Seton Gala

While Nana and Pop Pop were visiting, Matt and I had a chance to slip away to the Seton Gala. The Gala raises money for the Seton Community Clinics where I work, so I love going to support the cause. Plus, the people watching is great and they always have a great entertainer. This year it was Randy Travis. So Matt borrowed some boots and I dusted mine off for a fun date night.

John was very distressed when he realized Daddy was leaving. . . 

Yee-Haw!

Randy Travis!

Beautiful tent at WAYA for the event

To my Sweet Johnny-Cakes

Dearest John:

Oh, how I love you. You remind me so much of your Daddy and that is a good thing. You are absolutely in love with life and greet each morning with such gusto that it is hard not to smile and laugh when I go to get you in the morning. You are quick to smile and are always in motion. I tell people "He is either going 110% or he is asleep." You are always either trotting or running and seem to be an athlete, even at this early age.

Speaking of sleep, you are a great sleeper! You still take one long nap in the afternoon from about 1-4 pm. You need this nap to give you back the energy you used in the morning (and Mama does, too!)

You absolutely love tools and will pick up a car or truck and pretend to "fix it" with various hammers, screwdrivers and wrenches that you have either stolen off Daddy's workbench or that we have given to you. Your heart belongs to Daddy right now and you watch his every move and mimic it. You cry bitterly when Daddy leaves in the morning - I know you long for the day when you can just go to work with him.

You have such an independent nature and will go off and play by yourself very willingly. I think that is because Alivia and Will seem to be often paired off in play, so I look forward to the day when Matthew can play with you. You have seem unfazed by your baby brother's addition at this point, but I pray that you two will become best friends in the future.

You absolutely love school and seem to thrive there two days a week. Your teachers marvel at how much you eat and how happy you are. I love how you greet me when I go pick you up. It makes my heart melt.

Your nicknames: John-John, Johnny Cakes

Sweet John, I just cannot imagine our family without you in it. I pray that you will continue to bless others with your outgoing personality and quick smile. I pray that God will bring you a loving wife and that you will go into the nations telling others about Jesus Christ. I pray that God will teach me how to be your mother and that I will learn how to raise you up so that I can let you go. I love you.

Love,

Mom

John's 2nd Birthday

We had our traditional BBQ feast in honor of John-John's birthday. Our Fellowship friends came to celebrate with us. It was extra special because Nana and Pop Pop were also here. John ate up the attention. The weather was absolutely beautiful so it was fun to open up the house and spill out into the front and back yards. Happy Birthday sweet John!

It was precious watching John try to blow out the candle.

LOVING Matt's brisket!

Aunt Emily with the oldest Taylor cousins

Mia and Pops stopped by for a short time

These are Matt's best friends - Ryan Schooler and Rob Truss. What a blessing to have them live near us.

Matt Dugan and baby Julia

John, Grayson, Luke and Bentley. This was right before John flipped out of the playscape. Boo!

Visit from Nana and Pop Pop Risinger

Bob and Ruth visited us from Pittsburgh! They came to meet their youngest grandchild and come to John's 2nd birthday party. We had such a fun time while they were here but I know we wore them out. It's busy around here!

 I hope they come visit us again very soon. I got the greatest joy watching them interact with the kids - along with my parents, they are special people that love my children almost as much as I do.

Matt greeted his parents with his new mustache as a joke since his older brothers have always sported one. His parents thought it was funny. Check out John's face in this photo and that is about how I felt about it. :-)

Nana instantly bonded with Matthew - he seemed to think she was pretty great, too!

John showed Pop Pop every tool he had

The daily routine continued on even when special guests were visiting!

The kids loved having Nana and Pop Pop read to them every night

Alivia taking her little brother for a ride

Will showing off his amazing driving skills on his new 4x4

More bonding with Matthew - so sweet!

Riding the Zephyr train on a beautiful spring day in Zilker Park

Reverend Risinger

My cousin Leigh Taylor is marrying Michael Bornitz in Santa Fe over Cinco de Mayo weekend. The best part about the weekend will be watching my wonderful hubby perform the wedding ceremony. That's right, he is now Reverend Risinger after getting his online degree from the internet.

We have actually taken the role seriously and have participated in some meaningful premarital counseling sessions with Leigh and Michael. Since they live in Fort Worth, much of it has been on iChat, but they were able to come to Austin for a visit and a nice dinner out to Boticelli's.

Here are we at my mom's house for Sunday brunch. I can't wait for the wedding weekend!

I'm 10 weeks old!

Sweet Matthew has so much to say but can't seem to get it out just yet. :-)

Life Lessons

This is why you should not give gum to your almost 2 year old. Notice the gum in his mouth and on the car seat.

Grandpa Day

This time they brought back some turtle shells. Will continues to love this special time with Grandpa.

Happy Easter 2012

I decided that since most of the kids' birthdays are right around Christmas we would use Easter as another opportunity to give them fun toys instead of candy. And hopefully remember the TRUE reason for the season - Christ has Risen! Will got an electric 4x4 to replace the one that never worked at Christmas and Alivia got a Razor scooter. John got a tool box with real tools in it and I have been frantically trying to hide the screwdrivers that are incredibly sharp ever since. ** Note to self: when the package says 8+, it is best to not give it to your 2 year old.**

We skipped church because 2 out of the 4 kids were sick with coughs and runny noses which was disappointing to Matt and me. But we headed to Mimi and Grandpa's for a spectacular Easter brunch complete with great food and an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids that were there: my kids, Avery, Paige, and Aubrey and Henry Baumhover. My parents have the most perfect yard for an Easter egg hunt and it was so fun to watch them collect the eggs. Paige and John got lost in the excitement of eating the candy along the way. . .

It's been a long week

Daddy has been working very hard lately. Getting up early and coming home later than normal (6 pm). I know he would probably work until 8 or 9 pm if his wife were not anxiously awaiting his arrival every day. :-) Matt just landed a big contract today - it was a huge answer to prayer. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Matt and I continue to pray that God would help him to be a moral businessman, a leader, mentor and role model to his employees and everyone else that he comes in contact with and that God would bless his business. Risinger Homes has been in business over 5 years now and it has been amazing to be part of the journey.

Matthew is 8 weeks old!

Time is flying by. Matthew continues to sleep through the night (about midnight - 8 am). He nurses like a champ and is really fast (thank goodness!) because I often do not have much time to nurse. He can go easily 4 hours between feedings and I occasionally wake him during the day once we get too far past 4 hours so we can get enough feedings in daily.

We recently had our 2 month appointment with Dr. Dawson and all looked good. He received 3 shots and his oral polio. He was so so so sad later that day. I was really surprised because I don't remember the other three having much reactions to vaccines. His poor little thigh was swollen and bruised and every time you touched him there he would cry real tears. Once we got the pain controlled with Tylenol he did much better. I will have to remember to give him Tylenol BEFORE the shots next time.

Here were his stats:

Height: 22 3/4 inches (40%)

Weight 12.1 pounds (50%)

Head: 39 1/2 cm (50%)

I think he is going to track along with John in terms of height and weight.