Christmas

Wow I feel like a terrible blogger, considering it's been a week since Christmas and I haven't posted anything yet! I do need to cut myself some slack though considering December was a crazy busy month for us due to all the training my new job brought, Brian working overtime, and holiday madness in general! Our Christmas kinda seemed like it didn't happen, it was weird. I had to work Christmas Eve until 5pm so I missed out on the anticipation and excitement that generally existed in years past. I headed straight for my parent's house where I was met by a large crowd of family. I was so exhausted and emotionally drained from work that it was difficult to really take in and enjoy the evening. I ate dinner quick, then the gift opening frenzy began! Soren got alot of cool gifts, we're so thankful for all the love and support he has in his life! After gift opening he was so stinkin tired it took a long while to get him to take a nap! Eventually he went down for a little bit but then woke back up. We went to the 9pm Candlelight service at church, and it was a pretty special moment for us to have Soren there. I remember last year being pregnant and so excited about having a baby to celebrate with this Christmas.

The next morning we all woke up feeling under the weather, but we packed up and made the 3-hour drive down to IA to visit family.

We first visited Brian's step-mom's family.




The next stop we made was Brian's grandpa's house in the same town.

Remember these three munchkins?!? Look how much they've grown since their first picture together!

After that, we drove to Brian's parent's house about 15 minutes away from the town where the gatherings were. When we got back to their house about 8pm, we opened gifts between the 5 of us. Soren got lots of cool stuff, it was pretty awesome!

"On the day you were born" recorded by Grandma with his added birth stats.

We were able to stay down there until Tuesday, then came back home. I think we're still slowly recovering from the holidays, and all sick with colds. Luckily it hasn't seem to hit Soren or I too hard (yay breastfeeding!), just a little congestion.

And in case you wanted to see the Christmas Cards I designed this year, here ya go:
Hope you all had a blessed Christmas, next up, New Years!

Game-Changer

Before I became a parent, being a social worker was tough, but manageable. I enjoyed working with people and supporting them as they worked so hard to overcome so many barriers to reaching their goals. I heard terrible stories of events clients had to endure, and my heart hurt for them. But most days I was able to 'leave work at work'. I never once forgot about their stories, but I was able to turn off my brain and my hurt for them at the end of the day.

Since becoming a parent and recently starting my new position, I have come to realize that 'leaving work at work' is so much more difficult. The setting in which I work now is an inpatient child and adolescent psych. hospital, which is much more difficult in nature. But what I've noticed most is my heart hurting for both the children and parents. It's so hard for me to imagine having my kiddo brought to a psych. facility for an indefinite amount of time and not being able to hug or kiss them or tell them I love them whenever I would like to. It breaks my heart to even think about Soren being in such a dark place that he would want to hurt himself. I wish I could say that I could protect him from mental illness, but we all know that biology is biology, and that there is only so much nurturing I could do. It breaks my heart to see him smile and giggle and think about how these kids could have smiled and laughed as babies as Soren does now. To think about or see a child in a restraint or a seclusion room breaks my heart, knowing that they are someone's child.

Working on an inpatient psychiatric unit has definitely been a learning experience. One that leaves me questioning my ability to handle this nature of work. I can't say much, but a staff member was choked this weekend, and it was completely unprovoked. It took six staff members to get the patient off of the staff member, and the patient threatened to kill the staff person once they got out of the facility. This is not a single occurrence, this is happening often. Tonight I can't shake the thought wondering if that staff person would have been me. I am definitely being affected by hearing of the incident and I fear for my safety every time I step on the unit. Every time I step on the unit, I think of Soren. I'm just not sure this is where I'm supposed to be.

First Foods- Bananas

Soren has taken an interest to foods lately. He intently looks at food, and will follow food from plate/bowl to my mouth. He's beginning to reach for it also, and sometimes even opens his mouth when I put the food in mine. Tonight while at Babies R' Us, I bought some jarred baby food on a whim. I plan to make his own food, but wanted to see if he would even be interested in food first before I start making it. I bought 1 small jar each 'Earth's Best' organic bananas, sweet potatoes, prunes, and carrots. I was pretty excited to try them out, so I decided to give him a taste of banana tonight. I know you should try their first food in the morning so you have all day to see how they would react, but we've given Soren licks of banana here and there with no problems, so I wasn't worried about it. I think he was interested in it and seem to take to it well...what do you think?









And just too funny not to share:

Things Lately

Lots has been going on around here this week and I've been too busy to sit and write until now. On Monday I started my job orientation, and have been doing that every day this week. I've been doing considerably well, although I did have teary moment on Sunday and last night. I'm still trying to figure out how to balance everything, making new routines, and remembering everything. I have temporarily lost many things this week, including my name badge on only the third day! Luckily it was recovered at church. I think the change in routine has somewhat been affecting Soren, though not in any terrible way. The first day he wouldn't take a nap for daddy until the late afternoon while in the grocery store...Brian said he had a sad, sullen, defeated look on his face while shopping then finally fell asleep. He's been going to bed around 9:30-10 and every morning this week has woken up at 6:00 to eat! I need to get up around 6:15-6:30 so this has been working out perfectly. After he wakes up to eat, I bring him into our bed and nurse him, then keep him laying in our bed after he dozes off again and I get up and get ready. Then he wakes up again from 7-7:30 and Brian gives him a small bottle and he'll go back down until 9-9:30. It's working out pretty slick, I hope it stays that way. He's my little alarm clock, and I LOVE being able to nurse and cuddle him for a little bit before I have to go to work.

When I leave in the morning, I wear my pumping bra and pump in the car on the way to work. Sounds crazy I know, but no one would ever really know and it's a nice, efficient way to use my 45-minute drive time. While at work I pump once during my lunch break, then after work I will either feed him or pump right away. Not gonna lie, the girls are a hurting unit waiting that long, but it's what's feasible right now. It's a pain in the arse to pump, remember the parts, cut my lunch break short, but it also feels good knowing I'm providing for him even when we're apart.

Brian has been a rock star, despite a bit of a jump-in-head-first approach. It's been a new learning and adjustment period for us all. It's not easy giving up sole care and control of Soren but he's been handling it well and I have become more flexible and supportive. I honestly think working part-time is going to make me a better mother. Before I started, we just went about our routine; now I love coming home and squeezing and cuddling him, and playing whenever we get the chance. I love how he gets a HUGE smile when I get home. I also am starting to really enjoy nursing more...like I said, before it was just part of our routine, but now I am really cherishing that closeness I feel with him... I think he likes it too as it's often one of the first things he wants to do when I get home ;-). It sure beats pumping, that's for sure!

Well, I think that's it for now, I need to hit the sack but I'll update more this weekend. We managed to take some Christmas pics, so I need to design our cards here soon and find the time to mail them out...eeek!

5 Months!

I can't believe Soren is 5 months already! That just seems so crazy to me! Last week, Soren weighed 14 lbs. 2 oz., and was 25 inches long.

Eating: Soren has been an on-demand feeder, and as of lately, there's no rhyme or reason to when he wants to eat. When he wants to eat, he eats. It generally is every 2 hours but I've been noticing my milk supply has been running low again (*bangs head on table*) and so he's not getting much, then wants to eat every hour sometimes. We visited the Lactation Consultant last week, and he only took in 2 oz. before I ran dry. Unfortunately he's been receiving more formula bottles lately. Once I go back to work Monday, I imagine he'll fall back into a routine feeding schedule. Trying to boost my supply and meet his needs is going to be tough. I just need to remind myself that any little bit helps. He is also becoming curious about food and will look at my food while eating, sometimes following it up to my mouth. He's grabbed for my food once, but not consistently yet. We are waiting to feed him solids until we get the pediatrician okay in January, though he has had a lick of stuff here and there.

Sleeping: Soren goes to sleep between 9:30-10 and wakes up between 4-6am. Last night he slept from 9:30-5:30 (8 hours), which was awesome! I'm slowly starting to move back his bedtime, so tonight he went to bed at 8:45 and he seemed to do great! As long as we follow our routine, I think he knows it's nighty-night. One thing that I have discovered is that the poor little guy has night terrors. He cries in his sleep, pouty-lip and big sniffle breaths and all, but he's still sleeping. The other morning he was doing this and I tried to wake him up and it only served to make him cry in big ways...the cry that I know means he's really hurting or scared. I'm going to talk to his pediatrician about it at his 6 month appt. but from what I know, trying to wake him up only exacerbates it. It's hard to imagine what could be so terrifying at 5 months old, but it definitely is the saddest thing I've ever seen :-( . Most times when he wakes up though, he gets a HUGE smile on his face and squeals when he sees me. He'll even do this after I have just rocked him to sleep and lay him in his crib. Soren is somewhat of a high-maintenance sleeper. He almost always rubs his eyes when he is tired. He doesn't take a nap for longer than an hour during the day, most times it's about 15-30 mins. He needs it to be quiet, he likes to nurse/eat a bottle when falling asleep, and he likes movement. Usually I'll rock him, but sometimes that doesn't cut it and I end up pacing and bouncing him. We have an air purifier in his room that we use as white noise that I believe drowns out little noises that could wake him up. It's pretty easy to rock him to sleep in his own room for naps when I turn the air purifier on.

Development: Soren rolls from tummy to back great now, and rolled from back to tummy the other day. When placed in a sitting position, he will fall, but I think his little abs are getting ready, and one of these days he will be able to. He also enjoys being a standing position, and going from a laying-to-standing position. His little legs are pretty strong! Soren is becoming much more interested in toys, and manipulates ring toys and spinners on his jumperoo. He can now touch the floor in his jumperoo but he doesn't jump yet as any sudden movement still startles him. Soren is becoming very social now and enjoys making many different sounds and facial expressions. He enjoys squealing quite loudly ;-). When I leave the room, he will sometimes visually follow me and start to cry if I run out to the garage to bring something in...as soon as he sees me, he's fine. If a 'stranger' (to him) holds him, he will look at me and look for safety and re-assurance that he's okay... it's pretty cool to see the attachment process at work within my own self and my child. Soren also has little nubs on his gums and is drooling quite a bit and chewing on everything he can. I have a feeling a little tooth is going to pop out soon.

Likes: Soren enjoys sucking on his fist and fingers, squealing and 'talking', interactive games between him and Brian or myself, bath time, eating, Sophie the giraffe, watching youtube videos on daddy's lap, t.v., music, shopping :-)

Dislikes: Within the last week, I've noticed Soren has begun to dislike car rides. He's good for a little while, but anything over 15 mins. and he starts to fuss. Today I had fed him before we left our friends, and within 5 mins. he was fussing. We pulled into a gas station so I could nurse him some more and as soon as I took him out of the carseat he went from instant fussing to instant squealing and laughing...little stinker! When he cries in the car, it breaks my heart when I can't console him right away. There's been way too many times that we've been stuck in traffic or almost home and he screams in such a cry of desperation. Not gonna lie, I get teary when he does it.

Soren also still dislikes getting his clothes changed. Whatever arm we try putting in the sleeve, is always the hand he tries to suck on. He also hates when I interrupt his feeding to burp him or switch sides...he has a very distinct fuss for that, it kinda makes me laugh :-). Other than that, he's a pretty happy boy.

Soren, Meet 'Sophie'

This evening my parents, my niece, Soren, and I went to the General Store in Minnetonka to do some holiday shopping. I absolutely LOVE this place, the bottom floor looks like Christmas exploded, and the top floor is all sorts of cool knick-knack gifty stuff. The place is HUGE! Last year we went and I had just found out I was pregnant, and was nauseous most of the time. This year Soren was in his stroller and squealing for most of the 2 hours we were there...he was definitely a fan! One of the neat things they have here are ornaments that you can have personalized for free while you shop. Here's last year's ornament grab:

And this years:

I still want to find a "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament where I can put his picture in it, I'm gonna do a hunt online since they didn't have one in the store.

I have been eyeing this popular "Sophie" the Giraffe, which is basically a glorified squeaky rubber giraffe. I finally bit the bullet and bought it (at an outrageous price). BUT, after seeing Soren play with Sophie for the first time, I would say it was well worth the money:

For whatever reason, Soren woke up about an hour after I had put him down for bed tonight. While he was sleeping during that hour, Brian and I set up the tree. When he woke up I HAD to come show him our first family Christmas tree all decorated. He was too sleepy though :-(


Just a couple more days before work starts, and I have a to-do list about a mile long. Thanks for all the ideas on the last post, they're all very helpful!

Anxiety

The thought of me starting work in five days is overwhelming, and I'm really starting to freak out. Before I had a child, I saw new parents' reluctance and fear of leaving their child as normal, and understandable and that everything would be okay. I wish the old self could talk some sense into my new self. Let's start off with some things that I am anxious about:

1. Sleep. Right now Soren goes to sleep around 10, and I usually stay up for a couple hours afterwards. I am attempting to get myself to sleep by 11 now, but that gives me one hour to get everything I need to get done before he goes to bed. Then he wakes up at 4ish to eat, then nurses and sleeps every hour after that. That's a 5-hour stretch folks. And I will be needing to wake up at 6am every morning to be out the door by 7. I could try and get him to sleep earlier, but changing a baby's nighttime sleep habits is no easy task. I REALLY need to figure out how to get him to go back to sleep after his 4am feed and stay asleep for at least another 3 hours. What I would REALLY REALLY like is to know how to keep him asleep for the entire night without that 4am feed. But baby steps, baby steps.

2. Morning routine. I have always been one to roll out of bed, wash my hair in the sink (or shower the night before), and be out the door in 15 minutes, if it meant I had more time to sleep. Long-gone are those days it seems. After meeting with the Lactation consultant, we think I need to pump in the morning before leaving. And shower. And eat breakfast. And get ready. Thank the high heavens I don't have to add getting Soren ready on top of that. People do it all the time, yes, but this is still a big transition for me. I am a night-owl by nature, and have never been an early-morning person.

3. Preparing caregivers. Does the fact that I want to type up a "Soren's quirks tip sheet" for our caregivers make me sound like a crazy lady? Seriously, I am considering it. Things that would be on it are how to heat up breastmilk, how much, his sleep and eating patterns, how to do cloth diapers, how to get him to sleep, etc. What do you think? Silly or Genius?

4. Pumping at work. Uffda. Sounds so simple, but there's so much planning involved. Like what kind of professional clothes can I wear to allow me to wear my hands free pump bandeau bra? Where will I pump? Where will I store the milk? Will I have the time to pump? Will I make enough milk? Will I continue to be able to make enough milk? I am committed to doing it, the question is, how?

5. Food. Oh boy, meal-planning. Need to go grocery shopping and try and remind myself of all the convenient on-the-go breakfast items, things I can bring for lunch, easy dinners, etc.

I have to admit, typing this out did help decrease my anxiety some, which is good. Seriously if you have any words of advice, encouragement, etc., please leave a comment. My head is spinning and I'm emotional about leaving him on top of everything else.

Breastfeeding & Reflux Updates

I feel like it's been awhile since I updated on how our breastfeeding adventures are going. Looking back, getting started was a little overwhelming, especially given his weight drop and reflux/aspiration issues. Once we got over that initial bump, things started going much more smoothly. I can't say he is exclusively breastfed due to his night-time thickened formula feed, but I can say that we do our best to nurse for all the other feedings. Sometimes, formula is more convenient. However, it's only more convenient if I hadn't planned ahead. Now I stocked up my parent's freezer with some frozen BM so that whenever we are over there, we only have to run the bag under some hot running water. It takes probably 3 mins. longer to get it ready, but if we can distract him it's really not a big deal. While at my parent's we only do bottles if it seems like my supply is running low. He will continue to pull off and go back on but gets frustrated, and I can feel my breasts are not full. I really need to drink more water, I think that is my main issue. Whenever I sense a drop in my supply I just take my Mother's Milk Special Blend capsules for a few days and my supply jumps back up. Since Soren is going to bed around 9:30, and I don't hit the sack until midnight, I always pump before going to bed. I will usually get anywhere from 4-7oz., so I will have a bottle's worth of BM in the fridge for the next couple of days if we are going anywhere. I also feel like I have gotten much more comfortable nursing in public when I need to. Overall, things have been going well for us and I think it's because I kept putting in the extra effort to make sure that we succeed. It definitely is easy to just say 'forget about it' and take the formula route, but I'm sure glad I kept fighting and seeking help and support whenever I needed it.

Currently Soren nurses less often in the morning and does alot of feeding in the late afternoon/evening, I'm guessing it's what also helps him sleep longer stretches at night. When he wakes up after his long stretch at night (usually between 4-6am), he'll nurse for a little bit in bed with me then go back to sleep for another 2-3 hours. After he wakes up from that he keeps nursing for a bit, then back to sleep, every hour. I usually can get him to sleep a little longer in the morning when we do that for my own sanity, but soon that will be put to halt.

We are entering a couple new stages simultaneously in our breastfeeding adventures now which will make things more interesting. Soren is exhibiting alot of 'teething behavior' as the pediatrician likes to call it. Just 2 days ago he's been starting to bite down on my nipple at the end of a feeding, and it hurts in big ways. He doesn't have teeth yet, but it still makes me jump. Tonight I broke his latch when he did it and spoke firmly to him saying "no biting momma"...and he smiled and laughed. Little stinker! I have no idea how to break him of this habit, I can't imagine how bad it will hurt once he does get teeth! I notice he'll only do it towards the end of a feeding so maybe once he's starting to get 'bored'.

In a little over month we will be starting solids with him which will definitely be changing up his eating schedule. In the beginning he's more-or-less just learning how to eat from a spoon and it's not necessarily for nutritional purposes. We've already given him little licks of my mom's homemade (unsweetened) applesauce and let him gum the tip of a banana. He definitely is becoming more interested in food and when he sees people eating food he watches with curiosity. I think he's going to be a great little eater once he does start!

Also, now that I will be returning to work, I will need to somehow fit pumping sessions into my work schedule. I have talked to the HR rep. and she said there's many private meeting rooms that I could use and that other employees have needed to pump during the work day as well. She seemed supportive of it, hopefully I'll get a similar response from my co-workers. I am hoping I can get by with 2 pumping sessions during an 8-hour workday. I'm really going to need to implement taking in lots of water during my workday and will probably start the Mother's Milk Special Blend capsules as well to ensure that I am pumping enough so he has enough to eat the next day. One thing we *MAY* try implementing is what's called 'reverse-cycling', where he basically eats little during the day, but then power feeds in the evening and at night while we're together. Some babies do this naturally because they prefer breastfeeding over a bottle. We'll see how things go, I'm not necessarily going to push it because the thought of him not eating when he wants to breaks my heart.

As far as the reflux goes, I think we may have turned the corner. I'm not sure whether it's due to his medicine staying down now with his thickened feed, he's growing out of it, or my elimination of caffeine (most days, there is still occasional intake here-and-there). He does still spit-up but nothing like he used to. I also have become smarter and know when to expect now too. In the morning it's usually worse because he's been feeding laying down in bed with me. After he's been laying down any time during the day, and you pick him up, I usually am prepared. Also after a longer nursing session I expect it. But then there's the occasional time he'll catch me off guard like when I got home from running an errand and daddy handed him to me and as I went to kiss him he spewed all over my chin and down my chest and stomach. Many times he laughs afterwards, so I can't help but smile, find a burp rag and wipe myself off, and change my clothes if needed.

Soren is still occasionally aspirating, but most of the time it's only when he's nursing. I have a forceful let-down and I think it gets difficult for him to handle it. He'll pull off and cough (meanwhile I am probably spraying him in the face), gain his composure, then hop right back on. I'm glad we are continuing with his nebulizer since he is still aspirating. *Knock on wood* he hasn't been sick yet, hopefully we can continue to keep him healthy through the Winter.

Well I think that's it for now, I'll be sure to update as we start our new changes. Let me know if you have any questions or tips!

Coming down

I am coming down off of my 'yay-I-have-a-job-our-future-looks-so-bright' high, and as I begin to plan for all the changes that will be occurring, I am beginning to feel a sense of loss. I am so very thankful that I will be working in a job that I will (hopefully) love; that makes leaving Soren a little easier. But as I begin to think about our new reality, my heart begins to break. It seems like we have just now fallen into a routine that works for us, and it will be abruptly disturbed.

The first week I start, I will be working 7 days straight for training. Then a bunch more. There will not be an easy transition period for us. I will wake up, get ready, go out the door, work, pick him up from one of 10-said babysitters, go home, cook dinner, and try to get him to bed shortly after. No more daytime cuddles, walks, swimming pools, nursing sessions, giggles, etc. My head spins and heart aches thinking of all the little things like who will take care of him, how can I teach them his quirks, how will anyone know how to meet his needs like I do? I don't even fully know if he has fallen into a typical afternoon nap and eating schedule, so how will I convey that to others? I am anxious about how I will be able to pump at a new job, how will I advocate for myself to get the time that I need to do so without starting off with a bad 'reputation'? My husband will be taking on a lot more of the caretaker duties now (which in all reality will be a good thing), but then I wonder if he knows just how much of a change to expect.

And then it will all change. December is going to be horrendous. It will be the busy season at my husband's job (he most likely prints all of your Shutterfly and Wal-mart holiday cards), and he will eventually need to work additional days. My schedule is going to be so crazy and sporadic as well. January should begin to feel calm once I have completed training and my husband goes back to his regular schedule.

I'm beginning to want to hold him tight and never let go. How do women do this? I know millions do it every single day, and they adjust, but how? How can I feel better knowing that others will be raising my son?

Bathtime Giggles and Exciting News!

Well, to start off with the exciting news, I was given a job offer today and I accepted! I will be working as a social worker at an inpatient psychiatric facility for children and teens. It is a permanent weekend position (Friday-Sunday), 8-4:30. Although working the weekends will have its drawbacks, I am looking forward to not having to pay for childcare, and still get to spend Monday-Thursday at home with Soren! I will be leading two groups a day and also doing case management with the families. I am SUPER excited, it seems like a great place to work and has great pay and benefits! It will also allow me to work towards my clinical licensure so I can someday be an independent therapist! I start December 5th. It will definitely be a new transition and figuring out who can take care of Soren and when makes my head spin already, but it will all get figured out; I am very blessed to have so many supportive people in my life who are willing to watch him (and free-of-charge is always a bonus too ;-).

I thought I'd throw in this video of Soren's bathtime from tonight. The beginning is kinda slow (feel free to fast-forward to :55). I just LOVE his giggles, they totally melt my heart!

One Year Ago Today

The post below is from one year ago today (transferred from my IF blog):


"So I didn't test this morning...I thought, psshhh it's too early, why waste the money on a (expensive) test? Then I went to sit down to pee about 30 mins. ago and remembered I had some cheapie pregnancy tests. I thought, hey it will be negative, but at least then I can blame it on the cheapie, and I can still keep hope alive. And this is what I saw...



I thought no way, that must have been an OPK, but I looked at the packaging, and it said pregnancy test. Then I was like, no way, I'm just seeing things. Wait, holy shit, maybe I'm not! I still had cup of urine, so I took out one of the good ones. First, nothing showed up, but then, if you look real hard, you see:

It's still early, and it wasn't my first morning's pee, but holy shit ya'll!!!!! I can't even think straight right now!!! Beta on Wednesday!!! Oh- if you know me in real life, please keep your mouth shut until we get our beta confirming. I want some time to think about this and when we will tell people, but I just couldn't hold it in any longer and you guys have been so supportive!!! (Click on picture to make it bigger, tilt laptop screen)"

******************************************************************************

I made this scrapbook page detailing that day (Click to enlarge and read):

Our little miracle has been the light of our lives. This would be the 2nd best day of our lives (1st being when he was born). We love you Soren Alan, you truly are our little miracle.

First Swimming Pool Adventure

We got signed up for a YMCA membership recently and I was (way too) excited to bring Soren into the pool for the first time. He loves his bath time, I was hoping he would like the pool too. At first he was a little unsure, didn't cry but didn't smile either. But then later on he began quickly kicking his legs and flailing his arms and smiling...it was too cute for words. I'm hoping we can start doing this every Monday. Once he turns 6 months, we can sign up for parent-child swim lessons.

Overnight Changes

It seemed like overnight, my little baby has grown so much. Just holding him now, he is the length of my torso, he requires two arms, and my arms get tired quickly. He stands now when I hold his hands and when he's tired he goes in a standing position but then burries his head into my chest. He's playing with toys now on his jumperoo. He's sleeping in his big boy crib for 7-hour stretches now (night #5 he has done this). He's going into his crib for naps. His 3-6 month clothes are starting to get short (!!!). What happened to my little baby boy? I am excited to watch him continue to grow and learn new things, but I miss my little newborn.

Soren's Baptism

Soren's baptism was on October 2nd, 2011, and it was an emotional and beautiful day. The weather was perfect, our family and friends were present, even congregational members stayed to watch him become a 'Child of God'. In the Lutheran church, we practice infant baptism, where parents and sponsors (aka godparents) affirm their faith in Jesus Christ and that they will raise the baby in the church, teaching them the 10 commandments, the Creed, etc. Once the child becomes 'of age', they participate in a confirmation program where they learn more and then confirm their own belief in Jesus Christ, and affirm that they want to be followers. My family celebrates baptisms and confirmations proudly, and Soren's baptism was no different. My mom made a vast amount of food, handmade his baptismal outfit, and we held a celebration after church.

Brian and I chose two sets of godparents for Soren, Monica & Kyle, and Jeanna & Ben. Monica & Kyle were the maid-of-honor and best man in our wedding, Monica and I have been friends for quite some time, and Kyle and Brian are cousins. After our wedding, Monica and Kyle started dating each other, and eventually got married, and had a daughter of their own a few months before Soren. They are very strong in their faith and values, which we feel will be good for Soren as he grows older. Jeanna is a longtime friend with whom I've grown in our church, and we still remain great friends today. Jeanna and I were raised very similarly in our values and we felt as though her and her husband Ben would bring another perspective on Christianity to Soren's spiritual growth.

Brian and I both want Soren to be raised in the Lutheran church, HOWEVER, we also want him to be educated on many different faiths and spiritual practices, so that when the time comes for him to make his decision on his own, he can do it with knowledge and confidence. Whatever path Soren chooses as he gets older, whether it be spiritual practice, sexuality preference, career choice, etc., Brian and I will support him, as loving parents do. We pray that as he grows and matures, that he will know the love of Christ and the love of his parents, family, and godparents.

Here are some pictures and video of his baptism: