Life Together: The Plan

November has been a month bursting full of activities. This is both wonderful and difficult at the same time. All these events and activities have been fun, don't get me wrong. But when we're short on sleep because of Clara a busy calendar can be grueling. It makes me weary just to think back on some of those days.

Clara is packing on the weight, in a very adorable and lady-like way of course. She is also beginning to coo and smile at us which is so fun! Having a newborn, as many of you know, is a lot of give, give, give until around 6-8 weeks when the baby starts giving back in the form of eye-contact, fleeting smiles and coos of contentedness.

It has come to our attention through an anonymous source that some of you believe that Clara was not planned. You know, a surprise, an oops. First of all, Clara was always in God's plan for our family, since the beginning of time. Secondly Clara was surprisingly in our own plans too. Although it sounds completely crazy (and it probably is) we wanted to have our first 2 babies very close together. I know what your thinking. These people are nuts. Don't they like to sleep? Don't they want to go out on a Friday night (at least once a month)? There are days when I too wonder if we did the right thing. Like the days I walk into Walmart in pouring rain with a gale-force wind in my face carrying a baby in a car seat in one arm, a 27 lb child in the other, and a diaper bag loaded with all the essentials thrown over my shoulder. If people ask if I work out, the answer is "yes".

In all reality, we planned the spacing of our children for very specific reasons. First of all, the longer Lydia lived without any siblings, the longer she would believe that life revolved around her. She would never have to share with a sibling, and we would almost always be able to tend to her needs as soon as she wanted us too. Now with Clara she has to wait her turn (there are only so many things I can do while nursing a baby.) Secondly, we're just following God's command to fill that quiver. Although the duties of caring for young children can be extremely burdensome, the rewards are bountiful - it is so amazing.

This month we celebrated a very special day in Clara's life - her baptism. The symbolism behind this sacrament is so rich. A sign of God's covenant faithfulness to believers and their children.

Now here's what you've been waiting for. The pictures.