Williamsburg in Summer

Williamsburg in Summer

Friday, October 31, 2008

Carry on Baggage

We headed up to the airport O' so early on Thursday morning for a visit with Josh's family in the Seattle area. Kate did great on the airplane. We stopped in Minneapolis for a brief layover, but she slept on both flights and was a fabulous traveler! (Thank you for all those prayers!)

Josh's parents haven't seen Kate since she was about 6 months old, and some of his family have never met her. We're excited about showing her off and letting her get to know the rest of her family.

Friday, October 17, 2008

New Videos of Kate

Well, it has been a little while since we've posted some videos of Kate here on the 'Homestead Blog. Here are four videos that we've taken recently.

Kate is fascinated with things that have lights or blink or have buttons to push. She sees me holding the camera, and she want to see it. Here is the result:


This video is of Kate's newest thing--she has figured out how to climb the stairs. I just installed the kid-gate so she wouldn't fall down the stairs, but her interest isn't in going down, it is in going up.


Kim loves me dearly, but she has had to learn how to deal with and tolerate my stubbornness. From all the early signs that Kate gives us, it would appear that she takes after me in this regard. At the beginning of this video, watch her technique in standing from a head-plant position.


This final video is at the request of Papa Henry. He was making Kate's birthday present, and wanted to surprise us all. In the video, we open the box, and then explain the significance of the gift.

How about those Red Sox?

Wow! What a game! What a game! In typical Red Sox fashion they pulled a win out of thin air keeping the ACLS battle alive between Boston and Tampa Bay. Red Sox Nation is known as some of the most loyal fans -- loyal to the end. And frankly one must be because until the end of the last inning you never know what the Sox might do.
The Sox won game one of the ACLS championship against Tampa Bay. However, Tampa Bay came back with a vengeance to win game two at 2 a.m. in the 11th or 12th inning. (I fell asleep around 1:30 and missed the conclusion.) I skipped Tampa's win in game three due to the disappointment and fatigue of game 2. But before turning in for the night, I fell victim to the call and tuned in to game 5 to see if indeed the Sox were saying good-bye to another year of post-season ball. In the 7th inning the score was 0 to 7 - Tampa Bay. I gave a long sigh and agreed with the commentators that perhaps Boston's Swan Song was being sung this evening. As I busied myself in the kitchen cleaning up the last of the evening dishes, Josh called for me to come in to the living room quickly. The Red Sox had gotten one run - so as tradition has it - there would be no shut out at Fenway in the post season. Now there were two men on base and Big Pappy was up to bat. Although, he had not hit well in the last three games, there is always hope. Pappy can hit with the best when he's on! And maybe it was the magic of post-season or the electricity of Red Sox nation screaming their hearts out on home field...or the knowledge that it was do or die -- whatever the motivation, David Ortiz delivered a beautiful, glorious home run in the bottom of the 7th to make the score 4 to 7. And with hope renewed again, the game took off with one of the biggest comebacks I've ever seen. The scoreboard read 0 to 7 in the 7th inning and by the 9th inning, the Sox had clinched victory 8 to 7. Amazing!

Now the story is not over. The boys travel to Tampa today and resume the series with Game 6 on Saturday. It's best out of 7, and the Sox are not out yet. Last night, the Sox were down in this series 1 win and 3 losses, just like in 2004 against the Yankees. Then, they turned a 1 to 3 game losing streak around against the Yankees to win 4 games to 3, so there is always hope. Now, we stand at 2 wins for the Sox, with 2 more to go before reaching the World Series again.

As for us, we're ready to cheer them on. Kate and her special Bear from the West Coast cousins are eagerly awaiting this weekend's face-off. The cousins sent Kate this special Red Sox outfit for her birthday. And in all honesty, I think it's the bear that was the magic touch last night.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Sleepy Head

Kate is not quite herself today. She has another horrendous diaper rash, and she's running a little warm. (Not quite a fever, but enough to make her cranky and clingy.) She woke up early due to the discomfort of a dirty diaper, and after a quick breakfast, she easily went back to bed for a brief cat nap. I had to work this morning, so she played with our dear friend Connie for a little while. Around noon I put her in her highchair for lunch and planned to get her upstairs for a nap by 1 p.m. at the latest. I guess she couldn't wait until 1:00. We'll finish lunch when she wakes up... poor baby.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tag...I'm it!

Okay, this is the first I've heard of a blog "tag", but as I understand it, I am supposed to post six quirks of little known facts about myself and then "tag" six people to do the same-- which I will do formally, but I think everyone who reads this blog should leave at least one of your own quirks in our comments box for some interesting reading. So have at it:

1.) I love to sing in the car -- like really sing-- loud and off key. (No comments, Holly!) My favorite CD's for sing alongs are longtime favs such as the soundtracks to Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge, and John Mayer. My more recent favs include Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Gavin Degraw and Daughtry. And yes, I still love John Mayer even despite the Jennifer Anniston break up and bad press he's been getting. I don't know, I just hear his voice, it's just like a friend has come over for the evening.

2.) I am the world's worst housewife. I love to cook and at one time was thought to be pretty good at it, but lately my meals have been disastrous. How do you burn pasta or ruin pancakes? I'm not sure myself, but I have! It's something about trying to cook with a one year old climbing up your leg that doesn't work so well. But besides my poor food these days, I can't clean to save my life. I never have. (Sorry, mom!) I don't know where to even begin some days. I spot clean at best to keep up appearances, but my house is so dirty and I truly wish that wasn't so. Holly, can you teach me how to correctly clean a bathroom?

3.) I love the wind. There is something magical about the gentle breeze that caresses your cheek or the power of a wild gust that moves your entire being. I remember breezy summer nights at my parents house sitting on their porch in the darkness and not feeling alone when the wind was there.

4.) I love daffodils in the spring. Tulips have always been my favorite flower, but I am moved when I see a cluster of daffodils dancing in the breeze. I attribute my fascination to a Wordsworth poem I studied in college. But still, to this day, I pause and take in the scenery of spring daffodils dancing in the sunlight.

5.) I could live in Ireland. There are days when I wish I did. Have you ever gone somewhere and knew you just belonged there? That's how I felt in Ireland-- it was like coming home.

6.) I love books! I have huge collections of classical hardcover books that are unfortunately hidden in our attic until I have that grand library I've been dreaming of. I collect cooks books too, but only cookbooks from chefs that I highly respect or of specific regions of cuisine. (I do have these on display in my kitchen.) And I collected kids books long before Kate ever arrived. Dr. Seuss is a favorite in the kid genre, but he takes second place to the endearing Toot and Puddle! My favorite Toot and Puddle adventure is Wish You Were Here!

That's my six quirks. I officially "tag" Holly, Jen G., Sarah H., Jecholia, Alycia and Christy. But even if you're not on the tag list, go ahead and leave a quirk for us all to read.