Lesson #11- Blessed Babies Have More Fun

Liam is no longer a heathen and I couldn't be happier.  Sunday, July 31, 2011 Liam John Flurry was baptized at Hope Church. Of course, he had to get pretty before the big event so we gave him his first hair cut on Saturday night.  The cool crazy hair of his youth had thinned into a combover of sorts, and so through laughter and tears, I cut it.  He was calmer than his folks and actually looked pretty adorable afterwards.

The morning had arrived and Liam got a good night's sleep.  He was so happy, in fact, that he decided to start the day with a little tickling of the ivories.  Cousin Jeremiah was gracious enough to show him how it's done.  Future Billy Joel and Elton John?

Liam left his musical ambition in time to get ready for church.  So many people came up to see the important event; the church was filled with such love. Liam arrived in his Sunday best.  As soon as we walked in, his eyes lit up and he turned on the charm!

The service was beautiful, complete with Children's Sermon.  Notice how Benjamin is already taking his role of "oldest cousin" very seriously.  He was adorable and even led the prayer at the end. Look at how he is herding Dominic and Jeremiah... so cute.

My favorite part of the day had to be watching Amy and Michael, as Godparents, take such good care of Liam during the service.  After the Christening was finished, they held Liam.  When I looked over at him, Liam was nearly asleep in their arms and they were lightly stroking his forehead.  Baby Ambien.  He was loving every minute of it.  After that, Amy picked him up and danced quietly with him in the corner of the church.  He is so lucky to have them in his life- I know that even though they live in San Francisco, he will seen them frequently.  I foresee him going out to "San Fran" often and him coming home with fun stories of the beach, the city and his canine cousin Cali!

After church we all headed back to Grandma Becky's house where she presented a wonderful spread for us, complete with a real "Bev" cake that was so cute and yummy! After many family photos out by the tree (in the blazing heat), we all change into our party clothes and enjoyed food and family and friends.  

 

Liam was a trooper and fell asleep in the middle of it all in my arms.  It was a wonderful and blessed day- thank you to everyone who was a part of it.

No longer a heathen, he is ready to take on the world.  Blessed babies do have more fun.  Lesson well learned.

Lesson #10 Grandparents Rock

 "Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children."  ~Ruth Goode

Ryan and I both were so lucky to grow up with grandparents nearby.  Ryan talks frequently about Granny in Oklahoma as well as Geneva and Walter's influences growing up.  He remembers playing Dominoes with Granny and that she took it very seriously.  When I asked Ryan what he remembered about Walter, he gets this smile on his face and says simply, "He was able to fix anything."  Geneva is famous in Ryan's heart (and stomach) for her apple pie and that she was always there- that it was great to have her so close.

Weezie and Buddy were, for me, surrogate parents.  The kind of people who gave hugs freely and could soothe any hurt with their kisses.  I spent many Saturday nights at their house, eating fried chicken tv dinners on real tv trays, watching The Lawrence Welk Show and singing along.  Afterwards we would color... Weezie always colored beautifully within the lines in small, circular strokes.  I aspired to color as well as she did, and so she would take my tiny hand in hers and show me the way.  Throughout the rest of her life, she was guiding me in much the same way.

Liam lives in Weezie's old house now, her last house.  And he sleeps every night in her room, where I am sure she is looking over him with lipsticked smiles.

And so Ryan and I feel lucky to have Liam's grandparents so nearby, so involved in his life.  Every month on (or very near) the 22nd, we have Mimi, Papa and Grandma over for dinner to thank them for all that they do for us and for their newest grandbaby.  The list is long but includes...
- being there from the time when he was born and then at our house, holding him, loving him, kissing him.
- doing laundry, making meals, cleaning the house up while I healed from the c-section.
- putting Liam to sleep so that Ryan and I could catch just a few extra minutes of sleep. 
- taking care of Lola, our first born.
- driving back and forth, back and forth, from their house to ours.
- Liam sitting so Ryan and I could have "date" nights.
- being an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on.

These dinners have also been fun to premiere "firsts" for Liam John.  First rice cereal.  First green beans.

Then there are the surrogate grandparents that Liam will grow up knowing and loving as well.  Steve and Anita Evans, for example.  Anita, with her uncanny ability to get the little guy to burp and who has watched him when I have been in a bind.

Ron and Marilyn Brewer (with Juliet of course), who are always good for a laugh and a cuddle.

But I have to end with a special shout out of thanks to the two women in Liam's life who look after him the most (aside from us)... his Mimi and his Grandma.  I hope he inherits your goodness, your caring, your selflessness.  Thank you. 

"Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting."  -author unknown   


Lesson well learned.