Here's another less-sacred Easter tradition that Iain appears to be embracing.
Friday, April 22, 2011
We Have So Much to Be Thankful For!
I know, I know. My grammar needs work. But it sounds so stilted to say "We have so much for which to be thankful!" So I will stick with my original sentiment. We have so much to be thankful for!! It has been a big month for our family! It has been growing by leaps and bounds! I am just so thrilled about all that is going on with the ones that we love, that I have to share! In the past thirty days, we:
-Gained a new nephew on March 22. Happy ONE MONTH Calvin!! We love you so much and are SO sad that we haven't met you yet. (By the way...this not meeting you business is NOT something I am thankful for!)
-Found out that a dearly loved brother and sister have made it to the top of the list in their adoption journey! We have been rejoicing with them as we see the "ball rolling" and things falling into place for the ever closer arrival of our first Patterson niece or nephew
-Heard that we'll be getting another NEPHEW in September, thanks to THIS brother and THIS sister! Can't wait for Liam, Calvin and Baby to be the "three musketeers"!
-Welcomed two new babes into our circle of Canadian "friends that feel like family". These friends' beautiful twin girls safely entered the world on April 12th, and they are lovely! We are already plotting arranged marriages between them and our two boys! (More about them when I finally get my Canada pictures uploaded!)
In other news, this month also marks the winding down of Mr. Iain's second year. One month from today, he turns two! I'll save the "Iain Update" for next week, when I have a little more time, but I still can't believe that it was already two years ago that we were anxiously (and prayerfully) awaiting his arrival, trusting and hoping that God would take us through whatever He had in store for our little baby. He has truly done exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think! We have so much to be thankful for.
Also, just about one year from now was when we found out we were expecting Liam! (Although we didn't know he was Liam yet!) We kept the secret for a month, to "reveal" it at Iain's birthday, and it was the longest month ever! I'm pretty sure I spent the first six or so months of my pregnancy (unconsciously!) assuming he was a girl, since I couldn't imagine any boy but Iain! Now, of course, I can't imagine anyone but him...! It's amazing to me how God had that little boy planned for us, long before we ever knew him, or expected him! We have so much to be thankful for!
As I reflect on this Good Friday about how much I love my sons, I am still amazed that God would give HIS Son for me. My heart breaks as I think about Mary watching HER Son suffer and die on the cross. I think about Christ, leaving His home and His Father, who He loved, to live on an earth filled with sin and to be killed by people He created. What God would do this? How deep the Father's love for us! It always seems fitting to me to have rain on Good Friday. It matches the somber feeling that I'm sure was shared by all of Jesus' followers on that first "Good Friday". But PRAISE GOD, that is not the end of the story!
The boys and I spent the morning decorating Easter eggs with Mom and Dad Pitman and close to twenty of Mom's ESL students from the University and it was so amazing to see people who had no real concept of Easter listening to the Resurrection story for the first time. I can't wait to spend the rest of the weekend celebrating this "happy ending". Although Iain (and certainly Liam!) is probably still too young to understand the meaning of Easter, we have been reading the Easter story all week and he is very interested. We're planning on starting some traditions (like this one) to help him understand what Easter is all about. We're also looking forward to some of the less weighty, but still important traditions, like Easter brunch with the family, and (of course!) an Easter egg hunt! I hope you all have a blessed and joyful Easter weekend! We have so much to be thankful for!
-Gained a new nephew on March 22. Happy ONE MONTH Calvin!! We love you so much and are SO sad that we haven't met you yet. (By the way...this not meeting you business is NOT something I am thankful for!)
-Found out that a dearly loved brother and sister have made it to the top of the list in their adoption journey! We have been rejoicing with them as we see the "ball rolling" and things falling into place for the ever closer arrival of our first Patterson niece or nephew
-Heard that we'll be getting another NEPHEW in September, thanks to THIS brother and THIS sister! Can't wait for Liam, Calvin and Baby to be the "three musketeers"!
-Welcomed two new babes into our circle of Canadian "friends that feel like family". These friends' beautiful twin girls safely entered the world on April 12th, and they are lovely! We are already plotting arranged marriages between them and our two boys! (More about them when I finally get my Canada pictures uploaded!)
In other news, this month also marks the winding down of Mr. Iain's second year. One month from today, he turns two! I'll save the "Iain Update" for next week, when I have a little more time, but I still can't believe that it was already two years ago that we were anxiously (and prayerfully) awaiting his arrival, trusting and hoping that God would take us through whatever He had in store for our little baby. He has truly done exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think! We have so much to be thankful for.
Also, just about one year from now was when we found out we were expecting Liam! (Although we didn't know he was Liam yet!) We kept the secret for a month, to "reveal" it at Iain's birthday, and it was the longest month ever! I'm pretty sure I spent the first six or so months of my pregnancy (unconsciously!) assuming he was a girl, since I couldn't imagine any boy but Iain! Now, of course, I can't imagine anyone but him...! It's amazing to me how God had that little boy planned for us, long before we ever knew him, or expected him! We have so much to be thankful for!
As I reflect on this Good Friday about how much I love my sons, I am still amazed that God would give HIS Son for me. My heart breaks as I think about Mary watching HER Son suffer and die on the cross. I think about Christ, leaving His home and His Father, who He loved, to live on an earth filled with sin and to be killed by people He created. What God would do this? How deep the Father's love for us! It always seems fitting to me to have rain on Good Friday. It matches the somber feeling that I'm sure was shared by all of Jesus' followers on that first "Good Friday". But PRAISE GOD, that is not the end of the story!
The boys and I spent the morning decorating Easter eggs with Mom and Dad Pitman and close to twenty of Mom's ESL students from the University and it was so amazing to see people who had no real concept of Easter listening to the Resurrection story for the first time. I can't wait to spend the rest of the weekend celebrating this "happy ending". Although Iain (and certainly Liam!) is probably still too young to understand the meaning of Easter, we have been reading the Easter story all week and he is very interested. We're planning on starting some traditions (like this one) to help him understand what Easter is all about. We're also looking forward to some of the less weighty, but still important traditions, like Easter brunch with the family, and (of course!) an Easter egg hunt! I hope you all have a blessed and joyful Easter weekend! We have so much to be thankful for!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Dream Come True
Tuesday night Iain checked something off his "Bucket List". He played in a band. It was his dream come true...five grown ups, all playing instruments, all paying attention to him at the same time! He was beside himself with delight, as evidenced by the look of pure joy on his face in the bottom picture. (Please ignore his mother in the same picture...Iain's face was too cute not to post!) He has been asking ever since to "go back to the basement and be in the band"! Oh the small things that make children happy! It's wonderful! Be back tomorrow with some pictures from our recent trip to Canada!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
First Road Trip Together
Oh Mister Liam. You've got rosy cheeks. You're drooling. You're gnawing on your hand like it's a the tastiest treat you've ever eaten. And I feel the tiny nubbins under your gums. Looks like we've got another early teether on our hands. Thankfully, you're not fussy yet, although based on your brother's miserable bout with teeth (September 2009--present!!!) I'm sure it's forthcoming. Hopefully NOT on our 13 hour car ride this week. Or perhaps (please Lord!) we'll be blessed this time around with an easy teether? And Sophie? Sophie is your best friend right now. Looks like someone is taking a road trip to Canada! Better pack your bags Sophie!
Friday, April 1, 2011
1/4 Done Your Trip Around the Sun
Our "newborn" is three months old? Where did the time go? It truly feels like yesterday that we were bringing you home from the hospital, but your first year is already a quarter over with! Here you are little Liam, in all your three-month glory. This beautiful photo was taken a couple of weeks ago by your Uncle Graeme of Pitman Photography fame, and I think it perfectly sums up your third month! The cute little smirk and the curious eyes are just how I picture you right now!
You are SO smiley! Smiling is your favorite...! You even stop eating now to look up and coo and smile at me. I love it! And you laugh! Daddy made you laugh the first time at the beginning of March by "rapping" with you (that always tickled Iain's funny bone too!) and you haven't stopped since. You love to have little conversations with us, made up of laughs, gurgles and coos.
Your sleeping continues to go well. At night you usually make it about 8 hours and then are up to eat around 5 or 6am, and then back to sleep for about four more hours. I am happy to see we are raising another late sleeper! Naps are great too, you take two during the day in your bed that are about an hour and a half each, (one in the late morning, one in the afternoon) and then you doze in the swing or stroller or car seat in the evenings. You are a very portable baby!
At your two month appointment, you weighed almost 14 lbs and were 25 inches long, and you are still growing like a weed. You are firmly in the 3-6 month clothing camp (and some of these items are short as well!) and your 0-3 things have been packed away to send to your "little" cousin Calvin. Which is good news for him, as that little butterball seems to be following in your fatty footsteps and is needing 0-3 month clothes after just one week! You wear size 2 in disposable diapers, and your FuzziBunz seem to need moved to bigger snap settings every week! Although you are getting bigger, I think you are thinning out a bit too. You don't look like such a pudge anymore, and you seem longer as opposed to fatter! You still love to eat though!
Thankfully, this month your spitting up has gotten (a tiny bit) better too. Ugh, you are the biggest spitter around! You've given up on the pacifier again (I think this time for good), and you usually take your baths in the tub with big brother now, instead of the baby bath. You're getting a lot stronger and hold yourself up with no problem during tummy time. I think pretty soon we can get out the Jolly Jumper! We have another trip to Canada this month, so we'll see if you're still a good traveler!
You still have remnants of your dark, thick baby hair, but it is getting very thin on top. You look a bit like an old man with a comb-over! The underneath hair is coming in pretty well though, and we're interested to see what color your hair actually ends up. Your eyes are still blue! I am starting to get attached to them. You are still a total snugglebug, and love to be held, cuddled, rocked, and kissed. We don't mind this one bit! But, in true second child form, you are also fine with being left alone, and can entertain yourself with very little interaction when needed. Liam, you are such an easy baby!!
Love you little three month old boy! Congratulations on making it 1/4 of the way around the sun.
You are SO smiley! Smiling is your favorite...! You even stop eating now to look up and coo and smile at me. I love it! And you laugh! Daddy made you laugh the first time at the beginning of March by "rapping" with you (that always tickled Iain's funny bone too!) and you haven't stopped since. You love to have little conversations with us, made up of laughs, gurgles and coos.Your sleeping continues to go well. At night you usually make it about 8 hours and then are up to eat around 5 or 6am, and then back to sleep for about four more hours. I am happy to see we are raising another late sleeper! Naps are great too, you take two during the day in your bed that are about an hour and a half each, (one in the late morning, one in the afternoon) and then you doze in the swing or stroller or car seat in the evenings. You are a very portable baby!
At your two month appointment, you weighed almost 14 lbs and were 25 inches long, and you are still growing like a weed. You are firmly in the 3-6 month clothing camp (and some of these items are short as well!) and your 0-3 things have been packed away to send to your "little" cousin Calvin. Which is good news for him, as that little butterball seems to be following in your fatty footsteps and is needing 0-3 month clothes after just one week! You wear size 2 in disposable diapers, and your FuzziBunz seem to need moved to bigger snap settings every week! Although you are getting bigger, I think you are thinning out a bit too. You don't look like such a pudge anymore, and you seem longer as opposed to fatter! You still love to eat though!
Thankfully, this month your spitting up has gotten (a tiny bit) better too. Ugh, you are the biggest spitter around! You've given up on the pacifier again (I think this time for good), and you usually take your baths in the tub with big brother now, instead of the baby bath. You're getting a lot stronger and hold yourself up with no problem during tummy time. I think pretty soon we can get out the Jolly Jumper! We have another trip to Canada this month, so we'll see if you're still a good traveler!
You still have remnants of your dark, thick baby hair, but it is getting very thin on top. You look a bit like an old man with a comb-over! The underneath hair is coming in pretty well though, and we're interested to see what color your hair actually ends up. Your eyes are still blue! I am starting to get attached to them. You are still a total snugglebug, and love to be held, cuddled, rocked, and kissed. We don't mind this one bit! But, in true second child form, you are also fine with being left alone, and can entertain yourself with very little interaction when needed. Liam, you are such an easy baby!!
Love you little three month old boy! Congratulations on making it 1/4 of the way around the sun.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard
Second annual Lord of the Rings marathon? Check. We began Friday evening, and the fun didn't stop until Sunday night. I could give you a play-by-play of everything we did, or describe how much fun we had, but if you aren't a fan of the movies, you'll just think we sound like total dorks. And if you love them like we do, you already know it was a good weekend! So instead, I'll keep this short, and summarize some observations I have, looking back on this Hobbit-y party.
Observation#1: If you're going to do something slightly nerdy, (like have a Lord of the Rings marathon...) the more nerdy you are about it, the more fun it will be! Here are some of the nerdy things we did, that made it VERY fun!
Elven Lembas bread wrapped in leaves
A menu! (of course!)
Specialty hobbit teas
Ent draughts
Observation #2: The hobbits must have been British. And they must have baked a lot. Shortbread and scones and pies...oh my! Most of our food was hearty Brit fare, (shepherd's pie, beef stew, sausage, mushrooms) mingled with a healthy dose of desserts. Here are a few of our goodies.
Empire Biscuits
Individual Apple Pies with cream
Observation #3: We should take certainly more photos of people, and possibly less of the food! I don't have a single shot of a single movie watcher! But I did document all the meals! So here they are!
First breakfast: Berries and cream, pumpkin scones with glaze, coffee and cream
Second Breakfast: Bacon, sausage, eggs, taters, mushrooms and crumpets
Elevensies: Mushroom leek soup, scones and cheese
Luncheon: Sausage, taters, field greens and roasted carrots
Afternoon Tea: Savory scones, jam, cheese,fruit, and tea
Dinner: Hearty beef stew, crusty bread (and carrot cake!)
Supper: Shepherd's pie, field greens and crusty bread
Observation #4: Mathematical formula for successful Lord of the Rings movie watching is as follows:
Observation#1: If you're going to do something slightly nerdy, (like have a Lord of the Rings marathon...) the more nerdy you are about it, the more fun it will be! Here are some of the nerdy things we did, that made it VERY fun!
Souvenir t-shirts with the flag of Gondor
Elven Lembas bread wrapped in leaves
A menu! (of course!)
Specialty hobbit teas
Ent draughts
Observation #2: The hobbits must have been British. And they must have baked a lot. Shortbread and scones and pies...oh my! Most of our food was hearty Brit fare, (shepherd's pie, beef stew, sausage, mushrooms) mingled with a healthy dose of desserts. Here are a few of our goodies.Scones
Empire Biscuits
Individual Apple Pies with cream
Observation #3: We should take certainly more photos of people, and possibly less of the food! I don't have a single shot of a single movie watcher! But I did document all the meals! So here they are!
First breakfast: Berries and cream, pumpkin scones with glaze, coffee and cream
Second Breakfast: Bacon, sausage, eggs, taters, mushrooms and crumpets
Elevensies: Mushroom leek soup, scones and cheese
Luncheon: Sausage, taters, field greens and roasted carrots
Afternoon Tea: Savory scones, jam, cheese,fruit, and tea
Dinner: Hearty beef stew, crusty bread (and carrot cake!)
Supper: Shepherd's pie, field greens and crusty bread
Observation #4: Mathematical formula for successful Lord of the Rings movie watching is as follows:[number of days allotted for watching]={number of children present}+(1)
Last year we pulled it off in two days. This year it took three (and we didn't QUITE finish). Next year, when Graeme and Ashlee's little peanut makes his or her appearance, we're thinking we'll need four. Or a week. Here are the elf and hobbit who slowed us down and prevented us watching even a single movie without interruption. Or falling asleep. Either that or we're getting old. Nope. It must be the kiddos!
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