One week later
It’s been a week since Julianna was born. A week and a few hours, but who’s counting, eh?
Julianna has been a pretty easy baby so far. Or maybe we’re just getting better at this parenting thing. You’d think we’d have the hang of it by now, but we still learn new things, and the kids – even little Julianna – still find ways to get the best of Dad and Mom.
A couple of days ago we had to go grocery shopping. It was the first major expedition as a family of seven. It was stressful to say the least. Julianna needed her diaper changed. She had pooped. Again. I think she’s the poopingest kid we’ve got. We probably change her diaper 15 times a day. I can count on one hand the number of times she has not been poopie. Anyhow, we do the diaper change in the car – this is an old and familiar routine, and tends to be more comfortable for everyone involved than the changing table in the supermarket bathroom. So, no sooner than the diaper is pulled out from under her to swap in the new one, she starts pooping. Again. And like a good husband, I stick my hand under and catch it so that my wife does not get poop all over her clothes. That’s right, I said it. My days old daughter pooped in my hand. Julianna: 1; Dad: 0. Sigh. Hands are easier to wash in parking lots than shirts I guess.
On a far less gross note, Julianna was baptized yesterday (the 24th). Our priest used the traditional baptism rite which was really nice. Tuesday evening was kind of an odd time, but it’s what worked best for us and our priest. We invited several families and had a little reception with cake and punch afterwards. Then we went out to dinner. Very nice all around.
Even though we’ve ventured out of the house a few times with the whole clan, it’s still a pretty big ordeal. We just haven’t got the hang of it yet. It seems like it takes about 20 minutes just to get everyone into the car. Everyone has to find their shoes (and in the case of the the younger kids, I do mean find as the concept of leaving both shoes in the same place is lost on them). Once found, all the shoes have to get on all the feet, and if we start with William, odds are he’ll have at least one shoe off again before we finish with the others. Then we have to get Julianna into her seat. Then we start heading for the car in waves – first Dominic will take the girls and get them strapped in. Then I usually come out with William. Then I go in and come back out with Julianna. Then Allena comes out with the luggage – er, diaper bags (plural). Then something will have been forgotten. Then somebody will have to use the bathroom. Then we might get to start the car and leave! By the time we get where we’re going, William will definitely have his shoes off again. Odds are pretty good that Elizabeth and Teresa will too. I’ve reflected that it’s really a shame that people have feet instead of hooves. If we had hooves, we could nail the children’s shoes on.
We decided that we’d make do with our mini-van for now. It seats seven (barely) and is reasonably easy to get everyone in and out. The whole “seats seven” thing would work a lot better if four of the seven were not in infant car seats or boosters. I work with a guy that has an older suburban that he’s willing to part with for a reasonable price. I still can’t afford it, but I think about it a lot. It seats nine. The fact that it’s a large enough vehicle to pull a trailer has not escaped me either. Now if I could just get the money together :)
All in all a good week.
