when in rome.

About four years ago I found this little baby shirt at a yard sale. It was around the time that I was thinking I might get pregnant with our second. I put it in my pajama drawer and thought that in the following year our next baby would wear this tiny blue "when in rome" t-shirt. Well, that little t-shirt sat in that drawer much longer than expected. It stayed in that drawer when the doctor told me there was no way I was going to be able to get pregnant again. It stayed there when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Premature Ovarian Failure. There were many times when I would come across this blue t-shirt and look at it and cry. But I just couldn't take it out of that drawer. I just couldn't give up the hope that we would have another baby whos pudgy arms would peek through those arms holes. I prayed and hoped and got angry and got sad and got depressed, all the while knowing that I was blessed with my family that I already had. A healthy and happy son, an amazing husband, my family and friends. But still, in my heart there was a place that was feeling a little empty and was just yearning to have another child.  I continued to pray that somehow our family could grow.
And then our life took us along a different path, one that included my crazy and sweet and generous and loud and beautiful and wild sister Kristina.
And so with hope I took out that tiny blue shirt and felt joy and excitement that perhaps I would get to squeeze a little being into it.  At first it didn't happen and that shirt caught some more of my tears. But I continued to hope and pray and folded it back up and placed it back in the drawer.
And it did. God had answered our prayers.With joy I took out that shirt and placed it on my growing belly, eagerly anticipating our baby's arrival knowing that whether it was a boy or a girl our baby would wear this funny little t-shirt reminding me of our unexpected journey.
And then sweet Vincent was born and that shirt was taken from my drawer and placed in the boys' dresser. A brother for George.
And now how appropriate that our Vincent is wearing this as we get packed and ready for our trip to Rome and Germany.
Life sure is an adventure, it presents us with unexpected challenges, it leads us down roads we never expected to travel upon. And along the way God presents us with some pretty amazing gifts and journeys. When I finally got to squeeze Vincent into this blue little t-shirt all those moments of waiting and longing we're remembered. Those moments made this moment that much sweeter. Life is an adventure! When in Rome!

19/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

George: He is eager to have some new jobs around the house; the latest is taking care of all our indoor  

plants. Every Friday he is in charge of filling up the watering can, counting out the drops of plant food and watering.  He does so with precision and care, quite different from the way he usually plays.

Vincent: A hilarious new habit, making this face each time he puts a piece of food in his mouth.

lately.

Vincent is now in the "I'm interested in getting into everything except my toys and putting it in my mouth" stage.
For the past few weeks he has been crawling and now is enjoying the view from a little higher as he pulls himself up and walks around checking out what to get into from this new vantage point. A side benefit is that it is forcing me to keep things a little tidier around here in attempt to keep some little fingers from eating dust bunnies and stale crumbs.
George has been keeping things in order lately by using the old movie camera to keep a lookout for 'bad guys' and attacking them with his nurf guns and other objects that I don't quite understand.
Boys are funny little creatures. 

resemblance.

There does seem to be some resemblance between our offspring and their father. Perhaps it's a good thing we don't have a girl!

t-ball.

T-ball season has begun and we have finally joined all the hoopla that happens in this community on Friday nights surrounding this game.  It seems like every boy from the village can be found at the park wearing his white pants with grass stained knees, cap on head and glove on ready for action.  It just so happened that George and his good buddy Max were placed on the Toronto Blue Jays, which is certainly appropriate for this little Canadian at heart.
I love this picture that Max's dad took during one of their games. It seems that George will find any excuse to slide whether or not it's necessary. So between sliding on the field or fighting over the ball with Max (you're on the same team boys!) they are having a grand time.

18/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

   George: Talks about 'when he was four' like it was long ago despite only turning five next week!

   Vincent: His face is changing and he seems to look older today than it did last night! 

party time.

We celebrated George's upcoming 5th birthday this past weekend. His request was a vanilla cake, covered with vanilla icing, and lots of sprinkles. Add some wild little buddies, a bouncy house, a few games and it made for a great afternoon.
For the past few years on the night before George's birthday I pick a t-shirt from his drawer, usually one that he has worn all year long and has gotten a little thin and worn over the year and sew on his new age. It ends up being the night before because I always forget to do it earlier, but I do enjoy this evening activity as it allows me to take some quiet moments to mull over our little man turning a year older while I sew.  Our George Carter is turning five in a weeks time.  Five is one of those ages that seems like a pivotal age. Changing from a little guy to a not so little guy.  When I look at pictures of him a year ago he seemed like a toddler still, now when I look at him I can almost imagine the way he will look as a young man, even as a teenager. But thankfully we are not there yet. Four going on five. And what a sweet thing he is. I feel blessed to be his mom and am excited for another year keeping up with this guy!