My Absolute Favorite Photo

Of all the pictures taken over the past 6 weeks (which is quite a few!), I am putting this photo of Faustina's bathtime at week 3 in a frame on my dresser. I love this picture because every time I look at it, I am immediately transported back to May 20th at 2:27am in the morning when little Faustina was placed on my chest at St Joe's hospital; she looked at me with those eyes and said, "Hello, Mom! Here I am - I am the daughter who has been in your tummy the last nine months. I decided to come 2 weeks early!" And since then, Faustina had gazed up me with those same eyes (even though they changed from brown to a beautiful blue!), the same tilt of the neck, the same cute cheeks in such a gentle, serene way as we sit at church, as I rock her to sleep, when I am talking to Mike, or as she nurses. Although I have witnessed her face change, mature, and fill out as she grows, she still looks at me the same way. I can already see how it would be difficult to properly discipline children when they looks at a parent with such an innocent, inquisitive and loving gaze. I realize Faustina will probably be giving me these same looks the next 10-20 years as she grows up - but I plan on enjoying holding her in my arms while I can!

Who's in charge of the blog?

Mom & baby

Crazy hair! (Video of the day: Sun., June 29th)

I'm tired!

Video of the day (Sat., June 28th, 2008)

Dare to compare!

Here's a picture of Faustina in her carseat for the first time...

and one of her just yesterday.

Do you see a difference????

Hospital Photos

BAPTISM DAY!

Today Faustina Elaine was brought into the Church, and what a lovely mass it was. Fr. Andrew Cozzens celebrated, and Deacon Jim Meyer delivered a wonderful homily on the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's immensely important letter "Humanae Vitae" (On Human Life). Faustina slept the entire time, but she was very sweet in her little baptismal gown, made for her specially by Grandma Gail.

Faustina's godparents, Uncle Jason and Aunt Annamarie were a wonderful support to her new life in Christ.

Thanks to everyone who attended and helped out.




As I had written previously, today is the 5th anniversary of my mother, Elaine Marie's death. Faustina's middle name is in honor of her grandmother, and we purposely chose to have her baptized on this day. Indeed, the day was filled with the grace of the Holy Ghost and we are certain that Mom was proud to witness this day by the grace of God. We continue to pray for my Mother and we also pray that she intercede on our behalf in the presence of the angels, saints, the Blessed Mother, and our Lord- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.



We are sad that she is not physically with us, but Faustina Elaine's baptism reminds us that we shall see her again in the resurrection of the body, when Christ comes again in the Final Judgment. We are given the promise of resurrection in baptism, as the sacrament reminded us today. Just as Christ rose from the tomb, so shall those faithful to the Lord in this life also rise again.

Faustina Elaine's name will also remind us of Mom and her infectious joy. May the Lord bless them both!

Thanks be to God for a healthy baby girl! Give to me and Cynthia the grace to guide Faustina Elaine in her walk with you, Lord; we also ask for the intercession Saint Faustina on behalf of our little one.

Deo gratias. Amen.

Bilirubin count too low...

We were about to take Faustina home, but here "bilirubin" count was too low. So Faustina had to go "under the lights" for a number of hours to right this problem. Here are some funny photos. She looks like she's in a tanning bed!

Week 1 photos...

Here are some of the earliest photos of Faustina in the hospital.

About my name...

We named Faustina after the Polish nun, mystic, and saint, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. Saint Faustina is known as the saint of "Divine Mercy". When we went to the hospital we had a short list of names for girls: Geneveve, Olivia, Loretta, and Penelope (also Lucy and Julia); but after she was born about an hour, Cynthia just started calling her "Faustina". We both really liked it right away. For some time, her middle name was "Maria" after virtually every female's middle name in both of our families! Naturally, we changed it to honor my mother, Elaine.

Her name originates in Latin and means: "fortunate, blessed, or auspicious".

Her middle name as stated above is in honor of her grandmother, Elaine Marie, who passed away on June 22, 2003 after a second bout of cancer. Her grandmother exhibited great virtue of faith and she was an anchor of family life. Faustina will be baptized at the Cathedral of St. Paul on June 22 in honor of Elaine. There is rich Christian symbolism here regarding Baptism. In Baptism, we are brought into the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, thus symbolizing a birth to new life. As one can see, Elaine's death coincides both to Faustina's Christening into her new life with the Lord, as well as her own birth into eternal life with God. One day Elaine's body will be resurrected (with us all) and we will again be restored into life with the Holy Trinity as intended "in the beginning" (Gen. 1:1).

Enough theology, back to the name...
Elaine is a form of the Greek name Helen, which means "light, torch, or beacon".

Essentially, Faustina's first and middle name can mean "auspicious light"; we certainly hope she is such in our broken world!

NB: read all about the Divine Mercy devotion here.

Deo gratias!

sleepy head

Some video...

Faustina finally fits into her nice, cloth diapers (Bum Genius). Mom is pumped about them! I like them too. However, she looks like she's in a body cast here!

Greetings!

Welcome to Faustina's blog! We hope to update you as much as time allows on all things Faustina. Please visit anytime, drop comments, and pray for the little one.

Blessings to you,
Mom, Dad, & Faustina