Memorial Service, Part 7: The next morning

The next morning we stopped by to visit Sarina's grandfather one more time before heading to the airport. Micah, dressed in his Farve jersey, enjoyed some more precious moments with his great-grandfather.

Memorial Service, Part 6: A little tired

After the reception, Micah was a little tired. And by a little, I mean a lot.

Memorial Service, Part 5: Service and reception

The memorial service was really special. Sarina worked closely with her family and clergy in Austin to carefully plan the service, and she officiated it. The other grandchildren all read or said something during a time of remembrance. A pastor from the church where the service was held beautifully sang the Lord's Prayer, and the pastor that lead the service that Sarina's grandparents attended gave a touching homily. In all, it was a wonderful celebration of Billy Ruth's life.

After the service, a large group of friends family attended a reception. This, of course, proved a great opportunity to get some nice pictures. In this one, Micah is being a little cheeky.



Perhaps you're thinking, 'why is Brett so under dressed?' I'll tell you why: Micah enthusiastically vomited all over my suit coat.

But that minor detail aside, how do you like my tie?

Memorial Service, Part 4: Getting ready

When we got back from communion and Micah had had a nap, it was time to start getting ready for the memorial service.

Rob and Micah watched as I tied my tie.



I liked the way that Rob had done his, so we struggled together to figure out how he did it.



You'll just have to wait for the next post to see how it all turned out.

Memorial Service, Part 3: Saturday morning

Saturday morning we gathered with Sarina's grandfather (or GD, short for Granddad) for communion. Micah and GD seemed to connect.


Then Micah connected with his foot.

Memorial Service, Part 2: Friday night

We arrived on Friday, picked up dinner from an excellent Mexican restaurant, and went to see Sarina's grandfather. Micah was in rough shape, after having his day thoroughly messed up by travel.

We didn't stay long, and as soon as we got back to our hotel, it was time for bed. As we were getting ready, we spotted a happy, chubby baby.

Memorial Service, Part 1

We were in Austin, TX last weekend for Sarina's maternal grandmother's memorial service. We'll share details and pictures over the next couple of days, but here's a great four generation picture to get things going.


The whole weekend, Micah was fascinated with Sarina's grandfather. Precious, indeed.

Daily Micah returns on January 21st

Today is Micah's six month birthday, and that's a pretty good excuse to put up fun stuff ... sorry to disappoint. We've been packing tonight to go to Austin for Sarina's grandmother's memorial service. Daily Micah will return after we return.

To celebrate Micah's monumental growth and development, we will be starting a series of "then and now" type posts once we're back.

Daily Micah: Mobile? Feet!

Micah is easily, and often, distracted.

My mobile!


Ahh, I love my mobile ...


Hmm. My feet?


I love my feet!

Daily Micah: Wash cloths are yummy

As we've seen previously, wash cloths are yummy.

Whenever Micah is finished eating, we wipe him off, but then let him play with the wash cloth. He seems to rather enjoy this.





And when you're done, drop it on the floor!

Daily Micah, Late Edition: Basketmobile

Micah has sat in a clothes basket before, sure, but has he driven one yet? Well, he has now!


At first, I pushed him a bit too fast, and he got concerned. Maybe he isn't a need for speed kind of guy. He seems to better enjoy cruising and seeing the sites.

Daily Micah, Late Edition: Baby face

No endearing story this time, just a baby face.

Daily Micah, Late Edition: Taking it easy

This is the life.



Still in p.j.'s, mom scratching the back, one hand in mouth, the other on toes. Does it get any better?

Daily Micah, Late Edition: Whirled Peas

As we mentioned in a post yesterday, we attempted to feed Micah his first real food: peas! Who doesn't like peas?

Well, last night, Micah didn't seem to like peas.

Note: this is the longest video we've ever posted, at about 3 minutes, so it could take a while to download. Your patience will be rewarded.



We tried peas again tonight, with greater success. The trick? We added more water and spent more time mashing. This time, he wasn't completely disgusted by them; though, he remained worried, he kept opening his mouth for more. Perhaps he has accepted that life is full of suffering and trials, and this is simply one of many to be endured.

Action Action News Flash Update Extreme!

We offered Micah his first taste of food beyond breast milk and rice cereal: whirled peas.

He wasn't impressed.

In fact, he made it quite clear that he prefers cereal, even if its mixed with water, to peas. We took some video and once I have a chance to do some editing, we'll have a side-by-side comparison of him eating peas and cereal.

Daily Micah, Late Edition: Paying Tribute to His Royal Shortness

As you will recall, not long ago we presented his royal shortness.

The holidays are a special time for royalty, when loyal subjects bring gifts to honor and pay tribute to them. It was no different for his royal shortness.


I know what you're thinking. Yes, those are all his. No, we only bought two of them. In fact, none of his gifts from my side of the family are even pictured here.

Like any gracious recipient, he immediately demonstrated his appreciation for the gifts.


My mom says that you can't spoil a baby. Maybe not. However, you can spoil a baby's parents. We've been so thoroughly blessed by the generosity of others that I'm not sure we're going to know what to do when his royal shortness grows out of all the things we've been given for him.

Though his royal shortness took great interest in the wrapped packages, he didn't enjoy the process of them being unwrapped. There's something about the sound of tearing paper that he just doesn't enjoy yet. I'm sure next year he'll be better adjusted.

Daily Micah: Who buried me?

One of the things I enjoy most about being a father (there are many) is doing various things to Micah to see how he responds. I love watching him think, and I love seeing what he'll laugh at. I take after my dad, too, in that I love messing with him.

One day, I had him sitting on our bed. Sarina uses a rather large pile of pillows to support her back while nursing him, and so I started stacking them around him.


Of course, if the idea is to see how Micah reacts, we have to take the pacifier out.


I figure he's saying something like hey, who buried me?

And of course, that's an easy question to answer. Daddy did.

Daily Micah Returns: Sitting up (and falling over)

Daily Micah returns ... on the 6th, rather than the 3rd (sorry Karina!), but as you might have gathered from the previous day's post, things have been difficult since our return from Madison.

Sitting, as it turns out, is also difficult, if you're a little 5 and a half month old. Yes, yes, of course you've seen pictures of Micah sitting. This is old news, right? Sort of. He's essentially mastered sitting when using his arms to support him, provided he doesn't try to do anything with his arms. Like play with a block.


Whoops! At least falling over is unexpected, and therefore fun, and usually gets a smile (though you can't tell here, due to the paci). How could face-planting into the carpet not be fun?

Billy Ruth Has Fallen Asleep

My Mother's Mother passed away yesterday. In the words of the Apostle Paul, she has fallen asleep and will wake up in the presence of the Lord. I look forward to seeing her again, perhaps in 65-ish years.

This post is dedicated to her life. I only have pictures of our most recent visit with Micah on the computer because all previous visits were not recorded with a digital camera.

Here is a picture of my Grandmother and Grandfather who has survived her.


I have a couple of short videos taken on our regular camera. They aren't very good, owing both to the fact that there is a limited amount of time one can video things on our camera and the fact that I didn't realize that the camera would pick up sound. They're pretty cool, though.

Here's my grandparents together with Micah.



Here's a picture of my grandmother with Micah.


Here's a sideways video of my grandmother with Micah in the same pose.



Finally, all three women in a four generation pic with Micah.


Just before she died, someone asked her, "Mrs. Rubottom, how is that grandbaby?" She replied, "Micah is wonderful. They send me pictures." It is a joy to know that she knew Micah.

These pictures are only of my Grandmother in her last days. The following activities will always remind me of her:
- eating apricot jam on toast
- drinking tea with sugar cubes
- playing Solitaire
- playing Go Fish
- playing Bridge
- watching tennis on TV
- getting a manicure
- going to Nordstrom's
- putting on make-up

I will always remember her beautifully put together with perfect make-up, wearing a nice dress and heels, manicured nails, hair perfect and brown. I will also remember her wonderfully joyous laugh. I think I inherited it. :-)

Now that I'm thinking about her I just remembered that she taught me that one can cry when one it happy. She got something for Christmas from my parents. They had come to visit us when we still lived in Los Angeles. When she opened the gift she immediately started to cry. I have no idea what the gift was. I remember being completely confused and she explained to me that she was crying because she was happy and that sometimes that's what people do when they're happy. :-)

I cried when I heard she has passed, but there is a lot to be grateful for. God was extraordinarily kind to her and my Grandfather in all of this.

I loved her very much and will miss her. I look forward to seeing her again in the presence of God.

Bye-Bye Billy Ruth