T.P.-Thoroughly Pristine

Because life with Toilet Paper

Is Good

Happy Friday

Through the cross,
 we are "spread thin"
and all offenses are wiped clean.

St. Joseph the Worker

Note to Boy:

  If you lock your door when you leave your room so that no little people get into you treasures, please make sure no little people are currently in you room!

Job description of this mother: 

Must be able to find lost children, cleanse, and nourish them.

St. Joseph, help me in this Great Task!

"You can not forget that any worthy, noble and honest work at the human level can - and should! - be raised to the supernatural level, becoming a divine task."  

-St. Josemaria Escriva in The Forge

Just a little Yoda fun...

"Size matters not. Look at me. 

Judge me by my size do you?

 Hmm?  Hmm?

 And well, you should not!"

When nine months old you are, be as strong and hard working, will you not?  hmm?

Monday it is,

Put my best knee forward, I will. 

Crawl with me, will you?

The dog food and water I must reorganize.

And the cupboards, open and empty I will.

To de-pile clothes I am hard at work.

But be warned, strong and hard working I am, but not that strong, because remove me from work Mother will.

Get it, I do not.

Has anyone seen...

Oh, there's Christopher's pants!

And John's shoe!

"Please do not run off with the pull chain!"

Yes, that has happened!

Vincent's nickname: "Thief" 

He is a 'good thief'

Looks like Christopher has forgiven him!

Sledding, Baby Style

Christopher's Rendition of Sledding on Melting Snow

Our snow is steadily melting.

The ground is colored brown and white with a splash of dull green.

I think I'm catching Spring Fever!

Diligence Gets Us One Step Closer

Christopher is gaining ground

One step at a time

Are you watching?

I know that I always hope Our Father is watching:

Our hard work & concentration in striving for the Goal!

Falling back a bit...

But, getting right back at It!

With more confidence

And coming back down to share

The Joy of the Cross!

I have much to learn from him,

and his example of

 Diligence!

Personal Trainer

Christopher is getting me in shape!  

Up

and down

again, up

down

He's a tough act to follow, but his smiles are worth the workout! 

With Lent in full bloom, it's time to spiritually workout as well!  

Train our souls to go the distance!

Are you with me?

Let's get started and practice prayer a little more each day;

 so that we may be strong enough to crawl, then walk, and RUN!

Orange Bowl!

A little fun with the camera tonight!

Another child updated for my wall

Only 3 more to go!

Christopher 5 Months

Go Hawks!

Wordless Wednesday

Rescue Hero's

Boys at play; thoughtful enough to include their baby brother:

"Come on, let's go, I've got the baby!"

Vocal gun noices, and planned out exit, carrying the baby through the house...

"I've got you guarded, ok.  Quick!"



*10 minutes later:

"Mom, we need to eat, will you feed him so he's ready when we're done."

Can't keep my hands off you!

Christopher is 2 months old!

And look at all the help and love around him!

Children too are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children born in one's youth. Blessed are they whose quivers are full.

Psalm 127

Rest

I wouldn't recommend it, but the bassinet does hold more than 15 pounds.

Thank God!

You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Job 11:18

Embraced by God

B- Born a new child of God

A- Anointed with oil

P- Precious Gift: Purified of sin

T- Torch Passed On

I-Imprint of Christ: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit.

S- Saint in training

M- Mentors Matter

Christopher, may you always carry Christ and share Him with everyone you meet!

Parents and Godparents

Teammates on the Journey

My Baby

I was feeding Christopher, and Vincent came over to sit on my lap. Gina took notice of this and states, "Mom, you have 2 babies."

I told her, "No, Vincent is a big boy now and Christopher is our baby."

She didn't seem to accept that answer and proceeded to confidently voice her opinion, "No, you have 2 babies, Vincent is your baby and Christopher is my baby!"

She then tried to take Christopher out of my arms. I stopped her and said he was eating.

She surprisingly pipes up, "He's eating THOOOSE?!"

She now knows where the food source is, and the next time Christopher began to cry, she came running over to me demanding, "Mom, feed him NOW-OW!"

I'm glad someone in this house knows what to do with a crying baby!

Gina and Christopher

"Mom, he's starting to cry, I'm done with him. You need to feed him."

Looks like he's done with you, too. ;)

note: I forgot how much fun it is to get "those" conditioned.

Just another day at the park...

The Teeter-Totter!

This was my favorite thing to do at the playground, aka hospital, last Monday as I went in for a scheduled induction to have the little one, now known as Christopher. Yes, it was just another day at the park. I've been through this enough times, you'd think it would just be a simple stroll, but as many of you know, I don't sit still for long, and the excitement of a teeter-totter was quite appealing. I played on this thing all morning!

I pushed up and rushed down. I'd fly up into the air, and feel my stomach in my throat as I came back down. I'd use all my strength to push back up and stay on top with the thoughts of, "I can do this." Then crash back down with, "No I can't." To top it off, I had a straight forward doctor who simply told me, "It's multiple choice:

A. We can do this

B. You can go home

C. None of the above is NOT an option"

Darn, I was so close to picking C.

One would think I would jump off this teeter-totter, but evidently I was having too much fun. I think my husband was tired of watching me, God Bless him for supporting me in this endeavor.

As I continued to play, I tried so hard to stay on top, but no matter how hard I tried, I always rushed back down. You see, the teeter-totter is a 2 person ride. Someone else was on it with me; Someone much stronger and heavier than I, controlling when I could be up and down. When I discovered this, I began to let go a bit and enjoy the ride.

I stayed on that teeter-totter, now waffling between thoughts of epidural/no epidural. I wanted so much to be strong and endure what was to come, yet I was so weak. Just the week before, I was in for pre-admission, and told the nurse I won't be needing to sign the anesthesia papers because I wouldn't be getting an epidural. I hadn't truly had one since my oldest, and decided I wouldn't do it again. It seems a bigger lesson was in store for me this day. As the time drew closer, I remembered something I had just been told a few days before I went in, "just be happy God invented drugs." I laughed and thought, "Yes, I shall give up pain, that would be a good sacrifice for me." Do you notice the prideful theme here? I was on top - I was too good for an epidural.

As time went on, I asked for the anesthesiologist. The whole "God invented drugs" kept ringing in my ears. I was at peace with this decision, I was looking forward to the more "relaxed" birth. However, as the nurse and doctor left after the epidural was in place, I rushed back down bumping the ground with the teeter-totter. It hurt. It hurt my pride. I couldn't believe I just went through with it. Was this really what God wanted of me?

I believe it was. He was stronger, He pushed to the top, and as I cried at the submission of my will, He took control. The humility He was teaching me was more important than my efforts to show my strength. I learned about humility in the excitement of a ride at the park, "True joy in the ride comes as we let go and are plummeted down."

The greatest blessing that July 20 afternoon

Christopher

9lbs 1.6 oz. 22.5 " long

All for the Glory of God.