Blessed Easter! What a busy couple of weeks we have had! John Mark started on solid foods with a little bit of rice cereal, he turned six months old, JJ preached throughout Holy Week, Easter was an early morning and a long day, and now it's back to the "normal" routine, albeit with the joy of the Easter season.

John Mark is doing very well. He's a joy. He began solid foods on Palm Sunday, the day he turned six months old (and not a day sooner! I found myself emotionally unprepared for such a big step!). He likes it mostly but is also a bit unsure of what to do with it! He is now a shade over 16 pounds and is 26 inches long/tall. He now rolls over and thereby suffers very little belly time since he immediately rolls over to his back! He's not much of a talker, but he likes a good squeal and still has "nguh" as his favorite, all purpose word.

JJ is busy as ever. He had a number of opportunities to preach during Lent and Holy Week, including once on Good Friday and also Easter Sunday. I was impressed with how he could write and memorize so many sermons in so little time! He also got the chance to substitute for an ailing pastor at a nearby parish, and he is busy and active with the college ministry as the semester is winding up. After graduation, he will be taking the college group to NYC for a servant trip for a week. John Mark and I, meanwhile, will be heading down to Florida to visit Nana and Grandpa! Hopefully, that way, the separation won't be too unbearable!

We are constantly blessed by the support of such good friends and family: prayers, money, thoughts, and love. Thank you all and have a blessed Easter!

Three months later...here's another update:

John Mark is growing and growing! He turned five months today. At his fourth month doctor visit, he was 15 pounds, 7 ounces and 24 1/2 inches long. He seems so big when I look at old pictures! He holds his head up now and can sit with some assistance. His favorite activity is watching from the living room window the cars drive by on the road! He likes to be read to and look at picture books. He loves chewing! He sticks everything in his mouth in a desperate attempt to gum it to death. He is such a delight. His little laugh (a deep "hu-hu"); his great big, gummy smile; his hugs; his wide-eyed fascination with the world are all a true joy and blessing to be part of.

JJ's biggest news is probably (if you ask him) that the Packer's won the Super Bowl. He so enjoyed being able to share it with his son (who slept through most of it, which, mind you, was a remarkable feat considering his dad's exuberant outbursts throughout)! Now he is thoroughly entrenched in March Madness, so I don't know when I'll have his undivided attention again! His vicarage is going well. During Lent, he is sharing preaching time with Pastor by alternating weeks, doing both the Sunday service and the midweek service on his assigned week. So far it has been good experience for him but challenging to write and memorize two sermons in a week! He is staying busy with the college students, confirmation classes, and extra studies.

We are all looking forward to spring, none more than I. We are experiencing a spring thaw, though I don't know if it is THE thaw. We can see grass and sidewalks again, though, so I'm not complaining! It's definitely nice weather out now (this Florida girl actually thinks 30s and 40s are warm!), but the wind has too often been too cold and biting to take John Mark out. I am definitely going stir crazy and cannot wait for spring! I am looking forward to taking plenty of long walks with my son and introducing him to God's wonderful world.

As always, thanks to everyone for prayers and support. God's peace.

Hmmm, not keeping up with the blogging since John Mark was born, have I? Oh well, all you parents out there, I'm sure, know how that is. Though, in truth, I've had time, but not having Internet in the house is severely limiting. That, plus the cold. I hate tromping out in this weather, with the little lad, when it is soooo cold out! I'm excited when we're above zero!

We are doing so wonderfully well, and John Mark has brought so much joy to our lives. It is wonderful, and Christmas was a delight with him. We had no other family come, as none could get away during the holidays. But it was nice to have quiet and share the time just us three. It was very special and joyous.

JJ had a great deal of work to do during Advent and Christmas. In addition to mid-week services, he preached on Christmas Day and New Year's and had the whole service over that weekend while pastor was on vacation. It was good experience for him!

John Mark is doing great. He sleeps through the night already. Yes, we're very blessed to have such a good sleeper (takes after his mommy!), but we worked hard on getting him on a flexible schedule right away. And I highly recommend the book we're using as a guideline; it's called On Becoming Babywise. My sister-in-law recommended it, as she had great success too with getting Oscar to sleep through the night.

John Mark is getting to be a big boy. At his 2 month check-up, he was 22.5 inches (I think; I can never remember his length) and 13.5 pounds. I call him my little chubbster! He will be three months old in two days. He has the most gorgeous gummy grin, a huge, wide-open smile that is heart-melting! He's started talking, with some "goo"s and "ah"s. It's really too cute. He is such an easy child--aside from the spitting up. We may as well sew his bib on him. No one and no thing is safe. He's a volcano. But, he's a happy spitter, so we don't worry about it too much! And, if that's all the trouble he is, than I'm a pretty blessed mama!

And we are blessed too by all your continued prayer and support. I apologize for not updating this often enough. I hope to do a better job, if not before, but certainly by the time we get back to St. Louis, when we will have Internet in the house again. Thanks for being patient! God's blessings to you all, and Happy New Year!

PS: you can view more pictures of John Mark on facebook, even if you're not a member, by clicking here.