I'm talkin' bout the man in the mirror

Ash Wednesday

Bryce and I have been looking forward to Lent. Lent is the 40 days that lead up to Easter, a time that the church has historically used for repentance and preparation for the celebration of redemption that comes with the cross. Many times this "preparation" involves fasting from something, or committing to pray more regularly.  

I think it is so easy to see Lent as a time for self-improvement.  Giving up cussing, or calories, so that by Easter you are a brighter, shinier, skinnier person.  This is the opposite of a spiritual discipline.  These things make you feel better and better about yourself as you succeed, or worse and worse as you sneak the goodies you promised not to have.  In the end, we are left looking at ourselves and the rules we have kept or broken.  

If my fast doesn't cause me to look to God as the Giver of every good thing, as the Bread that is sweeter than chocolate cake or cookies, as the Strength for my body that is so weak that it needs food constantly, then my fast is really just about me.  And I certainly can't save myself... though I try all the time. We read through Isaiah 58:1-12 last night with our neighborhood group.  Such a helpful passage when thinking on fasting.  

We went to an Ash Wednesday service this week at Redeemer Anglican Church.  Eli went with us in a little baby-frontpack I was wearing.  We all went down to receive our "marks," a cross of ashes on our foreheads.  It was going great... a nice poignant reminder of Jesus.  The priest said to each person as he marked them "From dust you were formed, to dust you will return."  Then, after he marked Bryce, then me, he leaned lower and marked Eli and that changed everything for me. 

 

This is the mark of the curse of death he is putting on our faces.  This is a sign of our human frailty, brokenness, sinfulness.  The sign of the power of death.  How DARE he mark Eli.  It was so powerful to me, how much it shook me up (and Bryce, too).  But that is the truth... if we are not broken, we do not need a Redeemer.  Death is a powerful force, yet Christ has broken the bonds of death to redeem his people.  I see signs of brokenness and death all around me.  This is a reminder that it is IN me, and in Eli, too.  Eli needs a savior.  

Come, Easter, come.

Tasty toes

Bryce's new favorite thing is taking pictures of little man eating his toes.  Now that he is getting teeth, he has bitten them and been so surprised that it hurts that he starts crying.  It is hard not to laugh.  

We have some other pictures of toe-eating, but he is entirely too naked for me to post.  Does anyone else ever think about the fact that when Eli applies for a job, there will be all of these pictures in the web-iverse?  Or will we have a whole new holographic, interactive internet by then?  If so, I want to hang out with the hologram lady from Jem.

5 Months

Well, world, here I am.  After 5 months, I am getting the hang of being here.  Things aren't quite so shocking.  Boy, do I love people.  And the weird songs that my dad makes up for me.  I have one tooth... not so terrible of an experience after all.  I am not as good at sitting up as I look in this video, but give me a break, okay?  I am working on it.  My favorite person is... myself- when I see that handsome devil in the mirror, I can't help but smile and laugh!

Aunt Life Grand

We spend most Wednesdays with Dr. Sarah, DVM.  She has Wednesdays off from her vet practice in Clarksville.  This week she had to cover for another doctor, so we didn't get our special Sarah time.  Last week we went to Dickson and had some lovely main street meandering- lunch at House Blend and shopping. Mmmm... grown-up grilled cheese.  We love the antiques stores and Studio 123.  I highly recommend downtown Dickson for a day trip.  We like to take Hwy 70 through Pegram for the scenic route... and maybe even stop at the Narrows of the Harpeth for a hike or swim. I will post pictures of those activities when summer comes- be assured.

Also, I recommend teaching your baby to knit at a young age.  He can make his own hats and it sure beats baby sign language!

My Urban Valentine

I have a bit of an attitude about Valentine's Day.  I think it is wrong for an entire society to try to force me to spend money to prove my love.  Bryce and I don't really do the present thing.  Usually a homemade card and baked up tasty treats is enough for us.  We do like taking any opportunity we can to celebrate, though.  I mean, really- how astounding is it that I get to be with Bryce?  I sincerely cannot get over it. His love is such a gift.

I think we needed to celebrate all the more this year.  Having a totally dependent wee babe is very new for us.  With Bryce in school and working, it does take a bit more effort to actually pause and look at each other in the middle of busy weeks.  So that is what we did.  

I suggested the Frist, Bryce thought we should walk.  After he spend a good part of the day studying, we jumped in the car and stopped to pick up the best hot dogs ever.  I got vidalia onion marmalade on mine.  Oh my.  Then we parked at the stadium and walked across the pedestrian bridge to downtown.

Wee and Dad and the Cumberland River.

Then we walked up Broadway like crazy tourists (actually we just had crazy tourists bump into us), gave some money to the man playing mandolin and walked up the hill to the Frist.  We spent alot of time at the Paint Made Flesh exhibit... probably because Wee was asleep then.  I loved it.  We passed quickly through the Medieval Collection from Cleveland, much more quickly because Eli was getting hungry.  Bryce wished we had more time with that part, the statues from 200 AD were pretty astounding. The Frist has an "interactive area," and we went there and drew each other. As you can see, whoever wasn't drawing was holding the baby.

Then we walked back as it was getting dark.  We picked up Katie and went to Baja Burrito for dinner.  It was a lovely double date (Eli hearts Katie) to end a lovely day!  Oh, actually, we also made a chocolate cake when we got home... because you HAVE to have chocolate on Valentine's Day.  I think I shall go have a slice right now.

Best Friends

Eli's friend, Myles, is 3 days older and wiser.  I hung out with both of them for a bit while Kelly and Andy went on a date and they were so funny together.  It is interesting to see babies interact.  

Eli: "So, anyway, here is a good joke I heard yesterday..."

Eli: "Hey buddy, I didn't mean to shock you- it's not a TRUE story..."
Eli: "Oh, never mind, let's just play wii bowling instead."

Inside Joke

Sometimes, when he is eating, Eli likes to take a break to talk for a minute.  It can go on for quite a bit, and he really appears to crack himself up.

That Becky.

Well, today is Becky's wedding day... she will be joined in holy matrimony to the marvelous Mark.  They are having a small ceremony, so I thought I would celebrate by posting pictures of her lovely shower last weekend.  Lots of people love Becky, so it was a great time to get people together to celebrate her.

Becky is one of a kind.  Totally without self-consciousness and a totally devoted friend.  She and I became close our junior year at Berry and she would go on long ol' walks with me.  I could actually use a Becky walk right now!  Last weekend was also especially fun to get time with dear friends in mass (pictured above).  I am so grateful for these friendships.  We girls might be different on paper, but are so very the same, too.  What a gift. And blessings on Katie for hosting, even though she was sick.
Of course, Eli had a ton of fun (as you can see with Aunt Chara and Natalie.)  I couldn't figure out a way to have anyone watch him, especially since he is against bottles, in theory and in reality.  I don't think I have ever seen him this happy for such an extended amount of time (6pm to 1am).  This boy clearly loves attention.  He is his mother's son.

And it was lovely to see some old friends from Berry, too.... girls that Becky has kept up with in her Becky way.  We love you Becky!  Happy Wedding!  Enjoy that man on your latin honeymoon!

Back to Charlie's

Mom and Dad's anniversary was this week, so we celebrated in Clarksville (Sarah was on call).  In a stroke of semi-genius, we decided to go to Charlie's Steakhouse near Fort Campbell.  Growing up we wore out the highway between Dickson, Tn and Joy, Ky going to see my grandmother at her farm.  Charlie's was on the way and we would stop and eat there... but haven't been since we found a new route to the farm, over 15 years ago.  

The placemats used to have cows on them and we would draw "cow paths" from one cow to another (are cow paths common knowledge?  I have no idea) and there was a viewing box at the front door where you could put in a quarter and "See Rock City." Cow placemats and Rock City are gone, but the steaks are still good. As are my parents.  They really are so supportive and kind, they are worth celebrating every day!  So amiable!

Sarah told Dad that Eli really liked her scarf and that he had to wear it if he wanted to hold the boy.  Doubles as a burp cloth.

Mom and Katie.

Eichelbreader

So, I have been trying on bread-baking for size.  It has always seemed so complicated to me, but my desire to not drive to Publix for good pizza dough along with $4 for good bread at Kroger made me want to give it a whirl.  Really, it isn't complicated at all, you just need to be sort of around your house for 4 or 5 hours while it goes through its stages (mixing, rising, shaping, rising, baking).

I have been learning from www.thefreshloaf.com. There are lessons that teach you how to bake the most basic of bread, then how to play around with the ingredients, rise time, oven temperature, etc.  

The pros of baking your own bread are: cheap bread, getting to eat it straight out of the oven with lots of butter (we lost a whole loaf this way one night), feeling so old-world and quaintly domestic that you want to sit and tat while your bread rises.  

The cons are as follows: flour and water can be very hard to get off of things once they get gluey.... so clean up has to be constant and.... that is the only con I can think of.  Working on a schedule can be annoying to me, but so far it seems like it can be so flexible that it really isn't a big deal.

All that to say, I think I will try a whole-wheat loaf this afternoon to go with some turkey soup.  Baby it's cold outside!

Snow Day

This was a couple of weeks ago, but worth sharing because it was such a great day.  We woke up with snow on the ground.  I thought that this meant we would not be going hiking as planned... silly me.  Haven't I been married to this man for 5 + years?  Katie and Josh and their new dog Roxy went with us to Beaman Park, near Joelton north of Nashville.  They are still making the trails there, but it is one of our favorite places to hike.  We would love to get land near there...

There is snow on the ground... just look close.  

Dad and Baby-ro.  I don't know why he calls him that.

The Harris Family

Then, after the hike, we stopped for tacos excelente at a stand on Charlotte Rd and then over to Climb Nashville for our multi-sport day!  You know if it is a multi-sport day, then Bryce set the itinerary.  I am into multi-meal days, personally.

Smallest climber at the gym.

Then, back to our house for dinner... soup from the crock pot.  I always feel like a genius when I use the crock-pot.  And as we were eating our delicious potato, acorn squash, sausage and tomato soup I kept saying, "I am a genius!"  Humble, too. Yay for MLK Day!

Catching up...

I am forever behind in the pictures of wee one that I have to share.  

Hanging with Aunt Katie... Aunt Sarah is just out of frame singing rap songs about Eli, as always.

Enjoying a bit o' the tummy time.... until...
Mom's lack of foresight ended up with a small bump on his head.  Good job, mom.  He is still happy in this picture...but once he hit his head, I can assure you that he was not happy any longer.

Dad is multi-tasking.

Ready for bath time!  For some reason, every time I get him all de-clothed for his bath, I always bring him out for Bryce to see him, and then again when he is all wrapped up in his towel.  I heart naked baby.