You hide REAL eggs?

EASTER 2010

Snitching when no one was looking?!

For Easter this year we taught Rebecca what it was like to hunt for Easter Eggs when I was a little girl. None of this plastic egg filled with candy stuff, folks. No sir, we hid real eggs that we had dyed the day before. (It had a lot to do with me not being in the mood to spend money on candy this year, or having energy to go buy anything for that matter either.) My parents were in town, anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby, so my mom took over the Easter egg dyeing with the kids. I was huge (I gained over 50 pounds AGAIN this pregnancy-like I always do-but luckily Theo is only three weeks old now and I've already lost 30 pounds), was so swollen and just generally miserable physically. Easter was definitely a much better experience because of my mom's loving care and delicious cooking.

Joseph turns 3!

(Feeling shy)

In April we celebrated Joseph's 3rd birthday. In honor of his birth with the LA fire department we went and visited a fire station nearby with his three friends and their older siblings. We got a thorough tour of the fire engine and the small fire station. We sat in the near by park and had cupcakes while the firemen had to respond to a call. Joseph was so shy when everyone sang Happy Birthday to him. It was very cute. He didn't even want to blow out his candles. He said Becca should do it. He was even too shy to try on any of the fireman gear, but I knew he was thrilled to be there.

Happy Birthday Joseph! We love you.

Joseph's favorites at age three:

Food: Costco's Orange Chicken
Color: Yellow

Toys: Buzz Lightyear and StarWars, tools

Ride at Disneyland: Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters
TV show: Little Einsteins
Movies: Toy Story 2, Star Wars
Favorite thing to do with Daddy: wrestle, sword fight and play anything
Favorite thing to do with Mommy: cook
Favorite thing to do with Rebecca: play all sorts of things, listen to her tell stories
What he wants to be when he grows up: builder

Theodore's Baby Blessing

Wrapped in the baby blanket hand made by Grandma Carol. Each of our children has been blessed in a baby blanket that Grandma Carol made for them.

On April 18th, we took Theodore to church for his baby blessing. He was only 6 days old, but we had to do it that way since my dad was only in town a short while.
It was a beautiful blessing and a special occasion.

Theodore's name comes with rich history. Here are a few brief highlights.

Theodore: Warren's great-grandfather on his mother's side, an artist, architect and also set designer in Hollywood. Theodore is also the masculine version of Dorothea's name, meaning "Gift of God" or "Divine Gift."

Alton: Warren's maternal grandfather, a piano player and printer, who accompanied some silent movies in his early years.

Luschin: Dorothea's maiden name, in honor of her father and grandfather, Hanno and Immo Luschin. Hanno, an architect and temple builder, Immo, a translator and linguist.

We also call him Theo, pronounced Tay-oh, (rhymes with "Deo"), in European fashion. It is also a fun reminder of our Austrian relative Theo Baich, a cousin on my dad's side.

Bob and Jane Daynes were able to come to the blessing. Bob is the missionary who confirmed my dad a member of the Church fifty years ago! I have known them my whole life. They were at our wedding, too. Bob was very close to my grandfather Immo, so for me having Bob around is like having Grossvati there, too.

I wanted to put this picture in because it gives you a good view of Theo's reddish hair and his cowlick in the front of his forehead. So cute!



A big day for the little guy and the big guy!

What a difference a week makes!

For me, pregnancy is extremely challenging. I'll just leave it at that instead of going into all the discomforts and pregnancy woes. I can simply say, I much prefer my state of being in the second photo over the first one. But, in the end it is all worth it. All of it. Because the little one who joins your family is a piece of heaven on earth.

11 April, 2010

18 April, 2010

I couldn't be happier.
This is Pure Joy.
Could anything be sweeter?

Happy Birthday Theodore!

The last day of a VERY long pregnancy. The baby's due date was April 7th. I've never gone over a due date before, so it was emotionally and physically exhausting. I had so much leg pain I couldn't walk as much in the past, but on the 11th we decided to push the limits and do a big long walk. Apparently it did the trick! That night I went into labor.

Sunday night, April 11th I went into labor. It started suddenly, at 11:40 pm, but I still wanted to have a few contractions before going to the hospital to make sure it was the real thing. Time flew quickly and after a half hour I told Warren I thought it was time to go to the hospital. I had him call my Dr.'s office and even though we hadn't waited the "prescribed" hour of contractions and I couldn't even answer the question: "How far apart are her contractions?" I said to him, "I don't know, but it's time to go."
Warren woke my mom up and after observing me she was worried I had waited too long and we were going to have a repeat of Joseph's emergency home birth. I told her I thought we were still okay and off we went. It was pouring rain outside and so we had to drive slowly. We saw the remains of an accident on the way to the hospital. Warren dropped me off, I walked myself to the labor and delivery floor while he parked. (Looking back I should have gotten a wheelchair, but c'est la vie, I made it.)
Ironically on my way there I was still worried "what if the contractions stop, what if this is a false start" but the nurses around me weren't acting that way. The head nurse showed us (after it was all over) that it was a mere twenty minutes after being hooked up to the monitor that our little boy was born. She said: "You're not the record, but you're close." I told her I hadn't intended on it being a record. My goal, however, was to make it to the hospital.

It was an intense, but beautiful experience.

Theodore Alton Luschin Williams

April 12, 2010

1:14 a.m
8 lbs 9 oz (3883 grams)
20 inches (50.8 cm)

First family picture



Rebecca and Joseph were so excited to meet their little brother. They wore the t-shirts we had made: "I'm a big brother/sister!" The morning we called and told Rebecca she had a little brother she kept saying: "Are you kidding?" When we told Joseph on the phone he answered: "I'm so excited!"
Life is sweet.

Talking to mommy

Meeting Theo for the first time





Joseph was fascinated with Theo's toes.





Arriving at home



Proud big sister



The April boys (all three born in April).





Home with our sweet little one.

Little One

Little One,

Our first journey together is almost done.
Our second journey together has almost begun.
I look forward to your birthday.
I hope to hold you soon.
I pray for your health and safe arrival.

With Love,

Your Mommy

Surprise!

Some of my dear Santa Monica friends threw me a surprise baby shower last Saturday. Warren pretended he was taking me out to dinner. When we got to the restaurant he steered me in the direction of a certain table. My friends had all driven down together from SM and were sitting at the table with the menus in front of their faces. They said: "Surprise!" and I couldn't help but start crying. It was so overwhelming and sweet. The love and kindness was just what I needed. I had been feeling a little low the last couple of days. In addition to cute presents, a fun game, delicious food and great conversation my friends went around the table and all said something nice about me. It was such a lift. It was a reminder to me of how everyone needs to be loved and uplifted. I hope I will always remember to take the time to be generous with my words to those I care about.

Thank you, thank you dear friends, I am so blessed to have you in my life.