Summer Daze

Ahh, can you feel it?  Summer is here!  School is out and all kinds of things are changing.  We're going to Tennessee for goodness' sakes!  It's sunny outside and all is well.
That's not to say that it hasn't been chaotic (I love properly placed double negatives).  We're already packing, and let me tell you, house-hunting is not that fun when you have less than 6 weeks to do it.  Here's praying that it turns out well.
I thought you'd like some new pix of the kiddies having fun.  They love each other, and it shows.  Plus, you get to see Julia's new "hat," as Jack calls it.  That'll be her new look until about August to adjust cranial growth.  Maybe it's just me, but I think she's pretty darn cute either way.
Enjoy!

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Your eyes, they shine like the sun.

We have been aching for a break around here, and we finally got one.  When Eastertime hit, we packed up the car and sped away to the hill country of Virginia, where Chelsea's mother Robin lives, on a farm populated by her floral creations and hard work.  Seriously, that place is beautiful.  An enormous pond filled with fish, woods and rising hills, koi pond surrounded by bushes, flowers, and trees...it was rhapsodical.  We spent a relaxing few days there before jetting off to Tennessee for a day, where we got to hang out with Matthew and Isabel for a while.  They are so great, and their house is looking better than ever.  The last time we went there they had just moved in, so it was a little cluttered; you can imagine the difference a few months make.
Then it was back to Virginia to spend time not only with Robin but with Chelsea's brother Rocky as well, along with his crew (wife Diana and children Emma and Lily).  Easter egg hunts and all sorts of fun times.  Not to mention that we had awesome weather the whole way through--bright sun followed by impressive nighttime thunderstorms.  I loved it.  I hope you dig the pictures.

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No dusty relics here.

As part of Jack's fun birthday week, we took a trip on Saturday to Philadelphia (all thanks to the banking queen and travel guru, Chelsea Q. Fehskens).  She made the trip plans and it happened 'cause of her, so rock on!  The museum was a great time, an absolutely fantastic place to spend three or four hours (or more, if you don't have to crash for a nap).  You'll see in the video some of the amazing things they have for kids to play with there--wonderful themed areas and all kinds of activities.  If you're interested in more pictures, they have their own album on my Facebook page.
And then the zoo.  That was great too, because it was just drizzly and chilly enough that we had the place to ourselves.  Lots of the animals were out, too--I guess they liked not having a million sweaty freaks staring at them.  Just a few of us.  Hope you like the spectacle.

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Well it was two years ago in March...

We recently celebrated Jack's second birthday.  I know it's cliched to say, but it truly is hard to believe that it was only two years ago that he arrived in this world, wide-eyed and yelling (with a sizeable bump on his head).  The reason I say this is because he has impacted our lives so much, in so many ways, that I'm well beyond imagining a time when this boy wasn't part of my life.
I'm a better person because of him.  When I see the trust he has in me, the complete and utter trust, I feel incapable of making selfish decisions anymore.  Of course, I still do--part of my nature, and something I'm continuously praying and working on--but more and more, I think of him and the world I'm helping make for him and change my mind.
He is so sweet and loving and funny.  His eyes pierce my mind and I love playing with him.  I love reading to him and praying with him.  Baths are fun.  Walks are fun.  Writing down all the new words he knows is fun, and hearing him use them in life as he learns and discovers new things.  I'm flat-out in love with this boy.  He's my favorite person in the world, bar none.  And it's different--it doesn't mean I love Julia any less (I can't wait to devote an entire post to her as well, and soon) or that Chelsea is not also my favorite person--but this child, my first experience of eternally perpetuated responsibility--this child kills me.  And now he's two.  So how about that.
Below, find some stills from his party with tasteful musical accompaniment.

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Here Comes The Sun

The weather is starting to turn around here, and as a result, moods are going up incrementally.  I normally enjoy the brisk nip of fall and the quietude of a rainy morning, but these sunny warm days have pierced through my facade and I find myself enjoying the light as much as anyone.  Chelsea's pale skin has been kissed by a rose, and Jack can hardly wait for me to get in the door before he's leading me by the hand back out and saying, "C'mon."  Julia, meantime, smiles.  That's all she really cares to do.
We've been for a good many walks outside--feeding ducks, blowing bubbles, finding sticks to carry.  But even when stuck inside for lack of time or light or initiative, things have been rather happy.  As always, so much going on that I feel I'm living two or three lives instead of one, but nonetheless whenever I think of something to complain about I realize there are seven or eight blessings crowding to take its place.  Below, find some pictures to enjoy until our next tete-a-tete.

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.

December has come and gone, January has shown its wintry head and passed on down the trail.  We are now in the ending throes of February and God continues to amaze us with His tender care.  Not beat-down-the-door camaraderie or ingratiating lies; no, He creeps into our lives like a parent checking on his sleeping child, and leaves blessings for us to discover as we slowly wake to the world around us.
This has been a tumultuous few months.  I am a year older, and in getting  my hair cut discovered a plethora of white--not gray, but white--hairs residing on my head's lower east side.  Reminded me of Holden Caulfield.  And the same week I receive my final work evaluation before they went ahead and gave me the thumbs-up; I'm set for tenure and a load is lifted off of my back.
All of these things occurring have finally given me pause to stop and take stock of what have become, truly, the most precious people in the world to me:  my brilliant lovely wife and our progeny, these wonder-filled children.  If every parent were to feel this way, I doubt there would be any more war or hatred; how could you harbor such feelings when your heart held so much love?
Jack is nigh approaching two, and Julia has passed her second month with aplomb.  There are kisses goodnight from big brother to little sister; there are calls for "Baby?" when I trundle him out to the car ahead of the ladies; and the first Sunday we took Julia to the infant care center before dropping Jack off with the toddlers, he pitched a royal fit of screaming and crying that would only be sated by another look at his sister, safe and sound.
I've uploaded some of the best pictures of this period and made a little music video with them; the links are embedded below.  For now, our love to you, and enjoy.

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Jesus gave me water

So January has already been beautiful, and we're only nine days in.  The past month has been a whirlwind of visitations.  Robin was here for Christmas, and we had a great time with our cozy little family and plenty of time off.  There are so many new toys in the apartment that I don't think Jack knows where to start.  Plus Robin gave me a crow skull, so obviously she knows the way to my heart as well.
Then Josh and Brittany zoomed down for New Year's weekend, and THAT was great too!  Ted and Erin loaned out their house to these punks and next thing you know it we're singing Disney songs on the way to the aquarium (Brittany and me, not the kids).  It was three of the four Fehskens brothers, tons of beautiful girls, and random children staring at octopi.  Awesome.
Then this past weekend my mom and dad visited, also enjoying the seemingly never-ending hospitality of the Towson Fehskens (Ted, Erin, and Eve) and meeting their new grandbaby Julia for the first time.  MAN did she like Mom.  Of course, Mom's had enough practice.
The weekend culminated with a home baptism overseen by Rev. Ed.  We had some family time on Sunday night and then Dad read a touching piece he wrote years ago about the very subject--the passing on of our transcendent faith to our children.  We prayed and then dear Julia got washed in the Spirit!  It was so lovely.  I'm so glad we were able to do it in such an intimate and meaningful way.
So there's a run-down of the past month.  It's been insanely busy, fulfilling, satisfying and exhausting all at the same time.  Chelsea and I are looking forward to slowing down for a bit, maybe even (gasp) taking it easy for a few nights.  Of course, that's not really up to us anymore.
Enjoy the pics.  Love you!

Two Weeks...

Sooo...
Today marks the last day of my (much) welcome time off of work, getting used to the idea of "children" instead of "child," helping Chelsea as much as possible, and fitting in a bit of gaming or reading here or there (OK, a lot).
It has been the most beautiful experience.  Jack now calls for me by name in the morning, instead of just wailing until somebody shows up.  He sat in my chair and pretended to write in my plan book for twenty minutes.  Julia sleeps on my chest and then suddenly wakes up, eyes wide as saucers, INTENTLY studying me and usually ending up with a smile.
I'm looking forward to the rest of this deal.  I know it will get harder, I know work will complicate things, I know the world doesn't need any more help on population...but these are my favorite people in the world, and I'm filled with the love of a father simply by walking around the apartment and seeing them.
Hope you enjoy the photos beneath, few in number but representative of the past two weeks.

I (Fall) To Pieces

Hi, everyone!  Ah, what a wonderful season of life this has been.  Fall remains my favorite time of the year, and this one has proved more memorable than many, filled with family, fun, and frivolity (to quote Alec Baldwin as Charles Nelson Reilly).
Of course, foremost on the minds of those in our household is the imminent arrival of Julia, our darling little girl whom we already love and adore.  Every ring of my cell phone at work makes my heart stop a beat, as I check the ID, answer, and say, "YES?"  Unfortunately it usually means Chelsea forgot when my lunch ends and wanted to say hi, but one of these days it'll be something more...
In the meantime, we're realizing more and more why we wanted another child, as Jack is absolutely beautiful, creating a sphere of joy as he runs around.  It sounds strange, but he's starting to look older somehow, his face taking on more character and expression every day as he discovers the world around him.
We have recently had a visit from Rocky (Chelsea's brother) with his wife Diana and their children Emma and Lily, been to an Eve-fest birthday party, enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with the aforementioned Fehskens in Baltimore, and bought a lovely tree and decorated it in our home.  Below find some of these memories--we're so happy to share them with you, and hopefully by the next time I post, we'll have even more love to share.