Reception After Mary's Baptism

Chris' parents with beautiful Mary:

We were delighted to have so many people join us: the godparents, the grandparents, and two families who are friends from the parish.

Mama and baby:

The godparents, whom our children are blessed to have:

The celebratory cake before John got ahold of it:

And after John came within arm's reach of the cake . . .

One contented little boy (pondering the theological nuances of the Sacrament he just witnessed):

We opened Mary's gifts back at the house. Little Girl was passed out from exhaustion, but I can vouch that I'm sure she would have appreciated all her gifts.

Churching of Women for Katherine

Our priest also performed his first ceremony of the Churching of Women. There isn't a Novus Ordo version of this ancient ceremony, which has all but disappeared, but there is no reason the old ceremony can't be celebrated. It's a beautiful event for new mothers: "Churching is the woman's way of giving [thanks] to God for the birth of her child, and predisposes her, through the priestly blessing that is a part of the ritual, to receive the graces necessary to raise her child in a manner pleasing to God." (It is not a purification ritual, a common misperception.) Motherhood is hard enough and I'm not one to turn down free graces!

The ritual begins outside the church and proceeds inside, to represent the woman's being welcomed back after having her baby. (The Church permits women to be released from Mass for six weeks after even an uncomplicated birth without any culpability. Of course, a complicated birth or any health problems would release a woman from her obligation to attend Mass for as long as it took for the problems to be resolved.)


Father leading me into the church (I am on his left, his stole is over my arm, reminiscent of how he places his stole over the baby when the baby is led into the church):

I gave thanks for my two precious children and husband, my new daughter, and my healthy pregnancy and delivery!

Baptism of Mary Genevieve

On November 30, we had our daughter Mary Genevieve baptized. Our priest enthusiastically and successfully performed his first baptism in the extraordinary form. Chris and I wonder when this form of the sacrament was last performed (licitly) in this diocese!

You'll note that the baptism was performed during Advent. It is a too-common misunderstanding that baptisms may not be performed during the penitential seasons of Lent and Advent. Mother Church would never threaten a baby's soul by requiring the baptism to be delayed for liturgical reasons! In fact, Canon Law prescribes that baptism occur "in the first few weeks" after the baby's birth. Mary's godmother made a touching observation: that it is actually wonderfully symbolic that Mary was baptized (entered into the Church) on the first day of Advent, which is the first day of the Church's liturgical year.

Mary was crying vigorously while being dressed, so I calmed her down as best I could by nursing her.








Mary began the baptism very unhappily, which had Mama tied up in knots of anxiety. Amazingly, Mary calmed down within a couple of minutes and was happily silent (but awake) for the rest of the sacrament, even when the blessed salt was placed in her mouth.

In this form of the baptism, the godparents, not the parents, hold the baby.

The baptism begins outside the church and proceeds in, to represent the child's entrance into the Catholic Church. (Ideally, the baptismal font is just inside the entrance to the church instead of near the altar, for the same symbolic reasons that baptism marks our entrance into the "Big-C" Church. I wonder, personally, if the reason the baptismal font is now regularly at the front of the church by the altar is that baptisms are done during Mass and priority is placed on the "audience" viewing the "show" instead of the deeper meaning of the Sacrament.)

Our beautiful girl . . .

Welcome into the Church, Mary! Now you are a truly adopted child of God!

Happy Thanksgiving!

How does one prepare Thanksgiving dinner 15 days postpartum while living in a new city without family or longtime friends? Well, if you're Katherine, not a Super Woman, you buy it! Chris bought us a great spread of Thanksgiving deli items, which we reheated in about half an hour and really enjoyed!
Mama and our two kids (I love saying that!) at the table:

Thanksgiving Day at a Park

Without any Thanksgiving meal to cook or guests with whom to visit, we spent some of our free time today at a nearby park. Initially we had thought of driving to Grandfather Mountain until we learned it is two hours away. Then we considered the City of Kings Mountain until we learned it is one hour away. I didn't want to get caught on a long drive if Mary began screaming in her car seat. Thus, we settled on visiting a park about three miles away from our house that turned out to have a great toddler playground and a quiet lake with ducks. Inevitably, Mary did become alert and want to nurse repeatedly, so I ended up just sitting in the comfortable, warm van with the baby while Chris and John had fun exploring.

In the last few weeks, our cautious boy has become willing to descend small slides without holding a parent's hand. Congratulations, John!

But he still won't let himself swing faster than this:

Siblings

John is slowly warming up to Mary.
This photo allows some sibling comparison. Now I see why some people have said Mary and John look alike!

John was finally willing to hold Mary. And, look! Mary is smiling! She has been smiling since about a week old and I, for one, tend to think these things are real, not gas.

Note how John decides he is done holding Mary.

Future Model?

On Tuesday we went as a family to grocery shop at Trader Joe's. The clerk gave John some stickers at check-out, one of which John placed in his hair and is showing off here ("smiling"):
Miss Mary may have a future as a model because of her frequent pursed-lip facial expression, reminiscent of "The Magnum" (a la Zoolander).

Miss Chubby Cheeks! She's only two weeks old?

On Wednesday I had my final postnatal appointment. Mary weighed in at 9 lbs 4 oz, which means she has gained 10 ounces in the last seven days! (I'm told that the average is six ounces per week at this age.) She has not grown in length yet, so all that weight is chubb!

My First Outing with Both Kids

Today was Mary's estimated due date!

This morning I went on an exciting adventure: I took both kids by myself to shop at the drug store one mile from our house! I managed to get both tots ready, amidst repeated nursing sessions with Mary. I had to think through each step in advance. I'm holding my big purse and a newborn: how do I compel a reluctant John (who has escaped to the bonus room upstairs) into the van? I'm parked in the lot where there are no shopping carts outside: which kid do I get out of the van first and how do I escort John through the parking lot without his bolting? I'm leaving with my cart full of items: in what order do I take each child and the purchases out of the cart and then what do I do with the cart in a parking lot without a cart return? I managed to get through the whole outing successfully. Then both tots fell asleep within seconds of being put back in the van, so I drove around our neighborhood for half an hour just enjoying the peace and quiet.

What Do Toddlers Like?

I'm slowly figuring out some new tricks to help me "juggle" John, Mary, and domestic chores. Yesterday before Mass I introduced John to Play-Doh. Actually he wasn't thrilled with it and didn't seem to really understand how to play with it. He might be too young right now, but I'll give it a few more tries in the meantime.
In the afternoon, I took on the challenge of watching both kids by myself for about two hours so Chris could take a nap. I had to tend to Mary who was awake and cluster nursing and I desperately didn't want to turn on yet another cartoon. I thought to myself, "Toddlers! What do toddlers like? Ummmm . . . toddlers like water! How can I get water to John?" I spied the baby's bath tub, filled it with a few inches of water and some toys, and voila! John was occupied for a while.

During the time I had them alone, I even managed to cart them downstairs, clean the kitchen, and get dinner (delivered by a lovely lady from our parish) heating in the oven. I'm making progress!

Kingship of Jesus Christ (Feast Day of Christ the King)

While the traditional liturgical calendar celebrates this feast day on the last Sunday in October, our current parish follows the new calendar which has transferred it to the last Sunday before Advent.
Pope Pius XI (whose motto was: Pax Christi in regno Christi) instituted the feast of Christ the King as a solemn affirmation of our Lord’s kingship over every human society; He is King, not only the soul and conscience, intelligence and will of all men, but also of families and cities, peoples and states and the whole universe. In his Encyclical Letter "Quas primas" the Pope showed how laicism or secularism, organizing society without any reference to God, leads to the apostasy of the masses and the ruin of society, because it is a complete denial of Christ’s Kingship. This is one of the great heresies of our time, and the Pope considered that this annual, public, social and official assertion of Christ’s divine right of Kingship over men in the liturgy would be an effective means of combating it.

That Christ is King over all creation is the theme of the whole Mass and Office of the feast. The Mass begins with the magnificent Apocalyptic vision of the Lamb of God, sacrificed but henceforth glorified for ever, acclaimed by the innumerable host of Angels and Saints (Intr.). By its position at the end of the Liturgical year, the feast of Christ the King comes as the climax of our celebration of all Christ’s mysteries and a kind of earthly anticipation of his everlasting reign over the elect in the glory of heaven. It sums up the Christian message that by His Death and Resurrection Christ has conquered sin and death and reigns in the glory of His victory among the elect who are its fruit. Christ is the creative Word; He is the Man-God, seated at the right hand of the Father; He is our Saviour; these are His threes title to kingship.

Prayer to Christ the King

O CHRIST Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the Universe. All that has been created has been made for You. Exercise upon me all Your rights. I renew my baptismal promises, renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps. I promise to live a good Christian life and to do all in my power to procure the triumph of the rights of God and Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You my poor actions in order to obtain that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred Royalty, and that thus the reign of Your peace may be established throughout the universe. Amen.

Journey to the Mall

Today we went on a big, exhausting outing to the mall two miles away so I could buy one shirt.

At 10:45 this morning I got the bright idea that I wanted us to get out of the house because I had cabin fever. We could go grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. We could even stop by the mall to try to buy me a nice postpartum blouse to wear to Mary's baptism (whose date has indeed been moved). We thought of two more fun errands to do before I remembered that we would have a newborn in tow and were no longer pros with just one toddler, so we had to limit ourselves to one errand.

I thought we could throw our stuff together and dash out the door. Again, I was thinking like a pro with only one toddler. As we were trying to get ready, Mary moved into a cluster nursing session, so I kept having to sit down to tend to her. Ninety minutes after our plan was hatched, we finally got to leave and I felt like I was embarking on an epic journey, weighed down by all the luggage we needed. Coats, hats, diapers, and supplies for two children is so much more than for one!

The whole outing was utterly exhausting for me. The bright side was that I did find a pretty blouse that actually fit me at the first store in about 20 minutes (clearly, God was smiling down on me). We only left for the mall when Mary finally fell asleep and she stayed asleep in and out of the van and while I tried on the blouse. I just slipped her off in the Maya wrap, set her on a chair, then slipped her back on in the Maya wrap! (One of the benefits to being a second-time mom: With John, I think it took me six weeks finally to carry him semi-successfully in a wrap. With Mary, I was wearing her three days after her birth.)

Auto Show

On Friday, I bathed Mary for the first time since right after her birth. John observed with interest so afterward Daddy pretended to bathe John in the baby tub too. John is "smiling":
In the afternoon, the boys went adventuring to let Mama rest. Chris took John to lunch, then they rode the commuter train downtown where they attended an auto show, then they stopped by the grocery store on the way home. John adored the auto show because for once he was allowed to play inside vehicles (they had all the buttons, horns, etc. disabled so John could do no damage).

Mary's Godparents Visited

If all goes according to plan, Mary will be baptized this weekend. Her godparents-to-be were passing through town last night, so stopped by to meet her. We were delighted to see them!
John "smiling":

John remains mostly standoffish to Mary. But at times he volunteers affection or interest, wanting to pat her gently or offer to share some of his snack. When Mary starts fussing (which is so mild!), I'll ask John, "Do you hear that? I hear Mary! Do you think she needs help?" Sometimes John will answer something like, "Help! Nurse!" (meaning that Mary wants to nurse).

Playing in the Leaves

This learning curve of caring for two children is tough for me. I can't think of a more eloquent way to say it. Of course, I knew it would be. Many of the tips for how to care for a toddler and a newborn are for after the toddler is accustomed to the newborn, to his not being the sole focus of Mama's attention anymore. I think time and Mama's common sense will be much of what is going to be required for getting through the difficult emotional aspects of this transition.

Poor John is watching a lot of television these days. And he's having many tantrums. Did my midwife tell me not to pick up 25-pound John for two whole weeks? Surely she meant only two days because I don't see how I can manage John's diaper changes and dressing and tantrums without a lot of physical exertion.

Yesterday I had some small successes, which are probably the only kind of successes possible eight days postpartum. In the morning I sorted through my bins of non-maternity clothing and for about 30 minutes I kept John engaged with me instead of watching yet more television. I would hold up an item of clothing to my body and say, "Nope, doesn't fit." I was just talking to myself when John began parroting me, helpfully pointing out over and over, "Nope, doesn't fit! Nope, doesn't fit!" That makes a chubby mama one week postpartum feel real good . . .

Then I had another success when I bundled up John and Mary to play in the back yard instead of watching yet more television. It was a balmy 58 degrees and gloriously sunny. John contentedly played for an hour simply moving hand fulls of leaves from one location to another. I was wearing Mary in my Maya wrap and the two of us were ensconced in a cozy fleece shawl.

Chris is helping a lot while juggling being back to work half time (and more). I had slept only three hours Wednesday night, so Chris helped me out greatly on Thursday afternoon by taking John back outdoors for more adventuring so I could nap with Mary. We're eating most of our meals in the kitchen now, but Chris is still bringing me breakfast or dinner in the bedroom anytime I want to rest more. I'm enjoying that Mary is so sleepy and content that I can leave her in Chris' care at times while I spend normal, Mama-son alone time with John throughout the day. In the end, I was on my feet a lot yesterday and I could really feel this morning that I pushed myself too much, which is humbling.

Happy One-Week Birthday!

Happy One-Week Birthday to Mary Genevieve!

Today Mary and I had a postnatal appointment with my midwife. Mary was born at 8 lbs 9 oz and has regained her birth weight to 8 lbs 10 oz seven days later. Healthy girl!

Below is a 20-second video of Mary delicately snoring like a little kitten in her bassinet while I folded laundry. Unfortunately, it's a dark video--turn up the volume on your computer so you can hear her sweet sounds!

"I Love You"

Since Mary has been born, John has learned how to say his version of "I love you," which sounds like "love-of!" We caught it on videotape last night on his way to the bath:

Another interesting development since Mary was born is that John has learned how to leave his bedroom in the morning on his own to come find me. I had wondered just a few weeks ago when on earth he would figure out that he can actually open the door himself and come get me instead of sitting in bed (he's not in a crib) and crying piteously until I come. I think for the last four mornings he has woken up and promptly come to find me, which is great: I'd rather he leave his cozy nest and brave the cold hallway than me!!! It has been very cold here the last few days. This morning I noticed the newscaster saying that the overnights were going to warm up and we could expect to get down only to 27 degrees.

This morning John was playing on the bed with me and wanted his picture taken. He wanted me to take a photo of his tummy, probably because the midwife had just come for a postnatal appointment and he always associates her with measuring Mama's tummy and then measuring John's too (because he wanted her to at each appointment!).

John "smiling" for the camera: