Mama-luia

When my sister saw this photo, she said her heart nearly burst, not just because of the cuteness of the matching footie pyjamas but because of the way the photo was framed: the three kids sitting closely together, with an empty spot next to Anna, awaiting her little brother. I can't wait to fill it. It reminds me of our trip to Halifax in October. We had no idea that we were expecting another baby. Yet at one point while we were making the long drive, I turned around in the passenger seat, probably to pass someone a drink or some Goldfish crackers, and I looked into the back of our van, and got chills: I felt certain there was a child missing. Our family was made to hold another person. The moment passed, because someone asked me a question and I got distracted. But I held onto that memory. It was right in the forefront of my mind as I took a pregnancy test on Thanksgiving afternoon in my parents' bathroom. Here was the baby I was made to love, the little one I som...

Isaiah is five now! What a wonderful age five is. I still remember my own life at age five; it was a very happy year. We had a wonderful little gathering last week with a few of his young friends. It was a Dusty Crophopper party, at his request, and I'm certain none of the other guests even knew who that was, but that's fine. We've watched the movie "Planes" and the sequel "Planes: Fire and Rescue" so many times as a family that multiple lines have been woven into our daily lexicon. We hosted this party when I was 36 weeks along, just one day after Patrick being away for several days for a work trip. Thus, I was considerably not on my game as far as party prep work went. This Pin the Propeller on Dusty, I drew and furiously coloured in at about 1:45 PM the day of the party (and the guests were expected at 3). I was still cutting and tracing the actual propellers while the kids were being dropped off. But the kids seemed to enjoy it. ...

At 13 or 14 weeks pregnant, I was out grocery shopping with my three born children when a woman stopped me to comment on my kids. She had nice things to say, to be sure, but the tenor of the conversation changed drastically when Isaiah blurted out excitedly "and guess what?! Mommy has a new baby in her tummy!" Immediately her face withered into an expression of disgust. "You're not having another one, are you?" I tried my best to be kind in the face of her inappropriate comment. After all, I was (am!) excited to be having another child. Plus, my kids were right there listening . "Yes we are, actually!" All smiles and warmth from me. "How far along are you?" she asked. When I told her, she said "you're not even in your second trimester and you're already showing?! What's the matter with you ?!" At this point, I was so hurt, so ashamed that I had to fight back tears. I slowly responded "Well, that's...

I saw a video pop up on my Facebook feed this week. I'm pretty sure it was titled "All we want for Mother's Day is..." It was a woman saying how we as mothers work so tirelessly 364 days a year, without hired help, without even sometimes the presence of extended family in our life, and just one day a year, we deserve the day "off." This woman said her dream was to be left alone in her room to sleep as late as she wanted, come out to eat a meal she didn't make and wouldn't have to clean up after, and then drink a mimosa by her pool. But mostly, she wanted to be alone. via GIPHY Or maybe have a get-together like this. It's hard to say I do understand this sentiment, of course. I can't remember my Myers-Briggs acronym but suffice to say, I am an introvert. I also do not have hired help, at least not regularly. (I do occasionally pay a babysitter to occupy the kids, but that's usually so I can catch up on housework, run errands by m...

The last time I wrote a What's New post was almost two years ago (here are the other ones . Tempus fugit!). I love these funny little snippets of our life, and of course, so much changes from month to month, let alone from year to year!. Patrick Somehow I neglected to mention on the blog that he's finally finished his Master's degree! What a triumph and a relief this is for all of us! He had been working on this program since Noah was only six weeks old. When he signed up he didn't have work, so more schooling seemed not only more feasible but even potentially necessary to help him find employment. Of course, he did find work soon thereafter, and that work developed into several promotions, more demands being made on his time, not to mention the birth of two more children, as well as the gestation of another. Hence, it took almost seven years. But he did it! Celebrating in style at a local restaurant  In other news, he continues his work with LifeS...