Thank You Tias!!!!

Thank you so much for your package!!!  We loved all the items!!!

Magdalene's Sixth Month Pictures Have Arrived!!!

Our little pumpkin looks so nice in her sixth month pictures.   We will send out pictures soon, but if you have a preference in a certain pictures and size, let us know!  We hope your Lent is going well.  Remember no meat on Fridays (hint hint to my father...let's see how long it will take him to respond to this post). 

Magdalene, the Prettiest Easter Bunny!

Magdalene is ready to go for Easter this year!  I know we're a bit early, but I found a great deal on a cute bumble bee Easter basket.  Isn't it so cute!  Her Grandma Robin got her those cute bunny eyes.  She's ready to go egg hunting!  It's exciting because my mom and sister (who has never met Magdalene yet) are coming around Easter.  We will have so much fun!  My mom has never dyed Easter eggs so this should be a real treat for her.  Hmm...so my mom and sister are coming which means.....I will get some sleep!  haha.  Actually probably not because I will want to talk and catch up with them.  My mom is also bringing Magdalene her first Portguese sweet bread.  It's a tradition in the Portuguese household to receive a little Portuguse sweet bread with an egg in the middle (a cook, hard-boiled egg).  The egg represents Jesus' resurrection on Easter.  Now Magdalene will not be able to eat the sweet bread, but I know of two parents who love that stuff.  Jordan totally destroys it for me though.  He toasts the sweet bread and puts jelly on it!  What!!!  It's sweet bread.  You eat it with butter and Portuguese cheese...that's it.  Almost everyone in my immediate family has met Magdalene.  I hope one day soon my extended family will be able to meet her.  But until then, I hope this blog and the pictures I send help you get to know my daughter. 

Bananas, Carrots, Peas, Oh My!

As you can see, Magdalene makes funny faces while eating.  She does enjoy eating fruits more than vegetables.  She takes after her daddy and mommy in the sweet tooth.  We can't wait to grow fresh food in our garden and make food for Magdalene.  We love you little punker (Jordan's name for Magdalene....shortened from pumpkin or pumpkin spice). 

Lil' Magpie Sits Up!

Babies Can Pray Too!

It's never too early to start!  Magdalene has been hearing her mommy and daddy pray since she was inside of mommy.  She loves to hear Jordan leading the rosary at home and in church.  Her favorite prayer is "Hail Mary", and the above video shows us praying that prayer.  I also learned a prayer when I was in Kindergarten called "Little Jesus."   I'm teaching that prayer to her as well. 

Prayer.   A simple act to show our love and devotion to God.  Nothing is sweeter than to see a child in prayer.  When I taught in Catholic School my first year of teaching, I was moved by the pious acts my students did.  Children are deeply genuine with their prayers.

 I also was deeply moved by something I had read that St. Therese of the Child Jesus had written,

"For me, prayer means launching out from the heart toward God; a cry of grateful love from the crest of joy or the trough of despair: it is a vast supernatural force that opens out my heart and binds me close to Jesus."

Thank you St. Therese for reminding us all that prayer should mean exactly that--it should be an act of love toward our Creator!  Jesus loves when we also honor His Mother.  Good job Magdalene!

Good Example

Being a mother is the best thing in the world!  But it also has its moments that you question your ability to parent.  You want to do what is best for your child in every way possible.  From making sure Magdalene gets enough sleep to be the best example I can be for my little girl.  Although she may not understand very much at this age, she will in time.  Recently, I have been really focusing on praying with my little baby.  One may wonder whether that is necessary, but I think it's a good habit to start right now.  I remember when my mother took the time to carefully teach my sisters and me our prayers.  She would have us say Hail Mary in Portuguese every night, and I remember how intent my mother was in making sure we knew that prayer.  My mother would also make sure we were always attending Mass each Sunday.  Those were amazing examples set by my mother.  My father made sure we were able to attend Catholic schools when we were growing up.  He worked very, very hard to ensure we were able to receive a proper education. 

The examples set by my parents showed me how extremely important is to be a good example for Magdalene.  We prayed very hard for Daddy's safety to work today and asked that our guardian angels be sent to help Daddy dig himself out of the drift he went into this morning.  How wonderful it is to pray with my daughter!  Her attention span is obviously of a four month old so she immediately wants to start playing with her toes again after we pray, but that is to be expected!  :)

Praying with your children is a great way to bring them closer to God, and it is our duties as parents to ensure they receive a proper education.  It is part of our state in life, and how I am as a mother and wife will determine my final resting place.  I so do want to go to Heaven and be with Jesus, but I know it will take a great deal of hard work to get there. 

One of the biggest things I struggled with about a few  years ago was making sure I was dressing modestly. I knew that I needed to make some changes if I were to fulfill the Marian code of modesty.  Mother Mary always dressed modestly, and most women in history were dressing modestly.  When did this change?  Why are women suddenly wearing things that would be considered street walker attire?  How did this happen?  I was always brought up having respect for my body and to wear decent attire, but I was never completely sold on the idea.  I have strong opinions on this topic and will write about it more later, but for now I will close saying that everything I do for now on is for the honor and glory of God.....my daughter and husband depend on me for that.

Post Bath Newscast

Wow, it's been a busy weekend for me. My mommy and daddy have me making Valentines, and it's a lot of work! Well since today is a day of rest, I'm letting loose, however, my mommy keeps snapping pictures of my caboose!  Happy Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany!

What a day....

Princess Walker aka Percy Gets to Lick Magdalene's Toes

 Hi, my name is Percy.  And I can't understand why my sister gets all the fun toys....Could someone please explain this to me?  Brenda? 

Could I please play with your walker?

"Oh boy, Percy is coming to lick my toes!"

"Get away, get out Percy!  You're not allowed in the living room!"

Napping on Mommy and Daddy's Bed

Magdalene looks so content and peaceful so I had to take some shots.  She has the prettiest hands too.  I hope she plays the piano one day!  Lazy Saturday mornings....I love them!

A Year Ago

It's funny to remember what you were doing about a year so I was just remembering when I first found out I was carrying our precious baby, Magdalene.  It was a few days ago exactly when I first told Jordan and our family and friends.  What a joyous moment it was for us!  We were so excited to meet her and now our little baby is growing so fast.  She's about three and a half months old!!!  I know that my family isn't watching her grow so I wanted to share a few things you're not able to see because of distance. 

1.  Magdalene talks really loud!  Wow, she has a voice.  I think she's trying to imitate me when I constantly sing to her.  I think I just about sing more than actually speak to her.  It's way more fun!  Her favorite prayer is "Hail Mary", and she smiles every time she hears Holy Mary. 

2.  She absolutely loves the Twinkle Star Helena gave her.  I play it for her almost every time she gets her diaper changed.  Magdalene loves staring at it and hearing her tia's voice. 

3.  I feel like it's Christmas everytime she gets a package.  I love all the cute things you all send her.  We really appreciate it!

4.  She loves to talk like her mommy! 

5.  And I think she's going to be a thumbsucker like her mommy!  But I won't put hot sauce on her thumb like Pai did to me!!!   By the way, sorry my dental bills cost so much.

Well, that's the five top things I wanted to share with you, family and friends.

**I am comforted to know that although I am far from you now, it will not be forever.  It is more important to be with each other one day in Heaven. 

I have learned a great deal from Fr. Henry La Praz.  "To accept- to offer - to thank."
I accept that we are far apart, and I offer up that sacrifice to God.  I thank Him for the opportunity to make sacrifices for Him since He sacrificed His only Son.