Terminal

Last night, Greg and I watched the movie "Terminal", starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones and directed by Stephen Spielburg. It was way better than I expected. From the synopsis on the back of the jacket, it didin't seem to be like much of a story, but it was very funny, touching, and alltogether a really good story, acted out by great actors.

Usually I shy away from movie reccomendations, since different people are sensitive to different stuff, but I think this one would largely appeal to a broad audience.

Dangerous Cold

This morning Andrew and I had plans to walk down the street (1-1/2 blocks away) to the Scrapbook Nook, a little scrapbooking botique, to get some supplies so that I could work on some Christmas presents. Our plans are no longer though, as I found that it is -19 degrees outside. OHMYGOSH! I forgot how cold it gets up here. As I sit by the computer, which is facing a large window, I can feel the frigid air seeping in, making me shiver even in my sweatpants and hoodie. Craziness, I tell you! Greg only has a half day today though, so I'll be able to drive there around lunchtime.

All about Tiny

In the past two weeks I've started to feel the baby move. At first I wasn't sure, but now there's been times when it's unmistakable. The baby is about 5 inches sitting height (the way they measure them until they're born), and getting stronger and more active all the time, so I know I'll be feeling more than I want pretty soon!

Up until now, it's been very difficult for me to connect emotionally with this baby. I felt bad about it at first, because I was attached to Andrew right away within the first week of discovering that I was pregnant. When I talked to my mom about it, she pointed out that at this point the baby is only making my life more difficult, and I already have Andrew to pour all my attention and love into. She assured me that in time, everything would work out.

Today was the first day that I felt real love for this baby. That sounds terrible, but the only way I can explain is that before now, I've simply felt nothing towards it personally. It's just been a pregnancy, and even that I've hardly been able to really believe, so it's not been all that real to me on any level. Today though, I was sitting in the car while Greg was doing some Christmas shopping. Andrew was sleeping in the back and I was reading a book. Suddenly I felt the baby flip around, and at that moment I felt this pulse of love for the little person.

I can hardly recapture the feeling even now as I write this, but I know that I felt it, and I know that the feeling will grow as the baby does, and soon I will be just as full of love for this person as I am for Andrew.

Oh Wow

Hey everyone! My appologies to everyone for not keeping in touch a little better (for those of you who actually check this blog regularly). Although I have to say, I don't know anyone else who shares their lives as often as we do. But that's another topic for another day.

Our big news: we have a new addition to our family! The little person will be making their apperance sometime around mid-June. Just to clear things up: we will not find out the gender beforehand, so you just have to wait. Also, we will decide on names, but will not tell you until the person is born. So once again, you'll just have to wait. Interestingly enough, the "just have to wait" idea has now become a trend among celebrities, and I think it's because of our bright and shining example. The element of suprise is back in style!

For a few months, Greg and I had ben considering the idea of adding someone to the family. We happen to like Andrew quite a bit, and also, he's just so damn cute. So at some point, I finally came to the point where I said, yes, I think we should start "trying" soon.

I went to the doctor for an unrelated thing (my arms have been itchy all summer -- sun allergies or something!! [?]). While there, I just told him any symptom I could think of that I had, and he decided to run a series of tests just to rule things out. Army doctors are funded like crazy, and we don't have to pay them anything, so they like to just do all kinds of stuff if you let them. One of these tests was a pregancy test.

After my visit, I told Greg about the various tests, and we went on with our day. The next morning I woke up to a message on my cell phone "Mrs. Darling, the reason you have these symptoms is because you are pregnant." I couldn't believe it, so I had to listen to the message a bunch of times (5 times actually, I counted) before I would call Greg. OHMYGOSH! So as it turns out, while I was considering getting pregnant in the near future, I already was! I called the doctor just to hear it "live" he confirmed it, probably while making "koo-koo" signs to the nearby nurses ("These crazy pregnant people!")

So that's that! As of this week's Thursday I will be 15 weeks pregnant.

Click here to see an ultrasound of a 14 week baby

Roselle Family 2004

familypic
Originally uploaded by faithdarling.

This picture was taken just after Thanksgiving. A whole lot of anguish to set up, but worth it in the end. From the looks on our faces, you'd never know! =)

Broom County

I am 28% Broome County!
It's the new quiz, find out your score at: www.ripnetwork.com

Discover!

Today, I decided to take Andrew to the Discovery Center. We invited Theresa Boyer and her three kids, Asher, Emma and Judah to come along. Unfortunately Greg couldn't make it because he was rabbit hunting that day.

The Discovery Center is a children's learning center that's sort of a museum-turned huge play-area. It's really cool, and has stuff for all age groups starting at probably 9 months or so up through around 12 years old.

All the kids loved the water room, which has big tubs of soapy water, bubble making equiptment and water/bath toys, as well as a huge, plexi-glass encased fish pond. It was the first room we hit when we got there, and we could hardly get them all to move on and check all the other stuff out!

There was this tunnel that had shelves behind windows with all kinds of interesting things in it, but Andrew was the most interested in the large, hollow, plastic "stones", which he threw all over the place, nearly hitting a two-year-old girl who had come over to play with them too -- good thing I was right there! =0

Another highlight of the day was the kid-sized Giant supermarket (a popular chain in this area), complete with plastic fruits and vegetables, and real (although empty) Milk cartons, cereal boxes, etc. Andrew thought that the fruit and vegetables were balls to throw, Judah (three weeks younger) headed straight for the milk, filling his little shopping cart with that, while Asher and Emma (4 and 3) perused the store thoughtfully and then tried to get the register and conveyer belt to work. Andrew also really liked the register; there's a stepstool next to it for short people like him, and all the keys are locked so they make a satisfying "beep" no matter where you strike.

Andrew had an outstanding time with his little friends, and they all fell asleep in the car on the way home. Andrew was so tired that he actually stayed asleep while I transferred him to his crib and continued to nap for another two hours! We will definitely go again, and this time we'll make it a full family event with both Pat, Theresa's husband, and Greg.

Homebirth Explained

Why would you?

This article outlines some of the basic reasons why, once again, I am choosing to give birth at home.

Check Out This Music

Here's what's been in my stereo this past week:

Brother Danielson: Brother is to Son
Toby Mac: Welcome to Diverse City
Del Castillo: Vida
Jet: Get Born
The Von Bondies: Pawn Shop Heart
Psyopus: Ideas of Reference
Vomitorial Corpulence: Skin Stripper
Old Crow Medicine Show:
DJ Micro: Out Through the Input
Converge: You Fail Me
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza: The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza


Greg

Bookworm

Today, for the very first time, Andrew sat with me through an entire book. Admittedly, it was the short little baby-board-book that the Stilwells gave him, but still, it's a new thing. Not only did he sit through it once, but he wanted me to read it to him 2 more times, and then he "read" it to me ("ha-ga-ga, ha-da-da, da-ta-ta-ta-ta", etc.) I look forward to reading to him adventure books as he gets older, just like my mom did with my siblings and me.

Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya

Andrew talking to me about wanting more crackers, eating the crackers, and happily discussing his sippy-cup of water.

Dedication/Party

dedication01
Originally uploaded by faithdarling.

Lisa took this shot with her camera phone. Technology these days! =)

The Party

I had sworn to myself that I wouldn't be like most new moms and have this crazy huge party for their poor, exausted little guy who just wants his mommy, but somewhere in the planning it kind of got away from us. Mostly, the problem is, we love people, we love parties, and any excuse to celebrate is a good one. Also, my parents are such gracious hosts, and on top of that I needed a way to be able to eat some of Lisa and Joycee's chicken curry. (Apparently they make it for everyone else all the time, but somehow I'm never around at the right moment.) (Not that I hold this against them or anything. *wink*)

Andrew won't remember the party anyway, but he seemed to be enjoying himself. (Well, except for after he opened all the gifts and was in sore need of a nap -- check out the last few shots in the birthday photo album on the funtigo site).

The little guy loves his new clothes and toys. Of course, while opening presents, he found the tape and paper the most interesting -- that is, until he opened his dinnerware set from Jane. After that he wouldn't put down the bowl for anything, and evedently it was super fun to turn it over and over, put it on his head, play peek-a-boo with it, bang in on stuff, etc. Babies are funny creatures, I tell ya.

As a suprise to most, Sarah Stilwell and her mom, Ruth Ann, showed up for church and the party afterwards. It was so great to have them there, not in the least because we've never had to throw a big party without Sarah yet. =) (Sarah was our cheif organizer for such events before she graduated from BU this Summer and left us for greener pastures.) Seriously though, we've missed her...I've missed her, and I'm so glad she was able to come.

An even bigger suprise came when some of my friends from New Jersey pulled into the driveway! Kristy, Matt and Katie Tobias have been our friends since...probably since I was about 2 or 3, and they drove all the way from NJ just for Andrew's party! So cool! Kristy also brought her two babies, Eliana and Gabrial, who are super cute.

Thank you so much to everyone who showed up and made Andrew's first party a great success. We were honored that so many of you were able to be with us as we celebrated Andrew's first birthday and dedicated him to God.

A birthday hope

Well, tomorrow is Andrew's party. I believe everything is in order and set to go, but of course there's always something at the last moment. I really really hope that Andrew has a good time as well as everyone else. First birthday parties have a way of going awry. Ah well. We shall hope for the best.

Bathtime 2

Listen for Andrew saying "uh-oh" numerous times as he drops his toy over the side of the bathtub.

Bathtime 1

Question?

The sound Andrew makes at the beginning of this clip is the "question" sound that I hear ALL the time...ALL day...OVER and OVER and OVER...

Our family website

Click to go back to our family photo website:
faithdarling

The Darling men

myboys
Originally uploaded by faithdarling.

This was taken on Andrew's birthday at the Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra show that we saw.

Andrew playing with blocks (created just for him by Keith).

Birthday Moments

Andrew just had his first birthday. Why is that so hard for me to believe? Well first of all, the past two years has flown by faster than ever. I got pregnant in November of 2002, Greg deployed to Afganistan in May of 2003, Andrew was born 4 short months later, on September 3rd. From there, it's been sleep deprivation (for me), hours and hours of nursing (in the first few months, it was 1/2 hour feedings about 8 times a day -- that's 4 hours a day!), thousands of diapers, more learning (the wild ride of motherhood), and tons of communication (the stuff having a baby does to your marriage!). No wonder I can hardly remember any of it! From what I can remember though, it's been good. Hard but good. And its' such a great feeling to look at Andrew and be able to say, "I really like this person. He's very cool." I'll be spending the next 17 or 18 years of my life with him, so that's a good thing to realize.

Andrew is almost walking. Sometimes when he's not paying attention, he'll stand by himself while studying something in his hands. Today he squatted down to pick up a football, then stood up. When we all cheered for him, he looked kind of surprised, but then just went for it and clapped for himself as well.

He says "Uh-oh!", "Hi-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!" (hello), "Da-g-g-g-g" (dog). He loves to play with my cell phone (he's only allowed to when it's off -- radiation!). He'll flip it open and say "Hi-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!", looking all pleased. However, if I put him on the phone with a real live person, he shrieks at me and pushes the phone away. Oh well. No performances here, it's the real deal or nothing at all!

For his birthday on Friday, Greg, Jill (Greg's mom), Joycee, Jom and Sebastian went to downtown Binghamton to see this swingin' big band play called George Gee and the Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra (georgegee.com). A section of the main drag was closed off for it, and before the show there was a swing dance lesson, so there was all kinds of dancing going on during the show, and it was great fun. Unfortunately, Joycee had just given blood that day, so that was her excuse for not dancing, and Sebastian was scared, but besides that we all jumped in with both feet. Afterwards, we went to J. Michaels, a restaurant Hannah works at, where she served us tasty desserts. To finish off the night, we went to The Olde Tea House, a Japanese tea house chain that serves something called Bubble Tea, among other things, which is a tea slushy with tapioca balls in the bottom. Super good. We ended up getting home at around 12:30am, and Andrew almost made it through the whole night (he fell asleep in the car on the way back).

Andrew's comments about the war and the English language as he ponders the meaning of life.

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