Andrew's Dedication

Sunday, January 30 we took part in our church's Parent-Baby Dedication service. We were able to commit before the church, our friends and family our intent to raise Andrew in a Christ-centered home.




We had friends and family over to our house after the service for lunch.


Leta, Larry and Andrew.


Leta, Larry, Chris Russel, Alison Bachtel, Matt Young, Eyla Horning, Jason Horning, Cherilyn Horning.


Alison Bachtel and Chris Russell with Bailey Horning.


Kathy and Andrew.


Mommy and Daddy playing with Andrew after everyone had gone home.


Andrew, we love you so much and pray every day that you would come to know the Lord as your personal savior at an early age, and that He would help us to lead you in His ways.

January 2011

On December 27th, my maternity leave was over and I started back at work. It was a VERY hard adjustment (hard to not be with Andrew all of the time, hard to be working night shifts again--Andrew has been sleeping very well at night so I wasn't used to being up during the night!), but I'm doing better now. Benny is able to work from home and stay with him during the day while I sleep, so we're very thankful to not have to pay for childcare at the present time. We are continuing to pray for Benny's job search (for a head coaching position at a university...please pray with us!) which would allow me to work a little bit less. We are completely trusting in the Lord's timing!

Here are some pics from January!

Andrew and Matty (our neighbor/one of the AU soccer players) right after Andrew's nap.


January 4th: Andrew is 3 months old!


He loves being on his tummy!




A fun little Mizzou outfit Andrew got from my Mom.


Kathy came in town for a night so that Benny and I could have a date night!




After waking up one afternoon, I found my men here:

(PRECIOUS!)

Smiling and laughing with Daddy before dinner.




Relaxing with Daddy


Reading with Mommy





We are LOVING having Andrew in our lives!!!

Christmas 2010

(Yes...I realize that it is almost Valentine's Day and I am just now posting Christmas pics... :)

In mid-December, we went to see Santa at the Castleton Mall. Notice Owen's (in Jess's arms) excitement for the event. Meanwhile, Aden is calmly telling Santa his wishes for Christmas. Priceless.


Aden giving Andrew silly faces.


Benny, Andrew and I celebrated our Christmas together on Wednesday the 22nd before driving over to Lafayette to be with Benny's family. We started some of our own little traditions with Andrew this year. We made Kanakuk Coffee Cake, read Andrew the Christmas Story from his little children's Bible, talked about why we give gifts to eachother in the first place, and then opened presents. I know he understood and soaked up every word and each detail of the morning. :)



In Lafayette, Benny with his Dad and Andrew. Such a proud Grandpa! (Andrew is the first grandchild on BOTH sides of the family!)


We opened presents with Benny's dad (Larry), his wife Leta and Benny's brothers (Shaun and Kyle) on Christmas Eve morning.
Shaun, Kyle and Benny.


The boys had ordered a hat rack for Larry and Leta but it was going to be on back order until late February, so they created a little make-shift one (kinda makes ya think of the Garfield Christmas movie, doesn't it?)


Uncle Kyle with Andrew


Uncle Shaun with Andrew


The Bennison Boys.


We opened presents with Bennys Mom (Kathy) on Christmas morning. Andrew was really excited...


We headed over to Benny's cousin's house in the late afternoon on Christmas Day to have dinner with his mom's side of the family.


Kyle, Shaun, Kathy, Andrew, Me and Benny.



Merry Christmas!! :)

Thanksgiving (and a little beyond)

For Thanksgiving, Benny, Andrew and I traveled to Columbia, MO to spend the holiday with my side of the family. Shortly after arriving in town, we got to spend some precious time with some of our favorite people...the Horn family! (I'm a slacker and didn't get any pictures.)


On Thanksgiving day, lots of family came over to my parents house to hang out and eat.
This is Brayden, my cousin Andrea's son with Andrew. He was SO excited to hold Andrew!


Benny, Andrew, Brayden and Andrea. (Brayden is going to be a big brother in February!!)


Ian (my step-sister Crystal's son) and Andrew. He was also very excited about holding Andrew! :)


Ian and Brayden waiting to eat.


After dinner we encountered a slightly dramatic situation. Brenda (my mom's sister) was taking the blades off of the electric knife and accidentally made a pretty good slice in two of her fingers. Brayden noticed that Brenda was getting quite a bit of attention while I was applying pressure and fixing her wounds...


So he decided that he had gotten hurt too!! Here he is with a paper towel, applying pressure to his "wound." (And no injury would be complete without a sad, pouty face! :)

On our way back to Anderson, we got to stop in Greenville to spend time with the Ambuehl family. (Again...total slacker and no pics.)


Back in Anderson, Benny's younger brother Kyle came in town on Saturday to hang out and to meet his nephew for the first time!


This past week, our friend Andrew Rode (who coached football at AU last year and is now coaching at Greenville College in Illinois) was in town recruiting. We were thankful to get a couple of hours with him!


Hanging out with Daddy. We loved how content he was to sit on Benny's chest like this!



"Tummy Time." Look how strong that neck is!



We are so thankful for our wonderful family and friends and are especially thankful this year for the sweet blessing of having little Andrew in our lives.

Fall Fun!

Two weeks before Thanksgiving the weather was BEAUTIFUL in Indiana! For three days in a row, Benny and I took Andrew on a walk around AU's campus. The first day, the two soccer guys from across the street joined us, we picked up a couple of the girls I mentor on campus and we all had lunch together. The next day, we had a few more. The last day, this was the group:



It became one of those "little things turned into a big thing." We loved it!


Our smiley little boy!


Watching TV with Daddy:


Benny, Andrew and Benny's mom Kathy after the AU soccer banquet. Benny was honored for his three years of service as an assistant coach. (We're just starting to look for coaching jobs for next year for Benny. Please be praying that the Lord would lead us exactly where he wants us to serve!)


He is SO precious! :)

Paintings for Andrew's Room

When we picked Andrew's name, we decided to give him a name with a strong meaning. His name means "tender warrior." (Andrew= warrior/man and Caden means gentle/tender). Our prayer is that his character would one day reflect his name: a strong, bold leader with a gentle, tender spirit. We asked our good friend Jill Scovell to do a painting for his room that would reflect the meaning of his name, and this is what she came up with!!





She picked the Lamb/Lion combo because it reflects the perfect example of a tender warrior...Jesus Christ... the sacrificial lamb and the mighty lion. Thank you, Jill for blessing us with such a meaningful gift! (See link to the right for more of her incredible artwork!)