Baptism

On Sunday, December 16th, we stood up in front of family and friends and promised to raise Eli in the church and teach him about the love of Jesus.  What a wonderful day it was.  The topic of Pastor Buono's sermon was joy and what incredible joy we have because God sent his son over 2000 Christmases ago to save us.  In the midst of the tragic school shooting in Connecticut, the promise of eternal life was one of welcome relief.  Relief that no matter what ugliness our baby has to face in his lifetime, he will always and forever be protected. 

Aunt Katelyn, Uncle Cole, and Uncle Kyle have promised to help us.

When you start to think about it too much, the task of protecting a tiny, innocent life can overwhelm you with fear and inadequacy.  So this Christmas, I will try my hardest to remember that the 'reason for the season' is to celebrate that we don't have to be overcome by that fear.  God took care of that a long, long time ago when he sent his Son as a tiny, innocent baby boy who probably cried and pooped and drooled all over everything just like ours does :)

So blessed to have so many family members attend the baptism.

The beautiful baptismal gown that Eli is wearing has quite the story to go with it.  This gown was first worn by Grandma Jane's grandma.  That is Eli's great-great-grandma, and it was over 135 years ago.  Since then this gown has been used to baptize Jane's mom, aunts and uncles; Jane, all of her siblings and many of her cousins; Ryan, all of his siblings and all of their cousins; and now all the members of the youngest generation.  Eli is the 10th great-great-grandchild to wear this gown, and, if we've counted correctly, the 50th person.   This gown has been shipped all over the country for family members from Oregon, Nebraska and Kansas to wear.  Even after all of this love, the gown is still in beautiful shape and ready for many more baptisms.  It will be pretty neat to see how long this tradition lasts. 

Jane, Ryan, Cole and Eli are all a part of the tradition.

SNOW DAY!!

Pretty cute little reindeer if you ask me

Snow days:  One of the glorious perks of being a teacher.  I know there are naysayers out there who mock us for being a bunch of 'wusses.'  But is one day of school (and let's be honest, today was a bunch of partying and movie watching) worth hundreds of little ones standing at bus stops in blizzard-like conditions, a school bus full of teenagers sliding off the road, or dozens of cars ending up in ditches?  I didn't think so.  Therefore, all of us in education will revel in this beautiful snow day and you naysayers will not bring us down. 

Yeah, I'm going to need that pillow...in about 2 seconds.

You know what's even more fun than having a snow day?  Having a buddy to spend it with!  Today was Eli's very first snow day...ever.  I taught him how to sleep in, stay in your pjs all day long, have hot chocolate and a cookie for breakfast, snuggle by the fire, play lots and lots of peek-a-boo, nap like it's going out of style, and visit some friends in the middle of the afternoon simply because we. can.  We also did things like clean the kitchen, do the laundry and sanitize bottles but that's hardly important. 

Reindeer on my feet, penguin on my head...ready to head to Genny's house!

As have the last 6 months of my life, this Christmas season has seemed like a blur.  We have enjoyed lots and lots of family time, snuggle time, and a little shopping time.  However, as of this morning I had not finished wrapping gifts or otherwise prepared to leave for our holiday traveling that starts in 36 hours.  I really didn't want to leave school tomorrow stressed about getting everyone and everything ready to go to Topeka for 6 days...and now, because of this glorious snow, I am ready to travel and have even managed to squeeze in a blog post. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.  Lots of love to our friends and family here, there, and everywhere!

Baby Check: 5 months

This handsome fellow turned 5 months old on December 3rd.

'I LOVE YOU DAAADDYYYYY!' 

Apparently, the older your baby gets the farther behind you fall.  Should I get used to this trend?  I guess we've just been having too much fun around here to be blogging :)  In the last month, Eli has had a blast getting ready for Christmas.  He loves the lights on our tree and also appreciates that mama's songbook has expanded to include Frosty, Jingle Bells and O Holy Night.  I tell you what -  there are few things better than snuggling with your boys, by the fire, Christmas tree lights sparkling, drinking hot cocoa and listening to Michael Buble Christmas.  Mmm...mmm.  Love me some Christmas.   

Hey blue eyes. 

His favorite position.

Eli at five months you spend your days:
- playing with Jayden and Maya
- staring at the Christmas tree lights
- rolling over...and over....and over.
- talking, squealing, and making farting noises with your mouth (such a boy.)
- sitting up with support
- splashing like crazy in the bath
- spitting up (unfortunately)
- making mama and daddy the happiest people in the world

We love you baby boy! 

So Thankful

On Eli's first Thanksgiving, my heart is bursting with gratitude.  The gifts God has given us in the last year are nearly immeasurable.  This Thanksgiving weekend we are particularly grateful for...

LAUGHTER - A big 'thank you' to Cole who NEVER fails to make us laugh til we pee a little.  This Thanksgiving his antics came in the form of my son's baby-butt imprinted on a homemade ornament.
HEALTH - Doctors, nurses, and all the other people who have helped our family get and stay healthy over the last year.
FAMILY - So thankful that we have technology that allows us to share conversations, pictures and videos with our family near and far.
REST - A much needed break from work to spend with friends and family without feeling like its a race to get everything done.
FRIENDSHIP - Getting to see our wonderful friends who live too far away, but always make the effort to see us when they are home.
PURPOSE - Having jobs that provide for our family and give us a sense of purpose in our lives.  
HOME - Having a home that is warm, cozy and safe and filled with all of the sights, sounds and smells that make it feel like the holidays.
LOVE - Parents who love us and love each other enough to spend holidays with the in-laws so Ryan and I don't have to 'split time.'
EVERYTHING - A baby boy who brings us so much joy and love we can hardly contain it.

This year we have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  There is not a doubt in my mind that I witnessed two of God's greatest miracles within 2 months of each other right in front of my eyes.  I am so thankful for everything he has blessed me with.  Because of this, these words continue to echo in my head - "To whom much has been given, much will be required." Our prayer is that we will be able to comprehend the vastness of God's grace in our lives and use it to be a blessing to those around us. 

'Thank You' to all of our friends and families who make our lives complete.  We love you all!

* Thanksgiving 2012 *

The girls were enjoying a little Thanksgiving craft while...

Eli and Uncle Go were plotting. 

What started as this, soon turned into...

this. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Ahhhh....Sundays

Someone stayed in his PJs ALL day long.  Today Eli discovered the secret to true weekend happiness:  Spending an entire Sunday playing, napping, and hanging out in your PJs.  Ahhhh...lazy Sundays.

Baby Check: 4 months

Heeey - what's happenin?!

The fourth month of Eli's life has been a doozy.  For starters, he found out that he has his very own feet that are attached to his very own body.  Big discovery.  Secondly, he got his VERY OWN ceiling fan.  That's right folks, no more sharing the family ceiling fan with mom and dad.  With a new house came a ceiling fan all his own.  Kids these days - spoiled rotten, I tell you.  However, I must say, as Eli matures, it seems as if the ceiling fan is losing it's appeal.  Just the other day he told me 'Mom, ceiling fans are for babies.'  Well, okay then.

Yay for birthday ties!

In his fourth month of life, Eli has moved on to bigger and better things like his taggie blanket, Moose and Sophie which he can now grab and stick in his mouth.  He has also found his feet and likes to grab them, but hasn't figured out those can go in his mouth too.  Only a matter of time, I'm sure.  His fine motor skills have probably developed the most over the last month, but he's also working on some of those gross motor skills like rolling over and holding his head up.

What's that you've got there above the camera?

At four months you:
- have started grabbing things like Moose, mom's hair, toys on your play gym, mom's earrings, your own toes, mom's clothes, and anything else that is within in your reach. 
-  can roll over from tummy to back....as long as your arm doesn't get in the way.
- are strong enough to look around when you're on your tummy....thus, you don't hate it as much.
- still spit-up and drool like it's your job.  It might be time to start wearing bibs??
- can sit-up as long as someone helps support your body  (our very own weeble-wobble)
- sleep through the night (9 pm - 6 am)
- can sit in your Exersaucer and play with your toys - this makes you really seem like a big boy!  However, you are still a little wobbly so we have to watch you closely.  You'll have a 6 pack in no time!
- make raspberries with your tongue.  You and daddy can do this for hours!
- love sitting on laps and reading books like 'Little Blue', 'SkippyJohn', and, of course, 'Hello Willie' on gamedays!

Workin' on his cabbage patch.

View from above

4 month Stats: 
Weight: 13 lb. 8 oz - 20%
Length: 25.3 in - 64%
Head:  41 cm - 20%

Sweet face.

Our chunky monkey showin' some thigh!

BFFs - Literally

In college I was beyond blessed with the best friends a girl could ask for.  I lived with all of them at some point or another and I am a better person because of it.  However, these aren't just friends you live with in college and then go your separate ways.  These friends are special.  They are friends who will celebrate your 21st birthday with you at 7:00 am with coffee and funfetti cake.  They are girls who will get up and go to the Rec with you at 5:30 am, even if it's just to get BubbleGum from the cute old man walking on the indoor track (cough-cough-Katie).  They are girls who get up every Friday morning at 6:00 am to hang out at a coffee shop because that's when it fit into our schedule.  We valued our friendship more than anything and have always been willing to make the effort you have to make to keep a group of eight together.  When we graduated, we were bound and determined to stay close.  Though we were spread out from Manhattan to KC, each and every month we would find a night to have dinner together.  Even if that meant loading up in the car and driving two hours for pizza and wine.  That's what we did.  Soon we started to spread out even more , but we still got together.  Between kiddos and the price of plane tickets we aren't all together every time, but we still do a pretty darn good job.  

Here are some pics from our 2nd annual Manhattan Reunion weekend.  Keri, Katie and Hil - we missed you.  Don't worry - we'll do it all over again next fall!!  Love you girls!

Eli and Dean just hanging out.

8 adults & 6 kids taking Radina's by storm.

The mamas and babies minus Oliver and Annie.  So much fun!