Brainwashing

We are refusing the temptation to brainwash our son into cheering for the home teams. We may be creating a little racist however. For that reason, and that reason alone we'll have to get him into some Steeler or Packer duds ASAP.

Me 'N My Boys

Six and a half months of being pregnant, and 2 and 1/2 more to go! This pregnancy has gone really well again, just like when I was pregnant with Elliot. I've been feeling really good, but this little guy is twice as active in-utero than Elliot, although that may also be due to the fact that my muscles didn't really have time to tighten up between pregnancies!! He gives lots of vicious punches, kicks, and rolls at all times of the day and night. Although both of my pregnancies have been really easy and I absolutely love being a mom, I certainly am ready for a nice long break (at least more than 4 months) before being pregnant again! But, you never know....;)

Some nice perks to being pregnant:
-Being offered a seat while riding the city bus during work and there's standing room only.
-Martin going to the store at night to buy me some ice cream.
-Eating chocolate, cheese puffs, and LOTS of ice cream and wanting to believe that somehow that weight will magically come off once the baby's born.
-Hearing the baby's heart beat for about 5 -10 seconds each month at the doctor's office.
-Martin volunteering to clean the bathroom each week so that I (and consequently the baby) won't have to breathe in all the chemical fumes!
-Soaking in a nice hot bubble bath in the evenings and relaxing after a days' work.
-Having a good excuse to buy new clothes...afterall, isn't being pregnant an added excuse to indulge and pamper yourself more often?

Some not-so-nice things about being pregnant:
-Strangers coming up and putting their hand on my belly without asking if it's ok
-A client realizing I'm pregnant and then reaching out and lifting my shirt in public to look at my bare belly.
-Being asked countless times when the baby's due, if it's a boy or girl and what the name is. (Ok, Ok, I do that to other people too!)
-People who know me ask, "didn't you just have a baby?", or like yesterday when someone at work said, "how's your newborn doing?" (referring to Elliot).

Elliot's Got Skills!

As you can see, Elliot is developing some new skill sets..



He's waiting a few more seconds to knock things down!

Actually, one of the nice things about parenthood is the excuse to buy cool toys. For example, our neighborhood toy store had a 75% off sale on all their toys. So how could we pass up these Lincoln Logs even though they are for kids 4 and up. Well, Sylvia and I will be happy to break them in for Elliot and Julian as evidenced by Sylvia's simple yet elegant construction project above.

In other news..
Elliot Updates:

-Lately he has been in the giving mood, wanting to give all of his toys to Sylvia and myself. Yesterday, I loaded up the tray of his walker with toys and he would zoom around the apartment stopping by from time to time to offer me a toy.
-He is pulling himself up on everything. And in due time learning that tablecloths are not the best props to pull up on.
-Favorite foods: bananas, oranges, ice cream, Cheerios, yogurt, all things cheese (especially cheese puffs)
-Music: Blind Boys of Alabama, Mom and Dad singing "building up the temple"
-Elliot has also learned to be gentle with his toys, pushing them rather than throwing. His favorites are a Mustang skid loader and various balls and blocks.
-He also knows quite a few things by name: skid loader, mouse, duck, tractor, Cheerios...
-In church he loves to stand up on the bench facing backwards and talk to anyone within yelling distance. If there happens to be another kid back there he is especially pleased and excited.








Julian updates:
-He's doing very well as evidenced by ferocious punches and kicks at all times of the day and night.

Political Change?

We wish.

Here are some sobering insights on our "Democratic" front runners and biggest proponents for an illusory change of politics.

http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/16163

I must admit to a being tempted by the prevailing rhetoric of change. And Obama is a pretty seductive messenger.

Nevertheless, my political agenda remains unchanged.
Until Christ returns:
Wendell Berry for president!

Happy New Year!

Elliot is 10 months old today.


Julian waves hello to everyone.


Happy New Year family and friends! We're enjoying the first day of the year simply relaxing at home and spending some time outside to soak up some warm sunny rays.
Looking back over the year 2007, we've realized just how full and adventurous the year has been for us. Here are some of our highlights:

1. Elliot joining our family, definitely #1 on the list! (By the way, the rest aren't ranked in order of importance)
2. Martin finishing up his MTS degree at Duke and thoroughly enjoying his 2 years of study.
3. Finding out we're pregnant again and looking forward to having another little person join our family.
4. Learning how to be parents and enjoying all the different stages of Elliot's life thus far.
5. Both of us enjoying our jobs outside the home and inside the home.
6. Elliot's dedication at church.
7. Hosting a houseful of family over Martin's graduation and celebrating his accomplishment together. And hosting family again over Elliot's baby dedication.
8. Getting away for a weekend at Carolina Beach as a twosome.
9. Entertaining the idea of buying the Beery Mill in Harrisonburg.
10. Being able to indulge in all the fabulous Counter Culture Coffee!
11. Helping Mom and Dad Witmer move from the homestead and reminiscing together as a family about all the happenings on the farm.
12. Being able to be together more with Brent and Luci and their children since they moved back East.
13. Our good friends Danae and Aaron having their baby and sharing parenting stories together.

We've certainly had a blessed year and realize just how luxurious our life has been so far. We're looking forward to another year and all it has to offer...our son being born, moving to VA (hopefully), having Rachel back home and fully recovered, celebrating Rebekah and Jared's wedding and being together with Candice and Carmen (and hopefully their families too!), having Anita back home, looking for new jobs and a new place to live, being able to call up sisters, brothers, parents, and old friends to have them over for a meal...the list could go on and on!
We'd be interested in hearing what some of your highlights from the past year have been, if anyone cares to share?