My Friend's Baby

My girlfriend Susan had a premature baby last week. In case you didn't know, most full-term babies arrive around 40 weeks. David arrived at 26. He weighs 2 lbs. So tiny.

I talked to another friend earlier this week, and she suggested organizing an all-night prayer vigil on behalf of little David. Her daughter was born at 31 weeks, and she said that her baby was stable throughout the day while people were praying but would take a dip at night until an all-night prayer vigil was started.

Please pray for baby David. If you want to stay updated on his progress, check out his blog (for which I'm the ghost-writer): http://davidlangager.blogspot.com/

New Pictures

It's been almost six weeks since I took any pictures of the kids. I killed my camera when we were in Nova Scotia. Dropped it in the sand. Twice. Managed to find a really good deal on another one--similar camera but smaller in size and bigger in megapixels. I tried it out today. Here's proof: http://picasaweb.google.com/herroyalexcitedness/20071127

Handmade Gifts Holiday Gathering

One of my favorite things to do is surround myself with creative people, admire their creations, sip hot cider, and enjoy the holiday season. Tomorrow night I'll be attending an awesome Handmade Gifts Holiday Gathering. This is your invitation to join me! (If you're a girl, that is.)

2nd Annual HANDMADE GIFTS HOUSE PARTY

Girls Only Event! Come along and have a fun night of eating, drinking, shopping and hanging out (everything a girl could want!)

Bring your friends and drop by whenever you can for as long as you like.
Be prepared to have your creative side inspired!!

Creative Moms have come together to display their handmade products for you to see in a fun, relaxed, holiday atmosphere.

Handmade gifts are so unique and really fun to give!

You may even just want to shop for yourself or not shop at all and just come and hang out! You will see paintings, clothing, jewelry, scarves, bags, cards, baby products, and more...

Wednesday November 28th 7pm-10pm

Hosted by: Andrea Millard
310 Wisteria Drive
Franklin TN 37064
Ph: 615 943 4872

December. It's next week.

Mondays in December are FREE at the Frist Center (with the donation of a non-perishable food item). Judah refers to it as "The Art Center." About a year ago, I took him there for the first time, and we spent 5 hours creating art. Yes, my 2-year-old (at the time) spent 5 hours in one room making stuff. I was ready to go way before he was. I'm sure we'll go a few times next month. Maybe next week?

Mira's first birthday is in three weeks. We're going to celebrate by going to the Opryland Hotel on Saturday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m., and strolling around looking at lights, drinking hot spiced cider, and enjoying our family and friends who are able to join us. Want to come? Her birthday is Sunday, Dec. 16. Judah will tell you it's the 13th, but that was her due date.

These children have more toys and clothes than I know what to do with. We give stuff away and receive stuff almost daily. A good friend of mine once said, "Never be afraid to give. There is always enough." She was right. If you're a giver and you really really really want to give something to my children for their birthdays or Christmas, think BOOKS. They're timeless. We love them. We especially love old books. We read them ALL the time.

Judah will now sit through chapter books. This morning he handed me a long book and said, "Mommy, just read me one chapter." By the second book, I was falling asleep. I kept waking up to, "MOMMY! You're not reading!" I might need to start drinking caffeinated drinks in the morning just to keep up with Judah's reading habit.

He and Miriam keep me busy. They're a delightful pair.

Today's Judah Conversation

Mommy, let's play Simon Says.

How do you play Simon Says?

(I explain the game.)

OK, Simon Says touch your eye.

Simon Says touch your mouth.

Simon Says pick boogers.

Mommy, you're not playing Simon Says!

Yard Sale & Handmade Sale TOMORROW

Two opportunities to shop tomorrow: A Friend's Yard Sale and http://www.mamamade.biz/ (a gathering of moms who make and sell cool handmade stuff).

There's also an amazing and HUGE consignment sale going on today at West End Community Church near Charlotte & White Bridge Rd.--almost everything is half off today and prices are crazy cheap for namebrand stuff.



From our awesome friend Kim:



I wanted to announce to you, and any one you might want to pass this on to, that I will be having my yard sale tomorrow, Saturday, November 17 from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm. Items are priced to move and include 8 solid oak bow back chairs, Antique Armour, Christmas items, candles, tables, interior decorations of all kinds and colors including Pier 1 vases, and kids toys. There are kitchen items, living room items, Bathroom pretties, even a TV or two. So, come by and say "hello" and bring a little spending cash - you may just find that hard to find treasure you have been looking for!
Location: 1012 Ridgecrest Dr.
Franklin, TN 37069
That's the Hillsboro Acres Subdivision at the corner of Hillsboro and Berry's Chapel, due south of Legend's Ridge Subdivision.

Please pass this on via e mail or call a friend if you know of anyone who would be interested. All proceeds go to the "Kim Relocation Fund". Thanks! Kim



*****


www.MamaMade.biz showcase: Tomorrow, November 17, 2007, in the coffeehouse basement of New Song Christian Fellowship WOODBINE, 2949 Nolensville Rd., Nashville, TN, (near the intersection of Nolensville Rd. and Thompson Lane).

Friends in need need loving friends

Right now I seem to have a lot of friends in need. Friends in the hospital or receiving medical treatment, friends going through divorces or getting married, friends moving or renovating houses, friends believing for healing miracles for other friends or family members, friends in desperate need of financial provision or better jobs or any job . . . sometimes the needs are overwhelming. Sometimes I'm able to help in small ways and feel connected; sometimes I'm alone and I pray.

My friend Wendy wrote yesterday about her neighbor who "can't get himself to the bathroom or get to the trash can to throw food away." Reading about him makes me so thankful for our friends and family. I'm blown away by the community of people who care about us, who help us when we're in need, who love us through all of our difficulties, who rejoice and celebrate with us, who break bread with us and listen to what is on our minds, who care about the passions and desires of our hearts.

Some friends stopped by tonight with a loaf of bread that they baked at home. They wrapped it in cellophane then covered it in recycled newspaper and wrote on it: "Heard you guys like bread. White loaf." Their visit surprised and delighted us. To be thought of, remembered, loved--to be the recipient of a small act of kindness--to have friends go out of their way to share bread--it makes me a little weepy. My primary love language is quality time, followed by words of affirmation. Tonight's home-baked bread along with the note and the quick visit really did it for me. Thank you, Aaron and Christen. Pop over any time.

Before sitting down to write, I checked all my friends' blogs. Karissa wrote about her sister's recent visit and listed some of the amazing food they ate together. She says of her sister: "To her, fine food starts with time, energy and patience (of which, she has a small reservoir set aside for just this purpose) for all the flavors to be expressed, pulled, marinated and added. There are no short cuts!" My kind of lady! Later in her blog, Karissa writes, "We ate like Kings and Queens...as we should! Isn't it funny how life really does revolve around food. Makes you realize how much more so food should revolve around a table and friendly faces. Unfortunately, especially in America, we have strayed away from this beautiful design. God gave us The Banqueting Table! We are meant to break bread, fellowship, eat, drink and be merry. Ever since Jessica came I have wanted to bring the 'Table' back into our lives here, at Adnevik Lane! Lately, we have been able to accomplish just that and I love it!"

Our extended families are already beginning to plan for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's always challenging to try to work around everyone's work and family schedules, but every year we manage to gather around food and enjoy the time together (mostly watching our ever-growing number of children--this year Judah will celebrate the holidays with six cousins and a baby sister who will be a year old next month).

While reading my friend's post about adoption, I wondered whether we'll ever adopt and if so, when. Or if we'll become foster parents. We've talked about it. We've done a little research. We like the idea. It's easier just to keep doing what we're doing, you know? I understand that truly living doesn't come from traveling the easy road. At the same time, I don't want to do something simply because it's challenging. I want to know that it's God-inspired and God-directed. Friends of ours who have a daughter in high school are serving as foster parents to a 3-month-old baby because the mom who is a friend of theirs is suffering from severe post-partum depression. These are the kinds of friends we have. What love.

Tonight as I was pondering all these things, I received this e-mail from my friend Isa: "The gospel of Jesus is simple. His love is simple. Jesus shows us love through simple things....one little thing can change a lot! That movie "Evan All Mighty" when Morgan Freeman tells him that changing the world is using one act of random kindness a day....that's what the gospel of Jesus is about, LOVE! Sometimes people don't know how to love or they don't know how to express love....it's simple! It's a little act of kindness. It's going to bring somebody groceries when you know that they are having a financial struggle...it's offering to clean a house of somebody that has an illness...it's just showing up at somebody's house when you know that this person is going through a hard time and doesn't have strength even to ask for help...it's to bring somebody their favorite food; it's to offer to watch their kids for they could go out and have a good time...it's to help somebody with packing when you know they are so overwelmed with the change...it's just to make yourself present even if the other person is in bad mood...it's to knock in somebody's door and say HI I am here for you...I am standing with you...it's to offer your shoulder for them to cry on and cry with them. So many examples of how we could be Jesus' arms. how we can really make a difference in somebody' life through little things....Jesus is calling us to express His love in simple acts...don't think that you don't have anything to give. Ask the Holy Spirit. Sometimes things that appear with no significance to us can mean the world to somebody else."

Well said, Isa.

A typical day in the life of Her Royal Excitedness turned "Mommy"

One of the benefits of having hardwood floors downstairs is getting to watch my baby girl sit on them and scoot herself around in circles using her little tiny feet. Every time she sees me again, she gives me a big grin and an occasional squeal. Surely this sort of thing was the catalyst for the ever-popular sit-n-spin.

Last night was one of the first nights since her birth that I didn't have to get out of bed once. I still woke up around 2-ish and 5-ish, but I was able to go right back to sleep--until 6:30. For about two weeks, Mira slept through the night but Judah would wake up for one reason or another. This time, everyone slept soundly all night. Ah, Sleep, glorious Sleep.

More Mira milestones for my memory:

Miriam is one week from being a full 11 months old. Judah is 3 1/2, seeming particularly close to 4 today.

Mira likes to imitate making raspberries (zerbert sounds) and clicking sounds with her tongue. She also likes to shake her head back and forth in her very babyish--not fully in control of the movement--sort of way. It's especially cute when she tries to make a sound at the same time.

She loves to make a noise while I move my hand back and forth in front of her mouth. If I stop doing it, she'll do it herself. Her lack of coordination always makes me smile.

She has started playing peek-a-boo by looking down and when we say, "Where's Miriam?" she looks up and giggles. Today she started raising her hands when we say, "Peek-a-boo!" or "There she is!"

She much prefers to feed herself than to be spoon-fed. She has also begun to prefer textured foods (like oatmeal) to pureed foods (like jarred veggies). Right now, she seems to prefer red over green.

She can now climb up our entire flight of stairs. She climbs all over the place on the playgrounds we frequent.

She always surprises me with how much she knows--and then I remember how old she is. She's just so tiny!

She hit a little growth spurt in the past couple weeks (must be all the sleep) and is now wearing most 6-9 months clothes and a couple 12 months (if they've already been shrunk in the wash). When she was 10 months, she fit well in her 3-6 months clothes and several 0-3 months dresses and pants still fit. The last time I weighed her, she was 16.5 lbs. (many babies triple their birth weight by their first birthday--she has about another 8 lbs. to go).

I love how tiny she is. It makes it easy to hold her, which I've thoroughly enjoyed.

Current Judah antics:

Right now, Judah is putting his "babies" (7 stuffed animals) to sleep. One of them is wearing his pajamas. He made a bed for them out of pillows, covered them with my jacket, and said he was going to sleep next to them.

Earlier, he made a baby carrier for Piglet out of some cardboard and a jump rope (he acquired my help after much frustration). He had me put Piglet's arms through the holes, his legs stuck out of the bottom, and he faced out while strapped to Judah. Then, he placed his sword in the carrier (like Westley from The Princess Bride).

OK, he JUST NOW walked in and asked me to help him get his sheild on. He has on a Zoro hat, a Batman mask, purple mittens (with hearts on them), a sword, a shield, and some plastic armor that James taped in the back so it would fit (he got the latter three from Kim's house on Sunday night while we were helping her clean, pack, and move).

He says, "Who do I look like? I think I look like a pirate. OK, bye bye, I'm going to fight the bad guys. I fight-ed the bad guys! Do I have a mask on to cover my identity?"

He told me earlier that if I colored a picture for him like he colored one for me that it would make me one of the good guys. How could I resist?

And now he's trying to fit his stuffed animals into his armor to carry them around. He came to me and said, "Mommy, I have some babies for you. Would you like to take them out of my baby carrier?" His baby carrier has a dragon on the front.

I took out Piglet and Champ (who is dressed in Judah's pajamas).

Then he says, "Have a sword so you can fight the mean animals that wants to eat your babies."

It's a grand life--even though my house is a wreck and my body aches. These children are delightful.

A story by Judah

Just now Judah said, "Would you like me to tell you a story?"

Of course I said, "Yes." I happened to be in front of my computer and wrote it down while he was talking:

From Judah:
OK,
one summer evening
there was a giraffe
and it was eating some leaves
and then it saw a bear and killed it
and then the giraffe ate the wolf
and then she hung up her neck and ate some more leaves
the end

an unsolicited story:
and then the philistine monster crept in the ditch
and then it crept in the house
and then it has ate-en the whole house
and then the monster said, "adurbrt."

White: Looks great on teeth.

My good friend Leslie recently trained with a company called 888Spa Team to do in-home teeth whitening using a portable laser system. So if you've ever considered having your teeth whitened but grimaced at spending $300-800 (and you live in the Nashville area), she could come to your home, whiten your teeth in about an hour, and you'd only have to shell out $160 cash (she's offering a "getting started" discount through New Year's).

If you're interested, just send me an e-mail or post a comment (I won't publish it--it just goes straight to my e-mail and I choose whether or not to publish), and I'll pass on her contact information.

As Leslie said, "Makes a great gift during the holidays, especially under the mistletoe!"

All I want for Christmas is my teeth to be white. . .
I'm dreaming of a white (toothed) Christmas. . .

Real mail rocks.

My dear friend Rachel who knows me and loves me well sent an e-mail to me today that I'd like to share on here. She's right about the process being easy. I sent five cards while I was nursing Miriam.

FROM RACHEL: This is awesome. It takes like 3 clicks.

If you go to this web site: http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. You can choose from several different greetings or type your own. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Taco Salad a.k.a. Yesterday's Gazpacho

Judah actually requests my gazpacho: "Not Daddy's gazpacho [which really is gazpacho], the gazpacho you made yesterday." Now, for Judah, yesterday is any time before today. Could have been last week--or last month--or six months ago. Figuring out "yesterday" sometimes takes me a few minutes.

My gazpacho is simply taco salad. The kids and I had it today for lunch. Since James does most of the cooking, I thought I'd share one of the few things I make (that he has never made and that doesn't actually require a stovetop or oven).

It's basically a can of beans (with a bit of seasoning) , a handful of shredded Mexican cheese, a handful of chopped lettuce, a diced tomato, and some tortilla chips.

I'm going to write this recipe the way I wish recipes were written. (I check out children's cookbooks from the library because they're more detailed and I need all the help I can get in the kitchen.)

Mommy's Taco Salad a.k.a. Yesterday's Gazpacho

Open a can of black (or pinto) beans. Rinse them in a colander and dump them in a medium-sized bowl. Rinse the can and recycle.

Sprinkle on some cayenne pepper, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder (or whatever Mexican-type seasonings you have on hand). Mix it up with the fork or spoon you plan to use for eating.

Put in the microwave for a minute.

Get some shredded Mexican cheese and lettuce out of the fridge (our CSA share has had the most amazing organic lettuces the past couple weeks).

Wash the lettuce using the same colander you used for the beans. Pat it dry (or use a salad spinner).

Take the beans out of the microwave and sprinkle on some cheese. Put back in the microwave for another minute to melt the cheese.

Wash a tomato. Chop the lettuce and dice the tomato on the same cutting board. Sometimes I like to sprinkle a little sea salt on the tomatoes.

Take the cheesy beans out of the microwave and add the lettuce and then the tomatoes. Throw a few organic corn chips on top.

Sit on the floor and feed yourself, your toddler, and your baby. Watch out for the next two diaper changes.

If you get to the dishes fast enough, the colander, cutting board, bowl, and fork (or spoon--I prefer a spoon) are easy to clean.

Today I wanted someone else to make lunch for me. Then, I remembered that I could make taco salad. Now, the house is quiet, the children are sleeping, the windows are open, the wind is blowing, and I'm writing. Dreamy.

A nap is not on the menu for today

Both children are asleep in the middle of the afternoon, and we're at home (not in the car). I'm about to take advantage of the coveted afternoon nap.

The first wave of near sleep washes over me. Second wave. I know I'm almost there.

I hear a whisper, "Mommy."

I look up. Nothing. Judah is asleep upstairs. I love the sound of his little voice in my head.

I start to drift off again.

I hear what sounds like audiotapes being moved around.

I look up. Nothing.

The bathroom door slams shut. Upon getting up to open it (and prop it open) I discover the clinking sound--it's the shower curtain being blown back on the rod.

My mommy radar is turned up pretty high, so I get a surge of adrenaline each time I'm awakened.

Finally, the adrenaline has faded.

The sounds are different downstairs. Gusts of wind enhance the unfamiliar noises.

I finally begin to drift off for the third time. Something shatters.

I investigate. My glasses fell from the windowsill in the bathroom onto the scale. Nothing is broken--except my sleep.

A nap is not on the mommy menu for today.

Father God runs like a girl.

Tonight is one of those nights that I really need to go to bed, but I want to post something because I've been meaning to for a while, but it is so exciting to me and so full of life that I'm having trouble finding words. When I do write words, I delete them. Then I sit and stare at a blank screen trying to come up with better words. Now I've decided to just write something--anything--and maybe I'll go back later and rewrite it.

Jared Black, the new college pastor at Grace Center, has spoken during the main service a handful of times now. He believes that there is much of the Bible that we just don't get because we're not Jewish. We don't understand the historical context for what was said and done and then recorded in our Bible. He spoke today about the character of Father God and looked at a parable--actually, a series of parables--from a historical and Jewish perspective. Yes, he said that Father God runs like a girl. Suspend judgment. Listen to the message. You'll get it. Man, I love this stuff.

If you can, click on this link to hear his message (the first one listed is the one we heard today--the others are equally as thought-provoking and paradigm-shifting):

http://s7358.gridserver.com/index2.php?cat=JaredBlack#

The Pickle and The Noozle

I couldn't resist sending in a photo of my little Pickle and his best friend Tiffanoozle a.k.a. The Noozle (that would be Judah and Tiffany) to the Anti-Racist Parent website since they post a Gratuitous Cute Kid Pic every Thursday. Check it out! http://www.antiracistparent.com/