E Gets Messy, AGAIN!

I've had some issues with E getting into things lately. (The syrup, jelly, and fruit in the fridge, scissors, glue, stapler, tape, paperclips, thumb tacks, erasers, and such out of my desk, and too many things in the kitchen to name them all.) This behavior has been going on for quite some time now. He has taken his older sister's place in that department.

R used to get into everything, and I do mean everything! I have a list of about 30-35 things (out of the ordinary) written in her baby book that she has gotten into over the past few years. Seriously, it got to be such a long list that I stopped adding to it after awhile. Now that she is nearly four, she has finally started to listen and stay out of most things that are messy or harmful to her.

However, E has definitely been following in her earlier footsteps. These pictures are proof of his latest escapades into my desk drawer. That isn't marker on him, that is ink from a blue and red ink pad. It is hard to tell from the picture, but he has some purple spot where he evidently tried mixing the blue and red ink. His legs were covered in red and blue patches and purple splotches. Who knows, maybe he'll be a great artist someday and this is only his earliest master piece! I do hope that it doesn't take him as long to outgrow this stage as it did his older sister.

Dominic's First Three Weeks

Hard to believe it has been over three weeks since Dominic was born. Wow! We have seven children! When my parents were here helping it didn't seem like there were seven, because I had three other adults doing my daily chores for me. Since they've left, I'm doing it all again. I have only ventured out of the house once alone with all seven kids...and it was a mixture of success and dismal failure. I fear that our daily Mass routine will have to be put on hold until I get E to behave a little better in church, or get someone from church to help me.

Here are a few pictures that show some of our latest adventures.
First Sunday going to Mass as a family.

One of the proud big sisters.

Grammy and Pa-Pa visit

Celebrating the feast of the Assumption with some of our homeschooling friends at a local Franciscan friary after Mass.

Young Adventurers Program on identifying bones and skulls. Aunt Olivia's 10th Birthday party.

D's first real bath. Yes, that is a tupperware bowl! I had given away our baby bath, mistakenly thinking we might not need it again. D didn't seem to mind and the girls were more than happy to help me hold D's arms to make him feel more secure. T was our photographer for this special moment.

First Few Days at Home

There are few things that I treasure more than the first few days spent bonding with a new baby. Everyone of my babies and everyone of their births has been different and it is good to step back and reflect on those unique qualities and experiences. Taking those first post-partum days to be grateful for this new life is so crucial to my own spiritual life. During those hours of resting on the couch or laying in bed cuddling, holding, and staring at my newborn son or daughter has helped me to appreciate the tiny little miracles that God has entrusted to my care. Being entrusted with the care of another human soul can be overwhelming at times. This time is sort of my mini retreat in which I try to be still and know that He is God and that I need to put all my trust in Him. It is in the whispering of the wind and the smallest of things that we encounter God in the quiet depths of our souls.

Amidst that quiet retreat we've had some visitors at the house to welcome our newest blessing. Here are a few of those precious people.

Dominic's First Visitors

Here are some of the pictures of Dominic's first visitors. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. So grateful for all the well wishes and prayers.

Baby #7 is Born!

Please welcome Dominic Joseph to the world. He arrived on Wednesday morning, August 3rd, at 10:11am. He weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. He was a little over two weeks early, but he is doing fine.

His birth was a little longer than most, and we had some really scary moments at the end when we realized the cord was wrapped around his neck and chest. His heart rate dropped dramatically with every contraction. By the grace of God, we were still able to deliver him naturally thanks to our very supportive nurse and doctor. We are so grateful for our newest little blessing. Welcome to the Copper Corral, Dominic! Saddle up for an adventure!

Twin Nieces' Baptisms

On Sunday, July 31st, the twins were baptized by a deacon at my sister's parish. They are now children of God and are members of the Catholic Church! This is a much anticipated moment in their lives. I am so happy for them both!

I was very honored and blessed to be their God-Mother. I now have two sets of twin God-Daughters! How crazy is that? I have some seriously big shoes to fill in order to be a good role model for all these little girls. With God's help, hopefully I will be able to be there for them to encourage them each step of the way. May God's richest blessings be upon Maya Marie and Asha Marie, now and forever!

If you can't tell, I am 37 weeks pregnant in these pictures. That made for a very uncomfortable 2 1/2 hour drive to the baptism, but I didn't want to miss it for the world. So glad I was able to attend such a blessed occasion.

This is the cake I made to celebrate their baptisms.