a blessing...

James is certainly that.

Just a bit of background for my friends that don't know, but in our faith, we don't get baptized as infants, but when we are eight.  We believe that is the age you become accountable for your actions.  As a baby, you can be given a blessing.  It's pretty special in my eyes, because you are given that blessing by your own father.  It is a sweet and touching moment where your father invites relatives and good friends to stand in a circle with him around you, with their arms on each other, while he officially names you and shares some of his hopes and desires for you as you grow up.  I cry, of course.  Who wouldn't when witnessing such a tender side of your spouse?  It is a beautiful thing.

So, on the 4th of December, we invited our immediate families to be with us as we blessed our sweet baby boy and of course afterward we took some pictures, one of which will soon be hanging on my wall because I LOVE it!...

The new and improved Pond Family 3.0 (and my new favorite photo):

Abigail, Harland, Amy, Grace and James

The Pond side of our family (Just missing Harland's brother Warick, and his family):

Adriel, Harland & Belinda

Abigail, Karen (aka Oma and Mom), David (aka Opa and Dad), Grace, Amy & James

The Young side of our family (with my soon-to-be sister, Heather, making her debut in her first Young Family photo):

Jeff, Tyler, Nikki, Heather, Chris, Harland (who looks like he's being eaten by that tree)

Grace, Reed (aka Pop Pop and Dad), Madison, Cindy (aka Grammy and Mom), Abigail, Savannah, Amy & James

 With the Dads:

Either Abby or Grace took this one of Adi and Harland.  I just like it:

Mi Mama, el bebe, and me: