Newborn No More

Today Asher is two months old. How quickly the days fly by! He is a newborn no more ~ that’s what happens when you blink. I took him to Grandpapa’s office for his first appointment and first shots. What a little trooper; hardly a whimper! At 12 pounds and 23 1/2 inches, he is longer and lighter than his big brother was, but not by a lot. These two boys are still incredibly similar, and it makes life with them both incredibly fun.

Asher is starting to smile and coo now, although it still isn’t predictable. I try over and over to capture such moments on camera but they are fleeting. And I want to enjoy those moments without always having to look at them through my Canon lens. ;) But I do take photos and videos to help me remember these moments in the future. There are so many many moments that I just want to bottle up and keep forever. One of my friends wrote on her blog not long ago that she wanted to stick her children in the freezer so they would simply stay the way they are. 🙂 And I hear her heart!

Just over two months ago, this was our reality (except in reality my belly was covered in bruises…):

Just over one month ago, this was:

And now, this is:

And so we shout from the rooftops, thank You God for sending us such sweetness!!

Embracing for One Month

How can it be that I have been embracing this little sweetheart in my arms for one entire  month already?! Today our Asher is one month old. Thanks be to God!

As our littlest redhead grows and changes, here is a wee bit of picture proof that I am trying to seize the days, treasure every moment, and embrace the camera with our happy-boy.

Loving a wee layer of snow

Our home looks so lovely covered with a wee layer of snow. Enough to cover up the vestiges of the construction site and lack of yard, but not enough to require plowing yet. It’s the best of both worlds. 🙂

The boys and I went out to enjoy the frosty world. Okay, let’s rephrase that: Asher slept through it in some awesome cuddly coziness, I tolerated the cold biting my legs through my jeans (one of these days I need to unpack my snow gear!) and took pictures, and Gabriel thoroughly enjoyed the frostiness of the world around our home. Picture perfect examples? You got it.

     

Asher’s Baptism

 

Even though I have a 3 1/2 year old miracle boy, my motherhood has often felt more defined by loss than by life.
But suddenly I have a 3 1/2 week old miracle boy here with us as well. And life is beginning to be the pervading essence in our home. (At least for now.)
And it is beautifully refreshing. What a balm! What a respite! What a catch-my-breath miracle!

And yesterday was the drop that tipped the scales on that point.
It was Asher’s baptism.
For three years, we have sat in the church pew and watched family after family baptize their precious babies. And for much of that time, my husband and I have sat there crying. Weeping. Grieving. Wondering. Pleading.

Yesterday we were the ones who were asked to come to the front, to stand in front of the altar, to make promises before God and our congregation, to offer a charge to our baby, to pray a blessing upon him… Us. Our family. Our baby boy. :happytears:

My mother sewed him a gorgeous white gown, with French seams and tiny buttons and tucks and trimmings. She embroidered his name on it, along with “Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” and yesterday’s date. And because it was a cold, snowy day she also sewed him a full slip and bonnet. She also gave him a white onesie that says “loved” and pale blue BabyLegs for underthings to keep him doubly cozy.

He wore his great-great-grandfather’s gold baby ring (along with one that was given just to him, for his own family heirloom), which is another reminder that he is part of the bride of Christ.

Steven wrote a beautiful charge and prayer for him.
I put together a reception for ~200 people afterward, where we served a light lunch of breads, meats, cheeses, olives, grapes, and cake (plus wine).
My parents hosted a family dinner celebration in the evening at their home, with white and gold decorations, white flowers, rich food and wine, music, people we love (and who love Asher), and another prayer of blessing.

The whole day was focused on life. Asher’s life. His life here on earth and his eternal life in heaven. The life that God has called him to, and the life that God has called us to nurture and disciple.

LIFE.

But Asher’s life does not exist in a bubble. And his life does not erase the immense pain we have endured as we have suffered the death of seven of his older brothers & sisters. And I wanted to somehow acknowledge them yesterday, even if it was just privately to myself. My mommy’s heart needed to know that all nine of my children were remembered as the youngest brother was given the sign of the covenant, as the waters of baptism dripped off his fuzzy red head.

So I wore a corsage made of seven baby white roses. My dad bought them. My mom made the corsage and pinned it on me. And a couple people actually commented on my corsage, and I was able to tell them that the seven roses were in honor of our heaven-babies. And I knew. The whole day, I knew what I was wearing and why. As I held my baby in my arm, and held my big boy’s hand, I wore a remembrance of their siblings. And I can’t tell you how that image blessed me.

Thanks be to God for His incredible gifts.
Not the least of which is our sweet covenant son, Asher Timothy.
Hallelujah!

Our Thanksgiving Blessing

Psalm 126

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Our mouths are filled with laughter, our tongues are filled with shouts of joy! We have been blessed with a sheave of wheat so sweet and ripe! Our precious Asher Timothy is here!

On Thanksgiving morning, just before sunrise, we received the enormous blessing of welcoming our Baby Nine into our arms. After a long labor and quicker delivery, we were overwhelmed with the goodness and mercy of looking upon LIFE. 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and 20 inches of squeaky, wiggly, precious, cuddly, redheaded, blue eyed life! As I held my Asher on my chest for the first time, I told him I have waited so long for you ~ I can’t believe you’re alive and sobbed over God’s goodness and grace. It’s just overwhelming. Astounding.

Asher ~ blessed, happy
Timothy ~ one who honors God

We have waited for years to bestow this name upon a living, breathing, image-bearing covenant child. He bears the name Timothy, just like his daddy, and he inherited his daddy’s eyes. We rejoice over this little boy’s life, and delight in sharing his arrival with you. God has indeed truly blessed us and made us happy. We seek God’s strength to raise him to honor God with every fiber of his being, to live in humble thankfulness before Him all of his days for the mercy God has showered upon all of us.

What a Thanksgiving miracle! Our children are a pure, unutterable blessing. Thanks be to God on high!!