The Fall in Review: Around the House and Up on Campus

What an autumn season it has been!  Here is a selection of some of our favorite pictures from these early months with Simeon.  Whether it's hanging out at home, heading up to campus together, or enjoying friends on the block, the three of us Wilsons are having fun that is best communicated in pictures.  

Early on, Simeon somehow was given the nickname "Turtle."
Here he is looking particularly turtle-ly...
...and is showing some shell.

Simeon's newborn cries often reminded us of a young lion cub learning to roar.
Here he dons his "little lion man" outfit.

Another favorite nickname for when he comes up with us to Notre Dame is "Little man on campus."
He sat in on most of our classes with us this semester, thanks to the flexibility of our professors.

Mornings are among the happiest and squeakiest times for the little fella.  After a long night of being swaddled, he enjoys getting to pump his arms get his legs kicking.  

Stretching out on the bed and watching the morning light come in. 

The future looks bright.

Feeling big and ready for the new day!

 For as happy as Simeon finds morning time, sometimes the evenings can be a drag for him.  Literally.

We discovered that one activity that almost without fail makes Simeon feel better 

is taking what we call "the night train."  

Here's a video of the train in motion.  

After a ride on the night train:
The proof is in the putting to sleep.  

We tried to take advantage of the lovely weather this fall.  With a grassy spot in front and a hammock in the back, there are plenty of good spots to share a nap as a family.

On the picnic blanket

In the sunshine

In the shade of the (fig) tree

Out back

Hanging in the hammock

Simeon takes after his parents in liking to spend time around the house.  

Simeon basking in the attention of a study break on the couch 

Fine dining at the kitchen table

Chomping down on a hand-burger and fries.

Life is good in the living room

But home isn't all about leisure though; it's also Simeon's training grounds.
Here he practices boxing.  Check out those abs!

If he decides athletics aren't for him, Simeon will maybe try his hand at being a rock star.
Dad prefers acoustic, but so far Simeon has shown more interest in the electric guitar.

Home is where lots of life happens.  There are some downs...

...but lots of ups.

Simeon does get out though time to time, at least as often as his parents do.
Here he hangs out with friends Pat and Jenn at the local frozen yogurt spot. 

There's nothing like the comfort of PJs at home,
but for those more fancy occasions Simeon has just the attire he needs.
Simeon rocking the Business Casual look.

One of the best things about home is spending time with our dear friends and neighbors John and Claire and their son Joseph, who is just seven weeks younger than Simeon.  The two have become fast friends.

Enjoying the view from their respective mamas' arms

Mary Ann and Simeon just can't get enough of seeing Claire with Joseph

Joseph and Simeon playing together.
Well, maybe not "together" quite yet, but at least simultaneously right next to each other.

One of their favorite shared hobbies is taking naps.
Here they snooze through class.

Cool Dude and Eager Beaver

To very loosely quote Charles Dickens, this year was the Tale of Two Football Programs.

Granddaddy Ralph and Uncle John are big Auburn fans.
Simeon feels their pain this season.  

But Auburn fans are finding new energy in cheering for Notre Dame
against rival Alabama in the national championship game.  
Simeon thinks January 7th is a long time to wait and is taking a nap to help time pass.

Simeon loves his godparents, Jess and Tim.  He demonstrates his love to Jess by snuggling up to her and locking eyes for minutes on end.  With Tim, he usually opts to slobber all over him.  It's a compliment to Tim, really.  He only does it to people he feels he can be himself around.  

Sweet time with Jess

Tim, we have to warn you that what's in Simeon's mouth is a pacifier, not a suction cup.  

We have a few ways of marking time and measuring Simeon's growth.  Each month, we plan to take a picture of him with a sign and his friend the Giraffe.

Simeon at 2 months--smaller and a bit skeptical of Giraffe.

Simeon at 3 months--closer to Giraffe's size but still not sure what to think.

Warming up to his partner.  

Looking forward to the National Championship Game!

Go Irish!

Julianna and Emilia's Visit

In early October, Mary Ann's dear friend Julianna came up from Texas with her 11-month-old daughter Emilia.  Mary Ann visited Julianna when Emmy was 6 weeks old, and the Texas girls were able to come up and spend a few days also right when Simeon turned 6 weeks old.  It was such a gift to have the two babies together and to have two long-time friends reunited.

Julianna is a diligent blogger of her sweet baby's life, and she chronicled their adventures to South Bend here.

Our two families have had some beautiful introductions in the last year.

Mary Ann meeting 6-week-old Emilia in December of 2011

Julianna meeting 6-week-old Simeon

Now 11-month-old Emmy meeting baby Simeon

the mamas and the babies

Mary Ann and Emilia quickly re-connected

While Jujey and Emmy were here, we had an MDiv commitment on Monday night and needed someone to watch Simeon.  Julianna took on the task of taking both Emmy and Simeon across campus (with one strapped on front in a carrier and the other in a stroller), driving both of them through an unknown city with incomplete directions and a screaming Simeon, and bathing and feeding them both by herself.  We were impressed by her herculean effort and amazed at parents who have twins, or two kids, or more than two kids.  In general, we continue to grow in our amazement at parents, period.

Simeon loved having some car-seat company

Julianna basking in the success of two safely transported, bathed, and fed little ones

We loved seeing our dear Texas friends and wish they lived closer so we could do this all the time.  Thank you dear Jujey and Emmy!

Simeon's Baptism

Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.

-St Gregory of Nazianzus, Oratio 40,3-4:PG 36,361C

On Sunday, November 11th, Simeon Augustine was baptized at St. Matthew Cathedral Parish and made into a new creation in Christ.

The baptism took place during the Sunday liturgy.  At this same mass, the Rite of Enrollment took place for all those wishing to become Christian, as well as those non-Catholic Christians wishing to become Catholic.  Simeon participated in this rite and went to the front of the church to be welcomed and prayed over.  However, while the other participants in the rite entered into a several month preparation program, Simeon took the infant fast-track route and received his first sacrament of initiation only half an hour later.

Simeon resting up for his big moment

The baptism was so beautiful.  As ministry students, we have read about the history and theology of baptism.  We've written research papers and preached reflections on its importance.  But nothing came close to experiencing this moment for Simeon as his parents.  There's something amazing and humbling about wanting to give this dear boy everything he needs, and giving all that we can, and yet knowing too that we cannot give him all he needs to grow and flourish.  Simeon is our entrusted one from God and, we know, only God can satisfy his sweet little heart.  In baptism, God brought Simeon to Himself by making him a beloved son, joined in Christ's death to all that sucks life and joined too to Christ's resurrection, to life abounding forever.  We are so grateful to God and so happy that Simeon is a member of the Church.

Baptism at St. Matthew Cathedral with Fr. Michael, our pastor and MDiv program director,
our friend Fr. Enno who is a Passionist priest, and Simeon's godparents, MDiv classmates Tim and Jess

Cleansed by water

Anointed, generously, with oil

And welcomed to the family

You may be able to tell that at the moment Simeon was introduced officially as a member of the Church, Ben was overcome by the urge to raise him up in Lion King fashion. 

Ben mostly resisted this urge.  Not totally, but mostly.

Simeon's godparents are Jess and Tim, two of our dear friends whom we have gotten to know through the MDiv program.  Their lives of faith have called us to deeper prayer, sincerity, joy, and love.  We so frequently see in them the beauty of the Christian call.  We are so grateful for their intentional accompaniment of Simeon as he grows in his life of faith.

With Jess and Tim

Liturgical action shot

So many people celebrated this great day with us.  All four of Simeon's grandparents came to South Bend to celebrate with us in person.  Many members of the MDiv, Catholic Worker, and St. Matts communities were there too.  So many family members and friends prayed for us and celebrated with us from afar.  It reminded us of our wedding -- the tremendous joy of so many people we love coming together to usher us along in our vocation.

Since South Bend is a 10-hour trek from both Omaha and Birmingham, both the Doughtons and the Wilsons used the opportunity to get in some quality time with the little guy.

Granddaddy Ralph (aka Abuelo), Grandma Sooz, Mama, Daddy, Simeon, Grandma Julie, and Grandpa Dave (aka Mufasa)

Playing with Grandma Julie

Staying in shape with Mufasa

Loved on by both grandmothers at once!  It doesn't get better than this for a little boy.

Practicing the Doughton wave with Abuelo

Soaking up time with Grandma Sooz 

Both grandfathers carried their weight in party preparations for the reception,
and carried two giant vats of grits from our house to the Catholic Worker across the street

 The Catholic Worker men's house graciously hosted us for a reception after the baptism.  We put together a grits bar both as a way to remember our wedding reception, and to educate the mid-westerners on a most excellent use of corn.  We did not get any pictures, but it was modeled on this lovely spread, put together in 2009 by the lovely Crape Myrtles Cafe of Homewood.  On both occasions, the grits bar featured grits from McEwen & Sons in Wilsonville, Alabama, home to the best grits in the South.... nay, the world.

Grits bar from our wedding

After much celebration, we rested in the hammock in the backyard and soaked up the goodness of this day and the God who loves us.  Thank you to all who show us His goodness through your friendship and care!

This is the place of our delight

and our rest