Seven Quick Takes Friday

I don’t have time to write all the blog posts I want to, so I thought I’d take a page out of Jen’s book and write some quick notes instead of the thoughtful blog posts I want to write.

—- 1—-

I don’t think I’ve yet mentioned that my sister is moving in with us, have I? Well, she is. And she arrived on Wednesday with my mom. And a big U-Haul with lots and lots of stuff.

Joy. Disorder. Chaos in my home that was just beginning to achieve the beginning of a semblance of a glimmer of organization. But big, big joy.

—- 2—-

Poor Sophie is not doing so well. Very frequent stools. Very sticky and pasty. Very, very, very sore baby bum. With bleeding when I wipe her. Not to mention screaming. The very sight of the changing table is now enough to induce panic in both of us. Frantic mama feeling helpless. Finally today I talked to a helpful nurse who suggested some strategies.

We are stuffing her with rice and banana and applesauce and Greek yogurt, hoping we can reduce the frequency and give her some chance to heal. Also applying neosporin and vaseline and letting her go diaperless for some periods of time to help relieve some of the pain.

—- 3—-

Have I mentioned that Sophia really hates eating out of spoons? This is how we administered the yogurt and applesauce mixture. She really enjoyed the experience.

I’m glad Bella was napping during this experiment. My neat and tidy orderly girl would have really been distressed. By the shirtless, diaperless baby. By the food in the living room. By the mess all over mama and Phia.

—- 4—-

Some time ago Dom made up a song for the girls, a bouncing on the knee sort of song: “Bouncy, bouncy Bella likes to go to town. Bouncy bouncy Bella looks like a clown….”

Tonight I was holding Sophia in my lap and started singing it and she started to bounce up and down. Later, to prove it wasn’t a fluke, I sang it again while she was playing on the floor. Again with the bouncing. So cute!

—- 5—-

I’ve been meaning to blog about this wonderful new Blessing for the Unborn. And haven’t had a chance.  According to the article it “was prepared to support the parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage in the parish prayers for and recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society.” The rite may be used within the context of the mass or outside of the mass.

“May almighty God, who has created new life, now bless the child in your womb,” the blessing says. “The Lord has brought you the joy of motherhood: May he bless you with a safe and healthy pregnancy. You thank the Lord today for the gift of your child: May he bring you and your child one day to share in the unending joys of heaven.”

Next time I’m pregnant, I’m definitely requesting this rite of blessing.

Danielle beat me to the punch and wrote about it here.

—- 6—-

And while we’re on the theme of building a respect for life in our parishes, I meant to note this list of suggestions from Amy Welborn:, but it also slipped through the cracks.

At issue is, first, American Catholics� sense of the importance of the abortion issue and their attitude toward it. Support for a radically pro-abortion candidate is only the tip of the iceberg.  It is well known that self-identified �Catholics� abort in numbers comparable to non-Catholics.  Some of those who voted for Obama probably are opposed to abortion but feel that the legal ship has gone too far to come back anyway, but many are simply not bothered by abortion – even the churchgoers.

There�s where the work needs to begin, as I have said many, many times before -to stop treating abortion simply as a �social issue,� but as a reality among Catholics themselves. To have every Catholic parish in the United States be a pro-life place, not just because there is educational material in the back but because it is a place where:

1) Children are welcomed and prayed for – as in the prayer for �a respect for life in our nation� will be supplemented by a prayer �in thanksgiving for the children of our parish and in hopes that God will bless the families of our parish with more children.�

2) It is stated bluntly and directly in every way possible: �If your teenager gets pregnant or fathers a child, please don�t be ashamed. We�re with you. Let us know what we can do to help, and let us pray for the young parents.�

3) It is stated bluntly and directly in every way possible: �We�re rejoicing in the birth of the special-needs children in our parish. Here�s the assistance we give parents of special-needs kids. There�s lots of it.�

4) In which foster parenting is promoted and regular workshops and training on fostering are presented.

5) In which adoption is promoted and the parish participates in funds that financially assist adoptive families.

—- 7—-

“Are There Really Free Books?” an interesting reflection about the obligations a blogger has to a publisher who sends review copies of books.

My take: I feel an obligation to speak the truth, tell what I think and why. I won’t lie and say I like a book that I don’t. On the other hand, I also feel a need to explain when I give a negative review. I don’t just say I dislike a book but try to give every book a fair hearing, exploring whether it’s just a matter of taste or if there are flaws in the artistry.

via Julie D