The Girls Today

Have you ever wondered how I manage to feed two babies by myself?  Here's an example of how we "attempt" at feeding them.  When I feed them formula I usually hold one on one side and the other on the other side and use the opposite hands to hold the bottles.  The picture above shows how I feed one and burp the other.  I hold the bottle with my arm while holding the other baby up.  I use my leg to support her back while my hand does the burping.  Lots of fun and I always feel like I've accomplished something amazing! 

 Brigid is already dealing with bed head.  Three months old and has unruly hair.  I told her this morning I would put her picture on the blog so everyone could see her seven bed head hairs.

Kiara was a big girl this morning and held her own bottle for the first time.  She's so stinkin' adorable!  I love that sweet little cupcake!

Blessingway

 My lovely friend and doula (in the red shirt) had a wonderful Blessingway party a couple of Saturdays ago.  She shared this time with some of her closest friends (and family of course).  We took turns reading quotes and while Karla (my other lovely friend and doula in the blue shirt) read Bible verses in between.  

Here is my favorite quote that was read:

These Last Few Hours

It is important to me
that I spend a part of the next few hours
here alone with you
in the darkness.

You and I will never be this close again.
Soon you will be a tiny person all on your own.
 No longer the kicking, demanding bulge in my body that I have grown to love so much.

I pray that you will be safely guided on your journey to my arms and I ask for the strength, courage and
the power of birthing, to open my body and mind for you
And ever so gently us as one will become two.
~author unknown

 Father then gave Jessica a blessing and prayed for her.  Here is a prayer (modified from references of "I" to "her") for my sweet friend.

For a Happy Delivery

Lord Jesus Christ, who said "Allow the little children to come to Me, for the kingdom of heaven is for such," I thank you with all my heart for the great and holy privilege You have granted her in calling her to present You with a little child, so precious in Your sight.  I praise and bless Your divine goodness for giving her such a sweet and holy patroness and protectress in Your Mother, the model and exaltation of all Christian motherhood.

Dear Jesus, I beg You to be mindful of the prayers and intercession of Your Immaculate Mother on my friend's behalf; heed her petitions for my friend, and as you have so blessed my friend in this pregnancy, mercifully grant the happy delivery which I now ask for her through Mary, our patroness, the Lady of Happy Delivery.  Amen.

 We were all asked to pick two candles to take with us and light during the labor and delivery.  I picked Birth team as Jessica was part of my birth team and Karla (who was my doula also) is Jessica's doula.  I also picked Placenta because I think I can relate to concerns and need for prayers for the placenta.

 Jessica had her feet and belly decorated with henna for the occasion.  She also had her hair braided by one of our friends.  All pregnant women should have a Blessingway to make them feel beautiful and to know they are loved.

My candles are lit today.  The tears of joy and worry are gathering in my eyes.

Please join me in praying for my sweet friend as she welcomes her third child into this beautiful life.

For the baby - An Irish Blessing

May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings
beside your nursery door.
And for the proud parents:
May God grant you
a wee bit of heaven
to cradle in your arms -
a sweet bonny baby
to hold close to your heart
A newborn babe
brings light to the house
warmth to the hearth
and joy to the soul
for wealth is family
family is wealth.
Old Irish proverb

A little labor music  - for all of us!

First Day of Preschool

Today Brech officially started preschool work.  He's been working on different books for a year or more.  Today we actually followed a plan.  Gianna followed the plan too.  I'm not sure she was helpful though.  She's bound and determined she can do anything he can do.  I even printed her the same coloring pages he had to do.

The was his first attempt at writing number threes for me.  I think he did pretty well considering I heard a long speech about how his hand hurt and he didn't want to be as smart as Dad and can he have a break yet and why does he have to write SOOOOooo many threes.  I have a feeling this will be a long preschool year for both of us!

Happy Epiphany

Happy Twelfth Day of Christmas!

Tonight the kids had a gold-wrapped chocolate kisses and smelled some frankincense and myrrh to celebrate the Epiphany. 

 As a gift to each of the kids (minus the twins), Darren and I gave the kids coupon books.

 There are 12 coupons for each child.  Examples would be Outing with Dad, 30 minutes of Mom time...

Pick the Dessert for the Day, Pick the Netflix movie... 

 and 30 Minutes of Kindle time.  The catch is that they can only cash in one coupon per month.  It is the gift that keeps giving all year long.

I had a great time making the coupon books.  It was actually inspired from another coupon book I made last Saturday.  First off - Darren bought me a Silhouette cutting machine for Christmas. 

 I wanted to try it out on some wonderful project so I made a coupon book for our chiropractor.  Her husband is deployed for the next nine months.  They have a sweet little boy who is under a year old. I wanted to support her and thank him all at the same time.  

 I decided to give her one afternoon or night of babysitting a month.  Blase suggested we add some extra ones so we added one for her birthday and one freebie for whenever. 

 I came up with a few ideas of when she could use the coupons for.  I hope she realizes it isn't limited to just these situations.  When I gave the book to her she was very happy.  She's such a sweet lady that she immediately told me that she is always willing to babysit for us.  I wonder if she knows exactly what she is volunteering for.

When It Is Too Cold

When it is too cold to play outside we have other ways of keeping busy.

 Readings like this are becoming commonplace around here.  We aren't even surprised anymore.  In fact, compared to the other day, this is a heat wave of sorts.

 When its really, really cold it only makes sense to have ice cream, right?  Well, today's ice cream was blended smooth with a little chocolate syrup added.  It was for a sweet newly 9 year old boy whose tongue had an unfortunate and painful run in with a frozen pole.  Did you shudder?  You should, it is that bad.  We were trying to bring the swelling down.  I think all the boys learned a lesson yesterday.

We also feed our pet catfish, Kitty, a minnow.  What's crazy is that Kitty was the size of that minnow when we got him/her last year at this time. (Commentary by Darren if you are wondering.)

Who doesn't love a good regurgitation? 

That is a minnow-filled belly!!

Yes, quite possibly the cabin fever is getting to us.

A Cold New Year

It has been a terribly cold week around here. We spent New Year's Day in the house.

 The boys begged to try out the new microscope we gave them on Christmas.

 All of us had a great time looking at the slides that came with the microscope.  I think it is the first I have ever gotten to look through a nice microscope.  I can't wait to try it out again.

January 2nd  - I woke up to -32 degrees outside.  Now I am noticing it was cold in the house that morning.  No wonder I felt so cold and was drawn to see the temperature outside.  I figured that HAD to be cold enough to do the boiling water evaporates really fast trip outside.  Darren tried it for us.  All we managed to have was a small burst of steam and an icy patch on the deck.  I guess we will be waiting for it to get just a little colder before we try again.