a much needed yearly retreat - 2014

well, I had this post in my drafts and since I'm going to try to blog again I'll start here.
we didn't get to have a firm retreat this year because of COVID,
I remember this one well - 6 years ago when D was just a baby.

he started doing this face after each bite of the hummus and it cracked me up.
so he kept doing it.
pretty entertaining for him mom.

he loved the hummus so much at the first luncheon when it was just he and I there.
all the other kids were in school and would be coming the next day.
he and I were the last ones in this huge ballroom (Chris had gone to his meetings).

he just loved that hummus so I sat there and continued to feed it to him.
the workers were so hospitable and offered to pack some up for us to take with us.
it was wonderful to sit there with him and soak up his joy of the food.

this must have been a selfie Chris and I took before heading to the dinner.
it was the first time we left any of our children in the childcare while we went to the dinner.
I cannot imaging having to do this every day, it was difficult even for a short period of time.

the nannies they had were wonderful but he did not last long.
so we immediately went for him when they said he was crying and called it a night.
we had at least gotten to eat dinner! and we were so happy to have our baby back with us.

he was still asleep the next morning for the breakfast so Chris brought me a plate.
I had a wonderful relaxing meal to myself on our lovely balcony.

I had piled up a wall of pillows to keep him safely in the bed.
and was right there watching him when he woke up.

he woke up so happy. seeing a baby wake up is the best.
especially as they get older.
the smiles, the baby talk, it is the sweetest.

we went on a nice little walk around the resort.
and then went to the mall to do some shopping.

then back to the resort for the luncheon and to meet up with Chris and the older kids.
they always love the fun and fancy foods the resorts host.

then we went to the pool and spent the afternoon there.
lc was in 8th grade, Andrew 6th, Ella 4th, John kindergarten.
lots of pictures of the afternoon...

starting to get hot in this pic from being on the play structure for a few minutes.

Chris and I had the fancy dinner to attend in the evening.
since d had gotten sad the night before we asked if his older sister could go in the babysitting room.
we knew this would keep d happy. they were wonderful and thought that was a great idea.

she went in with him and played with him there where there was ample room for him to crawl.
the other kids stayed in the hotel room during this time.
the babysitting company was so complimentary of Ella and her good nature with her baby brother.
she was only in 4th grade at the time and such a natural with babies and kids, a big help to me.
the boys too, that's what happens when you grow up with babies, you learn to help -
having a large family is such a wonderful gift from God.

it was back to the pool the next day after a nice brunch spread.
we have been lucky to have so many firm retreats.
it's always nice to have a relaxing weekend and hang out together in a resort setting.

Cecilia Marie's birth story

I am writing this almost 4 years after Lia's birth.
so I may be forgetting some of the details.
but, my labor with her was by far the best one...super calm and controlled.

I was able to completely relax in between the contractions.
Chris talked me through each of them which kept me totally relaxed.
he likes to refer to it as the 'hypno birth'.
we got this beauty after his hypnotism :)

I had gone into the hospital 2 days prior to her birth thinking I was going into labor,

but nothing progressed.

they offered to induce me but I like to wait until the baby is ready.

these were taken 5 days before her birth, the last pregnant photos I have.
and with my sweet darrel who had just turned 2 a couple weeks before.

we left for the hospital when the kids were asleep so grandma came over.

it was a school day and andrew had the best 8th grade teacher-

who has since moved out of state and he was so sad when she did.

she sent him to the office before lunch and told him to call and find out if I had the baby.

Andrew saw Ella on her way to lunch and told him that I had a girl and she did not believe him.

I am an only girl and so is my mom so neither of us have sisters and Chris has all brothers.

it was such a wonderful surprise to have another daughter and sister for Ella.

We named our sweet baby Cecilia Marie after both her grandmothers and St. Cecilia.

She weighed 8lbs. 1 oz. (same as Ella) and was 19 inches long.

my brother came and spent a long time with us the next day, it was so nice.

I just love newborns and was in heaven with this new precious daughter of ours!