Friday, March 3, 2017

7QT: Lent, Kids, and a Gift for You

It's Friday :)  but it's Lent :( so they kinda Switzerland each other out.  Linking up with Kelly because I'm not neutral in my love for linkups.

1)

When I was trying to decide what to do for Lent, I kept seeing an ad in the parish bulletin, on their website, and mentioned at Mass, about a women's weekly group that would be reading Living in the Father's Love, a short study from the Walking with Purpose program.  



I pretty much shy away from things like this because, well, I'm shy.  I don't like talking in front of a group, and especially when it's sharing something as personal as faith, I get very nervous and flustered.  I always assume the worst, that upon entering the group, they are going to make each of us stand up and share our faith journey and I would probably die.  But I went, and it was fine.  I was nervous as the leader started calling on people to read a section or ask them what they thought about it.  I just looked down and avoided eye contact.  This is such a struggle for me.  I will openly talk to anyone one on one, but put me in a group and I'm a toddler looking for her mother's legs to hide behind.  This is why I joined this group for Lent.  It's not only a spiritual exercise for me (I really need to read more of scripture!) but it's also a major sacrifice for me to be there.  Sometimes you try to find Lent, and other times, Lent just finds you!

2)

Eating all the things.

Brendan had his six month old physical yesterday and weighed in at 19 pounds, 26 inches long.  Phil and I definitely thought he was closer to 22 pounds as he is super heavy.  Everything looked great, the doctor mentioned over and over how strong and active he was.  I finally said "Yes, but isn't that normal?" and she replied that he seemed much more active than most babies his age.  Which made me feel a little better about how much I struggle to hold him :)



3)

Oh!  I almost forgot to tell you a related story.  OK, so when JP was a baby, his pediatrician had us get an ultrasound on his head because of how big it was.  The doctor looked at me and said something to the effect of "He probably just has a big head like you, but just to be sure I want him to get an ultrasound".  I do have a big head, but my skin is pretty thin so that memory is one I hold on to.  JP's head scan was totally fine, he's just really smart, hence the big brain ;) 

We switched pediatricians when Alexander was born (unrelated to that big head comment) and as our new doctor was getting the family history, I mentioned how JP's head had been scanned because of it's size.  We both laughed about it because it seemed funny that his head was that outrageously large that the old doc had thought something could be wrong.  Fast forward to yesterday, when she measured, then re-measured Brendan's head, to discover his head circumference had jumped from the 75% to 98%.  She said Brendan needed an ultrasound to rule anything out because if we waited to see if his head went off the charts, his fontanel would close up, and then the only way to check for fluid around his brain would be an MRI or CAT scan.  The ultrasound is a much simpler procedure and she just wanted to be sure.  These kids and their big heads!  Do I get an award for having birthed them?  Kidding, kidding.  But Brendan better be a smarty pants too!  Not kidding, not kidding.

4)

Riding the pine.

We have had CYO basketball games everyday this week from Sunday - Thursday.  I love watching the games, especially since both boys are on the same team, but even this superfan is burned out.  Playoffs for their other teams start on Monday.  Come on Spring!

5)

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!

Can I show you all my beautiful new kitchen art?



Isn't that just the best reminder for the whole family on how to serve one another?  Do you want one?  I am not in any way being sponsored by Lauren and her etsy shop SweetOakGallery, but I love this print so much that I want to give one away.  I'll even frame it the same way I have mine (it's not fancy, but I think the wood adds a certain je ne sais quoi.)  Just leave me a comment if you want to enter to win and I'll pick a winner by next Friday.  Easy peasy, Lenten squeezy.

6)

Declan will be three next month, THREE!!!  He's such a good little boy, very sweet, unless you're trying to make him do something he doesn't want to do.  Namely, eat dinner.  #thestruggleisreal  

Hiding from the nurses.


We need to start potty training him but don't have the desire.  I think over our April break we will give it a real shot.  As much as I would love only having one kid in diapers, I hate potty messes so much.  Maybe I can pay one of my big boys to train him during that week?  Is this a thing?

7)

A few reads worth mentioning...


Kathleen is writing again, and I just love reading whatever she puts down.

Jenny nails it when she writes about leaning into Lent.

And a meme for your viewing pleasure :)





40 comments:

  1. I'd love to win! Happy Friday!

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  2. I love that quote from Saint Teresa so much that I printed it out and taped it to my fridge--but I would love an actual print of it to be the first thing I hang in our (new to us) kitchen!

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  3. Dishes are my least favorite chore ever. I would love that sign as a gentle reminder to have a better attitude about them!

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  4. Entering to win that print - I LOVE that quote - thank you so much for sharing :)

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  5. I think having your big boys do the potty training is a brilliant idea! And your head is totally normal sized! Love the print. Although I'm sure my kids would give it all the eye rolls...that's their specialty right now.

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  6. I would love to win that print! Thank you so much! And I am laughing about the big head thing. I have never heard of that! I seem to remember your babies are smaller when they are born - probably a good thing. A 9 lb baby with a 97% head would be rough!!!

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  7. I think it's totally worth a shot to have the big boys do the potty training! How sweet is Brendan? Because I just want to smoosh him!

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  8. Since I'll finally have an actual house with wall space to fill, I'll enter!

    I also have big headed babies! I'm always excited when they get to be 3-4 months old and they're finally on the charts for head circumference. Hasn't been a big problem except it does seem to make sitting up by themselves a little more difficult. Being that top heavy is hard.

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  9. I think it's kind of remarkable that you are nervous in groups but have a blog!! I am the complete opposite. Extroverted in groups and so introverted online hahaha. Blogging felt like I was baring my soul lol. You are wonderful! Thanks for sharing yourself whichever way you choose ;)

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  10. I LOVE that Mother Teresa quote.

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  11. Can I just say I am on CYO burn out? And I only have one playing! But seriously you are my hero! Also thanks for the shout out! I am enjoying writing again!! xo

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  12. I would love to win that print! Btw: thanks for sharing your big family life on the internet. I don't comment much but wish I had a more experienced mom with a big family to bounce things off. Reading your blog definitely helps!

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  13. Lovely print! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  14. I love that quote. So many things I love about St. Teresa of Calcutta.

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  15. I've been thinking about that dishes print since I first saw it like...two weeks ago? I have zero dollas so was thinking about trying to do my own (ha!) But maybe I'll win one instead?! Bless you for thinking of us. Jennifer Hakes (blogs always post me as "unknown"?)

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  16. I love that quote, too! Mother Teresa had such a beautiful way of saying things. (Also, I think I'm commenting using my daughter's profile - I am too lazy &/or stupid to figure out how to change it...)

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  17. Awesome quote. Does Ryan Gosling come to deliver it? ;)

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  18. I love this print so much! I've been waiting to budget for it. What a beautiful reminder that can translate to every aspect of our work as mothers

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  19. I'd love the print. I also have big headed babies -the last one always had an asterisk next to his head circumference as they could not believe it measured that large (100 -percentile for the win!).
    And I am thinking about training my almost 3 yr old boy. I intend to enlist his older borthers. My mom swore by that technique. She trained her third boy on a vacation by having him follow his brothers into the rest room every time they stopped. By the end of the trip, it was done!

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  20. Rosie at "a blog for my mom" wrote something once about having the older kids help potty train. Something about M & Ms all around. I think it is totally a thing, and maybe one of the many perks of a large family.

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  21. I would love to win the art print!

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  22. Hey. I like that print. Consider me entered.
    In other news, I dread kid sport's days.
    In still other news, I wait for my kids to kind of potty train themselves, for seriously, so far, er'body has been done by four. And I don't have to deal with excessive body waste. YAY

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  23. I would love to win the print!

    Good for you for joining the group; I'm the same way ~ faith sharing one on one ~ fine, in a group ~ try and be invisible.

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  24. I love that print! Thanks for doing this give away! ~ Maureen

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  25. I love love love that print! I have been thinking about it since you first posted and have (a little) less reluctantly done more dishes.

    Also, I'm amazed that you have seven kids, a dog, work full time, have alllll those basketball games, and still have time for a small group at your parish! You are a super woman!

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  26. My oldest also had a very large head...off the charts, I believe. She had a CT scan and then a MRI when she was about 2 years old. She just had enlarged ventricles (spaces). Big heads do run in the family as well though. She's almost 13 now and hasn't ever had any issues from it.

    Also, my 2.5 year old isn't potty trained yet either (he turns 3 in September). I'm waiting until summer to really start, but my other children sometimes work with him to potty train...love those older siblings 😊

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  27. I need that sign!
    Dishes are my struggle!!

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  28. Enjoyed your quick takes! And that sign!!! What a meaningful quote!!

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  29. I saw Declan's announcement on IG and headed over to comment. If I don't win, I think I may just buy that print. I have the perfect spot right next to my kitchen sink. It would be a perfect reminder of why I spend so many hours in the kitchen (and help me to keep a positive attitude about it!)

    And - potty training - totally use an older sibling! That is how my #6 and #7 were trained. I have totally evolved in my thinking on toilet training. I used to really press the issue and train them when I thought they were ready (or my MIL told me they were ready). Now, I wait until the child tells me that they are ready....and it's usually around age 3. But, it's a one day deal when they want to do it themselves! There may be an accident or two (and diapers at bed time until they continually wake up dry), but overall it's an excellent system. Good luck!

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  30. I love that quote and I'd be thrilled to win!

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  31. What a great quote - enter me for the giveaway!

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  32. Oh goodness!! Luke had to have an ultrasound on his head at this age since it jumped from the 75% to about the 150%- no joke. It was waaaaay off the charts. All turned out fine and the doc pointed out that I too have a large head ����. Now at 4 he has to wear an adult size bike helmet!!

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  33. That is a beautiful quote and print, Colleen. Whether or not I win it here, I think I'll have to get it. It's a good reminder to me. Recently, I've been a little upset with the rest of the family for not cleaning up his/her own things. I hear a lot of, "But, I didn't make the mess!" And, my reply is "Neither did I." (Usually, it's the 2.5 year old making the mess.) This morning in my Lenten email I was given the task to pick up after someone without saying anything about it. I think God is trying to tell me something!

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  34. I have to stop reading your blog because I either want it buy things (all the sweet oak gallery prints) or organize massive parish events (family rosary party) 😂😂😁😁

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  35. Love that quote! And I totally think you should pay your boys to do the potty training! Or just pay them to clean up the messes!!! Win-win! :)

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  36. Love the print. What a good reminder. Would be thrilled to win!

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