So It's been a while, eh?

You guys!!!! I'm sorry for all the neglect. I'm not going to bother with a recap of the last seven months.  Mostly because if you're reading this, you're friends with me on Facebook and or Instagram, so you've seen the highlights....Well, I'll try not to bother you with stuff you probably already know.

A year ago today I wrote this...I kept calling the Divine Mercy the Sacred Heart of Jesus. My bad.  I have gotten it together since. But yeah, it has been one year since Chris was selected for flight school! We have been so blessed.  The years are passing much more quickly... Hashtag: gettin' old.

2015 has been a wonderful, wonderful year.  My only complaint is having to leave my friends in New York, and knowing any friends I might make here at Alabama will be left in two years.  The crappy part of being military.  Thank goodness for social media!!!

We are loving Alabama.  Not loving the heat (I knew I wouldn't), but I'm not completely miserable either.  The only think that I loath here are the gnats.  They suck. And they literally have tried to infiltrate Becket via his eye balls and ear canals.

We are finishing up our first year of homeschooling.  With the adding Becket, Simon becoming a strong-willed two year old, the move, my personality type, and life, I have determined that year round school will probably be the best fit for my family.  I still feel like I'm floundering, but I'm excited about it.  There is a co-op about 30 minutes from me.  The classes are full, but we have been invited to participate on the enrichment weeks.  I'm pretty stoked about that!

Last night I signed Amelia up for dance.  She will be taking two classes this year ballet/tap and acrobatics.  The kids will be in soccer, too.  Our schedules have been really empty for a while.  A couple of years ago when we had speech, OT, dance, soccer, and both kids in five day a week preschool...Oh, and I was pregnant with OB appointments...that was a crazy time.  So, I'm a little anxious, but mostly excited about adding some activities to our schedule.

Owen has been a great big brother.  He does a great job entertaining the little ones.  I think he is so good at it because he really enjoys playing them.  Owen is craving to be given extra responsibilities.  He has been begging for a fish.  Chris and I are going to make him earn it.  He will have to work to save up for the fish and all the supplies that may be needed for its survival.  I am very hesitant about crossing over to a pet owner.  I know, I know.  It's just a little beta fish...get a grip Nicole....

Amelia...I don't really have a favorite age, but four-year-olds are funny.  They just say whatever comes into their head without filter.  And for Amelia...it is non stop chatter.  She is rarely not talking.  In my moments of stress or I'm try to think through something it can be challenging, but otherwise she keeps me giggling with her imagination and curiosity about the world around her.

Simon, I'm sure, is a "spirited child".  I have to give him some credit that the tantrums are not quite like they were several months ago, but they're there.  His imaginative play usually involves him being a growling dinosaur or monster destroying the world around him (his siblings' lego towers).  He is still quite stubborn, but we have been able to talk him through it from time to time.  He is only two, so it's not a perfect process, and it will likely never be.  He is so affectionate and demanding hugs daily.

Becket is a big, big boy.  He's sharing shorts with Simon.  At nine months he weight 26 pound 10 oz. Only about 5 pounds less than Simon.  He is crawling and pulling himself up.  I think he will be cruising soon. Sleeping through the night isn't happening quite yet, but he goes back down to sleep easily most of the time...so we're managing.  We are stopped almost everywhere we go so strangers can swoon over his red hair and chunky cheeks.  He is pretty cute :)

I guess that is about it for now.  Oh, and I'm well aware that the "look" need to be upgraded, desperately...One day. Maybe.  Some pictures, as always!

2015, and GO

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Epiphany!  Oh, and if you had a birthday in 2014 Happy Birthday, too! I'm approaching nearly two months since my last post.  Geez, has it really been that long?  Have you missed me?  The over-sharer in me wants to cry, there has been so much I have wanted to post.  Mostly, I have wanted to share musings of these little humans that have infiltrated our home :), but haven't managed to log on to write the post.

Our trip to North Carolina was wonderful.  It flew by, though.  When we were home this summer it didn't seem to fly by as quickly even though we were home for the same amount of time.  Crazy.  Becket is still an awesome baby and I thank God everyday.

Cousins

We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas.  My kids really seemed to enjoy themselves.  It was so great to watch what excited them this year.  I shouldn't have been surprised that they were excited about it being Jesus' birthday since my kids LOVE birthdays.  But they were.  Santa is a really easy sell, but they were so excited to sing Happy Birthday before we began opening their gifts.  I can't wait to see how our traditions evolve in years to come. We got a nasty stomach thing that floated through the house over the holidays.  According to my Timehop app this seems to be a reoccuring thing.  This is one tradition that can end this year!

Christmas! Now that's what's up!

The new year!!!!  We had a great time with friends ringing in the new year. 2014, overall, was such a great year for us.  I don't know if I have ever looked back on a year and thought "Dang, what an awesome year!"  I try not to dwell on the bad or any suffering that Chris or I may have to endure, because it's part of life.  But for a while it felt like we got our head out of water just to be dunked back down again.  2014 had it's own set of struggles, but I wasn't ready for it to be over like I had years prior.

My main squeeze!

Sass!

2015 is going to be awesome.  Lots of changes.  The biggest change is The Land will be moving south.  This will be our first PCS since Chris joined the Army six years ago.  I am nervous and excited at the same time.  I'm comfortable here.  And I'm terrible with goodbyes.  Thank God for social media!  Though I'm an extrovert, I have a lot of anxiety meeting people and making new friends.  Here's a little secret about how crazy I am.  After a social event like a cook out, parish picnic,...heck a family reunion, I could work myself up to the point I can't sleep that evening.  I worry about how I was perceived, if I showed too much crazy at one time, or if I unintentionally hurt someones feelings. Wasted energy spent at least 90% of the time.  See, crazy.

Cray!

Last year I chose a word for the year.  For the first time choosing a word of the year I think I did a pretty good job coming back to it throughout 2014.  I haven't been smack over the head with word for 2015 yet.  I'm hope it comes to me soon.

This year I used this saint generator to give each person in the family a saint for the year.  I will create a post soon about these saints soon. I can't commit to a pinky swear or anything that the post will actually get written, because my last post was almost two months ago...but I will try not to leave you hangin'.  I'm sure the suspense is killing you all ;) Seriously, I'm excited about who we were given.  You should should do the same thing.

So, I found out today that I won a give away that my friend, Ashley, was hosting at her blog, Between the Linens.  I'm stoked because yours truly never wins.  But I did this time, yo.  I wish I would have thought to write this post a few days ago so you could have had a chance.  But I'm absent minded, and the dots did not connect this time.  And for that I'm sorry.  But you should go check out her blog.  She's like a bajillon times smarter than me with lots of information to share.  Seriously, check it!

I will try not to be gone quite so long next time.  Peace, interwebz

Things you probably know

It has been over a month since my last post.  My bad.  There is so many things that I have wanted to type out in more words than a Facebook status.  I guess we will do a quick little update list and maybe I will be able to post a little more often.

Becket!
He's awesome.  Adorable.  Sweet.  Pretty...I mean handsome.  And so FAT.  Seven weeks old and Fitting very nicely into six month clothing.

Very nicely, indeed.

So far he is a very easy baby.  His belly bothers him from time to time, but it's manageable.   Especially if I lay off the pizza.  I just love him to pieces.

Homeschooling.
I'm still having a hard time finding a groove that works for us.  The layout of a "normal" day for us does not look like it did in August.  The biggest upset is that Simon no longer naps.  We have done some work here and there, but we don't have the weekly groove we had when we started.  I'm sure we are fine.  I try to read to them throughout the day and incorporate learning within our day.  I'm just not as good at that as other mothers are.  I am using

This book to plan out Advent, the feast day of St. Nicholas, Christmas, and the Epiphany.  It has a wonderful book list and sort of lesson plans with vocabulary, discussion questions, activities, crafts, and some recipes for featured titles.  There is so much in this book, I can easily us it for several years.  I am also going to attempt a Jesse Tree.  Anyway, if there is a groove to be had I probably won't see it until January.

North Carolina
We will be heading there next week for Thanksgiving.  We have been very fortunate because this will be our third year home for Thanksgiving.  I will get to see my brother, who I haven't seen in over two years.  This is the first time in four years since we have all been together at one time.  And this time we get to add Duncan, Simon, Becket and my brother's fiance Laura!  The new additions are awesome!  And a WEDDING!!!  Super fun!

Saint swap.
Ok, you probably saw the saint swap pictures on IG or FB.  It's like a cookie swap.  Everyone chooses a saint to paint.  Then we come together and everyone goes home with one of each saint.  My friends did awesome!!!

Since the swap I have made six more saints for the kids.

They are so much fun to make!!!  I joined a swap online where I am going to paint 30 St. Leo the Greats.  He's the last image next to St Elizabeth of Hungary.  Plus there is talk of my friends doing another one at some point.  I may do a whole blog post about this one day.  Seriously, they are so much fun and my kids love them!  I'm so glad they will get to be in my home for years to come.

Avon
I'm selling Avon.  I'm not really a sale person, but I love having access to their catalogs and product. So if you're local and want a catalog, let me know.  Just because you take a catalog don't feel like you have to buy anything.  If you're not local you can shop online HERE.  No pressure really.  I really like their stuff, and I think their prices are great.  Basically, I don't want to annoy anyone more than I already do.  So there ya go.

Flight School
We were told yesterday that Chris's school dates have been pushed forward three month.  I have mixed emotions about it all that I could go on and on about, but I will spare you.  Basically, now we have change our plans.  Not a big deal.  We still have six months.  But I have to make choices about Amelia's dance recital, Evelyn's (our niece and goddaughter) First Holy Communion, where the kids and I will be while he's at WOCS since we PCS after graduation, and our summer.  Overall we are very excited.  The sooner Chris is doing what he really wants to do the better I guess.  I guess there is still a chance that his dates could get moved again and if they do we will just make new choices, right?

Kids
The older ones are great.  I am thinking Simon needs to go back into his crib.  I really though letting him sleep in a big bed would make bedtime better.  And for a few nights it did, but the last few weeks have been terrible.  He's the last one asleep.  Wakes up in the middle of the night.  He's the first one up.  And he no longer naps.  That does not make a pleasant two year old.

Amelia and Owen are big helpers most of the time.  Owen really wants "chores" because he wants to earn money.  I guess we will figure something out for him.  I guess that is all for now.

St Juan Diego, St Cecilia, and St. Padre Pio minus the beard.

Life is normal...ish

I am aware it has been a while since an update. But things are pretty stellar around here. My mom arrived on the 24th. Chris graduated from ALC (as distinguished honor grad), I had Becket, and life is getting back to normal. I will write out the birth story soon...I still need to write out Simon's...oops (this is why I don't do baby books...the commitment).

I will start by saying I'm aware I'm kind of crazy.  Ok that's out of the way. After each delivery I have this period of time where I mourn not being pregnant anymore.  Mourn might be too strong of a word. Understand, I'm also glad that I'm no longer pregnant. But I do have a bit of sadness about it all.  For nine months i was defined as pregnant and with one final push I'm no longer pregnant.  It's like a weird identity crisis or something....I warned you I'm crazy.

Anyway on the plus side of not being pregnant, I'm sleeping better, have more energy,  and moving better. Still some healing going on, but overall I feel better than I did a few weeks ago.

Plus!!! I have a scrumptious new baby to snuggle and love. The siblings love him too. I would say they love him too much if that was possible...especially his sister.

P.S. I did pray for anyone who messaged me a request. And have continued to pray for you guys.

I have attempted to start schooling again, but it's been tough with Chris home. For me...he's a distraction. A good distraction. I think we needed some family time since he had been gone for two months and we added Becket.  I'm trying not to fret. I plan on schooling year round, and we will be snowed in soon enough to "catch up". Next week I have at least three appointments, but I think we can start getting our grove back. We are going apple picking as a field trip...we're living our education...kinda.

Well if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you probably have seen most of the following pictures.  But in my humble opinion these faces need more than one look. Amiright?

Happy October, interweb!

Help me out!

Still pregnant.  I wouldn't mind having this baby on St. Padre Pio's feast day, but it doesnt seem like that is going to happen. I am becoming more and more miserable so I'm sure he will be here soon...or not. I'm really trying not to speculate.  Trying...

Suggested by someone much smarter than myself (hi Jenna), I should offer up prayers while in labor with Simon. For each contraction offer up my suffering for someone else. Redemptive suffering y'all...genius! I did. And it made the whole process better. I almost forgot that I want to do the same thing while laboring Becket!  So send me your intentions. Leave them in the comments, on my Facebook,  private message, text me, or email me (nmlock1075 at gmail).

I'm starting a list. Please, please do not hesitate (even if you don't know me in real life) I would love to pray for you...and I pray for some really silly things sometimes (ok most of the time) so all prayers are welcome. I'll be waiting and baby cooking :)

Little bit of an update.

Seriously, this has to be my fifth or sixth attempt to post an update about things here in the land. But it probably spared you lots of annoying,  whiny details of this last month of pregnancy without our strongest link.  I'm not promising that I will spare you in this post, but I will promise to try...maybe.

August always drags so much...and it often drags in September too.  Every other year I tend to be pregnant.  And Chris always manages to be away for training or something. This time has been the longest absence.  It was also through my ninth month of pregnancy.  I have more children to care for too. (Though Owen and at times Amelia have been a huge help so the number of children really isn't a factor.)

I will say September has surprisingly moved rather quickly. My mom will be here in three days. It appears that Chris will be home in five days a little sooner than we thought two months ago. I'm due in five days also. I'm on maternity leave from teaching. Mostly because I have only a few hours  each day I can get something done and right now I am choosing dinner and general hygiene.  Owen has been really helpful making PB&Js and pour drinks for everyone. Him and Amelia both have been doing a great job hunting down diapers and wipes for me to change Simon's diapers.  They have even helped holding him down if necessary since he has decided to wrestle me almost everytime now.

I know it sounds pathetic,  but I am in complete survival mode...maybe a little past survival...maybe a little sad. But its working for us. 

I have adjusted everyone's sleep schedule since I can't sleep at night and functioning in the mornings is tough for me not pregnant. 

So really late nights and mornings for my crew. Again, its working for us.

I will say that has been one of the beauties of homeschooling...waking up late.  Owen has been home to help and I don't have to roll myself out of bed to get Owen on the bus. It's been nice to enjoy the three that are here before the fourth arrives.

Anyway...this is the first pregnancy I do not have that Group B Strep. Not sure that will make a huge difference, but I was a bit shocked. At my appointment on Monday I was dialated three centimeters and 50% effaced. A week later who knows where I am. My next appointment isn't until my due date...Friday. I have been having contractions for a while. Some are strong ish. Some are not. Sometimes they're close together. Sometimes they're not.

The midwife asked how large my biggest baby was before looking at my chart (10 lbs 11oz) because she was sure this one is pretty big. So I'm sure we have another monster still cooking :)

Well some pictures of the kids as always. And hopefully Becket will be here soon.

You're the best!