Monthly Archives: January 2008

Due Date

Posted on January 25, 2008 by juliebyers

What do you do on a due date such as this?  Today I should be bulging with belly.  I would complain with some pride about my backache and my difficulty sleeping.  I would be toying with ideas of spicy food, acupressure, sex, herbal teas, or maybe, the dreaded castor oil.  I would spend hours doing Yoga.  I would make final preparations–are those tiny cloth diapers spotless and handy?  Is that a dog hair on my chocolate Moby?  Have the ceilings been scrubbed?  Video camera charged?  Birth supplies ready?  I would be vibrating with the excitement of birth.  Would it be as beautiful this time?  Would I choose waterbirth or something different?  What new strength would I find?  What newness would I learn of God? 

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Instead, here I am–drinking caffeinated coffee with flat(ish) belly; knowing I’ve already learned new lessons and God is as with me today as he was in September.  And the strength–I have already found it and carry it with me today.  My husband already caught this baby and we have already held him.   

Today means that I can release the last breath I’ve been holding.  And breathe in the deep of the Child already given to us whose name is Peace.          

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Today’s Lessons

Posted on January 22, 2008 by juliebyers
  • Cloth wet wipes freeze into a solid brick when left in a car on a cold night.
  • Bad books at consignment stores must be purchased.  My husband needs good fire-starter.
  • I can spend too much money when Norah is asleep on my back and I’m wandering around a store for an hour and a half because I don’t want to wake her up to put her in the car.
  • My niece, Ryleigh, has the most twinkly (or is it “twinkliest?”) eyes on the planet. 
  • Husbands are oh-so-handy for repairing chair legs and opening wine bottles when someone breaks the corkscrew in the cork.  And, had to add one more–just in–finding creative ways to conserve energy in the house.        
  • Baskets make fabulous roller skates.

skates-002.jpg

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Mimicry

Posted on January 17, 2008 by juliebyers

Scott and I indulged in unintentional mimicry last night.  In our pre-parent times, when we lived on an escarpment above Albany, we had a standard date night:  chips/salsa at Chili’s, coffee/book-buying at Borders, and then the treacherous winding climb home. 

Helderberg Escarpment

For last night’s date, our plans went awry and before we knew it, we were sitting in Chili’s; a place I love only for salsa.  Unable to help it, we gravitated to B&N.  The coffee was not wonderful and–ahem–not fairly traded.  Like old times, I found myself on the floor passionately gazing at the poetry shelves. I could buy a book.  Which one?  I chose to pass over my beloveds.  I pushed Neruda back in place.  I lingered for a moment on Clifton, Sarton, Levertov, and Oliver.  Atwood held me for a breathless second.  I refused to make eye contact with Rilke–he is too powerful and would overcome my intent for new words.  Without looking back, I snatched Anne Carson’s The Beauty of the Husband.  Someone new!  Would I like her?  Would she me?  Clutching her in my hands, I sat in the car as we drove in the snow (also a frequent occurence on NY dates).  In the warmth of home, I absorbed her words:

Beauty convinces.  You know beauty makes sex possible. 

Beauty makes sex sex.

You if anyone grasp this–hush, let’s pass

to natural situations.

Other species, which are not poisonous, often have colorations and patterns

similar to poisonous species. 

This imitation of a poisonous by a nonpoisonous species is called mimicry.

My husband was no mimic.   

Off to a promising start.

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To the unknown woman in the parking lot: a public apology

Posted on January 16, 2008 by juliebyers

Granted, um, she probably doesn’t read my blog.  Still. 

Today at the mega-store-which-shall-remain-unnamed (it was the closest place to buy printer ink), I saw a mom in the parking lot.  She was parked next to me.  I had Norah wrapped on my back.  She was juggling two small children and leaning into her car to pull out an infant in a carseat carrier. 

I commented on her adorable son who was wearing a superhero costume complete with cape.  Very snazzy.   

She commented on my wrap.  Very clever. 

I said something stupid like, “Looks like you could use one.  Those things are so heavy to lug around.”  Why?  Why did I feel the need to say that?  Why didn’t I go get a shopping cart for her instead?  I had been working on babywearing pros all day in preparation for my Babywearing 101 class tonight and it warped my brain or something.  I am sorry.  I am an idiot. 

If you see her, please tell her, ok?  

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Treehugger

Posted on January 13, 2008 by juliebyers
hiking-with-norah-011208-007.jpg

hiking-with-norah-011208-010.jpgI was in Chicago this weekend (my first time away from Norah).  Scott and the Bean jumped at the chance for daddy/daughter adventure which, of course, means hiking.  Norah rode in the backpack for the ascent but she chose to walk back down the trail which tripled their time.  Scott says she stopped to hug trees all the way.  “Nice tree.  Hug it.  Kiss it. Love it.”  Is anyone surprised?

My Chicago trip included much late night giggling with my sister, some daddy/daughter adventure of my own, and opportunities to annoy my new brother-in-law (and boot him out of his bed so Noelle and I could enjoy late night giggling).  Only with my sister can I discuss theology, diva cups, and poetry in the same conversation.

Scott left us sleeping this morning to go boating.  It must have rained while I was away… 

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Surprised by small things

Posted on January 10, 2008 by juliebyers

My friend, Laura, recently introduced me to the wonders of spaghetti squash.  What an amazing vegetable!  Who knew squash could masquerade as pasta?  Is my enthusiasm naive?  Does everyone know about spaghetti squash?  Laura taught me her culinary ways:  Slice in half (not easy–imagine arm muscle on the pumpkin carving scale), scrape out the guts, boil 20-30 minutes, submerge in cold water.  Then the fun:  scrape with a fork and watch the spaghetti pile up on your plate.  I tossed mine with some pesto sauce.  The Creator is incredible.  What a surprise he crafted in this mundane-looking yellow veggie!  How he must delight in small things (like me).   

Well, that is about all I have the energy to blog.  I had a birth last night and the need for some sleep is muddling my brain.  I can happily report that an unmedicated woman gave birth to a peachy perfect, alert baby last night.  And it was her first time.  And it was in a hospital.  Birth.  Yep, good stuff. 

Small things.

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Moonshadow

Posted on January 8, 2008 by juliebyers

The beauty I have seen today:

  • A sweet postpartum mama and her precious 6 week old.  It is an incredible experience to watch a couple become parents. 
  • Norah dancing around the house in her polka dot undies singing Moonshadow.
  • My friend Laura’s campus Bible study and her unfathomable care for others. 
  • A two-year old’s positive thinking while on the potty:  “Poopy, come out.  Come out, poopy.”
  • The amazing play table Scott built for Norah’s dollhouse.  Wow.

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And the ugly:

  • An advertisement for a local pregnancy seminar:  So You Think You’re Smarter Than Your OB/GYN? taught by an OB, of course.
  • A grocery store scene.  I hate witnessing those. 
  • Words I said.  I squirted tart in a friend’s eye. 
  • My hair.  Um, I really need to wash it.  Really. 

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Play Day

Posted on January 4, 2008 by juliebyers

Today was babywearing day which is Norah’s big social event of each month.  The Clemson group lasted four hours this time!  Our spur-of-the-moment topic (great to have two procrastinators as leaders) was “How to Get A Baby on Your Back.”  There was much slinging and tossing of tots.  We made a new friend.  The hit of the Clemson group was Jackson’s tin of wooden pineapples. 

The Greenville group topic was “Wearing Your Podaegi” (because we all have a podaegi lying around, right?).  Carey showed us different ways to use the podaegi.  Kawani brought her boys’ playsilks and Norah brought hers.  playsilks-004.jpg

The kids ran about with various capes, skirts, togas looking like a blissful band of gypsies.  I really didn’t believe Norah would play with the silks.  In the astounding way only a child can be, she becomes incredibly creative with the way she uses them:  sling, baby, water, campfire, lion mane, hat, dress, hiding place.  I’m sold.        

Scott and I spent what was left of the evening with our new ritual–watching Heroes on Netflix and eating popcorn (made on the stove with coconut oil and sea salt–mmm mmm good).  I cannot believe I’m hooked on a TV series.  This is what comes of reading too much nonfiction.  I’m hungry for story.

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Peace

Posted on January 1, 2008 by juliebyers

My dear friend, her husband, and three young boys are serving in Kenya.  As violence and unrest follow the election results, please remember this family and the people they serve.  Pray for safety, for access to food and supplies, and most importantly, for opportunity to enact Love among their neighbors.  May Peace bloom in parched hearts. 

Beauty and Grace are performed whether or not we will sense them, the least we can do is try to be there.  –Annie Dillard

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