Courtesy of Bishop Fulton Sheen

In reading the daily devotionals of Advent and Christmas by Fulton Sheen I was really struck by this particular day's:

"For old age is not honored

for length of time

or measured by number of years;

but understanding is grey hair for anyone,

and a blameless life is ripe old age...

Being perfected in a short time

they fulfilled long years;

for their souls were pleasing to the Lord

therefore He took them quickly..."

Wisdom 4:8-9, 13-14

"There is no escape from the tremendous fact of Christmas Day, that when God revealed Himself to this poor world of ours, men cried in astonishment "Why, it is a child?" And so it is that the closer we get to God the more we become children, and the closer God gets to us the more He becomes a Child. No one in the world ever suspected that the Ancient of Days who presided at creation would take His throne in that creation as a babe in a crib, just as no one ever thought He would tell the old men of forty, like Nicodemus, that they must be born again.

"According to all worldly standards, it is the aged who are learned. And yet when Wisdom came to earth He was a child, and when Wise Men came to Wisdom they were told to be like children. Christmas, then, is the coronation of childhood,the glorification of the young whose hearts are simple, the proclamation to aging hearts that the world need not despair and die, because the Fountain of Youth has come into it... turn time backwards, make old things young again."

~Fulton Sheen

emphasis added... not that it needed it.....

daily antics

Giving Mama grey hair, TODAY. Not when I start walking, not when I get my driver's license. Today. When I heard the swing make it's "working extra hard like the weight shifted or there's a blanket dragging" sound I went to check it out, only to find my little one sitting up happy as can be eating her blanket.








Daddy gave me my first bottle ever. I was NOT at all impressed.

Check out this thing! After a cold and yucky search, we found it, and then brought the great outdoors inside. How cool is this? ... I can't wait to see what she thinks when there are lights and ornaments!








I really, really love my toes. God sure knew
what He was doing when He gave me such great toys, right there at the bottom of my legs! Darn those socks that hide them - they come off and I eat my toes any chance I get.

what a day...

Yesterday was...

First, Mass: Angela and the girls and the 3 of us. What is the unspoken rule in the diaper world that says "thou shalt poop the minute you get settled in the pew after Mass starts?" We have 2 baby carriers, 2 diaper bags, and a toddler who wants her milk that very second. The poor ladies behind us! I try to discreetly leave to change my stinky girl in a pretty dress, which is very hard when I'm squeezing by Angela et. al. While I'm in the bathroom changing my little stinker, in comes Angela with Sara, another stinky girl in a pretty dress. Sara, not Angela. :) The rest of Mass was Sara's quest for the stuff in my diaper bag and Bella being the Queen of the Wiggles. whew!

Home to nap? Never! Off to my parents' house for brunch, where my Uncle Chris announces his engagement to long-time girlfriend Leslie. Apparently we're busy April 26th, heading down to Annapolis. :) My folks' house is always filled with fun and chaos, and of course yesterday was no exception. We finally left so we could go get our Christmas Tree; we like to go the "cut your own" farms, which are only open on weekends. We were on a mission - a Cold, Overcast, Mucky Mission. Of course. We lose the 2nd baby sock in 2 days. different pair, of course. If you ever see my child in mis-matched socks, keep your mouth shut. ;-p

But Wait! There's More! After dinner Patrick and I took Bella (obviously) and Sara to our church's "Lessons and Carols" which we enjoyed last year. It's a series of readings leading through the prophesies and laying the framework for the Birth of Jesus in scripture, interspersed with Advent songs/carols. It was done well - at least what I heard of it. "Beyya seep" "Yes, Bella is asleep, sshhh!!! do you want to read the book?" "*whisper* Sara, sit right next to me, honey. Good girl" *thump* LOUD crying. scoop Sara up and RUN to the back. On my way back I hear Bella wake up. Oh Goody. Back to the front where I exchange girls with Patrick - "Sara, sit on Uncle Pat's lap." Back to the ladies' room to feed Bella, and over the speaker I hear Sara break down again, and a phone ring that sounds suspiciously like mine. *sigh* We left right after that, and for that I'm sure we had many thankful participants.

We, including Bella, slept pretty well last night!

Joyful Anticipation

Happy Advent! I know I am a few days late jumping in on the "Advent posts" ; I seem the past week to be off my game, having trouble stringing together a complete thought. Some might suggest that this is no change from normal for me... Whether it is the cold I've been fighting off, or the circumstances of Isabella waking up every 2 hours at night, I decided it was best to stay away from blogging. But, I'm back this morning!

Advent is my favorite time of the year, hands down. As a child there was great anticipation leading up the Day of Days, the grandest, greatest, most wonderful Day of the year. While Santa was very big (no pun intended) in our house, there was always more to Christmas gift-giving than the gluttonous consumerism that plagues much of society. But more on that later. Right now I am thinking about the most joyful anticipation that I encounter during the year. The intense joy cultivated in me as a child has continued to grow over the years, and I would say mature right along with me.
May I dare to submit, in fact, that the happiness surrounding a child's anticipation of Santa grew and matured and has carried into a grown-up spiritual anticipation of the Birth of our Lord. It's like the mystery and magic of Santa tilled the soil in my heart for much more important planting. OK, I could go on about this all day, and at the end of it many of you will still think I am silly. oh well :)

This Advent, I (along with several girl friends) am reading Fulton Sheen's Advent and Christmas as a spiritual meditation. The first week has already been really good for me, calling me to some good scripture reflection and daily prayer. I recommend it for people who are looking for a little help throughout the day to stay focused! The very first day set the stage:

" God walks into your soul with a silent step."

See, right there - I love the hustle-and-bustle! But I am reminded each day to take some time for me to listen to God's voice.

I may have mentioned in this post how much I love Advent and the Christmas season - this could mean excessive blogging (you don't have to read it!) as I always seem to have lots to share. On the other hand, if last week was any indication of how my days are going to go, I might forget how to use a computer!

5 Month-Old Adventures

Just 5 months - we've hit a few more growing points with a vengeance! She is doing much better sitting up - with help :) And we've discovered that the "boppy" pillow, which was useless for nursing, is the best "baby sofa" ever! Thanks Angela! Bella will happily sit there for a while playing with whatever toys she can reach for. It provides enough support that I can walk away for a few minutes, at least. And then the quest for the unreachable toy... usually one she has managed to push out of her own reach - darn those hands! So she leans wwaaayyyyy forward to reach for it. You know how the weebles wobble but they won't fall down? Although my baby may be shaped like a little weeble, she does, in fact, do a fantastic face plant. There is one of 2 responses at this time - either she's within reach of the desired toy, or she's just ticked that she's on her face. Ah, the adventures!

We went to the doctor's last week, so the stats are in: 13 lbs, 9 ozs. 25 1/4 inches long. Small side of normal range, but growing on the same curve she has been since birth! Everything that she "should" (those books crack me up) be doing she's handling just fine.

This morning we spent 10 minutes on her favorite activity - laying naked (plus diaper, I'm not stupid!) on the changing table blowing raspberries, cooing, tickling, and eating her toes. She LOVES this! She laughs so much when tickled, especially on her sides and feet. Mama's daughter! Also, she got a good grip on those elusive toes with both hands, allowing her several minutes of the purest toe-chewing pleasure. Then I decided that it was too darn cold for her to be laying naked up there anymore, and broke up the party by dressing her. What a party-pooper.

Two nights ago we began the process of moving her out of our room. *sigh* So, so, SO far away to her own bedroom, her own crib. Now, allow me to lay some framework, lest you think I am nothing but dramatic. (of course anyone who knows me knows that I am not in the least dramatic. right?) So Isabella is my little mover - she has slept in a swing since she stopped sleeping on my chest, at a few weeks old. For many months, when the swing stops, her eyes open. It's like magic! I have been putting her in the crib to nap almost every day, at least once a day to start the transition. I find transitioning during the day helpful, as we all sleep at night. :) And heaven knows that's important! Anyways, I started telling Patrick to put her in the crib if she's fast asleep at night. Little did I know how much I was NOT ready for this!

I get all ready for bed. Check on her. Lay down, jump up to get my water... as long as I'm up I might as well check on her! Snuggle in, and proceed to talk to Pat about my concern about not hearing her until she's wide awake and screaming. Go check on her. Ha, she had started to fuss, so pacifier and I'm back in bed. I start to talk to my poor hubby again; out of nerves I can't seem to shut up! My dear, beloved Hubby says "Please let at least one of us sleep tonight?!" She slept for 2 1/2 hrs there and then ate and back in the swing. For the record, I had managed to fall asleep. We all did fine:) One night at a time, she will move out of our room, and one night at a time, I will sleep.