I have so many little matters to tell you of, that I cannot wait any longer before I begin to put them down.
Feb 10th, 2009 by ECM
Derek left…please pray for all four of us over the next 90 hours (not that anyone’s counting)…Tommy and I had an hour-long showdown over a cheerio yesterday, I slipped down the stairs last night and wrenched my hip again (as bad as back in Dec, and the next opening with my wonderful PT isn’t til March 6!), and Derek’s not exactly the biggest fan of travel.
On the positive side, Tommy got an early Valentine from Grandma Muller yesterday–great excitement ensued!
Feb 9th, 2009 by ECM
My dear friend Ann Louise came up from St Louis for a short and sweet weekend visit–and we introduced Tommy to the joys of finger painting! (We also had great talks, took a walk in the sunshine, and watched Juno, which was excellent, but I didn’t have my camera around for those grown-up activities…)
Feb 6th, 2009 by ECM
Well, after Tommy’s morning dirty diaper, I showed him the new potty chair I bought last night (we realized that the cheapo one I bought before doesn’t have a splash guard–that’s a no go with a boy!). He immediately wanted to try it out, and once again, we had success! He clapped his hands and kept saying, “more!” So we called Daddy to tell him the good news, and now he’s getting rewarded by getting to watch youtube videos of his friend Margaret. I’m going to keep my expectations very low, but I’m excited that he’s showing interest!
Feb 5th, 2009 by ECM
Tonight Tommy asked to sit on the potty before bed–so we took off all his pj’s and diapers, and he actually went! He’s gone a couple times before when he’s in the midst of going during a diaper change, but this was a first of his own initiative. We were so excited that he got excited and started clapping and saying, “more!” and kept going! We immediately called both grandmas for more positive reinforcement. Stay tuned for whether this was an isolated incident or a turning point…
Feb 5th, 2009 by ECM
Since Derek’s going to be gone for Tommy’s second birthday, we decided to give him his present early. We were going to get him a Brio train starter set since that’s what he really wants and no one else got it for him for Christmas, but we decided to hold that off as a big brother present in May and get him something that can help him burn off energy while I’m single parenting! So far, his scooter has been a big hit! He calls it his “New Bite” (can’t say his k’s) and calls the bell “boobell” (maybe because of Bluebell the Pickup Truck at Grandpa Willett’s house?).
Feb 4th, 2009 by ECM
So today my mom’s Bible study had a play date, and Tommy was the youngest one there by a good 6 months. We moms were talking away in the kitchen when suddenly we hear crying from the playroom in the basement…I looked around and realized that three of the kids were upstairs and the cry wasn’t Tommy’s, so Tommy must have been the instigator. In the basement, neither little boy was old enough to tell us what had happened, but Luke (2 1/2) had definitely been bullied by Tommy. Tommy just looked at me as innocent as could be. I couldn’t exactly discipline him since I didn’t know what he had done to make Luke cry, but I generally told him to share and be nice. This is the second time he’s been a bully to an older and bigger kid…what is it going to be like once he gets a small, helpless sibling this spring? I’m starting to think I shouldn’t let him out of my sight. =(
Well, I’m a week away from a rather lengthy sojourn for work. When I started in September and accepted this project, we both knew that it was going to trial in February in Missoula, Montana. Yikes.
I’ll be having a fair number of ORD-DEN-MSO flights over the next several weeks. I’ve prepared to travel from February 10 until March 27. (In baseball terms, that’s basically pitchers and catchers report [Feb. 14] to opening day [April 5].) The trial will be ongoing after that, but I plan on staying behind after that point. It’s a little close to the baby’s due date for that.
That’s a long time away from home, and I know it’ll be harder for Em and Tommy. I’ll be returning most weekends, but a 36-hour whirlwind stop isn’t the most relaxing. I’ll miss Tommy’s second birthday, which falls on a Tuesday. We purchased a pair of Web cams so that we can see each other when chatting, and we’ll see how that goes. They’ll be traveling to visit friends, both around Chicago and back in Columbia, which should take a little of the edge off.
But it will definitely be a transition for us all. So, in the weeks ahead, if you could keep the family in your prayers, especially for Em’s strength and patience with Tommy. We know it’s only temporary, and it will be an extremely exciting opportunity for me–not many first-year associates get to see a trial, much less a trial as elaborate involving one of the firm’s top litigators like this one. But, we know that it will be quite trying.
That May 5th due date is really what we’re looking forward to. Sure, we might lose some sleep, but there’s nothing like spending all day at home together as a family!
Feb 3rd, 2009 by ECM
This past weekend the Nielsens came into town to go see Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde” with us! Derek and I had bad luck the one other time we saw an opera together, but this was as fun as four hours and fifty minutes of Wagner can be… =) (Though for the record, Wagner wasn’t as heavy as my Mozart-loving soul had feared…) Even more fun was seven hours of kid-free time and conversation (well, only during intermissions) with Phil and Melinda, courtesy of Hannah, who confidently fed and put an almost-3, almost-2, and almost-1 year old to bed like she does it every night!
While we were having our sophisticated night out, Tommy and Magdalene were having a blast together. A year and a day apart, they really hit it off this time (as opposed to last spring) and couldn’t stop hugging each other and holding hands. Hilarious! And Edmund managed not get squashed by either of them Saturday night or Sunday morning…
Feb 2nd, 2009 by ECM
…Twinings Lemon-Scented Tea, 
brought back from England from a sweet friend who always remembers that I can’t find it here in the States. One sip, and I’m back in Australia, 19 years old, eating fruit and fish-and-chips-without-the-fish on the beach along the Great Ocean Road, drinking tea from a thermos while discussing Elizabeth Gaskell, divine sovereignty, and God’s will for my life with Rowena, my childhood best friend who also ended up marrying a busy lawyer. Memory and our senses are beautiful things.
Jan 31st, 2009 by ECM
It’s been so cold and dreary out lately that I definitely needed comfort food this week! I tried this recipe from a master chef at my mom’s church…and it was a big hit with all of us, especially Tommy. He doesn’t like soup all the time since it’s hard for him to eat, but this is thick enough that it stays on the spoon so that he can actually get it in his mouth. The first night, he had thirds! Happy Tommy=Happy Mommy. I’m going to make this again soon!
Cheeseburger Soup
1 lb. ground chuck
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 c. shredded carrots
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. parsley
4 c. beef broth (I used bullion cubes to make mine)
4 c. diced potatoes
1/4 c. flour
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. milk
dash of pepper
(called for 3/4 c. each diced celery and chopped onion, but I didn’t have either, so I just used the garlic instead)
In a large saucepan, brown ground chuck with garlic and carrot (and celery and onion, if desired). Drain well and add basil, parsley, broth, and potatoes. Bring to boil and simmer, covered, for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are tender. Blend 1/2 cup of the milk into flour and slowly add to soup; boil for 2 minutes until thickened. Reduce heat; add remaining milk, cheese, and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts.
(Serves about 4-6, I’d say, depending on whether you have a hungry toddler!)