Monday, October 29, 2007

Ethan n Jodi


Ethan n Jodi
Originally uploaded by jennirettburg

My sister-in-law took this photo while I was down in Vancouver, Washington a couple of weeks ago. I think it is my new favorite of Ethan and me. I just realized that the reason I like it so much is because Ethan is looking right at the camera and it makes him look so wise. Silly, I know. :)

Ahhh, California

As someone who used to live in California, and someone who may very well live in California sometime in the future, and someone with a lot of friends in California, I thought I'd post this link about what's going on with public schools there. It is so hard for Christian parents to send their kids off to public school these days without having to unteach a lot of stuff! Most of the things (like in the link above) are so subtle, too.

And just so this post isn't entirely political in nature, here is a dose of the cuteness that is my son:

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Fat Little Souls


Wide Eyed
Originally uploaded by Steve Bremer

"Though a mother's work can seem monotonous or repetitive (and it is) when it comes to doing the laundry or changing the diapers, we have to have the eye of faith as we go. God blesses all these loving duties to the prospering of the souls of both mother and children. Reading stories over and over, stacking the blocks one more time, washing a face, wiping a nose, changing a wet diaper, or putting fresh sheets on the bed are all ways that a mother cares for her children and communicates love and security. And in some mysterious way, God uses it like sunshine and water on a tender plant. So we plant and water, but it is He who gives the increase.
All the loving attentiveness a mother gives her children is food for their souls. When the child is a small baby, all those smiles and kind words, the laughing and playfulness, the motherly delight and pride in each new accomplishment, is used by God to prosper the baby's soul. And it continues as the child grows. Even the smallest gesture, if done in love and kindness, is nourishing. And we want children with fat little souls, children who are healthy plants, as in Psalm 144:12, 'that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth.'"

From http://www.credenda.org/issues/17-3femina.php; also seen in Building Her House (which I'm reading right now and highly recommend).

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Long Time No Blog

Well, I have not been blogging much lately! I have actually been getting plenty of computer time while Ethan is nursing, but I've never felt up to typing a whole blog post with just one hand.

I feel like I am emerging from the fog of being post-partum. Today was the first day that Ethan and I went out to run errands by ourselves! I got him enrolled in our health insurance plan and then went to Wal-Mart. Baby steps, eh? It definitely wasn't our first time out of the house; this past weekend was spent in Vancouver, Washington meeting all of Steve's relatives. They had a really fun shower for him where he got a lot of clothes and toys and books. Everyone took turns holding him and he was very alert almost the whole time.

He seems to be a content baby. He really only fusses when he is hungry, and that happens every 4 hours or so. Sleep is still very high on my list of wants right now, but I generally get enough to get by. The weird thing is trying to fit all the things I want to do into 4 hour blocks.

I haven't had him weighed since last Friday. By all appearances he is putting on chub, not to mention the copious amounts of wet and poopy diapers.

Well, I think he is waking up which means it is time to eat, and I will be back to being one handed...so this post ends here!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Eyes Open


More Ethan
Originally uploaded by Steve Bremer

His little face just melts me. Even in the middle of the night when I'm so tired I can't see straight.

Steve adds photos usually a couple of times a day to his flickr site, so that's probably a better place to visit for your daily dose of Ethan than this blog.

Oh, and thanks for the prayers regarding nursing -- it is going really well for us now despite a few hurdles last week.