Charlie got dunked...

Ok...not really.

This past Sunday, Charlie was baptized. And yes, he's an infant.

The church that I belong to accepts both forms of baptism...infant and believer? or is it adult? Anyways...Cody and I made the decision to have Charlie baptized. I'm no expert on baptism, but I thought I'd write out my thoughts leading up to this decision, and why it was important for me to do this.

I really don't agree/like how baptism happens so often these days. I don't understand how it seems to have become something you do after you have 'reached' a certain point in your faith. Maybe you have to put in enough hours or something??? I don't know. Either way, I don't see that in the bible, and I think it's sad that people feel that they aren't good enough, or aren't spiritual enough to be baptized. Any example that I've read about in the bible seems to go hand in hand with believing in Jesus. I don't see people clocking in faith hours, and then being baptized. I personally believe that baptism is more of a first step as opposed to a step that is taken once you have all your ducks in a row.

And that is reason one that I felt it important to baptize Charlie. It is an important first step in faith.

I like the picture of that man who was baptized and went home and had his family baptized. I know it doesn't say the specific ages of his family...but, regardless, he was baptized, went home and had his family baptized. Cody and I were baptized...it just makes sense to me that we would baptize Charlie as well. Maybe that is too simplistic and not a good enough reason, but I'm ok with that. I don't think it shouldbe any more complicated than that.

My big beef is that there seems to be two kinds of baptism now. Infant baptism and believer/adult baptism. I'm pretty sure baptism is baptism is baptism, whether you are a newborn or 100 years old. Nothing irks me more than people who tell me, or others who were baptized as infants that it 'doesn't count'.

I believe that whether you are baptized as an infant, or an adult, or a teen or whatever...you are baptized.

'There is ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE BAPTISM, and ONE God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.' Eph. 4:5

And there is my rant.

We decided to have Charlie baptized.

The New Year

So here I am, 11 days into the new year. I've never really been a 'new year's resolution' kinda person, because by day 2, I've completely failed, and let's be honest, that's just depressing. I suppose I have set some goals for the year, goals that I will not let control me so much that I go into a complete downward spiral if I do not reach them everyday. Because seriously, the whole 'get back into shape' goal, has yet to be started...vanilla ice cream with cookie dough has taken it's place instead. With that said, I am excited to try out my Your Shape for the Wii system. Thus far, I have created my profile, which has informed me that I have no upper body strength. Like I needed a game to tell me that. You put a 15lb weight in my hands, put my arms behind my head and I'll be stuck until you help me.

Another goal, that I am quite excited about, is to start reading my bible again. I used to be pretty good at that...reading every night before bed. Funny enough, I lost that habit at YWAM....5 years ago, and have yet to get back into it. Every year, after the Christmas season, our church goes through a gospel, and challenges the congregation to read through it on their own. I have yet to accomplish this...I have gotten close, but never finish. And that is sad. So this year, we are reading through John. I have decided to do this with Charlie. Every night, before I put him to bed, we read a chapter or two of John (this all depends on his fussiness level). I've really been enjoying it. And I think he does too. As much as a 4 month old baby can enjoy being read to. And...interesting little add on, ever since I started doing this, he hasn't screamed bloody murder when I lay him down...he fusses a little bit, then falls asleep. Connection??? I like to think so.

As for this reading of the bible, I do need to work on retaining what I'm reading. Erik was asking questions at church about John chapter 2 (which I had read 3 nights ago) and was even offering Lindt chocolate for answers...tempting indeed...and I couldn't remember! BAH! Maybe I need to bribe myself with decadent chocolate in order to retain information...thus entirely defeating my goal of getting back into shape...but what's more important??? Bible reading and retaining...or being fit???

I think a third goal of mine would be to step out of my comfort zone a little more often. Meet and talk to new people. Express myself the way I want to express myself, and not be afraid to wear hats. I like hats. I have always believed that hats do not like me. Maybe they do, and even if they don't, who cares!

So there it is...my new years...let's see how it all goes down.

Cheers to you 2010!

Almost out...sorta...

Living in the north end of Winnipeg is not exactly my ideal/favourite place to live. It has it's ups...I like being next door to family, that's been fun. And that is about it. The ups end there. I feel so far away from everything else. My family is a cool 50 minute drive south. Church is 15 minutes south, Cody's family is 30 minutes...south. Why do we live in the north? It's cheap. I suppose that's another up. I know it may sound totally lame, but I don't feel safe up here, nor do I feel at home. I feel safe in my second storey suite, but that's about it. I don't ever want to go outside for walks by myself...there are always stories about people getting shot/stabbed/hammered (literally hammered, as in beaten with hammers)5 minutes away from us. Our landlords (who live in the suite below us, which I do not recommend if you ever have that situation presented to you) are pretty nosy...especially the lady. And they are loud. I can hear the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock ctv news clear as a bell. They have scrabble nights on Saturdays. They slam doors and cupboards (which has woken my kid up on numerous occasions...I've been tempted to let him "cry it out" at night because his bedroom is right above theirs). So yeah...not my favourite living conditions.

My out. In my hometown, there was a 2 bedroom ground level apartment that went up for rent. It was 580$/month plus utilities. I know...people will be all like "Dana...you just want to live in St. Adolphe"...and yes, I do. I like that town. You can go for a walk and not get hammered. That appeals to me. I want Charlie to grow up in a safe place, where he can play outside. I want to be close to family, because only having one car, means I am often stranded. Anyways, it seemed to good to be true...and it was. We called at 7 in the evening and it had just been rented out. So depressing.

I made it!

Ok...so, I made a dress. I'm totally loving how it turned out!

Charlie, Mr. G and me

So I've spent the past 3 days looking after my nephew Gus along with Charlie. I'm not sure I'm ready for two kids just yet...
I am convinced that babies can plot with one another. No sooner would one go down for a nap, the other would wake up. One would start to cry, convincing the other that there indeed was a major crisis in the world, and should also start crying. For the most part though, it went really well. Gus is a good cousin to Charlie, giving him lots of hugs, kisses and body slams.

Mornings like this....

Last night was the first night that Charlie slept in his own room. It was kind of bittersweet kicking him out of our room. I missed having his little cradle next to me. I missed having to essentially just role over when he woke up in the middle of the night, as opposed to getting up and going to a new room. He didn't seem to mind the room change as much. And I think we both slept better. I had a very happy baby in the morning...a perfect morning indeed.

A good day.

Today was a good day. I woke up early...partly due to a hungry baby, but mostly due to the fact that I was going out with good friends! I am not ashamed to admit that I spent the majority of the day in the mall with Amanda and Kyra. And Charlie. We got there early, sat in Starbucks and enjoyed some caffeine and conversation for an hour or so, then we hit the stores. It was so nice just to wander. Of course, purchases were made...I don't know how excited I am about a breast pump...but the sweaters I found are top notch!

And to top it all off, it was actually nice outside today! Warm-ish and sun-shiny. I love it!

Oh, and Charlie got a sweet hat and coat from Amanda.