Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:4-8
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Little Things and Big Things
Little Things:
Big Things:
- It is getting light here at 4:25am. I know this because I've been up feeding Noah at that hour a couple of times. That is dang early for the sun to come up! Nathan says that it's not the light that bothers him; it's that the birds start singing so early. This morning I woke up to feed Noah, and I totally thought he had slept through the night. It was as bright as it is at 7:15, and it was only 5:15.
- Noah is sleeping on his side now. He is also only waking up once a night to eat, in the early morning hours, which is great. Sleep is getting better. I find I would still really like a good solid 8 or 9 hours, which I haven't gotten since before he was born. I think we may be close.
- We saw this on our walk last weekend. Sheesh:
- I got a perfect brow wax the other day.
- I mentioned a while back that I was starting Weight Watchers to lose some baby weight. Well, it's going really well! I have been doing it for three weeks, and I've lost 5.2 lbs. I'm really happy with that. I even contemplated putting this under "Big Things," but I thought that might be overstating it a bit. :) That may seem slow, but it's a great pace for me for a couple of reasons: 1. losing too fast would affect my milk supply, and 2. a friend of a friend, Erin, who's a nutritionist, mentioned that you can only physiologically lose two pounds of fat a week. I'm losing about 1.75 lbs. per week, so I'm pretty happy with that. My goal is to be down to my goal weight by my birthday in September, and when I get there, I'm going to get tons of awesome fall clothes. I can't wait!
- We pulled out the exersaucer for Noah a couple of weeks ago because he was really bored with all his other toys. The funny thing was that at first it just made him frustrated, because he couldn't get the toys to his mouth (which annoyed him because typically everything goes in his mouth).
But since then, he's decided he likes it. In fact, Smarty Pants figured out that if he pushes certain buttons, they make animal sounds. I love this video because he looks so surprised and pleased that he made the music play!
Big Things:
- Really there's only one big thing right now: my grandpa is really ill. He's had heart trouble for nearly 25 years, and has steadily been getting weaker for the past several years. He's had bypass surgery, stints, and is on so many medications that whenever he goes to a new doctor they just tell him to keep taking what he's taking, because they don't understand it. Well, about a week ago he felt like he was having a stroke, so they called 911 and he went to the hospital. He absolutely hates the hospital, but they wouldn't let him come home until yesterday, because his blood was not thin enough yet. Apparently, they're afraid that the stroke(s) he had was just a precursor to a major one that will probably happen within the next 30 days. He is not an easy patient, because he needs to be moved every 20 minutes or so because of sciatic nerve damage, he went blind a couple of weeks ago due to botched cataract surgery, and he just hates being in the hospital. All of this makes him, well, a bit ornery. He depends heavily on my grandmother for his care, and I am pretty sure she's dead tired after the last week. So please pray for my family--for God's will regarding Papa's health, for Granny (as the main caregiver), and for the rest of the family's emotional strain as they deal with him nearly dying. (I very nearly flew home this week; that's how close it was.) Thanks much.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
My Boys
Noah has started putting his feet in his mouth. This picture cracks me up! It looks like that foot totally does not belong there!
We took a nice long walk on Sunday, since it was such a beautiful day--sunny and in the 70's!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Journaling
I used to try to keep a journal. I was terrible at it. I generally dislike writing because it takes too much time. Which was problematic for me in college, as an English major. I'm too impatient to enjoy writing too much. I'd much rather tell you what I think than write it down.
But all throughout my youth and young adulthood, I'd try to keep a journal, quite unsuccessfully. Every so often, I'd make a new pact with myself that I would write in it every single day, and I'd do it diligently for a couple of weeks, then I'd peter out and realize later that I hadn't written a blessed word for six months.
There are several reasons I wanted to journal. It probably all started because I love stories--I have always loved reading, ever since I was a very little girl, and I guess as a ten-year-old I wanted to write down the story of my life so I could go back and read it later. Or so my little girl could read it. Plus, some of the novels I read involved a secret diary, which was romanticized in my mind as the very thing that makes you cool. I even had a diary with a lock on it at one time. Later, in my late teens/early twenties, I was motivated by the fact that there was always so much talk at church about keeping a journal. "Keep a journal so you can see how God worked in your life," or "Keep a prayer journal." I always thought this was a good idea but was never consistent about it.
I still like the idea of journaling, but I can't imagine when I'd have time or motivation to actually write down, in my own handwriting (which is slower than typing), the things that happen every day or my innermost thoughts. I am simply too impatient for it. The best I can imagine myself doing is jotting down a list of things to pray for. Or maybe journaling the personal stuff just once a month or something.
Anyway, as Nathan and I were doing some spring cleaning in our bedroom on Saturday, I found a stash of my old journals. They were in a drawer I hadn't even opened in nearly two years. These were all journals from college and from the first few months after we moved to Boston, and they were formatted (mostly) as letters to God, or prayers. I flipped through them and enjoyed reading them so much. One of the entries I ran across was about the first time Nathan told me he loved me. I also read one I had written about Uncle Rick shortly before he died. It was just interesting how vivid those memories became when I read about them again. I had forgotten a lot of little details or how I felt about certain things.
I still don't think it's practical to expect myself to journal every single day, but having some kind of outlet has become important for me. That's why the blog is so perfect! I can document my life in a somewhat cursory way--there are no serious, deep thoughts here (or few, anyway), but this is a place where I can record my life--the funny things Noah does, what pregnancy was like, etc. Plus, I now take way more pictures than I ever have, because whenever something funny or sweet or fun happens, I think, "Oh, I need a picture of that for the blog." And it's funny how much more consistent I've been about writing posts than I ever was about journaling. Honestly, I think having an audience motivates me. And I also think that I like that there's no expectation to say something deep in every post or to really ruminate on something, which I guess I felt was an element that belonged in every journal entry. I can just be casual here.
Gosh, the pressure I put on myself to put out the perfect journal! It needed to be a story, it needed to be deep, and it needed to have an entry every day. No wonder I'd quit!
Anyhow, my point is that I really enjoy this blog. Maybe I'll supplement it with a real, handwritten journal entry once a month or so, full of more personal stuff that would not be blog-appropriate. But this has become a great happy medium for me personally, as well as a great way to share our life's happenings with our far-off families (especially Noah-related things!). It's satisfying and enjoyable for me; I hope it's enjoyable for all of you, too.
But all throughout my youth and young adulthood, I'd try to keep a journal, quite unsuccessfully. Every so often, I'd make a new pact with myself that I would write in it every single day, and I'd do it diligently for a couple of weeks, then I'd peter out and realize later that I hadn't written a blessed word for six months.
There are several reasons I wanted to journal. It probably all started because I love stories--I have always loved reading, ever since I was a very little girl, and I guess as a ten-year-old I wanted to write down the story of my life so I could go back and read it later. Or so my little girl could read it. Plus, some of the novels I read involved a secret diary, which was romanticized in my mind as the very thing that makes you cool. I even had a diary with a lock on it at one time. Later, in my late teens/early twenties, I was motivated by the fact that there was always so much talk at church about keeping a journal. "Keep a journal so you can see how God worked in your life," or "Keep a prayer journal." I always thought this was a good idea but was never consistent about it.
I still like the idea of journaling, but I can't imagine when I'd have time or motivation to actually write down, in my own handwriting (which is slower than typing), the things that happen every day or my innermost thoughts. I am simply too impatient for it. The best I can imagine myself doing is jotting down a list of things to pray for. Or maybe journaling the personal stuff just once a month or something.
Anyway, as Nathan and I were doing some spring cleaning in our bedroom on Saturday, I found a stash of my old journals. They were in a drawer I hadn't even opened in nearly two years. These were all journals from college and from the first few months after we moved to Boston, and they were formatted (mostly) as letters to God, or prayers. I flipped through them and enjoyed reading them so much. One of the entries I ran across was about the first time Nathan told me he loved me. I also read one I had written about Uncle Rick shortly before he died. It was just interesting how vivid those memories became when I read about them again. I had forgotten a lot of little details or how I felt about certain things.
I still don't think it's practical to expect myself to journal every single day, but having some kind of outlet has become important for me. That's why the blog is so perfect! I can document my life in a somewhat cursory way--there are no serious, deep thoughts here (or few, anyway), but this is a place where I can record my life--the funny things Noah does, what pregnancy was like, etc. Plus, I now take way more pictures than I ever have, because whenever something funny or sweet or fun happens, I think, "Oh, I need a picture of that for the blog." And it's funny how much more consistent I've been about writing posts than I ever was about journaling. Honestly, I think having an audience motivates me. And I also think that I like that there's no expectation to say something deep in every post or to really ruminate on something, which I guess I felt was an element that belonged in every journal entry. I can just be casual here.
Gosh, the pressure I put on myself to put out the perfect journal! It needed to be a story, it needed to be deep, and it needed to have an entry every day. No wonder I'd quit!
Anyhow, my point is that I really enjoy this blog. Maybe I'll supplement it with a real, handwritten journal entry once a month or so, full of more personal stuff that would not be blog-appropriate. But this has become a great happy medium for me personally, as well as a great way to share our life's happenings with our far-off families (especially Noah-related things!). It's satisfying and enjoyable for me; I hope it's enjoyable for all of you, too.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
So Cute
My friend Christina is awesome. Not only is she a really sweet person, but she is also going to be a great mom! (She's expecting her first baby really soon!)
Christina makes some really cute things I wanted to show you guys, because you may be interested in picking a few of these items up for yourself or for gifts. Basically, she makes aprons for adults and for little girls. I believe you can buy them individually or in sets (like for a mom and daughter or grandmother and granddaughter). Just tell me these are not adorable:
I've seen these aprons in person, and the pictures don't do them justice. They are so well made and crisp. I think they look like something you'd see sold in Williams Sonoma or something, except they're cooler because they have that nifty little towel sewn on.
Christina just set up a website for these cute things, so go check it out!
She also makes really awesome decorative hand towels, with the same aesthetic--let her know if you're interested, because they make great gifts.
Christina makes some really cute things I wanted to show you guys, because you may be interested in picking a few of these items up for yourself or for gifts. Basically, she makes aprons for adults and for little girls. I believe you can buy them individually or in sets (like for a mom and daughter or grandmother and granddaughter). Just tell me these are not adorable:
I've seen these aprons in person, and the pictures don't do them justice. They are so well made and crisp. I think they look like something you'd see sold in Williams Sonoma or something, except they're cooler because they have that nifty little towel sewn on.
Christina just set up a website for these cute things, so go check it out!
She also makes really awesome decorative hand towels, with the same aesthetic--let her know if you're interested, because they make great gifts.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
How Not to Start Your Child on Solid Food
Nathan has been excited about Noah starting on solids. Every few days, he wants to feed the kid something, which of course he can't do, since we haven't even tried out rice cereal yet. So a couple of weeks ago, as Nathan was eating chips, he said, "I want him to taste the chips." "No! Are you crazy?" I said. "Oh, come on! I'll just touch it to his lips." "But they're wasabi flavored!" "It'll be okay! I'm just going to touch it to his lips! I just want to see what he does!"
Nevermind the fact that when Nathan first tasted the wasabi chips, he said, "Oh my gosh, these are strong! They'll clear your sinuses!" Seriously, what in the world were we thinking?
So Nathan just touched the chip to Noah's lip so that a few grains of salt/powder came off. The poor kid's eyes turned red immediately, and of course he started crying. This reaction only lasted a couple of minutes, but boy did we feel bad! Nathan felt terrible for thinking up this evil plan, and I felt bad for letting it happen.
Lesson of the Day: Never give your baby anything wasabi-flavored. As if that weren't perfectly obvious before.
I know we are not the only parents to have done something dumb that we thought would be no big deal at the time but in hindsight realized our stupidity. I want stories! Have you ever done something with/to your kids and later thought, "I knew better"? There have got to be some good stories out there. Post a comment!
**UPDATE** 5/19--I actually had a dream last night that I was horrified after I found out that Nathan fed Noah beef stew! Ha!
Nevermind the fact that when Nathan first tasted the wasabi chips, he said, "Oh my gosh, these are strong! They'll clear your sinuses!" Seriously, what in the world were we thinking?
So Nathan just touched the chip to Noah's lip so that a few grains of salt/powder came off. The poor kid's eyes turned red immediately, and of course he started crying. This reaction only lasted a couple of minutes, but boy did we feel bad! Nathan felt terrible for thinking up this evil plan, and I felt bad for letting it happen.
Lesson of the Day: Never give your baby anything wasabi-flavored. As if that weren't perfectly obvious before.
I know we are not the only parents to have done something dumb that we thought would be no big deal at the time but in hindsight realized our stupidity. I want stories! Have you ever done something with/to your kids and later thought, "I knew better"? There have got to be some good stories out there. Post a comment!
**UPDATE** 5/19--I actually had a dream last night that I was horrified after I found out that Nathan fed Noah beef stew! Ha!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Trifling Things
I made a trifle out of angel food cake and devil's food cake. I'm calling it my "Powers and Principalities" Trifle.
It was yummy. Devil's food cake, chocolate pudding, angel food cake, then Cool Whip w/a little orange juice mixed in. :)
It was yummy. Devil's food cake, chocolate pudding, angel food cake, then Cool Whip w/a little orange juice mixed in. :)
- Eph. 6:12
- For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- Rom. 8:38-39
- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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