Sunday, October 31, 2010

A second mother


On Friday we were able to take care of friends' 4 month old baby, Ava. It was absolutely fascinating to see how Faustina responded to her and helped take care of her.

I know many toddlers like babies, but Faustina really wanted to be her mother!The five hours Ava was with us, Faustina's attention did not waver. She wanted to feed her, burp her, give her toys, she insisted if Ava cried that her tummy hurt because she was hungry.

I guess the most surprising thing to me was that she actually was helpful! I don't expect toddlers to be of much help until they are maybe three or four, and even then it seems limited. For the better part of an hour I was able to work at the stove a few feet away from Faustina and Ava while Faustina played with her and actually gave a bottle when she was fussy.

Just a few minutes ago I was holding Jude in blanket and Faustina was holding her baby wrapped in a blanket;every single action and affection I displayed she imitated me exactly for about 15 minutes. Hilarious. It was like I was looking in the mirror, except it was my daughter; it is all very fun.

Of course, Faustina's mothering side also includes her following Jude around saying, "No, No, No....Jude. You stop that or you will go in your crib. One...Two...Three..."

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Little tiny people

Click here to see an amazing picture of a baby at 10 weeks. I would dare to say that if we had pictures like these back in the '70's, Roe v Wade would have had a different outcome...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Our ballerina!

On Friday Faustina started her ballet lessons. Did she like it? Well, she cried when we had to go home...
At this point there is a lot of jumping up and down and running around in the two year old class. But you have to start somewhere!

Outside in October

This month the weather has been absolutely unbelievable. We have been spending a lot of time outside. I will miss out 'second living room' aka. our front yard when the snow starts to fly! We have been spending pretty much all our time outside lately.




Faustina gave this ride to Faustina probably one hundred times.

Feeding the ducks





Feeding the ducks up at St. Kate's has come to be one of Faustina's favorite activities. We make sure to keep all our older bread for the ducks. St. Kate's is a hop skip and jump away from the house I grew up in and there are many good memories there. I remember feeding the ducks myself when I was younger, I remember Sister Chris taking me to get ice cream in the cafeteria, playing hours of soccer and frisbee up there, sledding down the hills, taking senior pictures, etc. It really is a beautiful campus and continues to provide entertainment for our family!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Pumpkin Patch Adventure




Last weekend we all went to a pumpkin patch. We went on a hay ride and picked out some pumpkins for the season. Jude got his faced painted, and Faustina declined.

Saint Jude Sighting!



Had to take a picture of this car... we saw this car parked at St. Andrew Kim parish near our house.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Sancta Faustina, Ora Pro Nobis


Today is the Feast Day of St. Faustina, after whom we named our little daughter.

Read all about St. Faustina here.

Happy Feast Day!

Fender-bender



Yesterday, Cynthia was driving with the kids on 66th in Richfield and heading through a stoplight was struck head-on by a turning car. The car did not yield properly at the light, accidentally hitting our van.

Thank God, no one was hurt. The kids are great, and Cynthia is just fine. Cynthia did suffer a minor injury with a wrist sprain. She was checked out today and it is indeed just a sprain and she'll be back to normal in a few days.

We are thankful to God and our Guardian Angels for watching over Cynthia and the kids each day, especially during yesterday's fender bender.

Here's a few pics of the van, now slightly mangled, and also a shot of the police report's description (our van is "Unit 2").

Nothing like a little Monday drama to spice up life...

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Motherhood sensitivity

I never thought I would be 'that' mother who had a 'soft' side to her; the kind of mother who goes to a child's piano recital and crys - you know what I mean.

Well, I haven't done that (yet!). But, I have noticed over the past year or so that when I read to Faustina at night - there are many many times when I will almost choke up when I am reading to her, and it often takes me by surprise!

It started about a year ago. At this time, I was just beginning to read books to Faustina that had more substance. Books would talk about family relationships, mother-child relationships and we always read at least one book a night before she goes to bed about God or the Saints. At first I explained it away telling myself that I was more emotional since having lost my own Mother. But, at this point, that is not the whole story.

There really is something that happens in a womans' body and psyche when she has children - she is changed forever! I am sure this 'motherhood sensitivity' as I am calling it manifests itself differently in each individual. I find that I am more sensitive to other mothers, I look at my own childhood differently (now from the adults/parents' perspective), hormones are (literally) different, there is the protective love for your child that you would do anything for your little person. It really is quite amazing. It is no mistake we are made that way - God knew what he was doing!

It reminds me of a situation I encountered when I lived in Seattle. I got to know a woman very well who was 36 years old at the time. She always lived alone, was very outgoing, liked men a lot but never wanted to get married and never wanted to have children. On her birthday when she was turning 37 I was eating lunch with her in her office. I forget exactly how we got into this conversation but she looked at me and she said, "Ya know, last year since I turned 36 years old, I have wanted to have a child so badly." And she started to tear up. She went on to explain to me that she was not even in love with a particular man, and she tried to use her intellect to reason herself OUT of wanting a child. But everything in her wanted to give birth to a child, care for a baby, and raise a little person. It really was a fascinating conversation. Not to say all women are to have children, but God truly made women a certain way - and that is a grace.

Two nights ago I was reading Faustina a story about how during one of Saint Thomas Aquinas' prayer times' Jesus spoke to him from the cross and said he was pleased with Thomas' writings. Jesus asked him what he would like in return. Of course, Aquinas responded, "Only you Lord". I choked up a bit. Faustina noticed and looked up at me. She asked me, "What are you thinking about, Mama?" She was wondering what in the world was wrong with me! Well, it was just one of those times. All mothers have them.

Walking!

On Friday, October 1st, Jude officially starting walking. We've been saying for the past week or two that he would be walking any day, and on Friday he didn't just take a step or two, he walked across a room and then fell over. Since then, he actually has been walking a good amount of the time! He is very cute as he walks with his hands out ready to fall, although he does pretty well for himself. It is hard to believe our little boy will not be crawling much longer! Jude is really into hitting lately - it is amusing that the video starts off with Faustina saying "Don't hit Jude!" We hear that a lot these days...