Newborn photos!

Please visit Kelsey Kradel Photography to see a preview of our newborn photos!

http://kelseykradel.com/blog2/?p=4344

Cooper's blanket

 Grandma Linda made a blanket out of Great Grandma Cooper's shirts as a gift for GP.  Attison spent some quality tummy time on Cooper's quilt.

sleep, what sleep?

Please don't ask if we are sleeping.  Please don't even ask.

We aren't.  I've seen every hour of the clock for at least 24 hours.  Tim, while his eyes are closed and he isn't actively moving, is still not getting good sleep.  He hears Attison cry, me get up, me yell at Jenny to go back to bed...

We've been working too.  A lot more than we wanted to.  I worked almost a full day yesterday, with my child on my lap as he cried every time I tried to move his sleeping little body to a swing, or rocker or crib.  I did get to look into his cute little face while I typed, but I wished I could be enjoying him wholeheartedly, not thinking "oh you are so cute, please don't wake up."

So naturally, this morning, I'm exhausted.  While nursing, I decided to read us the Celtic Daily Prayer, thinking some prayer is what we both needed to get this sleep deprived body moving today. Low and behold, I often forget, when you open the bible, the Lord speaks.  Here is His word for me today, perhaps if it is needed, you may find solace in it as well. 

From the Aidan Readings for November 30th, the scripture readings are:

Psalm 116:7

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

Isaiah 49:15-16

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  

See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. 

2 John 12

I have so much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink.  Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 

From the daily meditations (I read the 31st by accident - or divine provision...)
Forgive me while I partially quote the partial quote...

"They were being given (not by us, but by God's answers to prayers) a demonstration that God exists.   It was a combination which could never be 'planned' or 'put on' as an exhibit...it had to be real. 
...a completely new work...would never had been possible if we had not been uprooted completely in every way, and if in that uprooting we had not decided to pray for God's solution and leading every step of the path as it wound through unknown territory."

Had I not been uprooted from my sleep last night, I would have started in on my to-do list and not stopped to pray.  Had I not prayed, I might not have found the strength to make it through this day.  May you also find joy in this day and the peace and strength of God the Father. 

Also today we will get to use the new book of Nursery Rhymes that Miriam sent us.  I'm so thankful that I have a book (and cd!) to reference for songs to sing, since my sleep deprived mind still can't recall them on it's own.

making faces

Yorkos

We went to visit some of the Yorko clan at GP's apartment.  We didn't get pictures of everyone, but lots of cousins, aunts and uncles came to visit and meet Attison.

 

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY Rachel and Ryan!  We love you both!  We didn't get any pictures of them together, because Steph expires at approximately 8 pm every day and the Staudt cousins didn't arrive until close to 9 (sorry team!) 

Mama and Pops

We sure do love this little one...here are some pics of us admiring Attison :)

We call them great grandparents for a reason...

3 weeks old!

Tim and his Grandma Terri

Steph and P

Steph, Dad and Gram

The above pictures are from a few weeks ago, when Attison was just 2 days old, because over Thanksgiving, Gram was busy helping Dad prepare the house and dinner! 

We'd also like to celebrate Dad's first Turkey!  He made the turkey and some delicious stuffing this Thanksgiving!

Fart Tag

Cousin Brett made up a game this holiday season - Fart tag.  Played like regular tag, with the difference being that in order to "tag" someone "it" you must fart on them. Attison joined in the fun and "tagged" Brett quite a few times.

And then he had a good laugh about it -

After Attison and Brett started playing tag, we learned that "moms don't fart" so they could really only play with one another.

Giving thanks.

Thanksgiving. 
At the risk of platitudes, saccharine, and cliches, I would like to give thanks for my wife. (Steph, Attison's mom (duh))

I would like to write 500,000 words to begin to describe the innumerable ways that she cares for our son - nay, our family - in ways that are subtle and imperceptible, in ways that are nothing short of heroic. 

Given the opportunity, I would watch her like a film, just to witness a depiction of love as unstained as is possible in this world. 

Of course, such observation is at odds with the duties of said world... changing diapers, washing dishes, meeting with clients, etc.. And so (contrary to my expectations) the importance of these duties has increased; they have been elevated from mere drudgery, to obstacles over which to triumph for the for the reward of a few minutes of repose with mother and son. And for those minutes, few or plenty, I am thankful. 

Woooops

Steph pointed out that there were no pictures of her in the last post... 
so here ya go:

BAM!

Thanksgiving Day...

...was a very busy day. 

Dinner was hosted at Craig's house; food, fellowship, and feasting provided by the Paylors, Wilsons, Heustons AND Raufers. Whew!

While every picture may tell a story, let's just take care of some pictures for now... stories some other time. 

Mild weather allowed John, Linda, and Dennis to enjoy the patio. (re-landscaping project in background)

Sarah's crab dip was a favorite, and inspired this shot, which was immediately dubbed "easily mistakable for a pita chips advertisement".

Aunt Sally did the lion's share of baby-holding for the day... to the point where we began to worry whether she would put him down long enough to eat. Jacob and Gary knew better than to ask her for a turn. 

Somehow in real life, this turkey looked even bigger! But who's looking at the bird in this picture anyway. 

As much as John and I tried to sabotage it, Sarah managed to pull off these awesome (and decadent) little snacks: 'pilgrim hats' and 'acorns' made from nutter butter minis, reese's peanut butter cups, e.l. fudge cookies, and icing. I am sad these are gone. And I am sad for all the crunches i *should* do for eating so many. 

Craig's cabin has a loft which affords an aerial lift view of the festivities. 

If you couldn't tell from the shirt pattern, that's Craig holding the little man. 

Regina and Carolyn didn't want to leave the couch...until they saw the feast. 

/scene.

Now Accepting Suggestions: Theme Songs

(Originally Drafted on Friday 11/16)

Well, I had originally started off this post with a Rod Stewart music video - Rod Stewart and Ron Wood doing a live performance of his song "every picture tells a story". But then after watching it (you can find it on youtube), I thought, "This [live] version  isn't really that good." 

Then I thought, "you know... this song isn't really that good either." 

I mean, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Rod Stewart, and I like a lot of his stuff ... but "every picture tells a story" just isn't one of my favorites. 

Which is a shame, because the title of that song is an apt descriptor of our life right now, and our life right now could use a theme song.  

[ I would affirm Steph's previous comment that although we have spent our whole lives singing along with hundreds of songs, and we now feel compelled to sing to the child, the only music we can think of is Rod Stewart, Leonard Cohen, and David Crowder. Poor kid. ]

So I have been thinking about a theme song. Changing a diaper the other day, I was reminded of Ween's live album, titled "Paintin' the Town Brown"  

But... it's Ween. And I can't subject him to that. Or me for that matter. 

We have been taking photographs of the boy like we are auditioning for the paparazzi. 

So Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" came to mind. 

Which comes with a 10 minute music video. 

Which I watched. 

While I was holding the boy so that Steph could get some sleep.

Because when she doesn't sleep (usually) she looks tired (noticably), so she wears sunglasses (extra large) which make her look like Lady Gaga (full circle).

And I came to the conclusion that the boy is not ready for Lady Gaga.

And neither am I.  

So the hunt for a theme song continues.    

And now... in honor of the holiday, Dad has been singing Arlo Guthrie's original Thanksgiving Day Massacre song (Alice's Restaurant) to the boy. 

Oh well. 

Suggestions welcome. 

Up next: Thanksgiving Feast Photos!! 

Worship Music x2

Courtesy of the lovely and talented Kristin.  For those of you who attend traditional worship services and aren't familiar with contemporary services.

Worship Music

Attison has only been to church twice since his birth, but already he has learned the tricks of the trade to singing worship music with his whole body.   He must have picked up these moves at church though, because his parents both stand still while singing (when they choose to sing). 

I imagine him singing "Come thou fount" since I sing it to him almost daily.  Side note -how is it that I have sung every day my entire life and then I have a baby and my brain looses all of the songs I have learned to sing? Any suggestions are welcome in the comments below.

Without further adieu, here is the Attison Raufer rendition of "Come thou fount of every blessing" accompanied by David Crowder Band (if you click the video link below).

"Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love."

If you haven't already, you should click this link, listen to the song, and watch Attison sing it to you.