It was not quite as simple as the "jiggety jog" of Mother Goose fame, but nevertheless quite uneventful.
The kids and I had a great time in California. What can I say? Two sets of grandparents make for very happy toddlers. They were in "attention" heaven. Both kids remembered "Mima," "Papa," "Mamacita," and "Papo." Benjamin, especially, was elated to see them all and gave immediate hugs and kisses.
Our flights were miraculously smooth. In fact, I would say this trip went much more smoothly than some of our flights with both parents present! We had a difficult itinerary, traveling from Louisville to Atlanta before turning west to arrive in Orange County. Seems rather counterproductive to me. Our first plane was only about 20% occupied so we had plenty of room to spread out. Although that was the short flight (only an hour) it was still nice to have an extra seat for Talia. We had a bit of a run to catch our next flight, but we made it to the gate on-time. Unfortunately, this plane had a lot less space and was very crowded, but the gentleman sitting next to us graciously allowed us the aisle and middle seats and then turned on his ipod and went to sleep. It was nice to not have to worry about bothering him too much. Meanwhile, there were several kind and helpful people around us who helped in various ways and we made it through without any major catastrophes. I have to say the kids were very well-behaved through some pretty stretching circumstances (including in-seat diaper and clothes changes...it's a long story!)
Our homeward flights went almost as smoothly. On the long stretch we had a near-miracle: the person who was supposed to occupy the third seat in our row didn't show up. I told the flight attendant, I'm sorry he missed his flight, but it sure made my day a lot easier! We were able to spread out a bit on an otherwise jam-packed flight, which proved to be fortunate as Talia was not exactly in a peachy mood. She was NOT interested in sitting next to Benjamin, even to watch a Baby Einstein DVD, so it was nice that I was able to sit between them and keep the peace. We were well-equipped with treats and snacks, thanks to the grandmas, so between fruit snacks, Veggie Tales, raisins, and Baby Einstein we made it through the 4 1/2 hour flight with relatively little disturbance to the people around us. I tried to make sure that Benjamin understood we had to get on another airplane before we would be able to see Daddy. With a missed nap and a long day of sitting still he was pretty fragile. At least the long flight was first this time. The second flight was easy with a sympathetic flight attendant and another (2 seat) row to ourselves. When we arrived at the Louisville airport Benjamin was all chatter. As we exited the airplane he told the flight attendant very seriously, "I go see Daddy."
Seth was waiting for us just outside the security area. Benjamin was walking alongside the stroller, but as we came out of the hallway, Benjamin spotted him and took off running. We had been talking all day about how he wanted to give Daddy a BIIIIIG hug...and he did! It was so sweet. Talia was exhausted and therefore quiet and somewhat shy, but she was also happy to see her Daddy. She really missed him.
The kids are happy to be home. They slept long and hard last night (excepting Benjamin falling out of bed around 4:30am) and are on their way to recovering from the long day of travel. Thank you for all your prayers for us. We know God's hand was on our travels.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Home Alone
Seth here ...
For those of you who don't know, Kiersten, Benjamin, and Talia are spending a few days in California. This is so I can have some focused time to work on my dissertation. It's been good to have some free time on my hands (when I'm not at work) and be able to work late at the library without missing time with the family. (When they're not there anyway, why should I go home?)
Unfortunately, the first two days they were gone were eaten up by a short summer course I had to take. This was my last required course ever, and now it is over! (A friend of mine said I "no longer have any class" ... I guess that's true in a way, but not the way I would have put it.) So this was a landmark week in my academic career: the completion of my final class. I am now officially "ABD" (All But Dissertation). Although it was a "thorn in the flesh" for the summer months, it actually was a helpful and practical course on what to expect in a career in higher education. We discussed things related to how schools function, what some of the unwritten rules are for faculty members, how to find your first teaching job, etc. It has gotten me thinking a lot about what I'm going to do next year when I am finally done with school. I'm looking forward to being paid to go to a campus each day instead of having to pay for the privilege. At the same time, I'm a little nervous because I don't know where that will be.
Once the class ended, I was able to get down to business. So far I have written and formatted the front material (12 pages long) and reformatted what I have already completed of the first 2 chapters (another dozen or so pages). The school's style guide is very particular and strictly enforced, so it's good to get on top of that now rather than later. Plus it is helpful to have a beginning to the dissertation. I'm no longer just writing chapters that exist in nothingness ... just parts of something that has no beginning or end. They now exist (at least in my mind) as a part of a whole. Somehow it feels more official now that it has a title page, an "approval sheet" (where my committee will place their signatures, Lord willing), a table of contents, etc.
Tomorrow I can get back to actually researching and writing. I will have a lot of time on my hands the next few days until the family gets back late on Wednesday. Please pray for me to make good progress.
Quick update on Kiersten and the kids: They made it through the flight to CA just fine. Kiersten said the kids were well-behaved and that there were "angels" all around them, meaning that people were very friendly and helpful. So far, the kids have seen all 4 grandparents, plus Uncle Ben, Aunt Vanessa, and cousin Katie, and Kiersten has received new glasses and a haircut. (Thanks, Mom & Dad N.!) They have already eaten at In-N-Out and will be going to the Long Beach Aquarium soon, so they are living it up. Unfortunately the kids have not done well with the time change (the first morning they woke up a little after 5:00 am), but they are slowly getting better. I'm sure Kiersten will have plenty of stories to tell (and pictures) when she returns.
For those of you who don't know, Kiersten, Benjamin, and Talia are spending a few days in California. This is so I can have some focused time to work on my dissertation. It's been good to have some free time on my hands (when I'm not at work) and be able to work late at the library without missing time with the family. (When they're not there anyway, why should I go home?)
Unfortunately, the first two days they were gone were eaten up by a short summer course I had to take. This was my last required course ever, and now it is over! (A friend of mine said I "no longer have any class" ... I guess that's true in a way, but not the way I would have put it.) So this was a landmark week in my academic career: the completion of my final class. I am now officially "ABD" (All But Dissertation). Although it was a "thorn in the flesh" for the summer months, it actually was a helpful and practical course on what to expect in a career in higher education. We discussed things related to how schools function, what some of the unwritten rules are for faculty members, how to find your first teaching job, etc. It has gotten me thinking a lot about what I'm going to do next year when I am finally done with school. I'm looking forward to being paid to go to a campus each day instead of having to pay for the privilege. At the same time, I'm a little nervous because I don't know where that will be.
Once the class ended, I was able to get down to business. So far I have written and formatted the front material (12 pages long) and reformatted what I have already completed of the first 2 chapters (another dozen or so pages). The school's style guide is very particular and strictly enforced, so it's good to get on top of that now rather than later. Plus it is helpful to have a beginning to the dissertation. I'm no longer just writing chapters that exist in nothingness ... just parts of something that has no beginning or end. They now exist (at least in my mind) as a part of a whole. Somehow it feels more official now that it has a title page, an "approval sheet" (where my committee will place their signatures, Lord willing), a table of contents, etc.
Tomorrow I can get back to actually researching and writing. I will have a lot of time on my hands the next few days until the family gets back late on Wednesday. Please pray for me to make good progress.
Quick update on Kiersten and the kids: They made it through the flight to CA just fine. Kiersten said the kids were well-behaved and that there were "angels" all around them, meaning that people were very friendly and helpful. So far, the kids have seen all 4 grandparents, plus Uncle Ben, Aunt Vanessa, and cousin Katie, and Kiersten has received new glasses and a haircut. (Thanks, Mom & Dad N.!) They have already eaten at In-N-Out and will be going to the Long Beach Aquarium soon, so they are living it up. Unfortunately the kids have not done well with the time change (the first morning they woke up a little after 5:00 am), but they are slowly getting better. I'm sure Kiersten will have plenty of stories to tell (and pictures) when she returns.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The Smile Award :)
Blogging is an entire sub-culture of which I often feel I'm not really a part. And to tell you the truth, never having been one to be on the cutting edge of pop culture, I don't really aspire to be in the club. As I've mentioned before, I blog to prevent the amazing moments of motherhood from slipping away unremembered by my often foggy mommy brain and because I love to write. I'm honored that anyone is even interested in reading the stories that make up our life. :)
So being chosen by my dear friend, Becky, as a recipient of "The Smile Award" brought a small dilemma into my online universe. In the end I decided I wanted to write a post about The Smile Award to honor Becky because she is such a devoted, genuine, unconditionally loving friend to me. Becky is a living example in my life of the proverb, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." I am grateful for the many ways in which she influences and encourages me. So Becky, I wholeheartedly exit my comfort zone for you, my sister. You daily brighten my life with your surrendered heart. Thank you for your sweet encouragement.
The Smile Award Rules:
1. You must link back to the award's creator. (Not someone I know. This link is not an endorsement of any views expressed by the author of this unknown-to-me blog.)
2. Post these rules.
3. Choose 5 people to pass this award along to.
4. Fit the award recipient characteristics posted by the award's creator.
5. Post the recipient characteristics.
6. Create a post sharing your win with others.
7. Thank your giver.
The Smile Award Recipient Characteristics:
1. Must be known for a cheerful attitude
2. Must "love one another"
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids
And Becky, please forgive me if I step back into my own skin and neglect to formally pass on the honor. :) (I don't know why I'm scrupulously following all the other rules, but blatantly disregarding #3!) I will say...
To all the various family and friends with whom I share (or have shared) a piece of life, thank you for the unique ways in which you each make me smile.
So being chosen by my dear friend, Becky, as a recipient of "The Smile Award" brought a small dilemma into my online universe. In the end I decided I wanted to write a post about The Smile Award to honor Becky because she is such a devoted, genuine, unconditionally loving friend to me. Becky is a living example in my life of the proverb, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." I am grateful for the many ways in which she influences and encourages me. So Becky, I wholeheartedly exit my comfort zone for you, my sister. You daily brighten my life with your surrendered heart. Thank you for your sweet encouragement.
The Smile Award Rules:
1. You must link back to the award's creator. (Not someone I know. This link is not an endorsement of any views expressed by the author of this unknown-to-me blog.)
2. Post these rules.
3. Choose 5 people to pass this award along to.
4. Fit the award recipient characteristics posted by the award's creator.
5. Post the recipient characteristics.
6. Create a post sharing your win with others.
7. Thank your giver.
The Smile Award Recipient Characteristics:
1. Must be known for a cheerful attitude
2. Must "love one another"
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids
And Becky, please forgive me if I step back into my own skin and neglect to formally pass on the honor. :) (I don't know why I'm scrupulously following all the other rules, but blatantly disregarding #3!) I will say...
To all the various family and friends with whom I share (or have shared) a piece of life, thank you for the unique ways in which you each make me smile.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Daddy builds Benj a "big boy bed"
We started out intending to "modify" (rig) Benjamin's crib to become a toddler bed, even though it isn't built to make the conversion, as are some newer cribs. In the end Seth decided to build a bed instead...in his spare time. :)
Day 1: the hardware store, planning and purchasing materials for the project.
Day 2: Attaching slats to the frame.
Benjamin tries out the finished frame, already proud of his new "big boy bed."
Day 3: Benjamin helps Daddy find the 12" mark.
Benj was fascinated with the "numbers" (tape measure).
Ready to sleep in, as promised! Benj was so excited and proud of his new bed.
Good night, big boy.
Day 1: the hardware store, planning and purchasing materials for the project.
Day 2: Attaching slats to the frame.
Benjamin tries out the finished frame, already proud of his new "big boy bed."
Day 3: Benjamin helps Daddy find the 12" mark.
Benj was fascinated with the "numbers" (tape measure).
Ready to sleep in, as promised! Benj was so excited and proud of his new bed.
Good night, big boy.As we prepared to move the bed into his room last night Benjamin said to Seth, "Thank you, Dada, for make a big boy bed." So sweet :)
We still need to paint and work on the bedding, but time was of the essence since we plan to start potty training in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned on that one!
We still need to paint and work on the bedding, but time was of the essence since we plan to start potty training in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned on that one!
How God graciously watches over His little ones
...Which could also be titled "I almost had a heart attack!"
Last night we had just finished dinner (actually, Talia was still eating). Benjamin had gone out to the yard with Seth--see next post--and I was getting ready to clean off Talia's hands and get her down from her booster seat. Suddenly I heard a loud bang/smack. (?? how do you describe a horrible noise?) I heard Seth yell something and looked out the window to see him practically leap the gate that guards the stairs that lead off the deck. I ran outside, fearing something had fallen on Benjamin. The first sight that met my eyes was Benjamin, round-eyed and solemn, but clearly uninjured.
When I turned around there was a car in our driveway, I mean besides our two. "That car came out of nowhere!" Seth was clearly shaken. He went across the street where a group of guys were gathered in front of a house and talked with them for a minute. One of the men was our across-the-street neighbor; the car was his wife's. A minute later the man came over with his wife. They talked with Seth while I tried to keep the kids out of the way.
Amazingly, there was not much damage to either car--minor scratches and dents to both bumpers. The most visible result of the impact was the fact that our car was sitting about 3 feet forward of where it had been parked and as a result had run into and knocked over our BBQ which was sitting at the end of the driveway.
Later as Seth and I were comparing perspectives on the experience Seth told me that he heard the bang and looked over to see the car rolling forward, directly towards Benjamin who was sitting about 5 feet from the end of the driveway. He thought our brakes had somehow failed and was leaping the gate to stop the car from rolling on Benjamin when it stopped on its own. We were both profoundly grateful for how God had protected Benj.
Our discussion then turned to how weird it was that the rolling car had curved with our driveway. It "should" have gone into our grass and hit the shed or hit the house instead of curving all the way to the bottom of the driveway to collide with our car. Obviously the results would have been a bit more disatrous had our house been rammed by a rolling vehicle! I wondered, outloud, where it would have hit if it had hit the house. Then I realized...it would have come through the kitchen wall, right where I was getting Talia out of her seat! The very thought made my heart stop. God protected both of our babies when they were closer than any of us realized to serious injury, even death.
"In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge."
Last night we had just finished dinner (actually, Talia was still eating). Benjamin had gone out to the yard with Seth--see next post--and I was getting ready to clean off Talia's hands and get her down from her booster seat. Suddenly I heard a loud bang/smack. (?? how do you describe a horrible noise?) I heard Seth yell something and looked out the window to see him practically leap the gate that guards the stairs that lead off the deck. I ran outside, fearing something had fallen on Benjamin. The first sight that met my eyes was Benjamin, round-eyed and solemn, but clearly uninjured.
When I turned around there was a car in our driveway, I mean besides our two. "That car came out of nowhere!" Seth was clearly shaken. He went across the street where a group of guys were gathered in front of a house and talked with them for a minute. One of the men was our across-the-street neighbor; the car was his wife's. A minute later the man came over with his wife. They talked with Seth while I tried to keep the kids out of the way.
Amazingly, there was not much damage to either car--minor scratches and dents to both bumpers. The most visible result of the impact was the fact that our car was sitting about 3 feet forward of where it had been parked and as a result had run into and knocked over our BBQ which was sitting at the end of the driveway.
Later as Seth and I were comparing perspectives on the experience Seth told me that he heard the bang and looked over to see the car rolling forward, directly towards Benjamin who was sitting about 5 feet from the end of the driveway. He thought our brakes had somehow failed and was leaping the gate to stop the car from rolling on Benjamin when it stopped on its own. We were both profoundly grateful for how God had protected Benj.
Our discussion then turned to how weird it was that the rolling car had curved with our driveway. It "should" have gone into our grass and hit the shed or hit the house instead of curving all the way to the bottom of the driveway to collide with our car. Obviously the results would have been a bit more disatrous had our house been rammed by a rolling vehicle! I wondered, outloud, where it would have hit if it had hit the house. Then I realized...it would have come through the kitchen wall, right where I was getting Talia out of her seat! The very thought made my heart stop. God protected both of our babies when they were closer than any of us realized to serious injury, even death.
"In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge."
Proverbs 14:26
Monday, August 04, 2008
Summer fun
Talia loves her "treats"
Benjamin loves to splash! One time Benjamin and a friend splashed all the water out of the pool!
Talia is SO cute in her little skirted bathing suit :)
"I KNOW I can get my toes in here!"
We love to eat on the deck, especially when Seth grills. Yum!PT update
Talia had her initial visit with our new PT, Aimee, today. After evaluating Talia more specifically on different aspects of her gross motor development, she had some very interesting observations. More than ever, I am so glad we decided to take this next step and get Talia some assistance in this area.
For starters, Talia apparently has developed some issues with the positioning of her feet when she stands. She is leaning too much on her instep, therefore her ankle is out of alignment and her toes grip uncomfortably. Aimee is planning to start the paperwork to get Talia some custom-made orthotic inserts for her shoes, which will help correct this problem. Fortunately the "accessorizer" in our little girl loves to wear shoes!
Secondly, she observed that Talia's overall muscle tone is fairly low. She explained that muscle tone doesn't necessarily have to do with strength, but is an indication of the muscles' readiness to take on activity. Talia compensates for her low muscle tone through activities that are no longer age-appropriate, such as walking straight legged and "flopping" down to the floor rather than squatting or lowering herself gracefully. Part of our focus during our therapy sessions will be on building muscle tone.
I was impressed with Aimee's approach to Talia's delays in several ways. She is interested not only in getting Talia walking (the obvious goal), but also in solidifying her balance, strengthening her for future development, and bringing her skill level "up to speed." She expects Talia to begin walking fairly quickly, but talked of work she plans to do (with balance and support) once she achieves that milestone to make sure she is able to sustain her skill in real-life situations. One long-term goal she identified was bringing Talia to age-appropriate gross motor development (such as being able to throw a ball at a target within a 3-foot range) by age 2. I feel that she shares our goal of seeing Talia be able to interact with her peers on all levels. (One of our concerns, for example, has been that at present Talia is in a Sunday School class with babies half her age because she would get trampled in a classroom with toddlers her own age. Meanwhile, she is missing out on the intellectual stimulation, not to mention the social aspects, of the slightly more structured toddler environment, which she is clearly capable of functioning within.)
We look forward to seeing Talia finally be able to physically keep up with her inquisitive little mind and happy, curious nature. We will keep you posted!
For starters, Talia apparently has developed some issues with the positioning of her feet when she stands. She is leaning too much on her instep, therefore her ankle is out of alignment and her toes grip uncomfortably. Aimee is planning to start the paperwork to get Talia some custom-made orthotic inserts for her shoes, which will help correct this problem. Fortunately the "accessorizer" in our little girl loves to wear shoes!
Secondly, she observed that Talia's overall muscle tone is fairly low. She explained that muscle tone doesn't necessarily have to do with strength, but is an indication of the muscles' readiness to take on activity. Talia compensates for her low muscle tone through activities that are no longer age-appropriate, such as walking straight legged and "flopping" down to the floor rather than squatting or lowering herself gracefully. Part of our focus during our therapy sessions will be on building muscle tone.
I was impressed with Aimee's approach to Talia's delays in several ways. She is interested not only in getting Talia walking (the obvious goal), but also in solidifying her balance, strengthening her for future development, and bringing her skill level "up to speed." She expects Talia to begin walking fairly quickly, but talked of work she plans to do (with balance and support) once she achieves that milestone to make sure she is able to sustain her skill in real-life situations. One long-term goal she identified was bringing Talia to age-appropriate gross motor development (such as being able to throw a ball at a target within a 3-foot range) by age 2. I feel that she shares our goal of seeing Talia be able to interact with her peers on all levels. (One of our concerns, for example, has been that at present Talia is in a Sunday School class with babies half her age because she would get trampled in a classroom with toddlers her own age. Meanwhile, she is missing out on the intellectual stimulation, not to mention the social aspects, of the slightly more structured toddler environment, which she is clearly capable of functioning within.)
We look forward to seeing Talia finally be able to physically keep up with her inquisitive little mind and happy, curious nature. We will keep you posted!
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