Our Dancing Grace

Grace has continued to take ballet and tap this past year and last week I went to watch her class again on parent watch day.  What a difference a year has made!  She loves dance now more than ever and it shows.  Her confidence has increased dramatically as has her skill.  And she clearly LOVES it!  I loved watching her find so much joy in what she was doing and to have so much pride in her hard work and practice as well.  

I was reading my blog from a year ago on her dance and was reminded how, at that time, she would never show us anything she learned at dance class or ever really dance at home.  Well, she could not have changed more in that regard!  Now, at home, she almost never stops dancing..she dances instead of walking half the time.  She spins and twirls and leaps all over the house and seems to incorporate it into everything she does.  Our girl loves to dance!!

Grace is on the far left

LOL...this was amusing to see them try to get their leg up on the bar...still a bit short I think :-)

Samuel 3 Months Old

Samuel is already 3 months old!  Where is the time going?  He is really starting to wake up and interact more this month.  Any time anyone talks to him, he smiles.  He coos and even giggles now when he is excited.  He loves his play mat, often smiling when he lays down on it, and has started reaching for the toys, even catching hold of one occasionally.  His favorite are the chimes that hang above him, he works the hardest to grab those.  He also loves when we play pat-a-cake with him, always smiling for that as well.  He continues to eat and sleep well.  He usually has a fussy period for a couple hours each evening but otherwise is a very content and easy baby.  It is hard to even imagine, already, our life before him.  He has brought so much joy to our family!  We love you sweet Sam!!

Henry frequently asks to hold Sam and this time asked if I would take his picture.

Reaching for a toy and smiling (though it's hard to capture the full smile with my phone camera)

While I was vacuuming and Sam was asleep in his bouncy seat, Henry came up to me and said "Mama, I put a hat on Samuel cause he's head was cold." and this is what I found.....brotherly love and happiness!!!

He still doesn't love tummy time but we try to get some in each day.

Reaching for the chimes, getting onto his side

What a big boy in his seat for the first time!

Merry Christmas!

We had a great Advent this year with the kids.  We tried to prepare our hearts with several different family activities including a Jesse tree, advent calendar, advent wreath and chain, as well as the good deeds manger.  In trying to teach the kids lessons, we actually learned some ourselves.  The kids all had Christmas parties and/or plays they participated in.  For Christmas itself, we decided to stay at home and enjoy an intimate family holiday together....much needed family time together since the past couple months have been so busy.   It was so nice!  We attended the 4pm Christmas Eve mass where Nicholas played a shepherd in the children's nativity re-enactment.  On Christmas morning, Shawn found Grace and Nicholas trying hard (with no luck thankfully) to wake Henry at 2:30 am to see if Santa came!!!!  Thankfully all went back to bed and slept a few more hours before arising and enjoying the joy of Christmas morn!

All the kindergarteners dress up for the nativity play at Nicholas' school.  He was a shepherd.

Our little shepherd

Grace's preschool class dressed in pillowcase angel costumes and performed 5 or 6 songs for us....super cute!

This year Henry got both things on his list....a new rake and a toy chainsaw :-)....yes that is actually what he asked Santa for!

Nicholas' most exciting gift this year was his new 7 speed bike!   He just learned to ride without training wheels a couple months ago so he was ready to move up....very exciting!

Grace got everything on her list...her first ever Barbie doll, a My Little Pony Set, and a Belle dress.

Henry with his new drill set from Grandma and Grandpa..he loves it!

Grace also loved her Snow White dress from Uncle Andy

The new guitar (Santa) and microphone (Aunt Mindy) also a hit

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Samuel 2 Months Old

What a great month with Samuel!  He's been growing like a weed.  At his 2 month check up he weighed 10 lb 13 oz (nearly double his birth weight!) and was 22 inches (3 inches more than birth!).  Clearly he is nursing well....it seems most of his weight goes to his cheeks :--)  We just can't help but kiss those cheeks over and over.  He is nursing around every 3 hrs during the day and every 4 or so at night. His main awake time has been in the evenings from around 6-11pm during which time he likes to be held exclusively. He does not tolerate a dirty or wet diaper well and he cries after eating sometimes seemingly due to some reflux, but thankfully nothing major.   He has great eye contact and loves to just look at us while we talk to him, such a good little listener :-)  He has started cooing and smiling a lot more now.  It is so cute when he seems to want to tell us so much and starts cooing over and over.  He really likes to watch musical mobiles above him and has started batting at toys a little bit.  He loves his bath and never cries at all with it.  One of his favorite things is to be carried by mommy in the Baby Bjorn carrier.  It always calms him and usually puts him to sleep.  He continues to be a very easy and good baby.  We love him to pieces!!!!

Grace is such a little Mommy...very interested in spending time with him and actually quite helpful entertaining Sam when needed.

Look at those cheeks!

Loving bath time

Family time

We were blessed with extra time with Kimberly's parents and Shawn's mother when they came for the baptism.  Each stayed a little longer to help out and spend time with Samuel and the other kids.  We so enjoyed their stays!!!

Samuel's Baptism

On December 6th, Samuel received the Sacrament of Baptism and thus became a child of God and was welcomed into the Church.  We were thrilled to have a large gathering of many local friends as well as family from out of town, including Kimberly's parents, Shawn's mother, cousin Sandy and son Matthew, Uncle Randy and Aunt Bernie, and cousin Kevin and Kristina and their girls.  Our good friend Deacon John Wojcik presided over the service.  Samuel's godparents, our good friends Meghan and Chad Boyle, consecrated him to Mary right after the baptism.  What a lovely, joyful day!  We held a reception in our home afterward.  Congratulations Samuel!!

Everyone gathering in theSaint Peter Chanel adoration chapel for the Baptism

Blessings upon our sweet baby

Deacon invited anyone who wished to come forward and bless Samuel by making the sign of the cross on his forehead.

Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Samuel with his godparents, Meghan and Chad Boyle

Consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Happy 5th Birthday in Heaven Juliana!

Dear Juliana,

If you were here right now, you'd be learning your ABC's in preschool, learning to ride a bike, and probably playing Elsa and Anna with your sister Grace.  Instead, you are sitting on Jesus' lap, basking in the joy and peace of heaven.  You were made for the greater world and how happy it makes us to know you are as happy as you can possibly be.  We love you so much and selfishly wish you were here with us, but at the same time are so happy for you to be in a much better place.  We hope to join you there one day, God willing.  Until then, please know how deeply and truly we love you, all of us.  Thank you for hearing our prayers this year and interceding to God to bring your newest little brother to us safely.  We love you Juliana, we miss you, and we happily remember you on your 5th birthday!!

XOXOX

Mommy, Daddy, Nicholas, Grace, Henry, & Samuel