Merry Christmas!

From Our Family to Yours!

Friday Photo Favorites

In our house...

this week...

a lot of this has been happening...

and this...

and this.

Someone is having a more difficult time than others with a the newest changes.

Friday Photo Favorites

 Daddy and his girls.

We all are in love with our newest little one.

Baby Girl

Monday, The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, our little Anastasia Kim was born.

7 lbs 2 oz, 18 1/2 in.

She got a little Christmas hat and stockings to dress up her Advent arrival.

While we waited for Anastasia to meet her siblings, some needed a little arm lovin.

Watching Daddy, a pro at this, take care of the newest.

I love this picture, me and my girls and my baby boy, who looks to be mixed between fascination, excitement and a touch of sadness that his baby status is coming to a close. Growth isn't always easy, Georgie. However, we are always better for it.

Anastasia meet your siblings! They love you so much!

First your sister, who was certain from day one that you were indeed her baby sister. Mary Colette is head over heels in love with you.

Next Paul Thomas, the baby lover extraordinaire. He is the most amazing big brother, really he is out of the world! He promptly stated that he thought Momma should give up some of her holding rights as I got to hold Anastasia so long in my belly. Clever isn't he.

Here is Avery, a lover for sure. He has worked so hard on being extra careful and still around you.  Avery will do whatever he can to make you happy. He has a giving heart and wants all to be happy. 

And finally here is George. Oh George, he is goofy and silly and so much fun. As you grow so will George. 

You see, this is his first time to be a big brother. He has two fantastic ones to model after. He will put his own special stamp on being a big brother.

He loves you and is proud to be your big brother.

There is another person you should meet right away.

Your namesake, Gia.

Your middle name Kim is your Gia's name. Our prayer for you, Anastasia Kim, is that you can look to your namesakes, St. Anastasia, your Gia and Our Mother, especially being born on such an important Marian Feast Day, and model your life and virtues after them.

Welcome My Love! We are so happy to meet you!

Throwing in the Baby Towel

Since the beginning of November the mantra around the house has been, "Let's get it done before Baby comes." However, recently it has changed to, "Let's get it done before GeeGee comes." 

Our sweet GeeGee is coming early Dec. 15 to help us prepare for Christmas with all the Michigan family and I guess since her arrival date is know and she isn't having so many raised and dashed hopes it makes more sense to count on her. 

So all I have to say is, "Let's get Baby here before GeeGee comes!"

Advent

This year for Advent we are trying as a family to make it more prayerful and a better time to prepare for the birth of Our Lord. We had talked as a family about giving up something and entering more of a fasting period before we celebrate the Christmas season.

Overheard from the back seats:

Avery: Let's give up sweets and gluten.

Paul Thomas: No not gluten, then we can't eat very much!

Mary Colette in all seriousness: I'm going to give up making meatballs!

As a family we are giving up sweets, not gluten, yet and I will remind Mary Colette when the urge to make meatballs comes that she will have to offer it up. 

We found a new Advent tradition as well, making our own candles!

The Other Side of the Lens

While reading a reflection on this past Sunday's Gospel passage, I was struck by the simple observation of the quite finite list of criteria by which the King of the universe is to judge us all. The expectation to feed the hungry and visit the sick could be fairly summarized in the second greatest commandment, to love one's neighbor as one's self, which we heard a few weeks ago. 

The Other. It's not about me. It's not about my own spirituality, my own fulfillment, my relationship with God, or my opinions and preferences concerning the Church. This is the fundamental choice each of us faces: is my life my own, or is it absolutely abandoned to God and my neighbor? These are, of course, mutually exclusive options.

Recently, I partook in the miracle of human flight. Surrounded by more than 100 others in an aluminum tube in the sky, one of these others, the one sitting directly in front of me, decided to document her travels with about 20 minutes of selfies*. Frankly, I didn't think such a thing was possible. I'm proud to report that I successfully resisted temptations to both photo-bomb her session and/or smash the device under the cold, vulcanized heel of my boot.

In quiet contrast to this is my lovely wife. On a single hand, one can count the occurrences of Mammasita ending up on the aperture end of her own camera. Her absolute concern for her children, these others, totally consumes not only her photography, but also her time, energy, thoughts and, most of all, her body. This is true of all mothers.

On which side of the lens are you?

*In irony of the highest order, my spell-check function suggests "selfless" as a correction for "selfie".

A simple request...

Buried deep in the blankets and pillows of our bed the other day came a simple request in a small sleepy voice, "Can you please pick a shirt that I can love on your arm?" 

Yes of course my dear sweet girl, I can find a short sleeve shirt. For the past couple of months my precious little girl has found a new endearing way to show me love, "loving on my arm" as she calls it. She is fully aware that a new little one is coming and I think just needs a little more love, so she periodically strokes and squeezes my arm as she nestles up to my side just like a cat. It is humbling for me as it's the wiggly part she actually likes, however it seems to be a great way to transition into middle-hood for her as she can still "love on my arm" while baby nurses. In all honesty, I need her touch as much as she does. 

Proper Insult

Heard from the boys room over the rustle of legos, PT to Avery, "You're as helpful as Chester!"

Chester is my parents cat who was too lazy to get of the way of the car backing up even after advanced warning and plenty of time. (He survived with a crazy eye.)

And since were onto great insults involving cats...way back when we lived with Gia and Poppy and we were expecting Mary Colette and our sweet little bouncy guy was into the two's, thus, commonly heard throughout the house was, "Avery Robert!" Well, at one point the cat, Chester, snuck into the house and PT exclaimed in an overly experiated voice, "Chester Robert!" As a parent we all know what the middle name is for and well, I suppose that the cat needed a middle name at that point too.

Manic Monday

For a while now Mary Colette has been enjoying "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." We have been putting together a playset for her since retelling the story is one of her favorite things to do. Here is a few clips of her retelling. 

She "read" the whole story to Granddaddy while he was here, however, I couldn't get that to up load. Thanks Granddaddy for being a such a willing and patient listener. 

What happened to my baby?

Okay this is before, still a baby, just one that fell victim to his brother's temporary tattoos. 

After, can you see what I mean. One little hair cut and he goes on grows up on ya.

Well at least his ears won't be tickled any more. And he does wear it well, even with pizza sauce all over his face.

Friday Photo Favorites

Have I told you, My Love, what you mean to me?

You are the first to help out and the first to comfort. You like things to be the right way and love to follow rules and directions. You love to let us know you love us, only not with words: they get you embarrassed sometimes. You do love to talk intimately with us about really important stuff, like God and Heaven and growing up. You still have all of your childhood innocence, and also are learning how to lead your siblings. All of these things make you amazing. I am not sure that I could get through my day without you, Paul Thomas. Your help is beyond measure and you love is beyond depth. Thank you for being my son and being you.

Friday Photo Favorites

Exhausted!

This girl has been fighting naps for the past few months so we end up with this half the time. She was told to pick up her room and found that the animal basket made a nice bed instead.

What's in your vocabulary?

Avery, tonight at dinner, "Did you know everyone has their own vocabulary?"

Us, impressed, "Yes, you're right."

Avery, "'Vocabulary' is in my vocabulary! Ha, that's funny."

Daddy, trying to be clever, "Are there any words that you think are kind of funny to say?"

Puzzled looks all around....

Daddy, "Well, I think 'cup' is kind a funny sounding word. We use it everyday, but it just kind of sounds funny when you stop and think about it. C-U-P."

Avery, "I think 'plethora' is a funny sounding word."

*Mommy snickering behind her napkin.*

Daddy, regaining composure, "You're right, it is a funny word." Upping the ante, "I think 'anemone' is a funny word too."

Avery, giggling, "Anemone, yeah it is funny."

Mommy, knowing the answer, "Do you know what an anemone is?"

Avery, "Yeah its this animal that lives in the coral reef that has these wavy arms that when a fish swims by it stings them. But there is fish, I'm pretty sure its a clown fish, that doesn't get stinged by it and lives in it and that's called a symbiotic relationship."

Mommy and Daddy quit speaking now because, clearly, we are not able to converse with our five year old tonight.

Manic Monday

Hope you have a playful day.

Friday Photo Favorites

Well, it's that time again...time to get my act together baby is coming and George has yet to have his baby picture put on our wall. We put two pictures of each baby up roughly around 6-9 months so here are the "finalist." Care to share an opinion?

George was really hard because the best part about him was his shifty eyes and his funny expressions. Try capturing that on film. 

A little young, but oh so lovable.

This is total Blaxton here, reminds me of his Daddy.

Okay probably not wall worthy, just loved this bottom lip disappearing stage.

Makes me want to kiss all over him.

I adore all of these scooching ones, especially seeing his chubby arms.

Not the best in picture quality, however for me this is George as an infant. Happy to just be with us, and that slight smile, round chin and loving eyes. He is our peace bearing child.

His Daddy's favorite.

I agree this is too hard for a Momma! How to pick just two!

Pushing the older side, however this is such a classic expression for him.

Well, now that I completely overloaded you with my current baby and thrust you into the middle of my keepsaking delma what do you think?