Mostly pictures.

The last 2 weeks have comprised of (mostly) review and studying by Andrew for finals which are this week - he has his last 2 today! The boys and I have been keeping warm inside as the temperature has been floating around the mid 30's. It is very pleasant and bearable when the sun is out and the air is still, but every few days we will get a windy day, which puts quite the chilly bite into an outdoor excursion. We have been drinking lots of tea and eating soup and have spent some time socializing indoors with some other ITI'ers. Here is our good friend, Annemarie from China who joins us often for tea.

 Last Saturday, the ladies hosted a baby shower for myself and Justina, a first-time mother from Lithuania. There was a lovely spread of coffee, tea, and finger foods. We prayed a Rosary together which was such a beautiful uniting factor for us mothers. The attendees were very generous with small donations and little gifts. I greatly enjoyed my time, and am appreciating more and more, the lovely ladies who are residing at the ITI at the same time as me!

 Jonah, one of the babies of honor.

Our baby of honor slept the whole time, but that did not deter little admirers from watching him and gently poking at him.

Michael and I sneak out occasionally for a little walk...he especially enjoys meeting up with one of his friends, like Kate!

As Andrew's schedule has been more flexible, it has been nice to leave Dominic at home and take Michael out for some one-on-one time - either to the park, a quick grocery store trip or to Mass. I'm also really enjoying being able to carry Michael again! Here we are heading off to daily Mass.

 Hard to believe this little guy is a month already!

 Michael is eager to play with his little brother...we attempt to be quick enough to intervene when necessary. :)

It has been a busy time of transition to a newborn and studies for Andrew, but I am trying to remember to keep the waiting period and preparatory attitude of Advent present in my heart. It has been wonderful to have a newborn present in our home to help us remember the tiny, humble state in which Christ entered the world and to remember that physical, tangible side of humanity joined to the Divine.

 

“At Christmas Christ comes like a little child, so small, so helpless, so much in need of all that love can give. Are we ready to receive Him: If Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to make a home for Jesus, would they choose our house and all that it holds and is filled with?”
—Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

 

Michael is still too young to understand the concept, but we do talk about Jesus' birth with him. I found this free nativity printable online, colored them, and taped them to toilet paper rolls. Desperate times call for desperate measures, ha! Hey, it's cute, functional, and serves the purpose of telling the birth story of Christ. Michael enjoys "walking" the figures around.



We pray that each of you are having a blessed Advent!

 

"Being awake for God and for other people—that is the kind of 'waking' that Advent has in mind, the wakefulness that discovers the light and brightens the world."

—Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)