theaprilfools's Xanga

1 + 1 = 4

Fri, 30 May 2008 01:19:17 GMT

For extremely large values of one...or a married couple.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Mon, 26 May 2008 18:25:59 GMT

It's been a while since we've posted and much has happened since Nathan started walking. Seth Michael was born on May 23rd at 4:45AM. He was 7lbs 14oz and 21in long. He and mom are both doing well. A few of us have head colds, but we're on the mend, I think. My grandmother has been here for the last week and will be here for a few more days. She has been an INCREDIBLE help! Her servant's heart is always a challenge to me. She really is an incredible woman.

Anyway, here's a few pictures. Vanessa is usually the one who posts, and it's taken me quite a while to figure out how to make this xanga thing work. :) I can't figure out how to get text near the pictures like I want. The 4 main subjects are: Vanessa, Seth, Nathan and Grandma. I'll let you figure out who's who.

By the way...

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:48:37 GMT

Did I mention Nathan is walking? As of mid-January:

Birthdays and other stuff

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:55:34 GMT

Nathan had a birthday. Since he was born last January, this would happen to be his first. We had a small party with just the three of us on Saturday, January 19 - Nathan's 1st Birthday.

My first decorating job.

No caption seems fit...

Snarf, snarf!

The next weekend, Mom, Dad, Andrew, and my cousin Josh came down. It was a lovely weekend, but I was so thrilled to spend time with them I never got pictures. (again) Here's the cake I decorated, with helpful suggestions from Josh, who has worked with a caterer:

Now, some random pictures. This one is from January 27.

So's this one. This sunset was breathtaking.

Nathan's new thing. No idea where he learned it, 'cuz I haven't been able to do that for months.

He reads books avidly. I help him sometimes.

Look, he has ears!

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:13:56 GMT

Nathan's first haircut. I will refrain from comment because I am somewhat of a perfectionist, and it is nigh unto impossible to achieve perfection with a wiggly almost-12-month-old.

Before...

After...

A Whet Christmas

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:42:41 GMT

I'd settle for a white Christmas, but the only way we'd get that around here would be to stare at a blank wall as we open presents. Ba humbug!

Since I haven't posted in eons, I'll give a quick summary of the last few months. I was sick and tired until early/mid-December, but now I'm just tired. Actually, this pregnancy is a whole lot better than the first one, except that I have a little someone helping me expend my energy now. I'm feeling great and it was wonderful to be able to get ready for Christmas without feeling too behind on everyday things.

This is us at Melissa's wedding rehearsal in October. Yup, we're tired.

Tim has been hardly working, er, working hard, and he is also glad that I'm feeling better because I can make dinner again (corn dogs are only good so many times in a row.) Apart from a confusing health issue that has been teaching both of us to rely on God and has prompted Tim to decide to get up early every morning to run (for those of you that know Tim well, this is quite a feat), he has been doing great as well.

Nathan has learned to put his pacifier in by himself. Yes, it's upside-down, and no, he's not puffing out his cheeks.

Since I last posted an update, Nathan has learned to crawl, eat grown-up food (he loves beef stew), and is starting to "coast", that is, walk a few steps from one thing to another by himself. He loves all the Christmas lights, and has actually stayed away from the tree until a couple days ago because it was too prickly. Pretty handy, I thought.

There are a few months' worth of pictures to post, but until then, I give you...Nathan's First Christmas!

Our amazing "add no water" tree!

About 10 of these presents are for Nathan, besides the ones in his stocking.

Ooh, pretty lights!

Look, Mom! A tree in our living room!

Tim's hand-painted nativity set.

I got this effect by accident, but I thought it was pretty cool. I think it's called "bump the camera."

Nathan's first present on Christmas morning - 10 minutes after he got up.

His present from Uncle Chris, all handmade - except for the shoe box.

This happened to be Tim's favorite present too.

Rip and tear! Raah!

It was brought home to me in a new way how amazing it was that God would allow Himself to be born as a helpless baby. So many limitations, so dependent and vulnerable, yet the tiny baby Mary held one day saved us all. Glory to God in the highest!!

Mixed Blessings

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:15:24 GMT

I've often wondered why God has blessed us like he has. Why has He allowed us to have a mostly seamless courtship and very happy marriage when we have a number of close friends that have been grieving broken - or non-existent - relationships? Why has He blessed us so quickly with a beautiful son and another baby on the way when some couples that are dear to us have tried for many months with disheartening results? Even our in-laws are a huge blessing. Not everyone can boast such a great relationship with both sides as we can.

What should my response be? Sometimes I wish I had the spiritual gift of mercy. They seem to always know when to be there and how. They "weep with those who weep" and share others' joy better than I ever could. After going through a whole range of emotions, I think what I always come away with is a deep sense of gratefulness. God has blessed us like this not so we can flaunt our happiness, but, when you come right down to it, to show His glory. What's hard for me to understand, however, is that He is showing His glory in those others' lives too. It's sure not apparent right now, but then again, is that for me to determine?

On a lighter note...here is my adorable son:

...and here is my adorable son eating grass:

Yum, yum!

Some Random But Not Unimportant Things

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:37:13 GMT

I do not have a due date yet. I'm taking votes for days in May.

Tim's 27th birthday was on Sunday. He ate the biggest steak I have ever seen and was only "slightly full." I need to feed him more.

I dumped a bowl of cereal on myself this morning.

Nathan has 4 teeth with 2 more on the way.

I found out yesterday that we pay the most for housing than anyone else in my family.

Nathan turned 9 months old on October 19th.

Apparently formula spoils faster than milk.

I dumped my cereal back in the bowl and ate it anyway. Food is precious.

A New Groove...

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:41:03 GMT

Just in case you haven't heard, "Un" Bourne #2 is on the way!

More time...

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:05:34 GMT

"If I just had more time I would..." What? What would you do if you had more time? Would you really do it? I was pondering this yesterday as I looked at my green saltwater aquarium. I remember being single - and very busy - and saying "If I had more time at home I would do more with this tank." Well, here I am, and the fishtank is still green. I made the conclusion that if I'm not making the effort to do something now, I won't do it when I have more time.

I also had a very realistic dream early this morning that I was checking myself and Nathan out of the hospital. I had just been told (I didn't remember) that our family had been in a car accident and Tim didn't make it. I went through the dream half in shock, half in tears, and when I woke up I spent quite a while trying to get over it. (Maybe I shouldn't watch movies like Premonition.) My husband means so much to me that lately I've been scared that this life is too good to be true. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would take care of us if anything ever happened to either Tim or I, but do I have to wait for that to trust Him? I need to make the most of the time we have together, and trust God - not Tim - for the future.

So what would you do if you had more time? What if your time is limited? Are you making an effort now?