Hashtag LivinTheDream

My paternal Grandmother would be proud. The big three are all capable of completing writing assignments. 

Also, never wake a sleeping baby. Just don't.

This consequence followed the child barging into my room and talking loudly right after I rocked the baby back to sleep after he was awakened by yelling. There have been times this happened thrice in a row; so, we have to have consequences for careless behavior.

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Stanford vs. USC

DH lucked out and joined a colleague with free tickets a few weeks ago.

 

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Teaching Supersonic

Our resident-toddler wants desperately to be a big boy like his brothers. He gets upset when he can't do all of the things the big boys do. The Eldest complained of Supersonic getting in the way. I told him his brother just wants to keep up and gets frustrated/angry when he can't. The Eldest understood and decided to teach him to vacuum and pronounce a bunch of words. Then, the others wanted in on it.

Also, kids 1 and 5 have so much in common! And they look like each other.

Meanwhile, Sweet Pea focused on her social life, a child after my own heart.

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Amusing Comments of Late

"You're daughter is tall -- like you!"

{What happens when you attend a birthday party with people of mostly Asian descent. 

I've literally never been called tall before. You might recall; Sweet Pea is in the 20th%.}

At a faith-sharing group, we were referred to as an "older couple." I took that as a compliment and also found it hilarious. Perception is reality. 

{To be fair, DH was 20 years older than the youngest dad.}

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"Something Beautiful for You!"

Mr. Serious was thrilled when I returned from Virginia and picked him up from school. He was practically asleep. (School is hard work for introverts.) When he saw me, he jumped up and declared, "Mom, I made something BEAUTIFUL for you!" and unfolded this masterpiece, while accidentally dropping everything else on the ground.

What a great kid! I'm so glad I get to be his mom.

 

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Virginia 2021

 Sweet Pea, Baby Sol, and I enjoyed a pleasant trip to D.C. When we pulled out of the rental garage, fresh, humid air filled our lungs; and I smiled. We visited [most of] our favorite people, enjoyed rolling hills and green grass, and listened to country music. We have no intention of letting two years go by again before we return!

Sweet Pea learned to roller skate and "twinned" with her cousin all day long. Relationships are why we are going to be okay, come what may. I value these people so much!

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Baby Sol's Two-Month

Baby Sol is super cute, receives tons of love, and sleeps quite a bit. 

The Engineer asks to hold him when he arrives at school. "Does holding him make you feel calm?" I ask. "Yes!" he emphatically responds.

He has the best bottom lip when he frowns. His siblings are happy to help with all the baby duty (except waking up in the night, haha!). They fight over whose turn it is to feed him and hold him. Sometimes they ask to hold him when he's in the depths of REM sleep in front of them. "What is the number-one rule about having a baby?" I ask. "Not to wake them?" they respond. So, at least they know how to parrot the answers I want from them.

The doctor says he should "wake up" within the next month and become much more interactive with much better visual focus. It's hard to know what to expect because he was a month early.

Lots of zinc oxide on the fair skin:

First beach trip.

Tryin' to get a tan without UV rays . . . and sometimes it turns into a fail. This time, I did not wipe off my face immediately; but when I got home 5 minutes later... It's so hard to be fair!

Current Stats-

(I forget the adjusted-for-premie percentiles, but they were both over 50%, and head was near 100% of course.)

Weight: 11 lbs., 2 oz., 19th%

Height: 22", 8th%

Head: 15.87", 82nd%

Here he is at Birth, Two Weeks, and One Month.

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"I Hold!"

F5 uses this phrase constantly. Today, it was in the context of holding his little brother. He put on his cheesiest cheese for this photo. Such a ham, this child!

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Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 "... just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." 

-John 3:14-15

There are several profound readings today. And this beautiful hymn. 

(Photo: St. Dominic's Monastery, Linden, VA.)

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Today's Prayer

The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue,

That I might know how to speak to the weary 

a word that will rouse them.

Morning after morning He opens my ear 

that I may hear.

-Isaiah 50:4

 

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Ordinary Life

We have a lot of extraordinary people around us; and it's tempting to compare. However, God has called us to an ordinary life. It's so important to stay in our own lane. I found this helpful this week.

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The Eldest's Big Ten!

He wants to be an artist or a soldier when he grows up. "Art makes me feel calm." He has a big heart and is empathetic. He asked to buy his classmate with celiac disease her own gluten free cupcake so she could participate in the cake-eating. He wants to be a hero and works hard to help his younger siblings. He loves being in charge. He has big emotions and big dreams. God made him to be a firstborn!

He wanted to celebrate in the same manner as his siblings. So we pulled everything together for him. He is blessed to have some good friends, not the least of whom are his siblings:

He's become particular about his image, including photo poses.

 

It took ridiculous commentary to get him to half-smile here:

Thank you for the gifts!

He told me he wanted 4 things: a desk for his room, Axis & Allies, a Star Wars Lego set, and Pokemon cards.

I told him the desk doesn't have to be a birthday gift because it's a legitimate need. I'd been looking for one on OfferUp and couldn't find one suitable. So, I ordered one from Costco with our executive membership annual cash back check, which was "the largest one of these I've ever seen," according to a new Costco employee. I smiled and said, "We have a lot of kids."

He was super excited the week leading up to his birthday as packages were left at our front door. "I'm having a great birthday!" he said. 

Current Stats:

Weight: 93 lbs., 2 oz., 91st%

Height: 4'9", 82nd%

[He watched what he ate this year and reduced his BMI following that horrible California lockdown when we closed schools, parks, and even the beach. But he is resilient; and we're proud of him!]

Happy birthday, Bud! We love you so much!!!

Check out his previous years:

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

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First Smile

It's hard to tell here, but he smiled for the first time on Saturday. He did it for Dad. The next day, he smiled for me.

Every milestone we reach makes life seem normal. ❤

 

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Wisdom from the Week

 This reflection from Fr. Hudgins gave me encouragement: 

We're not as bad as we think when we fail. And we're not as good as we think when we succeed . . . No matter what, God's will is advanced. 

This beautiful hummingbird presented as an answer to prayer. He was doing his thing. I followed him from flower to flower.

Photography carried me through the lockdown; and it is a gift that keeps on giving.

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She Got Up Immediately and Waited on Them

The Wednesday Gospel resonated strongly with me. I can't expound upon this; I just knew it was for me.

 

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The Mission

San Juan Capistrano is our closest mission.

DH sent me out by myself because he's amazing.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

I trust you, let me not be disappointed;

do not let my enemies triumph.

Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed,

but only those who wantonly break faith.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my savior.

In you I hope all day long

because of your goodness, O Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

and the love you have shown from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth.

In your love remember me.

                            -Psalm 25 

 

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