A Year to Remember

With the turn of the year upon us, I cannot help but give all glory and thanks to God for such an incredible 2009.  It's unbelievable to me that about a year ago to date I was in the hospital with frightening complications with my pregnancy.  Four weeks of bed rest later I experienced one of the most emotionally-driven times in my life with Thomas in the NICU.  While we received excellent medical care, a 9-day stay in the hospital with a newborn was not ideal.  But 10 1/2 months later (since his birth), I chuckle quietly to myself that the primary problem keeping us at Provena was our son struggling to eat...my, how things have changed!  He's gone from a feeding tube to feeding himself all kinds of veggies, fruits, a little meat, graham crackers, Cheerios, and drinking water from a sippy cup like such a big boy.  He's crawling everywhere, spends his days exploring, reading, singing, playing, laughing, eating, and getting lavished with attention from his number one fan.

In many ways, I almost cannot remember life before having a family.  I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving to God for his miraculous gift and humbled by my calling to marriage and motherhood.  I'm in love with the most incredible man I have ever known and seem to fall more deeply in love with him daily.  Drake, it is because of your selflessness and sacrificing that I am able to be a stay at home mom and experience the beautiful gift of family.  I love you and thank God for you.

Enjoy a little photo tour of the Steed family in 2009!

5lbs 13oz 19in...and 6 weeks early!

Celebrating Irish heritage

All dressed up for Easter Sunday...and oh so sleepy.

Baptized!

Loungin'

Meeting new baby friends!

Mmm...solid food!

Mommy and Thomas swim lessons

Crunchy leaves

Playing guitar with Daddy

Family photo taken on a Thanksgiving trip to Dallas

Wishing you a most blessed 2010!

Design Help

As you can see, we're in the process of revamping our blog, focusing mostly on the layout and overall theme/design.  I'm pretty new at all the formatting and everything, but I'm hoping to find a design that I like and is easy to use.  This current one is okay, but I'm not crazy about it, nor can I figure out how to format the fonts to give me more than Times New Roman-esqe choices.  Please feel free to comment with suggestions! Any websites you've found useful?  Do I need to download other programs?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Holy Family, Pray for us!

Today is the feast of the Holy Family . They are our family's patrons. We end each prayer with an intercession prayer to the Holy Family, so naturally, yesterday, when we were at vigil mass and we discovered that it was our family's patron day, we REJOICED! Of course, we are still in the Christmas season, so there is plenty about which to rejoice, but here is a list of fun things we have done in order to celebrate our patron:

• Go to mass
• Pray the liturgy of the hours
• Have special foods/drinks (try an "ailing turkey"--it's a hit with stay at home moms!) such as that, and tonight we are having some peppermint schnapps and macaroons while watching The Two Towers
• Take a nap
• Have fun tickle time with Thomas
• Rest together
• Have a nice meal
  
• Find little ways to serve each other like doing simple chores and getting little presents

I'm sure there is more we could do to celebrate our patrons. Looking at that list, I feel good that those are simple things that we strive to do often, like tickle time with Thomas, have nice meals together (even if they are cupboard-cleaners!), and find little ways to serve each other.

Thank you for your prayers, patrons!

Holy family, pray for us!

Mary Mother of God, Pray for Us!

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a big celebration in the Catholic Church!  If you have some time today, I'd recommend this article for your reading pleasure.

Thanksgiving in Texas

As I mentioned in my previous post, our family spent Thanksgiving in Dallas this year.  We spent the entire week with family, and it was nice for us to get away for a while and have somewhat of a vacation.  Uncle Tom and Aunt Jeanne were great hosts, and Thomas loved them!  It was good to introduce Thomas to Drake's dad's side of the family, and we were thankful to see them on a few occasions throughout the week.  He even met his great grandma who couldn't get enough of "that little cutie poo" as she described him :).  Not only was Thomas an angel on both plane rides, but he even slept pretty decently in a new place with new smells, new people, and in an unfamiliar bed.  It's too bad he won't remember the trip, but enjoy some photos below! 

Playing with Uncle Tom...who knew plastic food containers could be so much fun?

Hanging out with Aunt Jeanne

Meeting Grandpa Mickey...same expression...

Twice!

Great Grandma Gerry, Thomas, and Drake

At the Dallas Turkey Trot...along with 50,000 others!

After the Turkey Trot

Clowning around with cousin Sara

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're leaving on a jet plane...

Our family is looking forward to Thanksgiving this year for many reasons, and one of them is a little vacation to Texas!  We're boarding a plane at 7:20am on Sunday to head to Dallas to visit some family, many of whom have never met Thomas.  It should be fun, though I admit I'm feeling a little anxious about the plane rides.  The last time I flew was to and from Costa Rica, and both ways I got terrible splitting headaches on the ascent and descent.  Oh, and this time we're traveling with a 9 month old :).  So please pray for our safe travels there and back.  I'll post with photos and a re-cap when we return!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grandparent Weekend

This past weekend we invited the grandparents to our place for a visit.  Grandma Eileen came on Saturday afternoon, and soon after we headed to the apple orchard in town.  While we didn't pick any apples, we did purchase some along with several other treats!   Thomas was hamming it up for the camera!

Actual height: 28 inches

Fun in the swing

Thomas and the goat having a stare-down...my money's on Thomas.

Grandma Eileen and Thomas

Thomas putting a quarter into the box to make the train take a few laps

Leaving the orchard...can't wait to come back!

Nana and Grandpa came the next day for Sunday morning brunch.  Thomas was pretty pleased especially after being fed pancakes!  Much smiling and giggling ensued, especially over some new toys and tons of attention from three grandparents.

Breakfast time!

Grandpa listening intently; Thomas stuffing his face

Peek-a-boo!  (Note: While it may look like a weapon on the wall and/or a strange object sticking out of Grandpa's neck, it's actually just a tie-back for our curtains).

This kid means business...future linebacker?

Thomas playing with Nana...and yes, by "playing" I mean "gnawing."  Obviously.

Goofing around with Grandpa

Thanks, grandparents, for a great weekend! :)