The Bruffeys: Our Family: Day at the Zoo!

We started blogging our life as best friends, husband and wife, in 2006 shortly after we got married. Once we had children, I created a new blog for our growing family. This is our blog sharing the story of our life: beginning with our first pregnancy and our journey as parents to our beloved firstborn, BB1, who arrived in our world perfectly on 11.5.2010 and his precious sister, BB2, born on 10.6.2012, our sweet third baby, BB3, born 2.3.2015, our 3rd vivacious daughter, BB6, born on 5.1.2018 and our 2nd living son and final Bruffey Baby, BB8, born 6.23.2021. We also love our 3 greatly missed babies in Heaven, BB4 (born in Heaven at 5 weeks 5 days on 10.8.2016) BB5 (born still at 16 weeks on 2.5.2017), and BB7 (born in Heaven at 7 weeks 3 days on 10.23.2019). I will share my stories of our family, of being a wife, a mother, a home manager, a friend, a woman, a Hope Mom, and a person pursuing hope in Christ through life and death, joy and pain. Welcome to our journey!

Friday, December 30, 2011

Day at the Zoo!

To wrap up our 2011, Jacob got his first trip to the zoo. Emma, Jacob and I joined my best friend, Maren, and her son, Markus at the Dallas zoo for the day. It was the PERFECT zoo day (many DFW folks agreed, so it was a full house). Jacob got to see a real gorilla (his favorite "lovey" is his stuffed gorilla from his Aunt Rup) - when he saw it, he reached out and started signing "dog" (what he calls all animals). It was so precious! As a souvenir (his Mama had to get him something to commemorate his first trip to the zoo!) he got a H-U-G-E monkey that he loves!

Our little entourage (minus Maren, who is taking the picture)

HOOK 'EM!

Markus just chillin' with the elephant

Emma flipped her way up here like any gymnast would!

Helping Jacob with his first "elephant" ride!

Cousins!!!

Hold on buddy, I've got you!

Babywearing Mama with the gorilla statue - with a "babywearing Mama" gorilla

Enjoying our day at the zoo and some babywearing snuggles

What do you see?

Markus is SO cool!

Beautiful Emma - in her new, handmade scarf (thanks Maren!)

These birds were SO beautiful!

Markus loved to help pushing the stroller (which we mostly used to carry our stuff, lol)

The new part of the Dallas zoo is awesome

We got to see the penguins get some lunch

Emma - looking VERY closely at Markus

Checking out the flamingos up CLOSE

Some afternoon snuggles with a tired boy

Holding Mama close

He found this lion and held on for a while... but eventually abandoned him...

Checking out the birds in the aviary

Beautiful bird... Beautiful girl

Markus, you are so funny!

You crack me up!

I love my little family!

Jacob says, "ummmm... can I just have my new monkey, please?"

Markus souvenir - his snake "scarf"

Jacob held on to THIS guy for keeps! His souvenir from his first trip to the zoo!

A day at the zoo will wear out any girl!

Jacob's growing zoo - the gorilla from Aunt Rup started it all, then he got the panda from Grandmother for Christmas, and then the BIG monkey from mama at the zoo!

What a great way to wrap up our 2011... with one more day to go!

No comments:

The 1st Daughter: BB2

Our 2nd child was born at home 10.6.2012 - a beautiful water birth we had planned and prayed for! We are so excited to finally be holding this little one in our arms and rejoice in her presence in our family! She is our most intense, free thinking child. We delight in her and find that she is so smart and curious and has a deep need to connect with others. She is a true artist with skill in painting and drawing and she loves to express herself in this way. She loves to be a helper at home and brings excitement and a true light for life into our family!

The 2nd Daughter: BB3

Our third child was born 2.3.2015 (at 38 weeks, 6 days - a huge surprise to us!) just as fast as her big sister, arriving in the parking lot of the local hospital's birth center. We are so grateful to God for sending us another little child as a part of our family! She is SO full of joy and brings a soft sweetness to our family. She adores babies and anything that she can nurture. She has a true mama's heart. She loves to sing and dance and is very much a mama's girl. She is a true joy to our family!

Our 1st Baby in Heaven: BB4

Jordan Emmanuel Bruffey: We were overjoyed when we unexpectedly found we were pregnant with a 4th child in late September 2016. I had always hoped to have 4 little ones though we hadn't decided to try for a 4th yet. This sweet baby's life was very short, as we lost her (we do not know gender for sure) to miscarriage early, around 5 weeks 5 days. We were heartbroken, but this baby's passing has been used mightily by God in our lives and to guide us to serving others in a new way. My mother's heart longs for this baby and cannot wait to hold her in Heaven!

Our 2nd baby in Heaven: BB5

Jonathan Patrick Bruffey: After our 1st loss, we decided to try for another child. We were so grateful when we learned we were pregnant just about 5 weeks after our 4th baby passed away. We prayed diligently for the health of this cherished 5th child. I had wonderful prenatal care and had the privilege of seeing this baby, a son, on ultrasound a few times. We got to watch him grow and play and turn and hold his sweet hands over his head. Though his life ended much sooner than we would have liked, we are so glad we got to enjoy him while he was with us. Quite unexpectedly, at a routine check when I was 15 weeks 5 days pregnant, we learned his heart had beat its last and his soul had gone to Heaven. We were crushed. And still mourn this much prayed for son, We named him Jonathan, "God's gift", as he was very much a gift to our family. He was born in what can only be described as a divinely powerful, beautiful, and peaceful birth on Sunday, 2.5.2017, already in Heaven. We got to hold him and were amazed by his perfect little body, though so still. The grief journey of birthing and burying a child that has passed away is very much one day, one minute, one breath at a time. God has met our needs (Philippians 4:19) in each second as we grieve the death of our precious son.

The 3rd Daughter: BB6

Our 6th baby, Emma Elizabeth Bruffey, arrived powerfully on 5.1.2018. We cautiously, hopefully, prayerfully, eagerly, anxiously awaited her arrival. The verse I clung to during my pregnancy after 2 losses was: "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:6-8. She loves her baby dolls and adores her Daddy. She gives the best snuggles and is a quiet, adorable joy in our home!

Our 3rd Baby in Heaven: BB7

Samuel Paul Bruffey: We learned on 10/1/2019 that we were unexpectedly, yet gladly, pregnant for the 7th time. This sweet baby seemed to be growing strong, so we were devastated to learn on 10/15/2019 that the baby had stopped developing. This sweet little one passed to Heaven on 10/23/2019. Our hearts were again shattered as we had to say good-bye to another precious baby here on earth. Our oldest son, convinced this baby is a boy, chose the name Samuel Paul Bruffey. We will hold you in our hearts forever our precious Samuel... until we one day hold you in Heaven. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4 "I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." ~ 2 Samuel 12:23 (David, after the death of his young son); ~ Simply Missing You, My Baby, Today and Everyday ~

Pages

Friday, December 30, 2011

Day at the Zoo!

No comments:

Post a Comment