To like or not to like...

 

Today is Joseph's 6th birthday! It is such a happy day at our house. The two-hour weather-related delay this morning meant we had extra time to celebrate before school. His siblings are almost as excited as he is! Daddy drove him to school as he couldn't carry the 25 Despicable Me cupcakes on the bus (or, he could have, but I don't think they'd be edible this afternoon!).

It's also the sad 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in the United States. I was born in 1975, and I used to wonder (when I was old enough to understand) how many of my classmates were missing in my school due to this decision. I'm not judging anyone who had an abortion (there were actually times in my life when I did not consider myself pro-life...but, this is mainly because I never really thought it through and I didn't truly grasp the miracle of life or the dignity of the human person). I'm simply praying for all unborn children, for their parents, and for an end to abortion.

When I lived in Washington D.C., I was fortunate to attend the yearly March for Life on January 22 every year. It was amazing to see people...especially young people...from all over the country coming together for this cause. I taught at a Catholic high school and students from other states would actually sleep on the floor of our gym! The signs that touched me the most were always the ones being held by women that read, "I regret my abortion."

Since I'm not able to attend the March for Life anymore (it's only a 2-hour ride, but it's not really practical to subject my young ones to this ridiculous wind chill!), I say extra prayers. I love that Joseph's birthday is today (he was born at 11 p.m. and he wasn't due until the 25th). My own personal response to Roe v. Wade was to have a baby on this day (well, with a little help from God and the doctors at the hospital...ha!).

I have been posting on Facebook a bit more the past 6 months or so. I've found that it's a great way to keep in touch with family members. I also have many local friends, and it's a fun way to celebrate life's ups and downs with them. As I was preparing to post some pictures for Joseph's birthday today (a baby picture and a current picture), I decided to also mention that it's the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and that we are praying for an end to abortion as we celebrate life today at our house. 

I almost did not do it. I was actually sitting there worrying about whether people would "like" it or not. I usually avoid politics at all costs and figure that my life is an example (people often assume I'm a pro-life Catholic when they see my family...ha!). I decided to wait until after lunch to decide. So, I fed the kids and got three of them down for naps. As I was helping Cecilia with an art project, I suddenly thought, "Lots of people didn't like Jesus either!" And, in my case, I really don't think people will shun me or dislike me, but instead, they just won't hit "like" on Facebook as to not condone my views. That's fine :). Maybe (or maybe not...it's up to the Holy Spirit) someone will be touched by it...or at least it'll enter their mind. 

Here's Joseph's baby picture below. I never realized how much I wanted a son until he was born!! Thank you God for the gift of my Joseph :). Praying for all unborn babies, their mothers, and for an end to abortion.

It's All About the Milk!

Me and Teresa

My baby turned 3-months-old yesterday! She's a love. Her smile takes up her whole face and I love that she's so small and snugly. Her siblings are loving that she lights up in response to them. We are so blessed and our lives are greatly enriched by her presence.

I am exclusively breastfeeding on demand. And, psychologically speaking, I love it! I wouldn't want it any other way. My body is giving my baby everything that she needs to grow and develop (except vitamin D, but there are drops for that since we aren't getting outside in the sunshine much these days in Pennsylvania!). I marvel at how well God designed the female body to care for babies...truly amazing!

There is something that I am not loving though. And, it's all about the milk (to quote the life-sized singing cows at Hershey's Chocolate World!). I have been blessed to breastfeed all of my babies for a year (well, my milk dried up when Cecilia was 9 months because I was very pregnant with Justin!). The first two times, the baby weight came off pretty quickly (especially after Joseph was born...I was able to wear a size 6 dress in my sister's wedding when he was only 6 months old!).

Even after Lucy (who is not yet 2), I was able to lose the weight pretty easily. I still had a little over 10 pounds to go when I was got pregnant with Teresa. But, I'm realizing that those pounds were not at all the big deal that I thought that they were!!!

This time around, the baby weight is just plain STUCK. I have a whole closet full of clothes that do not fit. I would understand it if I had quit exercising and was eating poorly. But, I love exercising and have recently been able to increase my exercise quite a bit. And, I'm eating the same that I have for years (honestly, even more healthy as I am so conscious). I am careful to eat the calories that I need to make breastmilk (300 to 500 extra calories), but they are healthy choices.

And, nothing! A few hours of cardio a week, a weight lifting class on Wednesday nights, healthy eating...and the same number on the scale week after week! I know my body made maternal fat stores (and my body will never be the same again!), but this is ridiculous to me :). I have been able to maintain a healthy body weight my entire adult life because of good choices. It's not vanity or wanting to look a certain way because my culture tells me too...but rather, I simply feel best when I am a healthy weight for my height.

I only need to go online to read that the same thing is happening to thousands of other breastfeeding moms. It's nice to know I'm not alone! My body is slowing down my metabolism to keep my maternal fat stores to ensure that I am able to produce enough milk. My age and the number of babies that I've had is a factor too. Go body! Luckily, many women lose the weight once they wean (to be continued...)!

This is frustrating. But, I need to keep perspective. Would I ever trade my precious baby to be a smaller size? NEVER. At the end of my life, is the number on the scale what people will remember? No. (And I always read the obituaries in the Sunday paper...not sure why! I feel like I'm honoring the dead and I say a quick prayer for their souls. I never once saw a comment on body size!).

The advice that stood out from the rest when I read the comments from other frustrated breastfeeding moms was this: "Concentrate on your baby's face and not your body. There will be lots of time to take the weight off...but infancy is a short, precious time."

So, today I remember the Serenity Prayer. It's applicable in so many areas of our lives...

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

 

 

Priceless

My 4-year-old daughter Cecilia has gorgeous blond hair. As I come to terms with the fact that my first gray/white hairs are really there (I had quite a case of denial when my husband first pointed them out to me!), I appreciate my children's (all of them are quite blond...except for baby Teresa who still has the very dark hair that she was born with) hair!

Last Saturday, we were on the ride at Hershey's Chocolate World (one of the kids' favorite things to do in winter!). Cecilia leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Mommy, when you were a kid, did you have yellow hair like me?" I told her that, believe it or not, I did (maybe not as blond as she is, but definitely blond). She thought for a moment before saying, "When I grow up, I hope I have brown hair just like yours!"

WHAT!?! Luckily, I didn't say it outloud. I didn't explain that women pay huge amounts of money to have blond hair like hers! I didn't tell her that I would love to have her blond hair myself, and that I only recently stopped spending money to have my hair highlighted to be "just a little bit blond". I'm not a blond (and I'm not a size 6 any more either)...reality just hurts lately!

Rather, I tried to capture the moment. My beautiful sweet girl telling me that she wants to be like me.

Priceless!

Home Sweet Home

Love these moments when my children play on their own...and everyone's included!

Chances are, if you are reading this from anywhere in the United States, you are also cold today. Here in central Pennsylvania, schools are closed for the coldest day in almost 20 years! It is a balmy 20 below (with wind chills, that is!).

I am actually having a great day, and this is shocking to even me :)! As someone posted on facebook today, "Having a snow day after 16 days of vacation is great...SAID NO MOTHER EVER!" Ha! I loved that...made me feel so connected to others!

But, by the grace of God, I woke up today in a good mood with the feeling of extreme GRATITUDE foremost on my heart. This is shaping the way that I am looking at my day. Instead of feeling frustrated that we are all stuck in the house together all day, I am feeling happy that all my babies are safe and warm under my roof.

And, by the grace of God, my children all woke up in a good mood today too! Even my oldest, who is by far my most restless/easily bored child, has been playing nicely with her sister for hours. I am happy that only three years separates Gianna and Cecilia...and, the fact that Gianna seems to be a "young 7" and Cecilia a "very mature 4" really helps :)!

Joseph and Justin (also almost 3 years apart) are also playing nicely together. Actually, it's more like Jopa (as Justin calls him) telling Justin what to do...but, Justin is thrilled to be included and happily obliging Jopa's orders. Hey, it works for me (and for them!).

Lucy (who also tends to get bored easily like Gianna) seems to be enjoying all her siblings being home for the day. She is busy at her age-appropriate tasks of pushing the baby stroller around and filling up any number of purses with "goodies!"

Teresa is my sweet baby (see pictures below). I appreciate her more as I reply to frequent texts from my sister. My 1-month-old nephew is very colicky at the moment. Plus, my sister is trying to occupy my 3-year-old nephew at the same time. Going from 1 to 2 children was definitely one of the toughest challenges of my motherhood journey...so I know what she's going through! Children 4, 5, and 6 have been much easier transitions!

 This day is definitely not the day that I thought I needed or wanted...but, I am happy to be home sweet home. By Friday it's supposed to be back up to 40. Until then, stay warm. Wishing you all peace and contentment with whatever comes your way today!

The Close One...

Here is my big baby giving my small baby a kiss on the head! I love how Lucy has quickly taken on the big sister role. Granted, she's usually covering the baby's face with a blanket, smothering her with an over-sized stuffed animal, or giving her a kiss on the head and leaving snot behind...but, there is true love in all her actions :).

Here's me and all the kiddos on Christmas Eve before bed. That night I watched one of my all-time favorite movies, "It's a Wonderful Life." When Clarence says, "See George, you really had a wonderful life," I instantly hear a voice in my head reminding me that I really have a wonderful life!

This Advent seemed short, but also very magical. I feel so grateful that my oldest two children are in Catholic school as they seemed to truly grasp (as much as possible for ages 7 and 5) the meaning of the season...Joseph even brought home an awesome Nativity scene in a shoe box (definitely a keeper among the kindergarten crafts!). We try to teach them at home, but a little re-enforcement never hurts!

Here's Daddy making Christmas cookies with the kids! I always dread big projects like this (sadly, the clean up and anticipated bickering prevent me from looking forward to them!), but it was a special afternoon. And, bonus for me because Daddy took the lead and organized/completed the project. These are the memories that I want for my children!

Does my little Lucy look like a thief to you?!

Today is Monday, 12/30. The kids are still off from school, but Daddy is back to work (luckily for a short week!). I went to the mall with a friend to check out a new place called Tumble Town. It was a little pricey as I had to pay for five children, but we got a discount because five children is considered a "play date"...score! The kids had a great time and got some energy out...which is good...because we're staying home for the rest of the day. Taking six kids out by myself is not easy!

Anyway, Tumble Town is at the mall so we parked outside of the closest department store. As we were leaving, Lucy apparently grabbed a pair of glasses off of a table as I weaved the double stroller through the tight aisles. The door started beeping as we were leaving. I had no idea that Lucy had the glasses in her hands, so I told the kids that it must be a mistake and to keep going. No employees were around to check our belongings.

As I was getting everyone in the car, I discovered the little robber in the front of the stroller. The big kids saw that Lucy had "stolen" something too, and they were very upset about it (again, thank you Catholic schools for helping with conscience development!). Gianna promptly told Lucy that she had sinned. Joseph asked if we were going to jail. Cecilia and Justin didn't know what to say, but they were in a panic.

What else to do? Get everyone out of the car and march back into the store, of course. We beeped as we went through the door and still...there were no employees in sight. I put the glasses on the nearest table and we left. Gianna was still concerned that they would not know that they were returned (I didn't bother explaining that no one even knew they were taken!).

We talked about it all the way home. Joseph seemed to sum it up when he announced, "WOW...that was a close one!" If that's the closest call of the day, we're in good shape! Happy New Year, everyone!

The Sky...

Last Thursday, my husband, Teresa, and I played the role of the Holy Family at Cecilia and Justin's preschool. Lucy (seen above) was...something!? She was supposed to hold a lamb (a pint-sized shepherd?), but she was really just a toddler walking around the altar!

It was great fun...and a great honor too. My mother pretty much summed up my feelings in an e-mail that she sent me after I sent her pictures..."Trish, you have reached the sky when you get to portray Mary!"

Behind the Holy Family are the teachers at the preschool. They are beautiful women (all mothers too) who work very hard to give our children a most valuable preschool experience. I will never forget their kindness toward my growing family (these years seem to be speeding up and my children will not be young forever...but I won't forget...and neither will my kids!).

I am so grateful for this preschool at this stage in my life. When I became a mother, I prayed for friends and community (I was new to Harrisburg and had not built up a support network yet)...prayers answered the day that I walked into Linglestown Christian Nursery School when Joseph was 2-years-old (before that, I had a great group of new mom network and breastfeeding group friends!). I have met many of my closest friends in these halls :).

I must get off the computer. Before writing this, I was trying to sneak in a little prayer for the end of Advent. As I sat down by the beautiful Christmas tree with a hot cup of coffee and a little Advent reflection prayer book, my baby immediately started crying in her swing (she was fussy so I thought the motion would comfort her). A few prayers in, I realized that I was ignoring Baby Jesus (quite literally last Thursday...ha!)!!! God's will for me was quite clear for me at this moment...and I was doing my very best to ignore it!

As soon as I picked up Teresa, she nuzzled into me and went fast asleep...she just wanted to be held. Luckily, taking care of my baby's need IS a prayer too! The tree and coffee (thank goodness for microwaves) aren't going anywhere!

Wishing all of you a most blessed Christmas. Praying that the baby Jesus will come into all of our lives and make us better people! 

Sparkly

I love this picture of my "twins" in brown and white! This picture was taken back in August on a hot day. The high today is around 25 and windy, so I'm loving the summer shot (although I still probably prefer the weather today to a humid 90+ day...I know, I've been told that I'm crazy!).

The world is sparkly outside my window. We got about 3 inches of snow on Saturday. It was perfect...enough to make everything look Christmas-y and beautiful, but not enough to cause any real problems (or even a school delay as it was over the weekend!). Although, I did just learn that a young 9-month-pregnant woman died on local snow-covered roads this weekend...and her baby survived. I'm praying for the woman, the family, and for the Christmas miracle baby. Stories like that really stay with me.

There is something else sparkling around here these days. That is, my children! There is magic in the air as we joyfully await the birth of Christ and, of course, Santa Claus! The twinkle of anticipation in their eyes is simply contagious.

Something extra nice that I have seen recently is Cecilia (age 4) being very kind to Lucy (age 1-1/2). They play together frequently, and I listen to Cecilia being extra patient and caring toward a toddler who is just learning to talk and so badly wants to be included. All of my children have their moments of being nice toward each other, but Cecilia's behavior is really standing out. I'll have to put in a good word for her with Santa Claus!

I'm going to get off the computer to enjoy the baby smiling at me. At almost 2-months-old, Teresa is finally able to communicate with me a little bit more. I must say that I prefer the smiles to the newborn wail! Speaking of Teresa, she is going to play baby Jesus at the preschool nativity play on Thursday. I will be Mary!

Somehow I think she will be more believable at her role :).