Big Day - Xander's Bris & Babynaming

Xander's Bris took place one week after he was born, as is the tradition in Jewish families.  Family and friends were in attendance and he was a real champ through the whole ceremony... he slept!

Here are the shabbat candles, Kidush cup (Anthony's), and Xander's naming certificate from the Rabbi.

Grandma snuck a kiss before the ceremony!

Rabbi Wiener was able to perform the ceremony for us, just before his sabbatical.  Phew.

Eliza caught a tender moment - here's Grandma in the foreground with Gigi and Pappu in the background keeping their emotions in control.

Grandpa Brelsford is not much for speaking in public, but he and Grandma Brelsford both wanted to be a part of this special day.  Thanks to Grandpa for getting over his fears and making the day just perfect!  He was the best speaker of the day, besides MAYBE the Rabbi :)

Mama and Dada could just not keep their eyes off the little guy - so precious and such a good sleeper (when he wants to be)!

Here's Dada, most likely making a smart alex remark to Aunti Vi, Nana and Papa.

The Brother's Friedman (the two Washington dwelling ones that is).

Still sleeping after the ceremony was over!  This didn't last long.  Once the swaddle came off and photos started, the screaming ensued.

Auntie Lynnette, Auntie Sommer being filled in on some Mama-hood details from the Mama herself.

The Benezras

The Brelsfords

The Great Grandparents

Four generations of Benezra men!

The original three Benezra kids with the new addition!

Auntie Julie and Uncle Matt - the Fisks!

Auntie Sommer, sporting her purple hat in support of Xander's future admission to UW!

Auntie Lynnette

We interrupt this regularly scheduled programing for a screaming break - time for Xander to have a snack from the Mama!

There, that's better.  No more screaming now that the X Man has been well fed!  Isn't his outfit so cute!?

Uncle Nick

Uncle Wil and Auntie Laura

Auntie Sara and Uncle Reid were in attendance too!  All the way from Hawaii, they just happened to be in town - bonus!

Eliza Truitt in the flesh!  Thanks for all the beautiful photos and memories!

TIme Machine - Xander @ 5 Days Old

Let's go back in time... a time when the little guy was just 5 days old, barely even...

Photo Credit:  Eliza Truitt Photography (she's the best, check it out!)

Our matching ID bracelets from the hospital.  Xander's, obviously in the foreground, is so little and cute!

Anthony surprised Amy as she sat down for the shoot.  He pulled a gift bag out from under a sweatshirt and surprised her with a "baby gift" (also known as a "push gift" hehe).  It's a beautiful ring with 3 stones, one to represent each of the three of us.  The stone is called Alexandrite; we all found that quite fitting.

Proud Mama!

Proud Papa!  This is one of the things Anthony loves to do with Xander... let's him use Anthony's nose as a pacifier... it doesn't work all that well, but they like it...

We had the grandmas over for the shoot too, happy family!

Here's Gigi (Grandma Benezra) with her Son and Grandson

And Here's Grandma (Grandma Brelsford) with her Daughter and Grandson

Here's Xander being swung in Dada's arms, isn't he so cute?

Xander got tired of the photo shoot and started throwing punches... here's proof!

Dada + Mama + The Boy = Love

GIRAFFE SIGHTING!  The kid is inundated with giraffes, some of them hand-me-downs from Mama and Grandmama... some are new too.  He's also lying on a beautiful safari/giraffe themed quilt made by his Auntie Sommer.

We hope to have a good picture of the 5 of us (Dada + Mama + Xander + Mute + Sark) soon too!

Feet

Sark's... cute feet...

Xander's... tiny feet...

Anthony's... mutant feet... he can snap his toes, and he's crossing them here in his sleep...

Mute's... cutest feet in the house...

Amy's... missing feet...

no photographic evidence that her's exist...

This post is also intended to creep Laura out... just a little bit... she hates feet... almost all of them, except for Xander's... and maybe the kitties...

Savvy?

Mute is so cute... in this particular photo we caught her licking her chops mid yawn... but Amy says it reminds her of Captain Jack Sparrow saying, "Savvy?"  She hearts it.  Don't you just wanna reach through the screen and pet her...?

Sark Hearts the Sun

Xander's furry brother, Sark, really <3's the sun... a lot.  He know's the pattern of the sun (given that it is actually sunny enough to experience sunshine) so well that he sorta follows it throughout the day inside the house.  It starts on the couch in the morning and makes it's way around along various floor sections, and not only does he find the sun, but he's training his furry sister, Mute, to do the same.

The photos don't do him justice, but one day Amy caught him catching some rays on her way up the stairs... this is Sark sunbathing at the top of the stairs just outside of our bedroom.  Enjoy!