JAMSquared

As promised, here are pictures from our trip to Midland last weekend. It was a very busy weekend.

My Dad had so much fun at the breakfast table, he ended up being the last one to change from his pajamas.

My sister wouldn’t want to see the other picture I snapped of her and Cameron.

After breakfast, we all hung out. Cameron found a giant foam hand that he immensely enjoyed. Of course, it made all the Longhorn fans happy, especially since my sister is an Aggie through and through.

I can’t wait until all the kiddos are old enough to play together. It will be so much fun. Growing up, I never really spent much time with my cousins. Partly, because I didn’t have many, two on my Dad’s side and three on my Mom’s side. And partly because none of them traveled and they lived a ways away from us. So I think it is great, that we all live close enough to see each other often and that we’re all willing to travel.

After lunch on Saturday, we went over to James’ parents house and visited with them a bit.

Then we stopped by his grandparents for a little while. His grandparents will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in September. Isn’t that exciting? Yep, Jessica has her thumb in her mouth. I think it is so cute how she covers up her nose with her fingers when she does that.

We got back to my parents house right as everyone was leaving to go on a walk. We walked to the playground near the elementary school I attended. That brought back memories. We used to walk home from school. Aspen and Cameron enjoyed the swing. I didn’t bring Jessica’s coat (I didn’t realize we were walking to the playground) and so she stayed tucked under the blanket in her car seat/stroller.

I can’t wait until the kiddos become cheesers. Then Julia won’t be the only one smiling. Plus it will be so much easier to get them to all look at the camera.

On Sunday before church, my Mom got to hold all the grandbabies for a photo shoot, similar to the one my Dad experienced at Christmas. It was so cute how Cameron had his arm around Aspen.

Then we tried to get all four of them on the recliner, which was a tad difficult. We should have stuck with the loveseat from my Mom’s photo shoot.

Jessica did pretty good in the car both ways. The way up would have been faster if we had realized all it took was a light on once it got dark outside to make Jessica happy.

James and I attend Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church. We found our church while we were engaged and searching for a church that would fulfill both of our desires for a church. Our search consisted of attending numerous Christian churches. It was difficult as James was raised in a Baptist church and I grew up in a Catholic church, two Christian churches on opposite ends of the spectrum. After our marriage, which was performed by a minister friend of the family, we joined SHPC. We have not been the most consistent attendees of church, but we both think it is something important for our children (Jessica won’t be an only child) and will become more frequent church-goers.

One of the most important things for me when we were searching for a church, was infant baptism. The Baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God’s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. Baptism in the Presbyterian Church, usually occurs during infancy, though a person may be baptized at any age. Parents bring their baby to church, where they publicly declare their desire that he or she be baptized. When an infant or child is baptized the church commits itself to nurture the child in faith. When adults are baptized they make a public profession of faith. The water that is used symbolizes three accounts from the Bible’s Old Testament: the waters of creation, the flood described in the story of Noah, and the Hebrews’ escape from slavery in Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. Unlike some denominations, Presbyterians do not require a person to be entirely immersed in water during baptism. Baptism is received only once. Its effect is not tied to the moment when it is administered, for it signifies the beginning of life in Christ, not its completion. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) believes that persons of other denominations are part of one body of Christian believers; therefore, it recognizes and accepts baptisms by other Christian churches.

Jessica’s baptism was performed Sunday, January 31st by Rev. Larry Coulter at SHPC. It was a very beautiful time in Jessica’s life. She did great. The unfamiliar situation didn’t cause her any distress.

After being baptized, Pastor Larry carried Jessica around the sanctuary so that the members of the church could see the child they were committing to nurture in faith.

After the end of the church service, we all returned to our house for a little brunch. I had to have a picture of Jessica with all of her cousins: Dawson, James’ sister’s son and the oldest cousin at 9 years old; Cameron, my sister’s oldest son; Trevor, my sister’s youngest son and the youngest cousin (just 3 weeks younger than Jessica); and Aspen, my brother’s daughter.

We also got a number of photos of Jessica posing in her baptism gown. She is such a cutie, don’t you think?

Kristy, thank you for being the lovely photographer. I could not have captured this moment without you.

Wednesday, December 23rd

For Jessica’s first Christmas, we traveled to Midland. The trip was about 7.5 hours, which normally takes us about 6 hours (when we stop for lunch). We stopped in Eden for lunch and to feed Jessica. We stopped again in San Angelo so Jessica could meet her Great-Uncle Chuck. About 20 minutes from my parent’s house, we had to stop again, because Jessica didn’t want to sit in her wet diaper any longer. Except for the strong winds and rain the last hour of the trip, it went relatively smooth for Jessica’s first long car trip. After arriving and meeting her Aunt Sarah, Uncle Brian and cousins Cameron and Trevor for the first time, she went down for bed.

Thursday, December 24th

What do 8 adults, 1 toddler and 3 babies equal? A chaotic but wonderful Christmas Eve. The day was spent enjoying each other. The guys and Aspen put together a puzzle. My Dad, Sarah, Julia and I ate lunch at Taco Villa (nacho fries, yum!) and then took lunch back to the house for everyone else. Some naps were taken and not just by babies.

Everyone except my Dad, James, Jessica and I went to the children’s service at St. Ann’s. We then ate dinner and my Dad left for choir practice before the 8 o’clock and midnight masses. Normally, we would have opened all the gifts together Christmas Eve, but with my Dad in the choir, the little ones going to bed and an over-abundance of gifts under the tree,  the adults opened most of their presents and some of the babies’ presents after dinner. My Mom and I then went to midnight mass (held at 11 o’clock with 30 minutes of music beforehand) to watch my Dad sing in the choir. James was going to go with us, but since Jessica had been fussy being put to bed, we didn’t want anyone to have to get up to soothe her should she wake up. Of course, she didn’t wake up.

Friday, December 25th

The morning started out with all the babies in the matching sleepers my sister got for them. Jessica (10 weeks old), Aspen (4.5 months old), and Trevor (7 weeks old) looked so cute. Cameron (21 months old) had to of course join Papa and the babies for some photos.

We also took a number of photos with just the 2009 cousins. It is quite difficult to get 3 babies to smile at the camera. I think Aspen wanted more room.

Jessica got some great presents: clothes, books and toys. Daddy opened most of them for her as Mommy was busy photographing the opening of gifts.

Even though she didn’t technically open any of her presents herself, she decided that opening presents was tiring and decided a nap in Papa’s arm was in order. See that little headband with the red bow? That goes with the cutest little sailor outfit she received and will be wearing this summer.

After getting Jessica dressed in her Christmas outfit, we went over to James’ parents’ house to have lunch and open gifts. Jessica got to meet her great-grandparents and Aunt Tami for the first time.

Saturday, December 26th

After breakfast, Cameron convinced his Uncle James to take him for a walk in the new wagon Santa brought him. Of course, it didn’t take much convincing since it was James’ idea. His wagon is pretty deluxe. It seats two with cupholders for each and one of the seats opens up to hide some toys.

After lunch, Sarah and her family left to return home. Jason, Julia and Aspen had left before James, Jessica and I woke up. They are early risers. I’m so thankful that Jessica is not an early riser. Of course, it helps that we put her to bed 1-1.5 hours after Aspen goes to bed allowing her to sleep 1-1.5 hours later.

Sunday, December 27th

We went to church with my Mom (Dad left early to sing in the choir). After lunch, I went with my parents to visit my grandmother, who is in the later stage Alzheimer’s unit at Manor Park. I’m so glad my Grandma has such a nice place to live. After that, we went to visit at James’ parents’ house.

Monday, December 28th

After breakfast we hit the road. Jessica did fabulously in the car.

You might remember this post here about the 2009 Dzubinski family trip. Well, for Christmas this year, I made a scrapblog of our family trip and ordered one hardbound book each for my parents, my sister and her family, and my brother and his family. I was quite happy with how they turned out.

My parents drove in from Midland and my sister and her family drove in from the DFW metroplex the weekend before last for my second baby shower. Before the ladies and kiddos headed off to the shower, we got together for lunch. Aren’t Cameron and Aspen cuties?