Happy Baptism Day Andrew!!!

Four years ago today, Andrew became a child of God!!!
We love you so much, little man.


Here is the excerpt from my journal.  It tells the story of how we named you.


1/17/06
It’s been a very long time since I have written.  Bruce and I are anxiously awaiting the birth of our son, Andrew Joseph anytime within the next 2 weeks.  We are both excited and nervous (well, I am, Bruce isn’t nervous).

I have had a difficult 9 months probably due to my age and being so far away from friends and family. I want to record how YOU, God, gave us Andrew’s name.

I loved the name, Jude and was stuck on Jude Girard mainly because I prayed to St. Jude and he helped me find Bruce, and St. Girard helped us conceive.  I was set with Jude Girard, but Bruce insisted that we pray and ask You what name you have chosen.  We did for months.  Bruce would make lists of names and try them out.  He really like Brian or Ryan, which I liked, but I wanted a Saint name and I wanted the name to have meaning, not just be a name we liked.  I wanted a purpose for the name.  We continued to pray and make lists.  Then one day, Bruce’s mom suggests Andrew.  My rebellious nature rejects it right away because WE didn’t come up with it, but it went on the list and surprisingly became one of the top 3.

Well, Lord, you know just how to “handle me:” One day after Christmas I was reading our Medjugorje Magazine.  There was an article about St. Peter.  It told how his younger brother, Andrew, was the first to meet Jesus.  He brought Peter to Jesus with the words, “We have seen the Messiah.”  I was so touched that tears came to my eyes.  First of all, I didn’t even know that Andrew was Peter’s younger brother and I was touched at his humbleness.  He was the first to recognize Jesus as the messiah, but his brother, Peter, gets all the glory and fame so to speak.  Also, he brought Jesus to Peter.  It was here that I became VERY open to Andrew. 

Perhaps an hour later, yes an hour later, I was reading from another magazine, The Word Among Us, an article titled, “Open our Eyes, Lord”.  It talked about opening our eyes to see the Glory of Jesus.  Lo and behold the article included the same story of Andrew and Peter.  Once again, tears filled my eyes as I was  touched by Your grace.  The article spoke of how Andrew was able to see the glory of YOU.

At that moment, I felt that we should name our child Andrew and immediately asked St. Andrew to be his patron Saint and obtain for him the graces to see Your glory and humbly bring people to YOU.  Thank you!  Thank you, Jesus!

It was reconfirmed 3 weeks later when the Gospel reading was the SAME STORY and Father Heintz spoke of how significant names are when naming your children.  That they have meaning and purpose.

Thank you!  Thank you and Praise you Jesus.!

Snow Day!!!

We had snow in Bryan, Texas.  What a fun day!  Andrew had a BLAST!  He couldn't wait to go outside and once outside, he played until he was soaked.  He spent 20 minutes alone throwing snowballs at the tree. 


Of course, this was the year I decided not to purchase him a winter coat because "who needs a winter coat in Texas when the weather only reaches the 30s a handful of times."  P.s. This was the coldest winter in years. Mark fit perfectly in Andrew's winter coat from when he was 1.


Mark was not as big of a fan of the snow.  Mark and I were out for about 10 minutes.  Long enough to help Andrew make a very small snow "baby" as Andrew called it.  He insisted on a carrot nose and raisin eyes.  The problem was that Mark had eaten the last of the raisins for a snack earlier.  I was searching the living room floor for dropped raisins.  And then, of course, we warmed with hot chocolate and a nice fire in the fireplace.  What a great day!!!.

Happy Birthday Andrew!!!

My big boy Andrew.  I can't believe you are 4 years old.  You have grown so much in the past year.  You are very interested in learning and have such an inquisitive mind.  You have learned all of your letters and are very interested in the letter sounds and how they make words.  You'll be reading soon, I know.
You have such a wonderful imagination and love to engage in imaginative play.

A few "Andrewisms" I can remember from this past year (hopefully I will remember to write them down as they happen this year):

Driving to the second day of swimming lessons:  Mom:  I know it's a little scary trying a new thing, but try to be brave and remember Jesus is always with you.  Andrew:  Does Jesus have a swimsuit?

At the breakfast table one morning:   Mom, I don't think I want to be a priest or a saint when I grow up.  I just want to be a Rescue Hero like Billy Blazes.  Do you want to be Wendy Waters when you grow up?

Just today (on his 4th birthday):  Mom, I can put on my shoes now b/c I'm 4 years old.  Mom, I can snap my pants b/c I 'm 4 years old.  Mom,  I can eat all my dinner b/c I'm 4 years old.  etc., etc.

This one happened maybe a month before he turned 3, but I have got to write it down so that I won't forget it:

Andrew in the kitchen after having taken off his diaper:   Mom, what's this (pointing to his penis)?
Mom:  That's your penis.
Andrew, pointing to his bottom:  And, actually, and this is my "poo" nis.

He is a very logical thinker.

You were born February 3, 2006, at 6:16 pm at Rush Copley Hopital in Aurora, IL. 

 Here you are 2 minutes old.

Your 1st birthday party!  We were still in Aurora, IL.  We celebrated with family and friends.  

Your second birthday was celebrated in Bryan, TX.  It fell on Superbowl Sunday.  We celebrated with family and friends who were in town.  Mark was baptized the day before.  WE tried to have him baptized on your birthday, but there were so many baptisms that we got bumped to Saturday.

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We celebrated your 3rd birthday with friends.  The theme was from the movie Cars, which you LOVE.  Your friends participated in an obstacle course and we had a pinata.  Everyone had such a great time

And this was today, Feb. 4.  Can you believe I didn't take a photo on your birthday.  We will celebrate with friends at a Rescue Heroes party on Sunday.

Happy Baptism Day Mark!!!

You became a child of God on February 2, 2008.  We originally wanted to baptize you on Andrew's birthday, but were bumped to Saturday, the 2nd, because of the large number of baptisms.  We then realized how wonderful for you to be baptized on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus and your Great-Grandma Blecha's birthday.  What a special day!