Poop Extravaganza

I guess I'll just share a little Ohio story.

John and I were a bit fearful of another poop explosion on the plane, so we were as prepared as we could be. Which is basically no more prepared than a normal mom and dad with a three month old. Diaper, wipes, change of clothes. What else could we need?

We were still in the Canton/Akron airport. We'd only be there for about 30 minutes. Going through security is a challenge while holding a wee baby. John had to help me get my jacket off. He had to help me put my shoes in the bin. I mean, who's the baby here?

I was feeling like John forgot about us as the security guy tried to get me to come through the metal detector and I waited for John to help me and the people behind us waited for us to get our act together. It's just too much pressure.

I looked down as I felt a wetness on my hand (this happens often and I never know what it's going to be), and discover that poop is all over my shirt, up Maryn's back, down her leg, and all over her cute Christmas pajamas that are John's favorite. But I had to still get all my stuff and put half of my clothes back on (shoes, purse, jacket, diaper bag, Moby wrap). And not draw attention to the poop that was all over me.

All I have to say is, thank God for family restrooms. Except that someone walked in on us while I was going to the bathroom. Super.

just one of them days

I just laid Maryn down in her bed for the night...hopefully it will last longer than 20 minutes. I'm not lying down in bed myself yet because I'm sure I'll need to rescue her before long. But I don't mind being her hero, and I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

I know I should post about Christmas and how it went. I should post about how I feel to be home again. But I don't feel like doing either. I could post pictures, but I don't feel like doing that, either. If you want to see them, you can look at my Facebook. I'd put a link here but I don't feel like doing that, either.

Oh, what a beautiful world.

secrets :)

I love to read my own blog.

I want my photos to be a lot better and sometimes think a big fancy camera could do that for me.

I often go on facebook and look at my own pictures for a while.

I wish the electricity would go out more often so that my family and I would spend more time being really together.

I think the right side of my body, face included, is mostly retarded.

When I'm annoyed or angry, I often let out a big sigh instead of really saying what I'm feeling.

Sometimes I want to spend $1,000 at Macy's and other times I think life would just be easier if I had fewer possessions.

I could stare at my baby for 20 hours without sleeping or eating.

I don't wash my hands every time I go to the bathroom when I'm at home.

I want Maryn to be 3 months old for a year or so. I want to slow down this process.

Reunions and New Friends

Maryn's new friend, Giovanna, who is 8 weeks old.

She is the daughter of my friends (BFFs!) Kendra and Richard,

who I know from college.

This is Marc, who John hasn't seen since college, and his

little boy, Ethan, who is one year old and expecting

a baby brother or sister in August.

This is the possessed version of my sister, Colleen,

and Maryn. Colleen is most likely attending

Eastern Michigan University next fall.

This is my cousin Drew, who was pretty much

like my brother growing up. He's the son

of my aunt Cathy, who you see post comments here

all the time.

The trap of self-pity

Have you ever felt that God was trying to teach you something? First, the lesson begins as a faint whisper, then it begins to repeat, and then it shouts. Until you can ignore it no longer.

I have revisited this topic several times, and it's one I feel strongly about. Because I fall into it myself so often, and I am annoyed when I see it in others as well. It's the trap of self-pity, which is ultimately a sin of pride, selfishness, ungratefulness.

It all began this past Tuesday with an episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8, of course. Now that the Gosselins have quite a bit of money now, considering the 8 kids and all, they decided to give this Christmas instead of just receive. They are passionate about raising money for kids with cancer, and decided to donate gifts and more to Saint Jude's. I didn't realize how amazing St. Jude's really is. Everything is paid for. A child is never turned down. All cancer patients receive treatment, and the parents never even have the stress of seeing a bill or a co-pay. It costs 1.3 million dollars just to run the hospital for ONE day.

Kate decided to give to this cause because she's so grateful that all eight of her children are healthy. One expression she said really sticks with me, "I'm eight for eight." 100% of her kids are healthy. That's something to be grateful for. When some people in her situation could be feeling sorry for themselves.

But some of these children with cancer could be feeling sorry for themselves, and so could their parents. Surprisingly, most are not.

I have been confronted with many other instances where people, by the world's standards, should feel pretty sorry for themselves. But they don't. The people living in the poorest neighborhoods seem to be the most likely to help others. Why is that? Why aren't I more helpful? Why am I not satisfied with my circumstances at times?

I have been reminded of so many instances in the Bible just this week where self-pity is not tolerated. Jesus was not a man to pity anyone. God is not a god of self-pity. Sure, He's our Comforter, our Great Physician, but He's going to tell you, "Take up your mat and walk," not "You poor thing! I will sit here and listen to you whine for four hours about your terrible life!"

Just read almost any Bible story. Elijah, Elijah and the widow, Jesus healing the blind man, Ezekiel, Hosea, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Rahab, Hagar, Esau. God would almost always say things like, "GO!" Not, "OK, let's just sit here and cry for a while." All right, so I don't think God ever encouraged anyone to sit around and be depressed.

Bundled Baby

We arrived in Orrville this morning at about 1:00. We got about four hours of sleep lastnight. I know that most of you were sitting on the edge of your seat to find out how our flight went and how things have gone so far. Well, the flights went very well aside from Maryn pooping all over the place. We had to change her diaper on the plane. She's been sleeping more than she ever has before! I hope she sleeps tonight.

Today my mom and I went to Beuhler's and Goodwill and I only saw three people I knew from high school somehow, and I even saw my dad just by chance. Oh, the joys of a small town! We bought the family I told you all about a bunch of great clothes at Goodwill.

Here is a picture of Grandpa JR meeting his first grandbaby. He's a 38 year old grandfather. Interesting, huh?

one kid and counting

It is a little known fact that I have already had visions of Maryn having a little sister or brother. That's when God brought Tommy and Sammy into my life. Bethany hooked me up with a sweet, sweet family that desperately needed a babysitter for their one year old boy and four year old boy, this evening from 3:30-6:30. The boys were great. It was weird to change big diapers on a boy, no doubt. But handling a one year old and a three month old was no easy task. Obviously, I can only carry one at a time. So going from one room or one floor to another is pretty difficult. Not to mention they each tended to cry whenever I left them. I was bouncing Maryn, feeding Tommy, and watching Sammy throw macaroni and cheese everywhere. OK. So maybe the Duggar life (sorry, TLC reference there. Some of you might not get that.) isn't for me.

I ended up paying A LOT of attention to Tommy and Sammy for those three hours while Maryn laid around patiently, watching and listening to her bouncy, noisy, flashing light-up toys. I watched my baby across the room, longing for her sweet baby hugs. When the boys were gone, I showered her with kisses and lots of love. She's such a doll. And now I kind of understand the mommy dilemma when the second child is born and the first baby is no longer the "baby." Also that the one or two year old will inevitably require more attention. I think it would be kind of sad, and that I think I can wait a little bit longer for the next Erdman.

Here are some pictures of Maryn and her adventures with the beloved Mr. Greenbear. And my new haircut.

Miscellaneous

Maryn is sleeping in her bed! Hallelujah!



The cookie exchange went extremely well and I've been eating cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mmmmh, yummy.



I haven't gained any holiday weight yet. I must plan our next child so that I am breastfeeding for as many Christmases and Thanksgivings as possible. It's a fabulous weight loss plan.



We went to The Living Christmas Trees lastnight, which was great. I was thankful that I got to sit in the nursing room, because it's like my own personal theater. I can eat, drink, go to the bathroom when I want to. I think I'll bring popcorn to the service tomorrow night. The Living Christmas Trees is our church's annual Christmas program that's anything but traditional. There's so much talent in our church, it's unbelievable. It's called the Living Christmas Trees because the choir stands on tree-shaped stands, which looks really scary, awkward, and like a safety hazard to me, but I guess tradition is tradition.



Maryn took a ride in her Moby wrap today facing forward for the first time! I know that's not that exciting to you, but it's just another milestone I've been waiting for. She looks like a cute little joey (baby kangaroo) in it!



Sorry I don't have any pictures of my beautiful angel child to be the highlight of your day. Our camera's batteries have worn out. Must get new ones fast.



We'll be in Ohio in less than four days!

Good Books

I encourage you all to check out Tim Challies' blog for some good books to read this year and maybe add to your Christmas list. This guy knows what he's talking about. You all probably know by now that you can't just look at the "Christian" bookstores' best sellers lists. Ha. Whatta joke. Kind of like the "positive, uplifting" radio stations.

www.challies.com

poop patrol

Today I am frosting Christmas cookies. My Christmas cookies turned out better than they ever have before. I ate one and felt sick. I don't know what my problem is lately. But it was good and it was worth it.

I think I'm getting better with the camera. I took these pictures today with absolutely no effort. The bottom one is after walking with Stacie and London this morning. She's hugging Mr. Greenbear and looking at me like, "Get me out of this thing already!"

She has been so amazing. She's just sitting on my lap now as I type, and she sat in her bouncy for an hour while I frosted cookies. So this mom thing isn't so bad afterall.

EXCEPT for this. I found poop on a blanket yesterday. I have no idea how long it had been there. Then she leaked poop on the couch this morning. Then she peed on her outfit today. And she peed all over her pajamas and the blankets lastnight. She's on her fourth outfit today and it's only 2:00. She's spewing spitup everywhere, too! It's crazy. I guess none of you will want to come to our house now. :)

I wash my hands so often they're about to fall off. I look like I have leprosy.

But she laughed today. REALLY. Laughing, laughing. It makes it all OK.

A Visit to Our Friends

Today we visited the Mateo family. Samantha, the only girl of the family, was in my class in 2006-2007, and we took her and her brother, Angel to Disney World a couple summers ago, because Angel was the only other sibling I knew. Now we know all of them. The twins are growing so fast. The last time we visited with Bethany, Todd, and Blake the twins couldn't speak English and one of them was running around in his underwear. Now they are talking and reading in very good English and were very well dressed, thank goodness! They're in first grade and I am SO jealous I'm not there to be their teacher. These kids are so bright. The little boy above, Pedro, beat me three times in Tic-Tac-Toe. And I was trying. He knows all the Tic-Tac-Toe tricks.

They just loved Maryn.

And Elvia (Mrs. Mateo) gave us a giant bag of green peppers! Woohoo! We left some sidewalk chalk, bubbles and a frisbee for them to play with. Next time maybe some of you can join us for a trip out there to see them and maybe we can bring them some more things they might need. This family has a heartbreaking story but are such hard workers. They are overcoming the odds, that's for sure! Keep them in your prayers!

How can I get anything done with this cuteness distracting me all the time?

Wow! That was the longest hiatus I've had in a long time. Sorry about that. We have been quite busy. Doing what you ask? I have no idea. Lately just keeping the house slightly clean has been a big challenge. Maryn has decided those nice 2-3 hour naps aren't for her anymore. I hope they come back soon. She has been going to bed at 10 or 10:30 each night now, so that is a welcome blessing. And I decided to start watching The Office, Kath and Kim and 30 Rock. John goes to bed at 9 and I need to do something. Because I'm tired of watching all of John's scary, depressing, mysterious, such and such shows and for some reason cleaning in the evenings is out of the question. I like funny. But watching the funny shows lastnight wasn't very funny and I feel like I'm wasting my life when I do nothing but watch TV, especially when I just watch TV by myself.

Hm. I need a job.

Here is a picture of our ELEVEN pound, 22 inch baby! We went to the pediatrician yesterday and we have a very healthy little girl. And the doctor said that it's absolutely fine that she's sleeping with me and it probably is just temporary. I shouldn't have too much of a problem getting her to sleep in her own bed again soon. She has changed so much just in the last week. She has started really "talking." It is THE CUTEST thing. I know it wouldn't really knock YOUR socks off, but I could just die of cuteness. That's one thing that's kept me from posting. I literally spend hours just talking to Maryn. It's so precious. She has the sweetest, softest little voice.

The other picture is of her and Mr. Green Bear, her new favorite toy. John's dad told us about a blanket John had when he was little with that silky stuff all around it. John loved to chew on it so much, her wore it all off of the blanket. So I got Mr. Green Bear out of the "Toy Vault" to test it on Maryn, and guess what? She loves to suck on that silky stuff, too. It's all silk on the back, and sometimes she just covers her whole face with it and sucks away. Goodness. Everything she does is absolutely adorable and perfect and she is, of course, a genius. I've become a parent, that's for sure. One of THOSE parents!

Christmas Cookie Exchange

When: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

Where: My house!

What you do if you decide to participate: You will make any type of cookies, fudge, candy, whatever is your specialty. The amount you make will depend on the number of participants. You'll separate your goodies into bags or boxes for each person with recipes attached. Then, you'll bring them all over to my house, where we will lay out all the goodies and everyone gets a little of each.

It doesn't take very long and you don't have to make any Martha Stewart-esque cookies. We'll share in some fellowship and hot cocoa or cider, and you can bring your kiddos along, too. You'll get some really good recipes and treats!

If you don't have any idea what cookies to make, I have some good, easy ones from Christmases past. I've done lots of Christmas Cookie Exchanges!

Please let me know if you plan to participate ASAP or by THIS WEDNESDAY so I can let everyone know how many cookies to make. Let me know by posting to the comments section what type of cookies you're going to make so we don't get any repeats.


I will be making sugar cookies (the frosted Christmas cookie cutouts).

Thanksgiving Results

Here's grandpa (John's dad) with his new and very first grandchild. They were so excited to meet each other!

We made our annual trip to Hallmark to get our 2008 ornaments. John chose the "Super Baby" ornament that he's hanging for Maryn here. He chose the ornament of a daddy bear dancing with a baby girl bear, and I chose one of a snowgrandma making cookies with her snowgranddaughter. It reminds me of my grandma (Mary Louise) making Christmas cookies with me, which is a tradition I intend to carry on with my daughter, Maryn Louise.

And here we are, the cooks. I got all my cooking done early, as usual, so I can avoid the stress of last minute chaos. It was surprisingly easy to make Thanksgiving dinner. Plus, I had Donna and Grandma Erdman to make mashed potatoes, gravy, and do a majority of the cleanup! That stuff, to me, are the hardest parts! I made two apple pies. One turned out perfectly but the other one was pretty burnt. It still tasted really good, though. I also made the pumpkin hazelnut cheesecake. It was delicious but I think it really irritated Maryn's belly. So no more cheesecake pour moi.

I'll try to get some pictures up of Maryn with her great grandparents soon. I forgot to get one of those four generation pictures. Arrggh. I really need to work on this picture taking stuff.

Milestones

Maryn hit two milestones this week.  She is exactly ten weeks old today.  She figured out that she can shake her keys and bring them to her mouth.  She saw her feet in the bathtub and splashes with her kicks.  AND she said "uh-goo!" which I've been trying to get her to say.  It's something I remember Kendra's little girl Evelyn saying when she was here for our wedding.  At this rate, she'll be talking by Christmas.  Hahaha.  She must get it from me.   

Thanksgiving

I tried to take some Christmas card pictures of Maryn today, only to realize afterward that she had a piece of my hair between her eyes to whole time! Agh! Anyway, here she is giving me her classic, "Mom, what are you doing?!" look. This is an expression she makes often.

Anyway, I think we are going to send out New Year's cards or maybe even Valentine's Day cards, since we're getting our pictures taken in Ohio with my family. I read in Good Housekeeping that this is an acceptable new trend. So if you don't get a Christmas card from us, that's why! Just hold your pants on!

Here are some quick Thanksgiving details, since I know you were wondering.

Guest List: Great Grandma and Grandpa Erdman (John's grandparents)

Grandma and Grandpa Erdman (John's dad and Donna)

Dayton (John's stepbrother)

And the three of us.

Menu: Turkey (John's job for the day)

Homemade stuffing with fresh herbs, in the crock pot (my favorite Thanksgiving dish!)

Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole (a favorite of John's)

Green Bean Casserole

Corn (for some reason John said we had to have this)

Cranberry Sauce (which we bought already made from Target!)

Appetizers: Spinach and artichoke dip, salsa and chips

Vegetable Tray, Cheese Tray, Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix

Desserts: Two homemade apple pies and pumpkin hazelnut pie

Grandma's fudge and graham cracker cookies

To Give Little or to Give Much? What Really Matters.

I learned a lot from working in Immokalee. I learned that the neediest people are usually the most giving. I learned that those who are given much sometimes end up asking for much. I learned that some of the neediest people are the hardest working and others are needy because they work very little, or spend their money unwisely. But what I've learned is that we should still give unselfishly without judgment. What someone does with what we give doesn't matter, for our treasure is in Heaven (Matthew 6:19). When we give, we give to God, not to man. ALL of our possessions are His. Including money.

Times are tough in 2008. The holidays are here and many of us are wondering if we should "Adopt a Family" this year or if maybe we ourselves should add our names to that tree.

I've been wanting to visit one family in particular in Immokalee that is in need of many things: love, attention, food, a warm, clean place to live. A little holiday cheer. But I have very little to give this year. Should I still visit?

While many of us are not able to give much, we should still be willing to give our time and talents. And not just this time of year, but all year. I hope that I will make time to visit that family in Immokalee, even if it is just to play with sidewalk chalk and bubbles for a while.

When the pilgrims celebrated with a feast, they were coming out of what was probably the toughest year of their lives. Most of them had lost at least one relative. Yet they were still able to give thanks and praise to God. We know nothing of economic hard times. Some have the nerve to compare these days to The Great Depression. But not one of us really knows that pain (I don't think any of you are that old). Surely we can give thanks, for God has blessed all of us so much.

Psalm 95:1-6
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the deep places of the earth:
the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it:
and his hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the LORD our maker."


Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

80s, Karate, and Thanksgiving...oh my!

John and I went to an 80s Mystery Dinner Theater lastnight, put on by our Saturday night Bible and Life Group at church. It was very interesting! Here we are in our 80s outfits, complements of Goodwill. Too bad John is covering up my shoulder pads!

We got to see some great characters, including Pat Benatar, Mr. T, The Karate Kid, Molly Ringwald, and Tammy Faye Bakker. The Evans dressed up and acted like televangelists all night. It was hilarious.

And here is a picture of me and little Maryn all dolled up for church on Saturday night. I think she's starting to look a little bit more like me now. The nose could be becoming an Amanda nose. Maybe. The white background in this photo with the shadow makes it look like a mugshot. My baby and me, going to jail.

We are almost all ready for Thanksgiving. I'm so excited! I had a weird dream about turkey lastnight. I put it in the oven today (in my dream) and messed it all up and had to secretly buy a new turkey without John knowing. He's supposed to be in charge of the turkey.

Maryn is very funny when she sleeps at night. She really moves a lot. She waves her hands all around, fusses and kicks. So I don't think anyone has to be worried now that she's sleeping with me. It's far more likely she'll hurt me than it is that I will hurt her. We had a good night last night, which was refreshing because nights haven't been quite as good lately. She slept for about 3 hours then 6 hours. But I didn't sleep that much because she was practicing karate in her sleep.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

When Maryn was born, I thought our days of spending hours at the book store were over.  But today we spent over two hours at Books A Million, the newest book store in Naples.  We LOVED it.  The Christian section is gi-normous and the kids section is superb.  Please go there so they don't go out of business.  They have more books than either B&N or Border's and they're the cleanest, most organized bookstore I've ever seen.  Maryn loved the baby toys and books they had, especially this turkey with a mirror and black and white feathers.  I think we can say that she IS laughing now, just not quite from the belly yet.  It's more like shouts of glee!  So, so cute.  

As you can see, mirrors are her favorite toy.  They bring on instant smiles.  John and I are wallowing in the joy of baby smiles right now.  And doing everything we can think of to try to get her to laugh.