New Snowsuit

Well they aren't the best pictures but here is Autumn's new snowsuit. She really likes the fur on the hood. She likes to play with it and then pull it close to her face so you can hardly see her eyes and smile.

An Ewok?

Here is a little girl who, according to her grandma, looks rather like an Ewok.

Turkey Day

I'm going to try to stay caught up! HAH! Like that will happen in this life time. :P Here are some of our adventures from Thanksgiving. My parents came up and Autumn had a grand time with her grandparents. (no pun intended) When she woke up on Thursday morning there they were. The trouble was that when she woke up from her morning nap on Sunday they were gone. It was rather cute, after every nap she had taken to waving her arms and hands as she was coming out of her room so that when she saw grandma and grandpa she'd be already greeting them. But on Sunday they weren't there, she got down and crawled around jabbering and finally came back to my leg, I picked her up and she put her hands on either side of my face and looked into my eyes still jabbering. It was like she was asking where I put them!

We went for a hike down near our apartments and Autumn had a good time singing and talking while riding in the backpack. Towards the end of the walk, when we were almost back to the car.....

Autumn and Grandma were having a good time drumming on the tub with all the linens.




We had a tiny bit of snow over Thanksgiving, it looked like someone had spilled a large container of powdered sugar. Autumn enjoyed discovering this cold wet stuff, then we put her mittens on.


She likes to choose the movie we'll watch, she deliberates for long minutes over the choices.

Ladybug

Here are the pictures from Halloween finally. Now that it's the end of November I'm finally getting around to these. :P We went to the Minnesota Zoo to a members event on Halloween night. It was fun, there were lots and lots of weird creatures there that definately belonged in a zoo. I even saw Max, King of the Wild Things (if you don't know who I'm talking about then you need to go read Where The Wild Things Are. There was a diver in the fish tank who looked like a skeleton. Strange things were afoot that night.

Adoption Awareness Month

Here is my other "national awareness" post:


This picture is one that someone sent me in an e-mail. It's probably got some kind of copyright somewhere but I couldn't find it so I'm using it here. It is of Joseph and baby Jesus. Jesus was adopted by Joseph and raised as his own son. We are a part of God's adopted family: Eph 1:3-6; Gal 3:26-4:7; Rom 8:15-17, 8:23, 9:4

Solomon was God's royal adopted son: 1Chr 22:9-11; Esther was adopted by her cousin: Est 2:7, 15; Moses was adopted by the Pharoah's daughter Ex 2:10; Samuel was adopted by Eli: 1 Sam 1:24-28, 2:11

This is an interesting article about adoption into God's family: http://www.abideinchrist.com/selah/apr5.html


Adoption Month History: The first major effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system occurred in Massachusetts. In 1976, then-Governor Mike Dukakis proclaimed Adoption Week and the idea grew in popularity and spread throughout the nation. President Gerald Ford made the first National Adoption Week proclamation, and in 1990, the week was expanded to a month due to the number of states participating and the number of events. During the month, states, communities, public and private organizations, businesses, families, and individuals celebrate adoption as a positive way to build families. Across the nation, activities and observances such as recognition dinners, public awareness and recruitment campaigns, and special events spotlight the needs of children who need permanent families. It also includes National Adoption Day, traditionally a Saturday, which is observed in courthouses across the nation as hundreds of adoptions are finalized simultaneously. Each year, November is recognized as National Adoption Awareness Month. While all adoption-related issues are important, the particular focus of this month is the adoption of children currently in foster care.


http://www.adoption.com/national-adoption-awareness-month/ calendar of things to do

October 15th

I started this post before Oct 15th and then never managed to finish and post it. So I'm doing it now:

October 15th of every year is national Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. In 1988 the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 314, designated the month of October, as "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month" and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month:

NOW, THEREFORE, I RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of October in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-eight and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirteenth.

This is a transcription of what passed in Congress in Sept of 2006: http://www.october15th.com/transcription.htm

So every year we ask everyone in all times zones, worldwide, to join us in a candle lighting ceremony at 7pm on October 15th

This picture give me peace and hope when thinking about Hannah. Its been 5 years since we lost Hannah and we still miss her. Over the years, when I feel particularly sad I've written letters to her or poems. Here's a couple that I can share, but be warned, you'll probably need a kleenex or two.

Part of Me Is Missing

A part of my heart is missing because I gave that part to you, I knew I was going to lose you and there was nothing I could do.

They say there is always a reason but it didn’t ease the pain,I thought my heart was breaking and I would never smile again.

I asked a thousand questions and I cried a million tears,we planted a rose in your memory that will grow for years and years.

The questions still go unanswered and there are tears I will always cry,there is a question that will never be answered: WHY?

God must have needed another angel, the tiniest one he could find,to play in his garden and to teach others to be kind.

Some day little one we will meet and you will be mine again,till then play with your grandmas, god bless you and keep you, AMEN.

I Am Still A Mommy

I am still a Mommy, I was a Mommy from the start.

What makes me a Mommy is that feeling in my heart.

Pregnant I was, there was a baby inside me.

For some Mommys all it takes is to know, they have planted that seed.

There is a bond that takes place from the moment that you know.

Inside of your body someone special has started to grow.

My baby didn't make it, she is in Heaven up above.

In my heart I'm still her Mommy, I am filled with endless love.

Something happens to a woman when her seedling starts to grow.

Unless you have felt these feelings it is impossible to know.

She meant the world to me and I will never be the same.

All I need is for you to listen when I wish to say her name.

She may be gone but she's not forgotten, I miss her each and every day.

Could you imagine that it would be any other way?

What kind of Mommy would I be if I forgot my child?

I had planned my whole life around her, all the great things we would have done.

I may have another child, possibly another two.

There is something I know for certain, she will always be my first child, and I her Mommy too.

My Uncle

Ok, last ones from NE. Later this week I'll post some from Halloween (I know that's a bit backwards but what do you want from me?)

My Uncle Tom played with me lots. We peeked out the window to see who was coming, we also played with my cousin Emily but Mommy didn't have any pictures of that. We had lots of fun, I love my Uncle Tom! He's having a new baby soon (I'm getting a cousin for Christmas, wonder how they wrap those.....) So he's getting practice in with me. I guess I can share him with a baby, as long as he still tells secrets with me too.

Three Seasons

My cousin's name is Summer, not too long ago her brother married a girl named Spring. Well, while we were all together in Nebraska we took a picture of the "Three Petersen Seasons" (even though one is now a Zerr and one is a Triebenbach). And we added my Aunt June in the second picture. Summer's middle name covers the winter season so now we're all set. (Summer is on the right and Spring is on the left as you look at the picture). I also have a cousin named April, is anyone else noticing a theme here?

Here is the one with Aunt June added. Aren't they a beautiful lot?

Visit To Nebraska

Here are the more candid pictures from our trip to Nebraska. Daddy is in them because he was at a retreat when we went to a family funeral.

Fist you see what happens when you fall asleep during your yoga exercises. WArning: if you stay like this for extended periods your legs will fall asleep.














Autumn and Josiah had fun together, they sort of shared toys, wrestled and poked each other's eyes.








Emily shared her apples with Autumn, what a nice thing to do.
Autumn shared her grandma and her books with Emily.



Autumn learned how to take a DVD out of the player. She also pulled herself up to stand for the first time this weekend.

A movie watching cave was set up under the table (mostly so the kids wouldn't get walked on). But when Autumn and Emily started pushing every button they could find we went to plan B.




This is a kitty that lets babies pet and play with it. Autumn was in heaven!

Visit to Nebraska

A couple of weeknds ago I made a rather impromptu visit to Nebraska for a family funeral. While there, I was able to catch up with family that I haven't seen in quite a while. We all had a great time, all things considered. There was even some semi-formal picture taking going on. Here are a few of those. This is Autumn and her Great-Grandpa Petersen.

We have here 4 generations of Petersens (Triebenbachs)




Here is another 4 generations of Petersens (Zerrs)














Here is all but one sibling

This is Autumn and her cousin Josiah. She likes having cousins her age.