Little Isaac (now 8 weeks) still spends a lot of time in this big sister's arms. I hadn't realised that he was actually reading at the time of this photo until I uploaded it to blogger. The genes are only getting better and better! When not reading he spends the majority of his time looking astonished. And this picture is for my sister, Rebecca, because Isaac is a dead-ringer for his first cousins when he smiles. Even Dave said so. The above picture and the one below are testimony to the inner workings of a large family. Even the smallest siblings quickly learn how to entertain the smallest members. Neither of these pictures were posed and both the book and the foot rocking the chair were effective pacifiers. In fact, I had been preparing supper and was just about to tend to a crying Isaac when he suddenly stopped whimpering. I quickly checked to see why he was peaceful and found Joseph reading a book to his wee sibling.
...to be sick. I don't think that anyone is more cognisant of the cold and flu season than a parent with young children. Especially many young children. One bad cold is enough to deal with; but one bad cold making its way through five young children is a lot. Thankfully this head cold has moved through our youngest quite quickly (yay for breastmilk). The two oldest are done with it (except the remains of a cough which hits in the quiet of the night). Joseph seems to attack sickness with the same gusto that he approaches most situations (born to survive). But Ben is asleep again and as grumpy as a just-woken-from-hibernation bear. Actually, picture Eeyore with a sinus infection. I think that he might actually need something more than Mommy and Tylenol. I am keeping a close eye on little Benjo as Dave's mother has developed bacterial pneumonia and Ben's lungs have aways been more susceptible than those of the other children. We're all on multi-vitamins, cod liver oil and very little sugar but I think that children get most ills and, as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you, can only strengthen you. Or, you can just superdose it with Vitamin D (says the mommy whose daily Vitamin D intake rivals Isaac's diaper changes). I would post pictures but the twins are in a different building that is private property during school hours and the rest are asleep ... well, with the exception of Joseph who requires sunset to do any snoozing.
When it comes to play groups I have a definite love/hate relationship with them. I faithfully took Jacob and Hannah to a weekly library group from the time they were two until they were four. They learned how to sit and listen (sort of), how to do crafts (at least Hannah did ) and to enjoy books (especially Jacob who would sneak out of circle time to find the bookshelves). However, I was always slightly overwhelmed by simultaneously bundling up two twins in snowsuits, carrying loads of books, diaper bags and younger siblings out to the van in the dead of a Canadian winter: Ha! I laugh in the face of mittens. (And let's not mention library time accompanied by morning sickness or toilet training. (Just picture Jacob arriving at circle time fresh from the washroom wearing nothing but a shirt.)) I am the mother who makes others feel successful. By the time the twins were ready for school I was playgrouped out. However, as Benjamin is staying at home this year instead of partaking of our province's latest educational fare, I decided that he just might benefit from something organised. So, for the past two weeks we have been attending ToyBus (which both boys insist is called BusToy). It was last week that I discovered that my shy and retiring Benjamin is not always so. Circle time was just short of a disaster as Ben decided that he was far too awake to play sleeping bunnies and that the snack was definitely not to his liking. Both boys were also deeply offended by the lack of a drink despite the presence of a bottle of Tropicana on a side table. So, this week I fed them heartily before departure and hoped for the best. Fortunately there were far fewer kids this week and I could work a little bit on trying to get them to 'conform'. Because, at the heart of the issue, I think that all of our boys are non-conformists. (How else will they make it through school with a mother who would have to combine homeschooling with prescription drugs?) While failure to conform actually warms my heart, it also causes some embarrassment. Today, towards the end of circle time, the group leader asked if anyone had a song request. I think she was hoping for something Raffi-esque. Ben put up his hand with his musical selection: Big Green Tractor.
The group leader looked slightly baffled until I mumbled something about country music and Youtube. She then responded that she didn't know all the words so how about Five Green and Speckled Frogs. And, if that made you laugh, sacramental preparation might as well. Jacob and Hannah are making both their First Communion and First Confession in the spring. Jacob asked me if it was permitted to disguise one's voice when in the confessional. Dear God, I hope that this bodes well for the teenage years.
I have been feeling a little guilty lately about my neglect of the blog (not to mention inputting the privacy list...). However, I am sure that you understand and I don't need to make apologies. We are all well here ... just busy. Finding-our-equilibrium busy. Some days are very full and some days are too full. There is laundry to be done, folded and put away; baby to be fed; three meals to be made; carpets to vacuum; baby to be fed; bathrooms to clean; homework to check; baby to be fed; bums to be wiped (usually while the baby is being fed); son with huge goose egg to pick up early from school; and, you get the picture. Thank God the nights are good. Dave has taken over a late-night feeding with a bottle and is on Isaac duty until the wee hours. This allows me to get a good night's rest. I truthfully don't know how Dave does it as his to-do list is often more expansive than mine. Thankfully he is not a worrier and really lives one moment at a time. In his words, "I can't remember yesterday and thinking about tomorrow would kill me." However, I, on the other hand, think a bit too much. I did have a revelation of sorts yesterday while on my daily walk. It was about women and our tendency to worry. It went something like this: (I am generalising) Men provide and protect while women nurture and, ummm, worry. What is the point of this worry? To what is it directing us? In other words, how, dear Lord, do I stop? Then it hit me - a line from Scripture:
And Mary pondered these things in her heart.
Was this pondering essentially worry turned over to God? If so, my prayer proceeded, help me, Lord, to ponder these things in my heart; to turn my worry over to you so that even though my mind might be full it is still surrendered to you and free from fretting and worry. And here are some pictures of Isaac.
I realise that the title of this post does not explain the first picture; but, let's just say that pictures like this are found when one sends the Broken Camera back to its maker, the maker actually repairs it and sends it back at no charge. Voila: the end of June, Dave starting the final run of the duathlon - a very distant memory on this cold Fall morning. Moral: sometimes one-year warranties actually come through. The next few pictures are grainy but far too precious not to include. Isaac is most often in his sister's arms. Hannah actually held him through the entirety of mass last Sunday and is very proud to do so - especially if there are any friends her age to witness the event. She does claim that he sometimes gets heavy; but holding Isaac is the first thing that she wants to do when she bursts in the door after school.
As you can see, Isaac sort of likes her too. Dear little Hannah is incredibly reliable and she really is an important member of our team - invaluable, actually.
Isaac looking astonished. Of all his looks, astonishment seems to be the most common. Perhaps he is just now grasping the nature of the family into which he has been born. (Interpret that as you wish.)
Benjamin seems to be cut from the same mold as his sister with a little bit of his older brother thrown in.
"I can hold Isaac and read a book, Mom!" (Actual quote)
Reaching the really exciting part in the book.
Joseph tends to have a mischievous look in his eye each time that he holds Isaac. But, then again, Joseph always has that look in his eye (as those who sit behind us in church can surely agree).
Isaac wondering about Joseph's qualifications. And, by the way, if I could compose an ode dedicated to our wee Isaac, I would. He is officially a fabulous baby. He takes a pacifier without popping it out incessantly; he breastfeeds like a champ but has no problem taking a late-night bottle from his daddy so that his mommy can recharge; he, wonder of wonders, can put himself to sleep; he seems to understand that night time around here starts at 7:30pm and ends 12 hours later; he is desperately trying to find his thumb (this makes me happy); and he has just started smiling. The only problem is that if he smiles at only one twin or, heaven forbid, Jacob before Hannah or vice versa, then a huge fight ensues. But, we could be dealing with a lot worse. (Oh wait, he does hate most of my favourite foods and likes to tell me at night.) Nevertheless, thank you, Isaac. As my sister said: I've heard of babies like that.
Little Isaac (now 8 weeks) still spends a lot of time in this big sister's arms. I hadn't realised that he was actually reading at the time of this photo until I uploaded it to blogger. The genes are only getting better and better!
When not reading he spends the majority of his time looking astonished.
And this picture is for my sister, Rebecca, because Isaac is a dead-ringer for his first cousins when he smiles. Even Dave said so.
The above picture and the one below are testimony to the inner workings of a large family. Even the smallest siblings quickly learn how to entertain the smallest members. Neither of these pictures were posed and both the book and the foot rocking the chair were effective pacifiers. In fact, I had been preparing supper and was just about to tend to a crying Isaac when he suddenly stopped whimpering. I quickly checked to see why he was peaceful and found Joseph reading a book to his wee sibling.
