An-dew

Hello Dear Friends!

We are busy enjoying life slowed down a bit here, due to the arrival of  a sweet little boy!  Andrew David was born Sept 9th.  His arrival in this big, beautiful world was rather fast...if you ask the nurse, labor and delivery was under 2 minutes... but your definition of labor may adjust that time a bit.  He's a cutie to be sure.  He was 7 lbs 4oz. Currently he is packing the weight on at an average of 2oz per day (i kid you not!) 

Everyone is doing well.  I 'magically' lost the gestational diabetes but have managed to acquire high blood pressure!   ugh!  That is actually what sent us in on the 9th.  It had been creeping up throughout the pregnancy and the specialist was concerned.  I had no other symptoms or problems but he really felt i needed to be induced.  Needless to say, i was not happy to be there and so not my usual friendly face throughout much of the evening. It didn't help that we had interns instead of doctors there that  all looked to be about 15 yrs old!  So glad my nurse had a good 15 or so years under her belt!  It was quite an evening.

Soooo, pre-eclamsia, world's unofficial fastest labor and delivery, second kid in a row with no one to catch them....oh my! : )

Andrew is doing well, putting faces to all the voices he had been hearing for so long.  And though they say they don't smile until ... there are a couple of us who can almost always get a real smile out of him (from as early as 1 week old)  His sleep schedule is still a little off but he is sleeping enough at night that i only fall asleep usually once sometime during the day while rocking him. ; )

Anyway, An-dew, as he is loving called by his 'big' sister (when we call him that she says "no, its An-dewww!" hahaha ...she is still working on blending some letters...) An-dew is doing well, learning all about this great big world and keeping us entertained.

Here are a few pictures to keep everyone happy...

A Little Known Gem

Our family has enjoyed for the past 3 or so years, a newsletter published by a young, catholic homeschooler. 

Saint Cecelia and All Martyrs Press is published monthly and is very reasonably priced.  A subscription is a $1 per month payable as $5 for 5 months or $11 annually. 

Its printed simply, in black and white. 

There are stories of saints, both well known and little known.  There are recipes as well as reader submitted poems and drawings.  There is usually a coloring page and an activity as well. 

You'll find something pertaining to the month's holiday(s) and/or Holy Days or an article about a catholic hometown treasure (shrine, parish, etc.)...and so much more!

Every issue is a bit different and full of wonderful information.

We have really enjoyed having these newsletters arrive for the kids (who doesn't like mail???) And its always a pleasure to come across an older copy in a pile of papers... its like seeing an old friend - you take the time to sit down and read it all again!

Our family highly recommends the Saint Cecelia and All Martyrs Press newsletter as a wonderful addition to your children's faith formation.

Please support this truly catholic, little gem.

If you're interested in a subscription, please email me at dunphy1996 (at) gmail (dot) com and i will get you in touch with the publisher.

And, one last thing....we so enjoy this newsletter we have decided to give away a year subscription! 

Leave a comment on our give away page and we'll throw you in the hat!

Blog about the give away, and then comment on our give away page  that you did (with a link), and we'll give you another entry!

Email a copy of this post to someone and comment that you did (i'm trusting you on this one!) and you'll have another entry!

Good Luck ....and please, check out the newsletter!

Practice

First I would like to welcome Kaylie and blessingsofmany to our blog!  Its so good to meet you!  I hope we can occassionally add a little to your day whether a smile or helpful fact.  Thank you for joining us! ...And - i never did welcome my dear friends Jen, Angela, Judy and Katie (who i met online through Jude's site), welcome to you too - its so nice to come here and see your lovely faces (some i just have to picture in my mind but still - lovely all the same. : ) )


This morning i have been thinking a lot about practicing.  With the older kids working everyday this week on their FIRST Lego League stuff to prepare for the State tournament it is at the forefront of my mind.  We have always taught our kids that not everything is easy in life and that you have to practice to get better, practice to get where you want to be in whatever your endeavour is.  And it does my heart good to see them do that, many times on their own.  But there are those moments too, when they drive me crazy, cause they completely forget.

Its really interesting to see which kind of things have them remembering to keep trying and which things do not.  Outdoor activities like riding a bike and climbing a tree keep them continually striving to do better, do fancier tricks (yikes!,) etc.  But activities like video games (argh!) can be one or the other.  I wonder if it is the competitiveness of the activity?  Though that may not even be right as those who get extremely frustrated about not doing well are just frustrated at themselves more than anything else. Its an interesting phenomenon in this house really.  Then, maybe, its that we limit their computer/video game time so much and not their other activities (as it should be) that they are not getting the same amount of time to keep practicing until you get it right.  I really don't think adding more game time is the answer.  Maybe taking more away? :  )

Our perfectionist is the worst, and he of course gets upset with almost anything he does not do well the first time (kinda like his mom - huh, who would have guessed!) Its hard to watch your child get so upset when you know its just a need to practice.  What i love about our kids though (well, there are many things but...) is that all of them (even the perfectionists in the crowd) do continue to try.  It saddens my heart to see so many kids these days just give up.  To hear them say, "i can't do it"  and then they walk away.  I have been known to stop a child and tell them " you know, you can do it, you just have to practice.  We tell our kids this same thing.  They were once where you are (or they are now) and we tell them keep trying.  It may not be easy but its worth working at if you want to do it well."  Ok, so some kids look at m,e say ok, and walk away, but some say ok, and i find out later they have tried again, and accomplished what they thought they could not do.  That is what we need to strive for with our children...all children really.  Teaching the need to try, to practice, to look at something and say, "i can do this if i really want to."