Wednesday, October 28, 2015

And the Big Brother Club Gains a New Member

Hello, Joseph.  

Welcome to the Big Brother Club.

Sometime in May, you will no longer hold the title of Baby of the Family, but will move up the ranks to the honorary position of Big Brother.

Your promotion to Big Brother is a privilege, and it with it comes great responsibility.  We know that giving up your place as Baby will be difficult at times, but trust us, becoming a big brother is awesome.

Right now, as a 16 month old tot,  you have absolutely no idea what it means to be a member of something so special, but soon you will. And when the time comes, we will be right here to show you the ropes.  You're gonna be a great big bro, Joey, and one thing's for certain, you're gonna love it. 

We promise.

31 comments:

  1. Yay!!! Congrats Susan!!! The boys must be thrilled :)

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  2. Congratulations!! How exciting for you all-hope you are feeling well and taking good care of yourself momma!!

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  3. Congratulations!!!!! What wonderful news!!!!

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  4. Oh how wonderful! Congratulations, Susan!! Many blessings to you.

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  5. Wow! And you ran a marathon while in the first trimester?? You're superwoman! I've read your blog for awhile and have related in the opposite because I have 5 girls and then one boy. Maybe you will have a girl this time!

    I remember a few months ago, you wrote a post about how you were done having kids and 6 was your number. As a faithful Catholic, are you willing to explain what led you to that decision then and now what changed that led to you being pregnant now? So many Catholics say we shouldn't say the word "done" or put a number for kids. We have 6 and feel very much done and follow church teachings to make that possible right now.

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    1. Hello there! Thank you for your comments, and for sharing a little about your family. Five girls - how fun! I wanted to ask you where exactly you read that I said we were "done" having kids? I'm quite certain that I've never said that word in reference to our family size, because to me, our family size is in God's hands. I have said in the past that I am never certain what God has in store for us, but as I am getting older, I am always questioning whether we will be able to have more children or not.

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    2. It was in a post from the summer "Steve and I have always been open to life, and the Lord knows that if it were up to us, we would have ten boys by now. But, He is the Creator and Crafter of our family, and so six it is! (Until we adopt those twin girls I've been trying to convince my husband we have plenty of room for!)."

      I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you don't leave it up to God. I guess when I read this, I took it as you were settled on 6 (for now) and making the efforts to avoid for now or indefinitely. So, I wast just curious what that process was like to move from avoiding to wanting to get pregnant again. We are very much avoiding and maybe indefinitely (??) and I wonder how it works to switch directions. :)

      You really do sound amazing!

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    3. I definitely see how you might read it that way. Without going into too much detail, with our last two babies are spaced pretty far apart, and we were not trying to avoid getting pregnant. So, with the long spacing, I always wonder if the baby days are over (especially since I just turned 40), even though we're open to the Lord's plans. Since Joseph's birth, we've actually been practicing NFP pretty carefully, because my husband is sick with Lyme disease and his activity is very limited. This has been a great strain on our family. But, God is much wiser than us, and it seems he believes that we can indeed handle one more! That was the perspective that I was writing from.

      The Lord wants us to discern children together as a couple. This must be a very prayerful decision. As the Catechism teaches us, on "grave or serious matter" should be reason for avoiding pregnancy. We take this very seriously, but that discernment process is different for every couple.

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  6. What a wonderful blessing!!!!!

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  7. Yay! Congrats Susan, you're family is beautiful!

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  8. Woohoo! Congratulations! Can't wait to meet him or her. :)

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  9. Yay! Congratulations! You all must be so excited!

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  10. How exciting! Did you run the marathon while pregnant? You are one motivated lady.

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  11. What wonderful news!!! Congratulations!! And seriously...this news makes the whole marathon thing way more impressive. :)

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  12. I currently have six boys with boy number 7 due at the beginning of February. I squealed with glee when I read your post! Congratulations!

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    1. Oh my goodness!!! That is so awesome! We definitely have to connect! Everyone keeps asking me if I'm hoping for a girl, and my answer is always, "NO!" We will be thrilled with whatever the sex of the baby is - either way, our love will be multiplied. Our boys are hoping for another boy, though. They cannot imagine what it would be like to have a sister! Praying for you as you approach the last stretch of your pregnancy. Such JOY! :)

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    2. Boys really are a joy that I never imagined! Growing up, I always thought I'd only have girls because all I saw of boys was icky and stinky and wild. Boy does God know how to switch life up a bit when you try to plan it all yourself! I love all my boys even when they are wild, icky and stinky :)
      I'd love to connect. I actually saw you at Edel this past summer, but didn't find the opportunity to introduce myself. I've been following your blog for quite some time and can relate to SO much. :) My email is perreaultkristen@gmail.com

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  13. Ahh!!! Wonderful news!!! I am due May 1, and have hypermesis gravidarum this go around, yuck. I hope that you continue to feel healthy and strong- you do so much for others:) We have 4 boys and 1 girl, and I keep slipping up and saying I have 5 boys- who knows? Either way, we are so happy. 7 is a great number. You just made my day, through this zofran filled haze:)

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    1. Oh, Amy, I am so sorry you are not feeling well! It's a great challenge to care for little ones when you're having a healthy pregnancy, let alone a sick one! Let's keep each other in prayer. We are not finding out what we're having - it's going to be a surprise - and a true blessing either way. We will have much to celebrate in the spring! :)

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  14. I had to cry with joy this morning when I read your post! What wonderful news and maybe you can remember us in your prayers that we might be given another child. We have two boys who we love greatly and despite surgeries etc still have failed to conceive.

    A big congratulations especially with running the marathon!

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    1. Thank you for sharing your struggle with me, Jenny. You can count on my prayers for you and your family. The cross of infertility can be terribly heavy at times, but I also know that the Lord is holding you very close to his heart through all of it. Hang in there - I will be thinking of you!

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  15. Congratulations!!! That is awesome!!

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  16. Congratulations, Susan and family! Joseph has some good examples to help him in this new journey.

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  17. Congratulations! I am another mom of all boys! It is beautiful. I pray that God will bless us with another baby! That pic of your boys is so nice,God is so great!

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  18. Congratulations!! You are so SO blessed!! Pease pray for me to be able to have more babies!

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  19. Congratulations! I only recently started reading your blog, but I was truly inspired to read this. I'm pregnant with # 2 (first is a girl and now this one's a boy!), and am currently 35. My husband and I hope to have a number of years ahead of us with however many children God sees fit to send us. I also work full-time, which I suppose adds some additional and unique challenges to keeping an "open" number to family, but it's so important to us that I think with God's help we'll override those challenges. In any case, seeing your example really warmed my heart today -- I sent it to my husband, as I know he'll agree!

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