Lawrence Theodore

We would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family..

Lawrence Theodore Weaver.

Lawrence: "Crowned with Laurel" (The laurel leaf/wreath was a symbol of high status in ancient Greece. It also symbolizes the resurrection of Christ)
Theodore: "Gift of God"

Born Friday, the 7th of September at 2:36pm. 

8lbs 4oz and 20 inches long

We were able to come home the next day and have been thoroughly enjoying every minute as a family of four.




Charles is doing well in his new role as Big Brother. He likes to hold Baby Lawrence and sings to him if he is crying.

 


I loved this baby from the moment I knew of him but the love I feel for him now that he is here in my arms is indescribable. I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to have both my boys, my heart is just overflowing.

Tears of Joy

"You're the reason a young immigrant who grew up here and went to school here and pledged allegiance to our flag will no longer be deported from the only country she's ever called home.."
-Obama, 2012 DNC


This made me cry. And still is. Say what you will about Obama, but I say that this was a job well done. Praying for one of my dearest friends as she submits the needed papers and awaits the verdict regarding her status. I love you friend. 



"When this new program is finally in place on August 15th, many more American DREAMers will be able to live without fear, and the rest of the country will get to know them. They are our classmates, our neighbors, and our FRIENDS. They are Americans. And one day, they'll have the papers to prove it."
-americasvoiceonline.org 

The Countdown

I can't believe it's September already! In May the end of the summer seemed so far away but something told me it would go by fast and boy did it ever! Now the countdown to Baby's arrival has officially begun. I have 17 days to go till my due date (which I know doesn't really mean anything, they should give you a due 'range' or something.. but still, September 22 has been a date burned into my mind for months and months) and I am so very ready for this baby to be born! I am feeling BIG and swollen and just plain ready to go.
Speaking of 'ready to go', I recently completed sewing my first blanket (ever) for our baby.



with matching burp cloth





and a few other burp cloths as well



I have fabric for another blanket that I will post once it's done too :)
I haven't been able to make any onesies for this baby yet, my hands are so swollen and tingly most of the day that stitching by hand is out of the question, but after he is born and I lose all this water I have been retaining, I sill surely be making some onesies.

Not working this summer has been a bit stressful, but as my mom has reminded me, this is the last time I will have with just me and Charles. I have been trying to really cherish the time home with him before Baby Brother gets here. I know that Charles will be a great big brother but I am sure it will be an adjustment too. Soon our family will grow from three to four!

Now and Then

A year ago, almost to the day, that we said goodbye..



.. and a year later we are together again!



Our boys sure have changed in the last year! I am so excited to have our friends Janet and Dion here and to spend a few days with them. Monday they came and helped celebrate Chris' birthday with us eating meat and hanging out at Lake Calhoun. Tomorrow.. the Fair!!

 
(Chris can't wait to have a baby in overalls again)

Coming Up

As I am sure you are aware, it is now August. This month brings our one year anniversary of leaving Brooklyn and moving back to Minneapolis. I can't believe it's been a year. The anniversary sure comes with mixed feelings. I miss New York and our friends there, but I have also loved being close to our friends and family again here. It's crazy to think how much has changed in one year and looking at Charles and how much he has grown really puts it into perspective.


last day in Brooklyn


last week

To be honest though, I have not been looking forward to our moving-date anniversary. However, there are a lot of things that are coming up this month, (and next month!) that I am very excited about.

Yesterday some of our Brooklyn friends arrived in Minnesota and we will be seeing them soon. They will be here for a few weeks and are staying for the Fair- which is of course another thing to be excited about in August! (I have already made my preliminary list of Fair foods to eat.. have you??) I think it's really cool that a little piece of Brooklyn will be here over our one year anniversary.

What else is coming up that is exciting? Well, my husband turns 30 this month! woohoo! The beginning of September will bring another NY friend to MN for a little reunion with some more of our fellow former 5209 residents who now live in Iowa. And, of course, next month our family will grow from three to four!!

Mystery on Lynn Ave

This happened last week.

When Chris came home from work he showed me something he had noticed that morning when he was ironing his shirt for work. THIS is what I saw..



SomeTHING had crawled into the iron and had gotten stuck, and presumably died.
Gross.



We think it was a centipede.

Chris said that that morning when he had noticed it he had poured some water in there and the legs had twitched but when we looked together that afternoon it didn't move at all. We couldn't get it out either. It looked as though our iron would forever have those nasty legs.. and body, stuck in it's water chamber.. or so we thought.

The next day when I looked at the iron.. it was gone.

39=Lace

I love the idea of giving a traditional gift for an anniversary. For example, first anniversary is paper, second is cotton, third is leather...and so on. There is a 'traditional' list as well as a 'modern' list. The modern list has something for every year while the traditional goes to year fifteen and then is only every five years.
Well, today is my parent's 39th anniversary and the modern list says the gift is lace. Lucky me, because next year is Ruby and last year was beryl. What would I have done with beryl??





We joined them for a nice dinner last night to celebrate their anniversary. It was nice to go out as couples, thanks Mom and Dad, Happy Anniversary!