure and use the great room. Will doing all of our eating, sitting, playing, computer time/working, learning, and family prayer in one room build our unity as a family or drive us crazy?

Book Review: A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family

Do you know the feeling of not wanting a book to end because you enjoy reading it so much? I definitely felt that way the whole time I was reading A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn. The author is a mom to TEN children (six of whom are adopted, 2 boys from Korea and 4 girls from Ethiopia) who homeschools her brood in Idaho. I'd first read Ostyn's writing at Owlhaven, her blog often linked to by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer (another blog I followed for a long time). When I discovered that Ostyn had written a book about her experience as a mom to many, I put in a Request for Purchase at my local public library and was delighted when they bought 5 copies (if you live in Charlotte you can place one on hold here). One came right to me and I dug in.

I did most of my reading while I nursed Teresa, which was very appropriate...I hope to begin implementing Ostyn's suggestions with our first daughter so that parenting becomes easier as we add to our family (God willing). I enjoyed Ostyn's perspectives on welcoming additional children (and the discernment involved in that decision), the resources needed to raise those children well (money, space, and training - music lessons, sports, etc.), vacations, schooling, and building relationships with and between your children. I found her advice regarding discipline, chores, and activities to be especially helpful - she has gleaned much wisdom from her experience and shares it in a humble, honest, and engaging way.

Here's an example I can completely relate to:

"Play is not easy for me. I am a ridiculously task-oriented person. Sometimes I literally have to look at the clock and force myself to play for 15 minutes straight without wandering off. But I never regret disciplining myself in that way." (102)

I highly recommend this book to anyone hoping to have, enjoy, and successfully raise lots of children. When God blesses us abundantly, He also gives us the graces we need to give Him glory with those blessings. I count A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family as a conduit of God's grace.

Sisters & Cousins

My sister Beth drove down from Virginia with 2 1/2-month-old Ari to spend the weekend with us and represent my family at Teresa's Baptism on Sunday. We enjoyed seeing each others' girls and "talking mommy." Beth inspired me with her patient self-sacrifice, especially when it came to nursing. Ari was rather fussy during her stay with us, asking to be fed often. Beth lovingly obliged and never complained. I have a lot to learn from her!

Beth with Teresa:

The cousins together:

Daddy, Papa, Father...

Speaking of Daddy... David is still considering options for what he would like his children to call him. Here in the US, Mommy and Daddy and then Mom and Dad are the default. They're okay, but we've enjoyed considering other possibilities. In the UK, moms are called Mummy and then Mum - that's just weird! Mother and Father seem distant to me, so those are out. I've long liked the term Mama and would really like for my children to call me Mama as long as possible. But Papa would be a bit more difficult to instill because so few children call their fathers Papa these days (in fact, it seems more and more grandfathers are being called Papa). David often calls his dad "Old Man" - that's probably not something we want to pass on!

Although we have quite a bit of time before Teresa will be language-capable, it would be good to make this decision soon because we'll need to practice referring to one another by our name of choice (e.g., "you're such a good Daddy" and "Mama's ready to feed you now").

I'd be very interested to read about your thoughts and experiences with this topic.

On a side note, Teresa's grandparents will also have an interesting mix of relational names. On David's side she has a Nana and a Pampaw. On my side she has a Memere (pronounced "MEM-ay") and a Grandpa. What's most important is that we all love her very much!

Frances as a Baby

I asked my mom to scan some pictures of me as a baby so I have them ready for a side-by-side comparison with Teresa. Unfortunately, she didn't find too many and they're a little dark. But there are some cute ones!

Solidarity & our daily bread

"Give us this day our daily bread..." we pray in the Our Father. And God provides...through the work of countless people we will never know.

I was reminded of this truth this evening as I read the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Sacred Ground, the magazine of Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA). I've written about CFCA and my sponsorship of a young Filipino named Manuelito before, and I continue to encourage anyone interested in sponsoring a poor child (or aging person) to consider CFCA because it is a stellar organization founded on Catholic principles.

For example, solidarity is part of the CFCA mission statement because it is an essential part of Catholic social teaching. I think this story, shared in the article "Solidarity: A Walk of Love," illustrates solidarity well:

"Every morning when CFCA sponsor and board chairman Scott Wasserman gets dressed, he checks his shirt label to see where his garment was made. He then spends a moment thinking of the person who made it, most likely a woman.

'I pray for her and her family while I hold the shirt she made for me,' Wasserman said. 'The entire spiritual exercise takes only a few moments. But done consistently every day over the years, it leads to solidarity with the poor, and that leads to action such as sponsorship with CFCA.'"

As I pondered this idea my gaze fell to my dinner plate. Because David was at church training altar servers for the Latin Mass, I was reading Sacred Ground while enjoying the London broil he'd made in the crock pot, along with some sweet potato casserole. In times past I have tried to bring to mind and pray for many of the people involved in getting us the food we eat - to not take them and the hard work they do (or my dependence upon it) for granted. For example, I should thank the Lord for...

• The rancher that raised the cow
• The butcher that prepared the cut of meat
• The packager who wrapped it up
• The truck driver who transported it to my grocery store
• The farmer who cultivated and harvested those sweet potatoes
• The stocker who laid them out in the store
• The cashier who rang up my purchases (and all those coupons)
  
• The creative minds behind the development, packaging, and advertising of all the other ingredients we used in our meal
• The cooks who created the recipes we used (I really like MoneySavingMom's sweet potato casserole, with marshmallows for topping)
  
• The web gurus who keep sites like Allrecipes.com going so we can quickly find out how to make London broil (this was our first time)

I could go on, because the contributions don't end there. People all over the place had a hand in my meal. These are my brothers and sisters, doing their daily work, and I hope they know that someone appreciates their good service!

I pray that the Lord will help me to be even more mindful of how much I need others, far and near, to live as I am blessed to live. I am grateful for God's Providence - and for the role He allows me to play in providing for others.

I can only imagine how this insight will deepen when Teresa comes and I *get* to take care of her, with others' help. Already we have been so blessed by the generosity of friends and family - and those unknown people who donate used clothing and baby supplies to thrift stores. Deo gratias!

Getting to know our niece

We really enjoyed our time with my sister Beth and her 2-week-old daughter Arianna last week. My mom was able to stay in Virginia until Christmas day so we got to see her, too. But Arianna was definitely the star of the show, receiving lots of loving from everyone. Here are David and I with Ari:





And here's a video of me enjoying Ari's "new baby" scent: