Adventures in Parenting

Viewing entries for November, 2009 View: All | Photos | Stories | Statuses | Videos | Milestones

Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 30, 2009

Elisabeth decorated our Christmas tree!

Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 29, 2009

Elisabeth went rock climbing in Central Park and loved it!

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 28, 2009

Katherine seems to like Annie's mac and cheese

Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 28, 2009

Elisabeth has thoroughly enjoyed Thanksgiving at Pop-pop's house

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 28, 2009

Katherine is nine months old!

On Thanksgiving

by Graham // 0 comments

On this Thanksgiving, I am particularly thankful for: 
  1. True hope in a famine of hope.
    Last year at this time there were posters on every corner of my neighborhood bearing the word HOPE and the image of a presidential candidate. I am thankful to have hope that is not merely political, economic - or even social - and yet creates foretastes of true hope in the political, economic and social spheres.
  2. Loving relationship.
    Lesslie Newbigin captures it well: "Human beings find fulfillment not in the attempt to develop themselves, not in the effort to better their own condition, not in the untrammeled exercise of unlimited covetousness, but in the experience of mutual relatedness and responsibility in serving a shared goal." I am deeply thankful for the reconciliation that Jesus has accomplished at the Cross to bring us to God and restore us to the purpose for which we were created.
  3. Grace
    When I take time to meditate on the fact that God has, in the person of Jesus Christ, reconciled to Himself those who trust in Christ - not because of our merit, but in spite of our treasonous rebellion - it takes my breath away. I love to meditate on what Tim Keller has so tersely captured: "You are more wicked than you ever dared believe, and more loved than you ever dared to hope."
  4. Family
    This morning Elisabeth and I walked to the playground together and discussed things for which we are thankful. As we talked about family, I was reminded just how precious it is to enjoy "mutual relatedness and responsibility in serving a shared goal." When so many people are estranged from their Creator, their families and their neighbors, I am deeply thankful to enjoy such fullness of relationship with my wife and children, my parents and siblings, and my wife's family.
  5. Home
    In the past year God has lavishly provided for us a new place to call home for this season of life with abundant indoor space to show hospitality, a garden in which to cultivate food and flowers (and enjoy many barbecues!), laundry (for a load of diapers every other day!), and community - with great friends in our multi-family home.
  6. Health
    After a few weeks of intermittent sleep and a nasty cough, I am profoundly thankful for the good health that we so consistently enjoy.
  7. Sleep!
    Elisabeth didn't sleep through the night until she was about 15 months old. Then, at 18 months, Rebecca began a three-year residency, which could exceed 100 hours of work in a week. As Rebecca's work now does not include night or weekend service, and Katherine goes to sleep quietly and happily for both naps and bedtime (and can, when healthy, sleep through the night), I am deeply grateful!
  8. Rule of Law
    John Owen wisely said: "The greatest mercies and blessings that in this world we are made partakers of, next to them of the gospel and the covenant of grace, come to us through this channel and conduit ['the proper work of magistracy' i.e. good government]" (Overcoming Sin and Temptation p352).  And on our courthouse it is inscribed "The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government." I recognize, with gratitude to God, that I have grown up in a nation that has, by His grace, had remarkably just laws, equitably enforced - with due process to change those that are unjust. We enjoy the fruit of the labors of those like Adam Clayton Powell, Harlem's first black congressman, who: "Press forward at all times, climbing forward toward that higher ground of the harmonious society that shapes the laws of man to the laws of God," not with the naive notion that we can achieve or bring the heavenly city, but in hope that, by grace, we can be a sign, instrument and foretaste of the Kingdom of God.
  9. Free libraries
    This year I had a history lesson. On traveling to Philadelphia, I learned that Benjamin Franklin was responsible for establishing the first "free library", from which has evolved the public library system which makes a true wealth of literature available to persons of every walk of life.
  10. Foresight and public green spaces
    On most days I go running in Central Park, and usually on the way home from school Elisabeth plays in one of its 21 playgrounds. Not infrequently, I have given thanks to God for the foresight and creativity of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux who began designing and building the park when it was largely undeveloped swamp and farm land.
  11. Books
    What a privilege it is to make the acquaintance of John Owen, Lesslie Newbigin, St. Augustine, and Jonathan Edwards through their writings! Of course, Elisabeth is little interested in their writings at this stage in life. But over the past year, we have read aloud the Tales of Winnie the Pooh, Heidi, the Little House on the Prairie series, The Tale of Despereaux, among a host of picture books, and are now reading through The Chronicles of Narnia. I cannot help but think of Gladys Hunt, who says "[P]arents who read widely together with their children are going to be those who most influence their children, who have the largest worldview, who have an uncommon delight in what is good and true and beautiful - and an uncommon commitment to it." I am thankful for great books!
Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 24, 2009

Elisabeth is going to an event at the library about ships and boats this afternoon

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 24, 2009

Katherine signed "all done" when she was finished eating

Hooray for swings!

by Graham // 1 comment // tagged with: Katherine

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This is a frequent expression when in the swings.    
Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 22, 2009

Elisabeth announced that she is going to sleep like Pippi Longstocking tonight: with her feet UNDER her pillow

Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 16, 2009

Elisabeth now has a piano - the same one on which her mom learned to play

The power of parental modeling

by Graham // 1 comment // tagged with: Elisabeth

On Monday and Tuesday I was speaking at the Parents as Teachers National Conference in St. Louis. That meant that on those days Mommy packed Elisabeth's lunch instead of Daddy - and Mommy is notorious for being thoughtful. 
When I arrived in St. Louis and opened my suitcase, I found a bag of gummy bears stuffed in my shoe with a note from Mommy, Reece's Peanut Butter cups in zipper pocket, and a card in the pocket of my trousers! Elisabeth received the same special treatment at home while I was gone. Mommy packed a little note in her lunch each day that said something like, "I love you Elisabeth" or "Mommy and Daddy love you!" 

On both Monday and Tuesday, when Mommy arrived to pick Elisabeth up from Kindergarten, Elisabeth had her lunch note in her hand, and was waving it excitedly. Yesterday Mommy wrote her little notes on masking tape, which was afixed to Elisabeth's lunch containers. Elisabeth emerged from school with the masking tape plastered across the front of her shirt.

Then when we arrived home, Elisabeth made a card for Mommy that said, "Elisabeth and Daddy love Mommy" (decorated, of course, with hearts and flowers). When Mommy arrived home from work, Elisabeth surreptitiously put the card in Mommy's bag for her to find the next day at work.

In a truly wonderful way, what goes around comes around.
Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 12, 2009

Elisabeth now reads in bed at night instead of complaining about going to bed

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 12, 2009

Katherine actually opened her mouth repeatedly to eat oatmeal yesterday!

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 6, 2009

Katherine is becoming remarkably efficient at self-feeding

Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 6, 2009

Elisabeth had a fun "marshmallow party" after school today

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 6, 2009

Katherine is finally getting over her cold

Wonder baby

by Graham // 0 comments // tagged with: Katherine

On Thursday mornings I participate in a Spanish as a second language class for parents whose kids are in bilingual classes. On these mornings, Katherine comes with me to class (which is held in the library of Elisabeth's school). 
Yesterday I was reminded of just how blessed we are to have such an agreeable child. The class runs from 9-11am, and for the first 40 minutes or so, Katherine sat on the table quietly playing with her toys and waving at the other parents, while occasionally munching on Cheerios. At about 9:40 she started rubbing her eyes, so (without standing up), I strapped on the Ergo, popped her in, and gave her the pacifier. In less than a minute she was asleep (and I was still sitting), which she continued for about 45 minutes while I learned which syllable receives emphasis if a word does not have an accent.

When she stirred and woke up, she gladly took a bottle and continued playing with her toys on my lap while I scrawled all of my new vocabulary words in my notebook. 

I have fond memories of book clubs at church during which Elisabeth, at about the same age, sat in the middle of a boardroom table while we discussed Augustine and Lesslie Newbigin. I am now deeply grateful to have another child who loves to sit on the table and play.
Elisabeth's photo

Status Update — Nov 3, 2009

Elisabeth is enjoying a beautiful election day by playing with a friend

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 3, 2009

Katherine has a fourth tooth beginning to push through!

Katherine's photo

Status Update — Nov 2, 2009

Katherine is beginning to eat sweet potato