Tuesday/Wednesday, not so much.

Well, I did feel like Supermom after making it through all those little successes Monday morning! But things went downhill yesterday and were even worse today. Nothing big, just the usual protests about schoolwork, house a total disaster, toddler refusing to nap, type of days. Yesterday the girls had ballet class, which is always an adventure...getting them dressed and ready, finding leotards, putting hair in buns, getting snacks, etc.

Today we were just home all day, but I resorted to bribing the girls to clean up and finish their schoolwork. They earned $1 for cleaning their brother's room...and later cleaned their room and the schoolroom after much prodding...but the playroom is still hurricane-territory and the schoolwork was barely completed. Tommy got a little fussy today too, but we made it through!

And I've even loaded my fuzzy iPhonePhotos!

First the big brother. Or the "big baseball player" as he prefers to be called.
He can ride his bike with training wheels. And he likes to serenade me with the American Girl doll guitar in the morning :)


Then there's the little angel. He sleeps so soundly in the SwaddleMe blanket and does really well in the swing. Gotta love that after-nursing drunk look with milk coming out of the mouth!


Here's how he sometimes rests on the Boppy pillow in my lap while I play on the computer.


And some shots from his first bath, I think it was on Sunday! He did okay until I washed his hair.


Now for today's BEFORE/AFTER photos to help me remember that we did accomplish something!

First the girls' room. The "after" photo is hard to see in the dark. We still need to clean off the top of their dresser.


hallway


boys' room (a few too many toys for the basket!), right now SJ's favorite toy is the big Luvs diaper box in front of the dresser...he puts on a lifejacket and holds a cardboard stick thing and pretends he's kayaking!


Schoolroom


Now some of my living room projects...added some knickknacks on the piano and fixed up the mantle. Also got all the clothes baskets out of the living room!


Rearranged both bookshelves, and attempted to color-sort the books!


Tomorrow's project is finishing the entryway. I got this little lamp, table, large mirror, and mirror sconce things yesterday and am working on rearranging all the photos! Fun fun!


I think I've got an after-baby nesting instinct going on!

a Productive Morning

Today I started "back to life" again. BopBop is back at his home. Homeschooling is back in session, although Mary Clare claimed it was a holiday and I claimed ignorance only to see on my calendar that it is Columbus Day today. Oh well. We have Week 8, Day 1 complete and I am happy!

My Small Successes, all done before 11:00 a.m.:
I got out of bed at 7:30.
I changed about 10 diapers.
I nursed a baby about 5 times.
I made pancakes for the kids and me.
We completed our homeschooling lessons.
I put a load in the washer.
I cleaned up poopy underpants and peepee on the floor.
Cleaned out a potty chair.
Killed a mosquito with my bare hand.
Took a shower and got dressed.
I continued to read home design blogs and look on Craigslist and our local classifieds, and pondered what projects to do in my house.
I held a sleeping baby and kept myself from eating him up.

It's been a good day so far. Maybe I'll actually get the house picked up and one or two decorating projects started.

Kayaking...

our new family sport!
We live near a "lake" but now have the ability to enjoy it a little more with a kayak!

Steven and Steven went first!

Next it was Mary Clare's turn


Then Ellie


And finally Mommy got her own turn...
until Baby started crying!


Mary Clare was all about "modeling" this particular evening...



Some nice close-ups of each of my FOUR beautiful children!

Mary Clare age 7.5


Ellie age 5


Steven Joseph, 2.5 yrs


Thomas at not-quite-2 wks old!

Thomas William, Child of God!

On Wednesday October 6th, 2010 on the Feast of St. Bruno, Thomas William was baptized! It was an afternoon baptism, so in attendance were just my parents, Steven's dad, and some good family friends who stood in as proxies for our friends and godparents of all our children, the G family who weren't able to attend. Thomas did a great job until the very end of the ceremony when he started to cry. It was intimate, beautiful, and we were reminded about the precious gift of life and how this month is dedicated to respecting all life.

Here are some photos of the blessed occasion!

Father doing a reading while Thomas checks out NeNe and PaPa behind him!

Blessing his chest with holy oil


Thomas William, baptized in the Name of the Father
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit!

Father led us in a song...
"Oh Happy Day, when Jesus washed our sins away!"

Visiting afterwards


BopBop is worn out from 2 weeks at the B house!
What a gift he was to me these past weeks!


Thomas in the "daddy hold"


Daddy with two "happy" boys! haha!


our family with Fr. Matthias


Father and Thomas


Then we were off to Aunt Jill's house to celebrate! She provided us with a wonderful Mexican dinner and almost all the Houston family members were able to come and meet Thomas!

NeNe with T3 (what some are calling him, since he's the 3rd Thomas in the family)


SJ and his friend J, fighting over a car.
This is a typical SJ whiney look!


Mary Clare enjoying running around with cousins and friends


Father talking with Steven's dad. My parents loving on Thomas in the background.


NeNe and PaPa with the little guy


kids enjoying chips and queso!


The best cake ever.
White buttercream from RJ Goodies, which will always remind me of my friend Kelly. Someone ordered one for her entrance into the Church, and then she required that we enjoy this cake after her funeral :*(
RIP Kelly. Wish we could share these events with you!


Adults hanging out in the backyard


Thomas was not happy about my wanting photos of him in this sweet little sweater romper before we left. Visions of Steven Joseph's Easter attire are coming back to me...


One of the favorite "man" cousins, Seth arrives just before we head back home.
The kids were thrilled!


And the first "man" cousin Mark, with the baby and with his mom Aunt Jill, the kind hostess.

A huge thank-you to Fr. Matthias, Aunt Jill, and all the family and friends who made this such a special day. Thomas is so blessed to be surrounded by such loving family and friends! Welcome to the Catholic Church, Thomas William. May you always be filled with the grace and love of God and the joy that we all experienced on this holy day!

On the other side...

It's hard to believe that 2 weeks have already flown by! Spending 9 months awaiting the arrival of each child, it's always odd to think about how one day I am big and pregnant and then after a day of pain and/or fear so intense I am sure the world is going to end, all of a sudden I am "on the other side" and enjoying life with my sweet little newborn.

And enjoying life we are. When you wake up to this every morning, how can you not?


I marvel each day in the fact that Thomas is out of my belly, he is a new child in our family, and we are both healthy and recovering so well from my 4th c-section. Each time I face delivery, I am filled with the fears of all the complications that could occur. With every surgery I am aware of a few other complications, a few other people I've heard about who have not had such an easy go of labor and delivery.

And so I am so thankful to God that we have not had to face any of those hurdles so far. Each of these children belong to God, though, and I know that whatever obstacles come our way we will be able to face them with His help. Tomorrow our sweet Thomas will be baptized as a child of God. His little soul will be cleansed and he will be filled with God's grace and salvation. I happened to read a beautiful reflection on early baptism among Catholics. Here are a few important statements regarding just that...

Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it. If the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptised without any delay. Can. 867 §1,§2

The children shall be baptized first. All of the children who can answer for themselves, let them answer. If there are any children who cannot answer for themselves, let their parents answer for them, or someone else from their family. (Apostolic Tradition # 21)

People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:15-17 NIV)

Thanks be to God for this awesome gift of Baptism. And thanks to our family, friends, and Fr. Matthias who will celebrate the sacrament with us tomorrow. Please keep us in prayer.

7 Quick Takes

It's been a fun "babymoon!" I'm having a great time just lovin' on my babyboy! It's been a gorgeous week where we've been able to leave the doors open, and the kids have spent most of the week outdoors. I've enjoyed the company of my father-in-law this week who has been so helpful with the kids and with lots of little house things. Thanks, BopBop! We've also been the recipients of at least a half-dozen meals and treats this week...thanks to all our kind friends and family who have brought food, given rides, and sent prayers and welcomed our Thomas so tangibly!

So here are 7 quick pics from the week, off my iPhone...

~~1~~
enjoying using my moby wrap again. he sleeps great in it!


~~2~~
my sweet morning cherub


~~3~~
2 stevens and 2 thomases hanging out in the driveway after work


~~4~~
ellie and thomas one morning


~~5~~
sleeping angel all bundled up in his new swaddleme blanket!


mary clare took these last 2...
~~6~~
her cute baby brother waiting for dry clothes


~~7~~
oldest and youngest, a special bond :)


Hope you all have a fantastic weekend! And happy feast of St. Therese today! May she send down a shower of roses on you all and may you feel the love of God ever close to you today!

Find more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary!

a beautiful day in the neighborhood

kids enjoying the beautiful weather in the backyard
eating lunch in the fort

taking a really good nap outside!


a little glimpse of my special helper this week,
Steven's dad, Thomas Sr. :)