The days are going by very quickly right now.  Nathan is going to be four months old tomorrow (how’d that happen??) and he’s turning into a delightful little guy.  He loves to watch Emma and Gregory, and he’s discovered the joys of toys.  He’s rolling over back to front and getting more and more stable when he tries to sit up.  He has a great laugh and a great smile, and he is adored and admired by one and all.  He’s also huge - I moved him into 6-9 month clothes two weeks ago and he’s already starting to get too long for some of his PJ’s.  And it isn’t just his length either, he’s a sturdy little guy all around.  I’m not sure what he weighs right now, but I’m glad I’ve had two other children already to help me strengthen my back and arms so that I can carry him around comfortably!  

Matt got a promotion at the beginning of September and started a new project right around then too.  He’s been incredibly busy with work, easily working 60+ hours a week…  and then there’s the house.  If you’ve been reading the house blog, you know that he’s updating that again fairly regularly and posting his progress.  I’m doing very little on the house these days, because taking care of the kids - especially Nathan - takes most of my attention.  I’m pretty much useless as far as the house goes.  If I do get involved in a project there that takes more than 10 minutes or so, it is guaranteed that I will have to either give it over to Matt or he’ll have to take Nathan so I can finish.  It is sometimes frustrating for both of us, as I’m sure Matt would like more help, and I’d like to be more involved… but it just isn’t the way our life is working out right now.

We’ve added a few new things to our schedule too, which is making things busier.  I’m really glad we’ve added them though, I feel like we’re much more centered now that we used to be.  Here’s our schedule, in case you’re curious.

Monday - Morning prayer (we’re now praying all of Lauds together - at Emma’s request), Gospel reading, School in AM (Math, Latin, Bible, History, Music) then lunch, then working on the house/gardening/chores/whatever needs to be done.  

Tuesday - Out the door at 8, Mass at the Chapel at 8:30, grocery shopping, errands.  Home for lunch, then school in the afternoon (Math, Latin, Christian Studies, Science, Art)

Wednesday - Morning prayer, Gospel reading, school (Math, Latin, English Studies, History, Practical Skills), lunch, chores/work on the house/update finances, early dinner, then off to faith formation at 5:30.

Thursday - Out the door at 8 for Mass at the Chapel at 8:30.  Religion class for Emma, then playtime with the other kids in the class.  Then it is off for errands and the library.  Home for lunch, then school in the afternoon (Math, Latin, Christian Studies, Dictation/Recitation, Science), then dinner by 6 so I can leave at 6:30 for my Catholic discussion group (We’re very slowly reading through In The Arms of Mary and discussing it, section by section).

Friday - Morning prayer, Gospel study, school (Math, Latin, Saint of the Week, Geography, Nature Study), lunch, then chores/work on the house/collapse because we’re worn out from our busy week!

Saturday and Sunday are given over to working on the house (except for church on Sunday, of course) unless something else absolutely has to be done.  

If it wasn’t for the whole working on the house thing, I think this all would be great.  As it is…  well, I’m really tired of the house being such a pressing concern.  It has been the focus of every bit of spare cash and time we’ve had for the last year and a half at least, and honestly, I’m not sure when it won’t be.  At this point, knowing what I know now, I would have settled for a heck of a lot less.  But now it is way too late for that!  Maybe someday we’ll actually get to live there and it might start to seem somewhat worthwhile.  At least the kids will remember very little of all this, and hopefully I’ll forget a lot of it too in time.  

I can at least console myself right now by reflecting back on last year, because things are a lot better now than they were last year.  At least we’re not living in a tiny tin box on wheels with no electricity and no running water, worrying about getting the structure of the house up before it started to rain and snow in earnest.  I’m not in the throes of morning sickness and trying to figure out how to keep my kids warm and occupied in said tin box.  Yes, things are certainly a lot better than last year!