Deirdre has had her baby, her fifth (and our sixteenth grandchild!). It's that magical time in the home where the baby is here, things are calm…
I have no idea whether we have achieved any consistency in reporting about these babies… everyone is so busy and sometimes I'm there and sometimes I'm not. I'm on the spot here! — well, the spot is here with me!
Deirdre had her fourth homebirth here at the manse… and she is really a pro. There is something so soothing about the midwives moving in and out quietly or staying in the room with her while the rest of the household goes about its business (alert yet peaceful).
(All my daughters — well, not sure about Bridget yet — and my daughter-in-law are super-pros in this department, UN-like me. I am in awe of them all.)
So things have been busy here in the past week! Little Symphorosa Marie was born on April 14 in the evening. You can read about Symphorosa the early Roman martyr here.
I didn't post about it last week because there are so many in the immediate circle to be contacted and spoken with about this new miracle.
She was 8 lbs 14 oz which is on the small side for one of Deirdre's babies but is still rather, I mean one does not wish to call her large as this descriptor is not flattering, but really, she is good and healthy.
And adorable.
And snuggly.
Babies — I recommend 'em!
bits & pieces
Before we get to links, I have two queries for you, my dear readers!
First, does anyone have experience ordering a handmade headstone for a grave? Any recommendations for me? I would love to support an artisan stone carver but of course don't have a huge budget. I have no idea how to even start in the quest for a headstone for my mother's grave. Someone in New England would be great, I think.
Second, I set up my new blog Happy Despite Them so that people could subscribe by email and stay connected that way. Naturally, Blogger is discontinuing the Feedburner service that provides the automated email aspect. I don't make money from the blog, so don't really want to spend money on this service, but would like not to have everyone register again if possible. How can I change over without burning out my brain?
Feel free to email me on either of these topics (or anything else) at LMLDblog at gmail dot com. Thanks!
On to our links!
- Boys aren't the problem — good book review by Sally Thomas.
“In many ways, the issues raised in Oh Boy! apply to all children, not just boys. It’s problematic for any child to be asked to do things the brain and body aren’t ready to do. A child whose powers of analytic reasoning haven’t yet begun to develop will struggle to understand numbers, or to connect spoken sounds with printed letters. A child consumed with a physical drive to move and explore will struggle with sitting still. That someone thinks a child should be able to do these things doesn’t mean that all children, or even most children, can do them.”
- Our schola has sung the Allegri Miserere at times (when we've had a soprano who can handle those high notes) — it's so beautiful, so moving. This short documentary compares the original, ancient version with an intermediate one and then the one that many of us know today, with that soaring high C and haunting embellishments. I do actually love the more ancient one! But who could ever do away with the newer one? What do you think?
- Boys and Girls May Get Different Breast Milk. Sex is not a construct!
- I really recommend listening to Patrick Coffin's interview of a California restaurateur who doesn't allow masks or any other restrictions in his place. And yet the restaurant is open. Tony Basilico has a native common “uncommon” sense; he worries about what compromise does to the soul. He articulates his position well; his words will hearten anyone who intuits that he must fight but needs courage. He “pledges his business as a “Constitutional Battleground' in the fight against all Lockdown Tyranny.” If you are skeptical, please listen. If you too are sick and tired of lockdown, please listen!
from the archives
liturgical living
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Stay abreast of the posts here at LMLD, when they happen:
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We share pretty pictures: Auntie Leila’s Instagram, Rosie’s Instagram. Sukie’s Instagram. Deirdre’s Instagram. Bridget’s Instagram.
Auntie Leila’s Facebook (you can just follow)
The boards of the others: Rosie’s Pinterest. Sukie’s Pinterest. Deirdre’s Pinterest. Habou’s Pinterest (you can still get a lot of inspiration here! and say a prayer for her!). Bridget’s Pinterest.
Hannah says
Congratulations! What a little beauty! That was my grandmother’s birthday, may she rest in peace, and I got a new niece that day too. 💕
When you brought up headstones, I immediately thought of Jonathan Pageau. Are you familiar with his work? It’s rather incredible. I first saw his work on a headstone for an Orthodox priest. I’m guessing it will not be very budget friendly, but it’s worth checking out. His website is here: https://www.pageaucarvings.com/index.html
Nancy says
Congratulations! Beautiful baby and family. I wish I could transport your choir to our parish!
Cirelo says
Congratulations Deirdre and family! Such a beautiful blessing! The pictures brought tears to my eyes–so sweet!
I love what LMLD has done to normalize normal healthy home births. Also, normalizing taking care of mothers being mothers as in the blogs about post-partum care, nursing, and exercise! This is an area where the loss of the collective memory is so hard on women (and men) trying to recover the churches teaching on family. I don’t know if many women when they have their first child at the beginning of what might be who knows how many births considers the implications of a c-section on her own body! And the normal OB in a hospital doesn’t consider for you that you need to be kept whole and healthy because you might be doing this for the next 20 years, because in his mind, so what if you have two c-sections and then tie your tubes off! I know so many women who suffer unduly because the medical system doesn’t actually want you having babies!
Lisa G. says
What an interesting and varied household you have! Wonderful. xo Congratulations to Deirdre and John; the eldest has grown so big! I look forward to reading the articles linked, but the one about the restauranteur in CA reminds me that my co-worker’s daughter and friends recently went to Texas for a little trip and were amazed to see nobody wearing masks anywhere they went. They went to a bar, even, with lots of customers.
Tster says
Congratulations to Deirdre and the whole family, what a blessing and how lucky those siblings are to get a new member of the pack! Also, amazing that you get to snuggle babies in this precious time!
Melisa says
A new life is always good news – and how beautiful she is! Congratulations to all. Happy to hear about the home births, though I could never have one. (First baby was breech and 10 lbs. 11.2 oz. at that!) After my c/sec, I was fortunate enough to have 5 v/bacs, 3 of which were unmedicated, intervention-free – in spite of being in the hospital (2 were over 10 pounds!) Then 2 more c/secs (anxiety got the better of me). I totally understand why a woman would want a home birth. Hospital staff can be so pushy, and often don’t seem to respect the natural process of birth. It’s beyond frustrating! I was fortunate enough to have a doula with several of mine, which I highly recommend. It’s wonderful to have someone advocate for you, suggest comfort measures and encourage you. I had not known, for instance, that you could request a different nurse.
Enjoy that new little one!!
Melisa
Emily says
Oh my GOODNESS, what a sweet heart! I love her cheeks! 🙂
As Melanie says in Gone With the Wind, “The happiest days are when babies come.”
Margaret says
Congratulations! Does Symphorosa have a nickname? It’s so beautiful, but definitely a name that needs to be grown into!
Rebecca says
Congratulations to Deirdre on her sweet little one! I am planning my first home birth for this July in light of the COVID restrictions at our local hospital and would love any tips and recommendations from one who is clearly more of an expert – not that she has time to give them at the moment 😉
Cami says
Just speaking from experience, if I may… I’ve had 4 babies in the hospital and one at home in a birthing tub. I’m assuming you have a midwife on board, but I’d suggest choosing one referred by friends. Don’t be afraid to interview them and any birth attendants/assistants. Ask what protocol is in the event of an emergency. Also, Bradley breathing was the most helpful for me. The hospital classes teach you to breath in a way that causes stress, not calm. It’s ridiculous. I didn’t have time for Bradley classes so I just read the books. Home birth is amazing. It’s great to already be home and get in your own bed. Out of all my 5 babies, it was that one home born baby that learned to nurse with the most ease and did not suffer regression upon coming home from a hospital.
Elizabeth Turner says
Awwww Congratulations!!! What a lovely name and such a sweet baby. Happy recoveries to your daughter. What special family moments are happening within those four walls. Welcome, Symphorosa. 💐
My daughters were born with the help of midwives. In fact, my youngest daughter was born with the assistance of the Beverly midwives in Beverly, Massachusetts in 1995. Sweet memories.
Mrs. Bee says
Pink confection perfection! Congratulations! It is indeed great to see home births come back, I love that my daughter will have that option some day.
Maggie says
Congratulations! Yay for babies (and postpartum curls!)
Emily says
Congratulations to your beautiful family! Reading this just makes my heart swell with happiness for you all(and makes me long for a family of my own!). Such beauty in those pictures!! Babies are simply splendid. Thank you for sharing this wonderful news!
Mrs. T says
What a beautiful baby. Really. So alert! Congratulations. Such a blessing.
Excellent review by Sally Thomas. As a mother to 6 boys, I get it.
Laura Jeanne says
Aw, congratulations on the new addition to your family…what a little cutie. I am feeling severely baby-deprived these days…my youngest child is 10 and my oldest (22) has no plans of getting married any time soon…so no grandchildren on the horizon. I would love to have more myself but I am 42 and in poor health and my husband (who is older than me) insists we are much too old…but he longs to have a baby around the house again too!
Em says
Congratulations! So beautiful and heartwarming to see happy, healthy mum, bub and family!
I love the idea of homebirth and envy the women who can have uncomplicated, homely births. I wish I could… (I will spare you the morbid details but one of the births involved ordering a gravestone for my baby… but no where near where you live so can’t help you with suggestions for your beloved mother’s, sorry. Let me tell you they are expensive though.)
Just another healthy baby and healthy me would be fine for me!!
God bless and many years!
Also, Leila, when is your book due to be released please? My kids are growing fast!!
Terri says
Oh, thank you for sharing the baby news–Congratulations! And thanks for the nudge to listen to that interview. It has been in the queue, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.
Cami says
Congratulations, Leila! Newborns are irresistible! Enjoy!
Becky says
What a bundle of joy! Hooray and congratulations!
Corina says
Congratulations to your family and welcome to little Symphorosa Marie! She is beautiful!
Annie says
Congratulations on the new sweet baby!!
The breastmilk finding is interesting… the twin mom in me wonders what my little boy and girl are getting as they just kind of pop on and off interchangeably 😉
Mary says
Welcome to Symphorosa Marie and congratulations to her loving family!
Christine K. says
Congrats to Deirdre and family! What an adorable little baby!!
Rebekah says
On the headstone. Highly recommend contacting a nearby orthodox monastery. Many make these kinds of things to support themselves, in wood or stone. I believe several are located near you. If they dont, they may have a referral.
Anne Marie says
Congratulations!! One benefit of a Latin name is, in the event of an Old Rite baptism, the priest can decline the name real easy on the fly!
Leila says
Yes, this came up! The Chief going through the declensions and the priest nodding… he greeted me with “what is the baby’s name again?” and then said, “That’s not so bad” — eliciting a snort from Uncle Will, but really meaning “I can work this without a crib sheet” LOL
Grete says
Congratulations to everyone and welcome baby Symphorosa!
Kathia says
Congratulations!! Beautiful new addition to a gorgeous and wonderful family. 🙂
Luana says
Congratulations to you all! She is so sweet and Deirdre is so beautiful! Enjoy this special time and lots of newborn snuggles.
Lori says
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing! Congratulations!
mebarrett8 says
How did I miss this news? What a beautiful girl! Give Diedre my best and congratulations to all.