Pat Sajak's no patsy
Stickin' it to Michael Moore!

- posted by Lenise @ 5:26 PM |

 
Glad he's on my side!
Baby Jay was being a mama's boy last night. Daddy had strapped him into his swing upstairs, and we were downstairs with the monitor. Before long, he started fussing, so I went upstairs and discovered that I couldn't get his seatbelt undone. Knowing that Paul had a monitor in the dining room where he was playing piano, I requested aid. When I heard what sounded like him embarking on a new song, I repeated my request in a louder (and possibly somewhat rude) manner. Jay, who had been very patient since I arrived on the scene (through a good five minutes of my playing with his seatbelt buckle), suddenly screwed up his face to deliver a loud "Waaaah!", then resumed his calm demeanor as the piano music ended and even smiled when he heard Paul approach. I couldn't ask for a better co-conspirator!

- posted by Lenise @ 4:49 PM |

 
Very Important Stuff
Going on in Ukraine! Be sure to check TulipGirl and Sabot for a first-hand account of what's going on in Kyiv.

One interesting thing I learned from one of TulipGirl's posts:
Although the American media is casting the choice in non-normative terms (Yanukovych as the "pro-Russian" and Yushchenko as "pro-Western"), at least in Kyiv, people consider it a choice between the lawless mafia thug (Yanukovych) and the other guy, since guess who controls all the Ukrainian media.

Very exciting (and dangerous) times!

- posted by Lenise @ 9:04 PM |

 
Good News, Bad News
The good news is that baby Jay weighs 12 lbs and 5 ozs, so is growing at a fairly good clip. The bad news is that he had to get four shots, which not only hurt going in and made him sleepy, but also must have made him very sore this afternoon, since he was inconsolable. Meanwhile, the @#$@% lid on the baby tylenol was well-nigh impossible to open, and I was, in fact, unable to open it while holding a very unhappy infant. So I had to put him down, which made him even less happy, but I did eventually get the silly lid off (it has a dropper bulb in the middle of the push-while-turning cap) and give him his dose. Looks like it may be time for another dose!

- posted by Lenise @ 7:36 PM |

 

On my way to my first wedding (as a guest, of course!)
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 4:55 PM |

 

2 Months old today!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 4:54 PM |

 
Still alive, and, well...

- posted by Lenise @ 5:12 PM |

 

Awww!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 10:35 AM |

 
From Valerie
The Reformation Polka
Lyrics by Richard Gebel.
Sung with gusto (and beer, for those who like the stuff) to the tune of 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.'

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian!

Refrain
Oh, papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
'You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!'
(Repeat refrain.)

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
'Are these your books? Do you recant?' King Charles did demand,
'I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!'
(Repeat refrain.)

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek!
(Repeat refrain.)

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance!
(Repeat refrain.)

- posted by Lenise @ 10:07 PM |

 
Catching up
So, yes, two weekends ago we were in Ohio traveling. Baby Jay I mean John *sigh* met his uncles, aunts, and older cousin on my side. I was hoping to make it a longer trip and meet our niece on Paul's side, too, but he had to be back to teach piano lessons. It was a nice visit, but rather short! Cousin Beka was born a year ago last July, and as the older and wiser cousin was very entertaining, at least to the adults.

Then we got back here to discover that the computer wasn't working. So we spent a little while with no computer. Paul couldn't abide in that state for very long. Long story short, when he tried hooking the old hard drive to the new computer, it didn't work. A few hours later, seeking ice cream, I opened the freezer door to discover the metal box Paul had been working on earlier. Naturally, I quipped, "Let me guess- the hard drive wasn't hard enough." Anyway, I guess it worked, because Paul got his client spreadsheet off the old drive. He did not, however, salvage my photos. I am on my own there, it would seem. Thankfully, there are several copies of the baby pictures on CD. Unfortunately, they're all far, far away. And I don't know where my old photo backup CD is. I guess it's my turn to freeze the hard drive.

So here's the question of the hour: do we buy the baby honest-to-goodness Christmas gifts? Obviously it would be silly to wrap them! Paul says no, we buy the baby what he needs when he needs it. So far, we haven't had to buy much of anything 'cuz we've received SO MUCH! We continue to receive hand-me-downs from a family at church. On the other hand, I'd still love to get him a Sally Sheep. Paul says that the boy already has a flock. But he doesn't have one that rocks! Also, I wonder how much more Jay I mean John *sigh* will be doing (like grabbing things maybe?) that would make it more fun to buy him toys. Well, I guess we'll see!

- posted by Lenise @ 6:45 PM |

 

Yes, he will smile for the camera!!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 3:33 PM |

 

Aunt Mindy with baby
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 3:33 PM |

 

Aunt Jan, cousin Beka, Uncle Ehren, Uncle Todd, Mom, baby, and Dada in Ohio
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 3:32 PM |

 

Exhausted!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 3:31 PM |

 

Playing nice
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 3:31 PM |

 
Praise God!

- posted by Lenise @ 1:53 PM |

 
10,7 Hooray!
So Baby Jay (Umm I mean JS)'s one-month appointment was fine except that he'd only gained 4 oz since his one week appointment. At 9 lbs, 2 oz, he was only 3 oz over his birthweight. :(

The MD advised us to feed him formula once a day (4 oz, and yes, I have been trying to pump while he's formulating), and in that week and a half, he gained a pound and 5 oz. I really think our biggest problem has been that I haven't had the time to feed myself or drink enough. I'm learning that sometimes I just have to let him cry for a few minutes until I've done what I need to do. It's still not easy.

And last night was the second night in which getting the baby to sleep in his own bed wasn't a complete failure. He slept there a few hours and fell back asleep after waking briefly and seeing me there (one of those times I got a nice big smile :)), but after I fed him in the wee hours, he ended up with us after I had tried to put him down several times. Not too bad!

- posted by Lenise @ 3:38 PM |