29 Weeks

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life."

Spring Break.

I wish we could go somewhere sunny and warm, but it is also nice to just stay home and relax.

So far it has been a good week. I took our children to the indoor pool on Monday and Tuesday. The warm water felt great on my pregnant body. Our children have a lot of fun playing with each other - they only got the whistle blown at them once for having a little too much fun chasing each other and throwing each other in the water.

The last 3 nights we have spent at our church. We had a Friar come speak to us for a "mission." He was great - lots of good stories, and lots of humor. Really made you think about life and what is important.

They had Nursery for our 2 youngest, Children's Liturgy for our 3 middle ones, and our 2 oldest stayed with us to listen. We decided to make a family committment to go for Lent. I am glad we did.

Last night as we were getting our coats on a older gentleman came up to us and asked me if he could know when our baby was due. I told him and he said that he would like to pray for our baby and for our family. He is a grandfather of 10 and a great-grandfather of 11 with his last one being born last week. He loved seeing all of our children and wanted us to know how blessed Tom and I are.

I thought he was very sweet and kind. Our 2nd oldest was standing next to me and seemed very touched that this man came up to us.

Today our baby is 29 weeks. I am so achey I can barely move.

Tom tells me I feel like this every time - but once again, I never remember the negative parts.

We had an ultrasound last week. Baby looks very good - good growth. Couldn't get a good profile picture because it wouldnt' move its little arms and hands away from the sides of its head. Stinker. But our little "June Bug" is sitting in position - heads down. I am very thankful for that. And he/she is wiggling around a lot. Leah was having fun feeling a little knee or elbow rub against her hand on my belly. She could even watch my belly move. Amazing.

Time to get some lunch for everyone - and time to plan dinner.

For Lent, I am planning and cooking real dinners for my family. With being so tired and not feeling my best lately, I have been getting into the habit of calling Tom to pick up something for dinner or just throwing something easy together - usually not something very healthy. So I've been planning a week's worth of meals and making them. I told Tom I love being a Mommy, but this Homemaker stuff is exhausting!

15 Years

"Home is where your story begins "

15 Years ago today we held our first born, Brandon. I can't believe how fast those years went by. I still remember a lady coming up to me in a restaurant when Brandon was very little and she told me it would go by quickly. She was so right.

Brandon came into our lives soon after our wedding. 9 months and 3 weeks after. We knew we wanted to have children - I would jokingly say I wanted "Bunches!" And look where we are now.

When we had Brandon, I was a nanny so I took him to work with me. In fact, I took Brandon with me everywhere I went. I enjoyed being a mom.

Still do.

Brandon is an amazing young man. He is so creative, so caring, so strong. God gave him an incredible talent when it comes to art. His drawings are incredible. He made me a clay pot for Christmas that I will always treasure.

Whenever I am getting a little stressed, he asks me what he can do to help me, gives me a hug, and makes me a cup of tea.

And even when he was first diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, he made me so proud with how he handled it. He still handles it very well. It's just part of him. I believe his great sense of humor helps him too.

I am just so proud of who he has become.

I look forward to many more years of watching him grow.

I love our Brandon and so happy God blessed us with him.

Our oldest and our youngest dressed for Halloween.

(Yes, they are dressed from The Hangover.)

Our handsome son.

St. Patrick's Day

"May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.

May your troubles grow less as your blessings increase."

Happy St. Patrick's Day ( a little late.)

We spent the day having little Miss Sarah evaluated for Preschool. I think she did ok. We will know in a week or 2 if she gets in. My biggest concern with her is how shy she can be - and the fact that she has no interest in giving up wearing diapers. This is the only preschool that will take a child in diapers.

We spent the rest of the day playing outside in beautiful weather.

I have really missed being outside with our children - though Jakey keeps making me get up and run after him. Being very pregnant makes it a little difficult. Hopefully Jakey learns quickly to stay away from the street.

Today is a little bit cooler. We still played outside for a little while, but I can't wait for temperatures nice enough to get out the sprinkler and baby pool.

Our little "June Bug" is wiggling around.

I can barely move with the sciatic pain I have, but Tommy pumped up the "ball seat" that I bought. That should help me to be a little more comfortable. Of course, our children are enjoying it as a toy right now.

Oh, and last weekend our son Ethan was in the play "Hamlet." He did a great job! He was a guard and was dressed like a policeman.

He is a very handsome young man. I am glad he has found something he really enjoys. Can't wait to hear what the next play / musical will be.

You can't fight naptime.



Rachel ~ 8 years old

"A daughter is a gift of Love."

Today our beautiful daughter celebrates being 8 years old. Wow! The years go by fast. Rachel is our oldest daughter and one of our best surprises ever. Not only because she was our first girl after 3 boys, but because we found out we were pregnant with her when her brother was only 6 months old.

And what a difference a year makes!

Last year Rachel wanted a Barbie doll. This year she wanted me to take her shopping at Justice for clothes.

I must honestly say that I enjoyed this year's gift. It was fun to go shopping with my little girl. She walked around the store with a huge smile on her face and then went into the dressing room to try on everything. She made me wait right outside the curtain so she could "model" each outfit for me. We had fun and she didn't take advantage of the situation. She picked out a few items and didn't "spoil" herself. She was happy. I was happy. We had a wonderful time together.

Now this weekend she wants me to take her to the new Justin Bieber movie.

I have to think about that one.

Rachel is 8 today.

Couples Retreat

"Family. Where love begins love never ends."

Tom and I went to a Couple's Retreat this weekend. It was wonderful.

I am a fairly quiet person ( unless I know you really well ) and get uncomfortable around groups of people. But I did a lot of praying about this weekend and hoped I would get through it with an open mind and spirit.

And I did. Tom and I both did.

We have a great relationship, a great marriage. I didn't sign up for this weekend thinking we needed any "help," I just wanted to spend some alone time with my husband focusing on our marriage. With 7 children, and 1 on the way, we don't get to spend a lot of time focusing on us.

We did get a lot out of this retreat. More than I expected to. Who knew we could get any closer? Who knew we would have so much more to learn about each other? Plus, we got to meet a bunch of great couples. And the couples we really got to know told us things that they saw in us that amazed me. Things I don't hear a lot of from "strangers." They pointed out to us that they were inspired by the fact that Tom and I put so much faith in God. We really try to live our lives for Him. We put our trust in Him. I know that we do, but it amazed me to hear someone else say that they could see that we do.

Baby is growing!

Baby is tucking it's little feet, hands, knees, elbows,...anywhere it pleases. I even had Tom put his hand on my belly so he could feel the little knee or elbow. It gets a little uncomfortable sometimes.

Only when I am pregnant do I get into the "baby shows" on tv. There is a new one called One Born Every Minute. I have a love / hate relationship with this show. When the women are screaming and crying during the contractions and birth - I start telling Tom "I can't do this again!"

But then when the Mommies see their babies for the first time and hold their babies - I tell Tom "I can do this again!"

In fact, this weekend at church I saw 2 women with their newborn babies and I started to get all teary-eyed. I can't wait to hold this little one.

Of course, I still have "baby" Jakey to cuddle with me. Jakey gives me lots of kisses and hugs right now. He is the most affectionate child! He has learned well from his siblings. They hug and kiss him all the time. He hugs and kisses them, our pets, and everything else. Yesterday he was kissing the tv remote. He is just the cutest little boy.

Of course, I think all of our children are the cutest, the most handsome, the most beautiful. They are a part of me and my husband, my bestest friend. They are amazing gifts that God has blessed us with.

Tea Party

Princess with her cocoa