Testing the New Camcorder

We received a new camcorder for Christmas, and here's a test video of Claire, who will be the main attraction of all future videos. I'm not sure if the sound will work, so you'll see her rolling to get into trouble (she does this instead of crawling at this point). I'm also telling her, "No, no," as she tries to pull books off the shelf. She actually DOES listen...well at least momentarily!

Visit to Washington

Chistmas and New Year Update

We arrived home on Monday from Washington, had one day to regroup, and then back to work on Wednesday. We had a wonderful visit in Washington, lots of rain, but we enjoy the time to visit with my parents and siblings and their families. My parents recently finished a family/rec room addition to their house which was a perfect place for all nine grandchildren and ten adults to hang out (especially in the leather couches in front of the new flat screen TV!). Claire thrived on all the attention from her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In addition to Christmas, we had a meaningful weekend after Christmas as we celebrated Claire's baptism. Nate's mom flew in for the occasion, and my parents and sister surprised us by having her fly in as well. Having so much of our family present as we acknowledged God's grace to us through the gift of Claire and her belonging to the greater family of God made for a moving and precious day.

A Holiday Tradition

I often tease my mother about her love for "knick knacks," but I am glad that she likes Christmas ornaments or else we wouldn't have anything interesting to hang on our tree. While we were growing up every year my mom would buy each of us a new ornament and mark it with our names and the date. (The oldest "surviving" one I now have is from 1981.) When we were officially "on our own," she gave each of us all of our ornaments from the years gone by. As a result, every year when I get the ornaments out and decorate the tree, I have a connected feeling to my family and to all the Christmases past that I decorated trees with my siblings (which my mom redecorated after we went to bed). I'd like for Claire to experience the same tradition, so I bought her first ornament (the silver frame on the left--yet to get a picture). The bell on the right is my ornament from 1982, when I was 8!

The Cloth versus Disposable Debate

Yes, that's my washer with cloth diapering materials piled on it. A few weeks ago as I hauled yet another garbage bag filled with disposables to the trash bins, I decided I was ready to make the leap to cloth diapers. When Claire was first born, the idea seemed too overwhelming in addition to all the other parts of the new baby world we had to figure out. Now, however, inspired by my friend Elisabeth, I feel like I can do my part to help the environment and our budget by using cloth while we are at home. (I don't use them overnight, when she's at daycare, or when we are running around town.) I did a little research online, got totally overwhelmed by the cloth diaper marketing machine, called Elisabeth for some perspective, and decided to keep it as simple as possible. So far, so good. It is a little extra work, but when I'm at home in the afternoons it's nothing we can't handle. By the way, my other "green" crusade lately has been using these great reusable grocery sacks instead of the plastic ones you get at the store. Nothing revolutionary, a little extra effort, but we all have to start somewhere, right? (Those of you who lived with me at Auburn may be remembering the water saving plan I implemented in the toilets right now. I think these are a little more practical!)

Early Christmas with Nema

Nate's mom was here this past weekend for an early Christmas as we will be travelling to Washington this year for the Holidays. We had a great long weekend together, and, as usual, she spoiled ALL of us rotten--not just Claire. This time we don't have to wait long for the next visit as she'll be joining us in WA for Claire's baptism on December 30.

We all took a hike together in some winter weather on Saturday. This is Nate with his mom and Claire.

Nema and Claire playing with one of her new toys.

Susan, Claire and I went swimming on Friday afternoon after some errands. Claire loves the water. Isn't she cute in her little suit?

Christmas Stroll and "I Want My Mommy!"

Last night Nate and I decided to attend the Three Forks Christmas Stroll for the first time despite the 10 degree temperature. We didn't have high expectations (good thing!) as downtown Three Forks is an eclectic (but not "hip" eclectic) mix of businesses; however, we figured we could at least give it a try. We bundled Claire up in her down snowsuit, threw on our long underwear, and headed into town. Half-way there I realized we forgot the Baby Bjorn and would have to use the stroller on the icy sidewalks, and I also forgot the flyer with all the information on where all the festivities were located. Regardless, we didn't turn around. I don't have much to report in terms of highlights, unless you count a cheerful glass of Wassail (what is that stuff anyway? warmed up Tang?) and a fine culinary experience at the "Taste of Three Forks" which consisted of meat, more meat, meat, and a potato. I don't mean to paint a dismal picture of Three Forks; it's just not where you'd head for any kind of cultural experience...though Nate likes to remind me it has potential. The picture is blurred, probably because my teeth were chattering.

Claire and I did spend a nice Friday afternoon at the Bozeman Hot Springs swimming with my mom's group. She was quite the little water skipper, and after a week of sickness in our house, the soak felt great. The "I Want My Mommy" comes from the rough week we had of being sick while trying to care for a baby. I called my mom and told her I really, really wished she lived closer this week!!