Christmas in Cowtown

We have a sweet family.  For the past four years both Zach's mom and brother and my parents, brother and aunt have come to us to celebrate Christmas.  This year we continued the tradition-everyone made the trip to Fort Worth.  It was definitely a cozy Christmas mostly celebrated in our 2 bedroom apartment...with a snow falling outside.  There weren't any pretty table centerpieces or elaborate menus.  But we did have one sweet baby (who still isn't loving to leep at night...hence the lack of centerpieces and elaborate menus).  Avery's first Christmas was a great one...and a white one!  She received many fun presents...stacking cups, rings, a jumper, PJs, stuffed animals, clothes...and loved trying to unwrap the gifts.  There were lots of hands that were happy to hold her and love on her.  She was one happy girl...and I was a happy momma-thankful for the help!

I must confess...my excitement for Christmas wasn't in abundance this year.  It seemed to come in the middle of a stressful time with Zach's practice, with trying to sell our house in San Antonio, with Avery not sleeping well...my heart wasn't in a celebratory state.  I'm thankful for the words of our pastor in Fort Worth who right before Christmas reminded me why Christmas is so important...how it is in these stressful times that even more so we can celebrate Christmas.  Because Christ came.  To a sinful, broken world. That by belief in Him we are given life abundant.  That doesn't mean that life in this world will be easy or great fun all the time.  But it means we have hope.  That ultimately Christ will be victorious.  That He loves us and is working for our good.  That ultimately we will be with Him in His glory forever.  That is something to celebrate.

Here are a few of the things Avery has been up to this past month:

-Prop sitting

-Started some solids- she's a big fan of bananas!

-Pushing up to "upward dog" during tummy time

- Vocalizing more and more...and louder and louder!

-Loves her jumper (for all my PT friends- only for limited periods of time :)

-Bearing weight through her legs in standing

-Still loves her owl, sophie and antique silver rattle

Working on that sitting

Good times in the jumper!

Play date with Luke Hogan

Going for a stroll

Christmas Eve

Playing with a gift card after our annual family gift exchange

Laura came by to say hello!

Opening presents on Christmas morning

Painted by Avery's G-mama, a birthday plate

With Aunt Sal Pal

Merry Christmas!

With gammy!

And Gmama

The fam, enjoying a cozy fire :)

With Granddad

Look closely- you'll see the snow

White Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Modeling the new hat Aunt Janey gave her!

Playing with her new cups

6 months!

6 months sitting!

Covenant

Catch up time!

On Dec. 2nd our Avery was baptized here at our church Fort Worth Presbyterian.  I know infant baptism can be a somewhat confusing and sometimes divisive sacrament.  It seems that you'll find God seeking, believing and honoring people in both the pedobaptist (infant baptism) and credobaptist (believer's baptism) camps.  Zach and I were familiar in a general sense with infant baptism and its implications.  Our pastor directed us to some good resources to help us further prepare for Avery's baptism.    Here's a brief summary of what I learned: God established a covenant with Abraham in the Old Testament "to be God to you and to your offspring after you"(Gen 17:7).  The outward demonstration of the covenant was circumcision-and this sign of circumcision was applied to infants as well (Gen 17:12).  In the New Testament, Jesus commands his disciples to make other disciples and baptise them (Matt. 28:19).  Baptism is an outward sign of the inward change of an individual believing in Christ.  As one of the resources I read explained, baptism has become the fulfillment of Old Testament circumcision.  There are also several examples in the New Testament of whole households being baptized after the head of the household professes belief in Christ (the household of Lydia and the Phillipian jailor both in Acts 16).  So this lays down the foundation of infant baptism.  It's important to note though that while baptism is a sign of salvation- it is not what grants salvation itself.  Salvation is only gained by God's grace, through faith in Christ.

What really struck me in this preparation for Avery's baptism was the responsibility and commitment of Zach and myself.  While Avery was actually receiving the sign, Zach and I were making the commitment and proclamation in front of the church that we would raise and teach Avery in the way of the Lord.   As Avery becomes more and more aware, I've started to think of all the times I don't want her to be aware...when  my attitude is poor, my words harsh, when I'm selfish, impatient, ungrateful...It's made me thankful for this covenant that God has given- to be God to us, to give us grace and mercy, to save me from sin and to refine and redeem me.  And we pray that our God would call Avery to himself...that she would believe this covenant God has given.

My parents, brother and Aunt Sally were able to come in town for the baptism.  It was a quite a trip to make to come for the weekend but great to have them all with us!

The baptism gown was given to us by my mom- it's been in our family over a hundred years.