baby steps

While Annie and I were snacking the usual afternoon snack, Bek asked if we'd be game for a walk, which of course we were, because the afternoon walk is as much a part of our usual day as the afternoon snack, but today Bek's request caused unexpected confusion when Annie thought she'd get to walk on the walk, which she doesn't do yet - she rides in the stroller. At eleven steps between sidewalk lines, Annie isn't ready to stroll down the block. Bek proposed to Annie that "we'll go for a 'ride', and Daddy will take you outside when we're home." This would also give Bek a chance to finish up dinner. So that's the background for these pics. A sweet, sweet time with me and the Bear.

Teaching Annie the (in)famous "Melton shimmy."

two sweet moments of different kinds

Moment 1:

Last Sunday, at the start of the Eucharist Prayer, I saw two familiar figures out of the right corner of my eye: Bek and Annie. Not a surprise to see them, but a surprise to see them like this: Bek, coming back from retrieving Annie from the nursery; Annie, walking hand in hand with Mom. Bek told me later that Annie emphatically signed to her as they approached the church doors that she wanted to walk into church that day. And as I'm saying the prayers and noticing these two beautiful ladies in the back of the church, Annie notices me and my voice, starts pointing and hollering, "Daddy, Daddy!" I smiled a smile that came like a gift, and continued the Great Thanksgiving.

Moment 2:

Today. Annie and I have spent most of the day together: rolling around, chasing each other, reading books, laughing hysterically. But at the outset, as Bek prepared to leave for a continuing education class, we set about the solemn business of saying 'goodbye'. Annie has lately learned to blow kisses as she waves her byes. So Bek says, 'bye' and makes for the door. Annie takes in the situation for a moment, signals for Mom, asking a goodbye hug. As Bek picks her up, Annie turns to me, blows her kisses, calls out, 'bye!', decided to stow away with Mom. *sigh* :)

O beautiful adventure, to be Annie's Dad.

Outtakes

Photos that defy our attempts to explain them.

My wicked smaht bro-in-law, demonstrating the latest MIT research studies.

Haha. I know, a repeat. But it's that hilarious. :)

Heisman!

All right, Mr. De Mille, I'm ready...

group shot!

Group shots from our time with the Baker family at Christmas and New Year's.

Mark, Debbie, Aunt Beth, Uncle Toby, Jonathan, Bek, Bear, and Me

A New Year's Day tradition! The after-lunch musical flute symphony.

The ladies :)

Susannah, Aunt Susan, Uncle Jonathan, Debbie, Snoopy, Me, Bek, and Bear

Family Portrait: Jonathan, Mark, Debbie, Me, Bek, and Bear

the mischievous annie lyn

The first of a few sets of pics lifted from my father-in-law's camera from over the holidays. (Thanks, Mark!)

Looking for Bebo in vain. ("No, never in cold wintertime, when belly buttons hide.")

Uhoh.

back where I b-log

Hey, y'all, the pre-Christmas computer crash of 2010 is a distant memory, which is to say the new computer arrived today. There will be no vain attempt to make up the lost time, only a few high-demand pics of Annie in some Christmas outfits as we get back in the rhythm. Without further ado...

After-Christmas with the fam: a Top 10

After Christmas, we spent a couple of days with Momma and Daddy in Gonzales before flying to Cleveland for five days with the Bakers. We'll have pictures later, when the comp is up and going. For now, in no particular order, here are some things we'll remember (or want to):

10. Come and take it, we don't want it.
Cruising G-town with Mom and Dad at the Gonzales History Museum, where they have the cannon that started the war that led to Texas Independence. They have some really impressive guns at the museum, but the cannon isn't one of them. Oh well. It was the principle of the thing.
9. Coffee date in Chagrin Falls (see previous post)
8. A wii bit of golf. Not exactly St Andrew's, but Dad and I earned our stripes after tanking at virtual beer pong. And then sharing Evening Prayer.
7. Farkling with family. You can look Farkle up if you want to, but it just spoils the fun.
6. Saturday evening worship at St. Martin's, Chagrin Falls.
The service was a true consolation, the music inspired, and the Word found our ears (and hearts). Really good to meet Fr. Humphrey, one of Dad's seminary classmates.
5. Sledding the hill backwards with Beks and her bro. It wasn't on purpose. And she didn't say "farkle."
4. The A-bear's budding vocab: "gogo" (dog), "ber" (bird), "baba" (abuelo/abuela), "kakuh" (cracker), "pees" (please), "bUH" (bear), "peipuh" (paper)
3. Annie's rag-quilt; Momma's first *picture pending*
2. Laughing in the New Year with the Saylors, prayer, and Moby Dick.
1. Fried feta - as good as it sounds, only better!



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Anniversary Date

Bek and I stole away for a few hours yesterday to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We grabbed hot drinks at the Chagrin Falls' Starbucks and stared at floating pieces of broken ice in the waterfall below us; talked about important things and silly things - shared struggles and hopes - and enjoyed one another's company. We walked over to the local bookstore and rifled through children's books, a favorite pastime from before we got married. We stumbled on the Belly Button Book, which we bought for Annie. Then we walked to the grocery store, back through main street and headed home. Like so much of our shared life together, ordinary, wonderfully blessed, and remarkable time together. I thank God for the love and life we share, and for the grace by which we walk these ordinary roads with Him.


Chagrin Falls, OH


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