Presents

I LOVE getting presents!!! Seriously, who doesn't??? That is why I was so excited when Living Without Sophia and Ellie started 25 Days of Giveaways this holiday season for moms who had lost babies. Everyday for 25+ days a different blogger hosted a giveaway and all you had to do was comment on the blog of the day and you were entered to win. The items varied from a homemade blanket with your angels name on it, to a necklace from My Forever Child, to a Snow Babies Christmas ornament purchased from Target. It really was a fun thing to get involved in and a great diversion for those that were struggling through the holiday season without their little ones. I was the lucky winner of a Embrace headband and towel set. The momma I won these from used these in the Pilates classes she started taking after losing her quadruplets. I was also lucky enough to receive 2 name plaques that Katy from In Hannahs Honor made for Brooke and Alexcyn. What a wonderful surprise this was for me, especially because I was not the winner of her giveaway! Katy was so moved by all the stories of the contestants, she actually made us all gifts! I was so excited when this beautiful package came in the mail this week.

I am just humbled and amazed at the generosity of this woman I don't even know! Thanks Katy for making my day with these special gifts to remember our daughters.

United in grief, we find love and strength.

For those of you who do not know, Carly from Love Reign Over Me has created an International Babylost Mother's Day. It will be held the first Sunday of May each year. This year it will be held on Sunday May 2nd. This day recognizes that all women who have lost a child are still mothers.

As Carly says, on this special day in May we come together to celebrate our connection, our children, and our hope for the future. International Babylost Mother's Day is a day for love, peace, remembrance, and recognition. Click here to view the IBMD fan page that Carly created. You can also check out the various flowers to pass on to other moms.

(Thanks to Jill at Footprints on our Hearts for this post!)

Baptism

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

There have been many times over the last few years that I have thought of the day we would baptise our children. When we had the girls, I was so thankful that our pastor was able to come to the hospital and baptise Alexcyn before she passed away. But, I was extremely sad because that is not the way it was supposed to be. At that point in our lives, we had been dealing with infertility for years and had dreamed of the day we would finally be holding our babies in our arms as their lives were promised to God. When Alexcyn was baptised, she was in the NICU. We were only able to hold her hands.

After we lost the girls, I couldn't handle baptisms. I signed up to get our church bulletin online so I would know in advance when baptisms were going to take place. I would stay in bed and skip church those days. It was just too much of a reminder of the day I was still waiting to have with Brooke and Alexcyn.

So, needless to say when it came time to think about Grant being baptised, I was thrilled and excited that it was finally our turn to stand up in front of our family and friends and promise our baby's life and love to God!

Pastor Frank was the one that baptised Alexcyn and he and his wife prayed for us and stood by us as we went through all of our struggles so it was very special that he was also the one that baptised Grant.

Tears came to our eyes as he spoke briefly spoke about this verse... A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. We have spent so much time weeping and mourning and yesterday was a day to celebrate. It was a day to DANCE!

Grant was wrapped in a special blanket knit by his great grandma B.

And he wore beautiful blue booties given to him by his mom mom.

Marvelous Monday...

I know that most people don't think of Mondays as being marvelous. Trust me, there were many years that I agreed! But, now that I am working a part time schedule, I get to wake up and spend every Monday with this amazing boy and that makes for a Marvelous Monday in my world!

3 Months!

Yesterday I turned 3 months old! This is what I have up to this past month....





*Remember on my 2 month post when my mom mentioned me sleeping 8-10 hours? Some people laughed and thought it would never happen. A week ago, my mommy didn't think it was going to happen either. But, just this last week I started eating my last bottle at 10 p.m. and then I didn't wake up again until 8:30 a.m.! So, I actually did it- I made it 10 hours! And, even though I am really hungry when I wake up, I still have a smile on my face which makes my mommy really happy when she comes into my room to get me in the morning!


*I am wearing 3 month size clothes. My mom has had to put a few outfits away that claim they are 3 months, but for the most part, my 3 month clothes fit me perfect.


*At Christmas, I weighed 12 pounds 6 ounces! I am growing boy.


*My mom took out my Bumbo seat, but I am not so sure I like it yet. I usually hold my head up great, but when I am in this silly chair, I can't figure out what I am supposed to do. I prefer my comfy bouncy seat over this funny chair, but my mom keeps putting me in it for some reason!

*I am still eating 4 ounces every 3 hours. But, before I go to bed I like to eat 5 ounces.

*I wear size 1 diapers.


*I am very alert and love to watch everything around me. Occasionally, I find the tv and am mesmerized by it. My mom was especially concerned the other day when I actually stopped eating and watched Giada on Food Network- she mentioned something about me being just like daddy!


*I love to lay on the floor and play with my keys or my taggie blankie. I have also discovered that I have a mouth and I try to put everything I can in my mouth- including my taggie!

*And, I saved the best for last--- I have started to laugh! I laugh a lot when my mom mom (aka grandma C) sticks her tongue out at me! My mommy wishes she had a video camera so she could play a clip of it on here because it really is the cutest thing ever!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful start to your new year!
Grant Weston