Archangels and Ruckers

 

Happy Feast of the Archangels! We just finished a novena to St. Michael praying for police officers- shout out to my cousin Joe and friend Hope for serving in these important roles during such a difficult time.

 

Gabriel is celebrating his namesake today by painting some playdough. 

In other news, Dave will be joining Aunt Natalie for a "rucking" event this Friday-Saturday. From what I understand, it involves walking with a team of fellow ruckers for 10 hours overnight with weights on your back. Dave will be carrying 30 lbs. There are a number of Special Forces guys on this team. Please join us in praying for survival a safe return for Dave. This is Nat's 4th ruck, so she's a beast. Here's a little more info.

While my burly husband is finishing up his feat of strength and endurance, I'll be engaging in feats of intellect with my book club- the Well-Read Mom, to discuss Sense and Sensibility. I'd never actually read this gem by Jane Austin (I mean, when you have a British film version with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Kate Winslet, you're satisfied, right?), but I'm glad I did. I rounded out the characters, particularly the character of Edward, Elinor's love interest, who falls flat for me in the film. Oh, but Colonel Brandon...the quiet, virtuous dark horse. Worth the read!

We're thrilled Gabriel's god-parents, our dear friends Michelle and Daniel, have just been matched with a baby girl to adopt! Please join me in praying that everything goes smoothly for them, the birth mother, and soon-to-be Baby Jacobeen, who is expected shortly after Christmas. I'm looking forward to walking the challenging and joyful road of newborn-dom with a close friend!

"I wandered lonely as a cloud..."

It's chestnut season! We had to fight squirrels for these...

Moral support.

Gabriel's latest fetish routine: lighting candles each morning. It does make for a nicely scented house.

Boy oh boy

Our Gender Reveal party was a smashing hit. Thanks to everyone who came, both physically and virtually; it really was worth the difficult wait! Cutting into the cake and seeing those layers of blue was a shock to me and most people in the room...twelve out of sixteen people, to be exact! 

Not horror, just shock. Thanks for catching this awesome snapshot, Pop-Pop.

Gabriel has been particularly excited about the news (and vindicated- he never wavered in his conviction that a baby brother is in my tummy). "When it's Spring, we'll go to the hospital, and the baby will FLLLYYY out of your tummy! It'll be so cute!"

Earlier in the week Gabriel earnestly asked me with a knit brow, "Mommy, when you go to the hospital, will the baby come out of your mouth?" 

Stifling laughter, I told him I'd explain the process when he's a little older. For now, he just knows that somehow that baby is going to come out of my tummy. Apparently he's come to the conclusion that "flying" is the preferable mode of transition (poor nurses!). 

A couple other Gabriel gems:

"Mommy, I need some tylenol. It's a coronavirus day." 

David: "Gubby, do you like me?" Gabriel: "Yes, but I don't like the world."

Incidentally, I think he does like the world...

Hope everyone has a nice week. For a little dose of laughter, we offer this. 🐐