All four baby birds seemed to be doing well until one evening just over a week ago. A neighborhood cat managed to jump high enough to hit the wreath and cause it to turn on its side. Two of the baby birds fell out and were eaten. After that, we decided to intervene and move the nest (and wreath) to a higher, safer location. Mama bird returned and continued caring for the remaining two birds. They have grown so big and, I expect, will be leaving the nest soon. I'm so proud! :)
Have fun! :)
I'd like to share with you a wonderful product for teaching children (and parents) American Sign Language (ASL). First, let me just say that I can't say enough good things about signing with children. It allows them an opportunity for earlier communication, decreases frustration in communication, increases their verbal vocabulary, can be instrumental for opening the door of communication for children with special needs (such as autism), promotes literacy, gives them (and you) an opportunity to communicate discreetly, is LOADS of fun--oh, I could go on and on!
We had such a wonderful time in Colorado! A big "thank you" goes out to the Bishop family, who graciously opened their home to us and blessed us with warm hospitality. Eliana, like the rest of us, was sad to leave. She is still recounting our trip to the farm and other fond memories of her new friends Caleb, Caroline and Joshua.
Mommies like new toys, too! We are now the proud owners of a blue 2005 Honda Odyssey. The girls and I will be enjoying the leather seats and other nice features tomorrow on our way to visit some friends in Longmont, Colorado. Unfortunately, the new DVD system will have to wait to be installed until after we return, but we're still very excited about it. 
As my two-and-a-half-year-old naps in her newest shark shirt and her shark house shoes wait patiently by her bed, I am called back to that day in history when I first learned that Eliana had a real passion for sharks. She was only 13-months-old at the time, and we were enjoying the Tennessee Aquarium's new saltwater exhibit with my family. Eliana took one look at the sharks swimming by and excitedly cried out, "Shark!" She was in love from that moment on. When we finally did leave the exhibit she made sure we knew how much it pained her. I bought her a shark stuffed animal when we left the aquarium. She still has it. She still loves it. She still wants more sharks.
Okay, so Evangeline's introduction to solid food brought on...mixed reactions. The day was January 5th, and our little princess was celebrating turning 6-months-old. Princesses, we know, are not big fans of change, but we lowly servants, at times, must encourage them to broaden their horizons.
The spoon certainly made a big hit. She was adamant that she, not I, would hold it. So, into the mouth it would go, where Evangeline simply intended to gum at its nice, rubbery end, when suddenly there was a taste of something new! Her face exclaimed, "What is this?! This isn't Mommy's milk! I didn't sign up for this! What are you doing to me?!" Then, after the shock wore off, her face would say, "Oh, well, I guess it's not that bad. Maybe I did overreact just a bit. Oh, look--a spoon!" and we would get to experience the fun all over again.
The past month has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to post. It's been a good kind of busy, though--visiting family and friends in Tennessee and Georgia. I'll hopefully get a chance to post some pictures in the next couple of weeks, but, until then, I'll try to entertain you with just a few of the cute things Eliana has been saying lately:
I not my name. My name is Mommy now. There are different kinds of mommies. I don't know why there are different kinds.
I love Grandma. I love Daddy. I love Eliana.
I'm such a good mommy!
Eliana has pretty, curly hair.
Kayla (her cousin), you my granddaughter.
My eyes is cold. I need to wear my sunglasses.
I don't like sleeping.
I cannot go to bed because I sick.
Don't look at me, Evangeline! I trying to eat!
Evangeline, don't look at my food!
I love you, baby sister!
I'm so proud of you, Evangeline!
I know I'm really behind, but I just couldn't continue without addressing the October 13 issue of a Santa Fe woman named Emily Gillette being kicked off a commercial flight for breastfeeding her daughter. I assume you've all heard about this, but, just in case, you can read the story here. So many things about this bother me that I don't even know where to begin. Well, I'll try anyway.
I suppose the first thing that comes to mind is, "What would I have done if it had happened to me?" After being asked to cover up with a blanket (though allegedly showing no skin, mind you) Gillette calmly declined and was then told by the flight attendant, "You're offending me." So, how would I have responded? There are really two answers to that. The first is how I think I would have most likely responded in real life. With an unmistakably red face, I would attempt to calmly and nicely say, "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but I have a legal right to breastfeed my child in this place," which is pretty much what Gillette said (and was then given the boot).
The second question to answer is, "What would I have wanted to say," or, "What might I have actually said unrestrained after a 3-hour delay at the airport with a toddler (as in Gillette's situation)?" After the line, "You're offending me," I would have felt led to respond, "Sounds like a personal problem to me."
Why is it that this still happens in America?! Since when do women not have the right to feed their babies when and where hunger strikes? Last I checked, nursing in public is legal in all 50 states, as it should be. Why should my child have to suffer, being declined comfort and nourishment, on account of someone else's hang-ups? This is just another attack on families.
And let's not overlook the obvious--that a nursing child is a quiet child. There are very few places that this becomes more important than in a small, enclosed space, such as an airplane, and especially at 10:00 at night. Is nursing discreetly really more distracting than a screaming child kept up past their bedtime adjusting to major altitude changes?
"But she was offered a blanket to cover up!" some have protested (and that doesn't scream, "I'm breastfeeding!"???). Yes, she was offered a blanket and declined. I would have declined, too. Who wants to eat with a blanket over their head? Not me, and certainly not my children. Both of my kids, like many other children, would have gone berserk if I had enclosed their heads with a blanket. Kind of defeats the purpose if the kid won't nurse with the blanket, now doesn't it? So, next time that flight attendant feels led to offer a blanket to someone so that she won't be offended she should consider putting it over her own head so that she won't have to see the *vulgarity* of a nursing child. After all, it's her problem.
This really is an honest question, though. If she's offended by the sight of this, why not simply look away? It shouldn't have been difficult, given that Mrs. Gillette was in the second-to-last row seated with her husband between her and the aisle and it was dark outside. And please don't even think for a moment that we simply cannot help ourselves from looking--that excuse doesn't fly for staring at those who are disabled or disfigured and it doesn't fly here. Yes, I nurse my child in public. No, I do not want you staring at my breasts.
Because I still desire modesty, I do my best to nurse discreetly when in public. I cannot tell you the number of people who have obviously mistaken my nursing infant for a sleeping infant, completely unaware that she was downing her lunch. This is because there is usually no part of my breast showing. Now, if you look for it long enough, it is possible that a small part of my breast may be visible for a short moment while my daughter makes the transition on/off the breast. Maybe you'll see it, maybe you won't. I'm pretty fast and pretty good at blocking--and so are most mothers who nurse in public.
Others will still whine, "But Gillette was nusing a 22-month-old!! That's a little too old if you ask me!" Well, actually, no one is asking them, and they are welcome to their opinion so long as they don't infringe upon the rights of others. I hate to break it to them, but *gasp*--BREASTS WERE MADE FOR BREASTFEEDING. I'll bet you $10 that there was a woman on that same plane with a low-cut shirt showing cleavage and, therefore, more skin than Gillette, and yet there have been no reports of this same flight attendant demonstrating her disgust over such indecent exposure and kicking unsuspecting women off of flights left and right. It's also difficult to believe that this flight attendant had never before encountered a nursing infant aboard one of her flights. I would think she must have known better than to kick a mother with an infant off a plane. After all, breastfeeding is just one of those evil necessities when it comes to newborns, but we certainly shouldn't have to put up with a toddler engaging in such disorderly conduct, right?
Actually, breastfeeding is the beautiful, God-given way for mothers to feed and comfort their small children. As for the absurd idea that breastfeeding is okay to a point, but after 6-12-18 (fill in the blank) months, it becomes obscene overnight, I'd like to point out to the ill-informed that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years.
Oh, I could go on and on, but surely I've made my point (quite a few times, right?). Our family will be flying home for Christmas soon, and you can bet I'll be nursing in flight. Don't worry, though--I'll be sure to pack an extra blanket for any flight attendant that needs to cover his or her head. ;)
I now hope to be more in touch with the blogging world again. It's good to be back. :)
Our family attended the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Friday, October 13. This annual festival, the largest of its kind in the world, is held for ten days in early October. People from all over the world come, and it is truly a sight to see! We were able to go on a day featuring special shapes balloons. We were fortunate enough to have family in town visiting during the balloon fiesta (We're so glad you could come with us, Papa and Lynne!), and we all had a great time - check it out:
We got to walk right up to the balloons.
Touching a balloon
Fragile fingers sent to heal us,Looking into the happy eyes of my baby, so unaware of all the evils in this fallen world, my heart was broken over the thought of the innocent Jesus, once a tiny baby himself, suffering so greatly for our sins. I held my little one closer. I wanted to hold baby Jesus and express my sorrow over the suffering I caused him.
Tender brow prepared for thorn,
Tiny heart whose blood will save us,
Unto us is born.
