Two Years

Two years ago, on June 20th, 2009, Justin and I were joined together as one in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. We celebrated by going on a honeymoon to Cabo:

One year ago, we went on an Alaskan cruise to celebrate surviving a year of "newlywed-edness":

This year, we celebrated two years of marriage in a much less showy fashion. In fact, we added a member to the celebration at The Cheesecake Factory:

Actually, that's not entirely true. Justin and I did enjoy a pre-anniversary celebration with dinner at The Capitol Grille followed by a showing of Cirque du Soleil - Alegria, while Lolo and Lola spent quality time with the baby.

But, regardless, it does go to show, what a difference two years makes.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks, Justin, for a wonderful two years. Can't wait to celebrate many, many more - no matter where we are! (But just to remind you, I've never been to Europe...haha.)

Thoughts on Fatherhood after My First Father's Day (By Daddy)

Ever since Noreen and I found out that we were having a girl, I knew I was in trouble. I know I'd love her from the bottom of my heart, but what did I know about raising a girl?

I'm an only child and a boy. Dresses and hair and bows - what? Even at 3-months-old, how many components can there be to just one outfit?!?!

Luckily, and thankfully, to Noreen's natural mothering skills, it hasn't been too much of a challenge caring for this baby girl. Lissie has been quite a happy baby despite the fact that I don't really seem to know what I'm doing a lot of the time.

Sometimes, though, I'll think about the challenges we will face when Lissie gets older, and I get a little anxious. I start to think about the teenage years and begin to dread the inevitable - puberty, driving, the cost of education and extracurricular activities and, most of all, BOYS! I now have a burgeoning dislike for all teenage boys. How are we to raise a responsible, faithful girl while surrounded by all that this society has to throw at her? How are we to make sure she makes all the right choices and none of the wrong ones? (Of course, it's idealistic to think she won't make any mistakes along the way.)

I think that Noreen could sense these ever-growing worries of mine and graciously provided me with a powerful first Father's Day gift - Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Dr. Meg Meeker. The first chapter alone details the daunting task we fathers have and how important our role is to our daughters - sometimes more important an mothers. However, Dr. Meeker continues to guide us to be upstanding role models and heroes for our family. I highly recommend this book to all men who play any role in raising girls.

Despite all the worries, Noreen and I are very happy to have Lissie in our lives.

We are fortunate to have such a happy and healthy baby. When I leave to go to work each day, I miss her, but Noreen frequently sends me pictures or videos of what Lissie is up to, and that makes the time go by quickly. I always look forward to coming home and spending time with them both, even if it is just to nap.

It's true, though, that life has completely changed. We can no longer just decided to go out and eat on a whim. Watching a movie in the theater - what's that like?

But every moment with her is an adventure, and we wouldn't give up for a second.

Lissie, I love you. I promise to do everything in my power to be all you need me to be. I promise to be the best father to you that I can be.

Happy Father's Day! (Lissie's Version)

I love my Daddy and Lolos so much, and I was so glad that I was able to do something special for them on Father's Day.

I was sad to know that Daddy had to work on Father's Day, but I made sure that he got his present before we left to go to morning Mass. He really loved the photobook I made for him that I titled "If I Could Talk." I put a few of my favorite pictures in it, complete with captions so Daddy knows what I was thinking about in each one!

I even wore a special outfit to church:

In the early afternoon, Mommy took me to visit Daddy at work so I could bring him lunch. It was perfect because he wasn't very busy, so he was actually able to sit down and eat with me for a little bit - I loved that!

Later that day, Lolo Ernie and Lola Poy came over to play with me so that Mommy can make a Father's Day feast. I love it when they come over - they sing me fun songs like "Lissie has a Little Rupert whose Fur is White as Snow" and let me take naps in their arms.

Justin and Lolo Romy came a little bit later, and they all enjoyed a yummy (albeit eclectic) meal of roasted garlic risotto, salmon, toasted almond green beans, beef bul go gi, and baby back ribs:

I just sat and watched - I can't wait until I can eat with them, too!

Afterwards, I gave them their presents, and we took lots of pictures:

(Note the added "s" to the end of Grandpa - because I love them both!)

I hope you had a Happy Father's Day, Lolo Ernie, Lolo Romy, and Daddy. I love you tons!

Lissie's Baptism (Mommy's Version)

One of my favorite things about being a (former) second grade teacher in a Catholic school is teaching my faith and preparing my students to receive the sacraments. We begin by discussing the sacrament of baptism. The students interview their parents about their own baptism, and the parish deacon gives the students a "show and tell" of sorts, as he explains the symbols of the ceremony. Since I get this yearly reminder of the importance of baptism, I was definitely looking forward to the day we baptized our daughter.

I wanted Lissie's baptism to have special meaning, so we chose to have it done at the church I attended while I was growing up (where my parents still attend), and by the priest of that parish - who is also a good family friend. Lissie even wore the same baptismal gown that I wore when I was baptized thirty years ago!

Overall, the baptism went well. We even had a chance to visit the tabernacle beforehand to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the special day. I was so preoccupied with making sure that Lissie was okay, that I didn't even cry like Justin thought I would!

We are so thrilled with our choices of Lissie's godparents: my cousin Chris and close friend Amy. We know that these two will be positive role models for our daughter as she grows in her faith and love for Jesus.

After the baptism, we enjoyed a Japanese buffet lunch and got to spend time with our special visitors and guests.

It truly was a perfect day.

My Baptism (Lissie's Version)

Things had been a little different for a few days leading up to my baptism. Mommy and Daddy were busy doing things around the house...and we were also spending a lot of time at Lolo and Lola's.

There were lots of people, too. Mommy said that they were part of my family - relatives from Michigan and aunties from Alabama were all here for the weekend. And they were all VERY excited to see me and hold me. It was a little scary being around so many people, and I cried a little. But I have to admit, it was nice to feel so loved.

Some of my relatives (Mommy's cousins) even stayed over at my house! This meant that Rupert and I had a sleepover in Mommy and Daddy's room. It was so much fun sleeping up there - I wish I could do it more often!

On Saturday, everyone was awake kinda early..and all dressed up, too. It was weird, though, because I wasn't all dressed up - I was still wearing my play clothes. (I later found out that this was because Mommy was afraid I would mess up my pretty, white dress.)

We all piled in the cars, and I immediately recognized where we were headed: the same place Mommy takes me every First Friday! I like it here because there are lots of colorful windows for me to look at.

But before we went into that pretty room, we stopped in another room where everyone was oohing and ahhing and either changing me or taking pictures of me:

They even made me wear this weird thing on my head:

And these funny things on my feet:

All of these things made me so scared, plus I was getting really hot in my outfit, that I couldn't stop crying.

That's when Mommy and Daddy walked me over to another room that had a beautiful gold box, and whispered to me that this was a very special day and that what was about to happen would be their greatest gift that they will ever give me. I got so excited, that I stopped crying. Plus Mommy was singing one of my favorite songs: "Jesus Loves the Little Children."

We walked to the pretty room with the colorful windows, and I was the center of attention again! So naturally I started to fuss. What finally calmed me down was when Mommy started to walk me around the room to see everyone. They all were smiling and touching my forehead, so I stopped crying and smiled back:

I was little confused when they tried to give me a bath with my clothes on:

But it turns out they just wanted to wet my hair, so I didn't really mind.

The whole thing didn't last very long, and we took lots of pictures when it was over:

Mommy told me that I now have godparents:

So I gave them a gift:

I even made a special friend:

Afterwards, I was sooo tired from such a busy morning:

Everyone congratulated me on officially becoming a Christian and a Catholic. I can't wait to learn what that means!

Dear Lissie - Three Months

Dear Lissie,

Congratulations! You've graduated! You have officially moved from "newborn" status to "infant"! We are so proud of you!

A lot has happened before you achieved this new distinction:

* Survival of two-month vaccines. You took it well, and we were proud. But I had to make a frantic call to the pediatrician because your poop was quite unsightly afterwards. Still not sure if it was a side effect of your vaccines, but who knew that I would resort to taking pictures of poop and sending it to Daddy and Lola to see what they thought.

* Consistently sleeping through the night (averaging 8-9 hours!)...in your swing.

* First overnight with Lolo and Lola. You took it in stride and didn't even notice that Daddy and I were gone. I think I took it harder than you!

* You've found your hand. Not your thumb...but sometimes your index finger. And. as a result, you've turned into a drool monster. You don't even mind if your headband falls over your eyes, as long as you have access to your hand:

* New friends! You've started to make new friends now that we've joined our local MOMS group and Holy Family Circle! All you do is stare at them, but we're working on the playing part.

* Talking - sort of. You're definitely more vocal now. I'm pretty sure in this video you're telling me "I love you" before you got bored with the conversation:



* Rolling over. You don't do it all the time - in fact, I'm the only one who has witnessed it "live". I did get it on video, after countless attempts:



Finally turned to this:



We also learned a few things about you this month:

* You are still fascinated with ceiling fans and lamps. They are much more exciting than toys...especially when they are turned on.

* You love shopping. Yet another thing you take after Lola Hilda.

* You love the sound of the vacuum cleaner. If we want you to fall asleep fast, we simply turn on the Dyson and you're out like a light.

* Much to Daddy's chagrin, you are mesmerized by the TV.

* You are a water baby.

* You are neither ready for your crib, nor are you claustrophobic. We've discovered that it's not the swinging that you love (we've stopped turning it on), but the cozy, cradled aspect that you crave. So now we're trying to "trick" you into thinking that you're cozy during nap time...and so far it works for thirty minute stretches:

Ah, but we love you. So much. Happy three month birthday!

Finally, here are some (unedited) pictures that Daddy took when he converted our living room into a photography studio over Memorial Day weekend:

You were so delighted after you peed on the blanket.

Your Lissie bloomers are too cute!

My favorite.

Please don't graduate to "toddler" too fast.

Love,

Mommy