Seven Quick Takes Friday--Volume 42

One.
Hey, I had a baby this week! I am bleary-eyed and ought to be napping with Gemma right now, but the midwife will be here in 20 minutes to do her PKU and 3 day check up, so what's the point? We'll catch another 2 hours tomorrow morning between 4 and 6 a.m....

Two.
The Catholic Church has brought me the best friends a mom could have. The day I gave birth there was a meal brought for us. The following day, Wednesday, my friend Cindy picked up my kids and took them to a movie, Mass and lunch at another friend's home, and then brought them home. Yet another lovely mom came with a meal--and dessert!--served it to us, cleaned up and graciously departed, offering to take the kids to her home the next day. My gratitude knows no bounds!

Three.
Minor disaster has kept me from resting quite as much as I would like: the door was left open on the meat freezer and we accidentally thawed out about 30 lbs of beef. So I am marinating and cooking a lot of meat! I have a chuck roast in the dutch oven, a round roast in the slow cooker and Bret will grill a London Broil. On a Friday! Since we won't be eating it today, I take it we'll be freezing a lot of it. I still have spare ribs and a gorgeous rib roast in the fridge. Think I will do up the latter for tomorrow--it's our 22nd anniversary.

Four.
Bret has taken Gabriel and Adrian for hair cuts. Sigh of relief!

Five.
We have finally settled on Gemma Eliana for the baby's name. Eliana is Hebrew for "My God has answered", or "God listened", which seems apropos since we have wanted another girl since I was pregnant with Sebastian! I was rooting for "Magdalena", my confirmation Saint, but Bret expressed a preference for Eliana, and he has never before expressed a preference to one name over another (yes, I know I'm fortunate--I've heard many a tale of the battle between parents in naming a new baby!) She will hopefully be baptized on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen.

Six.
My cups runneth over...

Seven.
Yes, this is actually a photo Bret took of me in labor. I chatted and smiled right up to my water breaking, after which it was impossible to chat or smile. Thankfully, Gemma was born 7 minutes later and I could smile more than ever.

I promise I'll post more baby photos as soon as I can see well enough to pick and choose among them. And don't forget to stop by Conversion Diary to see more great 7 Quick Takes.

Welcome, Gemma!

Born at home on Patch O' Dirt Farm on Tuesday, July 14th (Feast of Bl. Kateri on the new calender & St. Bonaventure on the old) at about 6:10 pm. 6 lbs 13 0z, 21" long.

Baby doing fine, mama just tired, siblings excited and the whole family thanking God for entrusting us with another little soul.

This is really neat!

Want to take a little tour of a baroque church in Austria? It takes a while to load, but it's really worth the wait!

Simple Woman's Daybook for July 13th

Outside my window…very quiet and wet from last night's thunderstorm.

I am thinking…about yesterday. My Grandmother died on Saturday, and yesterday I pulled out my St. Andrew's Missal (we were at a traditional Latin Mass for the first time in ages), and there was a holy card stuck in the back in the Burial Mass section, which I have never used. Then Father's homily was entirely on the Catholic funeral rite...

I am thankful for…too many things to list this morning. But specifically for being at the end of this pregnancy. I have savored it, knowing that it is likely my last at my age. But Gemma is getting big and uncomfortable, and I am ready to see her!

From the kitchen...Strawberry Yogurt parfaits with granola on top!

I am creating…still working on another wool soaker. I have finished the first but for the drawstring for the waist, and I will do another like it, since I bought yarn for two.

I am reading… I haven't chosen my reading, but since I have my annual renewal of my Consecration to Mary coming up on the Feast of the Assumption, and I know I will not be able to keep up with all the prayers while dealing with a newborn, I will peruse my bookshelf and choose something on the Blessed Mother.

I am hoping…that my OB will tell me that I am further dilated and effaced today! If not, I may resort to having Bret ride me around off-road on the 4-wheeler!

I am hearing…Nothing! Gabe is up, is lying quietly on the sofa.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I have an OB appt today. I still haven't cut Gabriel, Adrian and Dominic's hair, so I am going to make appointments for the two older ones and tackle only Dominic on my own (I wouldn't put a hairdresser through his antics). The basil is booming, so I need to make pesto. And I am wishing I could come up with good gift ideas for all the birthdays coming up in our family over the next few months! I will have to give it some real thought.

The children are...asleep, but for Gabriel. Oops! I spoke too soon--Adrian just stomped his way into the livingroom...and I can hear someone in the bathroom...

A Picture Thought: Have you ever seen anything so ugly/cute? It is a Great Blue Heron hatchling that one of our barn cats must have brought up from the pond. Luckily, it appeared totally uninjured and we could see mama heron by the pond, so Bret brought the little thing back down and placed him/her where mama had stood. I hope they are reunited...these little babies are almost impossible to keep alive without the parents!
Peggy is still on vacation apparently, but Grandmother Wren is filling in for her. Check out some of the other Simple Woman's Daybook entries.

Please pray for the soul of my grandmother

She passed away this afternoon in Charlotte, NC. Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord,

the soul of Thy servant, Adele Samuelson, from every bond of sin,

that being raised in the glory of the resurrection,
she may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Belly Shot--37 and a half weeks

Well, I couldn't interest any of the kids in taking my photo (we just got back from the library and thrift store, so they were preoccupied with various books and things). So here I am, taking a shot in the mirror again.

The midwife said that she thinks Gemma is at about 6 lbs already, which is more than the estimate given for any of my others at this point in the pregnancy.

Milehimama, this one's for you!

Two teeth in 48 hours!

Lost this one eating watermelon at the breakfast table. And the adult teeth are right there already, too!

Seven Quick Takes Friday--volume 41

One.
My big girl really needs a little sister, and I for one am happy to be able to finally oblige her. Yesterday she was running a "Spa" in the playroom, and painting her brothers' finger and toenails.

Two.
Gabriel lost his first tooth the night before last and is about to loose the second any day now. So, this is how years of orthodontia begin...

Three.
Three of my boys are still in desperate need of haircuts. I am so glad to be having another girl. I love making pigtails and braids almost as much as I hate cutting hair.

Four.
What is this with having morning sickness in the third trimester? My sister has had it twice before, but this is a first for me. Here I am, days from giving birth, and right now I'm not sure whether I want to eat or throw up.

Five.
My midwife is coming today, and I am wondering if there has been any change since Monday. I don't hit 38 weeks until next Tuesday, but all five of my babies have been born during that week, so of course I am getting a little bit antsy.

Six.
I was running out to bring the cordless phone to Bret yesterday and stepped on a bee or wasp. That makes six of us in two weeks. Usually we have one sting all summer long, so this is borderline weird.

Seven.
My complete lack of humility is showing itself in the fact that I feel somewhat bummed by the lack of comments I have had on the blog this week. Is that pathetic or what? After all, I started this blog to keep up with friends and family--not for ego gratification.

Join Jen at Conversion Diary to read more 7 Quick Takes!

"God plus one is an army"

With many thanks to Fr. Bill Casey, CPM and to John, who does all the great video and editing work. If you enjoyed this clip, take a look at what else the Fathers of Mercy have to offer on their website and support their missions.

Agony!

Do not browse this site if you are hungry!!!