Baby G - Baptized! :)

We had a lovely weekend for Baby G's baptism. My sister, S, was her godmother, our good friend M, was her godfather. The best part about the weekend was that all of our siblings were able to be in town for the day. My parents worked like crazy and prepared food (mom and MIL) and set up tables (dad) and chairs for both immediate family and some extended family to come and celebrate afterward. We are so blessed!

Some photos from our day:

Baptismal gown - 106 years old :) 

Welcome, sweet new Catholic!!

Godmother, my sister S - isn't she pretty! :)

My 2 BIL and SIL and I sang at Communion
Magnificat by Fr. James Chepponis (a priest from the diocese) and
Stainer - God So Loved the World
I LOVE singing with them!!! C's godmother and I sang the Magnificat at C's baptism so I was glad to do the same for G.

I think this was the only photo C was "still" for!

Yup, trying to escape!

Maybe he'll smile if I carry him this way?

The best attempt for my mom's Christmas card this year!

Hubby, G's godfather, BIL, my Dad, my FIL and BIL - some really great dads!

4 generations! 

Nana, I just have to tell you about my day...

Cousins!

I have some other pretty big news (no, I'm not pregnant) that I didn't want to reveal all in one post... stay tuned for more news later this week! :)

Introducing... Baby G!!!

Thank you all for your prayers!! TPR was Tuesday at midnight and I am thrilled to finally introduce baby G!!! I'll stop writing since I know the pictures are most important . ;)

1 day old

Big brother!

6 days old

Potential boyfriends... meet my big brother. And good luck.

To say that C adores his sister is an understatement. He dotes on her and always asks
to hold her or help feed her. And when we let him, he doesn't want to let her go!!

We are in awe of the amazing woman her birthmother is and of the privilege we've been given by the gift of her life.

Again thank you all for your prayers! It's such a relief to know she is truly ours!!

"As for God, his way is perfect." 
Psalm 18

7 years :)

A day late posting, but happy 7 years to my best friend!! I am so blessed!!

Honeymoon in Italy, waiting and hoping to meet Pope Benedict XVI

Mission accomplished. :)

The song we entered our reception to was The Day Before You by Rascal Flatts. Still love the song and the lyrics...

I had all but given up on finding
The one that I could fall into
On the day before you
I was ready to settle for
Less than love and not much more
There was no such thing as a dream come true
Oh, but that was all the day before you

Now you're here and everything's changing
Suddenly life means so much
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
I will never have to go back to
The day before you

In your eyes I see forever
Makes me wish that my life never knew
The day before you

Oh, but Heaven knows those years without you
Were shaping my heart for the that day I found you
If you're the reason for all that I've been through
Then I'm thankful for the day before you

Now you're here and everything's changing
Suddenly life means so much
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
I will never have to go back to
The day before you

Was the last day that I ever needed alone
And I'm never going back
No I'm never going back

Now you're here and everything's changing
Suddenly life means so much
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
No I'm never going back
I will never have to go back to
The day before you

All is well :)

We are still counting down the days until TPR! Once midnight hits on April 28th, she is officially ours! :) Baby girl is really a dream baby. I thought C was a great sleeper as a baby - I think she's even better! Not comparing - really, I'm not, but she falls asleep easily on her own at least half the time. She's sleeping up to 4 hours at a time during the night, so that has been fabulous. If only I went to bed on time myself... ;)

Baby girl is also GROWING! In 10 days she gained 1 pound and 3 ounces! Not bad for adding more than 20% body weight! She is eating well. She is still on Similac but hopefully we can get our act together later this week to transition her to the raw milk formula.

Anyway... please continue to pray for the next week or so and then I can finally share photos!!!! :-D

In the meantime, here are two photos of our late morning activities today....

Is it an out of season boot storage box? Nope. Definitely a pool! He was entertained for at least 45 minutes and I didn't have to keep running water in the bathroom to do it! Win. Well, except my boots no longer have a home...

Mary's Life - The 31 Days of May

First - we did receive word yesterday that we have been cleared through interstate. We are waiting until DH's family has a chance to meet baby girl before we head home late Saturday. Yay! :) Thank you all so much for your prayers! I can't wait to be able to post photos of her! :) :) :)

Also, I know I'm a day late, but DH received this list from a friend of ours who is a priest. It's a great help to honor Mary in the month of May. Enjoy!

31 Days of May

For the month of May, each day, consider one aspect of Mary's life and pray that you might be able to follow her motherly example.

1. Faith: Lord, I believe. I want to believe as the one who believes most. Lord, increase my faith!

2. Hope: Lord, I hope. I want to hope as the one who hopes most. Lord, increase my hope!

3. Charity: Lord, I love. I want to love as the one who loves most. Lord, increase my love!

4. Love for God the Father: Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father, teach me to live as a child of God.  For God, all the glory. Deo omnis gloria!

5. Love for God the Son: Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son, teach me to love Jesus.

6. Love for God the Holy Spirit: Hail Mary, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit.

7. Humility: Mary knows herself to be nothing before God: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word. (Lk 1:38)

8. Fortitude, strength of character: Holy Mary, our refuge and our strength.

9. Fidelity: Mary is ever faithful: Most sweet heart of Mary, keep us on the safe way.

10. Purity, chastity: Mother of the Fair Love, help your children. 

11. Poverty, detachment: Lord, set my heart free from all earthly ties.

12. Obedience to the divine will: Not my will, but yours be done. (Lk 22:42)

13. Cooperation with God's plan of Redemption: Mary, let it be.

14. Life of prayer: Mary, teach me to pray more and better all the time.

15. Care for little things: Mary, may I put greater effort in everything.

16. Spirit of service: Lord, like Mary, I will serve you!  Serviam!

17. Wholehearted dedication to God: Mary, I'm all yours. Totus Tuus. (St. JPII)

18. Patience: Holy Mary, Queen of Peace, teach me to be patient.

19. Perseverance: Most Sweet Heart of Mary, prepare us a safe way. (St. Josemaria Escriva)

20. Love for Jesus and St. Joseph: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I always be with you. (St. Josemaria)

21. Sense of Responsibility: Mary, teach me to be in the little things of each day.

22. Love for souls, apostolic zeal: Jesus and Mary: souls! Apostolic souls!  They are for you, for your glory. (Cf. The Way, n. 804, St. Josemaria)

23. Gratitude to God: Thanks be to you, O Lord, thanks be to you.

24. Love for the Cross: Mary, may your love bind me to your Son's cross.

(Cf. The Way, n. 497, St. Josemaria)

25. Order: Most Sweet Heart of Mary, make my heart burn with love for Jesus.

26. Concern for the Church: Mary, help me to love my Mother, the Church.

27. Cheerful acceptance of contradictions: Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.

28. Perfection in her work: Virgin most faithful, help me to put greater care in all that I do.

29. Confident petition to God for all our needs: Holy Mary, pray for us always.

30. Motherly care for us her children: Most Sweet Heart of Mary, show yourself to be our mother. (St. Josemaria)

31. Prompt correspondence to grace: Mother of divine grace, intercede for us.

Our Daughter...

was born Friday, April 25th at 12:18 am. Exactly 2 years ago, the day we brought C home. She's a little peanut - weighing 5 pounds exactly and she was 18 inches long. We are with family now until we have clearance to head back home, hopefully at the end of this week or at the beginning of next. I can't post photos until TPR, but thank you SO MUCH for your comments and prayers!!

C is doing well - he doesn't like when we've had to leave him, but he's had fun with grandma and he likes to ask for "sister" and look at her and point out her eyes and nose. The first time he saw her his whole face lit up in a beautiful smile. I will never forget seeing that.

We are so in love!! :)

As for God, His way is perfect

A few weekends ago I had the opportunity to play for a wedding - I didn't personally know the couple, though I met the groom at the rehearsal I had with their friend who was singing for the wedding. The bride taught at a local Catholic high school and the chaplain of the school was the celebrant for the Mass. It was wonderful to see the many students who came to see her get married. The homily was absolutely beautiful. The priest mentioned the percentage of couples who now actually get married -- about 30%. He reminded this couple that they will be a strong witness. They should be the couple who, when friends of theirs are struggling, they will be sought for advice. For how to make it work. For how to accept challenges and crosses.

Weddings are so beautiful when the couple has put God at the center of their relationship. I think for those of you married, being at another wedding makes you remember your own. The vows you took. How your husband looked that day - how excited you felt as you began your vocation as a wife. The dreams you had. My dreams of course centered around the family we planned to have. The many children we prayed God would bless us with. For so many years we had to wait.

I also received an email last Friday from the farm where we purchase milk and meats when we are visiting my parents. The farmer had an email this week dedicated to his family and in particular his son who is engaged. The story of how the couple met clearly had God's hand all over it. Included was a photo of their engagement announcement. The scripture on the announcement was from Psalm 18.

"As for God, His way is perfect."

How fitting a verse for our second child.

We have been chosen again by a birthmother to be parents. Her due date was originally May 11- Mother's Day of all days - but the birthmother is going to be induced tomorrow- April 24th. Exactly two years ago, that was the day we received "the call" about C.

C will soon be able to wear the "Big Brother" t-shirt we picked out last week.

As I read the email from the farmer, those dreams I had as a bride and as a new wife came to mind. I thought I knew the course my path would take as mother. I didn't. It was hard. It was excruciating. It was anger and sadness and frustration and so many emotions all at once. But because eventually I stopped fighting, and asked what He wanted and not what I wanted, our family is about to change and grow again. His way often permits suffering.

I am also aware that we are again in the middle of Infertility Awareness Week. As joyful and hopeful that I am about this little girl, my heart breaks again for those of you still waiting. All of you will be very close to my heart as we wait out the 30 days until TPR.

But as we celebrated this past weekend - the suffering of Good Friday does lead to the JOY of Easter Sunday. For those of you still waiting, it may still feel like Good Friday. Do not give up hope.

His way is perfect.