Good night!

I captured Teresa's first smile ever (3 weeks old)...it was a miracle to have my camera in hand!

I just said Good Night to my children...the ones that actually go to bed, that is! Teresa is lying on the floor next to me looking around. For the moment, she is incredibly calm and happy just taking in the view from the dining room floor!

My husband is teaching a class tonight. So for the second time this week, I had the task of getting the children fed, bathed, and to bed by myself. This was quite hard enough a month ago, but it is even harder with a newborn crying (you know the cry!) in the background!

We usually end the night with prayers and a book. But, after Lucy fell off my bed and then tripped on the baby's bouncy seat and gave herself a bloody nose (in addition to the baby screaming in the background!), I called it a night and ordered all the children to bed immediately (Lucy wasn't seriously injured...just overtired...I didn't want to see what would happen next)!! I told them to say prayers with each other (we've been saying the same night time prayers for years, so hopefully someone was able to lead!) and not to come out of their rooms unless it was an emergency! I hadn't heard a sound so I think they got the message! Good Night :).

These love bugs are keeping me extremely busy!

I am also saying Good Night to this blog for a bit. I just can't find the time to write. I let Justin, age 3, experiment with giving up his nap (he wasn't going to sleep at 1 p.m. anymore...but rather, emptying out his drawers or dumping out my laundry, etc...TROUBLE!). This experiment was a complete disaster. By dinner time, he was absolutely unbearable and our nights were horrible (no one is happy when a cranky toddler is dominating Mommy and Daddy's time and attention!). So, now he naps around 2:30 or 3...only for a 1/2 hour or so. Problem is, this is the time that Lucy gets up. Because I'm also spending time with Cecilia and nursing Teresa (a lot!), I'm not getting a break during the afternoons like I used to.

I'm not complaining...I know how incredibly blessed I am. I try to roll with the punches (much easier said than done!) and to find time for myself in other ways (I've been trying to exercise after dinner which feels awesome after a very long pregnancy!).

So, Good Night! Thanks so much for reading and for all your thoughts and prayers over the past year or so. I will definitely come back to this blog (probably sooner rather than later!). But for this season of my life, my mission is clear. I pray that God will richly bless all of us until we meet again :).