Nashville

A couple of weekends ago we went to Nashville. David, his brother Worth and cousin Grace ran the half marathon. It ended up being a bit of a family reunion (sorry Fudgie) as Worth's family, Grace's mom Laura, and David's mom came too. It was a lot of fun. They did a great job in the race too. It was the first time for Samuel to meet his cute cousins.

Luke and Samuel

Ben

Random pic showing off Samuel's new teeth

How most of his time is spent...with something in his mouth

Rachel, Davis, and Campbell

Please pray for this little family who just lost their husband and father. Please go to the link to the right "Tony and Melissa Woodruff" for more information. Melissa just got back from the funeral, and after talking with her I feel things in my life have been put into much more perspective.

Toddler Carseats...Advice?

It's time for us to get a bigger car seat. We went to the doctor today and Samuel is 20.4 pounds and almost 28 inches long. He is a big boy. We have several road trips in the next couple of months and know we need to figure out which one to buy. I don't know lots about these, but have been told that Britax is the brand to buy, and, considering his size we should get the Marathon. My question is: Will it fit in our cars? We have a 2001 Subaru Forester and a 2000 VW Jetta. Does anyone know? You would think there would be a chart someone on the Internet that would provide that kind of info...but I am yet to find it.

On another note, we are doing well. David is spending all his time writing papers, reading, studying, and finishing other assignments that are due on May 1. It is weird to think that after that we will be finished at Covenant...more on that later.

I took the day off to take Samuel to get his shot. Sounds incorrect, like I should say "his shots", but that is not what we get. We get one. We got one...the DTaP. (We are on a delayed schedule.) My doctor called it the DTP several times and I had to correct him as if making sure we are not getting the older (and potentially harmful) version, though I knew that was not the case. I have been worried over these shots and the possible effects they could have on Samuel. I felt/feel particularly concerned because I believe his little body is very sensitive to things...for example his food allergies. However I know he needs them. And, I was comforted on my way to the doctor, by the fact that God really is sovereign. That sounds simple, but I felt this in a rather profound way that made a difference in my heart. So, he got the shot...that brave little man did not even flinch, much less cry. And, we have had a great afternoon since, praise God as such things ought not be taken for granted.

I also had an interesting exchange with the doctor about my anxieties for him in general. I told him that I know I worry too much, and that I know this is not good and even unhealthy for him and me and that I am working on it. He told me that I made his day because he sees moms like me everyday who have all the anxiety but none of the conviction that it is something that needs to be let go of to some degree. I asked him how it is possible to not be aware of such things, but then knew the answer as I was once probably far more unaware of my self then they. There is something good about knowing you are broken and in need of help, opposed to ploughing through life like all is okay, all the while haphazardly hurting people (like little Samuel) by your blindness.

Weaning

I have never liked this word; I'm not sure why. It feels strange rolling off my lips and connotes something strange, though exactly what has always been ambiguous to me until now.

If you have read previous posts, you know that we have recently started giving Samuel solids. As of this morning he has had rice cereal, sweet potatoes and squash. So far so good and fun.

As I have been reading to try to figure out this whole solids thing, which has been rather intimidating, I continue to see the word weaning, used where I prefer to see something like starting/feeding solids or feeding infants. Even manufacturers use it to describe bowls and spoons. I have a problem with this word because it seems to communicate something like "the process of your child going from breastfeeding to real food has begun, and, hallelujah that will be soon." It just feels negative to me. Seems urgent even. I think I am overreacting. Definitely I have noticed some unhealthy mothering patterns whereby I like being needed by Samuel and am a bit too zealous to be the perfect mom (which has turned out to be so not the case)...so maybe that is what this is about. I should be happy that Samuel will soon no longer need me for his survival in such a dramatic way. I should be thankful that for six months God has seemingly-miraculously enabled my body to meet all his dietary needs. I should be happy that the process of him eating solids means that one day soon I can finally eat all the foods I miss (since I avoid them now because of his allergies). These things are good, I know. I just wish the authors of these books would choose a more gentle-sounding verb for mothers like me who are a bit too attached (for lack of a better word). Has anyone else had this experience?
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Okay, after posting this, I have been thinking...perhaps I would not feel so passsionate about this where I at home, with Samuel, all day. Maybe it is a particular struggle of working moms?

BIBS

a couple more pics

Someone to share Daddy's love of sweater vests.

FINALLY FOOD!

My sister and Emma pulled up Friday afternoon with a car full of goodies for Samuel. Of particular interest were the bowls, spoons, bibs (one that says I Love My Aunt), and lots of baby food. It was a subtle hint that we would be feeding him solids for the first time. As with other milestones, I was glad to have Niki here to help me know how to do this thing that feels foreign to me. He did a great job. He loved rice cereal and ate as if he had been eating for weeks. My parents would say that is because he has been wanting to eat for weeks!






This picture does a good job illustrating how much of our time was spent...Emma could not get enough of her little cousin.

Easter Weekend

Our Trip to Asheville

It was great to be back in Asheville to see old friends and faces. This one of David's favorite places to visit. It is surrounded by so much beauty and nature. By the way, Samuel got to fly for the first time. He was so well behaved that the pilot let him see the cockpit.

Two Great Videos

Loved

I bought this shirt for Samuel several months before he was born. When I saw it in the store there was no question that I would buy it for him. I brought it home, hung it in his room, and looked at it often. I knew then that if there were one word that could describe him it would be "loved". Even then David and I felt tremendous love for this growing baby inside me, how much more today. It also communicates my favorite theological idea...that we are loved by God in spite of ourselves. Perhaps I should have taken his picture when he was covered in spit up moments later to better communicate God's love for us.

David says that there aren't pictures of me on our blog. I take most of the pictures, so there are not too many to post. However, just this morning, as I had recently woken and was getting coffee, he took this one because he said Samuel would like these types of "real life" pictures. If he ever does see this picture I will tell him that he had woken me THREE times the night before, hence him on my hip at the coffee pot...certainly real life.

Snow Day

St. Louis got 8-12 inches of snow yesterday morning, giving me two days off from school and enabling me to be home with my men.
We did not do anything too special, just lots of playing and catching up on a few things.
David and Samuel do this really cute thing that involves him being on David's shoulders. Today Samuel gave him a little surprise; I had the camera close by and could not resist.
We both were able to take Samuel to get his first shots today (yes, at 5 months!) and he did a great job! He cried for about 5 seconds. It hurt us more than him no doubt. Also, he now weighs 18.2 pounds...he is huge. He will be 5 months old on Saturday.

Why Presbyterians Sprinkle

serious young man

love my turtle

gloves to protect my handsome face!

finding my feet and toes

so happy with daddy

happy with daddy

Creation is Groaning...

This is what I used to say when life seemed hard, not unlike now. It's been about a month since we have posted. Since then we have moved to the apartment above us; painfully discovered Samuel has food allergies and hence I have been working like crazy to find food that I can eat (since he breastfeeds); begun to grieve my grandmother's death/driven 24 hours to her funeral in Texas; and now Samuel and David have the flu. Samuel was diagnosed Tuesday night in the ER, David two days ago. David is fine, he is taking strong medicine and feels almost himself again. I wish I could say the same for Samuel. Of course he can only take Tylenol. It is killing me to see him hurting. Today his congestion really increased and he can barely even cry as his voice is so hoarse. I know that he and I will be up most of the night trying to find a way for him to feel better long enough to get back to sleep. I know all this will pass, but I hate it!

My grandmother, Mary Jane Vititow died about two weeks ago at 80. She had been in a lot of pain for the last decade, and knowing she was a believer, I am so thankful that she knows nothing of that now. In fact, as I think of the verse I loosely quoted above, it reminds me of the fact that her life right now is very different than mine. She no longer groans or has to hope for anything. Her hope is realized as she is in the presence of God. It is hard, however, to let her go. She was a neat lady. She was little, sassy, and a lot of fun. She was widowed 28 years ago and never remarried. She loved to play bridge with her friends. She made wonderful green pea salad, drank coke from glass bottles, and she called my her angel. We miss her.

And, here is one from late last night when Samuel woke up randomly. He was so happy and alert that David insisted on us playing with him for a minute. I think he looks a lot like David in this picture.

Dad and Debbie Come to Town

David's Dad and Stepmom left today after a really great visit that went by way too fast, which is the problem with living so far away from our families. Tonight I find myself wishing we were closer geographically as our families are all in Mississippi, Tennesse and Arkansas (except D's sister Betsey who is in LA).

New Favorites

My Buddy and Me



No Daddy! Use this cable!

Fun on the Macbook

Greetings Earthlings!



Wonder Twin Powers............ Activate!

Just an Update

Like Father Like Son

Anyone know why Samuel has been doing this lately? He arches his back with great enthusiasm and pushes his face into the bed. Even when he wakes upset and I come in the room he stays seemingly stuck in this position without turning to see me. It is strange. I think it could be that he is learning how to roll over and has discovered that it feels good to tense his muscles up like that???

A reinactiment from last night. Note the socks on hands (to prevent scratching his face) and the rolled blankets along the edges(to prevent him banging his head). Wow, I am even more of a protective mom than I thought.


Great news...yesterday Samuel took TWO naps that were both 1.5 hours! We were so proud of him as he hasn't done this since his first month of life.

He is becoming increasingly mobile in his crib. Last night he let out a yell about 10:00. When we got to his room we discovered he had placed himself at the head of the bed, completely perpindicularly. We don't know how he did it as his body (we now know) is the exact length of the width of his crib. He's also woken himself many times lately with his head banged up against the corner railings. As a result we bought bumper pads yesterday. I feel really rebellious using them as they are so controversial right now. But, we think it is the right choice.

As if we do not already have enough drama in our lives, we are MOVING to the unit above us. We love our apartment, but have recently realized how fortunate we have been as the two girls who were living above us were hardly ever home. In their last week prior to moving out we were shocked at how loud it can be. A couple of days later our landlord showed the unit to two twenty-something year old guys that looked like they knew how to have a good time, making David and I quite anxious at the prospect of just about anyone living above us, especially someone loud. So, we are moving up their rather than taking that risk. It is not as nice as our unit, but it does have three bedrooms which will make it possible for people to stay with us when they (you) visit. We look forward to the day when we live in a house. No one above us playing loud music at 2 a.m., no odd colors on the wall, unless we want it that way, and no Bosnian boys playing soccer in our front yard while loudly practicing their favorite English curse words.

Samuel will be three months old on the 8th! We have really seen him mature lately via his facial and vocal expressions and interest in the things around him. He has just recently settled on his favorite self-soothing mechanism: sucking his hands (or fingers when his crazy mama doesn't have socks on his hands). This is an answer to prayer as I prayed he would "find his fingers". At his last doctor's appointment he was in the 90% percentile for both height and weight. David and I cannot believe how good-natured he is, how in love with him we both are, and how fortuante we are to be his parents.