Heard Around Here Lately...

The Princess to Casinodad: "Daddy, we're going to Bob Heavens for breakfast in the morning!"

*****
Me to The Prophet: "What is the invisible line that divides the northern hemisphere from the southern hemisphere called?"

The Prophet: "The Hemisphere Separator?"

He's Growing Fast!

What a difference one month can make. I took The Saint for his one month check-up on Mon. & he's doing great. He was 7 lbs 9 oz at birth & is now 9 lbs 8 oz. He's in the 49th percentile for his weight.

Here he is at one day old...

Now here he is today...

(Check out those cheeks & chubby arms w/ rubber-band wrists!)

The Moon in Change

Last night, as we were driving back from my SIL's apartment, we caught a glimpse of the moon behind the trees. What a beautiful sight! Once we got onto another interstate, the moon was more visible & all the munchkins could see it. It was still low in the eastern sky but it was huge, almost full, & a beautiful red-orange color. The Archangel was the last to see it & his comments were: "It looks like a giant, collectible coin! That's awesome!" He was still talking about it this morning: "Remember when we saw that moon shaped like a giant collectible quarter?"

Nighttime Ritual & Motherly Thoughts

Since The Prophet was born, I've gotten into the habit of checking the munchkins every night before I go to bed. I stop in their rooms, make sure they're covered, sleeping in a comfortable position, & give them a kiss or two. I can't fall asleep if I haven't checked on them - I feel like I've forgotten something. After tossing & turning for a while, I've been known to jump up & run into their rooms! Sometimes, I'll take a little extra time, sit on the bed beside them & say a little prayer. They look so peaceful & I regret the times throughout the day when I've yelled at them or been wrapped up in my own daily tasks.

A few years ago there was a comic strip (Marvin, I think) in which each panel showed the mother constantly frustrated. He'd get into her purse, make a mess at the table, etc - all the normal things most kids do. The last panel showed her looking down at him sleeping in his crib, wondering how, after all the hassles & frustrations of the day, all she wanted to do was pick him up & hug him. I think that was when The Prophet was a baby & I knew exactly how she felt.

As mothers, we tend to get so wrapped up in the tasks we need to do for our families, that we forget the real task of spending quality time with the little ones. As The Saint is nearing one month, I see how fast he's already growing. His face is filling out, he's getting the little "rubberband wrists" & stretching himself out more each day. It's only taken me four children to realize that they're only young once & the tasks will always be there. Now that I'm feeling much better & healing well, I need to focus on spending more quality time w/ them - not just schooling them, but playing & doing fun things w/ them.

Last night, while doing my rounds, I stopped in The Princess' room first. She was mostly asleep, but looked up at me when I peeked in.

Princess: "Wanna tiss & hud me?"

Me: "Of course, I want to kiss & hug you!"

Breastmilk & Garlic Don't Mix

I went to change The Saint's diaper last night & got a whiff of something other than what he had deposited for me. Apparantly the fresh garlic I used in last night's dinner went straight to my milk supply, giving his diaper a nice garlic scent. Then, this morning, The Archangel came up to kiss The Saint & smelled his hand. "Yuck, his hand smells like garlic!" he said. I guess the garlic got into his skin too! He's still nursing well, so it either doesn't change the taste or he doesn't mind it.

Use No. 100 for a Purple Marker

I just went upstairs to put a few things away. At the end of the hall, The Princess was in her room w/ her door open just a crack. I could see her standing there & as soon as she saw me, she shut the door. I opened it & asked what she was doing (you know that feeling you have when your precious little one is into something?!) Her response: "I'm 'tending it's nail polish!" as she holds up the purple marker & her freshly "painted" purple nails!

Blog Name Update

As you can see, I've renamed my blog Four Blessings Academy. However, I'm leaving the blog web address as Three Blessings Academy since I probably can't change its name without opening a new blog.

Two Weeks Old!

The Saint is two weeks old as of yesterday & he's doing great! He does have a bit of jaundice but not bad enough to warrant the use of a photo therapy blanket. We had to go for some bloodwork several times last week to make sure his bilirubin levels were going down - which they are. His eyes are still a bit yellow, but that's always the last to return to normal. He's eating & getting rid of his waste very well, so our doctor wasn't too concerned. At his appointment yesterday, he weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. So, he's gained back his birth weight & added a few ounces. I can definitely see that he's filling out already. Those adorable chubby cheeks are getting even chubbier by the day!

We still can't figure out for sure who he looks like. With his eyes closed, he looks like The Archangel & when they're open, he looks like The Prophet. I guess we should just say that he looks like The Saint!

When we first got home from the hospital a couple weeks ago, The Archangel asked how long we were going to keep the new baby. I told him that he'd live w/ us until he grew up, went to college, got married & had a family of his own. The Archangel was very pleased to hear that we were keeping The Saint. All of the munchkins are still completely in love w/ their new baby brother. The Archangel keeps saying, "Mommy, it's great to have a baby in the house, isn't it?" All of them keep saying how cute he is & love to give him hugs & kisses.

Our family is anxiously awaiting another birth in about three weeks. My sister is expecting her fifth child & all the kids are excited to meet their new cousin. Not only is this her fifth child, it is her fifth boy - no girls for her. So, The Princess is the only girl for my parents. She's definitely learned to be tough, sticking up for herself when bothered by her brothers & cousins. You can check out her blog to see pictures of her boys holding The Saint when they came to visit at the hospital: www.celestialacademy.blogspot.com

I'll update w/ more pictures soon. I took a great one the other day of all four munchkins together. I just haven't uploaded the new photos to the computer yet.