Up, Up and Away

Eli and I leave on a real life plane this Tuesday morning.  We're headed out to Cali for my grandpa's wedding.  Now, if you know me at all, you know that the element of the unknown is terrifying for me.  For me, right now, that unknown is Eli's behavior on a four hour plane ride.  FOUR HOURS!!!  This child hates sitting in his high chair for four minutes.  Also, he's a bit congested still from his latest cold.  So, please pray for us as we wing our way across the country.  If anything, we'll be someone's horrible plane story.


Also, if you have any Valium*...




*The Valium would be for me, not my child...and I was joking

The Buried Life

Let me start this by saying I know that I am not MTV's target audience.  I used to be a big Real World fan (until the train wreck that was the Vegas season, or, as I affectionately refer to it, the Sodom and Gomorrah season).  I used to watch some other shows (even, gasp, TRL--you know you did, too, Carson Daly lover).  I have somewhat glanced at 16 & Pregnant, but 10 minutes of that show has me searching for the nearest ledge. 

All this being said, I do not watch MTV.  Until a couple months ago.  I had just finished watching an adrenaline-filled hour of 24 (oh, Jack Bauer, you and your heavy breathing--why do we always have to hear Jack Bauer breathing hard--even when he's not doing anything physically grueling? Why, Chloe?) and was perusing through the channels when I landed on MTV and caught the opening spot for this show called The Buried Life.  The premise for the show is this: these four guys travel around the US trying to scratch off items from their 'bucket lists'.  They have compiled a list of 100 things they want to do before they die; some of them are easy-peasy and some of them, not so much.  Each episode showcases an attempt to cross an item off their list.  The episodes I've seen have included: asking out the girl of your dreams (for this  one they had to crash a movie premiere so that one of the guys could ask out Megan Fox), participating in a krump competition, playing basketball with President Obama and throwing a huge party.  They don't always succeed, but it's interesting to watch them try.

While the aforementioned is great, my favorite part of the show is what I guess you would call the subplot. During each episode, they try to make the dream of a random stranger come true.  For example, tonight's episode, this guy (who had been adopted) wanted to meet his real dad.  Last week, they reunited four boyhood friends.  Anyway, I think the show is great.  Maybe I should say, I think the idea behind the show is great.  As someone who's biggest accomplishment lately is showering,  the idea of carpe diem is appealing.  I love the altruistic element of the show.  You can read more about how it got started here.

Anyway, ever since I had Eli, the idea of my own mortality is something that's somewhat pervaded my thoughts.  Not in a "I want to find the fountain of youth" kind of way, but in a "Crap, I haven't really done anything to further the kingdom of God" kind of way.  I want to be a person that my child/children can point to as an example of a Godly woman.  I am blessed to know amazing women who inspire me daily by their purpose-driven lives (sorry for the Rick Warren allusion).  I read or hear about the varied ways they are making a difference in their communities/homes/work places/all of the above, and I think, "Perhaps having an alarming knowledge of  Friends trivia isn't going to cut it."  I've felt this push to do more.

What does more look like?  I don't know.  Maybe it means being a better mom -- being more creative, less lazy, more selfless.  Maybe it means looking for opportunities to serve (without going overboard and burning out).  Maybe it means learning how to knit and making booties for every resident in my husband's residence hall.  I don't know.  (Okay, so maybe the first one is a given.)  I know this post may sound completely egocentric, and I really don't mean it to be that way.  In fact I know what Ben would say if he read this, "So stop complaining and do something about it."

Man, it's annoying when he's right all the time.

In Town and Around

These last few days have been glorious as far as weather is concerned.  I feel like Eli and I have been hibernating all winter and this wintery thaw has allowed us to come out of our cave--pale skin and all.

 What, Spring, you're ready for us to come outside?  We.are.ready.

Yesterday, we took a walk to our local public library.  Now the next sentence will shock you, especially since I am an English major.  But, Internet, I have not had my own public library card since I lived in California, lo these 15 years.  Granted, I have had access to the university's library since 1999, but still, everyone should have a public library card.  Reading is fundamental.  So, we picked up a library card, accidentally logged the library off their computers and checked out a book.  We took our friend, Sara's, advice and checked out a Mo Willems book (Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, a compelling sequel to Knuffle Bunny:A Cautionary Tale).  It was the only Mo Willems book they had. (side note: I checked SAU's library catalog and they have six Mo Willems books, so...we may go there next time).  And then we headed home...kind of.

 Hat: Check; Coat: Check; Drink: Check; Shades: Check

We stopped at the plaza on campus (it's where the clock tower is) and I let Eli get in some exercise.  We got to the plaza the same time as a lot of classes were letting out and other classes were starting.  So, there were a lot of students around whilst Eli was walking around.  Something you should know about Eli is that he is fearless.  He's recently taken to walking up to strangers (usually men) and putting his arms up indicating he wants them to pick him up.  Awesome.  So a student would walk by and he would start following him or her with his hands in the air waiting for said student to pick him up.  Only the female students would oblige him.  So, next time I need a babysitter, I guess I'll just plunk him down in the middle of campus...I mean someone will pick him up.  I.AM.KIDDING.  Also, he found every muddy area of grass in the tri-state area and sat down/fell down in it.  Awesome again.  I knew it was time to go home when he walked up to a bench and laid his head down on it--and kept it there for more than 5 seconds.  We quickly stopped in to say hi to grandma Mary and then went home.

My little college student

 We saw Sasquatch going for a jog. Hard to tell, but it is him. He frequents the Arbor.

  Eli and the Concept: treasures of Spring Arbor

What? I am not heading for that big puddle.

 Doing some thinking

 Snuggle-pup with grandma

After Eli had his afternoon snack, I eagerly brought out our new library book and began reading it to Eli who, incidentally, could have cared less.  I mean my head could have been on fire and I could have transformed into Thomas the train while I was reading to him, and he would not have given me a second look.  Who can listen to his mother when Duplos are in the room just waiting to be dumped out of their bucket?  I ask you?  Anyway, I was giving the story my best voices, and the kid was oblivious.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, though.  I told Ben he should read it, and he said that he really doesn't like to read a whole book in one day.  I mean Goodnight Gorilla is a stretch for him. (side note: I hope that my sarcasm is seeping through enough so that you know that my husband is kidding...he reads to Eli...a lot.)

And the bonus to all this glorious weather, Eli is so tired at the end of the day due to his out-and-about roaming that bedtime is a easy-peasy.