Blessing Day Pictures - Volume Four

Baby with Grandma and Grandpa

I love Baby's smile here...

Love this picture of all three of them...

Blessing Day Pictures - Volume Three

Family Shots

(minus husband who was at the hospital)

I don't remember what was funny.  But I liked the raw laughter.

Blessing Day Pictures - Volume Two

Baby and Mommy

Blessing Day Pictures - Volume One

Brothers

This is perhaps my favorite picture out of the whole bunch.  The whole world revolves around Baby.  And this picture shows it. 

It must be hard to have such light blue eyes.  I feel bad for three of them.  So bad.  

Love Baby's expression here. 

Two Brothers, One Mission

Fire up the rockets - this spaceship is going to fly!

You Got a Little Something...

What?

Why are you looking at me like that?

What is it?

Seriously.  What's going on?

Do I have something on my face?

Bunny Five

Five made a bunny mask.  Then he hopped away, saying something about preparing eggs.

New Tooth!

Well.  It is official.  Baby's first tooth has popped through.  

How do I know?

Because he bit me.

I know.  Sounds so cliche after that viral video a few years ago.  

But it is true.  He bit me. 

And it reminded me of this zombie parody...

Let's hope we don't lose any children in the teething process... 

Or parents.

In Other News...

Baby learned how to take a picture of himself on my phone.

Baby met a witch in the woods and was turned into a cyclops.

Baby met a cute girl who kissed him and broke the cyclops curse. 

A Blessing Day to Remember

I cannot believe that you put me in this outfit!  I cannot believe it!  How could you?

What did you say?  It is my blessing day?  And my Grandma and Grandpa are going to come?  And my Dad's cousins?  And my brother is going to pass the sacrament for the first time?  And people are going to tell me how cute I am and what a charming personality I have?  And I get to wear shoes that you made me?  And people are going to want to take lots and lots of pictures of me?

Well...do I have to wear this outfit all day to have fun?

Yes?  What do you mean yes?  Why?  This is a cruel, cruel world!

So that is how Baby's Blessing Day started.  

I could demur and tell you that it was naptime.  And it was.  But Baby also wasn't thrilled about his outfit.  At first.  He warmed up to it. 

We went to church and watched as Husband gave Baby a beautiful blessing.  Then Three passed the sacrament as a priesthood holder for the very first time.  And Husband got up and gave a lovely testimony.  

Me?  I was sitting on the pew, wondering how I got so very lucky to see such a wonderful combination of unexpected events unfold before me.   

I would not have believed you five years ago, when we started the first adoption process, if you told me that:

We would adopt an older child (and only one) from foster care.

We would struggle beyond our known strength to make it work.

We would lose another child in the process.

We would learn to find joy in our child's birthfamily.

We would have the resources and ability to do another adoption process.

We would successfully adopt another child.

We would love our child's birthfamily.

The older child that we previously brought into our family would be an incredible helper with the newborn who struggled with colic.

Our biological children would learn how to shift birth order and revel in their brothers.

We could become one.

It has been such an incredible, painful, and joyful journey.  I honestly cannot believe the path that we have been privileged to walk. 

***

After sacrament (which is the first or three meetings in a Mormon church on a Sunday) I raced off to sub for a primary class.  Husband met up with his cousin and his family out in the foyer.  And in a very short period of time, Husband's cousin's daughter fell off a couch and broke her arm.  

Apparently, someone ran off to get ice.  Someone else called for clearance on a private road to get to the hospital sooner.  Several doctors in the ward (congregation) happened by and immediately splinted her arm for the journey.  My mother-in-law took Baby to class and Husband escorted his cousin to the hospital.  All while I was in class teaching a group of eleven year olds about the story of Noah and the Flood.  About how we can find protection in righteousness.  How we can listen to the Lord's prophets.  How, if we learn to obey, we can draw closer to the Lord.  It was a wonderful lesson with a very bright and eager group of kids. 

You can imagine my surprise when I heard about K and her little arm.

My heart went out to her.  And I was so grateful for all those that were able to respond to her needs immediately.

After church, Baby was a little model as we took as many pictures of him in his outfit as possible.  

We said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa and waited for news about K.

Husband and his cousin's family met up with us for a late dinner and dessert (an incredible lemon cake made by my mother-in-law).  K was casted and we were all grateful for modern health care.  

***

Perhaps, in the end, Baby wasn't as upset about his frilly outfit as I had first supposed.  Perhaps he just knew what kind of a day we were about to have.  One that would cover all ends of the spectrum.  One that mirrors life in general.  One that shows us of the incredible challenges we will face.  But, one that shows us that through the challenges, we can draw closer together, to learn to love and serve those around us that much more.     

This is a day to remember.  And not just because I dressed Baby is such an old-fashioned outfit.

Sudden Insight

The other day, Three noticed he was taller than me.  Then he went to weigh himself.  He now weighed more than me as well.  He was pretty happy about that.  

Later that morning, he and I were teasing, pulling a burp cloth back and forth.  

A funny thing happened.  I was pulling hard.  And he was barely pulling.  I saw the moment his eyes lit up as it dawned on him that he was now stronger than me as well.  He laughed maniacally and I felt a lowering feeling at the realization that he is growing up and fast.

I smiled and walked away, his wild laughter following me out of the room.

Later that day, he found me.  He wrapped his now giant arms around me and said, "Don't worry, Mom.  Even though I am bigger than you, I will always be your baby."  

That kid...    

Boys

Popovers and Bacon

While I languished in bed, Husband made breakfast.  

He made the kids their two favorite items - popovers and bacon. 

They were soooooo good.

This kid shoved bacon inside of his popover...

...and then added jam and a strawberry.  

Yum?  He thought so.  And of course if one child does something outrageous, many of the others will follow...