Love and Truth

Private Time

2012-02-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

We have been thinking about this for some time, have decided to make our blog private. Since this blog is all about Gus and our family, we are getting more and more uncomfortable with not knowing who is reading it.

I am sure there are measures I could have taken in the beginning as far as not using our names or something, but I didn't.

So I am going to make this a private blog with photos and stories of Gus and our family, and share our faith as best we can.

If you want to continue reading this blog- please send me your email address. I know its a pain to occasionally have to sign in to read, but Gus' privacy is totally worth it!

I will leave it public for a few more days... and maybe someday it will be public again

A "pin', brought to fruition

2012-02-08T10:03:00.001-08:00

Finally, after months of "pinning" I finally did something. I seem to spend a lot of time pinning ideas, but not a lot of time doing those pins. But I am on a roll now.

When we painted the nursery at our 1st house, we went with the green and white theme as we didn't know who our little person would be and it was pretty neutral for a boy or girl.

Then, when we moved to our new house, we decided to do the same thing. Green and white was great, but it was a little plain and I wasn't sure how I wanted to fix that.

After looking through lots of pins, I finally found a general idea of what I wanted to use. A wall decal was out, because I knew I could do something just as cool on my own. We had some left over brown paint from some accent walls in the main living room, and I went ahead and painted a tree.

Then I made these sweet little birds that sort of look like they are flying off the wall. I tried to pull the colors of the birds from the colors on the bumper. They are a bit more bold than the bumper, but turned out great. I'm not sure if I will add leaves or not.

Gus seems to like the birds. He points and says 'ohhhhhhhhh, buhhh". That probably means, "Thank for making this cool tree and some birds for me. I was getting bored at staring at the plain green wall. I love birds, you are the best mom ever."

little cub

2012-02-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

This probably won't fit next Halloween even though it is a 4T - it just fits now.

Snow Day

2012-01-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

This is our 3rd day home bound. Not only due to the snow and our neighborhood roads being covered in it, but the baby and I are both sick. Joe hasn't gotten it yet, thank goodness.

Today, this is what the men of the house did:

As long as the popcorn was flowing, Gus loved the movie. Otherwise he played while Joe watched "Cars".

Breakfast for Beginners

2012-01-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

He has learned to feed himself oatmeal, with a spoon, and only gets moderately messy.

He also points at the computer saying, "Buh, Buh, Buh, Buh" and would watch this all day if we let him..... The B Song

A room with a view

2012-01-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

It may not be the ocean/lake/river/any water view we someday would love to have, but maybe the next best thing.

The back side of our house faces a wonderful green belt/forest area, right in the middle of the city, (sort of).

This is the view from our kitchen window, master bedroom/bathroom, and the 2 downstairs bedrooms.

Sometimes it feels like we live in a tree house.

More pictures and a tour to come.

Not a baby anymore - Merry Christmas

2011-12-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

It's finally happening. I think Gus is growing up. Not only did he start walking on Christmas Day, he also started signing 'more', 'eat', and 'please'. We have been working on this for awhile, but it all happened in the same week. He just seems so grown up all of a sudden!

Also, he got quite the haul this Christmas. We had wanted to make the "3 presents rule", that a few families we know do, but when we went to do our shopping..... well, maybe we will do it next year.

It's a good thing we just moved into this huge ol' house, because the toys need their own bedroom.
Sippy cup in the stocking should have come with water. He was a little upset it was empty.

Our mantel, without a mantel..... My favorite picture, even more wonderful at Christmastime.
I am not one for little nick-knack things, but Gus loved all those little things on the fire place, so that is where they stayed.

A mini-sized man on his own personal couch from Gramma and Grampa.

The non-toys are often more fun. He loved throwing himself onto the plastic trash bag fill of wrapping paper.

Super cool tractor and trailer.

Super cool new play hut

Playing at Nanny and Papas on Christmas Day, where he officially started walking.

Uncle Dan is so funny.

Future profession, and a birthday

2011-12-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

Perhaps he will be a baker, someday? He now knows how to frost a cake.

Happy Birthday, Joe! We love you so much!

Gus Chronicles -- 13-14 MONTHS!

2011-12-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

Gus, you are such a fun little man. You have a great little personality that is growing every day. You laugh at anything we do, smile if anyone pulls out a camera and you say "cheese", you get grumpy if you are tried or hungry (who doesn't!), and are a great sleeper.

In the past 2 months, here is what has been going on.

You have 12 teeth now. 4 molars have come in, 2 on top, 2 on bottom. You handled it very nicely, were a little cranky, but over all, the same good little fellow.

Meat is your favorite food. All meat is eaten before a veggie is even touched. You have trouble feeding yourself veggies (you don't like them), so we still give you a lot of pureed veggies and you don't seem to mind those at all.

You are so tall, not sure how tall (we will find out next month), and seem to be very muscular. You don't have any chub on you, but are SOLID. You have this thick barrel chest and a very sturdy core.

Walking? not on your own yet, but you cruise all over the house with your walker, or tractor, from couch to chair to toy to table. You stand on your own for long periods of time, but haven't made those 1st steps on your own yet. Take your time, baby!

Any and all music is your favorite. When you hear just a few notes of a song, you start to bop and shake your head and body to dance.

Wearing mostly 24 month clothes, a few 18 month still. Still in size 5 diapers.

I have a cold and have been blowing my nose a lot. You now pick up things that look like tissue and pretend to blow. You also make the noise along with it. Good boy!

You (still) like to play with anything that is long and in the shape of a stick. Towel racks, toilet paper rolls, paper towel roles, curtain rods, Q-tips.

I love to watch you sit and flip through a book on your own. You talk to the pages, point to the pages, turn them one at a time ..... I hope you love reading as you grow up.

We are so glad to be your parents!

Things have been busy ...

2011-12-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

... to say the least.

We haven't been around here much, and just so I don't forget what things were like at this moment, here are a few notes.

Joe is still is grad school. We are used to that busy.

I recently became certified to teach the Creighton Model System of Fertility Care. More on this later, but if you want to learn a great natural way to monitor your fertility, let me know!

Gus is wonderful, hit the one year mark and learns something new every day. He is such a joy and keeps us always smiling.

We bought a house. It needed a few things done before we moved in, and a few things turned into a few more things ..... we are still at my parents house (which has been wonderful), but are excited to get in to our new house and make it our home! Everything has been painted, carpets are clean, there is almost all new plumbing in the bathrooms and kitchen, floors have been redone or are in the process of being, kitchen cabinets are painted and clean ..... all the wall paper has been removed (that was a horrible process), and we are on our way to living there! We are moving everything from storage to the garage this weekend and then start to get settled!

We are in a parenting class every Monday night. Love and Logic. I plan on writing a whole post about it. I would say over all, it is mostly good. One of the main presenters (it is a video series with a moderator) is so awkward that it is hard to listen to and take seriously. More on that later.

Still doing the youth ministry thing at St. Pats and its going well.

Not sure if we will set up a Christmas tree this year with all the moving, but I just might cave and do it on the 24th? That's how people used to do it right?

I have a feeling Advent is quickly passing me by. It is already the 2nd week? Maybe I will finish strong....

That's all for now!

Last week....

2011-11-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

trying not to be seen doing something he shouldn't

taking inventory of the halloween loot, making sure his parents didn't sneak anything

my two favorites

The 1st Party

2011-10-28T14:27:00.001-07:00

I realize nothing was even said about your actual birthday party.

Well, it was a hit. We had tons of family and friends over to celebrate you, and you seemed to have a great time.

You did the "obligatory" 1st birthday cake smashing and smearing it everywhere thing. Way to go! Your shirt can never be worn by a sibling, it is stained so badly, but I still let you wear it as an undershirt.

Beautiful cake! I certainly did not make it. Melina, the woman who made our AMAZING wedding cake, was commissioned by Gramma to make it for you.

You received some lovely gifts, perhaps your favorite is the John Deere tractor from Papa and Grammy.

And that super cool hat from Uncle Blair

Gus Chronicles -- 12 MONTHS!

2011-10-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

We are slowly coming to terms with the fact you are 1 ..... S.L.O.W.L.Y.

Every day your personality develops more and more. It is so much fun to watch you grow!

You are getting pretty fast. No walking yet (I am in no hurry for this to happen), but you are crawling so much better and pull yourself up on anything.

There always seems to be a song in your head that you are sharing with everyone, or bopping along to silently.

You seem to be a social eater and like to have other around you when eating, this is also when you like to sing, hummmm and dance.

Swimming lessons are going well and you love to splash and play in the water. We went to "free swim" on your birthday and you crawled around and climbed on an air mattress in the water the whole time.

You know how to blow, but didn't blow out your birthday candle. You like to look at the wind chime and blow at it.

You are in a size 5 diaper, almost 6, also wearing size 4, some size 5 shoes.

Your clothes are mostly 18 month, with quite a few 24 month outfits here and there.

Stats: Height 31 inches (55%), Weight 23 lbs (55%), Head size ... I forget the number, but 75% - big brain.

You are sleeping almost 12 hours straight at night, sometimes waking up around 2 or 3, but doing a great job going back to bed.

You are taking 2 naps a day still, about an hour in the morning, and 1.5 in the afternoon.

You are still nursing 3-4 times a day, but I think we will start weaning soon. I don't really mind, so am not in a hurry.

We say "cheese" and you smile. It is awesome!

You can be found all around the house with a book in hand flipping through the pages. I hope this means you will love reading. Your daddy and I sure do.

Nanny and Papa giving you some birthday love!

Leaning back with a fully belly of cake.

You LOVED Southwest Stuffed Squash. Table food and you get along well .... you especially love shrimp, salmon, and anything meat. You are a true carnivore.

Skype-ing -- you really like the little picture of the cute baby in the corner.

Remotes, buttons, electronics ...... best toys ever.

This little fish was following you in the aquarium. It was really fun to watch. You would move, he would move, he would move, you would move. Very cute.

You can say "mama", "dada", "kitty" --- but it sounds more like "teeeeeee"

I could go on and on, and have already been working on this for days. It is time to publish the blog. I will update all of your tricks in new posts.

We love you baby - this has literally been the best year of our life and we love watching you grow. Your personality comes out more and more every day and we love watching the person you are becoming.

Spooners - the 3rd time

2011-10-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

We love Pumpkin Hunting. This is the 3rd year we have gone to the pumpkin patch with our good friends, each year there seems to be another kiddo, and that makes it so much fun!

Carmel corn, donuts, pumpkin slingshots .... it's a perfect Fall day.

This was a year ago, the week before Gus came out into the world.
(I was REALLY ready for him to be out!)

This was Sunday, 2 days after Gus turned 1.

I love pictures that are taken in the same place, but at different phases of life. I am sure we will be going to Spooners for many more years, and it is the perfect time to get this annual picture.

A very special boy

2011-10-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Someone very special had a birthday on Friday, and a big party on Saturday, and cake and candles at every meal.

Pictures and details up soon.

Last night.

2011-09-30T20:11:00.001-07:00

We had our final night at our old house tonight. We have been moved out for a few days, and since it all happened so quickly, we went back for a picnic dinner tonight and to say goodbye to our favorite neighbors, Mary and Norman.

Climbing in the empty house

Visiting the neighbors

Bye bye house, you have been so good to us.

Gus got a black eye yesterday as he learned how to pull himself up on everything in the house.

7 very quick takes

2011-09-24T10:12:00.001-07:00

Just so I don't forget how busy life is at this moment ....

1. Joe is teaching (as always) and going to grad school. He is very busy and we are so proud of all his hard work.

2. We are moving, tomorrow. Everything is going into storage. Our house has been on the market for (only) 6 months and sold. Hooray. But now we need to find another house (hopefully buy Jan. 2012) and in the mean time take up residence at my kind parents house. Gus will be in heaven with all the attention!

2.5. We are still youth ministers at St. Pat's and had kick-off night last week. It went well but of course add to the organized chaos of our life. Every other Sunday. We really love that we have this opportunity to serve in this way.

3. Gus will be a year old in about 3 weeks. The last year has passed in the blink of an eye - literally.

4. Gus had surgery Thursday. As if life could get more stressful (we actually aren't that stressed, but the events in our life say we should be), we had to bring our baby to the hospital and that is never easy to do. He is fine though and on the mend. So thankful!

5. We found a house we like. It is old! much older than we were even looking for but so cute, with a nice amount of property. I have never been one to have a vision of something transformed when I look at something kind of ugly, but I totally see it. Joe's dad is going to take a look and let us know what he thinks the cost would be to fix. Did I mention it was old? 1925 old.

6. Packing with a baby (and a husband who is working and going to school) has been an adventure. Thankfully my mom has been a big help, and Mary from next door comes over to watch Gus when I just need to pack and not play and pack at the same time. We are ready.

7. Thankfully, with a lot of grace and the help of friends and family, we feel very little stress and are just going with the flow and enjoying the ride.

Gus Chronicles -- 11 months

2011-09-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

My cute moving/packing helper who never lifts a finger!

swings with dad

Laughing with dad, as usual.

The blog is currently all about you, baby. I am totally OK with that.

Say it isn't so! I am not ready for you to be a year old yet, and it's only a month away! Please, Time, slow down.

You are so much fun, Gus! We laugh at you (with you) all the time!

Even thought you are still doing your army crawl, you are very fast. You get up on your hands and knees to play with things, or just to hang out, but when it comes to moving, you lay flat on your belly and do "the worm". You also make so much noise when you crawl. There is no way you could ever sneak up on anyone.

You are pulling yourself up on things, usually in the bathtub which is probably the worst place to do that.

We just moved you in to size 5 diapers. They are a little big but great for night time since you are sleeping for 12 hours straight. They hold a little more pee than the 4's did. You are still in your FuzziBunz during the day and I love them!

I am not sure if we will ever have a pet, but you LOVE cats and dogs. Anytime you see Yoda (Gramma and Grampa's cat) you scream with excitement (and then he runs outside until you leave)! When we are on a walk, you practically insist we stop for every dog we see. Nanny and Papa's dog doesn't like you very much, due to the screaming you do and that you pull her tail. Soon there won't be an animal left in Washington that will let you come near it.

We started another round of swimming lessons and you are so much more excited than last time! You splash and kick and squeal. Floating on your back is your least favorite part of swimming.

Technology is your friend. iPhone, play phone, computer, tv, remote, anything with buttons. More screaming, squealing, babbling with delight .................. and tears when it gets taken away.

You eat almost anything now, but have a hard time with finger food that is meat.

Dairy allergy - you still have it. I had something with dairy in it the other day and the following day, you had VERY messy diapers, ALL DAY LONG. Hopefully you will grow out of it someday, but if not .... oh well. I feel so much better not eating dairy that I may have a slight intolerance for it, too.

You still have 6 teeth. I can't feel anymore but you always have your finger in your mouth chewing.

When there is music playing, you do a little dance. Just bopping your head and shoulders around wherever you are - crawling, in a chair, on a lap. It is too cute.

You know how to drink from a straw and prefer this method over the sippy cup.

We had our 2nd trip to the ER ever with you when you pushed yourself backwards in your highchair/booster seat while we were at the cabin and whacked your head. Of course we felt like THE. WORST. PARENTS. EVER. when the final diagnosis (after one visit to the Clinic in Lake Chelan, and then an ER visit to Mary Bridge when we got home that night) was a SKULL FRACTURE! Thank GOD there was no internal bleeding in your brain. Medicine needed? They just said, "treat him like a normal kid. Thankfully babies usually bounce and don't break" ..... but you did break and it could have been so much worse. We are so thankful your guardian angel was helping you fall ..... so scary, though!

You babble a lot. dadada, bababababa, shhhhshhhhh, gagagagaga, yayayayaya and of course mamamama - - - but only when you are mad or crying.

You do much more than this, but I will think about it all later.

You are still the best thing that has ever happened to us! We are so glad to be your parents.

When the Saints go marching in

2011-08-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Gus had a great Feast Day.

It is our plan to celebrate our family's feast days and make them important, just as birthday's are.

My dear friend, Kathy (formerly Sr. Cora Marie), who was with the Nashville Dominicans for a few years said they had dessert EVERY day, even during Lent. The Dominicans follow the Rule of St. Augustine. For many years, he followed the beliefs of the wacky Manicheians , who focused on "spirit is good, and the flesh is bad" essentially. After his conversion to Catholicism, he wrote in his rule of life that dessert was to be had daily, to always be reminded (simply) that our body is not bad, but good and to rejoice in that.

So Gus got cake!

And lots of frosting.

And a rousing rendition of, "When the Saints Go Marching In ......"

Happy Feast Day, Augustine David Joseph!

Gus Chronicles -- 10 months

2011-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

I stare at you when you sleep. But how could I not?

Your 1st ride at the Jersey Shore

You playing with PatPat in NJ.

Philly Zoo with the Mullers

Point Defiance Zoo. Stare down with the Gibbon

1st horse ride ... you were not a fan.

8-14-11 (I am a few days late ... we were in NJ visiting our friends, and your new love, McKenna Rose)

Baby Gus,

I think you are almost not a baby anymore and that makes me so sad. The time between 9 and 10 months has been my favorite! You have so many new tricks and are discovering everything. Although you don't do the standard baby crawl, you are so fast at the army crawl, primarily using your left arm and right leg to anchor your movement. You are so fun to watch!

You are about 23lbs and longer than your 9 month checkup because you just grew out of all the 12 month jammies, officially. (I was trying to squeeze you in, thinking that would keep you more of a baby for longer) Most of your clothes are 12-18 months.

You are in size 4 diapers, ready to move up to 5.

You still have the 6 teeth that you have had for awhile. I suspect some more are coming .... you are once again becoming a drool monster.

I am sure daddy is the one who taught you machine gun noises. You grit your teeth together and do something with your tongue and voice so that it sounds like a machine gun. I can't even do it when I try.

I lost your sippy cup when we were out of town, and the store didn't have the one your were used to, so I got the one with the straw, and you caught right on.

You and I just got back from our 1st big trip together. We went to New Jersey to visit the Quinn's and the Muller's. I was VERY anxious to take you on a plane, especially without daddy, constantly thinking of all the worst case scenarios that could happen and what I would do if they did .......

..... the worst thing that really happened was not knowing which flight attendant to hand you to when I needed to use the restroom. They were all eager to hold you. Out of the 4 flights we were on, you and I were only "that poor mom and baby" for about 2 hours total. You were entertained by all the new faces smiling at you and commenting on how handsome you are and how long your eyelashes are (they reach beyond your eyebrows, currently). I had lots of toys and snacks and you slept in the Ergo for at least a little while on each flight. Over all you were a great little baby! But traveling alone with a baby is something I would like to avoid in the future if possible ;-)

You had so many fun experiences in NJ we will have to make a whole separate blog post about it. Sneak peak: Ghetto church carnival, Jersey Shore/Boardwalk rides, Philly Zoo, humidity, a baby who is smaller than you and who you are totally in love with, big boys to play with who were so nice to you!, riding in a minivan full of kiddos!!!!

You eat pretty much anything these days, but prefer anything that looks, tastes and feels like bread (or mandarin oranges). I finally quit tearing up the bread into tiny pieces and just give you a whole slice. You learned to pick off pieces yourself... I am so proud of you!

Easy going. That is the best way to describe you. You handle change pretty well, adjusted to the time zone change back and forth easily. We have been running you around for what seems like the last month and you have just gone with the flow. Thank you! I feel pretty guilty at times messing with your schedule. I want you to be able to expect things and have consistency and order, but life often has other things in mind and you easily adjust to whatever comes your way. We pray this will be your temperament as you grow up.

You used to stick your tongue out a little bit and feel your teeth, you have now figure out your tongue comes out MUCH further and do it often. So cute!

With the 1 year mark fast approaching we are so excited the kind of person you are becoming each day. You are happy, smiley, curious and so friendly. We love you baby!

Pictures will be up when I upload them, but for today, we are doing laundry and relaxing.

Spitting Image?

2011-08-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

baby Anna

baby Gus

Only a week ago

2011-08-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

Last week, Joe had the privilege of being in his cousin Andy's wedding. Andy was in our wedding 2 years ago and it was wonderful. The 2 of them have been close friends since they were kids and have such similar senses of humor.

It was a beautiful, Brooke planned out every detail with such care. They had been waiting a long time to be married and it finally happened! Two kids from Eastern Washington, met in California, fell in love, and moved to Florida to start their life together.

Truly a day to celebrate and an honor to witness.

One of the only pictures of the bride and groom with the wedding decor in the picture, too.

It is with great sadness that I write this.

Andy and Brooke moved to Florida on Thursday, 4 days after their wedding. On Monday, Andy was working out at the gym and passed out suddenly. They rushed him to the hospital and tried everything they could, but nothing worked. God is always in control and took Andy home.

Please, friends, please pray for Brooke as she grieves this tremendous loss of her husband of only one week. Though they are faithful and love God dearly, this is something that shakes anyone to the core.

Our whole family is suffering, only reassured by our faith and love of God.

Today, July ??, 2011

2011-07-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what today is, other than a Friday in July.

The youth group Joe and I are responsible for just got done with their week long mission trip. I had so much anxiety leading up to it that I almost forgot to enjoy myself and live in the moment....

Anxiety about leaving my itty bitty baby for 10-12 hours during the day
Anxiety about not having gone grocery shopping in weeks for my hubby who was home and going to school
Anxiety about not being able to find a place to pump breast milk while on the mission trip
....

oh, and our house is on the market and that is a job in and of itself,

and the husband is in full time grad school this summer, did I already mention that?

So, Gus and I spent the night at my parents this week (Thank you LORD!!!, Gus was graciously and lovingly being watched by Grandpa Jack and we were all fed by Grandma Diane), husband came over for dinner where he and I were able to see each other for perhaps 5-10 minutes a day.

I snuggled Gus for about 30 minutes each night, put him to bed in my bed, did a few chores for the next morning, put Gus in the crib so I could sleep, then brought him back to bed with me in the wee hours of the morning so I could snuggle with him for more than 30 minutes a day.

Much respect for all the "working outside the home" mama's out there!

The mission trip is over and went REALLY well! (more on that later)

We are home and getting adjusted again. Laundry, sleep schedules, normal routine.

Gus is such a good little boy, he had a busy week being juggled around and did so well! Though a bit over tired and screaming in the crib wanting to be held and not sleep ....

And what about all that anxiety? It's gone. (considering everything is over), but it was gone on Monday ....

God took care of everything just like always and we all survived.

Thanks, God. It was a great week.

2 years

2011-07-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our 2 year wedding anniversary is today.

I can't imagine my life without you, Joe, or without our perfect little man.

Our life is blessed beyond belief, more than I would have ever dreamed.

Thank you for sharing life with me!

I love you.

Gus Chronicles -- 9 MONTHS!

2011-07-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

7-14-11

Dear Gus,
You are 9 months old and so much fun!

*** Update: You are 20.5 lbs (50%) and 30 inches long (80%), I am not sure how big they said your head was, but it is also in the 50%. I thought you were a lot heavier than that. You eat almost 12 oz of puree food, plus finger food at each meal. You must have gotten your daddy's high metabolism****

You are wearing mostly 12-18 month clothes, but sometimes I squeeze you into 9 month things (as long as they aren't pants). You are in size 4 diapers.

Three top teeth, and two bottom teeth have grown in almost fully, and I think the other top tooth will come in soon. All 5 of those teeth came in so close to one another, I am surprised the other ones didn't follow sooner than this.

You don't crawl or pull yourself up without help yet, but you kind of do an army crawl/scoot type of thing. Usually, you just roll back and forth from one place to another or wait for someone to bring you what you want. You are getting stronger and push your knees up under you, you just don't go anywhere yet!

When someone smiles at you, you usually smile back. Especially if that someone is a stranger! For some reason, you love flirting and making eyes at strangers. No fear! When we go to the store, or out to eat, you look all around at the people there, try to get their attention, and just grin away. You have the CUTEST grin!

You and babbling have found one another. You like the B, Y, G and V sounds usually, with a D and M thrown in there occasionally.

We feed you a mix of finger food and purees now. You are very good at feeding yourself but all the soft things are tough to pick up. This week I started giving you mandarin oranges and you practically finished the whole jar of them by yourself! Needless to say, I think you like them. You did not like the little bits of hamburger I gave you, or the turkey. We will try those again soon. Kidney beans were a hit, but I am not such a fan of skinning them for you.

I think you may have the same sensitivity to pineapple that I do. I put a few pieces in your mesh fresh fruit feeder which I have done before, but this time you developed a little rash on your lip.

We go to the zoo about once a week and you really like all the animals. You also seem to just like the long stroller ride with your sippy cup and some cheerios while I push you around.

You are still sleeping from 7pm to about 6:30am, with one waking around 3. I am sure your doctor will tell me to wean you off the night time feeding when we go Friday, so get ready for that, baby. We will see how that goes. You go down for naps and bed time without a fuss and love to sleep on your side.
You are very good at pointing and using your pointer finger.

Banging two blocks together seems to be your current favorite past time.

We are so blessed to be your parents and have so much fun watching you grow! We love you so much, baby!

4th of July

2011-07-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

A little late, but better than never.

We had a great 4th at my parents cabin. We actually didn't watch any fireworks because the 4th was on a Monday and we went to bed early..... thankfully, we have a white noise machine and fan in the room so Gus managed to stay asleep.

Gus had a great time on the boat and didn't mind the life jacket for the most part. We were able to go in the pool a few times and try out his new floaty toy.

He may have eaten his weight in watermelon, and is officially the cutest baby I know.

Here are some pictures.

An equal amount of melon is in his mouth.

Anything better than a smiling baby on a swing? Nope.

Lounging during our family picnic.

Family boat picture. Please don't call CPS, the life jacket was RIGHT there ;-) We just took it off for the picture

Snug fit, baby!

Grandma and Gus boating.

Perhaps the best family pool picture ever? All 3 are smiling!

Basking in the goodness that is the window seat.

Week in pictures

2011-07-10T22:01:00.001-07:00

We have had friends in town for a week now and what a time we have had! Here are some pictures until there is time for a real post!

More Gnome, and pictures from June

2011-06-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

My baby Gnomeo trying to present his garden flower to Evelyn for her 1st birthday.

How could you refuse ANYTHING from the cutest gnome in the world?!

Your 1st pair of big boy, feet-less jammies. And our little 8 month old in 18 month clothes. You are so tall!

Watching the iPhone with Grandpa Jack at the cabin

Garden gnomes also like to eat raffia.

My Gnomeo

2011-06-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

This was a trial run for a garden birthday party Gus attended. We had to practice wearing it before the big day to make sure he wouldn't destroy it. He didn't. I don't think he even knew it was on.

Coming soon .... Gnomeo holding a beautiful friendship flower for the birthday girl.

Did you know Gnomes like to eat giraffes?

Yes, I made the gnome get-up. Want a tutorial?

Father's Day-2011

2011-06-20T15:11:00.001-07:00

We went to my parents cabin for Father's Day/my mom's birthday, and had a nice relaxing weekend between when Joe finished teaching school for the year, and going back to school for his Master's.

We came home Sunday night and celebrated with our good friends! Look at those amazing cupcakes Rebecca made!!!

Gus Chronicles -- 8 Months

2011-06-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

6-14-11

As each month passes, I am still in awe. Sometimes I can't even believe we never had you with us. It just seems like you were here all along. Other days, it is like we just brought you home from the hospital.

You are in 12 month clothes, and size 4 diapers. You seem heavier every day, or maybe I am getting weaker.

You are such a happy baby, Gus! We smile, you smile. Unless of course you are investigating something, then you wrinkle your forehead and stare until you have it figured out. I am still so impressed by how expressive your eyebrows are.

You are pretty chatty, but no mama or dada yet. Lots of screaming, babbling, and grunting.

What people say the most when they see you, "LOOK AT THOSE EYES! They are amazing!" We agree.You sit in the bathtub like a big boy.... no bumbo. Just an anti-slip mat and some toys, it's one of the best parts of your day.

Blocks are your favorite toy, especially when you can bang them together.

Newest tricks: I call it "chair dancing", you just kind of bop back and forth in your chair or on the floor. Sometimes there is music, sometimes there isn't. You just like to bop.

You clap - almost on demand, but usually just when you feel like it. You are also doing the sign for "please" and "more", but not on purpose, you just like to move your hands that way.

You can wave, usually not on demand though.

Your favorite part of the day is when dad comes home. You smile and grunt and bounce up and down. I love to watch this interaction!

You can scoot backwards in a circle or straight, but haven't gotten the hang of forward crawling. I think it will be this coming month. But I am in NOOOOO hurry for that! Just sit and play as long as you want, baby.

We have been giving you more finger foods, but you still like pureed things. With finger foods, you can get them in between your thumb and finger and into your mouth really well, but you also like to put them in the palm of your hand and squeeze!

5 teeth are in your mouth, almost 6........ 3 top, and 2 bottom, soon to be a 4th top tooth. They are VERY sharp! Believe me!

You are a great sleeper. Down between 7 and 7:30, up at 3:00 for a snack, and back to bed until 7 or 8.

We took you to the beach and let you eat sand. It was more of a game for you ... "how much sand can I get into my mouth before mom or dad knock it out ..."

We love you baby! Can't wait to see what you do this month!

A day at the beach.... almost 2 years later

2011-06-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

Almost 2 years ago we were at this same spot with many of our friends, the day after our wedding..... one of the best weeks of my life! So blessed that so many of our out-of-town friends made it to Seattle to share the day, and days before and after, with us.

We came back to the spot last weekend, to introduce Gus to the beach.
I almost wouldn't believe it myself if I didn't have the picture to prove it.

NFP article

2011-05-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Great article on NFP (thanks for sharing, Amelia)

She covered so many ( maybe all ) of the reasons we love and practice NFP.

Wherever you stand on the topic, it is worth a read.

Who we remembered

2011-05-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day - A day to remember someone.

We remembered my dad who died in October of 2008. It is one of my greatest sadness' that Gus will never meet his Grandpa Dave this side of Heaven, so we will make sure he hears lots of stories and knows him well from the things we say.

Here are some pictures:

(hugs for Grandpa Dave)

Letter Writing

2011-05-25T13:54:00.001-07:00

I am a letter writer. I think the importance of letter writing was taught to me by my grandmother, and my dad. I love writing letters.

This post isn't about how important snail mail is or the true art of letter writing, but rather how important customer service is, and how letter writing fits into that topic.

I am sure you have noticed on any item you purchase, it always says something about ... "questions or comments ..." then lists a 1-800 number or an email. I will be the 1st to tell you that I use those phone numbers and email addresses religiously.

Customer service is something I value, and if someone asks for my opinion, I will certainly let them know.

This post is to let all of you know that you should (and it's very easy) to write to a company when you are pleased, or unsatisfied with their product. [Remember to do it when you are please with a product ... they REALLY like that!]

Here is a small list of who I have written to:

The makers of Jolly Rancher candy (my 1st letter)
TSA (I got through airport security with a HUGE pair of scissors and just had to let them know)
Pampers
Huggies
Bumbo
Kroger Brand
Fischer Price
Kraft
Starbucks
Target
FuzziBunz
United Airlines
Carters
Graco
Baby Diaper Service
Grease Monkey
.... the list goes on.

I probably would have stopped writing letters had I not been rewarded in the process. Getting something free is always good incentive to continue.

Typically the makers of the product send you something .... a $5.00 coupon here, $10.00 coupon there, sometimes more, or they will simply replace the item all together (like the time I wrote Graco about the piece on the Pack n' Play that makes noise/vibrates and has the light on it ... I never heard from their customer service department, but one day a whole new part showed up on the doorstep. Thank you Graco!).

Usually the company wants to know the UPC code or some other marker to make sure you aren't just a weird-o, writing everyone you can think of to get something free, but a few times I haven't had it, (like the time I bought some cheese and it was moldy the day I opened the package so I threw it away, or when I stocked the diaper drawer and then a few weeks later found some defective looking diapers and the package was long gone) and they refunded me anyway.

In the old days, you had to write an actual letter and mail it, now you can go on almost anyone's website and just fill out a comment form. Some have a limit on how many characters you can use, so choose those words wisely (or fill out multiple forms).

I also find myself doing it much more now that I am a mom and baby things are expensive! If I buy something, I expect it to last and not break or be defective. I am frugal and like to spend money wisely, so when I do, and something breaks, I am not pleased!

Don't be afraid to write letters, it pays off. The company gets to learn what they are doing well or could do better, and you can end up with some nice free stuff in most cases!

Go write a letter!

Gus Chronicles -- 7 Months

2011-05-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

5-14-11

Baby boy, You are 7 months old today and SO MUCH FUN! We love you more than we could ever tell or show you and are so happy that you are part of our family! You constantly make us laugh with the silly things you do.

You are a very happy baby and sleep well, too (to bed at 8ish, up at 3 for a snack, and up at 7 for the day)

You are about 18 lbs and LONG, not sure how long, but very long. At your 6 month check up you were over 27 inches.

You are in size 3 diapers, and we are now using cloth diapers exclusively. I have really been liking it. They are so soft! And if I never do another environmentally conscious thing, I will feel good that we used cloth.

You are in 9-12 month clothes.

I was finally able to find a sippy cup you like, and you know how to use it very well. Good job!

You can sit up on your own, but you can't quite get from a lying down position into a sitting one. To me, seeing you sit up makes you seem so much older. Sitting on a blanket, playing with blocks, all I can say to myself is, "Where did this little boy come from! He was just a baby!"

I put your hair into a mo-hawk the other day, and then kept it there with a little hair spray.... it may have been one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

You hum/groan yourself to sleep.

Does it make us cool parents (not that our goal is to be cool) or really silly parents that at dinner time we take your clothes off and let you play with your food? You LOVE it and it gives us a little time to eat too. After dinner we always put you in the tub for bath time, anyway. I just put a little dab of whatever you are getting for dinner on your tray and you spread it around, look at your hands, talk to the food, etc. We love to watch you explore.

Swimming lessons are over until the Fall. You really enjoyed the pool.

You have 2 bottom teeth and one on the top - I think the other top one is on it's way ... you have been extra needy and cranky the past few days.

One of my favorite little quirks you have is... when you are nursing, you feel things with both your hands. You play with my hair or necklace, touch my lips or fish hook my cheeks, pet my shirt or the boppy, play with your ear.....

That was your 1st time in a highchair at a restaurant (fully cleaned of course and I forgot you highchair cover, too). We were in Bellingham for Easter and went to my favorite place.... On Rice! You were such a good boy and it was so yummy!

You eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, along with nursing about 6 (sometimes more) times a day.

Your new favorite food is mango and pumpkin, but sweet potatoes are always the most favorite. Pineapple takes the lead some days.

Last week, your dad wrote a beautiful post about why "we" names you Augustine. I am so excited for you to read it yourself some day. You have a very devoted, loving father who thinks the world of you.

I call your newest trick, "snake tongue". You stick your tongue out, and then back in like you are tasting the air (or feeling your teeth). It is just too cute and your dad and I try to mimic it often. You are also very good at blowing "raspberries".

You are a huge book fan. At this point, you like to eat them, but you know how to turn the pages and follow along too.

We love you, Augustine! and can't wait to see all that you learn this month.

What's in a name? A father's hopes for his son...

2011-05-11T09:39:00.001-07:00

Augustine David Joseph –

I suppose a few people might question why I named you Augustine. I say “I”, not because your mom had no say in the matter, but I really was the one who wanted to name you Augustine; and after 8 months of badgering and 1 month of radio silence, your darling mother went along with it. There are several answers to this question. First, I just like the name. Secondly, I like nicknames and I think Gus is a cool name. On a deeper more spiritual level, Augustine really struck me. When your mom first got pregnant I was reading St. Augustine’s Confessions. While I can’t claim to understand most of what the great Saint is saying, the few words that did penetrate my heart spoke very clearly.

I have many wishes for you, Gus, but my primary desire for you is that you have a deep relationship with the living Lord Jesus. I pray that you might be set on fire for the Gospel.

“Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”

St. Augustine’s Confessions

While I pray that Gus be set on fire for the Lord and that he desire a relationship with the Lord, I hope that throughout your life, you are secure and confident in the man God created you to be. I don’t want you to search for love in material possessions; I want you to seek Love himself. As Augustine says, “You have created us for yourself oh, God; and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” I hope you know that you are loved by the Father and by me, your father, and I hope you can find rest in the perfect love of God, the Father and the imperfect love of me, your earthly father.

You may be thinking that many saints fit the bill for what I have laid out as the justification for naming you Augustine, and you may be right. So, I’ll continue. In my humble opinion no saint has been more influential, not only in the shaping of the Church but also of human thought. I hope you are confident in yourself and that as time goes by and as your mother and I try and form your conscience, with the grace of God you will be the one doing the shaping of minds. That you, my son, may not conform to this age but may be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Let’s not forget that St. Augustine, while a great saint, was also a great sinner. I do not want you, Gus, to be a great sinner, but I do want you to come to the understanding as your name sake did, that all creation comes from God, that all creation is good, and that God is present in all things, “You fill all things, and you fill them all with your entire self.”

Along the great sinner line, I hope you are a man who is introspective like Saint Augustine. A man who takes time to reflect on his life, identifies where he may have made mistakes and always strive to reconcile those mistakes and become a better man.

St. Augustine was also a great thinker. I want you to be a critical thinker. Listen to what other people (especially your father) say but don’t let them push you around. Strive to understand situations, and to find creative ways to solve problems. St. Augustine started his faith journey when he started to question Manichaeism. Question the faith that I have handed onto you but seek answers from reliable sources.

Augustine (the saint) also had a very devoted mother who brought him to the faith through her tears and prayers. Please spare your mother the tears. She is a wonderful woman who loves you very much, and she will pray diligently for you. Love her as Augustine loved Monica in his later life.

One last point, I like the name Augustine because Augustinian monks were the first to make beer and I like beer. Just one more positive contribution by Augustine. I love you son.

Middle name reasoning to come soon……

Love You Forever

2011-04-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago, our little guy was sick. He went to bed at 7:30 and woke up at 8:15 with a bad tummy ache. I will spare you all the details, but just picture barf everywhere, multiple times, and you will get the picture.

He didn't seem to upset by the whole event. During his 2nd bath for the night, he was splashing around and smiling.

I called the pediatrician on call and they said not to nurse him before he went down, just put him to sleep and keep an eye on him in case he gets sick again while sleeping.

I couldn't help but think of this book as I was rocking my baby boy to sleep. I loved this book as a kid, and I love it even more now that I am a mom. On a good day I can hardly read the book to him without getting teary eyed!

I rock him to sleep all the time, but the night he was sick just seemed a little more special, like he needed to be rocked. The second we sat in the chair, he was out, but that didn't stop me from rocking him for just under an hour.

I can't help but enjoy each day (and night- however sleepless they may be) with him, as they are going by WAY TOO FAST, and the sweet little opportunities to rock a baby can never be wasted.

Gus Chronicles -- 6 MONTHS!

2011-04-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Half birthday's (4-14-11) are a big deal when you have only been out of the womb for 1/2 of a year! We are celebrating tonight, of course, with 1/2 of a cake (thank you Kate Sandbo!) and a little party for you. Happy 1/2 Birthday, baby!

This is one of my favorite 6-9 month outfits, but your daddy thinks it has way too many snaps, so I put you in it during the daytime when he is working.

You like to grab onto neck skin, what little there is, and hang on. Chewing on my hair is pretty cool, too.

You are 17lbs, in size 3 diapers and are 27 inches. 80% for height, 50% for weight and head size.

We were gifted a cloth diaper service for awhile and you are in those now. I like them, but they make your bottom look so big. When we don't have the service (they wash them for me and I love that!) you are in FuzziBunz and occasionally disposable (especially at night, Mr. Heavy Wetter). The FuzziBunz are trim enough that all your clothes fit and you don't look too bulky.

Jacqui the Bear must be tasty, you chew her ear all the time. But you chew just about anything anywhere near your mouth....

Washcloths are your preferred teething toy. Next to washcloths, you teeth on ANYTHING. Your 1st tooth came in on March 19th. We felt it while we were shopping at Marlene's on Gluten-Free Day. It was the left bottom tooth. A day later, the right tooth came up. You seem to be getting teeth earlier than other babies your age. That comes from the Skillman side.

You are still fascinated with your hands. I love to watch you hold them in front of you and talk to them, or maybe you are talking to us trying to emphasize certain points with large hand gestures.

The wall next to your changing table must feel very nice on your hands. Any time you are there, you rub your hand up and down on the wall.

Your diet includes: sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, peaches, prunes, apples, pears, peas, green beans, banana and avocado (you don't like the last 2 very much). When you are done eating, you shut your lips tightly together and do not let any more food in.

We are taking swim lessons, along with Rebecca and little Evelyn. The first 2 sessions went well, you seem to like tasting the water and are good and doing a froggy kick.

You still have HUGE eyes, along with REALLY long eyelashes.

A few days ago, you were wearing all blue, had a blue blanket and a bib that said "mommy's little man" and someone still said ... "what a pretty little girl" ..... I set her straight and figured she was just too transfixed by your eyes to see the blue EVERYWHERE.

Your obsession with Sophie le Giraffe lives on. You clutch her for dear life most of the day. This picture was after swim lessons. You were exhausted.

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's cabin in Wenatchee for daddy's Spring Break. The sun was out, but it was windy and cold. It was a nice relaxing week/end.

You are unimpressed by swings, or maybe you were just tired, but when we were in Chelan and gave you your 1st swing ride ... this was the reaction we received. I feel like you are saying, "Big whoop, mom and dad ... "

Your daddy can make you laugh with out doing a thing. The rest of us have to work harder. You have the sweetest laugh!

If I position you just right, you can sit up.

Since you began eating solids, you hair is growing really fast!

You have ALMOST been able to roll from back to front for a few months now..... any day Mr. Lazy..... (Added to this post: You rolled over on 4-15-11 at 3:35 pm trying to, and successfully grabbing a little stuffed toy)

Fun bath time! Mostly taken for slight embarrassment in years to come.

You used to be pretty quiet, but one day you figured out you could "talk" and are very good at it.

Some days you are such a little old man. You suck on your bottom lip and look like you are wearing dentures. Your top lip sticks out like a little beak.

You chew on your cheek.

Daddy washed the cars one day, we went out to help him.

I didn't think of putting cards on the table until after the picture. That would have been even funnier. Grandma Di bought you this table to play with at the cabin, you and Evy LOVED it, you liked licking it, Evy liked climbing around/on/under it.

We love you more every day! You are the best baby we could ask for. Thank for your letting us be your parents.

Multi-Purpose

2011-03-31T20:38:00.001-07:00

My new mixing bowls are awesome. Sometimes I use all 5 at once. Especially when 2 of them are the hats of the day.

I Love Food

2011-03-26T13:39:00.001-07:00

For your 5 month birthday we gave you rice cereal, then soon moved on to sweet potatoes, apples, avocados (you are not a fan, unless mixed with the previous items), carrots, prunes and butternut squash.... you love food.

Above and below is what feeding yourself looks like.... What a big boy!

your very 1st taste of food.....
(of course, it's also on video)

Gus Chronicles -- 5 months

2011-03-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

Those eyelashes, those lips... I can't look at you enough!
We love you so much. Taking pictures all the time still... you are just too cute.

Sweet baby boy, you are 5 months old!

You had your 1st taste of rice cereal and seemed to like it. You even grabbed the spoon to try and feed yourself. Big boy! Tomorrow-Sweet potatoes

I'm not sure of your updated stats, but you weigh about 16 lbs and have big feet.
You are in size 2 diapers, mostly 6 month pants, a few 3-6 month tops, but mostly 6-9 month tops. Your overalls are 9 month size. Your jammies are 9 month size.

You are on your way to sitting up and rolling from back to front, but not quite there yet.

I am trying to get you attached to a "lovey" that is soft and snuggly, but you seem to have an unhealthy attachment to Sophie le Giraffe. She is plastic and squeaky. I liken her to a dog toy, but you love her.

You don't babble too much, but you love to grunt, stick your tongue out, blow spit bubbles, and hummmm. You kind of say "mama" when you are crying.

I love how you rub your eyes when you are tired.

You drool A LOT, but that has been the case since birth. You are never without a bib unless asleep. It is hard to tell if you are teething due to this, because you have also always put anything in your mouth to taste and chew on. I can't feel any teeth yet....

Daddy is you favorite person. You smile and giggle as soon as you see him.

Dairy and you do not get along, which means I have given up my favorite food group for love of you, little man. We will see if you grow out of it later.

You are serious most of the time, but a big smile from anyone around usually prompts you to smile back.

Shadows are cool. You discovered them while on your changing table as you waved your hands in the air. Now you rub your hands on the wall to try and touch them.

Daddy helped you make your 1st basketball bracket. We will see how you do.

We think you are left handed. Your little personality is coming through.

You are very good at showing your excitement. Arms and legs waving, eyes wide, and your eyebrows say it all, they are so expressive. You are going to be a funny kid-you already are.

Arching your back is now really cool.

You love playing with my hair while nursing. Or grabbing it and holding tight or sucking on it when I hold you. I try to discourage this habit.

We love you to the moon and back, baby!

The heart of the matter

2011-02-23T16:06:00.001-08:00

Can you see the 2 hearts on my face?

How about now?

My sweet baby fell asleep on me in the Ergo (his preferred way to nap during the day, though I am getting a little worn out). Though I make a very concerted effort to keep my necklace out of the way, it managed to slip down and he slept RIGHT ON it. Not only that, but he moved positions mid-nap and landed on it AGAIN. I had to take pictures, even though I felt horrible. The marking went away fairly soon after he woke up.

Gus Chronicles -- 4 months

2011-02-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

4 months old today!

My tiny, little boy! I am amazed that you are 4 months old already. All of the, "it seems like just yesterday..." statements ring so true.

You had your 4 month appointment today and it went very well, except the shots.....
I feel so bad for you I could cry. You let out the highest pitched scream and then just moaned for a long while. Today you took a long nap after the apt, and moaned yourself awake. It was pitiful. Extra TLC and nursing today, and jammies all day!

The little injection sites from the shots actually bled a little today, and as soon as they were done, I picked you up (of course), only to see dots of blood on my sweater. Well worth being able to comfort you, my sweet little man.

Weight-14.5 lbs (40%), Height-25 inches (60%), Head-16.5 inches (50%) Long and lean like your daddy.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, you rolled over from front to back. Good job! You were just over 3 months old. You are still working on the back to front roll.

You think daddy is the funniest guy in the world and you laugh at almost anything he does. You especially love to grab on to his beard and pull. You don't babble "mama or dada" yet, but say a lot of "goooo's" and "geeeeee's" at this point.

Your tiny booty is now big enough for size 2 diapers.

You wear a lot of 6 month clothes, and some 3 month (pants, mostly). Your feet are outgrowing size 2 shoes and I will soon have to cut the toes out of all your jammies.

A bad cold came your way when you were just over 3 months old.... we took you to the ER one Sunday morning to make sure it wasn't RSV or whooping cough. You were ok and the cough and runny nose lasted for 2 more weeks. You were a trooper and still a happy baby, you just woke up more at night to eat and snuggle.

(he is so pitiful and cute, not my finer looking moment however.... it was early on a Sunday)

Your eyelashes get so much attention. You are quite a lucky boy.

Usually you have a very serious, concerned look on your face, but will smile if anyone smiles at you.

Favorite toy? You own 2 hands. You are still trying to get them both in your mouth at the same time. Also, you will put anything in your mouth EXCEPT your pacifier. How interesting....

Your "Johnny Jump Up" is becoming a favorite. It took you a day to get used to it, but now you think it's awesome. You prefer to stand w/ our help, or be held. Oh my, you love to be held. And momma loves to hold you!

We set up your high chair in hopes to get you used to sitting w/ us while we eat. You will get food soon enough, buddy!

You are no longer swaddled at night and now use the "sleep sack". You go to bed around 8, wake up at 3:30 to eat, and the sleep until 7 ish. Good job.

A bib is your constant companion. Without it, your clothes would be soaked in minutes.

You LOVE the "Baby Einstein Gym" Miss Evelyn is letting you borrow. It really helps you want to roll over and grab on to things. Mostly though, you just eat your hands and stare at the musical sunshine.

You have the best baby stretches. You still do the "newborn" stretch when your legs come up close to your body and you make little fists while stretching your arms by your head. Also, when we dress you or change your diaper, you stretch out like a plank, stiff as a board, (making it hard to dress you!)

I wish I knew what you are thinking about as you lay on your changing table, (usually naked, you love being naked) and kick your legs SO hard while pumping your arms up and down. This happens without fail when you lay there. We have a mirror hanging over your face, which you seem to really enjoy, and a toy for you to grab at as well. I record the event on camera frequently.

Words can't express how much we love you. Happy 1st St. Valentine's Day!

The things I wish someone told me.....

2011-02-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

....specifically about breastfeeding.

From the time we discovered I was pregnant, I was really looking forward to breastfeeding. Something so natural. Great bonding. My body is producing what my baby needs. My baby is healthy because of what I can provide for him.

I didn't know that sometimes breastfeeding can be challenging and downright frustrating. To the point I wanted to quit. I knew of all the things that can come up ... thrust, mastitis, and a host of other problems (which I was ready for), but I never knew that sometimes, a woman's body just doesn't produce a sufficient amount of milk to feed a baby. On the flip side though, I have known a few woman who produce enough milk for their own baby, and a surplus of milk to donate to other babies.

Gus and I got off to a rough start nursing. Because of his birth, he had a very bad headache, (at least that is what the professionals said) and wouldn't open his mouth for about a day and a half. He had a hard time crying and trying to latch and jaundice to boot. Because of this, I had to pump what little colostrum I was producing and feed it to Gus through a syringe inserted in the side of his mouth. He seemed to like putting forth very little effort for his food, and when his headache went away, he didn't want to work for the milk, thus, wouldn't latch.

God bless lactation nurses. If I ever went back to school for another degree, I think it would be for nursing, and then become certified as a lactation consultant. They saved us so many times in the first 8 weeks of Gus' life!

To top things off, I hadn't realized that it may take my milk longer to come in due to the fact I was induced with pitocin and then had a C-section. We ended up giving Gus formula to supplement my milk at the hospital and my milk finally came in about 5 days after his birth (once we were home). From the beginning I didn't want to give him formula, but finally came to the understanding that formula was invented for hungry babies, and Gus was a hungry baby.

After weeks of supplementing with formula for a few feedings, pumping for what seemed like hours a day, writing down each feeding time, how long he fed, how much formula he was supplemented, how many wet and dirty diapers, Gus needing to use a nipple shield for his small mouth (at the time - his jaw has grown) and taking herbs and prescription meds (for a few days, but the side effects were not worth it.) to increase my milk supply, including this med from Mexico (for a few weeks, but I didn't notice a huge difference) things just seemed to even out.

Somewhere in my desperation to produce enough milk to feed my baby, many prayers, and a few tears, my body worked it out. Some days, Gus gets a 4oz bottle of formula to top him off before bed, other days, he doesn't. I was able to build up a stock of breast milk in the freezer, (something I initially though impossible), and that was a nice feeling.

Gus certainly has never been "hungry" and has been growing like a weed. At each lactation meeting that I had individually with the nurse, I would spend about an hour with her, weighing and feeding and then weighing Gus again, to make sure he was getting enough.

One of the consolations I had through this trying time was the lactation support group that I attended in the 1st 3 months of Gus' life. Here I was able to meet A LOT of woman who had supply issues. I was so glad to know that I wasn't the only one (no one I knew ever talked about it). Also, at each meeting, you could weigh your baby before and after feeding him, letting you know just how much milk his is getting/how much you are producing.

I am still taking Fenugreek daily, I am not sure if it works, but it can't hurt.

We no longer go to lactation and are doing just fine with nursing and a bottle here and there.

One reassuring piece of information is that if your milk supply is low with baby #1, you are practically guaranteed to increase your supply with subsequent children, as your breast tissue actually increases with each child making it easier for your body to produce sufficient milk.

In the end, this all turned out to be a great experience. Joe was heavily involved with feedings in the beginning because I needed a lot of help and support and Gus could take a bottle. Also, Gus and I learned to work together as a team very well (even if he doesn't really KNOW that yet). I made a commitment to him that I would nurse for the 1st year or as long as I could (whichever came first).

Overcoming this obstacle for the sake of my baby gave me a great sense of pride and accomplishment as a mother. So many nights I was ready to throw in the towel, but I really feel that God's hand was upon me, encouraging me to keep it up for just one more day. One more day turned into 4 months of successful breastfeeding and I am so happy we stuck with it.

It is also very satisfying to see my son enjoy this special time so much. Joe wants to make him a shirt reading, "I'd rather be nursing", because it seems that no matter what, nursing is what he wants to do.

I love you little man. Cheers to you for being a healthy, thriving, almost-4 month old, thanks to momma's milk and a little formula, too! Thanks for persevering with me!

Beautiful Saint story

2011-02-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

St. Josephine Bakhita - a must read.

More Gus---- of course

2011-02-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

Gus at 3 month. I am so in love!

Thanks to Shelley at Finian Road for the great shots!

Gus Chronicles- 3 Months

2011-01-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

Gus! My little "baby man", I am in shock that you are already 3 months old. Really, where has the time gone?

Here are some things you have been up to.

On Monday you weighed in at 12lbs and 12oz-almost 13lbs. I'm not sure how tall you are, but your buddy, Evelyn, is 6 months old and about 26 inches----- you are just about as tall as her!

Your goal each day seems to be putting both fists in your mouth at the same time. You have gotten close, but not accomplished it yet.

You are great at "independent play". In order to get a shower, I put you on your floor gym in the bathroom with me and you hit all the toys (intentionally) and coo at yourself in the mirror. This gives me about 15 minutes to shower and get ready for the day.

I predict by next week you will roll over. You want to so badly!

You are wearing size 1 disposables still. Tiny booty.

You are wearing 12-24 month socks. They look like knee highs, but keep your legs warm when your pants ride up. You are in mostly 6 month clothes.

While nursing, your newest position has been to put both hands above your head, next to your ears, like superman flying. It is pretty cute!

You still love the bath. We ditched the infant tub and you now sit in the Bumbo in the tub.

Daddy can make you laugh. You think he is soooooo funny.

Sleeping- You slept through the night for awhile, now you get up twice. I imagine you are just growing like a weed and need to nurse more. But you have gotten spoiled because at 4:30 or 5:00 when you wake up, I just bring you in bed and feed you. You LOVE this and usually sleep until 8:00am this way.

You really don't like the carseat. You will be happy and cooing, then the second we put you in there... disaster-screaming-crying-torture-quivering lip-fists waving in the air. It is quite the site. You usually calm down after a few minutes, but it seems like forever.

Strangers think you are a girl because of your very, very, very long eyelashes, even when you are dressed all in blue (which is always).

A stranger at Starbucks also commented on what a nice shape head you have. Thank goodness, considering what your head looked like on the day you were born, Mr. Cone-head!

You love to snuggle, and this is a great joy for me!

When you are tired, you rub your sweet face on anything near by... usually a shoulder on the person holding you.

You are a morning person, for sure. All smiles and coo's.

We love you so much and can't seem to think of life without you or what we did before you arrived... Just how life should be.

Baby Gus' 1st Christmas!

2010-12-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

There was something so special about Christmas this year, with our new baby boy.

Reflecting on the birth of Jesus and His mother Mary was very different and so much more real with our own son in my arms.

I am so thankful for our family, words can't even express how blessed we are!

I LOVE all of the "Baby's 1st" activities and pictures. And right now, everything is a 1st!

1st trip to Zoo Lights!

Great picture with tons of lights behind us. Gus had a good time, after about 15 minutes of a melt down. We thought we might have to go home before we saw anything. But he pulled through like a champ and we were able to walk around for about an hour.

Cute in the car all bundled.

Crazy long eyelashes!!!!

Playing with Joe's Grandpa, Greatgrandpa Collins

Very concerned about a lot of things ....

New Santa Hat! Hooray!

Joe and his brothers and dad in their matching pants and hats.

This little elf outfit was 3-6 month size, and the pants were too, too big. The jacket fit though.

"Santa remembered me!"

Great Aunt Beth knit me this awesome man sweater. Thanks!

Family picture Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas to all! Love, Gus

The Rhythm of the Liturgy

2010-12-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

On December 17th, the Church’s Advent liturgy begins to focus in

a particular way on the Nativity of the Lord. The prayers, readings, and preface at Mass as well as the readings, antiphons for the Gospel canticles, intercessions, and prayers at the Liturgy of the Hours concentrate more resolutely than during the preceding days of Advent on the coming feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

The seven great “O Antiphons” have a particular role in these days as they have been used for centuries as the antiphons for the Magnificat. Each antiphon, always sung in a very similar melody, begins with 'O' and addresses Christ with a unique title from the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah. Each is followed by the petition that Jesus come to us (veni) and act on our behalf:

December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
December 19: O Radix Iesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Daystar) [after this date, the days get longer)
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O God-with-Us)

When taken together from the last title to the first, the first letters of each title form a wonderful Latin acrostic:

This is the Lord’s response to the Church’s ardent petition that He come (veni):

Ero cras (I will be there tomorrow)!

NOTE: Some have used the O Antiphons as the basis of a Novena

up to and including Christmas Day.

Perhaps this "last lap" of Advent could also include

daily Mass and/or daily Adoration.

O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Gus Chronicles- 2 Months

2010-12-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

You continue to be a champion sleeper! To bed around 8/8:30, up at 3:30/4 to nurse, and back to bed until 6:30/7. All we can say as your parents is THANK YOU! You snore.

At 11lbs, 12 oz and 23.5 inches, you are in the 60% for height/50% for weight. Way to be average!! At 1 month you were 80% for height, but no worries-you will be a tall man ;-) You must have had a big growth spurt at 1 month and then slowed down a little.

I am pretty sure you had your 1st cold around 7 weeks. I called the doctor a few times, being a 1st time mom, and they said I could come in if I wanted, but I restrained myself and you are just fine.

You LOVE, I repeat, LOVE bath time!! Until it's time to get out, of course.

You are pretty stingy with your smiles, but have been smiling since about 6 weeks. I can't get enough of that toothless grin!

Most of the time you are very serious, focusing and taking in the world around you.

People think you look just like your Grandpa Dave, (you have never met him, but we will tell you all about him) and I agree.

Your favorite cooing sound is gurgling. We love talking to you and seeing how you will coo back to us.

You respond to us, follow us around the room, hold great eye contact and your favorite thing to look at is the Christmas tree.

You don't really play with toys yet, but you hold on to them very tightly.

Your eyes look different daily. Dark blue, sometimes brown, today they are a beautiful gray/blue color.
Santa came to visit on Friday. You didn't know what to think....

We think you are the best and love you more every minute!

Welcome to the Body of Christ, Gus

2010-12-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

I am late in posting such an important event in our son's life, but better late than never!

He slept almost the whole day, even at his party. While Father was pouring water over Gus, he opened one eye, as if to let us know he was paying attention, and went right back to sleep.

Augustine was baptized on October 31st (what a great day!). We are so thankful that our friends Mike and Kristine are his godparents and will help us in forming Gus and teaching him about Christ and the Church.

Fr. Bill, us, Mike and Kristine

Congrats, buddy! We are so happy for you!

Grandma Diane and Grandpa Jack, me and Gus, Great Papa and Great Nanny,
Great Grandma June

My aunt Katie made the beautiful baptismal gown! We are thrilled to pass it along to all our children and through many generations.

Spa Day

2010-12-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

Gus thinks bath time is his own personal Spa Day.....

I guess he is right.

On the day you were born, Augustine

2010-11-24T12:27:00.000-08:00

Augustine’s Birth Story

Because my blood pressure had been pretty low for all of my pregnancy (116/70 range), when I went in at 38 weeks and my BP was in the 140/90 range, flags were raised. My doc told me to keep my feet up and be on “modified bed rest”, (what is that anyway?) for the rest of the week and she would see me in a few days. I went back and 39 weeks and 2 days gestation, and again my BP was in the 140/90 range. She decided today (10-13-10) was the day, and I would be induced that evening. This happened at 3:00pm on 10-13-10. We headed home to get our bags and have a bite to eat, and then off to the hospital we went. We arrived about 4:00pm and I was checked into a room, hooked up to fluids and IV and waited for the Pitocin.

Our hope was to have a natural, drug free delivery, and already with the induction and Pitocin, “natural” wasn’t how things were turning out, but we marched along knowing that healthy mom and health baby were our ultimate goal.

7:30pm the pitocin was started. I was very nervous that all of a sudden I would feel these horrible contractions because labor didn’t start naturally, but for hours, I didn’t feel a thing! Each 30 minutes when they would bump up the meds, I would get nervous again, but still… nothing.

We played cards and watched NCIS from 7:30pm-11:00pm and took a short nap. We should have slept more rather than play cards and watch TV, but we weren’t tired and the excitement got the best of us. At this time, I was dilated about 3 cm.

12:00am on 10-14-10 they broke my water. As soon as my water broke, my body and the pitocin got to work and I started feeling contractions almost immediately.

12:00am-3:00am were spent in active labor in the hospital bed and on the birthing ball. The birth ball was so helpful! Though I was in a lot of pain and uncomfortable, bouncing helped a significant amount.

3:00-5:00 were spent in active labor in the bathtub. I don’t know why I was so hesitant in saying yes to getting in the tub, because as soon as I did, I felt almost immediate relief! The warm water was so soothing and though I still felt everything happening, it made it so much better. The “better” feeling wore off after about an hour though, and from 4:00-5:00 I was pretty miserable.

5:00am-6:00am we went back to the bed and birth ball. At this point, we were still at only 4-5cm, in increasing pain and the pitocin was kicking my booty! The nurses and doctor turned off the pitocin at this point. We had reached the maximum dosage and my body wasn’t cooperating, so they thought turning it off would give me a nice break from the induction pain.

7:00am – It is time for meds please! I was praying for anything to just take the edge off! The pitocin was turned on again and bumped up all the way.

7:30am Fentinol was given. I thought I would try this before I got an epidural, just to get a little relief. This medication really made me feel like I was on drugs. I had the feeling of being very drunk. The room was spinning and I felt light headed. However, my mood increased 100% and I was chatting up a storm with Joe and the nurse. (Our nurse, Michelle, was perhaps the best nurse I have even been taken care of by!)

With the fentinol, our nurse said it is pretty likely I would be getting an epidural. The fentinol is very fast acting and after the 2^nd dose (which I never got) you are almost guaranteed to need an epidural, because the 3^rd dose won’t do anything to help the pain. Essentially, the nurse gave me the fentinol to keep the pain at bay until the anesthesiologist was available to come give an epidural at 9:30. (of course we wanted the epidural right at the time of a shift change for the anesthesiologists …. Making the wait much longer). At 9:30 am, the epidural was given.

9:30am- 1:30pm we slept!!! Still only 5cm dilated. At this point, I was praising God for the gift of pain meds. I certainly could not have made it until 1:30pm, still only at 5cm, with no pain meds. I was crying in pain at 7:00am when I asked for the meds!

1:30pm-4:30pm we visited and hung out with family, waiting for my body to get the baby out.

At 6:30pm, my doc said we were finally at 10cm, and the little lip around my cervix was gone so we could start pushing. 6:30-7:30 we started pushing with the epidural. Gus didn’t budge. He stayed at -1 station the whole time. Pushing did come as a relief. I had been waiting and waiting for over a day to be dilated enough to push, and it finally happened.

7:30pm-8:30pm we pushed without epidural (it had worn off), and again, the tears were flowing and Gus didn’t move and inch. I found it remarkable how much better contractions felt when I actually pushed with them! We were still at -1 after 2 hours of pushing. My doc felt that Gus was “sunny side up” and rotated him sideways a little so the pushing might make a difference. However, to no avail, baby didn’t move and we were closer and closer to a C-Section.

8:30pm I asked for more epidural (anesthesiologist was busy!!! UGH!), Doc said baby was making no progress but I could push for another hour if I wanted because he was not showing signs of stress, but I didn’t want to at all! She did say that after the past 2 hours of pushing, it wasn’t looking promising to have a vaginal delivery and a C-section was probably in our future.

We went in for an emergency C-Section at 9:00 pm, he was born at 9:38 pm on 10-14-10. I was so scared to have a c-section, even though I knew it was best for both of us. They wheeled me back there alone, and Joe came in a little later (before surgery began). The anesthesiologist was so reassuring and my doctor explained everything, making me feel much better. Having never been in the hospital, never had an IV, never had any real medication, this experience was so much to take in. I am glad I received the gift of or beautiful son at the end of it all. At the first sight of him, of course I began to cry. I was so convinced the entire pregnancy he was a boy, it was wonderful to know that he was a he! And our son, Augustine had arrived!! My heart grew and love completely filled it. No one can ever tell you the feeling of welcoming your child into the world, it truly is indescribable.

Just so we never forget, you had an enormous cone head, Gus! For almost 2 days you cried with your mouth almost shut, you refused to nurse (we fed you with a syringe) and then because of all the pushing before our c-section, the bruise on your cone head produced a nice case of jaundice, to which you were put on the Bili-bed for 2 days. You had a rough start, little man, but everything is much better now and you are growing like a weed.

10:30pm we went into recovery until 12:00am on 10-15-10. We were wheeled to our room around 12:00am, and Gus slept for hours! It was wonderful and we got some much needed rest.

Upcoming post - Breastfeeding and its joys and many challenges!

Gus Chronicle-- 4 Weeks/1 Month

2010-11-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

It is quickly coming to my attention that this blog (for the next few months, maybe a year or so) will be mostly about Gus. I am okay with that ..... Parents are supposed to be enamored with their children. Hopefully here and there my readers (all 8 of you, or so) will get some content that is not laced with cute Gus pictures and great things Gus can now do .... (ex: snore, smile in his sleep, reach his mouth with his toes ...)

So, without further adieu, Gus is 1 month old. Funny thing, he was 4 weeks old before he was a month old. Four weeks came on Thursday, November 11th, and 1 month came on November 14th. Because of that, we have a 4 week picture, and a 1 month picture.

Gus, I love dressing you in all your little "man" outfits. Though it is much easier to just put you in a onesie or a newborn gown (your dad calls them Togas because, "boys don't wear gowns") you have too many cute shirts, pants, matching socks, etc, that I know won't fit for much longer ... you get bigger every day!

(Thanks to Matt and Jill for the shirt --- with that double chin ... it looks like he has been eating donuts!)

At 1 month, you still have pretty good sleep habits. You go down from 8 or 9 until about 1 or 2, want a little snack and to be rocked (sometimes for uhummmmm 2 hours) and then you typically sleep again until about 7 or 8.

You don't nap too much during the day, just a few cat naps here and there.

Your 1 month stats are 22.5 inches long and 9 lbs 14 oz (You were born at 8 lbs, 8 oz and went down to 7 lbs, 14 oz. You were 21 inches at birth.) 50% for weight and 85% for height!

You have a cute raspy cry. I wonder if your voice will be raspy when you start talking? That would be pretty cute!

(Dad can fit your foot in his mouth. Cool)

You make great eye contact and track objects and faces very well. You also love to stare at lights.

If we pet your nose like a little kitten, you fall asleep almost instantly. It is so cute!

(Mom can fit your fist in her mouth .... you were sleeping, I had to do it!)

Newborn diapers a getting snug on you around the thighs, but #1's are so long on you they go way past your belly button... you currently wear both. but I bet next week the newborns will be way too small.

One thing you LOVE is to be sung to, or read to, or just talked to. This activity, accompanied with rocking or a little bouncing is a sure fire way to get you to doze off or calm down.

Your hardest day of life so far (aside from your birthday which was rough on both of us) was week 3, day 5. You cried all day long which is not typical. You wanted to eat all day and were only happy while nursing. You didn't want to nap at all and night time sleep was a struggle. Finally daddy and I undressed you and looked you up and down to see if you were in pain or something was pinching you ... and nothing! It was just one of those days I suppose. The next day was better, but I am sure we have more rough days ahead of us.

You still sleep with your hands right next to your face. I used to try and keep your hands in the swaddle, but I just let them be free now. You must feel safe with them touching your cheeks, so have at it, little man!

Your hand and your mouth have found each other. Good job!

In your short one month of life you have been to a bowling alley (with our youth group) a high school youth rally with 2000 kids....and very loud music which you slept through in the Sleepy Wrap, Bellingham, a few restaurants, and Grandma Di and Grandpa Jack babysat you for the 1st time on your 1 month birthday when mommy and daddy had youth group.
Just like in the womb, you still have the hiccups often! You are getting very good at releasing gas, too .... from both ends. Way to go, Gus!

Handsome like daddy ... yes, sir!

And to finish, tonight was the 1st night I laid you down while you were still awake so you could fall asleep. You cried once, I went to console you, and that was it. Good job buddy!

Gus Chronicles -- 2 weeks

2010-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Gus, you are 2 weeks old and such a delight!

Every month I plan on documenting your milestones and things you have learned, cute things you do, pictures, tricks, and more.

You weren't sure what to think of your 1st bath, and were pretty mellow through the whole thing.

Your unbilical cord fell off at 9 days, we found it on the floor.

At 2 weeks old you are practically sleeping through the night and have been since you were born. You go to bed around 9:30 or 10:30 and wake up between 7:30 and 8:30. You start to get a little fussy around 3:00am, so we get you up, change you, feed you and you are usually down again by 4:00am

You have breakfast and stay very alert until about 12:00. You let mommy take a shower and sometimes even dry her hair, while you just hang out on the boppy or swing and enjoy looking at things.

You usually take a nap from 1-4, and again from 6-8, wanting to go to bed by 9:30 on an average day. Thanks for letting mommy and daddy sleep! Your dad is thrilled to have a full nights sleep!

You had a rough start with nursing in the beginning. The nurses said you had such a bad headache from all the pushing that ended in a c-section that you didn't want to open you mouth. So we have been working on making you a champion sucker, and you are doing a great job!

You make the cutest noises and stretch motions when you wake up from your naps.

You have the hiccups at least 5 times a day, and sneeze a lot, but your pediatrician said those are totally normal for a newborn and to just work through it.

You love to pucker your lips and it is sooo cute. So far you have only smiled in your sleep, but I can't wait until you give us a real, wakeful smile!

Your head was in a HUGE cone when you were born, but that went away in about a day. THANK YOU, JESUS!

You are getting baptized on October 31st. We are so excited for you.

When you sleep on mommy or daddy's chest, or I carry you in the Sleepy Wrap, you put your hands under you chin and rest your head on them. Too Cute!

Your skin is so soft, I touch you all the time just to make sure you really are that soft! You have the cutest, chubby cheeks that we love to kiss ALL THE TIME! You were so soft when you were born that I compared you to a cloud and a chinchilla (softest animal I have ever felt!)

Your Grandma Diane comes over every Monday-Friday from 3-5, to hold you and play with you and help mommy with chores. She cooks, and cleans and does laundry. We really like having her over. Daddy says she is the best maid ever, especially for the price ;-)

Augustine David Joseph

2010-10-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Augustine David Joseph was born 10.14.10 at 9:38 pm by emergency C-Section. He is delightful, happy, sleepy and perfect!

Perfect Fall Dinner

2010-10-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Already drooling over dinner!

I have made this before and just LOVE IT!

Joe alwasy requests a plain 1/2 of squash with lots of butter and brown sugar, but also likes the stuffing part. I use cubed chicken, not turkey sausage, and I add corn as well. It is a PERFECT fall meal! I think I might make some extra filling to put in the freezer so we have a quick dinner when baby shows up.

Southwest Stuffed Squash

36 and 37 weeks, working on 39 ........ (yes, 38 is missing)

2010-10-05T16:02:00.001-07:00

October 2010

Spooners Pumpkin Patch - a fun fall tradition

37 weeks

36 weeks, out of order, I know. That is why we have the labels ;-)

Sr. Cora Marie -- 1st Vows in Nashville, TN

2010-09-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

An event we would not have missed for anything (unless of course Baby Skillman decided to come VERY early!). Joe and I have been planning to go to Nashville for Sr. Kathy ... now Sr. Cora Marie's 1st vows since she entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (commonly called the Nashville Dominicans) two years ago. Thankfully, Sr. Cora's vows were the day after Megan and Mikey got married, so we were able to make both. I hate to think what would have happened if they were both on the same day! UGH!

Anyway, Sunday morning, very EARLY, after Megan and Mikey got married, a few of us took the early early flight out of Newark to make it to Nashville in time for the vows.

"I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you to me in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord." ~ Hosea 6:21-22

"To the honor of Almighty God and under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary..."

Just as priests do when they take vows, the sisters lay prostrate on the alter. At this point, the bishop is blessing their white scapulars which are placed over their heads. At the death of a sister, the scapular is put over her head in the same way. Each time they enter the chapel (many times a day) each sisters kisses her scapular. Beauty!

Jim Webb, Sr. Cora's dad, knitting sister a scarf while we visited all day.

Sr. Cora and the baby! Perhaps a future sister of hers!

The beautiful chapel the sisters get to pray in many times a day. We were so blessed to be there .... a taste of heaven on earth.

"Love is always a call to things above ourselves, unquestioning sacrifice, and complete consecration; it is an invitation to heroism." ~ Fr. Farell, O.P.

I LOVE WHEN THE SKY DOES THIS!!!!

Near the entrance of the convent. It is like a castle.

Side note about Sr. Cora Marie and the name she took. Kathy was asked to pray for her 1st year to ask God what her new name was to be. She had to have 3 options and wrote them down for Mother Superior. (Mother has the final say in what your name is--- it doesn't even have to be one of the 3 y ou request). Cora Marie means "Heart of Mary". Sister has always had a great love for the Blessed Virgin and her own heart is pure gold. There couldn't be a more perfect name for her to take on for the rest of her life.

Sr. Cora Maire, we LOVE YOU!!!!

Bright as the Sun, Fair as the Moon.....

2010-09-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

"She is an echo of God, speaking and

repeating only God. If you say "Mary"

she says "God". St. Louis de Montfort

FEAST of the NATIVITY

of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

September 8

The present feast forms a link between the New and the Old Testament. It shows

that Truth succeeds symbols and figures and that the New Covenant replaces the Old. Hence, all creation sings with joy, exalts, and participates in the joy of this day. ...

This is, in fact, the day on which the Creator of the world constructed His temple;

today is the day on which, by a stupendous project, a creature becomes the preferred dwelling of the Creator. This perfect fruit from the trunk of Jesse through the

branch of David became the living tabernacle, the living ark of the new covenant.

Through her our Salvation was born into the world. Later as Christ our Lord hung

on the Cross, He gave her to all of us and all of us to her to be mother of us all.

“Another woman is now given thee in place of the first,

a prudent and humble Eve instead of the proud and foolish one,

an Eve who shall offer thee, not the tree of death but the

Bread of Life, and who shall yield thee, not the poisoned fruit

of bitterness but the delicious fruit of immortality.

Change thou, therefore, the wicked words of self-excuse into

the voice of praise and thanksgiving, and say to the Lord,

‘The woman whom Thou gavest me, gave me of the

tree of life and I did eat; and it has become in my mouth sweeter

than honey, because in it Thou hast given me life.’

Behold here the purpose for which the Angel was sent from God

to the Virgin. O Virgin, worthy of all admiration, deserving of

all honour! O most wonderful of women and venerable over all.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux

33 weeks and counting!

2010-09-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

Baby Skillman is 33 + weeks old and growing like crazy. The movement is seemingly non-stop and love looking at my belly watching the baby move.

Here's to a 10/10/10 birthday .... about a week before the "due date", but what a great birthday! When it comes to the end though, any day will be perfect!

New York City

2010-08-23T21:10:00.001-07:00

Joe drove the 4 of us into NEW YORK CITY! We parked at the "Port Authority" and then walked and bussed around town. This is Joe driving into the Lincoln Tunnel

Me and King Kong on the Empire State Building ... Which I kept calling the Eiffel Tower

Time Square was fun.

We walked down to the subway, but didn't need to ride on one.

It was a great day and we saw just about everything. We had an authentic Chinese lunch in China town and ate dinner at an Italian place ..... We probably could have spent another day or two seeing and doing everything, but our whirlwind day let us see all the famous stuff and kept us very busy!

Thankfully, it was not too hot and I managed to survive the walking with no trouble. Of course, we bought "I "heart" NY shirts" .... even one for Baby Skillman.

Next up .... Nashville and the Dominicans and Sr. Cora Marie!

Tying the Knot - Quinn Style

2010-08-23T17:10:00.001-07:00

August 1-12 we went on a cross country vacation to New Jersey, New York and Nashviille, TN. The purpose of the trip was for Megan and Mikey's wedding. I was on a NET team with both of them, and Joe was Mikey's roommate (And I was Megan's) after our time on NET was over. They are two of our best friends and we are so happy for them! We were both in the wedding party and we able to witness the two of them unite in holy matrimony. They are a beautiful couple and we pray for their continued growth in holiness through this sacrament.

I didn't have any pregnancy swelling until the morning after dancing all night. But Joe and I do LOVE to dance, so how could I refuse? Thankfully my "cankles" went away after some rest and relaxation.

Our new best friends, with our old best friends! Donald and Kerry hosted us when we were in NJ. They have 3 handsome little boys and are so fun to be with! It is nice with a couple can get along so well with another couple. We plan on them visiting next summer ;-)

More dancing = more swelling. Totally worth it.

Beautiful couple!

It isn't very often that we match this well.

Joe and Mikey love to love.

Kerry - wish she lived closer!

Megan getting ready for the big day! She is so lovely!

YAY for being married!

The Happy Quinn's

Next up: Our trip to New York City.

Happy 1st Anniversary ..... about a month late ;-)

2010-08-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

On July 18th, Joe and I celebrated our 1st anniversary.

It is SOOOO true what they say about time flying - It really seems like we got married last weekend.

We had a great day together, went out to dinner and came home to our fresh wedding cake. Last summer, we (I) decided not to keep part of the top of the cake. I am not a big cake fan to begin with, and I can't imagine liking cake after a year in a freezer.

Fortunately, I work with the woman who made our original, BEAUTIFUL, wedding cake. She was kind enough to make us a replica of the top of the cake for our 1st anniversary.

here is the original

here is how excited were were

here is our replica of the cake

Keep a look out for post on our last 2 weeks away.
Megan and Mikey's wedding.
New York City.
New Jersey.
Nashville.
Sr. Cora Marie's 1st profession.
Baby Skillman at 31 weeks.

Being Crafty: Car seat cover

2010-07-19T11:55:00.001-07:00

Last week I was reading some craft blogs and found this gem. She said it was fast and easy (just what I was in the mood for), so I gave it a try.

It took about 2 hours from start to finish, AND I ate dinner during a little break. When I first looked at the project, I thought, "Why can't you just use a blanket" ... Well, this blanket has straps!
I found some really cute gender neutral fabric for the outside, and yellow baby snuggle flannel for the inside. I love the end result!

Baby Skillman, this one's for you!

Woah, Baby!

2010-07-08T20:44:00.001-07:00

17-18 weeks

A few days over 20 weeks

25 weeks and 4 days. Way to grow, baby

The baby is growing, which is a great thing. Until we took these pictures tonight, I didn't realize how much in 5, almost 6 weeks, I/the baby had grown.

Good job, Baby, keep up the good work!

How does your garden grow?

2010-07-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Our garden .... looks more like a jungle. We have done NOTHING to it, except a little Miracle Grow last week before we went on vacation. All we do is look at in, and water it. Everything is thriving. It is so fun to watch.

We have already eaten spinach, lettuce, cilantro, parsley, peas, chives, carrots and beets. I am most excited about the tomatoes and garlic! Coming soon!

At the library

2010-06-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

While at the library last week, I found a few fun pregnancy workout videos. The one I checked out was a 3 in 1 Yoga and Pilates system. I really enjoyed it, and got some great stretches to practice.

Now I am looking forward to the other videos I was able to scope out!

Pregnancy Workout Video

Happy Friday!

Recent pictures - A lot more Baby Love!

2010-06-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

These pictures were from a few weeks ago, but they are fun anyway.

Joe wanted to get in on the fun on belly pictures, so here is Joe, when I am 20 weeks preggo.
Baby love, 20 week belly!
Here is our 20 week photo shoot. We are now 22+ and will have new pictures soon.

Quick Takes

2010-06-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

1. The first thing on my mind is how much my foot hurts! A great reminder to offer things up, but I am more of a complainer these days. Last night, I simply got up from the couch and RAMMED my right foot on the love seat. My toes split right between the 3rd and 4th toe. I am positive I broke them both. They are BIG and swollen now, and the bruise goes all the way to the center of my foot. I iced, taped them together, and have been elevating when I can, but that is hard at work. So I get home, act like a pitiful baby, and suffer.

2. Our baby looks great and is moving quite a bit. I haven't had any big punches yet, but lots of twirling and flutters. We had our 20 week ultrasound last week and everything is looking just as it should. We didn't find out the wee ones gender, BUT the tech said he could tell, and would forget by that afternoon so no one would know. I am usually not one for surprises, but I sure can't wait until this one arrives!

3. Joe is done with teaching next week and is so excited for summer! I am so proud of him for finishing his 1st year at St. Pat's so successfully!

4. We have a VERY busy weekend, but it is packed with family and friends. Nothing better!

5. I haven't been writing too much down about my pregnancy, which sometimes I regret, but most of the time I don't. I think to myself, "What day did we tell our parents we were pregnant?" "When did I take the 1st at-home-pregnancy test?" "When did I feel the very 1st movement?" "How long was I sick for?" etc. etc. etc. But in the end, those things don't really matter. I am keeping track of everything I eat, doing all of our birthing class exercises, sleeping enough, etc..... and feel great, overall. These little details will escape me eventually anyway. But I am 100% positive that EVERY move the baby makes once they arrive will be documented somewhere (secretly or publicly). For now, our little cherub is growing safely inside my womb; healthy, peaceful, and perfect.

6. Thoroughly enjoying the last few months of 2-4 loads of laundry a week. Bliss

7. Maternity clothes: for now, I LOVE them! Maybe because they fit and I am not too uncomfortable in my skin yet;-) I am sure I will be wishing for jeans that button and zip soon, though.

Baby Love - Belly Pictures 18 weeks

2010-05-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

The belly documentation has begun.
May 17, 2010, 18 weeks pregnant.

Usually most of my outfits have to do with a comfy pair of yoga pants or sweats, so since I just happened to be wearing jeans today, we snapped a few shots.

Grandma June and I had an outing at Babies R Us today and I came home with a great travel system and tons of other goodies. I put it together, while we watched "The Blind Side" - - - Joe has been waiting for what seems like WEEKS to get it in the mail, and today was the day.

Denny Creek - Family Friendly Trail

2010-05-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

See all the families! The website was right about this place being family friendly (except for the skinny log you had to cross from the other side to get to the rocks where we basked like a lizard. If you have ever seen "Troop Beverly Hills", think of the scene where Shelly Long and the troop have to cross that log way above the river. It wasn't really like that at all - much lower to the ground and not quite as dangerous, but that is all I could think of to relate it to, and it was mildly dangerous).

Anyway, our last birthing class was rescheduled because our wonderful teacher was assisting in the delivery of a baby. Luckily, it was a 70 degree day and we headed out to play in the sun! We researched some trails online near Snoqualmie Pass and decided on Denny Creek. It had a great rating, said it was family friendly (since this 18 week pregnancy lady has a fear of falling off a cliff while on a hike), and it was 5 miles round trip - very doable for the Skillman family.

We packed a lunch and headed out. We got to the trail around 10:20, and were at the top by 12:00 - ate lunch, took pictures, and the headed back home. It was WONDERFUL.

Here is where I will comment on the "family friendly" aspect. It certainly was family friendly, each group we passed was a mom and dad and a few kids in tow having a great time, however, our enthusiastic smiles and hello were not returned! (Maybe it was just a rough morning...) Joe said it was probably because they didn't think we were a family ... and this trail was listed and marked as family friendly! Haha. We made sure to bring baby Skillman so the whole family was there, but I guess some people just couldn't tell. Next time, I should wear a shirt with and arrow to the baby, making sure everyone knows we are indeed a family ;-) But 2 people is a great family, anyway.
The view up the creek...

Joe and the creek

Our family and the creek

BEAUTIFUL waterfall!!!!!!

Over all, go check out Denny Creek, and make sure to BRING YOUR FAMILY!!!! :-)
FYI - it is not stroller friendly, you would need a backpack or carrier for the babe. Lots of stairs and roots and that pesky log you have to cross going over a small waterfall. There was snow too.

As unique as your fingerprints

2010-05-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

Everything about bring pregnant facinates me. Something I learned today was particularly amazing. By 17 weeks (the age of our little babe), their little fingerprints are fully formed! Little and big miracles every day.

"A new theoretical computer model describes how the patterns are likely created, beginning in the 10^th week of gestation, when a fetus is about 3 inches (80 mm) long.

Fingerprints involve three distinct features: arches, loops and whorls.

Researchers found that creation of the patterns involves stresses in a sandwiched sheet of skin called the basal layer. In a fetus, the basal layer grows faster than surrounding layers -- the epidermis on the outside and the inner dermis. The basal layer buckles and folds in several directions, forcing complex shapes.

Stresses are created at skin boundaries, including fingernails and knuckle creases, as well as around shrinking fingertip pads.

These folds encode the future fingerprint pattern that becomes visible on the skin surface in subsequent weeks. Because the fingerprint pattern is coded underneath the skin surface, the pattern cannot be destroyed by superficial skin injuries. Exactly, how the pattern is preserved during growth of the fetus is still unclear...."

Even identical twins have different fingerprints. I also read in a pregnancy article, (which might have been solely written for the "cuteness" factor), that finger prints also have to do with the baby and how active and vigorous they "play with" the amniotic fluid between their fingers and toes. Hmmmmmm.

I had a good time looking at my fingerprints tonight - my right thumb has a DOUBLE LOOP! pretty rare from what I read. I also have a "swirl", and lots of "simple loops and arches"

Gardening - Post 2

2010-05-03T14:05:00.001-07:00

Good news --- We have managed to grow the beginnings of a garden. You may remember our 1st post here. I was afraid we were going to have to replant everything, because the day after we planted, we had a freak snow/frost. However, the only thing that didn't grow, were the bush beans, and a few herbs. I replanted them and am awaiting the results!

From right to left: 2 rows of beets (we will have a lot to share! Joe said he like them, so we planted 2 rows, which will be thinned out soon, but it turns out, he just KIND OF likes them. I am not a beet fan.) Then we have 1 row of mixed lettuce. Very pretty. Next to the mixed lettuce is Romaine lettuce. And finally, climbing up the lattice, sweet peas!
Along the bottom of this photo, we have 5 garlic plants. The spinach is the most defined veggie in the picture, and the other little green sprouts are the herbs.
Carrots in green (will also be thinned out) and the two poles mark where I will be planting tomatoes!

I am going to be keeping a closer eye on the garden. Our neighbors with a garden said they have been having trouble keeping kitties out of theirs! Ick!

------------

This next one has nothing to do with the garden. Joe is putting together Baby Skillman's crib. Precious!

Adventures in Homemaking: Homemade Laundry Detergent

2010-04-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Homemade laundry detergent was something I thought about after reading this website and the Duggars book about life as a large family. I have sensitive skin and need to buy special, "free and clear" soap for our washing, so I was ready to try something more natural. This experiment was very low cost, and I decided to give it a go. I was skeptical.

I went with the dry option on the website (#4), because the wet ones just seemed too messy and a lot of hastle. The dry only had 3 ingredients and you only needed 2 TBL per load or laundry.

Joe helped me grate the bar soap ( 2 cups are needed, about 1 bar of soap)

One cup of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda and 1 cup of 20 Mule Borax.

I love this stuff. The smell of the mixture is so fresh and clean - (very light scent) My laundry looks wonderful, and the whole mixture only took about 7 minutes to make, most of the time going to grating the soap.

I decided to use the very fine grate option. It seems to disolve better in the wash, especially if you wash clothing on the cold/cold setting. The traditional size grate on the cheese grater is just a little too large. Of course, remember to wash your grater very well when finished, hot, hot water and then the dishwasher. No one wants soap tasting cheese ;-) It might be helpful to have a separate grater, too.

Give it a try, it's worth it!
Also, double it to save yourself time!

Quick Takes - Monday Monday!

2010-03-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!
Quick takes are usually on Friday, but I think t hey fit so nicely on Monday ...

1) Our garden is growing! The rain and sun mix that the earth has been giving us are just when the garden needs. We have lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, garlic, and some herbs sprouting out of the ground. I check on the garden every day, just to make sure.

2) I always knew we lived very close to Dash Point State Park and Beach - it is right around the corner, but this weekend, Joe and I took a long Saturday morning nature walk through an awesome trail by our house right through the state park and down to the beach. Round trip was about an hour and a half, it was the perfect Saturday morning activity.

3) One of my life goals is to design and build (have a professional build) a house. It seems so fun to be able to do that .... Go read this blog, it is AWESOME! Once you start you will get hooked. We only know them through other people, but I like to think I know them ;-)

4) I am so thankful we are able to go back to Minnesota for Easter and spend the Triduum at the Cathedral and with our wonderful friends!

5)We have almost been married for 8 months. I find it amazing! It really really does seem like yesterday that we were planning the wedding and talking about how great it will be when we are married. Time does fly when you are having fun!

6) We scheduled and booked our trip to the East Coast last week. We will be going in August to witness Megan and Mikey get married, then travel to Nashville to witness Sr. Cora Marie (Kathy Webb) take her 1st set of vows with the Nashville Dominicans. Two weeks of East Coast fun! We can't wait! And Joe has never been to that part of the country, so I am very excited to experience it with him.

7) We leave for Minnesota bright and early Friday morning and couldn't be more excited! Joe has had the count down on for weeks!