Winter Wanderings

As we wander through this snowy, white winter there are a few things warming our days!  Mainly the joy we are experiencing as we get to know our newest little family member:  my very first grand daughter, Iona Elizabeth.  Though I've given birth to 3 of my own babies, there is something extra-special about a grand child.  I can't explain the desire to just sit and watch her...preferably with me holding her, but even if someone else cradles this treasure it's enough to just gaze at her preciousness!  She is the first-born of my first-born!  And my son will FaceTime with me on occasion and I get to see him handling his baby girl like he's handled a dozen babies even though she's his very first.  I am in grateful awe to my Abba Daddy that I get to see my son be an amazing daddy already.  

Newborn Photo Shoot - this one is my favorite!

Her daddy sucked his thumb too!

Hi, Grammy!

Iona & Aunt Anna!

Ok, ok, enough baby pics!  There have been other things going on in our family.  In the midst of tons of snow, we have been homeschooling, playing, running Slava to OT, PT and Speech, gearing up for a huge event for Justice For Orphans, and bringing my mom to her doctor appointments and blood transfusions.

Jordan built a "fire"!

Anna sprained her wrist snowboarding...

 ...and that was before the Olympics!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Valentines:  Sierra, Anna, Jordan, & Slava

For Valentine's Day I found these chocolate "gold medals" for the kids.  I played the Olympic theme song on my I-phone while they lined up and I gave them all gold medals for being the best kids in the world!  They got a kick out of it!  Andrii was not home at the time because he was out plowing the 2 feet of snow that fell.

I'll be doing a post soon to update on Justice For Orphans' upcoming events!  God is doing amazing things!

Every Good and Perfect Gift Is From Above!

Monday morning, 1/27/14, began with me taking my mom to her blood transfusion.  But when I awoke to start the day I found a message on my cell phone from my son, "We are at the hospital."  Could it be that our anxiously anticipated little bundle of blessing (aka very first grand baby) would make her arrival 2 weeks early???  I headed out to bring my mom to Albany Memorial Hospital while my mind was on what could be happening at St. Peter's Hospital just a few miles away. 

Mom & I playing Yahtzee to pass the time.

 As we were leaving Albany Memorial to head to St. Peter's I got this message, "10 cm dilated and pushing."  Ahhhhhhh.  I flew to St. Peter's.  As I threw my car at the valet parking guys I got another text..."born 11:50am, 6 lbs 3 oz."  Ahhhhhh  get me to the 3rd floor!!!!  I dumped my parents off at the room of my nephew and his wife (their baby boy arrived 5 weeks early the day before) and I not-so-patiently waited in the waiting room for Wayne Jr.  After being joined by Kerri's parents and sister, the 2 very ecstatic grandmothers were escorted to the delivery room for our very first peek at our precious grand daughter:  Iona Elizabeth Flach!

Happy Family!

Happy Grammy Flach

Happy Grandpa!

Monday was a whirlwind day.  I spent most of the day between 2 hospitals.  In addition to my first born having his first born, I got a peek at my nephew's baby boy, and my mother-in-law had hip replacement surgery at the same hospital that same morning!  I guess little miss Iona didn't want to miss the party!  The happy family came home on Wednesday and are doing wonderfully!  All my kids are excited to be first time aunts and uncles.

Great Grandma & Grandpa

On Saturday my parents were able to visit Wayne Jr., Kerri, and baby Iona.  I treasure this picture of my mom holding my grand daughter.  My mom celebrates her 76th birthday this week.  We celebrated with a family dinner out at our favorite restaurant.  But the best present of all, the good and perfect gift from above, shining down from the Father of light - my precious grand daughter!