Josiah's 7th Birthday!

So this post is LATE... clearly... HAHA, but Josiah turned 7 last month and I wanted to share some adorable pictures. :) Daddy took him and his "best buddies" down to the harbor and science center. They all HAD A BLAST from what I can see and what I heard!

All the kids at the science center being archaeologists... :)

...and being baby dinosaurs in eggs! haha

Aaaaaannnnd now we know this dinosaur could've eaten them all up... at once! ;)

After their day at the science center (this was a few days before Josiah's actually birthday) they came home to have dinner and celebrate with the rest of the families...

Josiah's SILLY face cupcakes, he made the faces- I stuck them in! ;)

Opening presents happily from his buddies! 

Josiah was spoiled on his ACTUAL birthday too a few days later by some friends of ours! We had a fun playdate at their house and then had dinner with Grandpa and Grandma. It was a great day! He had the "day off" school for his birthday, and this is how he chose to spend all that extra time.... 

Haha, the boy loves to read!! :)

Birthday Morning- pictures of his cake for later that day! :) 

At our friend Maria's house...

Playing outside! 

Benjamin couldn't get enough of these binoculars... 

Lydia and Maria BUG HUNTING!! :)

Grandma and Grandpa and Josiah :) 

Henry-- silly baby! :) 

Father's Day 2013

For Father's Day this year we took our two favorite Dad's down to the park and had a picnic, did a little "fishing" (I use this term loosely...you'll see why! haha) and generally just enjoyed our day together. We cherish these wonderful men in our lives, and all they do for us. Daddy and Grandpa- we love you so much! :) Here's some precious moments from our day together...

Henry and Grandpa SNUGGLES...

 Playing on the playground!! :)

 ooooh pretty water lillies!

 Daddy and his Boys!

Daddy and ALL 5 of his babies! :)

Grandpa caught a tiny fish, then said hey kids look let's fish... oh you caught one! haha ;)

Grandpa and Josiah with "his" fish...

 feeding the ducks... and grandpa walks to the other side of the dock...with the same fish still on the line... (LOL) ...

Then calls over Lydia- look Lyddie! You caught a fish!! haha. She's like, Um... cool. OK :)

Threw back in the pole- with THE SAME (poor little) fish... then told Ben to come try...

HAHA! LOVE that face, he was SO excited he "caught a fish!" Adorable. 

Grandpa and Ben with his "fish" :)

Lydia's Ballet Recital! June 2013

Lydia had her first Ballet recital... age 4... June 2013. Boy do I love that this blog can count as a journal/scrapbook, hey kids! want to know when that momentous occasion happened in your little young lives? Go check the blog! LOL... Anyway...

She was adorable and did just great! Didn't get stage fright and did well up there with her little Winnie the Pooh and tigger dance. Boy are those girls cute! She also handed her teacher her flowers at the end of her recital which was really adorable... We are so proud of our little girl!

Little Gal ... 22 weeks

Here she is!!!

Well folks, looks like Lydia is getting something I never had growing up...

A SISTER!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) 

We are so excited to announce that we are expecting a GIRL in September... just after Lydia turns 5... Great birthday gift, don't ya think? ;)

Here she is at 20 weeks... we didn't get many good pictures actually, this is the only half decent profile one we have. Lots of cute legs, feet and hands though! Too funny! She was being very shy... 

We go back for another sonogram in a few weeks I believe, so if I get any pictures that are better I"ll try to share them. 

Enjoy!!

p.s. Yes, she does have a name... and for now, No we aren't sharing... stay tuned til September! ;)

Alexander Francis Walk - A Memoir

This is a blog post detailing the account of our Second Child, Alex, whom we miscarried and now have a VERY special connection with... 
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Shortly after our little boy Josiah turned one year old (May 2007)... we were already eager to continue to grow our family. We conceived our 2nd child quickly and easily (as for us, is usual) and were very excited! I experienced none of the symptoms I did with Josiah...no morning sickness, my energy was fine... I was curious why, but was reassured that sometimes "the second one is just much easier". I didn't think much of it. Around the time we thought I'd be about 8 weeks, we went in for our first sonogram. They found the baby measuring at 6 wks 5 days, and couldn't quite get a heartbeat. They asked us to come back in 2 weeks and it would be easier, so we scheduled for 3 weeks just in case. I was a little worried, but still had hope and trusted it would be ok. When we went back 3 weeks later... the baby was STILL measuring 6 wks 5 days. Although I was now at the 9 week pregnant mark. The doctor told us we were likely miscarrying, and as we left (Michael and I, with Josiah in tow) were devastated. Michael held it together, but I started crying right in the office elevator, where I'm sure strangers were wondering about that. I cried off and on the whole way home, and immediately told Michael "we need to name him." We chose the name "Alex" because it could be Alexander, or Alexandra. Middle name Francis, because that could be Francis (male) or Frances (female). We immediately began mourning our loss of this baby. Not a half hour after my sonogram and upon our return home, I started bleeding. Not sure why it took until 9 weeks, but my body was finally letting go...

It hit me harder at first than it did Michael, but he also soon realized all that we had "lost" and took time to grieve as well. He stayed home from work a few days as I physically went through the process of miscarrying. When I had passed what seemed like, "the baby" I was as wreck and Michael took a baby food jar, placed "him" in there, and we baptized him (mostly for our sake and dedicated him as the Lord's, of course) and we then buried him outside under a newly planted dogwood tree, which my parents got us to remember him by. 

The next day (or so?) I just thought about him and moved in "zombie mode". I took time to create a tiny memorial service, which was just Michael, myself, and both of my parents. We waited until Josiah was asleep one night, went out by the dogwood tree, and said these prayers and words. That was it, it wasn't much, but it was something, to acknowledge this life existed. 

** Heavenly Visions **

Shortly after we miscarried, or while I was even still in the process, my best friend Jess was praying for us. We had been planning a trip to their house that weekend, to ask them to be our new baby's godparents, when all that was cancelled for our trip to the hospital. She told me, hesitantly, (maybe not sure if I'd think she was crazy? ;) about how when she was praying the Rosary, she was meditating on the mystery of Jesus being found in the temple as a young boy. She said she had a "vision" of Alex ... in heaven, he was at what looked like a desk, in a white robe with a gold rope, and he looked "JUST like Josiah... only a little older"  She said he seemed to be saying something similar to those wise words of Christ when he was just a boy, found in the temple... "why are you sad? Do you know know that I'm with my Father?" 

This first vision comforted me tremendously. I knew that our baby was with Jesus, but now I knew that he was a boy, (as I suspected!) and that had sort of a, confirmation, that he was in fact there, and everything was ok. 

This of course did not change my feelings of loss or grief over not getting to hold, see, smell, kiss, my new baby... but I knew that he was with God, and that alone was comforting. 

*** Second Vision ***

Just after the little "memorial service" we held for Alex... which was at night, we were all in bed, but I couldn't sleep. It was very VERY late, and I bundled up at around 1am in the morning, and walked out to "the Alex tree". 
     Even though I knew he wasn't there, I felt this bazaar feeling of how I'd left my baby out in the cold, and that I needed to be with him. I brought a blanket with me, and I knelt down in front of the tree, and I prayed, and cried... and prayed and cried... and prayed and cried... until I felt myself falling alseep outside. So I went back inside and went to bed. NO ONE knew of my visit out to the tree late that night.

The next morning Jess sends me an email and tells me she had another vision of Alex, this time, "you were kneeling next to the Alex tree praying, and he was there, standing beside you" .... 

wow. 

As if there could be more certainty... more precious proof that this little one was with God? I couldn't believe she knew this, something that no one else could have possibly known. 

*** Third Vision ***

We continued to mourn the loss of Alex, but also pray for guidance as to when God wanted us to "try again" to conceive. As we prayed and listened for answers... Jess said to me, "I was praying the Rosary again, and I was meditating on the Nativity, only I had a vision and it wasn't Mary, Joseph and Jesus, it was You and Michael...with a baby." We took this, and other answers to prayer to mean-- December. We tried again and December, and by New Years Day, a pregnancy test confirmed what we already knew... we were also celebrating NEW LIFE!!! :) Our 3rd baby was conceived, and I was nervous, but knew he or she was clearly in God's hands.

*** Fourth Vision *** 

Jess kept this one a secret until we asked... but shortly before we had our 20 week sonogram I told her we were planning to find out the gender of this baby. (We hadn't done so the first time with Josiah.) This time I felt like I just needed something "a little more to hold onto" since I was still nervous about miscarrying again, even though I knew in my heart that wasn't God's plan this time around. Jess said, "I think I already know..."

Then when I called her to tell her the news- "IT'S A GIRL!!!!" :o) She told me "she already knew that because she had a vision ...and it was of me pregnant, with Mary and Alex praying with their hands on my belly...and the baby was a girl."  Ahhh hahaha! Why was I not surprised??? 

This image to this day, still moves me greatly. I can picture it... (and I wish I could paint it or something!) and it makes me so happy to know that Alex was praying for his little sister, and watching over all of us, keeping us in prayer. I'm glad he knows WE ARE HIS and HE IS OURS...even though he is with Jesus, which is of course much better! :)

*** Fifth Vision ***

Recently Josiah received his First Holy Communion... on April 27, 2013. What a blessed and holy day this was!! One of the most precious moments of the day for me came that morning...

Josiah and I had to leave the house early to arrive at the church for portraits and to line up early before Mass with the other kids. I was SO NERVOUS for everything in the day to "go right" and I realized I needed to settle down, pray, and enjoy the moment. I told Josiah, "well, I guess we better pray..." So we prayed our morning offering prayers that we typically pray together each day (in the car) and we also asked intercession of some of the Saints and we included "Alex... pray for us!" 

Probably about 10-15 minutes later when the portraits were done and we were just waiting for everyone else to arrive, I got a text message from Jess. It read,

"Offered my Rosary for Josiah this morning and while praying final joyful mystery I 'saw' Alex with Josiah beside him as he received communion. Thought you'd like to know..."

I could hardly believe it... we'd just prayed and talked to Alex, asked for his prayers this day, and then I was reassured from Heaven that he'd be right beside our family this day, rejoicing in Josiah's First Holy Communion with him. What a blessing and honor!


       I'm sure there have been other visions that Jess has had of Alex, I may not have them all listed here but I'll do my best to keep updating this too, with other awesome times that Alex intercedes on our behalf. Needless to say, we are thankful and honored to have had him in our lives the brief time that we did, and even though we don't understand it this side of heaven, we know God has/had big plans for his life! He is now a heavenly advocate for our family, and will always be a party of us. 

We love you, Alex! 

Photo Update! Family Activities February

I'm fairly certain no one follows this blog anymore... or really, ever did? ;o) BUT... I figure I'll still keep posting for the rare person who does check this... maybe? :) Oh wait, I think my husband might check it! that's encouraging at least! I could write him love notes! Ok, don't worry, I won't turn my blog into mushy love notes... tempting though. :)

So... what to write. It's Lent. I'm doing terribly. At LENT that is. I just haven't had the time, energy, or motivation this year, and I feel badly about that really, but I'm not sure how to fix it. I think I will try to do better in personal prayer time for the rest of Lent. That is what I seem to be hearing most from God (read: on the rare occasion I'm still long enough to hear God speak to me.) Just PRAY. if you spend time in PRAYER, you can be the Christian that He's calling you to be. I heard a great talk last night by Fr.Pat, the Priest who witnessed our marriage and baptized Josiah (6 yrs ago- phew!) and it was such a pleasure to see and hear him. He reminded me of those things again... to be the Christian God's calling you to be, you must pray. A personal, loving, relationship with Jesus is what you need. What you need to feel the courage and grace and strength for what He's calling you to be. So... there is my second-half-of-Lent goal. pray more!

In the meantime, what else is new? Little pumpkin (okay, orange?) is about 12 1/2 weeks now, hooray! I get a bonus sonogram today which I'm SUPER excited about. Love getting to see this little one grow! :) ** Photos from this will have to come later ;)

The other little clowns are doing wonderful too. They are just so fun and sweet. Let's see... photo update!

Baby Henry- sweet, lovable, squishy, LAUGHS a lot (turns out his middle name means Laughter, how perfect!) almost 8 months now!

Hi baby boy! here is proof your mommy exists- I took a picture of me with you ;o) 

Benjamin turned 3!!!! 

He had a few friends over for PIZZA, CHOCOLATE MILK, CAKE and ICE CREAM! 

(all his choices, of course!) 

  On Benjamin's actual birthday since it wasn't TOO horribly freezing, we bundled up and took a walk to the playground- hooray!!

Henry rode the slide for the FIRST time! (with big brother assistance) ;o) 

Henry on the slide.... 

I love this picture... looks like he's saying, "BOOYAH!! what's up!?" haha. so cute.

3 climbin' crazies

being silly 

 Perhaps one of the BEST birthday pictures. Grandma and Grandpa got Benjamin some dress ups for his birthday. Daddy said, "MAKE  A FIREMAN FACE!" LOL ... oh man, Ben, hilarious! Michael just loved this pic!

He also got some elmo boots- and a super cool McQueen shirt from Nana!

...and a new copy of his favorite book!! (The first copy was unfortunately destroyed in a "read-this-book-right-before-bed-then-wet-the-bed" incident... oops!) 

On President's Day when Grandma had off work (and Daddy!) we all went to the aquarium! 

Hey handsome Josiah... 

Henry playin'

All playin'! 

HEY it's ALL OF US!!! This happens so rarely- enjoy! ;o) 

Michael and I also hosted a CHERISH marriage retreat at our parish recently, it was a great success!!! This is probably the coolest picture of the evening, my Dad's veggie tray he made for us! So cool! thanks Dad :) 

Alright... that's all for now. I'll try to be back soon :)