Salmon and Souvlaki

She’s here!

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Laura

Welcome Eliana Elisabeth!

Born one week early on September 29, 2010 at 7:49 am.

She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

She came into this world quickly and peacefully.

We are so grateful to be her parents.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Posted in Ellie | 14 Comments

Truths I am holding onto

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Laura

as I think about and prepare for labor:

1. The Lord designed my body (and every woman’s body) to give birth. I am not sick. My body is capable of safely delivering our baby.

2. The Lord also designed our baby to work with me, as my partner, to come into this world. I know he or she will be moving his/her head and kicking his/her legs against my uterus, helping me bring him/her into this world. I love this – I am not alone!

3. The Lord also has given me Nik, as my husband and partner, to be with me in labor. I am so grateful for him.

4. Many people are praying for me and for us. There is strong power in the prayer of God’s righteous people.

5. Our baby may not be born in the most ideal way or in the way that I have dreamed and prayed he or she will be born. But the Lord is sovereign and His plan is right for us. (As in, if Mom doesn’t get here before the baby does or we need some sort of medical intervention that we don’t want or something else like that, I’m trying to hold all these things lightly, knowing that God is in control.)

6. At the end, we’ll finally get to hold our baby! And to find out if he or she is a he or a she!

Posted in baby | 3 Comments

Fun with Books

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Laura

Yesterday afternoon, Nik and I headed downtown for the Baltimore Book Festival. I’ve gone a few times (such as last year, to see Lois Lowry) but this was Nik’s first trip. For a book lover like me, this is the equivalent of going to a Justin Beiber concert or a Ravens game – in other words, I get to see all my favorite stars!

This year, we saw Pioneer Woman (actually, we were late for this one so Nik kindly dropped me off so I could hear her for the last 10 minutes while he circled, looking for parking):

Judith Viorst (“Maybe life was better when I used to be a wetter.”)

and Michele Norris. She’s one of the hosts of All Things Considered on NPR and also just published a book, The Grace of Silence. Her talk was phenomenal and I’m planning on reading her book. I also got to put faces to her and to the morning host of our local NPR show. Cool!

We also had the fun of running into Alex and Natalia. Natalia was my elementary school mentor teacher during my student teaching. It was fabulous to see her and discover that now they have not one, but two adorable little girls! (And yes, I’m getting bigger – that’s me at 38.5 weeks.)

Posted in baby, just for fun, school | 3 Comments

The last one (before having a baby and turning 30)

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Laura

Happy Birthday to my beloved husband!

This is his last year in his twenties so I told him he should live it up and have a baby or something.

Here’s how Nik told me he was interested in me way back when we’d first just started dating (or at least gave me more proof!) (with some help from Dan, Dan, Ray, and Al).

Posted in baby, family, love | 1 Comment

How to Win Friends and Influence People (or at least make a great chocolate cake)

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Laura

1. Own a cake stand – you’ll look more professional immediately.

2. Use a really great devil’s food cake recipe (I recommend the one from Cook’s Illustrated highly – I’ll e-mail it to you if you don’t have online access to their recipes.)

3. Use an off-set spatula for icing the cake. This was my first time using one – revolutionary, really.

4. Use chocolate chips for decorating (hint – they’re not difficult to use!).

5. Enjoy the rave reviews.

6. Done.

Posted in cooking | 4 Comments

Fun projects

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Laura

Being a stay-at-home wife is nice. I have lots of time to sew! I’ve finished all of the pressing baby sewing projects so I’m working on Christmas presents now. I’ve finished one, almost finished two more, and have preparations begun for 3 more after that. All those projects are represented in the pictures below. Don’t try to press me for any more details. There will be no more shared!

Aren’t those colors beautiful? I had fun admiring them for awhile before sewing them into something!

Posted in sewing | 2 Comments

Mei tei for us

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Laura

Back in January, I made a mei tai for Grace (and Rachel and Drew too!). Now we have one for us too!

I used this pattern with the only modification adding two layers of flannel for more padding in the body.

Now we just need the baby to carry!

Posted in baby, sewing | 5 Comments

A winning equation

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Laura

Three important milestones + 1 beautiful park + one incredibly talented photographer = lots of great pictures!

We got engaged in December 2006 and Dan took our engagement pictures in Sherwood Gardens.

Seven months later, we got married (in June 2007) and Dan took our pictures in the same park.

So we thought it was only fitting to ask Dan to take pictures for us this time around, to celebrate the soon-to-be arrival of our baby, in where else? Sherwood Gardens!

Thanks for all the great pictures Dan!

Your next assignment? The baby!

Posted in baby | 5 Comments

Warm fuzzies

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Laura

I just got this e-mail message from one of my favorite students from last year. (I know teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites but let’s be honest, we do. Or at least I always did!) I miss M – what a sweetheart!

Ok Mrs.B i miss uuuu soo much. And my 7th grade is good thank you for asking. I can not wait for see your baby. I LOVE U Mrs.B u r the best teacher. When u gonna come at School??? I miss uuuu ❤

I’d also like to point out that the beginning of last year, all M could say to me (with a terrified look on her face) was, “Miss – me no English”. And now – my heart beats proud! She has a long way to go of course but still – I’m so proud of her!

Posted in school | 3 Comments