Home Again

The basketball game was great fun -- many thanks to my parents for the tickets and the good company! However, it is so nice to be home again. We have so much unpacking to do, but our new iPod is so distracting! Once I get it all set up, it'll be a good cleaning companion.

Happy New Year to you all!

Update

We're back from California... we had a wonderful visit! More on that later.

We're in North Carolina hanging out with family and going to the UNC basketball game tomorrow night.

My new, free 20GB iPod has shipped! Get your own! (and help Richard, too!)

Merry Christmas!

Alleluia! Christ is Born!

I Love Breastfeeding

In less than six months I weigh less than I did before Kate was conceived and am at least a size smaller (with my new body shape). I now comfortably wear a size I haven't worn for six years, since I was seventeen. This creates some wardrobe problems, but happiness nonetheless.

I did get some really cute new clothes from my parents and grandma (we did Christmas yesterday) like this sweater in pink and these pants. I also got lots of other great gifts from my family (books, new car stereo...) as did Mike and Kate. Thanks fam!

Free iPod

Thank you! I got enough confirmed offers. I'll let you know how it works out...

Odds and Ends

Christmas season is so busy.

I'm so glad that Kelly won the Apprentice last night (we went to a party last night to watch the finale).

I'm also glad Carolina is doing well this season. ACC play starts this weekend. Go Tarheels!

I have four confirmed people for the ipod. One more offer goes through and I am set!

We leave for NC on Sunday, and California on Tuesday.

Christmas Cards

It costs more for 80 standard stamps than it does for 80 photo Christmas cards of smiling Kate.

Sick, Sick, Sick

Kate is on week two of being sick. I've got the cold for the second time (I gave it to Mike who gave it to Kate, who gave it back to me) and this time, it's hitting me really hard. I do not have the strength to use the suction-ball thingy for Kate's nose by myself.

In other news, We went to a wedding in Charlotte, NC this weekend. Lovely, lovely wedding and a wonderful time of getting to see some friends, both there and in the Chapel Hill area as we made our way home.

Free iPod Deal

Thanks to my husband's link and sidebar pic, more people have signed up to help me (and themselves!) get a free iPod. A note to all you skeptics, I have real life friends who have received them -- it works. All you need to do is sign up and complete an offer. I wanted to let all of you who have signed up and not completed an offer yet know that there is a free internet trial for PeoplePC listed. You can sign up, wait for your offer to go through (15 days or less), and cancel within the 30-day trial period.

There are also good deals to try Blockbuster's online and Audible.com

Under the Weather

Kate has her first cold. She's feeling pretty yucky and looking quite pathetic. She wants everyone to feel sorry for her! It's hard to comfort an infant with a cold and cough because there's not much you can do for them. Anyhow, I found it interesting that at the ripe old age of 5 months, she already wipes her nose on her sleeve if I am too slow with a tissue. It's a basic instinct, I guess!

As Promised

Kate in the aforementioned sling.

Paedocommunion

I think it was Matt Colvin who first said: "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes open and professed paedocommunion."

Well, it looks like Rev. Barach has approximately 13 months to figure out where he stands. Maybe this will open up some more dialogue on the subject.

The Usefullness of a Classics Degree

In my study of Classics, I learned about the poor people who didn't have technology. This sometimes comes in handy. Tonight, I had to do some car repairs but didn't have a flashnight. Did I fret? No, no, my friend. I was calm because I once read about a people who used candles. So there I was: working in the back of my identical Volvos by candlelight.

My wife at least found this amusing.

Sewing

I completed my first solo sewing project yesterday. I made a new ring sling in black and white toile. I hemmed all the edges. I did a french seam. It turned out pretty nice! I'll try to get a picture up of Kate lounging in it soon.

Anyhow, sewing is teaching me patience. I need to iron and pin things before I can jump in. I cannot sew straight if I sew quickly. I have to take my time, be intentional and go very very slowly. But, in the end, I get something wonderful to enjoy out of it. It's amazing how God uses everything in my life (Mike, Kate, hobbies, running errands...) to sanctify me and teach me about himself.