It is her 1st birthday!
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We moved
I have moved our blog over to wordpress (it is easier for me to use now) so to read our blog please go to:
www.thepleasantblog.wordpress.com
I hope to get the new blog linked with covblogs but am not sure how to do that. If anyone can help please let me know.
Maine, the way life should be!
That is what is on the sign that greets you as you cross the state line in Maine. We have been here about 3 weeks and we left our home in Florida about a month ago. It has been great so far. We have done so much. In the interest of brevity we are going to let our pictures do the talking, they are worth a thousand words right. Unfortunately I can no longer blog from Flickr! very frustrating.
So here is our link
Enjoy!
If anyone can help me with my flickr problem I would be eternally grateful. Please someone, help.
More New Beginnings
In a few minutes we will all get in the car and start heading north. Summer has officially started and we are heading up to Maine. So just as we get settled it is time to leave!
Genevieve went for her 9 month check-up and the doctor was rather surprised that we were going to be driving all the way up north with her but we both know it has been done before by others and the survived.
In other family news Genevieve is going to be a big sister in January! Our second child is due January 31st!
So pray for us this summer as we embark on these new beginnings together!
Mr. Osborn
My husband continues to amaze me. Teachers are not supposed to say that they have a favorites but students can defiantly proclaim their favorites. The students who recently graduated (last Friday) at the school which Nat taught at for 4 years asked him to come back and be their graduation speaker. Nat was really touched. He was with these kids since they were in 8th grade and it was hard to leave them for their last year of high school. So Nat said yes and last Friday he gave an amazing commencement address. I am always proud of Nat but when I saw all the students on the stage give him a standing ovation when he was finished I almost started to cry. But then in the audience students who have already graduated stood up and a few parents even stood up. He is a great teacher and it felt great to see that the kids knew it too. He said I could post a copy of his speech. (I have changed students names for obvious reasons.)
I would like to congratulate the class of 2008 for all the late night nights spent on research papers and cramming for tests, and thank them for the privilege of speaking tonight. But no less than you fine young men and women would I like to congratulate your parents and grandparents. You folks are the ones who made this day possible. You are the ones who pinched pennies and sacrificed to provide a Christian education. After all, you are the ones who crammed lunches with carrot sticks and juice boxes.
Having enjoyed the opportunity to spend four years with you in history class, I would like to share a few things that I've learned and wished that I had known before heading off to college.
1. Be kind to your family. I know that there is nothing more annoying than dad's insistence that you bring the car home by ten, or when your little sister ceaselessly plays Hannah Montana or, in my case, the soundtrack to "Grease"�. I know it bugs you, and I feel your anguish. But remember, there is no one who will cut you more slack than your family. When you make mistakes, and you will make plenty of them, buddies and friends will sometimes leave. Boyfriends and girlfriends come, and most of them go. But no one will be waiting for you with open arms time after time like your family.
2. Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. It sounds like a small thing, but not many people do it.
3. Rest in Christ's sovereignty. Life is hard. It's messy. Sometimes it's fun and easy, but usually it is just a lot of work. If Christ wasn't Lord of the world then I wouldn't even get out of bed in the morning. What's the point? Remember, in the words of the great theologian Abraham Kuyper, there is not one inch of the whole earth over which Christ does not proclaim "MINE!"� God is there, and he is good.
4. If Ben Bennet brags that he will hit a home run in the next game, believe him. That guy will surprise you when you least suspect it.
5. Always be kind to the people working behind the counter. That is where the real power lies. Whether it is Miss Lindahl or Catalano here at school, or the check-in person at the airport, or the grumpy boy at Subway, be kind. They are always the first to receive complaints when something goes wrong and are generally the nicest people you'll meet. If you are not already in the habit of being exceedingly polite to them, begin now.
6. You have heard many times Christians tell gruesome details of their harrowing lives before coming to the faith and then something along the lines of "but now that I am a Christian, all of my problems have gone away."� I'm sure they meant well and are all very nice people, but I'm going to tell you something that it took me a long time to figure out. The Christian life is, in a word, really, really hard. If you are struggling I am pleased to announce, that's how it works. That is what Paul was talking about when he said, Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.. That is how the process of sanctification goes. We are constantly struggling against our own flesh. Constantly. But here is the thing. When you struggle, and fail, and struggle again, is Christ your ultimate goal? Is he whom you seek to honor? If so, relax. That is how sanctification works. It is a long process to be more Christ-like. A very long process. Sometimes we go backwards a bit. But ultimately, we are inching forward. Sometimes the process is painfully slow.
a. But that is the life to which we are called. You might remember this exchange from the Chronicles of Narnia, and if you didn't read the book, I bet you saw the movie. Here's how it went. Young Lucy hears from Beaver that there is this huge Lion coming who is going to free the land from the curse. "I don't know if I should like to meet a Lion. Is he quite safe?"
b. "Safe," said Mr. Beaver, "who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe. But he is good, and he's the king."�
c. And that's the Christian life in a nutshell. We still live in this world and serve an all-powerful God, and yet we still struggle. When Christ calls us to serve him, he calls us to toil for the kingdom. The problems of Christians don't go away. Sometimes it feels like we have more trouble than non-Christians. But for those of us effectually called, that is who we are. Already recipients of God's grace, but not yet free from this cursed world.
7. If you are ever in City Walk in Orlando on a field trip and are tempted to do a handstand on a fake surfboard, resist the urge. I'm sure that Sue Jones will agree with me on this one.
8. In 1563 some very smart and godly men met in Heidelberg, Germany. I visited Heidelburg one time, but it was too cold for my taste. Also, I don't look good in leiderhosen. Anyway, those Germans wrote the following in response to the question "What is your only comfort in this life and the next?"
They answered: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
Take their words to heart. Although it is not I, but the Holy Spirit who convinces you, I urge you. I plead with you. Live unto him.
9. If you are ever called upon to deliver a public address, make sure that you keep it brief.
Thank you.
New Beginnings
Tomorrow we move into our new home here in town. It isn't a house but it is a townhouse, one step away from apartment living. This move however is probably the most difficult of all our various moves. First of all, tomorrow (moving day) is our 5 year anniversary. Five years written out doesn't seem like that long. But, then I look back on everything that we have accomplished and done in these past 5 years I don't know how we fit it all in there.
Last night we went over to paint in our new place. Genevieve's room is a really ugly color. However, when we got there we discovered that our A/C doesn't work. It was awful. So Nat, drove G and I back home and he went back to do it on his own. I have the best husband, he was there until after midnight and he is working today! He has to go back tonight to finish. Then when I had the water turned on they promptly had to turn it off because they think there is a leak in there. So now I have to go to an empty townhouse and wait for the water guy to show up. Hopefully, he or she will be there at the beginning of the time block I was given.
Genevieve is teething and not handling it well. So our friend who is watching her all day for us during the move should have her hands full.
Now if the Realtor or the homeowners would just call about the A/C everything will be ready for tomorrow.
8 months
When I realized yesterday that Genevieve was 8 months old I had two feelings: one, where has all the time gone? and two, Is that it? It seems like a lot longer lately. Genevieve has mastered crawling and standing and is starting to explore letting go when standing up. This continues to amaze us and frustrate us at the same time. Now that she is mobile she is into everything. Which is to be expected. However, what wasn't expected are the tantrums that come with saying no. Her favorite is the arching back-falling down-kicking and screaming-tantrum. Seriously, she is only 8 months old. This makes for very long days for Mommy and Baby when we stay in for the day.
Since we will be moving in a few weeks I have a light at the end of the tunnel. Our new place will hopefully have enough room to section off a place of the room for her to have all to her own. But, until then we just need to keep praying that she will not discover the dishes that are at her level in the dining room yet(I know they should have been moved but I have nowhere for them to go until we move).
Yesterday at Music and Movement I learned something that was totally new to me. Before class starts the teacher, Ms. Paula, picks a topic and we discuss. Yesterday's topic, "What are you doing to brush your baby's gum/teeth to promote good oral hygiene?" I thought she was joking. Thanks all you other mothers who know me, no one (not even our book) EVER mentioned this little aspect of baby raising. Evidently a little girl in another class has cavities in all her top teeth that have come in so far (I guess people forgot to tell her Mommy too). So when the discussion came to me I said well to be honest this is the first I have heard of this. Thankfully, at that very moment Genevieve tried to stand up while holding on to something that wasn't stable. So she fell, distracting me from seeing the looks on all the other gum-brushing Mommies faces. Oh well, I am sure I am not the only mother to not know something I should have been doing for my child.
More flying
Flying
Oh to be thrown in the air.
Man you are blind!
Today Nat and I did one of those tasks that keeps getting pushed aside because it is one that can be pushed off, we had our eye exams! Both of us wear glasses but have very different eyes. Nat can get by without his glasses while I can't see my hand when it is at arms length away without my glasses or contacts. Nat went into the doctor first and while he was in there I did the first portion on the exam when they puff you eyes with air (I hate that!). Then they took my glasses, I said I can't see anything if you take my glasses. So the nice lady pushed Genevieve's stroller into the exam room and lead me in there to sit. Nat's eyes have barely changed in 7 years and so he was fine. Then it was my turn. When the doctor looked at the prescription from my glasses he said, "Well, let's just hope your daughter inherited her father's eyes. Man you are really blind." There were a few other jokes made about how terrible my eyesight is and I declared it's my father's fault. And my eyes are a lot worse. Then when we went to go pick out new glasses it was pointed out again several times by different people that, "Wow you really can't see." In fact I was shown a chart showing prescriptions for sunglasses. She showed me that my prescription isn't even on the chart and my choices were really limited. But, I picked out some nice ones.
So, I inherited my eyesight from my father, let's just hope Genevieve inherited her eyesight from her father.
Big Day
Tomorrow morning I will get a very small glimpse of what my life would be like if I were a working mother. Tomorrow and Friday I will be doing 15 hours of classroom observation in a 3rd grade classroom to finish up my state teaching certificate. This will be the longest I have ever been away from Genevieve. While I am sure she will be fine I am worried about me. The very few times we have put her in the nursery at church I have gone to check on her at least twice during the sermon. I fought the idea of being a stay-at-home mom very hard. I saw it almost as a end of my life. I pictured it being alone in my home all day everyday having no outside contact with other people. I have since determined it is what you make it. You can stay at home all day everyday and possibly get depressed or you can get out there and make things happen. I have chosen to get out there and make things happen.
I can't imagine having to leave her every morning and come home to spend a few short hours with her before she goes to bed. I would have missed out on so much. I might have missed the first time she sat up on her own, or the first time she said Mama. I do appreciate now how lucky I am to get to stay at home with her. I know that our lives would be much calmer financially if I went back to work but hearing her call for me from her crib makes if worth more than any paycheck.
However, this week with Genevieve sick I have experienced the staying at home all day thing and it is not fun. In the past three days I have gotten a little depressed. It has made me more determined to continue with our daily activities when we can even if I am tired. I missed our friends at the gym and music and movement. It is great to be around other moms and learn from them. It is even better watching Genevieve "play" with the other babies (it is mostly poking, pinching, and pulling at this point you have to watch her like a hawk).
I know that Genevieve will be fine with Grandma Barbara but it is more about what I will miss while I am away that makes me sad.
Nap at the beach
GEO has been 7 months old for a few weeks. I have just been a little lazy. But she has passed lots of milestones! This morning she scooted over to the exer-saucer before church and pulled herself up to stand, thankfully Nat and I were both there to witness it. She isn't crawling yet but that isn't stopping her from getting everywhere and into everything. You can't put her down to just play anymore. Her current favorite place to go is under the coffee table ripping up magazines (not a good habit).
Poor baby though is teething and anything she can get her hands on goes into her mouth for some relief. She has had all the symptoms from the fever to the runny nose. She is obviously exhausted but it hurts to much to sleep. She hasn't slept through the night in a few nights which makes for a tired baby and a tired Mommy.
It is no fun to see your baby in so much pain and not be able to make it all better.
She has added another "word" to her two word vocabulary. We have noticed that whenever she sees a dog she says, "Bah". So however many times her G-ma's dog Dottie walks in a room she says "Bah" and tries to get Dottie's attention. Then today at a friend's house for lunch she was calling their dog, "Bah". Now I don't know if she really associates Bah with dogs but it seems like it.
Travel fun
Last week I was talking with my fitness instructor who is a fellow Mommy and she told me that she was impressed with how much we travel with Genevieve.
I had never given it much thought but it made me realize that Genevieve has done a lot of traveling in her 6 months of living. She has been to the Keys twice, camping once, Ft. Lauderdale for a conference, Orlando to meet more family, two long car trips (Chattanooga and Ohio), and flew to Georgia and back. She has even been the southernmost point of our country. We are already planning her first trip to Maine this summer and her first trip to NYC (it will be my first trip to the big apple too) on our way up north.
Nat and I really like to travel even though we tend to go to the same places it is just nice to get away from the ordinary life for a little while. One of the great things about teaching, besides the whole molding tomorrow's leaders stuff, is the schedule. Nat's schedule allows us to travel a lot. We decided that we want to share our love of travel with our kids no matter how many we have by traveling with them a lot. We enjoy talking about the possibilities of renting an RV one summer (or even a whole year) and driving all around the country to show our kids the great sights of America. I often dream about having Samantha Brown's job, it really is my dream job but I would do a show about traveling with a family.
If you like to travel but your schedule and/or budget isn't one that allows you to do so right now you can travel vicariously through our good friends Jeff and Liz (also known as Nat's Uncle Jeff and Aunt Liz).
Jeff, Liz, and their two dogs Lucy and Sophie are on their way back to Maine for the summer in their RV, Harvey. They definitely take the scenic route. In their own way they are living life like a Travel Channel show about off the beaten track USA. Last fall when they left Maine to come down to Florida they took a very roundabout route to get down here. Thankfully, Liz started a blog before they left so everyone could join in on the fun. All the posts from that trip are still there and I suggest if you have some time to kill go over and read them. They left this Sunday and so Liz has started writing again so now is a great time to "jump on the RV" and join in.
So until Nat and I figure out how to make our little travel pipe dream become a reality we will just live through other's travels and enjoy the traveling we do get to do.
