Baldwin Babes: Winter 2016 Edition

It's been such a long time since writing that I can only provide highlights. Will is done with his last Trauma rotation. Will has job offers. The children are extra busy. I am (still) learning to handle challenges and, when I find myself having a good day, can hardly recognize myself from a bad day.

I am still teaching. I am cleaning out our house. I am laughing that my office has been such a wreck since I started tossing papers... oh well. Comes with the cleaning out territory, I suppose.

Today I fixed soup which I give a B (I need to work on salting better... terrified of over-salting); oatmeal chocolate chip bars which I give an A-; graded; cleaned the downstairs again; took care of the children; took care of the sick husband; reminded myself to get to bed "earlier than usual".

So, hi again. Happy Advent. Here's what we've been doing for the past month...

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Days 25-29: When Three's Company (Missing Dad)

So, the end of our time in the Midwest fast approaches... I finished my classes today, and tonight will be my last night at my in-laws's house until Christmas. I love spending time with them and being here, and am also very ready to go home to Will... the girls are ready too, I think. These trips are important, though, and here's how we survive through 3+ weeks without Dad.

1. Helping Hands

As I type this post, my MIL is pushing Grace in her little tykes care, complete with noises and peeled clementines. (They're going to the "drive-in" to watch Sesame Street!) Laura is napping, and I was able to teach two classes today without once wondering how she is doing. This was the biggest reason we went home for so long - Will's Trauma schedule makes him less helpful than say, his ER schedule, and since October is a conflict-free month, we headed home for extra help and lots of loving arms.

2. Adjusting nap times

The girls still cannot sleep in the same room together well, even with the dueling sound machines. So, adjustments abound. But the bonus adjustment is ME getting a nap time occasionally (or, at least, sleeping in!!!!!!!!!!), and that alone is worth coming home for these days.

3. FaceTime

This is probably my sanity savor. If I know Will is off, I can call him to show him the madness/ cuteness. Yesterday, we chatted after my AP class and before his night shift. It was just in time to walk into the nursery where Grace and my MIL were dancing to the Wheels on the Bus. It was the cutest thing, and Will was able to see Grace dance! On the weekend, I called him while we were out to dinner with my family, and he got to see Grace walk outside while we waited for our meals. Watching her lift her right leg higher and have an improved gait was such a treat. When we left, she was walking/crawling about 55:45. Now, she's walking 95 percent of the time.

Same with Laura - she is moving and grooving, pulling herself up and babbling. She turned 8 months yesterday and is the joy of my soul. Who else laughs so hard at my funny faces? Who else smiles when she sees me? And FaceTime allows Laura to have a similar contact with Will - she recognizes her Dad and tries to grab the iPad, as if to grab onto him. 

Then, of course, we have FaceTime dates where he studies and I do school work. Long distance dates are such a need to me, and I'm so grateful for this technology! There is something about seeing someone's face when you're talking to them that is much more personal-feeling.

4. Leniency

Even though we are around more people (= more help), our schedule is still very, very different, and I need to remind myself that when I'm still stressed out, everything is okay. When I miss phone calls or am disorganized or am still behind on grading, it's okay. I'm keeping my workload at manageable, the girls are happy and it's good to spend time with family and friends. 

5. Talk About (and to) Dad

We bring up Dad in conversation every day. Grace likes seeing pictures of Dad (and says "Dada!"), and we take pictures to text him. Grace likes cell phone pictures (and will take 6 zillion of herself if left alone with the iPad!), and when he sends the girls a message, I can give them another connection to their far-away father.

Now, do the girls really know what's going on? Do they understand passage of time and that we're going to be in the car for another 12 or so hours on Sunday? Probably not. But they know who their dad is, and that's a good connection to have.

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Waiting for Goslings

Hello from Indiana! Grace, Laura and I are visiting my in-laws and following the movements of a goose family. We watch them crossing the road between two nearby ponds. I am pretending to be an amateur ornithologist.

My MIL alerted us to their existence, and we're having a wonderful time watching.

It's just lovely weather in Indiana. A bit colder tan the weather man predicted, hence the sweater, jeans and blankets on the girls.

sweater: Ann Taylor LOFT// ThredUp

sandals: Born // DSW

stroller: Delta DX Side by Side Umbrella Stroller // Babies R Us

babies: Laura and Grace // Will + Julie 

I love watching the geese. I love their Roman history of guarding homes, and I know how many people have been traumatized by being chased or hissed at by a goose... but they are so beautiful and lovely from afar, and I love how geese mate for life.  My in-laws are especially glad that there are still six goslings in the bunch, and this family has not lost any to tragedy!

During this particular encounter, my MIL went closer, expecting them to honk at her; instead, they hissed, much to Grace's delight. This morning, Grace and my MIL watched them cross the road closer to the house, and the goslings practiced hissing at them while the parents calmly kept them in check. Just a wonderful scene to behold!

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My View (vol. 20)

What I am reading: "18 Reasons Why Doctors and Lawyers Homeschool Their Children" by Kathleen Berchelmann, M.D.

This is an article, not a book. I was privately educated my entire life; Will was half-privately educated, and half-homeschooled (the ultimate private education!) from second through eighth grade. He loved it - it worked well for him. Before we got married, we discussed the possibility of homeschooling the children. I was extremely wary of it, to say the least.

I was hired last fall as a teacher for Memoria Press, for their online classical school, to teach U.S. History (6-8 grade) and AP U.S. History (9-12 grade). The school primarily caters to homeschooling families, and the more I learn about how Memoria operates, the more I think, this is way more manageable and possible! Plus, Will is an awesome teacher. He is patient, informative and always thinks of alternate ways to explain things. And us together? What a solid school!

Homeschooling is not a definite. When the time comes, I will enroll Grace in pre-school and see how she thrives. I am also in love with the Montessori school method, and would be very happy to enroll the kids in that kind of learning environment.

I did not have a bad experience in grade school or high school; but I didn't have the best experience either. I could have used more positive and personal attention from teachers, and less bullying from my classmates. I love how Dr. Berchelmann explains how their schedule works, what works for them, and how homeschooling has enriched their family life.

Besides, Grace already wants to read Will's journal articles:

Favorite eats: Kashi almond bars. Chobain yogurt. Fried chicken and rice (from The Feed Zone). Stawberries!

This week in history: Grace and I flew home yesterday to attend a funeral this morning of a very dear family member. Her death came as a complete shock. I found out via a phone call from my mother: I was sitting in the hospital cafeteria, waiting for Will to give him his dinner. Grace was in her stroller, hamming for anyone who caught her eye. I was in total shock while talking to Mom, and then began sobbing in the cafeteria after we hung up. One of Will's friends/ a fellow resident saw me and offered comfort and a chance for normal conversation to help me pull myself together before walking home. He also took Will his sandwich. I am very grateful for his kindness. Never underestimate the gratitude of comforting the sorrowful.

Also - Grace is a flying rock star. She is also a yogi and future ballerina. She didn't nap very well on the flights, but at least we arrived home in time for a short one.

I also began my online training for graduate school and teaching! Life moves pretty fast.

**

And for a laugh, this was me when my mother brought home tea cookies from Busken:


Prayers: Please keep my family in your prayers, and the soul of my mom's cousin.

Next week, I am going to: Have orientation with my students! Hire a babysitter! (Prayers for these too, please.) Grace has an evaluation for OT, and... it will be good to get home and really try to catch up on life, and all the Ignitum Today e-mails backing-up. This summer has been so, so busy, and I am glad to get some routine going. Hopefully Will and I can go play mini-golf too!

Follow the Star: We Arrived!

Radio silence after day 2, so please excuse the lack of writing for the exchange of productivity. We've arrived!! I'm taking a pause in editing/ putting away clothes to write an update. Okay fine, not so noble. I also dropped a heavy object on my foot earlier while trying not to drop a heavier object on said foot, soooo yeah. Ouchie.

Anywho.

We've arrived!!! More jazz hands. The house has serious dust settleage and praise Jesus we've had family in town to help bring everything inside, help clean-clean-clean, help assembling the unassembled, and help enjoying the move. I drove with my SIL Ellen, who is just the bee's knees. She made this move 200 percent more fun for Grace and me. Will was a champion who drove the whole way solo, and my in-laws get serious props for pulling the trailer in their truck. Nothing broke!

The house is gorgeous, albeit still being wiped down. I am glad I bought two rugs before we moved (could not resist a Mother's Day sale), and it is really fantastic seeing how our furniture fits even better in this new location.

The best part is the space. So much space. Room to breathe.

We have lots of trees and even our own garden area and porch. Our retired neighbor cuts our lawn because it is cheaper than therapy, and refuses any compensation. The hospital traffic is not bad, and I hear more trains in the distance than ambulances.

There are still boxes everywhere - the trash collectors took a nice chunk today, but there are still more to empty and breakdown. My MIL and SIL leave tomorrow (sniff), and my mom arrives on Saturday!

I will include way more pictures as we update various rooms of the house. I am pretty thrilled to be moving from "just out of school" to "hey we're a family with style and taste! and stuff!" One day we might even get to refined living.

Let's see, let's see: more on Bethlehem. We live in the historic area and it is very pretty. Nice to walk around and look at all the former steel tycoon's homes, [too] hilly, green and lush, and close enough to the downtown region. We went to mass at Holy Ghost Church and it was gorgeous. The woodwork, the statues, the tabernacle -- the 19th century Germans really outdid themselves.

Bethlehem is very ethnic - enough Hispanics to have advertisements in Spanish, a sizeable Middle Eastern presence, and it's a college town, so younger folks all around. Bethlehem's culinary scene is delicious and I've yet to be let down.

The daycare attached to St. Luke's is totally full, and apparently there are two sets of twins ahead of Grace. I'm trying to get creative, and am soo glad I have time before classes start in September. The pediatric rehab office is not getting back to me (nor did they send the papers we talked about weeks ago), which is frustrating, and I'll have to drive there tomorrow to get forms for Grace. I am in a rush because we are leaving next week for Cincinnati, and won't be back until August. Fortunately, Miss Lisa taught us well enough that I feel like she can go a month or so without formal therapy.

Oh my! And that is what is happening with the Baldwins! Will is studying for his ACLS test (advanced cardiovascular life support) for next week and picks up his white coat tomorrow and I start answering a lot of e-mails. Maybe writing too. And bathing Grace outside again, because we can. 

Thanks for staying tuned!

If You Take Your Baby To The Beach...

If you take your baby to the beach, she is going to want to be fed immediately before and after...

If you take your baby to a beach and feed her, she's still going to want your lunch...

... and your beer!

If you take your baby to the beach, be prepared to stay under the tent verses in the water. Some babies are not impressed by the Gulf, or like the wild waters, even when it's not cold water but deliciously lukewarm.

If you take your baby to the beach, after attempting to play in the water, be prepared for nap time...

... even though your baby may not nap for more than five minutes.

If you take your baby to the beach, and she refuses to nap, make sure you bring your camera -- happy memories happen just by hanging out!

If you take your baby to the beach and she won't nap, smile anyways! Family fun is the best fun.

Happy beaching, GHB!

My View (vol. 13)

We moved here last June, and as cemeteries are one of Will's and my favorite places to visit, we stopped by the oldest one: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Catholic, of course.

And so began the pilgrimage (here is a map).

If I remember correctly, this is the grave of a supposed voodoo priestess.

But mostly, a lot of family plots.

And impressive mausoleums 

It was like walking through a city of the dead...

Part of me wishes I had gone on a midnight tour around Halloween - the other part thinks, I still can! (Just in May or June).

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Saturday!

#7QT: O Larger Town of Bethlehem

{one}

Home sweet home! Grace and I flew to PA on Monday, met my MIL and found:

• a fantastic grocery store
• half-day daycare options (one super close to the hospital!)
• a house (also close to the hospital!!!!!!!!!!!)
• a beautiful historic downtown
• a few colleges
• Catholic churches
• a friend!
• lots of area to explore and scenery to enjoy - truly charming
• the Peeps factory

Little lady loved PA; she got up extra early to enjoy her time there.

{two}

A little bit about Bethlehem, PA: it was founded in 1741 on Christmas Eve by Moravians, on 500 acres of land from William Penn. Be still my little American Studies heart.

Moravians are the hipsters of Protestantism - they started their crusade 60 years before Martin Luther did, and 100 years before Henry VIII started getting busy. The founder of the Moravians was burned at the stake for heresy in 1415 so... do you think they still hold that against Catholics? Because I was hoping to find a babysitter or two on campus. Fortunately, the area was flooded with immigrants (across the river... they could not live on the 500 acres for many moons), so there are plenty o' Catholic churches in the area.

Freedom of religion, yay!

{three}

This house is going to be an adventure. Built in 1886, it is now lived in as a twin. Its gorgeous interior is in need of a paint job in some places, a bit of woodwork repair, and a few appliances - namely, a fridge, a dishwasher, and portable A/C units. Maybe it's the HGTV magazine I bought or the Young House Love book I got for my birthday, but I'm excited. The house does have a washer/dryer, more than enough space [my want/need] + a one car attached garage, and Will can walk to the emergency room [his want/need].

Front hall

Get excited for house fix-up pictures. They're coming to a blog near you.

{four}

I'm taking a free class on Dante's journey from Hell to Heaven and it starts Monday! You should join me! Starting with the Inferno, we're reading one canto a day, watching one video lecture a day, and writing one response a week. It's my summer indulgence! It's offered by Holy Apostles College & Seminary, a really incredible school.

Desperately Seeking Beatrice.

{five}

David McCullough (aaaaaaamazing historian) was asked about the five things to teach high school students. I love all of these.

It's been really great thinking about teaching in the fall. I'm looking forward to showing kids how history is more than a string of dates and events, but an intricate web of Who and What and Why. The motivation, the intrigue, the insults, the scandal and the common good. If you can memorize, cool. But if you can make connections? Even better. History is not a straight line - it's a wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey ball of people, places and things. And I love it.

{six}

More love:

The problem facing the humanities, in my view, isn’t just about the humanities. It’s about the liberal arts generally, including math, science, and economics. These form half of the so-called STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects, but if the goal of an education is simply economic advancement and technological power, those disciplines, just like the humanities, will be—and to some degree already are—subordinated to future employment and technological progress. Why shouldn’t educational institutions predominately offer classes like Business Calculus and Algebra for Nurses? Why should anyone but hobbyists and the occasional specialist take courses in astronomy, human evolution, or economic history? So, what good, if any, is the study of the liberal arts, particularly subjects like philosophy?  Why, in short, should plumbers study Plato? 

My answer is that we should strive to be a society of free people, not simply one of well-compensated managers and employees. Henry David Thoreau is as relevant as ever when he writes, “We seem to have forgotten that the expression ‘a liberal education’ originally meant among the Romans one worthy of free men; while the learning of trades and professions by which to get your livelihood merely, was considered worthy of slaves only.”

Clap clap clap for "Why I Teach Plato to Plumbers" by Scott Samuelson, The Atlantic

{seven}

I also love that learning cursive is a mind good and not just an aesthetic pleasure - like these purple tulips.

Happy weekend! Linking up with Jen! I am actively awaiting my copy of Something Other Than God to arrive...!!