Catching-up on catching up...

Friends and family, I'm sorry we are so far behind in our updates.  Partly, things are busy with a little nearly-6-month-old at home, but also partly, we've been back and forth visiting family so much since Easter, it seems like the main people who need updating have been updated!

In the beginning of June, our pastor baptized Levi Jonathan into the covenant community at McLean Presbyterian.  It was an enormous blessing, especially to have most of our family there as witnesses.

Levi's face is not a look of glee…when James turned to him, he actually started to cry!  Thankfully, James, veteran father of 4, didn't flinch.

Infant baptism is a new thing for us, since we both grew up and were baptized as believers.  We spent time in prayer and study, considering what the Lord would have us do.  R.C. Sproul, in a debate of sorts with John MacArthur, had this to say (which helped me to better understand infant baptism):

"In the Old Testament, circumcision does not convey redemption; its the sign of redemption.  In the New Testament, baptism doesn't convey redemption; and its a sign of many things.  It is a sign of our cleansing.  It is a sign of our regeneration.  It is a sign of our sanctification.  It is a sign of our being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and… it is a sign of our being buried with Christ and raised with Christ.  It is a sign of all of those things that are part of the content of salvation, which sign does not automatically communicate the reality by the outward sign. What it does communicate is the reality of the promise of God to all who put their trust in Him, that they would receive the fullness of redemption that is promised in the gospel.  In a word, the sacrament of baptism is a dramatic object lesson, a visible sign of the spoken promise."

(You can listen to the debate, 2 parts, here.)

More updates to come later…thank you for your patience!

Time flies when, well, you know the phrase...

So the past month and a half has brought lots of night-time baths, loads of laundered diapers, and our first few trips to see family overnight (and our first night out, thanks to Mom…and no thanks to a cranky Levi).  Levi turned 4 months old last week, weighing in at 17 pounds and 2 ounces and measuring 26.75 inches long (83% for weight, 98% for height), and life doesn't stop at that…I spotted his first teeth coming in yesterday and found him, after crying out at 4:30 am, on his tummy in his crib!  Yikes.

I have many thoughts as the weeks roll quickly by, but I don't think I record or gather them well... something to work on.  In the mean time, enjoy!

I love these boys.

First try with the Bumbo...

Overalls!

Best buds.

Cool dude.

More best buds.

I know they're small, but look a them…TEETH!!!

Meeting Gma for the first time!

Silly little man with Grandpa and Grandma R.

Meeting the Mitchell cousins for the first time!  Adeline knows how to make him giggle :)

First Easter!

Meeting GG for the first time!

Meeting G (Genevieve, of course) and Aunt Emily for the first time.

Levi, Sir Laugh-a-Lot

More of Mum's attempts

Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear

Playing with Miles, the octopus

Our Sleeping Angel

Inconceivable!

Drum roll please...

Levi had his 2 month appointment today…2 months old!  Exciting and sad at the same time with his first round of shots.  But our sweet boy who started off at 7 lb 5 oz and 20 inches long is much bigger now: 13 lb 4 oz and 24 inches!  He's already 2 feet tall, which seems silly to say because he doesn't stand up.  Hopefully he won't grow out of his car seat and all his clothing too soon…

For he's a jolly good fellow.

I'm talking about Levi, and he's a jolly good baby for dealing with a mom who 1) forced an impromptu "photo shoot" before nap time and 2) lacks the creativity to make it a great one.  We'll get better, and next time, perhaps we'll get the aesthetically creative parent (that would be Jonathan) to help out.  Thank goodness for the redeeming qualities of bold primary colors, stuffed animals, and cloth diapers.

And this morning's text greeting to Daddy on his way to work...