Many thanks to our readers’ responses to my query for natural labor book recommendations. You all are fantastic! I have greatly enjoyed your suggestions. Husband Coached Childbirth by Robert Bradley was soon to be found on my nightstand thanks to our speedy local public library system. I have been digesting it at lengths during daily elliptical jaunts and am almost completely through. The real question is: how have I made it to birth #4 without reading this book??? Red brought... Read more
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God,that we who believeThine only-begotten Son our Redeemer,to have ascended this day into heaven,may ourselves dwell in spirit amid heavenly things.Roman Missal, 6th-8th Century *Note: In the United States, we will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension on Sunday, May 16th. I just couldn’t resist posting this beautiful depiction of Our Lord’s Ascension, and the appropriate prayer. Read more
Once again, I’m seeking the expert advise of all of you wonderful moms and dads out there. I’m wondering if any of you have discovered a milk sensitivity/allergy in your infant. If so, what were the symptoms in your infant, and how long did it take (after cutting milk proteins out of your diet) before you noticed an improvement? Just to give a brief description of our situation: Baby Caroline (11 weeks old) has had green poop (so sorry, I... Read more
Here is a favorite from my Latin American Studies days: “I Was My Own Route” I wanted to be like men wanted me to be:an attempt at life;a game of hide and seek with my being.But I was made of nows,and my feet level on the promissory earthwould not accept walking backwardsand went forward, forward,mocking the ashes to reach the kissof new paths.At each advancing step on my route forwardmy back was ripped by the desperate flapping wingsof the old... Read more
…Texas Mommy and I thought we’d gather our six children (ages 6 and under), put them in a small chapel, and see if they could sit patiently and quietly through a baptismal liturgy for TEN babies. We’ll let you use your imaginations for the outcome 🙂 Seriously, Tex and Mr. Tex, thanks for the huge effort that you made in being at Caroline Rose’s Baptism – it meant the world to us and we know that it wasn’t easy! *Note:... Read more
Sarah Cynthia Sylvia StoutWould not take the garbage out!She’d scour the pots and scrape the pans,Candy the yams and spice the hams,And though her daddy would scream and shout,She simply would not take the garbage out.And so it piled up to the ceilings:Coffee grounds, potato peelings,Brown bananas, rotten peas,Chunks of sour cottage cheese.It filled the can, it covered the floor,It cracked the window and blocked the doorWith bacon rinds and chicken bones,Drippy ends of ice cream cones,Prune pits, peach pits,... Read more
Friends, I am a poetry-lover. To me, reading a poem feels like eating a small, but decadent piece of chocolate torte. The words make me feel alive and human and pricked at the soul. In honor of national poetry month, please allow me to share four of my favorite adult poems on the Tuesdays of May and four great ones for kids on the Thursdays of May. “Hope” It hovers in dark cornersbefore the lights are turned on it shakes... Read more
Bedtime can be unnerving for parents, especially when there are uncooperative children and/or fussy babies added to the mix. Here are a couple of small changes to our bedtime routine that have made a huge difference, especially with our two-and-a-half year old: 1) Bath-time: Maria loves her bath and was having a very hard time getting out when it was time to dry off – crying and flailing of limbs were commonplace, and I was getting desperate. Not only is... Read more
B-Mama just posted about a crib recall, and in the comments section MaryAlice mentioned the recent Tylenol recall. I didn’t think much of it at the time, until this weekend when my daughter was feeling sick in conjunction with a bloody nose. While I suspected the nose bleed was related to her allergies, I called the pediatricians office just to make sure. They referred me to the triage unit at the local hospital (typical protocol for weekend hours) and I... Read more
It was 12am last night and I was a mom on a mission. My hubby and I had just finished watching a movie and (of course) I had to swing by the computer to check my email one last time before heading to bed… That’s when I learned about the latest crib recall. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already! Something looked vaguely familiar. It was the simple lines, the curving arches, the “metal frame” causing potential... Read more
Building Cathedrals
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