Baseball

Spring sports has me completely frazzled and running in 17 different directions daily. The boys decided to try T ball and coach pitch this year and love it (I was secretly hoping they wouldn't). I must say they are pretty good little players for it being their first time. Oliver is on the Bats team and Preston is on the River Cats. Oliver wears purple and Preston wears red. Oliver would not wear his Under Armour because it was not purple. I'm surprised he didn't insist on wearing his purple converse as well instead of his cleats. :) 

Baptism

Walter was baptized on Saturday, May 11, 2013, along with his cousins, Tess and Cash. It was a beautiful celebration with family and his God parents, Mark and Carrine!! I think he is our first baby to cry at his baptism but as soon as he felt that cold water he quieted probably from shock!

Walter Theodore

On February 13, at 2:42 am, we welcomed little Walter into our family. He decided to wait a bit longer than any of the others, which made mom a little nervous, but he finally decided he would brave this crazy family and join us!!!! Our plan all along was to have our friend and midwife, Jan, deliver little man. However, she had to be in Kalkaska Wednesdays and Fridays, so so we were very strategic about encouraging things along! When I went into the office on Tuesday I was 3 cm. Jan was hopeful that I would go in that night as long as she could make it to K by 10:00 the next am. My contractions (which I have the entire pregnancy) continued the rest of the day/night but were somewhat irregular. Jan and I texted back and forth until about 11 when I told her I was going to bed. Well that lasted about an hour. The pain got worse and I could not rest. Things were still irregular but Scott encouraged me to just go to the triage to get checked. So we texted Jan and met her in OB about 1 am. My sister Sarah and mom met us there as well. Isabelle and Amelia also joined us. Once to triage, the nurse initially thought I had not made much progress but Jan then checked and realized that I was about 5-6 cm and got me into a tub room. I labored in the room on the birth ball for a while and then decided to try the tub. Almost immediately after being in the tub, my water broke and I was ready to push! In a mad scramble to get staff in there and me back in the bed (Munson does not love water births at this point :)), he came out just a few minutes later. It was fast and furious and I had no epidural, which I never have with any of them. It makes it so nice because I feel so great after and don't have to wait for that stuff to wear off. Little Teddy (we all call him something different, either Walter, Wally or Teddy) landed on his Mommy's chest at 2:42 am with the cutest, squeakiest cry ever!!!! He is just stunning and his hair is out of control!!!! We are so blessed to have had Jan there, the girls, my mom and sister, as well as all of the wonderful nurses! I could not have asked for a better birth!! Jan came back that night and had Slabtown Burger with us. Yum!!! So appreciative of her willingness to deliver even though she was not on call. And also thankful to Dr. John Gorman for doing Teddy's checks and procedure for us! Thank God for wonderful friends!!!!

Random Acts of Kindness

On our final shopping trip two days ago, we visited the Dollar Store for gift boxes. Ahead of us in line was a young mom and her two little girls. As she went to pay, she realized that the ten dollar bill that she thought was in her wallet was gone. She then tried her credit card and that was declined. Embarrassed, she said "I'll just put a few things back." It was then that the man behind her handed money to the cashier to pay for her things. She initially protested, but he insisted. She was ever so gracious as she pleaded for his address to pay him back. But he quickly said "Merry Christmas" and disappeared out the door. That man was my husband. And that's what Christmas is about. That's what I love about him. That's what I love about my children as they learn from these acts. It reminds me of my father, when I was young and still today. I hope that woman and her two sweet little girls have very Merry Christmas.

Orphanage

One of the things we chose to do this Christmas was to support some children in an orphanage in Mexico. A woman who was in our adoption group decided to take her family to Mexico and spend Christmas in an orphanage there. The building is cold and children sleep on cement slab. Many do not have warm pajamas or socks. So Scott and I took our kids shopping and picked out warm, fleece pajamas with fleece socks, toothbrushes and books. All essential items for a fun and warm bedtime. It was so neat watching even our little boys try to decide which color pajamas and which socks these girls might like. Our girls that we bought for happened to be young teenagers. I love that our kids "get" that many kids don't have the little things that ours take for granted. They need these gentle reminders in the society in which we live. To listen to their conversations amongst one another about what else they would love to give these girls. Melts my heart.

If I Were President...

Just a little follow up from the last post, this is a letter Preston wrote a few weeks ago stating what he would do if he were president.

Toys For Tots

Each year, GTACS teams up with Traverse City Fire Department and the State Theater to raise toys for children in need. Both Holy Angels and Immaculate Conception walked downtown and sang Christmas carols as they carried their toys to donate. Their toy was their "admission" to the movies. The state theater staff worked from 6 am to make popcorn for all the children as well as drinks for each. The fire department staff waited with Santa as the kids loaded their truck with gifts. As the kids filled the entire auditorium, the children prayed for all of the kids who would now have something to open at Christmas. Toys for Tots were actually short on toys this year, but after our schools filled the truck, the staff was pretty certain we made up for what was lacking. We are so proud to be a part of a school system and community who generously donate for causes like this. Not to mention the values we are teaching our children. At least once a month, our kids bring either goods or money to school for various causes around the community. It is so refreshing when dinner conversation revolves around who they can donate their piggy bank money to and how old they have to be to go on a mission trip. Thank you GTACS, TCFD and Traverse City State Theater!