Baby updates and Lent

First some updates and memories of the boys.

Orson:

Is getting so big!  We went to the park yesterday and I realized his size 3T overalls are now ankle skimmers...time to move up to the next size.  He is using so many new words everyday and getting more and more handsome too.  He is learning so much at school and has been known to correct us already.  He loves playing in his new sandbox (we made it out of a watering trough from the tackle store and some metal paint from the hardware store), playing with his brother (he can almost always make Ferdinand laugh and can always make him smile), bath time, match box cars and playing the game memory.  He also likes helping me in the kitchen (he tastes/smells all the ingredients before I put them in), helping Matt do anything Matt will let him help do, and repeating back all of the phrases that Matt and I over use (mom, you are killing me; are you coming or not dude?...)  He is also a firm believer that all things good happen on Saturday and is constantly telling us that Grandpa Jones/Aunt Annie is coming to visit on Saturday, we are going to the beach on Saturday, he will get raisins on Saturday...you name it Saturday is the day for it.

Ferdinand:

Is also growing.  He is mostly in 6 month size clothes (especially onsies and full body length clothing), he holds his head up like a champ, sometimes balances on his own in the sitting position, things he can talk, is trying to blow raspberries and roll over and smiles all the time!  This week he has given up sleep in favor of eating, so I think he is about to get even bigger.  He is also already working on teeth!  

 Oh yeah, we had a little fever scare with Ferdinand and had to take him to the emergency room...he was so cute but it was so hard to sit through all the needles and crying!

 Ferdinand's first laugh (excuse the silly mom antics), he loves dancing with his brother

Both boys feel me up with love all the time.  Orson gives me hugs and tells me he likes me all the time, every once in a while he also tells me I am his best friend.  Ferdinand is such a cuddler, I love to just hold and look at him. 


In other news, Lent started this last Wednesday and the bible study I have been going to at church has inspired me to share my lenten resolves so that I can hold myself more accountable for them and hopefully my friends and family will keep me in their prayers to help me with them as well.  In keeping with the Fasting, Alms and Charity ideal of lent as well as the rebirth of Easter, here is what I am working on.

1. I am giving up yelling.  Instead of yelling I want to stop and say a Hail Mary and think while praying about what it is I am upset about.  Pray hard for me on this one!
2. Spend more quality time with Matt, a weekly date, a glass of wine and a chat before we turn on a show and call at least one friend/family member every week.  I really want to reconnect and spend time listening this lent
3. Cook dinner at least 5 times a week.  The plan is 2 budget meals a week; a crockpot meal; a fish meal, a vegetarian meal, a meat meal and a splurge meal.
4. Give money at mass every week
5. Add 15 minutes of prayer/silent time to listen to God everyday.

They seem small compared to giving up sweets/facebook/electronics, or spending time volunteering  but I think they will help both me and my family be ready for Jesus this Easter.

By the way, when did my sweet boy go from this:

 to this:

?

Visits, Exploring, and a Baptism!

We have been very busy the last few weeks and I haven't posted in a long time, so here we go :)

Two weekends ago Matt, the boys and I headed down to Williamsburg and Jamestown to stay at one of those time share condos after they called and said we had "won" a free trip.  We have been wanting to go and the offer of paid for rooms to stay in made it impossible to say no to.  It was really neat to walk around where our country started and it was even nicer to get away and have good family time.  We walked around, enjoyed some good food, went to bed before 9 and over all had a great trip. 

 How to make chocolate old school style (it smelled so good!)

 Orson climbed this big trunk all on his own, he was so proud that he gave himself a thumbs up (except he can't seem to hold his thumb up so he just puts his pointer finger in the air :)

 Jamestown Island was bitterly cold but lots of fun.

 We had to stop for some hot apple cider and warm up.

 The splash from the bay waves froze on the trees, so cool

 I think we all agreed watching this man blow glass was the coolest part of the trip

The following week my brother and his bride came up to visit and to attend Ferdinand's baptism (Allison is his Godmother).  Besides the baptism we explored the monuments, the Air and Space museum, the American History museum and a couple of the Smithsonian art museums.  It was wonderful having family in town to share Ferdinand's big day and to get us our and about exploring all the amazing things DC has to offer. 

 The Botanical Gardens were having an orchid show!  So fun to practice my camera skills

 Fun pictures of the newly weds

The baptism went really great and I just couldn't stop smiling I was so excited to introduce Ferdinand to the church.  He wore the family gown (and yes he fit!) which wiggly baby and satin dress makes for a very difficult hour at mass (how do you do it mothers of girls?).  He did awesome, no crying and lots of smiles (not that we got pictures of any of the smiles) and Orson did great too.  He even got to assist Father during the baptism and hand him the candle when it was time.  We were so pleased to share the occasion with my brother and sister-in-law and with Grandpa Bob.

 It was sure hard to get a good picture of our tired little man!