Sunday, January 11, 2009
Calvin Turns One!
Hello all! Calvin's first birthday is coming up and everyone is invited. Please feel free to give me a call or submit a post on the blog if you can come! Hope to see you there.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Summer has flown by. Who ever said that summer has dog days, didn't have to go back to school on August 4th. I have to say that I have loved having time with my family. I can actually see how insane I was getting at the end of the school year. I think I might be ready to go back soon, but I won't be ready to leave Calvin. Eric and I are still talking through what we want to do full time for the next year...we will keep you all posted.
Here are some pictures from the end of June and the beginning of July. Calvin is now reaching into everything. He tries to grab burritos, beer bottles, the dog. Suddenly the world just got a little smaller (and in a way bigger) for our little guy. We also have tried some more rice cereal. Calvin is definitely a Long/Visser. He loves to eat...and in no way tries to spit any out unless he is crying for some more!
Summer is HOTT!
I love sleeping...
This is my Uncle Geoff! He is going to have a baby soon. Dad said that Uncle Geoff will teach me how to kick a ball.
This is Aunt Arika. She is so beautiful and is about to have a baby. I can't wait to visit my new cousin.
Here are some pictures from the end of June and the beginning of July. Calvin is now reaching into everything. He tries to grab burritos, beer bottles, the dog. Suddenly the world just got a little smaller (and in a way bigger) for our little guy. We also have tried some more rice cereal. Calvin is definitely a Long/Visser. He loves to eat...and in no way tries to spit any out unless he is crying for some more!
Summer is HOTT!
I love sleeping...
This is my Uncle Geoff! He is going to have a baby soon. Dad said that Uncle Geoff will teach me how to kick a ball.
This is Aunt Arika. She is so beautiful and is about to have a baby. I can't wait to visit my new cousin.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Talking
Calvin is a talker. I love to hear the noises he makes all day. Calvin knows that we have a secret code that is understood through the voice. Everyday he takes on new sounds. You are hearing a bit from last week where he liked to spit while vocalizing. He went from this to dadadada daddy. Now he is on to inward talking. He takes a deep breath of air while using his voice. I always try to make the same sounds, which usually tickle my mouth. If you think about it, it does make sense that babies choose the hardest ways of making sounds. It is the most sensual/sense driven method of to make sound. Regular speaking is too easy and less fun than mouth tickles and bubbling drool. Hopefully mama will come soon.
TECHNICAL NOTE...this video clip is not down loading...I will try again later.
TECHNICAL NOTE...this video clip is not down loading...I will try again later.
Calvin's First Meal
After school ended, Calvin went in for his four month check-up. Doctor Moore gave us the very good news that we could begin feeding Calvin some rice cereal. Now this sounds like fun. You go to the store and pick out the right BPA free bowls, spoons, and organic rice cereal. You feed your child breastmilk, all the while pumping on the other side so you can mix the milk into the cereal. After a short meal (which kind makes him a bit cranky to end early), you mix the milk with the right amount of cereal. Of course before this can happen, you have to wash the bowls and the spoons as well as get Daddy ice cream so the men can eat together for pictures. All this...minutes of preparation for the first taste of real food! And what happens you ask? Does Calvin spit it out? Does he completely reject it? No, he is the son of two people who love food. Calvin can't get it fast enough, so he cries because he wants more.
No one tells you what you have to go through for the few bites. Needless to say, we haven't quite had the motivation to continue with rice cereal. Maybe I just need to get some better spoons! Hope you like the video!
No one tells you what you have to go through for the few bites. Needless to say, we haven't quite had the motivation to continue with rice cereal. Maybe I just need to get some better spoons! Hope you like the video!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Daddy's Day
Calvin has started to make more sounds. On June 11th, his babbling suddenly turned into "Dadadada daddy." Eric and I were astounded! Calvin even said it to a group of 50 elementary students at the play we were directing. It was a triumph for Daddy. Eric was elated! Right before Father's Day his son called for him. I took advantage of his love for his father in the middle of the night last night when we heard a frightened voice yelling "Dadadadada daddy!" I said, "He's calling for you" and had Eric get up instead of me. I am a little jealous, but watching Eric respond to his son is amazing. I don't know if Calvin knows his dad is called "Daddy" yet, but he is starting to get the idea that saying daddy means Eric comes to his call.
For Father's Day, we started the day at a place called The Kitchen and then travelled around Greeley taking pictures. Hope you enjoy the day!
Starting off...getting into the car.
Breakfast with Dad! There Eric was asked a couple questions...
What does Greeley need? What is amazing about Greeley?
From here, we went to a few different places that embodied the answers to these questions.
Mommy feeds me at Margies! Margies is coffee shop that has served 16th Street and the students of UNC for years. We went here because they have great pastries and because it represents the beauty of a local business helping its patrons. Margies and the Bookstop put in a huge chunk of change to make last year's Block Party work.
From here, Eric wanted a picture of The Beetle, a place where our friends and us have served Greeley. We are currently being kicked out of the building, but are moving down the block to an old bakery across the street from Romas. This place has a hand-crafted arched rafter roof (that doesn't leak) placed on top of cinder blocks with huge garage doors. This will be our new place to host bands and art shows and to live in at Atlas.
The Beetle:
Here is a picture of Eric and Calvin in The Beetle. This was a painting made by all the people in Atlas. Calvin put his feet on the picture. The idea is that we are all a group of people with different colors and styles all seeking was together to serve the people of Greeley and show them God's love. See if you can find his green footprints.
The Bakery:
This is the Kress represents the culture we hope to see continue to come to our town. Local business bringing foreign and independent films to our community. We hope to have a night out here (if they ever open).
This is what we wish to change about Greeley. This old building was a fabulous little bagel store and then a great martini/sandwich shop. The woman who owns the building pushed both thriving businesses out of Greeley. Now she has invited her friends to open a Ghost Tour/Chinese Fortune/Tarot Card shop. It is never open and sits right next to the Rio and the court house. We wish that Greeley would thrive and that businesses that don't serve and end up draining the life out of our town would leave.
Here is what Eric is most proud of. Eric had a part in building almost all the houses that you see on this street (and the ones you can't). This is Habitat for Humanity. Because of Eric, our church has had a hand in helping people into new homes that they own. This neighborhood is lively and well maintained. The people take pride in their homes! I have also included some pictures of the playground at the Habitat Neighborhood.
There were more places we wished to visit, but alas, Calvin can handle going only so long without food. From here we spent an hour hanging out at Borders and then went to church to play some music. Yes...Calvin played too. (This one is an older picture, but you get the idea.)
It was a great day!
For Father's Day, we started the day at a place called The Kitchen and then travelled around Greeley taking pictures. Hope you enjoy the day!
Starting off...getting into the car.
Breakfast with Dad! There Eric was asked a couple questions...
What does Greeley need? What is amazing about Greeley?
From here, we went to a few different places that embodied the answers to these questions.
Mommy feeds me at Margies! Margies is coffee shop that has served 16th Street and the students of UNC for years. We went here because they have great pastries and because it represents the beauty of a local business helping its patrons. Margies and the Bookstop put in a huge chunk of change to make last year's Block Party work.
From here, Eric wanted a picture of The Beetle, a place where our friends and us have served Greeley. We are currently being kicked out of the building, but are moving down the block to an old bakery across the street from Romas. This place has a hand-crafted arched rafter roof (that doesn't leak) placed on top of cinder blocks with huge garage doors. This will be our new place to host bands and art shows and to live in at Atlas.
The Beetle:
Here is a picture of Eric and Calvin in The Beetle. This was a painting made by all the people in Atlas. Calvin put his feet on the picture. The idea is that we are all a group of people with different colors and styles all seeking was together to serve the people of Greeley and show them God's love. See if you can find his green footprints.
The Bakery:
This is the Kress represents the culture we hope to see continue to come to our town. Local business bringing foreign and independent films to our community. We hope to have a night out here (if they ever open).
This is what we wish to change about Greeley. This old building was a fabulous little bagel store and then a great martini/sandwich shop. The woman who owns the building pushed both thriving businesses out of Greeley. Now she has invited her friends to open a Ghost Tour/Chinese Fortune/Tarot Card shop. It is never open and sits right next to the Rio and the court house. We wish that Greeley would thrive and that businesses that don't serve and end up draining the life out of our town would leave.
Here is what Eric is most proud of. Eric had a part in building almost all the houses that you see on this street (and the ones you can't). This is Habitat for Humanity. Because of Eric, our church has had a hand in helping people into new homes that they own. This neighborhood is lively and well maintained. The people take pride in their homes! I have also included some pictures of the playground at the Habitat Neighborhood.
There were more places we wished to visit, but alas, Calvin can handle going only so long without food. From here we spent an hour hanging out at Borders and then went to church to play some music. Yes...Calvin played too. (This one is an older picture, but you get the idea.)
It was a great day!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Routine
I know that I have been terrible about keeping you all posted about Calvin and how he has grown. Really it has been a whirlwind. It feels like just a little while ago I had my baby. The next moment I looked, I was back teaching, and now it is summer. At the end of the school year, I realized that I really didn't know my baby (at least I felt that way). That mommy guilt is a powerful thing when you go back to work. I know that it is good my son learns to trust others, but it still doesn't seem fair that I had to go back so soon. I didn't know when he ate or slept during the day. Now that I have had some time with him, I think that Eric and I have been exhausting Calvin over the weekends.
Anyway, here is my first real entry about being a mommy. I love my boy. He has always had really terrible skin. I thought it was because Eric has terrible skin...but we found out the other day that Calvin is allergic to eggs and milk. This isn't so bad now...he really can't eat these things, but I do. It has been coming through my milk and into him. Eric says that I have weaponized my breast milk. I have since given up most dairy and eggs (only the really baked stuff is okay). I actually don't miss cheese very much. Calvin now has baby smooth skin. His scratches are disappearing. He is sleeping better, and I think he is happier too.
I am including a picture of the before and after.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
It is hard being a mommy. I feel my incompetence is so exposed. I worry that I will hurt him somehow because he is so fragile. I worry about tornados. I worry about lightning. I worry about mosquitos. I worry about him a lot of the time (do all mommies do this?). And at the same time I feel I am a rock star because my son is the smiliest at me (and Eric). I feel it is the best thing in the world that I often have the magic touch when comforting him. If any of you have any advice toward this...please feel free to dish it.
I think that is all for now. I will upload a few more pictures tomorrow!
-Amy
Anyway, here is my first real entry about being a mommy. I love my boy. He has always had really terrible skin. I thought it was because Eric has terrible skin...but we found out the other day that Calvin is allergic to eggs and milk. This isn't so bad now...he really can't eat these things, but I do. It has been coming through my milk and into him. Eric says that I have weaponized my breast milk. I have since given up most dairy and eggs (only the really baked stuff is okay). I actually don't miss cheese very much. Calvin now has baby smooth skin. His scratches are disappearing. He is sleeping better, and I think he is happier too.
I am including a picture of the before and after.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
It is hard being a mommy. I feel my incompetence is so exposed. I worry that I will hurt him somehow because he is so fragile. I worry about tornados. I worry about lightning. I worry about mosquitos. I worry about him a lot of the time (do all mommies do this?). And at the same time I feel I am a rock star because my son is the smiliest at me (and Eric). I feel it is the best thing in the world that I often have the magic touch when comforting him. If any of you have any advice toward this...please feel free to dish it.
I think that is all for now. I will upload a few more pictures tomorrow!
-Amy
Monday, May 26, 2008
First Night
On January 26, 2008, we came home. I rode in the back...of course. We stopped to get some Wendy's and then headed home. Gus was a little disturbed. She really wanted to kiss Calvin all over. It was real. Calvin was home for good. I remember that we finished our meal, I wrote in my journal, and then we headed to bed (at 7 pm). That was the last time I remember actually sleeping up to now.
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