Friday, July 24, 2009

more baptism

I love it that Mike enjoys photography so much. And I really love it that he is so good at putting together blog posts for our family scrapbook. But sometimes he does not add pictures because the lighting is not good, the focus is off and something about bokeh. And sometimes he doesn't include a memory if we don't have pictures to go with it.

Like this picture.
I like this candid of two of my men enjoying the afternoon at our BBQ. It was such a nice time hanging out with good friends in the sunshine celebrating God's goodness.
This picture of Adia was not included in our last post. I know the lighting is off and all, but look how cute she is! I loved seeing our friends all dressed up as we are usually more casual around each other and Adia was darling in her dress. See her wild hair? The kids all had a grand time playing together (there were 17 friends age 8 and under who attended Justus' baptism! He will never be in want of a friend!).

I don't want to forget the food.
Mike mentioned the great burgers but we also had tons of yummy sides lovingly prepared by friends and family. Everyone contributed. We had pasta salad, pico de gallo & chips, melon-fruit salad, amazing fresh berries, I made a chocolate-espresso-banana cake and of course their was ice cream!


Is it OK if I remember the incident where a certain Papa had a certain situation with a certain substance ALL over his hand causing him to call out, "CUTZI, I NEED YOUR HELP HERE." Hilarious.

This is only made funnier by the fact that we Hollisters had our own version of an incident earlier that day.
About 10 minutes before the end of Pastor Kevin's sermon after which the baptism would take place Justus began to stir in his car seat. Upon taking him out, I felt that he was wet. Unsure if it was sweat or one of two other substances I lifted his backside to Mike ans asked, "Is it bad?" His answer: "REAL BAD!" I rushed to the bathroom and gave Justus a complete wardrobe change (he even needed his socks changed!). Justus and I walked out of the bathroom just as Pastor Kevin was asking the family to come forward. We came from opposite sides of the church and met in the front giggling at our shared joke.

This next picture is also not good, picture wise.
If I knew how to crop, I would cut the adults out of the picture and make Xochi bigger. But I don't (with Mike's fancy program). But that's OK because I want to remember sweet baby Xochi's face (and getting good pictures at this age is hard). I want to remember that I am (almost) always nursing Justus these days. And I want to remember how nice it was to do so in the sunshine with friends that day.

After the BBQ most of us did a little of this:
And this is the best picture we got of the main man of the day:

Maybe not a perfect portrait, but enough to sufficiantly see how preciously sweet is Justus.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think they are wonderful pics, Amy! It's the subject of the photos that's important. And the pic of Justus asleep on Mike is precious!

I LOVED how we all could laugh at your and Said Papa's dilemnas. We've all been there. For some of us it's a distant memory we need to remember every now and then!

Good times.

Mike Hollister said...

I'm glad you posted this. You're right that there are some important memories that I forgot. Good stuff here.

Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae said...

That is one sweet little baby. And don't you just love those nursing covers? Totally revolutionized these first six months for me. I could GO places. And STAY. And still feed my kid!

Stacy said...

I loved this post, Amy. Because- the *details* are just as important (even more, to me!) than the stellar photography.

*17 friends? But now, wait. Don't you think, since you're homeschooling and all, you should sort out the socialization thing? What if he's not around his peers enough? :)

*I love Adia's pigtails. And dress. And overall cuteness.

*That's so fun that you have that memory of the race to change Justus before the baptism. I think it shows that you're a mama of five that you could handle it so gracefully and with laughter. I'm thinking if it was child #1 maybe it would have been a little more stressful!?

*I think I can tell from these pictures that your living room is still rearranged. How's that working out for you?

Love you, friend!

amy said...

Oh! I hope that I did not make Mike sound snobby about pictures, 'cause he's not! I just thought it would be a funny way to add my two cents!

Lora Lynn, yes! I love the nursing cover! I never had one before and I had always used a blanket before but had never felt as secure as I do now. No more holding a blanket with my mouth!

Stace, yep. Were all about the details! And if you put mine & Mike's together we have it just about covered.

Ha! About socialization, too true. Seriously 17! And that doesn't count church friends.

Yes, the living room is still that way and I love it! You are in charge of that in my life from now on!

amy said...

Oops! I know it is we're not were.

Anonymous said...

Oh. My. Goodness. Justus is so beautiful. Seriously! I can't handle it. I can't wait to see him in person. And it may be time for some more portraits of him. A whole 'nother series. Thanks in advance.

-Aunt Helen

Cutzi said...

You forgot to add that Mike is also good at doing two-year-old-crazy-hair.

Colleen said...

Oooh, that close-up of your new little guy is beautiful. I am so envious of you & Cutzi & all my other friends who are still cuddling little people. I comfort myself with the knowledge that in 5-10 years when you're dealing with a posse of adolescents, I'll be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. *grin*