Christmas Anticipation

Scott and I took Jonah to the mall yesterday to have his picture taken with Santa Claus. We stood in line for about half an hour, entertained by the kids in front of us who busied themselves entertaining Jonah. We declined the picture packages offered by Santa's elves (which started at $14 for one picture), opting instead to try to capture the moment with our own camera. It was made quite clear to us that we only had time for a single shot, good or not. We expected a 'not' shot, as Jonah is sometimes shy around strangers, and we got to the front of the line at exactly 7:30, which is his bedtime. We were pleasantly surprised with the result we got, which captures some of the wonder of a child who finally gets his chance to have a moment alone with the Big Man...

So, what do you think?

Far Too Easily Pleased

I am glad that God saw fit to use earthly analogies to describe our own relationship with Him. How else would we begin to comprehend the vastness of the depth of His love for us? While these analogies are superficial at best because they use finite objects to convey an infinite love, they are helpful nonetheless. I remember, as a newlywed, reading passages that compare us to the bride of Christ and being overwhelmed because I understood them in a whole new way. Now, I am a parent, and those passages that refer to us being children of God or to God being our Father have a far greater impact than they did before I was a mom.

Just last night, I saw myself in Jonah. It was near his bedtime, and I was in the kitchen holding him and trying to prepare his bottle. I got his empty bottle down from the cupboard and let him hold it while I retrieved the formula from another cupboard. Realizing that I could not hold Jonah and pour the formula into the bottle at the same time without making a terrible mess, I set Jonah (still holding his bottle) on his Daddy's lap. Chaos ensued as I took his empty bottle away from him only so that I could fill it up with his milk. As I listened to the screaming of my dear little child, God used that moment to teach me a lesson about myself. I no longer heard Jonah's cries so much as I saw what God must see in His own children from time to time. Sometimes He removes something of no or little value from our lives (though we may quite enjoy it) for the purpose of giving us something needful in its place. I was able to have compassion on my son because, after all, don't I act the same way sometimes?

It reminded me of the words of C.S. Lewis:

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree,

How artificial are your branches?!?

I guess we've changed our perspective since our first Christmas together 4 years ago. Four years ago, Scott and I bundled up for a drive to the local mountains with friends, where we searched all afternoon to find just the right tree. When we got it home, we spent the evening in front of our fireplace, sipping hot chocolate and stringing popcorn garland to hang on the tree. Classic.

This year, we settled on an artificial tree because after 4+ years of killing Scott's plants, I guess he finally realizes that I will forget to water the tree. Plus, there's no water for Jonah to play in and track all over the house. We get to keep it up for longer, and it's just as fresh the day we take it down and put back in the box as it was when we first unwrapped each delicate branch. It even came pre-lit with 850 lights...my mom would be proud of the glow it emits (part of my family tradition growing up was my dad trying to convince my mom that there were already enough lights on the tree and then my mom and me sneaking more strands on when dad was not looking. Christmas trees cannot have enough lights--unless you've been to our apartment and seen the tree on the hill that is so bright that we have to keep the shades drawn at night. But I digress).

Anyway, our Christmas tree is up and there are only 13 more shopping days left. What am I doing blogging? I should be at the mall...

Found it!

In our last post, we mentioned that we still had to find and unpack the USB cable to download pictures. Found it! Here are some recent pictures of the happenings of our lives. Enjoy!

Jonah spent a day visiting with some of his cousins. He really enjoys being around other kids.

It would have been wise for him to stick a little closer to Adam...the girls enjoyed playing dress-up with him. Nothing like a good blackmail picture for future girlfriends, eh?
We fed the ducks at Balboa Park.
Packing up the Montrose apartment.

Jonah? Check.

Mr. Cuddles? Check.

All is well today!

Life Changing Events

It has been awhile since our last blog entry, but I hope once you read what has happened in our lives since then, you will understand why blogging has been on the back burner of our lives right now. I hope to post more regularly in the weeks and months to come. Now, for those who care to know how God has been working in our lives (and hopefully you do if you are here):

1) There is a new Little Bird on the way! S/he is only the size of a grape right now but is definitely making his/her presence known by making me quite sick from time to time. Fiesty Little Bird. S/he is expected to make an appearance mid June.

2) We've moved! We're still in the process of unpacking and setting up, but our new home is in Sherman Oaks. It was sad to leave our Montrose apartment and the many friends that are there but we are excited to begin a new chapter in our lives. Our new apartment is a 2 br 2 ba plus a den and fireplace. It has more room which will be nice for having 2 small children.

3) I'm starting to work from home--which is why we have moved. I am going to be the apartment manager here. There is a lot to do that will keep me busy but the rewards are well worth it--especially since I will still be able to be at home with the kids.

Sooooo....in the midst of being sick with the pregnancy, moving, learning a new job, and not having internet access for awhile, among other things, I haven't been able to blog. But I have learned a lot about myself, my sin, and the grace of God that is bigger than any of my circumstances. I wish that I could report that my thoughts and actions were always consistently pleasing to Him throughout these changes, but I cannot. There have been challenges that have overwhelmed me at times and caused me to doubt God's sufficiency. It is amazing what will come to the surface of our hearts when we are tired, sick, stressed, and unsettled. Yet in hindsight I can see that even in the midst of my doubt, He was surrounding me with an encouraging husband and friends who helped to remind me of God's promises.

Pictures will come soon, hopefully. I know especially the grandparents are waiting to see how big our Jonah is getting (9 months has flown by)! I still have to unpack the cable to download the pictures from the camera to the computer.

With Lots of Love...

Well, today is Grandparents Day, and Jonah wanted to do something special for all of his grandparents. Since he couldn't be near any of them personally to give them lots and lots of kisses or hugs, he transferred all his love for them to this (now weathered) sign. It has been well slobbered on. He did the coloring himself and got so carried away that he didn't limit himself to staying on the paper. I think he's into the modern art movement and free expression because he colored on his face, too.

And now a message from Jonah:

[,,,,b .............vv c nnjh7m,scfczvsxxKJ G M M BI LH]

which in his language I'm sure translates, "I love you all and I want to play with you and love on you really soon! Happy Grandparents Day!!"

My wonderful hubby and my personal day away

I'll admit it--sometimes it's hard for me to feel feminine when doing the tasks of a wife and mother. Don't get me wrong...I don't think that there is anything more feminine than faithfully and joyfully fulfilling my God-given responsibilities, but the actions and the feelings don't always coexist. And I know that obedience to God is what is necessary so that will always take preeminence, but sometimes it's nice just to get away from it all...to have a personal day of refreshment and fun...and to remind myself that though I may be a mother...I'm still a girl! Yesterday, my wonderful and thoughtful Scott gave me this opportunity as he courageously offered to stay home with Jonah so I could have a day off.
I also have to admit--I didn't know what to do with myself. The only time that I have been away from home by myself since Jonah was born was to go to the grocery store. I think the endless possibilities of what I could do with a few hours on my own overwhelmed me to the point that I had no clue what I would do. In the end, as mentioned above, I wanted to do something that was both girly and refreshing. But before I explain what I did, let's rewind to the morning:
I woke up tired and grumpy. Jonah had been up a couple times the night before (he has a hard time when his schedule is off, and Scott and I had been on a date the night before so Jonah did not get to bed on time) and because he did not get a lot of sleep either, he was cranky too. I proceeded with his morning routine and then set him in his booster chair for some green beans. Jonah had never had them before. He did not like them. He frowned and shuddered at the first bite...and gagged and vomited with the second. So I promptly cleaned up the mess and drew him a bath. Within seconds of being in the bathwater, Jonah peed all over the place so I had to clean up that, too. All that and it wasn't even 8 a.m.! He did not go down well for his morning nap, but I was so overwhelmed at that point that I just left him crying in his crib and went into our bedroom and had a good cry of my own. I think the events of the morning just made me appreciate a day away all that much more.
So, after a pep talk from Scott (he's getting really good at those!) and a kiss goodbye, I headed out. My first stop was Target, where in addition to getting the boring practical stuff like batteries, I got two shades of the pinkest and sparkliest (sp?) nail polish a girl could want along with a pair of the softest socks ever! :) After a quick trip to the mall I came home for a lunch break (I had packed a lunch to eat at a park or something but left it at home in my hurriedness to get out). It was perfect timing for Jonah's lunch too so it was convenient that I was there. I went out again after lunch to the library for some quiet and uninterrupted time of reading and studying. I am going through the book of Joshua right now. It was great to have extended time in the Word as it is really hard to come by with a 6 month old.
After that I came home but my 'day off' was nowhere near over. While I was gone, Scott did a lot of cleaning, organizing, and even rearranging some furniture! Wow. And Jonah looked like he was grateful for some one on one time with his old man. I relaxed while Scott made me tasty dinner--and he even made enough so that I might not have to cook this week! Awww....how sweet! After dinner I put Jonah to bed and was able to take a bath and give myself a home pedi/mani (and slip into my new soft socks afterwards, of course!). I don't know how much more 'girly' I can take but I sure had fun! And the refreshment of my body and my soul was such a treat.
So, if you're reading this, Scott, Thank You so much. I could not ask for a sweeter and more loving and sacrificial husband than you. I am so thankful that you make it possible for me to be a stay-at-home Mom and look after our home, but I am also thankful that you recognize that it really is a lot of work and that I need a break now and again, too.
And, if you're reading this and you're not Scott, then I'd like to encourage you to think of a creative way to thank your spouse for what he/she does. And if you're not married, surely there is someone special in your life that deserves your thanks. It can be such a blessing and an encouragement to that person!

That'll keep you humble

The story that follows demonstrates that no matter how smart you get in class you can still be an idiot in the rest of life. Events like these help remind me to keep humble because as soon as I think I know something I'm reminded I don't know noth'n.

Amy and I bought a water filter for our faucet about a year ago because our tap water tastes nasty. We use this thing for about 3 months enjoy the clean taste of filtered water when it crosses my mind that the filter is probably good for 3 months. I started looking for replacement filters but couldn't locate any. At about the 8 month point I'm starting to think of replacing our filter with a whole new unit. Something needed to be done because the filtered water was tasting just the same as plain tap water.
Well Amy was looking through out cavernous pantry one night and found this little foil wrapped package with the name of our water filter on it! Hurray a new filter, I take it and begin to dismantle the faucet unit. After I have it all apart something in the back of my brain clicks-- you idiot there never was a filter in the unit! For nearly a year we've been drinking water out of a faucet filter with NO FILTER! Whats better is we were both convinced that when we first put the filter on that the water ACTUALLY TASTED BETTER! What a powerful force the power of suggstion is.

I couldn't believe my ears...

Someone tell me that Jonah didn't really say this...I know it's too early but...here's the story:
I just endured one of the loooongest and looouuuudest bouts of screaming that Jonah has had in his whole life. Poor little guy couldn't sleep after I put him down for bed, and he was doing his cry that he does when he's in pain--the loud shriek followed by silence while his body continues to convulse and his face turns bright red...then repeat the process. Well, I went in once to make sure that no appendages were stuck in between the bars of the crib and to pat his tummy and remind him that everything is okay. I left and the cries intensified. I decided that he was in enough pain to merit some Tylenol and I held him, walked with him, rocked him, sang to him, bounced him, kissed him, cuddled him, etc. etc. etc. Didn't work. The cries only got more mournful. About an hour into screaming with no sign of comfort in sight, I called Scott at work for some comfort (not for Jonah but for myself! It can really get to me after awhile). Jonah, wanting to be on his best behavior for his Daddy, let his cries die down to a wimper while I was on the phone. After I hung up with Scott, Jonah let out a few more good cries, then...
he lay his head on my shoulder...
and said...clear as day...

"Night night!"

I couldn't believe it and I thought for sure that the second I put him down in his crib again and started to leave his room that he would come unglued, but he smiled at me as I wound up Mr. Cuddles and I haven't heard a peep out of him since. That was a half an hour ago.

Maybe he just wasn't ready for bed?!?!? Crazy kid.

First Foods-Veggies

Yams... are yummy!!

...but Peas...

are not!!

Doesn't look like Jonah will be opening up for peas again any time soon! Now I've got to try my skills as disguising them as something a little more palatable...Any suggestions?

First Foods-Cereal

This is the first post in a series of many to come as we have started Jonah on solid foods. To our surprise, he warmed right up to the idea of cereal without making any funny 'first food' faces. Even more to our surprise, we didn't really see very much of the cereal after we put it in his mouth. He did a good job of swallowing without spitting it back out at us.

However, he did not think that the spoon was very efficient ....too slow and not enough food! So he took matters into his own hands and started slurping the cereal straight from the bowl.

A satisfied customer, for sure! Please check back every week or so to follow Jonah's discovery of new fruits and veggies!

A 'Birdseye' View of California

A brief summary of some of the highlights from our trip:
Scott and Jonah enjoyed relaxing and reading on the deck at the cabin in Longbarn. Some friends graciously offered to let us use their cabin and they spent a couple of days up there with us. After a few days at the cabin, we went to Modesto so Jonah could visit his grandparents.

The next stop on our trip was Eureka, from where we went on a day trip to the National Redwood Forest. This tree is one in the Tall Trees Grove, accessible only by a 'leisurely stroll' (so said the pamphlet) of 1.3 miles. In hindsight, we assume that the stroll would indeed be leisurely if the temperature was less than 90 degrees and the humidity less than 80% and if one weren't carrying a hot sweaty baby so close. And did it mention that it was 1.3 miles to the trailhead, where the 'real' hike began? But it was a beautiful walk nonetheless, and we got this picture.

From Eureka we headed down the coast and stayed a night at Fort Bragg. This picture was taken at Glass Beach. We all look a little more refreshed in this picture mainly because we took a break from our camping adventures halfway through the week and stayed the previous night in a hotel. Jonah needed a full night's rest, and frankly, so did his parents! All in all, Jonah did great on the trip, other than having a hard time sleeping in the tent at night in so many new places.

We made our way down the coast to the San Francisco area, where we walked Jonah across the Golden Gate Bridge. He liked feeling the wind blowing in his hair!


Our last night on vacation was spent at Morro Bay. It was Jonah's very first time there, and I was so excited to show him one of my favorite spots. My first time there was when I was 6 weeks old. I spent every summer vacation there with my family and have lots of fun memories of that place. Morro Bay became even more special to me when Scott proposed to me there. It was neat to take our own child back to that place to create even more memories...this time with Jonah.

A Grafted Branch

Today, July 14th, Hope officially became a Staley in the eyes of the law. Amy's brother, Chuck and his wife Gina adopted her at birth ten months ago. We are so glad to have her as part of our family--she fits right in! Jonah really enjoys having a cousin 'about his size' to play with!

Sitting up...Sorta!

Jonah's trying to get the hang of this sitting up stuff. He does pretty good if he's supported with his boppy and if Mom or Dad is there to catch him--not if--but when--he falls over!

What a great view of my toes!!

Mom, take pity on me and put the camera down!!

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!!!
Jonah tried to declare his own independence by spiking his mohawk.
Mom didn't like that idea.

After dinner with friends, Jonah experienced his first Dodgers game! They beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-3! Jonah liked doing the wave. He did really well at the game.

A rare family shot.
After the game ended, there was a fireworks show. This was Jonah's reaction for pretty much the whole time... he liked looking at the bright colors in the sky but was a little overwhelmed by the big booms.
Happy Birthday, America! (And our niece Megan!)

Our Little Bird is a Little Fish!

Jonah started swimming 'lessons' this Thursday, and he had a great time! He met lots of new friends and loved the feel of the cool water during a hot summer day. For the baby class, the instructor is trying to get them to learn how to kick in the water and also to learn that on the count of three, they'll get wet. Jonah liked the Humpty Dumpty exercises the best, where he sits on the side of the pool and 'has a great fall' into the water. I was really surprised that he didn't even mind when I scooped his face underwater for one of the exercises. He seemed to think it was perfectly normal--it didn't even phase him! He was a natural in the water.
I had a great time, too--the class consists of some mommies from church and their babies. After the lesson, we visit with each other and eat lunch together. Jonah and I are looking forward to going again next week.

The Millers

This past Thursday night, our Bible study said goodbye to one of its leaders, Josh Miller, and his wife Rachel and daughter Madeline. Josh is the one that first invited us to join the Montrose Bible study, just a few blocks away from where we live. We have been blessed both by the teaching and fellowship, and we are both sad to see them leave and excited to hear how God will use them at their new church in Quakertown, PA.
We'll miss you, Millers!

4 months old and going strong...

Jonah just got home from his 4 month well baby check-up, and the Dr. said he's doing great! He did very well for his appointment, considering it was in the middle of his morning naptime and considering he received his second round of shots (2 in each leg--ouch!) He weighed in at 16 lbs 4 oz., and measured 26.5 inches tall! He's in the 70th percentile for weight and the 90th percentile for height. He got the go-ahead from the Dr. to start rice cereal any time in the next two months. I think we'll hold out until the 6 month mark or until he isn't satisfied with milk alone. At four months, Jonah has learned how to 'talk', laugh, grasp toys, play with his hands/feet, roll from tummy to back, push up with his arms during tummy time, and most of all how to make his mommy and daddy smile! He loves to play and suck on everything and anything he can get to his mouth. We are thoroughly enjoying the stage he is in right now and we're looking forward to the stages to come. He is such a blessing to us, and we are thankful for how well he is doing.

Happy Mother's Day

Well, Jonah must have known that today is a special day for mommies, and he wanted to make the most of it. Yup, you can cram a lot of fun into days that start at 4 a.m. I'm sure it was just his way of making me feel special and needed, but he didn't want me to go back to bed after feeding him. Nope...he wanted me to play with him. He had a lot in mind for me today and didn't think everything could possibly get done if we slept in until 6 or 7. So I've spent the day with my little guy...feeding him, changing him, reading to him, playing with him, swinging him, taking pictures of him, etc. And he's spent the day rewarding me with bright smiles, little giggles, and squeals of delight. Now that I think of it, today is not unlike any other day. Just another day that I have the privilege of being his Mom.

Scott and I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to our Moms (Deanna, Freida, Rose), our Grandma (Amy), and our friends who are mothers or soon-to-be mothers! You all are very special to us. Thanks for all you do.

Discovery

It was a happy day for Jonah when he discovered his hand. Those tiny little fingers most often clenched in a fist capitvated his attention for hours, much like the lamp once did (see previous post). For two weeks, he was only aware of his right hand. Just last night he discovered his left hand and looked quite surprised that he had another. Confused, he slowly moved his eyes from one hand to the other and back to the first one again. Delighted with his new discovery, the confused look gave way to a wide grin. Perhaps he has finally figured out that it was indeed himself hitting him in the head all this time. Nah...I don't think so!

He's Ready to Have a Daughter

Come on boys, make your move. (p.s.- this is NOT an announcement)

And when the time comes and I don't like him...

"You know what I used to do?-- I used to pick up dead bodies for a living. If you ask her out I just assume you'd like to know a bit more about my occupation- hands on like."

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

We spent last weekend in Modesto, California with Scott’s family. It was a special time for a number of reasons. Scotts stepmother Rose and our good friend Kim Odegaard planned a baby shower for Amy and Jonah. Scott was invited and told to be on his best behavior. The evening was enjoyable as we were able to catch up with old friends but since it was Jonahs first party, he didn’t really know how to handle himself. Things got a little crazy and the cops had to come in and give him a stern lecture of self control!

Jonah was also introduced to his great-grandparents Amy and Vain. I think the pictures speak best for themselves! Scott was really excited about the chance to get a picture with all four generations of Birds together. There’s a combined total of 170 years (and 8 weeks) worth of Bird life among the four guys! Jonah, as was Scott, is constantly bathed in prayer from Scott’s grandparents who are strong believers and who evidence the joy of Christ without the slightest hindrance of age to mute their expression.

Lastly, the trip was special because Scott got to eat at a dinner he had been eyeing for years. The place is called Aero Dogs and is so named because the entire restaurant is located inside of an old Corvair cargo plane. In classic Central California style, the place is located in the tiny town of Tulare and it serves only one namesake classic—The Hotdog--! Which by the way was absolutely terrible! As were the fries and even the coke was watered down. Don’t eat here!!! Your fairly warned but if the lure of an opportunity to eat food inside of a real airplane overtakes you, Aero Dogs is at least one place I know where you can satisfy your desires.

Jonah's Battlefield Teddy

This past summer, when I was in the first trimester of pregnancy, Scott and I had an opportunity to take a couple weeks off to visit the East Coast. We saw friends in Washington, D.C., and some more in Long Island, New York. It was a great time for us, especially considering it was our last big trip together before toting along carseats, strollers, and pack-and-plays.

We spent months beforehand plotting our itinerary, as we had many things that we wanted to do and see. In addition to D.C. and The Big Apple, we wanted to visit Scott’s mom’s old stomping grounds of Philadelphia, PA. We figured that, instead of flying from one destination to another, we’d drive and see more of the countryside—after all, we may never get to that part of the country again so we’d better take advantage of it. Scott was absolutely delighted to find that it was just a short side trip to drive through Gettysburg, PA.

When the time came for the big trip and we entered the countryside of Pennsylvania, I’ll admit that Scott was much more excited than I about visiting the historical battlefield site, though I kept myself content with the beauty of the scenery and the novelty of the horse-drawn Amish carriages that we shared the highway with. Upon arriving to our destination, I was met with a pleasant surprise: Gettysburg is not only the home of the decisive Civil War battle, but it is also the home of Boyd’s Bears, the self-proclaimed “World’s Most Humongous Teddy Bear Store.”

It took a little convincing that our souvenir from Gettysburg should be a teddy bear for our new baby and not an “authentic battlefield bullet,” but Scott was a real trooper about searching for “the perfect bear.” We were somewhat intimidated upon entering the 3 story barn filled with more teddy bears than you could imagine, but our intimidation was immediately turned to amusement when we saw the big sign up front saying, “Don’t feed the bears—they’re already stuffed!” We looked at armed forces bears, Christmas bears, barnyard bears, Red-Hatter bears, and even one that was holding a pillow that read, “I’m a Queen because my panty-hose told me so!” Our treasure was found on the second floor..in the nursery section, of course! It didn’t have the frills that many of the other bears had, but something about it kept catching my eye. It was a soft little bear wearing a bib that said “Nighty night.” The deal was sealed when I picked it up and discovered that it could wind up to play “Braham’s Lullaby.” It was perfect for our little ‘pinto bean’ at the time.

So, we could have come home with bullets and shells from the Civil War, but instead we have “Mr. Cuddles” for Jonah. Yup, even before he was born, Jonah had his daddy suckered. And from the looks of this picture, it looks like we made a good choice.

Priceless

I’ve had about seven jobs over the last six years. I liked some more than others. Some paid more, but others provided the more intangible benefits like a positive work environment and interaction with great people. Each one had its own unique pros and cons, and I am thankful for each one of them. Thankful, yes. Wanting to go back? Nope. I’ve found my niche. It’s a 24-hour job, 7 days a week, with no pay. Crazy!!

Now when people ask me what I do, I proudly say that I am a stay-at-home mommy to my Jonah. I do things now that I never thought I’d enjoy doing…like changing the 8th poopy diaper for the day and waking up at 2 am to fill his tummy. Jonah’s demanding schedule keeps me busy, day and night. Yet I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Sure, it means that we have to say no to things that we’d like to do, and it even means that we have to sacrifice things that we’ve had or enjoyed in the past. There are still the same monthly bills to pay, and the baby only adds to them. And the little things add up quickly. The cost of a pack of diapers: $13.49. A load of laundry (and there are many!!): $1.25.

The extra income I’d earn “if I were working” could pay some of the bills, sure. But in the final analysis of things, I’d miss out on so much more than the things that we are currently sacrificing. Some things are just too precious to put a value on. Things like Jonah’s cute smiles…or his little coos when I go into his room to get him up…or the sweet cuddles he gives me after a good meal.

So I think I’ve changed my mind about the whole pay thing. It’s not true that I don’t get paid—it’s just that the pay comes in a non-traditional form from my other jobs. Instead of dollars and cents, it’s smiles and laughs. It’s things that are too costly to give up. It’s things that are...in a word…priceless.

Pizza, I made Pizza!!!

Is it a coincident that poverty and parenting both start with P's? Amy and I have been learning to tighten our belts but the process has been fun. For instance, Amy and I both love pizza, but ordering pizza, once a favoite Birdnest past time, has become a rarer and rarer event since Dad's had to start plunking down the big bucks for diapers. To compensate for this deprivation, we learned how to make our OWN pizza! That's right, from mixing flour to kneeding dough we have mastered the secret to tossing a good pizza- we have mastered the art making of crust. Making it at home means we get to put what we want on it- a holsteins utter worth of cheese? No problem! Plus we found that making a scruptious pizza costs next to nothing, with all the money we're saving I told Amy she could book the cruise! We had such fun learning and eating that we though we ought to invite others to participate in the fun, so we are going to host a "Make your own pizza" party at our home.

The point is that changes that upset our lives can be viewed as a difficulty to endure or as opportunities to thrive. In this case being poorer doesn't mean less pizza, it means better pizza, at home, with friends. Thanks for teaching me that lesson lit'le buddy.

The 'Lamp' Post

Now that everyone has had a good opportunity to get to know Jonah through pictures, we thought you might enjoy an insight into his life and our world. 'A lamp! What has that got to do with Jonah?' The lamp pictured here is a basic black enameled lamp with brass fixtures.We got this lamp during our newlywed days, when functional dumpster gems were prized trophies of my penny pinching way. It plugs into the wall just like any other lamp and when you turn the knob- whoa, it lights up! Pretty neat, eh! Not that we really ever use it for light, the last time it was on was probably last year. In fact looking at it now I think the bulb is burned out. So really this lamp has served no purpose...until NOW!
This here lamp is so attractive that Jonah has become enamored with it. No, enamored is not strong enough-fanatic that's it-he's a fanatic friend of the lamp. If the lamp is in the room and he is in the room guess where he is looking? It's good to see Jonah can concentrate and has a good attention span, he can stare at this beautiful piece of illuminescent beauty for hours. In fact there are times when he prefers to stare at the lamp rather than pay any piece of mind to his two doting parents. What's he thinking about during these times? Amy guesses that he's working on world peace or eradicating global hunger. I'm a little more realistic, I think he just likes the contrast of a black lamp on a white wall. Which is a good sign since it means I probably won't have to be dropping $$$ on baby Einstein stuff. If he ever wears out of the lamp, I'll just head right back to the dumpster to find something else he'll like. Learn from this lesson all ye who will be new parents soon, you'll be told your child will never learn to cut straight or that he’ll fail preschool unless you buy this gizmo or play that Mozart CD. The truth is that all you need can be found next to your apartment dumpster!

Jonah at 6 weeks old, almost. He'll be 6 weeks old on Monday. Proud, you bettcha! But humble? Sure we are. We ask Lord Jesus every day for strength and wisdom. Little Jonah is our stewardship from God and we want to do best we can because it's good for baby and glorifying to God. Pray for us that everyday we learn more about loving God, Jonah, each other and our friends and family.