For Boston, for Boston...

"For Boston, for Boston, we sing our proud refrain. For Boston, for Boston, tis Wisdom's earthly fane. For here all are one and our hearts are true. And the towers on the Heights reach to Heaven's own blue. For Boston, for Boston, till the echoes ring again." 

I sang (and played, as a proud bass drummer in the Screaming Eagles Marching Band) the above song on an almost weekly basis, many times over, during my time at Boston College. Until yesterday, never have those words carried such meaning. 

I was not born in Boston. I didn't grow up there. But Boston was, is, and always will be a part of me. It is where, on the first day of "Band Camp" my freshman year of college, I met the love of my life; The man who would become my husband and the father of my children. It is where I made friends, that though now far in distance, are always close in heart. It is where, with the guidance and support of so many wonderful professors and mentors that I became certain that I wanted to be a Social Worker; a career that has brought me much joy and fufillment. It is where I learned what Social Justice really means, and what being "men and women for others" is all about. It is where I grew as a woman, as a person, and as a citizen of the world. 

My husband, Matt and I moved from Boston to Maryland (where I am from) in 2006. However, a piece of our hearts has always remained behind. We have always said, "If our family wasn't in Maryland, we would live in Boston in a second." Yesterday, as I learned of the tragedy at the Marathon, a day I always looked back on with such excitement and joy, I was devastated. My heart ached. It ached for those killed and injured, for the people all around who were traumatized, and for the city as a whole. 

Boston is a place that gets under your skin. It is filled with "transplants," people who have come from all over the Country and World and made it their home. And it is filled with some of the finest home grow Bostonians anyone would ever want to meet. And other than the difference in how these two groups of people say "Car" (caaaaaah), you wouldn't know them apart. For they all love Boston. They all call it home, and they were all affected by the events of yesterday. And yet, I have no doubt that the city of Boston--as we have already seen in so many stories of strength, compassion, and love--will come back stronger than ever. They will represent our Nation to the World as an example of courage, strength, and peace. 

As I looked at my boys last night (3 years, and 3 months), boys who wouldn't exist without the city of Boston, I was immensely grateful. Grateful that although bad things happen in this world, that the bad things are far out-numbered by the good things. One day I will tell my boys of what happened on April 15, 2013. And they will know of the evil, but far more, they will know of the bravery of a city that I love more than any other. 

And so, from this day forward, those words, "For Boston, for Boston..." will carry far more meaning. For each time I hear or sing my dear Alma Mater's fight song I will not only remember a wonderful University, but more so, a brave, compassionate, and love-filled city. 

Zachary: 3 Months

Dearest Zachary,

Today you turned three months old. And while today was a very sad day for our country (some bad people hurt many innocent people in Boston, a city that is very special to your Daddy and me) I didn't want to let the day pass without posting your monthly letter. (Though your monthly pictures will have to be taken tomorrow, because I forgot to take them today!) Because no matter how many bad things happen in the world, it will never change the fact that you and your brother make your Daddy and me very, very, happy.

You continue to be such a happy little baby. You have really started to develop even more personality and more of an ability to interact with your world during the past month. You grab for toys while in your bouncy seat and you bring anything that you grab straight to your mouth where you instantly try to gnaw on it. Daddy is convinced you're teething, but that would be REALLY early. However, if you are teething, I'll take it since you're still a very happy little guy. I can only hope you remain this happy and easy going once you really do start teething!

You continue to smile and coo a lot. You have so many little sounds that you make and sometimes lately it seems that you're trying to be a part of the conversation. At dinner tonight we were joking with Ryan. I asked Ryan if he eat some of his meatballs (knowing he hadn't) and he kept saying, "Yup! I did Mama! I ate some!" all while smirking. We went back and forth, me saying, "Are you suuuuurre??" and Ryan saying, "Yup! I'm sure I ate them!" while giggling. You were in Daddy's lap and all of a sudden you said "Naaaa-aaahhh!" rather loudly with a big smile. As if you were in on the joke and calling B.S. on Ryan!

Speaking of dinner, you seem desperate to eat real food. Just like Ryan did when he was your age, you stare intently at us while we eat. You clearly seem to know what we're up to and you want in on the action. While I started solids with Ryan at 4 months I will wait a bit longer with you because Ryan's little belly wasn't quite ready and he went from being a not great sleeper to a terrible sleeper once he started real food. So, you'll have to wait a bit more...sorry buddy!

You're already quite the flirt and you use your smile and personality to your advantage. At dinner time you're usually pretty content to sit in your bouncy seat right near the table between Daddy and I. But you've realized that if you coo cutely, smile, and then whine just a little that Daddy or I (most often Daddy, because he just got home and missed you all day) will pick you up. You smile at almost anyone and love when people make funny noises at you, especially Uncle John. He just cracks you up!

Since your last letter you've started spending one day a week at Nee-Need and Pop-Pop's house while I go to work. It is going quite well! They are smitten with you too and thoroughly enjoy your sweet self. Although, last week you must have had a belly ache and you were breaking Nee-Nee's heart because nothing she did could make you feel better. But eventually you were able to fall asleep, and when you woke up, you were all smiles again.

You continue to be such an easy baby and everyone who meets you is amazed at just how low key you are. You are on more of a schedule than your brother ever was by this age. You're usually in bed by around 8:30 every night and you wake up around 7:30/8:00. You wake up once or twice a night to nurse and you continue to go right back to sleep.

In other developmental milestones you are trying so very hard to roll over, but you aren't quite there yet. Part of the reason for this is because you don't get nearly as much tummy time as your brother did. The reason for this is because as soon as we put you on the floor Ryan immediately wants to hug and "snuggle" (aka: smother) you. This irritates you and you get quickly upset which makes your time on the floor limited. But, we know you'll be rolling over before we know it, and in the blink of an eye you'll be running. You're already growing way too fast!

Zachary, you are such a perfect little addition to our family. We love you to pieces and we love watching you grow and develop every day. Happy 3 month-day!

Love always,

~Mama

Zachary: 2 Months

Dear Zachary,

Today you turn two months old and you remain an easy going, great sleeping, happy little guy! In the past month you have become much more interactive with your world. You smile, you coo (I love your little coo sounds!), you try to reach toys on your activity mat, you kick your feet when you're excited, you look wide eyed when Daddy, Ryan, and I are eating. (I will never know how babies seem to innately know that food is food, but somehow they do. I remember being amazed by the same thing when Ryan was an itty, bitty, baby). You have a wide variety of little noises that you make now. You have your "Yay! I'm so happy!" noises, your, "Hey! Don't forget about me over here!" noises, your "OK, now I am really mad!" noises, and your, "Ow! My belly hurts!" noises. Though, unlike your brother, when you have a tummy ache it is usually very quickly remedied, and then you return to your happy, easy going self. I am very glad I decided to cut out dairy before you were even born, as I think it has made a huge difference for you!

Smiles for Daddy

You remain a joy of a little boy and we all love you so much! Ryan continues to be a very doting older brother and he truly looks out for you. Just yesterday, I was downstairs putting laundry in the washing machine and you were upstairs with Ryan (who was playing trains) in your bouncy seat. You spit up a little bit and Ryan went to wipe it up with the burp cloth I usually have lying nearby but there wasn't one there. So, he went to the drawer in the kitchen where we keep wash cloths, got one, came back and wiped your mouth, all on his own. When I came upstairs he said to me, "Mama, you didn't have a burp cloth for Zach, but its OK, because I got one for him and cleaned him up!" We couldn't be prouder of him!

Daddy and I still love snuggling you more than anything. And I especially love when you wake up in the morning. This is by far your most smiley part of the day. You just smile and smile and smile. Its as if you missed us immensely while you were sleeping and are so very glad to see us again. Seeing your smiley, cooing self is a GREAT way to start my day! I am such a very lucky Mama to have two such very special boys! I love you sooooo much!

Happy 2 month day, baby boy! I can't wait to see what lies ahead!

Love always,

~Mama

Chubba! 

Being 2 months old is tiring! 

(Says Zach: "By the way, my Aunties do ROCK!")

My Hope for the Pope

So, let's be honest. I haven't been the most pious Catholic in recent years. I have views on quite a few issues that are in direct conflict with the Catholic Church. Since having children Matt and I have both struggled with what role the Church will have in our lives and the lives of our children. While we value the idea of "church" as creating a framework from which to teach morality to our children, we also feel that "The Church" teaches things that are not what we want to teach our children. We want our kids to grow up respecting and valuing men and women equally. We want them to celebrate and rejoice with gay and lesbian couples who choose to raise children. We want our kids to be open minded and to respect and value all human beings with whom they come in contact equally. And quite honestly, we haven't felt that the Catholic Church is the place to foster these values and beliefs. So, we've struggled.

Yes, we baptized Ryan and will soon baptize Zachary in the Catholic church. And why do we do this you ask, if we disagree so strongly with so many things the Church teaches? It is because we have hope that things can change. It is because we value Jesus as a truly Christian person and we believe that the core of what he taught is worth living and emulating on a daily basis (even if the Church doesn't necessarily always teach the same way I believe Jesus would have).  And so, we don't want to rule out the presence of the Church in our children's lives. That is for them to decide when they are old enough to question the way we have been and continue to.

And so, today the Catholic Church elected a new Pope. A Pope who is the first Latin American Pope, and of greater significance for me, the first Jesuit Pope. I went to Boston College, a Jesuit Institution and there grew to love and respect the Jesuits. Professors who were Jesuits were not just teachers, but mentors and friends. They were and are people who challenged me to challenge my faith. They not only welcomed my questions, but they added to my questions about faith. They taught about and lived lives focused on Social Justice. They were inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, thoughts, ideas, faiths, and ways of life. During my years at Boston College I was truly proud to call myself Catholic because I was surrounded by people who emulated to me what being Catholic is all about.

And thus, as Pope Francis I was introduced to all of us today for the first time, I was hopeful. I pray that he will heed the teachings of his Jesuit roots. If he can lead the church in a way that even somewhat resembles the way the Jesuits I know live their lives, then the Catholic Church will be a better institution because of it.