Wife in Progress

I've become SO.Bad. at this blogging thing I'm just completely out of excuses. Oh well...we all go through phases.

Here's a taste of life-in-general at our house.


Crash
We were in a nasty car accident a week ago Saturday and God completely protected us...we were on Hwy 280 and because we were just getting on the freeway, we weren't going full speed. Our dear little Honda (which has been a faithful part of Bruce's and my life since our very first date) is totalled and gone for good but we all escaped with just a few bruises (mostly one giant one on my shin from my leg hitting the bottom of the dash). The next day I finally really understood what it meant to wake up and feel like getting hit by a car, sore, stiff and generally wiped out emotionally and physically. We've been doing a lot of walking lately and are finding a new reason to be thankful for living in a pat of San Francisco where everything we need (including our church!) is within walking distance. Okay, well, mostly...I have a pretty broad definition for walking distance (I will walk 20+ blocks, one way, for groceries at least once a month). The insurance details are still being sorted out but I'm sure we'll begin car shopping soon. This means we'll most likely be looking for a more practical family car (ours was a two-door) that I can drive.

Modern woman
Speaking of driving...you might not know this about me but I haven't had a car, or really driven at all for over four years. When I moved up to the city I didn't have my own car and taking public transit was so practical, I just never really "graduated" to a car. And since I was majorly unmotivated to learn how to drive Bruce's stick shift, I just never drove. Some people think I'm nuts but I've actually mostly enjoyed my car-free life. It's kept my life simple and close to home, which I love. Still, having  a car has it's advantages (gas prices, insurance and idiot SF drivers are NOT among those advantages)...while we wait for the insurance to pay us for our old car, we decided to sign up for the new yuppie liberal transportation trend: Car-sharing. I drove for the first time today! My doctors appointment (nothing's wrong, I'm not pregnant and that's about it) was a perfect excuse to try it out...I have to say, it was pretty fun to be behind the wheel again. Even though I was abnormally nervous walking to the place where the car was parked, everything came back just like riding a bike and I managed to drive safely to and from the doctor's office without crushing any pedestrians or taking out street signs.    

Weaning
Oh yes, that again. This time it's the real deal. Not just night weaning, we're going for the whole shabang. I started on Friday or Saturday by telling Jenna that the "nummies" (her own name for them) were sick and yucky...she actually laughed, gave me a kiss and went about her playtime. So, that was a good sign to me...in the past when I've attempted weaning it's been such a battle even from the outset, it felt like she wasn't emotionally prepared to part with her beloved nummies. This time she's older and can understand a bit better. Still, as Krista once said, "Weaning equals whining." And that pretty much sums it up...we've had good days and bad days but there's a good bit of whining. It's still hard for her to give it up. So far I'm down to 3-4 feedings in a 24 hr period. I know it sounds like a lot for a 2-year old but that's compared to nursing on demand for the last 26 months (and up until last week that usually meant about 5x during the day and countless "snacks" at during the night). She's being a very good, grown-up girl and I'm pretty sure that it's harder for me to deal with this part of her childhood coming to a close than it is for her to let go.

Fangurrl
I am.NOT. a sports fan. At all. In fact, I really don't understand sports fans at all. Sorry. No offense. I was also planning on boycotting the Olympics because China sucks. Free Tibet and all. Still, I happened to flip through as the first Phelps relay was going on and I was hooked. HOOKED. I kid you not, I've been up every night since last Tuesday until 3am watching DVR's of the Olympics. I"m watching stuff I never cared about like track and field and volleyball. I have to admit, the synchronised diving didn't hurt either (let's just say my hormones are running strong these days ;-)). Naturally, my favorite attractions have been gymnastics and swimming. As I've told a few people, I feel it's my civic duty to yell "Communist!" at the TV every time a competitor from China appears. ESPECIALLY during gymanstics. There is some major funny business going on in that department. First off, there's no way some of those girls are 16. Let alone 13 or 14. He Kexin for instance looks barely older than my 11-year old neighbor. The scoring in a number of different cases with women's gymnastics has been nothing short of infuriating. I bet they're going to be changing the scoring system again after this...Still...it's been good family fun rooting for good ol' Team USA.

And now I bring you, the future Women's Individual Gold-Medalist in Floor Exercise:



Jennalympics from jennas mommy on Vimeo.

Park Day

Today we had a totally fun play date with our friends Ethan, Rachel and Stef . It was so great to watch the kids play together (instead of just laughing at pictures of each other on their mom's blogs - "Hey! I know that kid from the innarnets!"). They had lots of fun chasing each other at the park and watching ducks (and turtles!) at the lake.
I've uploaded some of the best pictures - it's incredibly hard to get a good photo of three toddlers!

Happenings...

I know, I know...I've been away for awhile. I've been devoting myself (trying to anyway) to getting our house on a better routine. It seems that I can only juggle so many things at once and blogging always ends up taking a backseat to all that other stuff. :-)

We've been having lots of fun though...

I've been able to see my "baby" sister Libby twice (luxury!) in the last couple weeks. She came up to visit for the day in July and then again last weekend to go to the zoo and shopping with me.

On the 2nd, we went to Modesto for the wedding of a dear old high school friend. The whole thing was an amazing affair - her family is Assyrian and the reception was full of culture. My favorite part was when they introduced the bride and groom. All her family members and close friends held thin squares of fabric edged with coins and beads (called a "Yalekhta") and some of the groomsmen held canes covered in fabric and also covered with beads...they all made lots of jingly noise. :) The bride and groom were welcomed by lots of shouting and the jingling of coins and dancing. It's quite different from most Western weddings, but I love the shadow of the kind of rejoicing that will take place when Christ and the church are united.

Anyway...I've uploaded pictures because there are to many to fit here.

 

 

 

 

An Award??

Okay, so given my LACK (LACK!!) of consistent updates here for...like, evar, it's only a bit humorous that my darling friend Lesa included me on this list...but hey, content? I'll take it!

1. . When received, you may post the Premio to your blog.

2. Link to the blogger you received it from.

3. Give it to 7 bloggers.

4. Link to those 7 blogs.

A quiz was attached, so here it is!

A. Attached or single? Oh so happily married. :-)

B. Best friend?Best friends are hard to come by, I'm blessed to have a few kindred spirit in my life these days.

C. Cake or pie?  Cake...preferably chocolate and full of fat.

D. Day of choice? They all feel the same these days, but I do like Saturday (it feels more relaxing) and Sunday (for church)

E. Essential item? my computer, it's a hopeless addiction

F. Favorite color? green

G. Gummy bears or worms? I haven't had either in a long, long time...there are these vegetarian fruity bears that I really like though...they don't have gelatin in them.

H.  Hometown? San Francisco

I. Favorite indulgence? Sweets

J. January or July? July since the chance of sunshine and warm weather is (slightly) better.

K. Kids? One and many more to come (please God!). :-)

L. Life isn’t complete without? Love, Christ's love first and family second.

M. Marriage date? July 10th.

N. Numbers of brothers and sisters? Three sisters, one brother.

O.  Oranges or apples? Oranges

P. Phobias?   Spiders and reptiles.

Q.  Quotes?  Mmm...I forget them after awhile but lately a few favorites are: "I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C.S. Lewis and "Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions." - G. K. Chesterton

R. Reasons to smile? Bruce, who makes me laugh as much as a wife could ever want and Jenna, who is better than TV for entertainment. Oh, and my spiffy new hair color. Oh so shallow, right?

S. Season of choice? I love spring and summer but these days I am craving fall - food, smells, holidays.

T. Tag seven people (this is who you give the award to): Let's see...Stef, Krista, Erin, Aurora, Melissa, Trish and Vanessa. I probably left out a few people who's blogs I read regularly, but I promise it's not intentional...I'm doing this without looking at my feed reader. :-)

U. Unknown fact about me? When I was seven or eight, I was determined to be like Kristi Yamaguchi and win the gold medal at the Olympics (in ice skating of course).

V. Vegetable?  Yum, veggies. These days my favorites are beets and swiss chard.

W. Worst habits? my lack of habit is my worst habit...also worry.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? The x-rays I've had have always been in less unpleasant circumstances than my two ultrasounds...so I'll go with x-rays.

Y. Your favorite food? Japanese! And soy ice cream. :-)

Z. Zodiac?  Gag (Capricorn)

Only the most promising days start out...

Toddler: "gurgle gurgle blurp fuss whine CHOCOLATE!! blurb blabber [incoherent] fuss whine CHOCOLATE MIIILK!"
Mommy: "What?"
Toddler: Blabber nonsense [incoherent] fuss "BAGEL!"
Mommy: "We don't have any bagels. How about banana?"
Toddler: "NO! Pickle!"
Mommy: "We don't have any pickels. Let's eat raisins instead."
Toddler: fuss whine (spank) sob "nummies!" (code for boobs)
Mommy: Cave.

Oh yes. Lots of fun.

Wastes of Time

Stef posted this on her blog and for lack of content, I have spent the hour-plus (over two days) to fill it out...I love to read stuff like this from other people so do it if you have time...it seems nicer posting it on a blog than forcing it into people's in-boxes.

1. What time is it? 10:52 PM

2. Name as it appears on your birth certificate: Laura Christine [Redacted]

3. Nicknames: Then: Lo, Lowly Worm (don't ask) Now: Babe (not as often), Baby, Hon...

4. Parent's names: Richard & Rosemarie   

5. Number of candles that appeared on your last birthday cake? What cake? I didn't get a cake? Where's my cake?!

6. Date that you regularly blow them out: Sometime in early January

7. Pets: No, but I really hope we can get a dog someday soon.

8. Height: 5'4

9. Eye color: Green

10. Hair Color: Dirty blond, in the least sexy way imaginable.

11. Piercings: Just my ears, and those are closing because I never wear earrings.

12. Tattoos: No, I really dislike tattoos and needles and hepatitis for that matter.

13. Place of Work: my home

14. Birthplace: Sheesh! do you think the identity thieves are working around the clock writing these things or is it just a weekend gig for them?

15. Hometown: The place I call home is SF but I was raised in San Jose.

16. Current Residence: These questions are totally redundant. Someone needs to streamline this survey! :-)

17. Had the drink Calypso Breeze?: No...

18. Been in love before?: Well yes, yes I have and I definitely recommend it. :)

19. Been to Africa?: Nope

20. Been toilet-papering (rolling)?: Yes, twice. Does that make me a delinquent? I had home school friends who really wanted to be "bad" I guess...

21. Been drunk?: No.

22. Been toilet-papered (rolled)? No, I think my parents would have died.

23. Loved somebody so much it made you cry? In a sense, yes...but I am not much of a crier any more...not too much to cry about. :-)

24. Been in a car crash?: Yes, one where I was driving and one where my dad was driving

25. Croutons or Bacon Bits: Mmmm, homemade croutons (Stef, you have to try them! Garlic, cubed sourdough, tossed with olive oil and sea salt, toasted to crunchy perfection. They're a revelation!)

26. 2 doors or 4 (on a car): We actually still have our 2-door.

27. Sprite or 7 Up: 7 Up, but I don't drink that kind of soda very often.

28. Coffee or Coffee Ice cream: I'm going to say both. Specifically, coffee over ice cream...like the Italians do with Gelato. Yum.

29. Blanket or Stuffed Animal: A little Corolle doll named Charlotte. She still smells like candy.

30. Dumper or Dumpee : Officially, neither... I'm going with that answer.

31. Salad Dressing: Homemade - garlic, red wine vinegar, a big dose of Dijon mustard, fresh dill and olive oil

32. Color of socks: White, I have a major aversion to socks.

33. Number: meh...I'll say 5

34. Why?: Because October 5th was a special day...

35. Place to be kissed?: I will take kisses anywhere

36. Movie: I have to pick one? Movies I could watch over and over again: Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre and Gladiator. Amistad was also amazing. Like. AMAZING. I also really loved Shadowlands.

37. Quote from a movie: "Tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it." - Anne of Green Gables

38. Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving. Hands down, I love Thanksgiving.

39. Foods: Lots. I like food a lot.

40. Day of the week: They all feel the same (except Sunday, obviously), but I still like Saturday.

41. Song at the moment: "Lucky" Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillatt. If I got married tomorrow, this would be our first dance.

42. TV show: The Office, I guess.

44. Word or Phrase: Deep and profound __fill in the blank (ie - Barack Obama comes from a place of deep and profound ignorance. :-))

46. Toothpaste: Crest Prohealth....my dentist gave me a sample and I like it. It's the first time I've used a fluoride toothpaste in eons.

47. Restaurant; a little Japanese place here in SF.

48. Flower: I really like peonies

49. Least Favorite Subject In school: French and English (and not because I don't like reading, I just despise all the nonsense of trying to read into what authors write...)

50. Alcoholic Drink: I haven't tried enough to have a favorite...but once I had a drink with mango rum, orange juice and 7 UP...it was pretty delicious.

51. Sport to Watch: The only sport I've watched in recent memory was the last few minutes of the Super bowl...unless you count ice skating.

52. Type of Ice Cream: These days, my favorite ice cream is called Tarmack - it's from a local SF place called Maggie Mudd's. It's deep, dark (black) chocolate with oreos and peanut butter. It's an orgy. But, the store that sells it recently raised the price from $4.19/pint to $5.59/pint. How lame is that?!

53. Zoo Exhibit: I love the meerkats at the SF Zoo

54. Sesame Street Character: I do not like Sesame Street, at all.

56. Fast Food Restaurant: I haven't been in so long...but I like the fries at In and Out.

57. Least favorite nickname: Schmoopy? I don't know...this is a dumb question.

58. Greatest memory: My first date with Bruce, his proposal, our honeymoon, giving birth to Jenna, the last days that I spent with my Grandpa...I have a lot of great memories.

59. Future pet: An english bull dog, and possibly a bird if Bruce has his way.

60. What you wanted, but didn't get for Christmas: I secretly wanted jewelry...

61. If you had 48 hours to live, starting now, what would you do?: Spend it with my husband and child...like Stef, I'd probably try to write stuff for my kids for later in life...this is a totally sad question.

62. Favorite things: The first five minutes of the morning when Jenna wakes up cheerful and affectionate and our little family stays snuggled in bed together. Being at the ranch. Lots of little things...

63. Best aspect of your life: Definitely being a child of God

64. Do you have anything you cling to from your childhood? My love of Jane Austen and Anne of Green Gables

65. Favorite jewelry: my engagement/wedding ring

66. Favorite word: love

67. Least favorite thing: People who are irrationally judgmental.

68. If you could change something in the world: I would like...revival. Mostly I think the world's problems would be considerably less if people turned to Christ and all the things I could think of that I would like to be different (less excess, more respect for the family, for marriage, for parental rights, etc), I think they would be solved by a nation of people who feared God first.

69. Dark or light(your first reaction): Light - I love sunshine.

70. Favorite CD of all time: Of all time? Are you kidding? Okay fine. This is lame. I love John Mayer's Room for Squares.

71. Best dream: That childbirth dream I had a couple months ago...I so want it to be that easy next time.

72. Favorite physical trait: Today is a bad day for self-esteem, but I do like that I have green eyes.

73. One thing you would change about yourself: Physically? My propensity towards weight gain. Mentally? That I obsess about stuff without talking about it. Spiritually? There's a lot on that list.

74. Define, in your own words "time": Going to fast.

75. What book are you reading right now: From Forgiven to Forgiving (Jay Adams), How to Win a Local Election (nerd), The Federalist Papers (bigger nerd)

76. What's on your mousepad: a mouse.

77. What's your fave board game: I always liked Scattergories.

78. Favorite Magazine: Bon Appetit

79. Favorite Smell: Jenna, Bruce, fresh, clean laundry, things baking in the oven...any smell associated with Thanksgiving.

80. Favorite Sound: The stillness up at the ranch, Jenna's laughter

81. Worst feeling in the world: Letting my family down, a guilty conscience

82. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: Too soon!!

83. Favorite roller coaster: I have a love/hate relationship with coasters, but my favorite coaster memory is going on Goliath at Magic Mountain. It was the first one I went on with Bruce and he made me ride in the very very front. Um...that was absolutely terrifying. ("255 ft. tall, near vertical 61-degree drop" - into a tunnel underground, so you think you're going to be decapitated...). I also screamed, non-stop. Bruce is still scarred by my screaming. He brings it up randomly with a strange look on his face.

84. How long does the phone ring before you get to it: 2

85. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

86. Do you like to drive fast: No, but then I haven't driven in about 3 years.

87. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal: Negative.

88. Storms--Cool or Scary: Cool

89. What was your first type of car: The bane of my existence - my parents' station wagon. Clunky and huge and totally embarrassing.

90. If you meet that one person, dead or alive, who would it be: I'd really like to meet one of the Founding Fathers...maybe Alexander Hamilton (he was a little  liberal for my taste), or Patrick Henry.

91. What would you ask him/her?: I'd like their opinions on the current state of the country.

92. Favorite color: I'm partial to green.

93. What is your zodiac sign: Totally irrelevant. In fact, I tend to write off any sentence that begins with a reference to one's zodiac sign.

94. If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be: Mom, but I imagined I'd be better at the whole house keeping part than I am...

95. If you could dye your hair any color: More blond...

96. Half empty or half full: I hate to admit it, but I am often known to be half-empty...at least about myself.

97. Lefty or Righty: Righty

98. Full Name: Laura Christine [redacted]

99. Family stats: ? Husband, one child, two parents, two parents-in-law, four siblings, two grandmothers, one grandfather...?

100. First job: Laura's Cookie Catering - splendidly cheesy right? I shilled my baking around the ice rink to pay for ice skating lessons.

101. Currently in CD player: Some kiddie praise-song CD

102. Most annoying habit: A lack of good habits.

103. What was in your bag the last time you left Target: Plastic storage bins, diapers, a toy for Jenna

104. Best gross out story: I don't have a good one...the closest would probably be puking in the car during an attack of kidney stones? Or maybe that time I shredded my knee while on my bicycle...

105. First album you remember buying: I have no memory of the first CD I purchased. But one of our family's first was the soundtrack for Little Women.

106. Goofiest thing you believed as a child: I was quite scared during the year 1994 because I somehow knew that Harold Camping predicted Christ's return that year and I was scared of the tribulation. I was ten.

107. Thing you can't do to save your life: keep the house clean...

108. Best advice you've ever given: The best advice I've ever given? I have no idea...as the people to whom I give advice...but I think it's always a good idea when getting married to know your expectations. Expectations are relationship killers.

109. Worst trouble you got into as a child or teen: I was an angelic child.

110. Most incredible date: Bruce and I drove down to Carmel, I packed a picnic and we ate at Lover's Point, then we prayed together and talked and walked along that cool path that goes by the coast...and then we drove into Carmel-by-the-Sea for dinner and ate dinner at this really cool bistro. Sigh...it's good to be in love.

111. Best way to make you laugh: Bruce makes me laugh, especially when he's geeky. I always worried that it was too easy to make me laugh, I laughed a lot in high school and always thought I was weird...maybe it's because I was sheltered.

112. If a movie were made of your life, who should play you? Someone of fair-to-middling talent and attractiveness, with marginal social skills and an excessive love for babies.

113. Best dish you can prepare? Dessert or Main course? If I was having company, I'd make roast chicken with thyme and garlic, roasted beets and probably either pasta or garlic potatoes. For dessert, I'd make apple crisp, or cookies.

114. Pet peeves: I really don't like when Bruce doesn't put his laundry in the hamper (but he almost always does, after four years of marriage, hurray!). Also, I get really irritated when people try to use the Bible to justify obviously unbiblical standards for people...

115. Food you refuse to eat: I would like to think I'm at a place in life where I'll try anything once...but I can pretty much guarantee, I won't be eating fois gras, raw quail eggs, or beef carpaccio or tartare anything.

116. Most memorable concert experience: I've only been to two - but they were both great...David Crowder Band was probably the best.

117. Most prized possession: I would be very upset if something bad happened to my laptop...

118. Best gift received: Salvation goes without saying...other than that, a good husband, the gift of motherhood, those awesome glass prep bowls Bruce bought me for Christmas one year

119. If you were an animal, what would you be? I would be a rabbit...how's that for personality?

120. You've been made president of the United States for the day, what are you going to do? Haha Stef! Drill for oil, reinstate the ability of the CIA to assassinate certain foreign leaders, recess appoint awesome judges to all the open seats...

121. Dream car: One with wheels and four doors...I don't have a car, I'd be pretty easy to please.

122. If you could swap lives with someone for a day, who would it be? I definitely want to be Jenna for a day. I want to see things from her perspective.

123. Future plans: More children Lord willing, home schooling...maybe buying a home, hopefully moving out of San Francisco.

124. Collections: Are you kidding? I so don't have the space for anything.

125. Last video rented: Chaos Theory and The Other Boleyn Girl (both good)

125. Movies that make you cry: Jane Eyre, Dumbo (come on - separated from mommy? "Baby Mine" - how can you not cry?), The Passion of The Christ

126. Best practical joke played on you: I don't remember at the moment, I'm sure there have been a few good ones...

127. Vacation spot: Bodega Bay, Cazadero, Lake Tahoe...

128. Bible character: Ruth, Esther, Peter

129. Scripture: Books: Psalms and Proverbs,  1&2 Timothy, James...

130. Pizza: Chicken apple sausage, artichokes, tomatoes, garlic, spinach...no cheese...

131. Hymn: Be Thou My Vision

132. Favorite City: I do love San Francisco...

133. Breakfast cereal: Healthy: Wheat Chex, Sugary: Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs (weakness!)

134. Favorite drink? Water or a latte or mocha from The Beanery in SF.

135. What color is your bedroom's carpet?: light tan, possibly a mistake with a baby...

136. What was the name of your childhood blanket? No blankets here.

137. How many times did you fail your Permit and/or Drivers License Test? I don't know about the permit, but I passed my DL test on the first try.

138. What do you think of Ouija boards? Creepy and not worth the time...and also obviously not consistent with a Christian life because, hi, communing with the dead?

139. Where do you see yourself in 10 yrs? In most ways, the same - wife, mommy, hopefully with a few more babies and better housekeeping habits, homeschooling my babies...I'd also like to be a lactation consultant, but we may put that on the 20-year plan. :-)

140. Who is the last person that you got mail from before this one? N/A

141. Have you ever been convicted of a crime? No.

142. Which single store would you choose to max your credit card? Probably Target since they have a bit of everything...

143. What do you do most often when you are bored? Play Lego Star Wars or some other DS game...or waste time on the computer. It's a problem, seriously. But I'm not bored that often.

144. What words or phrases do you overuse? "No Jenna!"

145. Name the person that you are friends with that lives the farthest away? I have friends all over...in the US, Olivia is probably farthest removed geographically (Boston)...my cousins live in France, though.

146. Most annoying thing is: People who drive like jerks.

147. Best thing: I think I already answered this...mornings in bed with baby and husband. Also, there are some moments in pregnancy that top many other things in life - feeling your baby move is amazing.

148. Bedtime: too late!

WHAT KIND OF ___ DO YOU USE---
149. Deodorant: Dove cucumber something

150. Shampoo: BedHead or something from Walgreen's
151. Conditioner: same as above
152. Soap: Yardley Lemon Verbena or Victoria's Secret Love Spell body wash

153. Shaving Cream: Kiss My Face Peaches and Cream (it's fantastic)

154. Toothpaste: repeat.

155. Floss: Whatever Bruce likes

156. Toilet paper: Cottonelle

157. Who will respond to this fastest? I would have said Stef, but, she already did so...probably no one. :-)

158. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond? busy people

159. Who will definitely NOT respond: me

160. What time is it now? 8:35pm the next day. :-)

While We've Been Away

• We made blueberry crumb cake. And then we made the same recipe with rhubarb. Can you say, delish?
• We did yoga (and did.not. fold laundry or clean house) 
• We played with boxes.

• We played at the park

• We ate hot dogs

• Oh yes, and we night weaned. It's true. We all hit a ceiling of sorts and so, Daddy took over all nighttime duties for a full week, putting Jenna to bed, soothing her back to sleep during her still (too) frequent night-wakings. The first night was a bit hard but she woke up smiley and happy and no worse for the experience. I, on the other hand, was a bit weepy and quite hormonal. Also feeling very decadent being allowed to sleep comfortably on our futon in the other room. Now I'm back in bed with the rest of the clan and things are much better. We're still nursing before bed and during the day, but the additional uninterrupted (or mostly uninterrupted) sleep at night makes a big difference.

• Other than that...not much is new. Jenna now knows three questions from the Catechism (and it is so cute!) and she's beginning to learn songs. Her development is speeding up a lot! Today she lined up her bears and pointed out that one was "Big!" and one was "Little!" Too fun. I am really enjoying this age with her. 
• On another front, yesterday marked was our fourth anniversary. Now, we have never been big birthday/anniversary people. I actually forgot about it yesterday until someone else reminded me. Still, it's hard to believe how time flies. We've been incredibly blessed with four happy, peaceful years together, a beautiful, healthy child and a complete abundance of comfort. God is good. We celebrated with banana splits (a tradition from our honeymoon). 

And that's about it...

Prayer

I've been reading Kendra Fletcher's incredibly helpful and encouraging blog, Preschoolers and Peace, for quite awhile now. She just recently gave birth to her 8th child, a little boy.

Some of you may already have heard but I just wanted to post it here so we can all pray. Her new little baby was rushed to the hospital on Thursday, because of his symptoms he was transferred to a more advanced children's hospital and has finally been diagnosed with enterovirus. It's caused sepsis throughout his body (multiple organ systems) including his brain.

Please pray for baby Joe and Kendra and their whole family!

Motherhood has a great fringe benefits package

I know, she looks like little orphan Annie-look-at-how-my-evil-mother-makes-me-work-for-my-bread. BUT, she actually loves helping with dishes now. She doesn't do actual work, you know, just makes more mess for me, but it's fun to have her next to me while I clean. :-)

730 days

This morning started with a somewhat demanding toddler asking for chocolate! (rice milk) and pancakes! (porridge? eggs? "No! Pancakes!").

Much more than last year, I've been measuring the day by what was happening this time two years ago. Two years ago, my June 19th morning started out sitting in an exam room being told that I needed to be induced because my blood work and blood pressure were getting worse. In all my exposure to pregnancy and childbirth and all the classes we took, I still hadn't fully prepared myself for that one. I was by myself at that appointment and hearing those words felt a little like getting hit by a 2x4. Basically the way things were presented to me was - your condition could stay the same and you could wait and have a normal delivery *or* they could rapidly get worse and you'd have to have an emergency c-section which is much more dangerous for both mom and baby.

So...despite my misgivings and feeling like I didn't have enough time to really make a good decision, we went in to the hospital on June 19th, 2006. God was very gracious in sparing me from pitocin, which I am sure would have totally derailed my plans to labor naturally without an epidural. It was hard enough as things were. :-) Jenna was born healthy and complication-free after 13 hours of labor on June 20th, 2006.

The nostalgia hit hard last night (I wondered where that was) as I played play-doh with Jenna. She talks a lot, but usually I'm the only one who understands what she's saying (beyond single words). She's become so animated and expressive. She's usually a very happy child.

She's had a bit of an intellectual explosion the last couple weeks, alphabet (hello, she sings the alphabet song! L-M-N-O-P might sound like "eminemopeee" but the concepts and the order are definitely there), numbers (she can count and read numbers 0-10), shapes! colors! (pink and green are the ones she most consistently gets right).

She loves her collection of puzzles. Our favorite brand of toys has become Melissa and Doug, mostly because of their awesome wooden peg puzzles. She loves being read to (Harry the Dirty Dog, Goodnight Moon, Make Way for Ducklings, Bedtime for Francis and Froggy Goes to Bed are her current favorite books) and she likes finger paints.

She is learning, slowly but surely, to sit through church. Last week we went to morning service (which we don't usually do, but are trying to get back into the habit) and she sat through the whole thing without having to be taken out once! We came back for evening service and she survived that as well. She does *not* get the whole concept of voice modulation, so when she does make noise during service, it's not exactly a whisper. People in our church seem to be very forgiving of that, I am so glad!

We've been trying to teach her The Catechism for Young Children, so far she readily answers "God!" when you ask her "Jenna, who made you?" but when we say "What else did God make?" she also shouts "God!" so...we'll get there. :-)

Some of her favorite foods are: avocado (still!), sushi rice, avocado maki rolls (snob), salmon and pasta. Oh, and pancakes. :-) She has some odd tastes too, like she'll eat raw onions (gross).

She still sleeps with us and while the night nursing has improved dramatically (for the most part), I believe I have finally crossed over into the world of patchouli-sniffing, broomstick-skirt wearing extended breastfeeders. I will probably post about this more in the future, mostly because I can talk endlessly about birth and breastfeeding and never tire of the subjects. For now, we'll just say the relationship works for us and will probably continue as-is until one of the three of us changes our minds. :-)

It's been a crazy two years. I see pictures of Jenna as a baby and can hardly remember her being that small. Of course, I remember the feelings of having one that small, the newness, the snuggling, the sense of wonder at every burp and gurgle...but it still seems crazy that she was ever 6 lbs or that there was a time when she was content to sit quietly in my arms or in her bouncy seat (man! it was so easy back then!). 

Any longer and this post will definitely cross over into the realm of outright absurdity. Happy Birthday sweet, firstborn child of mine. You are my constant reminder that God's mercies really are new every morning.