She's watching you

Here's our Elf on the Shelf.

From December 21, 2012

Actually, I share these sentiments on the popular tradition. But I could get on board with one this cute.

our little dolphin

Opal and I met with a lactation consultant (LC) at the Midwife Center this morning, and while it was reassuring to hear that I'm not crazy-- she does indeed have nursing "issues"-- there's not really anything we can do about her inefficacious latch but be patient. She gulps in air like that's the whole point of the task, which makes for very frustrating and sporadic nursing. The LC seemed mystified by it all- how poor her form was, yet how she didn't show any of the normal warning signs that come with subpar nursing (tongue-tie, weak palate, reflux, gasping, blue color, low weight, etc., though she does make a whistle-grunt noise right after eating and some other times that we may get the pediatrician to check). The fact that she wasn't thriving was never my concern. The child has multiple chins. She weighed 11 lbs, 7 oz.- up 4 lbs, 5 oz. from birth. We think she's merely lazy when it comes to eating. She'll probably just have to get better at it with time and practice. If I ever nurse her in your presence, just try to excuse what sounds like an ailing dolphin. Really. At least breastmilk is good for skin, 'cause it's all over the place.

From December 20, 2012

What, this doesn't look like a child who is wanting for food to you?

From December 20, 2012

From December 20, 2012

From December 20, 2012

At least she's such a sweet, happy baby.

our week in review

We've had a lot going on in the past week or so. I haven't really felt like blogging for many reasons. But I'd like to document a few of the highlights.

Last Wednesday, we celebrated the Feast Day of Our Lady of Gaudalupe at Activity Day with a Mexican Fiesta. We enjoyed a Mexican potluck after the kids made their own tilmas, played some games and took turns hitting the piñata.

From December 12, 2012

From December 12, 2012

From December 12, 2012

cutting some moves to the Mexican tunes

From December 12, 2012

On Thursday, we started a new and wonderful Christmas tradition with our friends, the Wards-- setting the kids up in front of movies with some pizza while we adults enjoy Thai food and adult conversation. Merry Christmas to us!

On Friday, we went to Mike's work's "Holiday Party," an event I'd consider boycotting because of its lack of "Christmas," but it's nice to be able to take our large family to events like these to be a witness, if not a spectacle. And they always have delicious gourmet food-- I didn't have to cook dinner.

Over the weekend, we took the kids to Mike's favorite Steak 'n' Shake after Mass.

From December 15, 2012

From December 15, 2012

From December 15, 2012

Our booth is getting crowded... just the way we like it.


On Sunday, we had plans to go see Wintergarden downtown with some friends, but they needed to postpone due to illness, so we made Christmas sugar cookies instead.

From December 17, 2012

From December 17, 2012

From December 17, 2012

From December 17, 2012

(I don't generally think Abigail looks like me, but this could be me when I was little.)

It's a good thing this one is so, so loveable because I've been having quite a time with nursing her. She just cannot get the latch down, and it looked like she'd be following in her youngest sister's footsteps with the exclusive pumping. I'm proud to report that after a lot of frustrations and spraying milk, she's been off the bottle for more than five days now! I'm meeting with TMC's lactation consultant on Thursday, and hopefully we can figure out this sloppy suckling. She's at least been rewarding me with terrific sleep- a couple of 5 1/2 hour stretches in the past week!

From December 14, 2012

The Popal Express

(Maybe because it sounds like Popple, but that's become one of her nicknames. Don't know what a Popple is? Look it up. I still have mine from when I was little. And I can definitely see the resemblance here. She's becoming very round.)

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

***********************

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

From December 11, 2012

arbor day

From Christmas tree

From Christmas tree

From Christmas tree

From Christmas tree

From Christmas tree

From Christmas tree

This one cracks me up. The whites of those eyes! Sometimes I think she's just in total disbelief. Of all of us. And fearful of what might happen if she allows herself to blink.

From Christmas tree

From Christmas tree

(quotes brought to you by Jack)

"Are these ornaments for the kids to put on?" Me: "Yes." "Ohhhh, great. That's JUST what I was hopin' for."

After I broke my first (of three!) glass ornament, "Oh! I didn't know adults could break ornaments, too!" (It just so happened I was the only one.)

"I guess the more fragile an ornament is, the more beautiful it is."

"Mom? An ornament just fell off the tree, but I don't want to worry you. It wasn't looking too good in the first place."

"Mom! The tree doesn't have any ornaments on the back of it! It's like it only has them on its face. It's wearing a mask... a mask of JEWELS!"

"Our Christmas tree is looking as beautiful as a miiiiillion Christmas trees!" (nothing says beauty like sheer quantity)

From Christmas tree

From a distance, you don't notice all of the vintage glass ornaments displayed at the top and all of the child-friendly ones in choice little clumps on the bottom boughs, do you? Mike did a nice job picking out our first-ever road-side stand tree. With a husband in India for ten days and a six-week-old, tromping through woodlands with small children doesn't seem as optimal. Sacrifices have to be made.

weekend update: the Nutcracker (& Mike's home!)

The kids and I picked Mike up from the airport this morning. We're sooooo happy to have him back from India, but we're glad he was able to go and gain some great once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including riding on an elephant and attending his friend's traditional Indian wedding ceremony.

From December 1, 2012

From December 1, 2012

And we were blessed to have my mom stay with us in his absence. As it is, parenting four little kids (one of which is a newborn) is pretty overwhelming even when I'm not short my helpmate. But my mom was a huge help to us all, especially for my sanity.

I was able to take the older kids (plus Opal) to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's first Nutcracker production of the season with some other families in our homeschooling group on Friday. I am always amazed by the work that goes into those shows- the dazzling costumes, the complicated and flawless dances, the ornate set. Incredible. And our seats were amazing- second row on the end with no seats in front of us and vacant seats behind us, so I could nurse discreetly and comfortably. For a five and a four year old, Jack and Abigail did wonderfully for the duration of the performance (almost 2 1/2 hours, including the intermission). Other than an occasional quiet grunt, Opal didn't make a peep.

From December 7, 2012

decked out for the occasion (Opal is accustomed to intrusive affections)

From December 7, 2012

PRETty pleased with herself (cute outfit: secondhand score!). Mimi french braided her hair.

From December 7, 2012

ready to be bedazzled

From December 7, 2012

From December 7, 2012

The "Pink Ballerina": Abigail's favorite part ("I want to dance up there. But I'll need a fancy dress.") Jack's favorite was the the Rat King, and Chinese Tea dance (the dragon).

From December 7, 2012

From December 7, 2012

While we were off taking in the sights and sounds of the Nutcracker Ballet, Russie was off with Mimi having all kinds of fun. And she brought home this new friend (She corrected me tonight when I called it a moose: "No! That's a cat!")

From December 7, 2012

Thanks so much again, Mom!

life without a dad

Have I mentioned that we're making due without our favorite man of the house for ten days? He sent me these pictures this morning... can you guess where he is?

From December 1, 2012

From December 1, 2012

From December 1, 2012

From December 1, 2012

From December 1, 2012

From December 1, 2012

It's India! These pictures were taken in either New Delhi or Jaipur, or some combination of the two. He left on Wednesday evening, and we'll be SO thankful when we have him back stateside. But I'm glad he has this opportunity to go to a friends' wedding and visit a far-off place he might not otherwise get to see.

But don't think I'm taking on four kids, including a newborn, by my lonesome. My wonderful mother has come to help us with our daily routine, which hasn't been much in the way of routine lately. We're very grateful to have her here. I'm proud of her- she's out during nap time today doing a book reading/signing at the Pittsburgh Public Market for her newly released book (check it out if you haven't!). But she's already been a big help to us. After all, I was able to take a shower today. And it's super nice to have an extra set of ears just to listen to the little voices that are going going GOING. They sure are sweet, but it's exhausting trying to keep up, you know? All of which reminds me of something I saw that tickled me the other day--

True story.

We love you, Mike! We miss you a HEAP, but we hope you're having a WONDROUS time!