I cried when we said goodbye to our doctor at the University Hospital the other day. The doctor who was grace to us. The doctor who lent us a house to live in when it was dangerous for me and baby H to be far from the hospital. The one who was as anxious as E to get Baby H to see me when I was in the recovery room, who decided she was "warm enough" to leave the newborn nursery. The one who has been one of the clearest pictures of Jesus' care for us here. The one who I'm pretty sure isn't even into Jesus, who has had her own terrible troubles over the time we've known her. She looked better than she ever has, and hugged us when we left, and I cried as she was walking out the door.
We hopefully won't be back there, where we have had some of the most terrifying, stressful, and amazing experiences of our lives. Which lead me to reflect- have I ever gone there and not cried? I'm pretty sure the answer is no. Terrifying, stressful, and amazing will do that to you. While I hope we have a good doctor in our next location, I also hope we don't have any reason to know them quite so well. But the taste of sweet grace lingers through the bitterness.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Baby H's Update
Momma says if I can't crawl, the least I can do is write my own update. I told her I'm working on the crawling, but it's true that language does come much easier to me, so I figured I'd oblige.
I can scoot backwards, and turn around. But really- life is usually better if you stay more still. Easier to take things in that way. I love playing with my toys- I have a few that I like to play with all by themselves, but my favorite is when Momma sets me up with my basket of little toys. I take them out one by one, and check how they each taste, and if they make a noise when I shake them. Sometimes I stop to play with one for a minute. Once I've taken them all out, I start playing with the basket. When I get it turned over and start eating it, Momma knows she better come up with a new game before I a) consume some of the wicker or b) start screaming.
Momma and Dada keep taking all the stuff around the house and putting it in boxes. I don't really like the days they do that, because everything looks different and they don't pay as much attention to me. I do like having all the boxes around- they are fun to touch, and bang on, and try to climb over. I'd be more successful if I could go forward, I'm sure.
I can say dada, and I say it all the time. Momma and Dada think I don't know what it means, but I do. I just can't say anything else, so I use it for everything.
I love to eat! Somedays I just eat a bite or two, but today at dinner I was so hungry, I ate a serving of sweet potato and oatmeal, and then a whole jar of carrots, and then a few bites of rice cereal, before I finished off with some peas. I can sometimes drink from a cup, but it's pretty messy, and sometimes it's more fun to just spit it out. I still love nursing, too- especially in the middle of the night when I wake up and want a cuddle! Which I do a lot. I mean, who wouldn't love that?
Momma says I'm about 19 pounds. I don't know how she knows, I haven't been to the doctor's in forever. We're going tomorrow to get checked up and say goodbye to Momma and Dada's favorite doctor. I think she's just OK.
Momma has been taking me out in my new stroller recently. Sometimes we go on the swings- I like that a lot! I like when Dada plays with me before work or before bed. When I think he's not around, I usually don't sleep as well. On we weekends we have Dada-daughter time. Momma usually leaves. I don't know where she goes or what she does.
I like to be outside. And read books. And see new people, as long as they don't grab me. Kids are my favorite. Feel free to come visit me!
I can scoot backwards, and turn around. But really- life is usually better if you stay more still. Easier to take things in that way. I love playing with my toys- I have a few that I like to play with all by themselves, but my favorite is when Momma sets me up with my basket of little toys. I take them out one by one, and check how they each taste, and if they make a noise when I shake them. Sometimes I stop to play with one for a minute. Once I've taken them all out, I start playing with the basket. When I get it turned over and start eating it, Momma knows she better come up with a new game before I a) consume some of the wicker or b) start screaming.
Momma and Dada keep taking all the stuff around the house and putting it in boxes. I don't really like the days they do that, because everything looks different and they don't pay as much attention to me. I do like having all the boxes around- they are fun to touch, and bang on, and try to climb over. I'd be more successful if I could go forward, I'm sure.
I can say dada, and I say it all the time. Momma and Dada think I don't know what it means, but I do. I just can't say anything else, so I use it for everything.
I love to eat! Somedays I just eat a bite or two, but today at dinner I was so hungry, I ate a serving of sweet potato and oatmeal, and then a whole jar of carrots, and then a few bites of rice cereal, before I finished off with some peas. I can sometimes drink from a cup, but it's pretty messy, and sometimes it's more fun to just spit it out. I still love nursing, too- especially in the middle of the night when I wake up and want a cuddle! Which I do a lot. I mean, who wouldn't love that?
Momma says I'm about 19 pounds. I don't know how she knows, I haven't been to the doctor's in forever. We're going tomorrow to get checked up and say goodbye to Momma and Dada's favorite doctor. I think she's just OK.
Momma has been taking me out in my new stroller recently. Sometimes we go on the swings- I like that a lot! I like when Dada plays with me before work or before bed. When I think he's not around, I usually don't sleep as well. On we weekends we have Dada-daughter time. Momma usually leaves. I don't know where she goes or what she does.
I like to be outside. And read books. And see new people, as long as they don't grab me. Kids are my favorite. Feel free to come visit me!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
(Almost) Two Years in Tiny Town
So, it turns out our time in Tiny Town is coming to a close. While we started this blog to record our transition from Big Eastern City to Small Midwestern Town, it probably ended up being more about Baby H- who is by far the best result of our time here. We've made some super excellent friends, too- I'm pretty sure Jesus sent them here just for us. I'm thinking he probably has some other purpose for their lives, but I know that was one of them.
We'll be moving - in less than three weeks!- to Midsize Midwestern City. So much closer to home, physically and culturally. I'm sure when we get there we'll realize all the ways we've adjusted to small town life- but right now what still stands out are the things I haven't let go of from city living.
I took the baby carrier instead of the stroller for a walk with a friend and her baby the other day, because I didn't think we could fit two huge strollers on the sidewalk. We walked in the street, though. And speaking of that huge stroller, we keep in the in the trunk of the car. Which we lock. And I don't ever leave it alone on the front porch, or outside a shop, or anywhere. Much to the amusement of my friend from Even Tinier Town. We still lock our doors, of course. I usually notice if we leave change in the cup holders. I even worry when I'm in the shower that someone is going to break in and steal Baby H from her bed. That last one is probably more a result of paranoia than city life, but hey- she's awfully cute.
I know I'll miss the slow pace, the safe walks, the grocery store that's less than 50 yards from our door, and the beautiful town. I'll probably, at times, even regret the addition of convenient take-out - but then again, probably not for a while. We will surely miss our friends here, especially while we are making new ones. But overall, we're excited for this change.
Midsize City, here we come! As soon as we pack some boxes, that is.
We'll be moving - in less than three weeks!- to Midsize Midwestern City. So much closer to home, physically and culturally. I'm sure when we get there we'll realize all the ways we've adjusted to small town life- but right now what still stands out are the things I haven't let go of from city living.
I took the baby carrier instead of the stroller for a walk with a friend and her baby the other day, because I didn't think we could fit two huge strollers on the sidewalk. We walked in the street, though. And speaking of that huge stroller, we keep in the in the trunk of the car. Which we lock. And I don't ever leave it alone on the front porch, or outside a shop, or anywhere. Much to the amusement of my friend from Even Tinier Town. We still lock our doors, of course. I usually notice if we leave change in the cup holders. I even worry when I'm in the shower that someone is going to break in and steal Baby H from her bed. That last one is probably more a result of paranoia than city life, but hey- she's awfully cute.
I know I'll miss the slow pace, the safe walks, the grocery store that's less than 50 yards from our door, and the beautiful town. I'll probably, at times, even regret the addition of convenient take-out - but then again, probably not for a while. We will surely miss our friends here, especially while we are making new ones. But overall, we're excited for this change.
Midsize City, here we come! As soon as we pack some boxes, that is.
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