Asa is 1!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIDDY!!! Look at my last two posts below and you'll see what life is like with four kids. You may be wondering why there have only been two posts this past year. There would have been more if it wasn't for the human vacuum cleaner crawling all over the place putting EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in his mouth! I mean... Seriously?... Do you really want to brush your mouth with the toilet brush?!!! Yuck! What could possibly seem appealing about that?!!!

With his siblings jumping over him, tackling him, dragging him all over the place, Asa has learned to hold his own pretty impressively! Being that he is our fourth, and FINAL, child, we're trying to keep him our baby (or as my wife calls him - Biddy) as long as possible. The other three were walking between 9-10 months. We're not officially knocking him over (like in Life As We Know It where Josh Duhamel pushes the baby when taking its first steps), but Asa is CONSTANTLY being held (not by our choice either though). You should see the guns on my wife from holding him so much!

Well, we're having his birthday party this weekend, so I'll post some pictures afterwards. Assuming he doesn't eat my cameras! Happy Birthday my Asa "Mad Dawg" Maddox!

Devotion & Redemption

The Miracle on 116th St.

March 30^th, 2010

8:31 p.m.– A miracle took place as the glow of the sunset streamed through the window of our living room. Tears roll down the cheeks of a wide-eye woman embracing a fragrance of peace and redemption named Asa. I sat there in awe of God’s creation and what just happened. My beautiful wife just gave birth to our fourth child… my third son.

I can’t help but think of what the future holds for him. The love, the pain. The joy, the sadness. The hope and eternal life that comes from the Lord, as well as the emptiness and suffering caused by this world.

Asa, the name of a biblical king who obediently served God. Asa, the name of a baby born in a house of God, of love, an older sister to motherly protect, and two big brothers who – well – do the things that brothers do. Asa, my son – my son.

Asa Maddox McGuckin

10 lbs. 3 oz.

21.5 inches

He even took time to pose with his big brothers!

A similar shot was taken when he was still in the belly!

Asa with the ladies of his life!

POSERS!!! The "not so camera shy" siblings are always game for a picture.

Anxiously Waiting

There aren't many things in life that make me anxious; however, this baby couldn't come soon enough!!! These past few weeks we've had great family time and I've been able to have a good chunk of that time with just me and the kids. We can't stop thinking/talking about our newest addition and the impact it will have on our family.

First, we're excited to find out if it's a boy or a girl!!! (For the record, my guess is a girl.) The dynamics of either one will change our family in an exciting way.

Second, we can't wait to meet its personality! With Libby being such a bright 'Type A' personality, then Charlie a loving 'Type B" personality, and AJ just 'ALL BOY', it's hard to imagine what the next will be like.

My favorite thing about this pregnancy for us is seeing how truly excited the kids are for the baby to come. We've been blessed so far to not have any issues with the addition of a new sibling taking over, and we look forward to that continuing. The kids love on Mama's baby-belly so well and say the sweetest things to the baby. This child better be ready to be attacked with LOVE!!!

Days and counting...

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PICTURES IN THE WORLD!

I've taken some amazing photos of some of the most beautiful people in the world, but none of them compare to the beauty captured in the photos of this family below. This family has been blessed by God in many ways with another bundle of life expected to enter this world around the end of March. The affection the kids in this family have for their Mama and baby can not only be seen in the images, but can be heard through the stories and prayers they pray upon their arriving sibling. From the belly kisses to the slobbery zerberts, this child needs to be prepared to be showered with love. The number one reason why this family is so precious to me... is because it's mine!

Little Love

The love of a two year old is such a powerful thing! Tonight, while cuddling with AJ, he took my scruffy face and just held it in the palms of his tiny baby-soft hands. My body grew limp and for a bit, there was nothing in the world that was more important than that moment. All worries faded. The past didn't exist. The future didn't exist. It was just that moment. I felt like God was holding my face reminding me about the precious gift I have in my family - my wife - my children. Little Love can go a far way.

ALRIGHT!

It's time I got back onto this blog. Forgive me that it's been awhile! Tonight was a good reminder to me for why I need to keep posting here. Today, Aiden, stood up on his chair and mooned me at a restaurant! All this, while singing "shake your booty, shake your booty". I'm sure with the holiday season upon us, there will be many more stories to come. Stay tuned...