BLESSED.

Adding to the Easter festivities, we combined the holiday with Maggie's baptism so family could all make the trip. We held her baptism in the log chapel on campus with just a few family members and friends. This was the same place that Henry was baptized two and a half years ago, and the same priest, Fr. Foster, who married us and baptized him performed the sacrament for Maggie. We were even able to use the same chalice from our wedding and Henry's baptism - which has now been engraved with everyone's names and dates. We hope it can be used at many more celebrations! The baptism was beautiful and Maggie was a peach, didn't even make a peep. She stirred a little when everyone made the sign of the cross on her forehead and fluttered her eyes a little when the water was poured over her head. Henry watched/played and wanted to be baptized too, but he had to wait till he took his tubby that night :)

Before some pictures, we thought we'd share a little about choosing Maggie's name. Basically, Margaret and "Maggie" just ended up being a name we liked - both the long version and the nickname we thought was so sweet. Although we liked many more girls' names than boys' name, and we were able to come up with more choice, we debated a little about a girl's name, but both liked Margaret and decided to go with that. I had a dream early in the pregnancy that was her name, but we thought about it and didn't decide till the end. As for her middle name, there is a trend in my family where the daughter's middle name is the grandmother's first name. I am Pamela Marie (Marie is my grandmother), my mom is Jane Ann (Ann is her grandmother), and now Margaret Jane. Since naming Margaret, we have found some info about other Margarets:

1. St. Margaret of Scotland - symbol is reading; patron saint of mothers, large families, learning, queens, Scotland, the death of children, and widows.

2. Margaret Wise Brown - author of Goodnight Moon, etc. (Before Maggie was born and I knew she would be a Margaret Brown, I bought some books just for her that we could read in the hospital - Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny were two of them - it was meant to be!)

3. Margaret Brown - otherwise known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown

and for some pictures -

reading the profession of faith - "I do"

Anointing with chrism (she smelled so good for the few days afterwards!)

Blessing the water

Receive the light of Christ

Parents and Godparents (looking serious)

Proud Mommy and Daddy

We had a lunch on campus for Maggie - her name in print!

Happy Family - hurray Maggie!

Sweet girl on her baptism day

Maggie's baptismal gown was worn by Henry, and also I wore it at my baptism, and it was also worn by my two aunts at their baptisms. It's over 50 years old, very delicate, and very sweet. Maggie looked beautiful in it, and the hat is so cute!

My happy girl!

one blessed (and tired) baby in her baptism jammies

Happy Baptism Day, Margaret Jane.

You are so blessed.

We are so blessed.

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Easter!

All week long, Henry and I watched this little Easter bunny and his friend hop around the yard in the morning, looking for some places to hide eggs

My Easter Bunny in his jammies

The day before Easter we made sure we had all of our preparations in line. A visit to the Easter bunny was in order,

as well as making Hot Cross Buns (Henry's favorite song these days) and dying Easter Eggs

Easter morning we donned our fancy clothes (yes, Henry still fit in his vest from last year! Whoo-hoo - quite the deal at $2.00 worn two years in a row - who knew he would still fit in a 24 month!)

And Maggie found some cute bows....

and tushie ruffles!

Our family of four by our Easter tree

After church, the Easter Egg Hunt began! Henry followed some bunny tracks around the house, and sampled plenty of the middle of the eggs.

And Henry calmly looked through his Easter basket, helped Maggie open hers, and even found a *few* eggs for his sister :)

I was happy to spend lots of time with family and celebrate spring and Easter together!

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Z-O-O Zoo!

A sunny day yesterday meant our first trip to the zoo!

I really love the double stroller we chose. I love being able to look down and see both my babies. And both the kids love it too (so far!)

Henry was really excited to be able to go back to the zoo. He was "so cited!" When we were talking about the animals we'd see, I mentioned monkey, camels, and lions. He said he didn't want to see the lions, and mentioned it again a couple of times as we were working our way around. I said he could decide if he wanted to see them or not when we got close, and then when we were there, I asked him if he wanted to see them and hold my hand. Henry said he did, and when he got close, he definitely liked seeing them and wasn't scared.

Then, the lions wok up and started roaring when we were just a little bit away. I had the bright idea to turn around and walk back so he could hear the lions roar. That's a cool thing to hear, right? Doesn't happen often? We should hear it up close and personal? I was excited and thought Henry would be too. NO! Big mistake! I probably undid all the good I had just done convincing him that the lions were neat to look at. However, I was NOT the only other mother pushing the stroller back quickly to see the lions roar. I was, however, the only mother whose child burst into tears at hearing them roar. I can't blame him though - of course that is scary to a two year old! What was I thinking? I definitely felt bad that he was upset, but luckily he recovered quickly. We'll see how we do next time we go back.

Henry standing like a flamingo (flim-bo-bo as he calls it)

This momma and baby wallabee reminded me of me and Maggie :)

And it wouldn't be a visit to the zoo without sitting on the big tortoise!

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Spring is here

Maggie's smiling because spring is here!

The weather has finally turned warm! We were able to do some spring cleaning outside in the garage and shed and feel pretty organized for summer. We've been able to play outside, which is always a treat. Henry got some new outdoor toys this summer - a plasma car for a big brother gift, and our next door neighbor found this pedal car for him at his work.

Last weekend, we knew the weather would be good so we made a plan to bike ride, since Henry has been asking for a bike ride for awhile. It was a little chillier than we planned, so we bundled up and Henry broke in the bike trailer for this year, and Maggie broke in the jogging stroller. I biked Henry to the park and Gabe ran Maggie. My favorite part? Henry: "good job pedaling your feet, Mommy!" and "Daddy is running. Good job too Daddy!" He's so supportive, and it's nice our efforts are appreciated!

At the older park in the neighborhood across the street from ours. Technically we're not supposed to use it, so please don't tell!

And we fed the ducks on campus!

Maggie has been doing a lot of stroller sleeping, of course. But she's enjoyed some sunshine too! She's so little in her brother's old coat!

We have been waiting for sunshine for a long time, and it's nice to have some sun and be able to do new spring outside activities. Can't wait for summer!

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Happy one month Maggie

We've come a long way, baby!

Exactly one day before her one month birthday, Maggie looked right at me and smiled! She's been practicing for about a week and a half - of course the sweet smiles as she nods in and out of sleep but also I've caught her looking at me and smiling while I've been looking away. Yesterday afternoon, I was holding her on my lap and she was smiling at my hair line a couple of times, and then she looked right at me, smiled with half a grin and then smiled at me with her little lips closed. And today? Smiles all around! She smiled at me as I was holding her with her little tongue sticking out, she will smile when I am about to feed her, smiled in her car seat today, and when she is in falling asleep too.

This morning, playing on the bed, we sang Happy Birthday to Maggie again. Henry of course asked for cake for breakfast! Then he volunteered to make her one in her play kitchen :) Mom was more okay with that idea

This week we took the double stroller for a spin at the mall. This wasn't the fir

st time using it, as we went when Maggie was just two weeks old. But it was the first time there by myself, and everyone did wonderfully! Henry says that "Maggie, you're the engine and I'm the caboose!" He came up with this one all on his own, and we're glad, because he really likes sitting on the "train double stroller." I get to be the engineer, and Daddy is the conductor.
We've been doing pretty well getting out of the house - and in the past two weeks have navigated Target, the grocery store (Henry in the cart, me wearing Maggie in the baby wrap), the YMCA gym, the library and bookstore story time. I'm a lot more willing and less nervous to get out of the house this time around. I'm taking advantage of Maggie sleeping all the time!

Maggie has been working on some tummy time. She will tolerate it for a few minutes, but can only push her head up when she is at an angle on one of us, not when she is on the floor yet.

Most of the time, this is right where she wants to be when she sleeps. She wakes up when we put her in her swing, crib or bouncy seat, but is actually getting a little better with not needing to be held in her sleep. And night time sleep is really great, with her going a five hour stretch at the beginning and then three hours after that. Last week she was eating every hour and half during the day, this week she is getting on more of a 2 to 2 1/2 hour pattern. And I'm feeling much better now too.

She's so little in her car seat! This was her coming home outfit one month ago, and she still fits in it (barely!) today. And she smiles!

We've come a long way, baby!

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