Mother's Day 2010

This year was my first Mother's Day. While I was excited to spend the day with my little bundle of joy, I realized that if it weren't for all of the other mothers in our lives we would not be where we are now. Angelica is lucky enough to have SEVEN grandma's and a Godmother. We invited everyone over for a morning brunch and fortunately everyone was able to come. It was a great time for everyone and I hope that we can do it again in the future. Here are some pictures from the day.

Top row: Great Grandma Julie, Great Grandma Brewer, Mom (me) & Angelica, Godmother Lisa, Grandma Brewer
Bottom row: Great Grandma Lannon, Grandma Di, Grandma Smith, Great Grandma Smith

The night before...the table is set and ready to go. We used our special china and silver!

Angelica made cards for everyone with her handprint on them.

I love these hydraengas. I wish I could grow my own!

Everyone getting ready to eat! Mmmmm (If you click on the picture and make it larger you might be able to see Angelica at the head of the table! hehe)

Opening gift baskets

Angelica with her Godmother and Aunt Lisa

Angelica with her Great Grandma Lannon

Angelica with her Great Grandma Smith

Angelica with her Grandma Brewer

Angelica and Grandma Di

Angelica and Mommy making funny faces!

Angelica helping her Great Grandma Julie open a card

Dennis with his mom and grandma

Angelica with her Great Grandma Brewer and Mommy

Angelica with her Grandma Smith

Me with my mom and sister

After the party was over and everyone went home, Angelica and I put on comfy clothes and relaxed on the front porch!

Immigration

I love immigration when it is LEGAL. When it is ILLEGAL, it is just that - illegal. I thought that illegal activities were frowned upon. I thought that anyone with a decent set of morals and values would be in opposition to allowing illegal activities to take place without consequence. I guess I was wrong. The number of people supporting ILLEGAL immigration really bothers me. I abide by the laws and if I should choose not to, I should have to deal with the consequences. For example, if I CHOOSE to drive 65mph in a 35mph zone, I will rightfully get a ticket when I get caught BREAKING THE LAW. If an immigrant CHOOSES to enter our country ILLEGALY then they should have to pay the consequences and leave, just as any US citizen would have to do if they entered another country ILLEGALLY. What is so horrible about following the law? If a person wants to enter our country, just go about it properly and do it LEGALLY. Then you will be given all the rights that other citizens of the country have. Why is it that reponsible people are constantly penalized and hurt in order to preserve the so-called rights of the irresponsible? It is totally illogical and irrational.

Well - this is an interesting way to look at it.......................

Here is an editorial written by a woman to explain how ridiculous this sounds.

Her point: Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Arizona is addressing the issue of illegal immigration.

Certain people are angry that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely.

Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests.
Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, 'No! I like it here. It's better than my house. I've made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).

According to the protesters:
You are Required to let me stay in your house.
You are Required to feed me.
You are Required to add me to your family's insurance plan.
You are Required to Educate my kids.
You are Required to Provide other benefits to me & to my family. (My husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hard-working and honest, except for that breaking in part).
If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHT to be there. It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to better myself. I'm a hard-working and honest person, except for well, you know, I did break into your house.

And what a deal it is for me!!! I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and bigoted behavior.


Still not convinced the ILLEGAL immigration is a PROBLEM? Here are some verifiable FACTS proving that this is a MAJOR problem.

1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments.
Verify at: http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecenters7fd8

2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.
Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.HTML

3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.HTML

4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!

5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.

6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.

7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.

8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.

9. $200 Billion dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.

10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens.

11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the US from the Southern border.
Verify at: Homeland Security Report

12. The National policy Institute, estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.

13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances to their countries of origin.

14. The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One million sex crimes have been Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States.

The total cost is a whopping $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND IF YOU'RE LIKE ME HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY; IT IS $338,300,000,000.00 WHICH COULD BE ENOUGH TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. Are we THAT stupid? YES, FOR LETTING THOSE IN THE U.S.CONGRESS GET AWAY WITH LETTING THIS HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR!!!!! I don't care if those who will be running in the next elections are democrats or republicans. I will be voting for those who choose to help our country and who will stop taking away from legal citizens to empower illegals. I will vote for whoever is committed to stopping this problem. I will vote for whoever abides by the law and expects others to abide by laws as well. I will vote for the person who will treat this country and the legal American citizens with respect and stop making a mockery of our laws.

Making Mother's Day Cards

We had fun with this little project. We wrote notes for each of Angelica's seven grandmas and her Godmother. Angelica gave each note the stamp of approval with her handprint. Since we were having so much fun, we decided to print her feet too for her scrapbook. We did this activity in the tub, followed by an immediate bath!

One hand is pink and the other is blue!

And her feet are green!

Many mother's day cards scattered about!

Brookfield Zoo

We took pictures of the animals too, but who really wants to see them when you can see our little monkey!

Wearing her monkey shirt and enjoying her time at the zoo.

Is that Angelica or a Sea Otter?

Who what is in there?

looking in at a HUGE starfish!

Daddy showing Angelica the lizards

Cutie Pie

Sleeping with her dolly in the stroller - this was taken while at my friend Tiff's baby shower.

Sitting in her bumbo looking at daddy

I love this smile! How can you resist?

This is what we do during the day.....we all just lay on the floor!

Little princess!

Hats!

mmmm...food!

Angelica has been eating food for the past couple of weeks. She started with rice cereal about 3 weeks ago and we have since added oatmeal to her diet. So far she is liking it!

This picture was from her very first meal. She didn't know what to think at first, but she ended up liking it.

Special Angel

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy..."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I doing to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will alwyas talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Eart could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, "You will simply call her Mom."

4 months old!

Angelica turned 4 months old on 4/18. She is doing great! The biggest event of Angelica's 4th month was that she was baptised into the Catholic church. Besides that she has been doing all sorts of things. She has learned how to turn on her music machine that is attached to the side of her crib. She rolls over on to her side when she is sleeping. When she wakes up in the morning, she spins around and goes to the other side of her crib. She has started laughing, which I think is our favorite thing so far! Angelica has taken a few short road trips down to the University of Illinois where I have taken Rusty to the vet. She has started going to church as well. We celebrated Easter (pictures below in older post). She has outgrown another set of clothes and is now in the 6-9 month outfits for the most part. At her 4 month checkup, she weighed 14lbs 8oz and was 25 3/4 inches tall. She is also absolutely loving her jump-a-roo. Unfortunately Angelica picked up a little virus around the time of her baptism and still has a slight fever, so she hasn't had her 4 month shots yet. The Dr. would like us to do that next week as long as she is all better. Here are a couple pictures from Angelica's 4th month.

Sitting with Daddy in church on Easter Sunday.

She LOVES her jump-a-roo.

Sitting with Daddy while waiting for the Dr. to come in at the U of I vet school.

Every morning Angelica wakes up with a smile on her face. This is awesome for us as we are not really morning people. Now that we see her first thing in the morning, she gets our day started in a really good mood. She is so awesome and we are so graetful she is ours. :)

Angelica's Baptism

Angelica was baptised in the Catholic Church on Sunday, April 11, 2010. She was baptised at Our Lady of Knock which is the same church where we were married in May 2006. Deacon Tom Knetl performed her baptism, which was very nice as he was the principal of Memorial Jr. High when I attended there. We chose my sister, Lisa, to be Angelica's Godmother and Dennis's brother, Greg, to be her Godfather. We feel that both Lisa and Greg are positive role models and will set a good example for Angelica to follow as she grows up. Lisa bought Angelica's Christening gown several weeks ago. It is so pretty and suits Angelica's personality well.

Overall, the Christening was a blessed event. We felt very happy for our baby girl as she was baptised into the Christian faith. We hope that we will be not only good parents, but also good Christians and set a good example for her to follow as she grows up.

Here are some pictures from the day.

I love this picture. She looks soooo happy!

Here we are as we arrived at the church. Unfortunately, Angelica came down with a virus this day and she was quite cranky for most of the day. (After seeing the Dr. we are pretty sure that she had a stomach bug with a fever.)

Angelica with her parents and Godparents listening to Deacon Knetl.

After Dennis and I gave Angelica a blessing on her forehead, Deacon Knetl asked other loved ones to come forward and do the same. After blessing her, everyone stayed up at the alter to watch the baptism up close. It was nice to share the moment so closely with others. Angelica's cousins Nate & Tony, Godparents Greg & Lisa, and Grandparents, Kathy, Dave, Larry, Diana and Sue all came forward for the remainder of the ceremony.

Daddy held Angelica during the baptism.

Angelica was annointed with oil as well.

Angelica's Godfather lit a candle for her off of the church's baptismal candle.

The ceremony was a little rough on Angelica, so we didn't get to take a lot of pictures afterwards. Here is one shot we did get to take. (A special thanks to my sister's brother-in-law, Phil, for taking all of these photos during the ceremony!)

After the baptism we had a luncheon at our house. Here is the super tasty cake that we ordered from our favorite bakery, the Calumet Bakery. They did a beautiful job!

Lisa and I made all of the food. We served tuna salad and chicken salad sandwiches along with potato salad and pasta salad. It seemed like everyone really liked the meal.

Angelica received many special gifts for this occassion. We have already read through many of her prayer books and children's bibles. Her crib cross, night light and door hanger are carefully set up in her bedroom. She even got her very own pearl earrings, a glass bead rosary and a silver cross neclace that her great grandma Julie bought while in Austria! She also received a couple new outfits, books, water and sand toys, bathing suits and several savings bonds. Angelica is very blessed to have so many loving and generous people in her life.

After the baptism, Angelica changed into a different dress. Here she is with her Grandma Smith.

Austin, Nathan and Tony playing in the back yard.

Kaylea and Leanna playing in the backyard.

Rebecca and Jeffrey playing in the living room.

All together there were 50 adults and 12 kids at the party. All of the kids were so well behaved! (Wish we could say the same for the adults! haha) We felt very fortunate to have so many of our friends join us for this day as well. Since the baptism, we have taken Angelica back to church for a regular service. Sister Alban (one of the sisters at our church) was so excited to see Angelica at mass the following week. She picked her up and said "We have a brand new little Christian here with us today!" I must say, Angelica is our little angel, and I hope she will live up to her name as she grows up!