Birth Announcement

Augustine Louis Ferreira V
"AJ"
Born: February 8, 2008
Time: 8:07pm
Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz
Length: 19 inches
Proud parents - Gus and Cami Ferreira











We have talked about AJ's birth announcement for, well, almost 6 months now. We're obviously not doing an official-send-one-in-the-mail at this point. We'll do a Christmas picture and letter or something special to make up for my slacking. Here is what his birth announcement might have looked like. (I had to throw a picture of his awesome Mohawk in...considering it is now referred to as "The Toupee Comb Over" - so sad.)

Almost 6 Months!

This was a rare picture of me and AJ on his first family vacation with Gus's family over July 4th. I say rare because AJ and Gus are always posing for the camera, and I'm always taking their picture. AJ had just woken up from a nap when the fire trucks in the July 5th parade started honking their horns.

I can't believe he's almost 6 months. I can't believe I have a 6 month old baby. Motherhood is a much harder job than I ever could have imagined. But I told Gus the other night, even when we have a challenging day, it's so much better than sitting in a cubicle or dealing with a rude client on the phone. It's so different. And so makes me appreciate my mother even more than I did before. My word, the amount of patience that one has to have and my little one isn't even crawling, walking or talking yet. (Although, I can already imagine his tantrums...it ain't gonna be pretty.)

Possibly the most exciting thing for AJ's first vacation was his first time in the swimming pool. As usual, he was checking everything out and examining the situation with a straight face. All the while I was holding him and his little legs were kicking (as usual again...the kid never stops). But toward the end of the swim session, he started splashing his arms which, in turn, splashed his face. Having his face wiped or having water on it is one of his least favorite things, but he actually didn't seem to mind this at all. I still can't get over his hair- he's so cute. He is such a mix of me and Gus, and is changing every day. Another week and he'll be 6 months old...crazy.

Birth- My First Mother's Day

My mom gave me something on my first Mother's Day that I would like to share:

Birth
I Samuel 1:12-20 12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."

15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

17 Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."

18 She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, ^[c] saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

Ecclesiastes 3:2a - "...there is...a time to be born." I Samuel 1:27a - "For this child I prayed." Psalm 139:13b - "Thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb."

"Wonder and mystery surround the birth of a child. Children are always fascinated when a new baby comes into a home. Thousands of children are born into the world every day. Man is learning much about the hidden process of conception. Yet the wonder and the mystery remains.

In the womb of the mother, unseen by human eyes, life is formed. The body in all of its amazing complexity is taking shape, every part imbedded marvelously in the germ of the tiny beginning. And in some mysterious way the factors that will shape the mind and the personality of the new-formed life, are being woven in to that living organism.

How far humanity has strayed from due reverence for life, and due reverence for the God of life, when they say that a pregnant woman has the right to do with her body what she wants to do, and then lay bloddy hands on the life conceived in her womb.

When Hannah had given birth to her son, she called him Samuel, saying, "I have asked him of the Lord," and her testimony to Eli was, "For this child I prayed." Her heart was filled with praise as she thought on the wonder of God's grace and power in her conception.

Parents of a newborn infant, join hands with Hannah. Join with her in praising the God of life."

As I celebrated my first Mother's Day, I realized that every day for me is truly Mother's Day. While the actual "Mother's Day" is a recognition and celebration of mothers all around the U.S., I am a mom every day. Yesterday was challenging. I'm not sure what today is going to bring. With the discovery of AJ's reflux one week ago, we are having to change things and I am especially having to be more aware of his every move. I want to make sure he is not in pain. So, every day, I am a mom. Every day, even the challenging days, at one point God shows me His amazing creation in AJ. At another point, I am asking Him to help me through the day, but I am thoroughly amazed by this child. I sometimes question why God gave him to me- the question holds two meanings at different times through the day. But I am thankful.

As I rocked AJ to sleep yesterday, praying that his little body could rest in the heat and his over-tiredness, I sang to him.

"I have a Father, He calls me His own. He'll never leave me, no matter where I go. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. I have a Maker, He formed my heart. Before even time began, my life was in His hands. He knows my name. he knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. He hears me when I call. He hears me when I call."

Being a Mommy

So, we've been lacking in publishing posts on this blog too (today I published my first post on my personal blog since August 2007....yeah). It's May 5, and in three days, AJ will officially be 3 months old. I love it.

So much has happened and he changes so much everyday. Rather than rack my post-preggie brain for all the recent changes, I will discuss the newest (and most fun so far) one. This past week he seems to have found his voice. He becomes more aware and "social" everyday it seems. But he's really started "talking" and jabbering. It started mostly with talking to Star-Star- a stuffed star that plays music and lights up which is attached to his play gym. The morning routine is to put him in his play gym after being fed, before his morning nap. He has always seemed to love this time, but it's like he has time with his friends in the morning now. Today, I moved him so that Mr. Duck (a stuffed, green duck that squeaks when you squeeze him) was right above his left arm. Well, AJ had a full jabber, squealing, giggling conversation with him, while batting at him with his little fist. His arms are long enough now that he can touch his play gym friends, and Mr. Duck was for surely flying around this morning.

His talking gets going again while changing his morning diapers. My heart soars when he makes eye contact with me, smiles his silly little grins and says "hi" (if you say "hi" over and over, he'll repeat the 'i' vowel sound and it sounds like he's saying "hi" back to you). I never imagined the love I experience when this silly conversation happens. It's hard for me to put him down for a nap- I just want to keep talking to him.

Lastly, he talks to himself. Yesterday, he barely cried for any of his naps, but Gus and I would hear him in his crib, talking away. I wonder what his little brain is thinking- it's just amazing to see how fast he has changed even this past week. Good times had by all. He'll be talking up a storm this weekend with both sets of grandparents in town for his dedication and Mother's Day. I can't wait!

Back to work and more...

Where do we start. Even as I write this Cami and I are riding the wave of emotions that come with being new parents. AJ is 16 days old now. Cami's Mom who has stayed with us two weeks and has been such a huge help left a few hours ago. It was nice to have her and Ed here this weekend. Ed really enjoyed holding AJ and every chance that was given to him he did. Tim and Niki even got to come and spend a little time with us on Saturday. Well, most of us. I had to work.

This week marked my return to the office and what a week it was. We had a ministry fair at church that was a huge success, but a lot of work had to be done to make that happen. I had to print around 20 banners and take care of a few logistics. The area of ministry that I over see saw a bunch of volunteers sign up and now begins the work of getting all them plugged in and helping to be highly committed participants at Compass Bible Church. Needless to say we are looking forward to a lighter week.

We also have a couple of follow up DR. appointments this week. One with Cami's DR as a follow up to her C-section and the other is with the pediatrician and we will get a little update as to how AJ is feeding and all that. We have noticed that AJ's cheeks are getting chubbier as well as his legs. He has been eating like a champ as well as doing the other things that come along with that.

Mom and I are getting ready for a new week and a new day as we continue to see God's goodness and provision in our lives. We have been blessed with a church family that has been so hopefully in providing meals for us. We look forward to the ways that God will continue to provide in the coming weeks as he blesses us with friends on this journey. In returning to work there have been so many that have congratulated and offered to extend a hand in help in whatever way that they can.

There are more pictures from the last several days on the site. Click on the link to the right to take a look. They should be in the February albums. Enjoy.

Coming Home

Yesterday was quite the eventful day. It was the day that we brought AJ home. Mom was really tired from all the commotion of the day and so was little AJ. We are all still adjusting to the new schedule and I have a feeling that we will always be adjusting to a new schedule for some time as AJ continues to grow and as we get to experience the joy of being parents. Oh what a joy it is, tiring but a real joy. The image of God's good gifts has never been more real in our life. To see how he blesses us in such great ways with things that we don't deserve like little AJ. Cami and I keep asking what did we do to deserve such a blessing, knowing that we did not do anything to earn or merit this gift. God's gifts are good.

Here are some more pictures of little AJ from the last few days.

Feb 8th
Feb 9th
Feb 10th
Feb 11th
Feb 12th
Feb 13th

The last few days at the hospital were eventful for Mom and Dad as they learned to take care of little AJ. It was an exciting time, some filled with tears by AJ and Mom, some with laughter, and a all of them filled with love.

More to write later. But just too tired to write.

Happy Birthday

First off if you want to see the pictures, here they are.

Now on to the rest of the story. Everything went great. Cami was awesome especially all through the night as AJ wanted to eat. He seems to being doing really well at that. Which is a blessing. Especially in the emotional time of learning/figuring out that we were gonna have to have a C-section.

The main story is that Cami's induced labor never got her beyond 5cm after going through it for about 10 hours. The doctor came in and suggested that we have the C-section. Cami and I had a good cry, for all kinds of reasons, but at the same time trusting that God is in control, and praying knowing that we could lean on Him.

I was sitting in the hall at 7:50pm, they asked me to join Cami in the OR at 8:00pm and at 8:07 AJ came into this world weighing 7lbs 7.5 oz. and 19 inches long. The first thing that the nurses said is wow, what big hands and feet he has. They are huge. It was a very exciting time.

Cami has done a great job in getting AJ to feed and has shown a lot of patience in being a new mom, especially after a long day with surgery to follow. Last night was made longer with AJ wanting to eat and having several BM's.

We finely got some extend sleep time around 6 am and woke up at 8:45am. The hospital pediatrician just came in and said everything looks good. Oh yeah, did i mention his sixth toe on his left foot. Not really a full toe just a little extra skin ball that will have to be removed with a surgical procedure at some later date. Cami thinks that he kicked so much and so hard and that is why he has the extra toe. We will know more after meeting with our pediatrician. Which will happen sometime next week. So please keep that in your prayers, just that the doctors would show wisdom with what to do and when to do it. Everyone says it is not really a big deal, and it has not bothered Cami or I. Take a look through the pictures and you might spot it.

Thanks for all the prayers. We hope that today we get some much needed rest. We are thankful for our families and their willingness to be here and help in the next coming days.

Join us in praying that AJ would become great in the kingdom of God.