I usually check the Washington Post at least 10 times a day. Being that it was our area paper for 3 years and I typically agree with most of the editorials and frequently enjoy its different columns, maybe my devotion to it is understandable.
Anyway, I clicked on this link to an article about photographers who go into hospitals to take picture of babies who are stillborn or are too sick to ever make it home. This is their site. They're apparently in the middle of a fundraising campaign right now. I wanted to urge everyone (all two of you) who reads this to go to the site and donate what you can to this truly remarkable ministry. These people are amazing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Settling in
So we are officially "Mobilians" or "people who live in Mobile" and that privilege has come with the added bonus of another title: homeowners!!!
The home search was not quite long, or arduous, considering we had a whopping 3 days to do it, but we were still quite relieved when it was over and after all the negotiations we had a house! It's a 3br/2ba with a fenced in backyard that has a neat little playground with a swing that Amelia already loves (now if we could just do something about the mosquitoes...). It's still a mess due to our couch and cable arriving within days of each other (what--everyone deserves a little break, right?). Every wall in the house with the exception of the bedrooms and kitchen was yellow, so last Sunday I took advantage of Grandma coming to visit to get her to help me paint the living room. It's now a kind of light taupe and I like it much better. I will post pictures when we get everything put away and hung. We also had new carpet installed and are getting the hang of our fancy hardwood floors (i.e. my heart has ceased skipping a beat when Amelia drops a toy on the floor).
The road to the house was kind of a (semi) interesting one...we moved out of our Valdosta house on 8/31, but couldn't move in HERE until 9/15, so we spent the next two weeks shuttling between Waynesboro and Columbus, then down here for a night, then to Orange Beach (which was awesome), then camping out at Ben's boss's house, then a hotel, and then BACK to Ben's boss's house. I don't think we could have gotten through all this if not for Ben's boss, John, and his wonderful family. They have been beyond generous and wonderful to us.
The church is really great so far. It's huge, with 2500 people on the rolls, and they've got all kinds of stuff going on. Everyone has been very kind and welcoming to us (case in point: the day we moved in women from the church dropped off a basket and 2 coolers full of food, wine, beer and things like paper towels and sponges and cleanser--it was AMAZING), and man, are they in love with Amelia. She toddles around--she's pretty much always going full tilt--almost running--and people just watch her and comment on how great she is. We, of course, agree.
I've put her name on the list for 2 Mother's Day Out programs in town. Now, I'm not even fully comfortable still leaving her in the nursery at church, but we both agreed it was time she got more interaction with other children. Plus, there's no denying that it'll be nice for me to have some time to myself for several hours a week. Both programs have a waiting list, so we'll just see what happens. I've thought about getting a job, and have submitted some resumes, but I'm content to stay at home for now. Or, I should say, I plan to take advantage of our situation and actually go back to school. I miss working like it's nobody's business--I mean, I actually get physical pangs of envy when Ben starts describing his day at the office--but I think this is a good opportunity for me to figure what I want to do.
I think that's about it. All is good. I have a lot to say about the political situation in this country and that kind of thing, but anyone checking my facebook can see how I feel about that. Plus, this is Amelia's blog, so I won't bore with my stuff.
Oh! There is one more thing. Dawgs play Bama tomorrow in a blackout at Sanford Stadium (you know, in case you were living under a rock and didn't know). Of course, we are knee deep in Bama country here (and not Auburn, surprisingly), and are looking for ways to, you know, alienate our friends and neighbors. We have a flag to fly and Amelia is wearing her special gameday outfit to church on Sunday, win or lose. Should be a great game! Here's a special sneak peek:
The home search was not quite long, or arduous, considering we had a whopping 3 days to do it, but we were still quite relieved when it was over and after all the negotiations we had a house! It's a 3br/2ba with a fenced in backyard that has a neat little playground with a swing that Amelia already loves (now if we could just do something about the mosquitoes...). It's still a mess due to our couch and cable arriving within days of each other (what--everyone deserves a little break, right?). Every wall in the house with the exception of the bedrooms and kitchen was yellow, so last Sunday I took advantage of Grandma coming to visit to get her to help me paint the living room. It's now a kind of light taupe and I like it much better. I will post pictures when we get everything put away and hung. We also had new carpet installed and are getting the hang of our fancy hardwood floors (i.e. my heart has ceased skipping a beat when Amelia drops a toy on the floor).
The road to the house was kind of a (semi) interesting one...we moved out of our Valdosta house on 8/31, but couldn't move in HERE until 9/15, so we spent the next two weeks shuttling between Waynesboro and Columbus, then down here for a night, then to Orange Beach (which was awesome), then camping out at Ben's boss's house, then a hotel, and then BACK to Ben's boss's house. I don't think we could have gotten through all this if not for Ben's boss, John, and his wonderful family. They have been beyond generous and wonderful to us.
The church is really great so far. It's huge, with 2500 people on the rolls, and they've got all kinds of stuff going on. Everyone has been very kind and welcoming to us (case in point: the day we moved in women from the church dropped off a basket and 2 coolers full of food, wine, beer and things like paper towels and sponges and cleanser--it was AMAZING), and man, are they in love with Amelia. She toddles around--she's pretty much always going full tilt--almost running--and people just watch her and comment on how great she is. We, of course, agree.
I've put her name on the list for 2 Mother's Day Out programs in town. Now, I'm not even fully comfortable still leaving her in the nursery at church, but we both agreed it was time she got more interaction with other children. Plus, there's no denying that it'll be nice for me to have some time to myself for several hours a week. Both programs have a waiting list, so we'll just see what happens. I've thought about getting a job, and have submitted some resumes, but I'm content to stay at home for now. Or, I should say, I plan to take advantage of our situation and actually go back to school. I miss working like it's nobody's business--I mean, I actually get physical pangs of envy when Ben starts describing his day at the office--but I think this is a good opportunity for me to figure what I want to do.
I think that's about it. All is good. I have a lot to say about the political situation in this country and that kind of thing, but anyone checking my facebook can see how I feel about that. Plus, this is Amelia's blog, so I won't bore with my stuff.
Oh! There is one more thing. Dawgs play Bama tomorrow in a blackout at Sanford Stadium (you know, in case you were living under a rock and didn't know). Of course, we are knee deep in Bama country here (and not Auburn, surprisingly), and are looking for ways to, you know, alienate our friends and neighbors. We have a flag to fly and Amelia is wearing her special gameday outfit to church on Sunday, win or lose. Should be a great game! Here's a special sneak peek:
Monday, August 11, 2008
We're getting Internet!
...because we're moving. I have been the most faithless of bloggers for the past 2 months because of our lack of Internet, but maybe this announcement will make it worth it. As of August 31st (Amelia's 1st birthday, incidentally), we will no longer be residents of Valdosta. Ben has been offered a job as Assistant to the Rector of St. Paul's in Mobile, Alabama. Never, ever thought we'd be moving to Alabama, but that's ok! We are buying a house that we love, and we both really like Mobile. This seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we're just glad we've been able to take it.
Lots more details and pictures once we've settled in, I promise!
Lots more details and pictures once we've settled in, I promise!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
They ran out of the Interwebs
No, it's not a joke. We have successfully (for the most part) moved into our new house, and it's great, BUT--apparently, when Bellsouth started their DSL service out there, they didn't account for how popular it would be. As such, they have run out of bandwidth for our neighborhood and we are currently without internet and cable. We have The West Wing Season One and lots of books to keep us company (not to mention unpacking...), but I'm having withdrawals. I'm in Ben's office right now, but this is a treat that I don't expect to get very often. Lots of pictures of our growing girl when they find more internets...
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The dog
Remember the Shel Silverstein poem "Sister for Sale"? I always laughed at it--mainly because I had a younger sister. Now, as I listen to Lily whine and cry to get outside and in the pool--DURING A LIGHTNING STORM--I keep thinking of that poem.
If you're reading this, Reuben, I don't even care. She is driving me nuts!
If you're reading this, Reuben, I don't even care. She is driving me nuts!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Oh, yes, I'm going there...
How Safe Are Vaccines?
This is probably the one area of parenting where I just have no clue. Amelia is up to date on all her vaccinations, and honestly, while I am nervous about each one, I've never been so freaked out that she doesn't get it.
I read pro- and anti-vaccine literature with a grain of salt. I have experience working in a field that is highly controversial, so I have learned to recognize that each side will present their case with unflinching (most of the time) logic and fact, meant to support their conclusions. And I have learned that the truth is usually located somewhere in the middle. However, arguments I learned to recognize and respond to were always in the hypothetical...When I came up with talking points about why making EC available over the counter was good, and why arguments arguing against it were specious or incorrect, I knew my facts. I trusted my information, and I had science to back it up.
But this is my child. This is her health and her life. And I guess there's just enough out there to scare the hell out of me and make me think "what if?". I have no answers, and I don't really know who I can trust. Wow. What fun.
This is probably the one area of parenting where I just have no clue. Amelia is up to date on all her vaccinations, and honestly, while I am nervous about each one, I've never been so freaked out that she doesn't get it.
I read pro- and anti-vaccine literature with a grain of salt. I have experience working in a field that is highly controversial, so I have learned to recognize that each side will present their case with unflinching (most of the time) logic and fact, meant to support their conclusions. And I have learned that the truth is usually located somewhere in the middle. However, arguments I learned to recognize and respond to were always in the hypothetical...When I came up with talking points about why making EC available over the counter was good, and why arguments arguing against it were specious or incorrect, I knew my facts. I trusted my information, and I had science to back it up.
But this is my child. This is her health and her life. And I guess there's just enough out there to scare the hell out of me and make me think "what if?". I have no answers, and I don't really know who I can trust. Wow. What fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)