So, you might perhaps have noticed an uptick in the number of grandchildren featured in Auntie Leila's photos recently?
Maybe you've been tracking our family's doings on Instagram, and have figured out what's going on, but I thought I'd pop in with an official update/catching up post to get everyone up to speed before this new baby gets here (I'm 37 weeks tomorrow, if you can believe it!) and there's even more catching up to do.
At the beginning of the new year, we packed up the car and drove up north, trading in our North Carolina winter for a New England one. Some might argue that this is not the ideal time to be moving to Massachusetts, but we were playing on the beach as recently as the day after Christmas, so the whole winter fatigue phenomenon certainly hasn't set in for us yet.
My kids couldn't be happier about the snow. They've been out there sledding on the little hill in the front yard even when the grass has only been half-covered with a measly leftover inch, so the foot that we got yesterday is going to blow their minds.
(Fabulous red coat c/o my wonderful friend MaryBeth, who was — conveniently for me — expecting her 5th baby last January and decided she's been pregnant through enough New England winters to get herself a proper maternity coat, then insisted on lending it to me when I got up here.) (And I treated myself to proper snowboots since my Marine Corps life in Southern California and southwest Oklahoma had not left me prepared for these conditions in the footwear department — my Toms were not going to cut it here!)
Capt. P came up with me and the kids, and then we said goodbye to him from here as he headed off on another deployment, which will keep him busy until the fall.
You'll understand why I'm intentionally a bit vague about all the details here, but know that he's working hard, but is not in a combat zone (for which I am thankful). We are able to be in touch with him often (yes, that's him on the phone with Nora above, and no she couldn't be cuter, not that I'm biased or anything), and the kids have been doing their best to keep him supplied with drawings and letters, since as Molly put it, “his room isn't very byootiful.”
Before he left, he got us settled up here at my parents' house for the next little while, so that we have plenty of company and support as we get ready to welcome this sweet baby girl.
The timing of this deployment with the baby's arrival isn't ideal, of course, but at first we thought he wasn't going to be leaving until now-ish (aka, just a few weeks before my due date), which would have left us a lot less flexibility. Him leaving a month earlier than we originally expected meant that the kids and I didn't have to stay put, and we decided that it made sense for us to temporarily station ourselves up here.
Even though we've only been in our new house down there a few months, we already have some great friends in our neighbors there (some of whom are looking in on our house while we're gone, and all of whom would notice if anyone rolled up and started packing out all our craigslisted furniture, so any creepers/stalkers can just go ahead and scratch that plan), and it wasn't easy to decide to leave so soon after getting settled. But the company and extra hand with the kids is such a huge help now, let alone when the baby comes, that it seemed like the obvious choice.
We've never had the chance to live near family before (our home in North Carolina is the closest we've been at just under five hours), so while there's been an adjustment period as the kids and I adapt to all these changes, it's definitely made up for by the fact that we've got one set of grandparents (and a great-grandmother) right here in the house with us, another set in the next town over, and a whole bunch of aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby.
Hopefully they are distracted by the cuteness and overlook the vast amounts of crazy disruption we have brought to their daily life already, never mind the newborn we will soon be adding to the mix!
Polly says
I love this. Congratulations on the new baby! I think it’s wonderful that you can stay with your parents during this season and have their help and love and support. It’s also wonderful for your children…..they will have the best memories of their grandparents. Lovely!
Rosie says
Yes, it really is wonderful, especially since there just aren’t very many opportunities for us to live nearby in the Marine Corps. It’s a huge silver lining to the deployment that the kids get to spend so much time with their grandparents and cousins!
Jennifer says
You are a super cute pregnant lady! 🙂 And your children are all lovely! I wonder if you have done a post about what it is like being married to a military guy, with all the moves and deployments… like, does your personality just “jive” with that kind of lifestyle, or how challenging do you find it? Obviously, you accept it because it is what it is! But I recall thinking and knowing about myself before I got married that I would have a hard time being married to someone who had to travel a lot… I just wonder how you adapt and think about it, especially through childbearing/rearing years. I mean it as an honest question about your personality/temperament. I admire families who stay bonded throughout times apart – I don’t know how I myself would handle it! 🙂 We had 4 babies in 4 years, and moved almost as many times in about as many years, and I find the packing/unpacking/settling/nesting stuff to be a challenge!
Rosie says
Dear Jennifer, I haven’t posted about it, but as you say – it is what it is, which is both challenging and rewarding, like most lifestyles, I think!
I don’t know how much of it has to do with temperament; I certainly know many wonderful military wives of all different personalities and temperaments. I think certain things are always going to be hard: having your husband gone (whether on a short business trip or a long deployment, or working long hours at the office) always stinks. Moving, as you know, is the worst. 🙂
If you had asked me ten years ago whether I was interested in marrying a man in the military, I would have said definitely not. 🙂 But then I fell in love with an actual person who, it turns out, makes a pretty great Marine. And it turns out that there’s a lot we can handle together with the grace of marriage (and supported by the prayers of our family and friends) that we wouldn’t have taken on on our own.
And I think that would be true whether he were a Marine, a teacher, or a struggling musician. Married life brings with it many challenges, no matter what. Sometimes we can anticipate them, but often we can’t. But we struggle on together, with the help of God’s grace!
Shyla says
Praying for you all! 37 weeks, so close!! Also, best maternity coat ever!
Erin Edenburn says
Rosie, I so enjoyed getting caught up with your family’s goings on and love your precious photos! I’m so happy to hear that you’re living with your family during this deployment. Is there anything better than grandparents, especially with a new baby on the way?! Your family has my prayers for a smooth deployment and a healthy, happy delivery and new baby girl!!
Rosie says
Thank you, Erin! We miss you!
Cami says
Hi, Rosie! We must have similar due dates (and baby schedules in general) as I am in week 37 now with baby #4. My kiddos are 5, 4, and turning 2 this month. Best wishes to you in labor and delivery. We have our own chaos happening here with hubby working 2 jobs so he’s not here much. I’m preparing for a home birth (my first) and I have a terrible cold as does my youngest. Exhausting! Happy for you to have the support of your mom and whole family. God bless you all as you prepare to welcome a new previous child.
Cami says
Precious not previous! 😉
Rosie says
God bless you, too – and I hope you all are feeling better soon!
Mary Ellen Barrett says
Those sweet faces!!! I am glad you can be near your wonderful parents at this time, I’m sure that helps. Prayers for a safe delivery.
Kelsey says
My hand is raised in solidarity to my fellow mama waiting for the birth of her fourth baby. Just a few weeks behind you.
Lisa G. says
Will your dear mother deliver your baby, like she did your sister’s ? 😀 I hope all goes well – whatever your plan!
Rosie says
Well, I wouldn’t say that’s Plan A, but it’s nice to know she’s got the skillz in a pinch, right? 😉
Dixie says
My husband and I really want to create a family like this, that our children will have someone to come to when they need help with their own families. So many of us have lost this through the changes in our culture (or just through happenstance). Your site is such a great resource for building family systems and cultures back up!
Dixie says
P.S. Rosie, you are radiant, and your children are beyond adorable!
Mrs. B. says
My thoughts exactly! We hope to be a family like that too!
Stephanie says
I agree with Dixie. This whole generational living going on in that beautiful home in New England has my wheels turning when it comes to large family vision. This is what true Catholic culture looks like and I love that you see it as a season of being around family you normally do not get to be around, yes such a blessing! I am due with my fifth daughter (and I do have a boy in the mix ) in June! Also, what a wonderful witness of the beauty of being on a base and that military family showing up to help out. I find that many military families “anticipate the other’s needs” very well, and I am glad you have that. God provides in awesome ways. God Bless as you await this new daughter!
Mrs. B. says
I very much doubt anyone in that house is complaining about this kind of disruption, Rosie!!! This was an inspired decision.
So much beauty and happiness in this post – loved it.
Mab says
I love all these photos!! We are so so so glad you are here for a bit!!! 🙂
Ei says
The photos always grab me. Yours tell stories with a peak into your daily joy. Just beautiful. Looking forward to seeing your new baby in the coming months.
Our daughter and grand daughter stayed with us over the summer while her husband was deployed to the Middle East. It took us at least a month to get over their absence when they returned home. So grateful our children and their children count it a joy to be with us.