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January 28, 2008
Meditations on a baptism
Joanna: Well, it's been over a week since the twins were baptized, and we're still pondering the vows that we took. The night before, I had trouble sleeping, thinking about the weighty responsibility symbolized by the water and the vows. Sometimes it's hard enough just to care for the physical needs of the kids, and to imagine our growing roles as spiritual trainers and examples is rather overwhelming.
Tim: The twins were baptized at Redeemer OPC church by Pastor Champness. How appropriate: he baptized Joanna almost 30 years ago. Elder Rich (Joanna's dad) was standing by us and was beaming as he watched his grandkids receive the sign and seal of the covenant of God’s grace. We pray that the Lord will equip us to raise these kids to love and obey their Lord Jesus Christ, that they will praise Him for his gift of salvation, and that they, as our brother and sister – not as our son and daughter, will ultimately see Him face to face on that great day of his returning.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 26, 2008
A fresh start
This afternoon, Tim babysat the kids while I worked on my dissertation. This is my first real venture into it since the kids were born. It's time to put the academic hat back on, too. The twins are sleeping at more regular intervals during the day, and I have a few spare moments that could be put to use. I'm also learning to multitask nearly 24/7, so maybe I can incorporate dissertation research into it. Maybe listening to music while the kids are calm? Reading while feeding?* Anyways, Tim has volunteered to watch them on a regular basis during the evenings and Saturdays so I can get some serious research done.
It helps, too, that he works at the library and can pick up some books or make a photocopy on his breaks for me.
Project of the day: a complete overhaul and reorganization of my research materials.
Rather than four disorganized files, I now have four organized file boxes:
1) non-dissertation stuff (teaching materials, unrelated classwork)
2) Oversized dissertation materials (scores, etc.)
3) General materials and research from past chapters
4) Research for current chapters (organized by general information, and then by individual composers.
(I'm starting to feel like Tim)
Now it looks clean and colorful (thanks to bright folders and a sharpie) and surprisingly appealing! Hopefully it will inspire me to use my bits and pieces of time wisely. And I'll try to blog about it to keep myself accountable (feel free to write nice comments to encourage me to keep at it, LOL!).
*it can be done thanks to this amazing pillow!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 05:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 24, 2008
What Aunt Kim Made Us
She went home today. We miss her already!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Super-Ian--caption time!
Any suggestions??
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
"I'll play mommy and you'll be the baby"
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Elanor's first smiles
We love her hippy-trippy psychadelic mushroom outfit...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 22, 2008
Baptism gown and onesie
The twins were baptized on Sunday. We're both meditating on the meaning of what happened--some of which will emerged in a blog post later. But for now, here are a couple pictures of them in their gown (Elanor) and onesie (Ian). They were made by "Nana Jane" out of remnants from my wedding dress, which she also made.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 05:19 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 21, 2008
Snow & family
Tim: My dad and sister flew down on Saturday to meet the kids for the first time. Ironically, Pittsburgh had no snow but Atlanta did! [Joanna: this doesn't look like Atlanta to me!]
Joanna: It's kind of fun to have lived in the north for a few years. Now I too can make fun of the panic that even a rumor of snow throws Georgians into. It was hilarious, too, looking at people's yards as we drove to church. Some kids had built a nearly 6 foot snow man. It must have taken several front yards worth of snow to make it. I pictured these determined little southerners who were intent on packing in a childhood's worth of snow play into one afternoon.
Tim: Their flight was delayed a little but they made it down here okay. Kim is so cute with the babies. My dad is also, but he is having trouble telling them apart. We are really going to enjoy the next few days watching them with the twins. We just hope my dad doesn’t get too mischievous with them!*
*There are a whole host of stories of dad's antics--from the times he would take off the coffee table legs to make a slide out of it for little Kim and Tim, to his antics as he babysat Tim's niece Jessica.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 01:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 20, 2008
Behold the Beer Bequeather
So! 'Twas Jonathan - Joanna's brother - who saw fit to bolster my spirit with drink, that I might face my 40th with aplomb. My pint pot shall be raised 24 times to him, for he is man who has sounded me to very depths of my gullet. And my gullet is well pleased with such goodly grog!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 08:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 19, 2008
mystery present update
Well, Tim found his present, so now I can say what it is:
24 magical beers from all around the world!
Tim said he felt like Ponce de Leon when he opened it, as if he had found the fountain of eternal youth. He certainly needs that fountain after last week's big event, hehehe.
He also feels like Amelie: "Only the opener of Tutenkamen's tomb would know how she [or in this case, he!] felt.”
Anyway, thanks to the anonymous gift giver, and we would love to thank you if only you would reveal yourself...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 03:09 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 18, 2008
A mystery present...
So...someone sent Tim a birthday present through FedEx, but it didn't come with a note in it.
He hasn't seen it yet, so I'll have to be vague about the details. But it came in two packages, with multiple items in each package. Also, it came from someone who knows Tim quite well, as far as what he loves. I had to sign for the package because of the contents.
Anyone in the blogosphere know about this?
C'est mysterieuse!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 07:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
We revert to 8 year olds...
...at the 4 AM feeding.
At 4 AM, melodramatic pronunciations of "Fart-Girl has spoken!" are hilarious.*
At 4 AM, serious etymological discussions of the best word for combination efforts on the babies' parts ensue. "Is it a bart or a furt? Barp or a furp? Burt or a farp?"
Elanor farped. Ian burted.
It must be because so much of our lives revolve around the workings of the human body these days.
*I hope the nickname doesn't haunt her later in life...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:25 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 17, 2008
Ian's first smiles
They're so ephemeral that they're hard to capture on film, but here are our first attempts!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 08:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Arm in Arm
When I set the kids down on the couch, I frequently come back to find this.
Sooooo cute! And I think it's more about love than the prevention of potential pacifier pilfering.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 08:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Our two little fireflies
Our dear friend Karen (one of Tim's best friends from college) has just created her own blog, dedicated to all things related to the cult sci-fi series Firefly. It will be fun to read even for those who aren't familiar with the series since Karen has her own lively writing style, exhibited in her monthly newsletters she sends out to friends and family.
She also made us Jayne hats for our own Jane and Jayne. They'll fit the kids for many winters to come (can't wait to take them to Pittsburgh!!!).
Thanks, Karen! And welcome to the obsessive world of blogdom!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 08:02 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 15, 2008
Last week in retrospective
Last week was a big week for us and the babies. Ian and Elanor made some huge leaps developmentally, and we had some fun visitors over the week. Pictures and stories below...
Continue reading "Last week in retrospective"
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:30 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 13, 2008
Y'all thought you were going to watch the NFL playoffs?
Other captions, anyone?
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 10, 2008
Two score and zero years ago...
...a great man was brought forth upon this earth.
Yup. It's the big one!
Happy birthday, Tim!!!!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:42 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 09, 2008
The Swing and The Swaddlers
The Swing
Tim: We've written a lot about the twins but we haven't yet written about their favorite thing - their "rainforest" swing. Aunt Martha gave us some money for this and we owe her a debt of gratitude because it is now one of OUR favorite things! We swaddle them up, place them side by side in the swing and (with their pacifiers securely anchored), they drift away into tropical torpor. It is a rainforest swing because there's a toucan, monkey, frog etc. on the fabric and it plays, get this, "rainforest music." Now, we are not professional ethnomusicologists, nor have we visited an actual rainforest, nor have we heard any authentic field recordings of "rainforest music" (if any exist), but we confess that when the music starts, we see visions merry macaws, scurrying salamanders and ambling armadillos and are tempted to curl up beside the twins to drift away into rainforest rapture. [Joanna: Yeah, and I'd love to hear the story of how Stephen Foster's Beautiful Dreamer became "authentic" rainforest music...]
The Swaddlers
Tim: Another one of our favorite things is the swaddlers the twins sleep in. They are called "Swaddle Me." When they are sound asleep in them, they look like little mummies. We like to think of them as little presents that we wrap each night, then get to open up at feeding time and then in the morning. "Look what I got - a twin! It's just what I wanted!" Then we get to watch them stretch, yawn, make funny faces and sounds. It's the best kind of gift-giving - they're free, there's one for each of us, they don't need batteries and they're fun to play with!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 06:19 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
All Hail the Teaching Company!
Tim: Come all ye who wanted to take that class in college on philosophy or history or literature but never got a chance to.
Come all ye who want to take a college course without having to pass a test or write papers or spend money for books.
Come all ye who want to learn from Ivy League professors without having to pay thousands of dollars.
Come all ye who want to take a course while driving to work or jogging or doing the dishes.
I'm one of the easiest people on earth to shop for at Christmastime or for my birthday. My wife's brain is already hardwired to ask me this question: so which Teaching Company course do you want this time? After three years of marriage she has succumbed to my obsession and has joined the ranks as a TC fan. Right now we're working through three courses - Classics of Russian Literature, A History of European Art and Victorian Britain. I have almost 30 courses now, some of which I've been through three times.
The booty from this holiday season included: Elements of Jazz (from Joanna's parents), The Life and Writings of John Milton, James Joyce's Ulysses (from Joanna to me) and The English Novel (from me to Joanna). Don't be alarmed at the prices. They put every course on sale at least once a year so most of the courses are less than $150 and many are less than $80.
Get ready…get set…learn!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 06:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 03, 2008
T's for 2: The Finished Product
So, here's the result of my earlier venture into onesies. (cute socks thanks to grandma!)
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:17 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Learning to Share
or "A Pacifier Built for Two"
Strong debate encurred before a compromise was found...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack