Memory

Some people memorize poetry. Others memorize sports statistics. Still others can recite movie dialogues. And then there's the talented few who do all three. (Do you actually know anyone who memorizes sports statistics and poetry? And "Casey at the Bat" doesn't count.) Church kids memorize Bible verses. Before cell phones, people would memorize phone numbers. Some people have recipes memorized. What else do we memorize? Why?

If I can remember my SSN, Luke's SSN, my 13-digit library card number, user names and log-ins for at least 20 websites, most family birthdays a week after they happen, my grandma's phone number, and my identification number as a substitute teacher from 4 years ago, why can't I remember how I was going to finish this sentence?

Can you intentionally remember moments in time? Because there are definitely a few I'd like to hold on to, but I think I've already forgotten them.

So, what methods do you use to remember whatever it is that you want to remember?

Christmas at the Bakers'

Since I'm the youngest on my side of the family, I've seen Christmas traditions change as my brothers married, and then as kids were added to their families. Let's just say the days of duct-taped gifts and quietly reading after the festivities are no longer. Some traditions have remained: reading the Christmas story from either Matthew, Luke, or John, singing Christmas carols, opening presents beginning with the youngest, a big dinner usually including ham loaf, hugs from Grandma, and a competitive game of Monopoly.

I'm thankful for my brothers and their families who made the long trip back to Iowa for Christmas. This year they came by train, plane, and automobile through fog, ice, and snow. I hope it was worth it for them. We certainly enjoyed seeing them.

Caleb playing with one of the many toys he received for Christmas.

Caleb with Grandpa and Grandma and all his Baker cousins.

Mom and Dad's gift to us--an example of Mom's amazing artistry and craftsmanship. (Mom and Dad, we'll think of you when we see it on our dining room wall!)

As you can see, I have fewer pictures from this celebration. It probably has to do with 16 people living in one house and the ensuing chaos, I mean, good cheer. We had a blast and were so glad Caleb could meet his cousins, aunts, and uncles!

Christmas at the Ryons'

Since this was Caleb's first Christmas, I have way too many pictures for one post. So here's a recap of the first segment of our holiday.

We spent December 24-26 in Ottumwa with Luke's family. Christmas with the Ryons includes the Christmas Eve service (even though the singing of "O Holy Night" was missing this year), a retelling of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (from memory), stockings, vanocka (a braided bread pronounced von-e-shki by Luke's family), a gift exchange (only after the vanocka has been eaten), pictures of individuals with their Christmas loot, lots of really good food, peanut M & Ms, and playing with Christmas gifts (video games, puzzles, books, board games). Overall we had a very enjoyable and relaxing time. Thanks for hosting, Ray and Carol!

Caleb was really happy about his stocking. (Notice that it's bigger than he is.) He was even happier with the banana inside--his favorite fruit!

Caleb explored the gifts before the gift exchange started, and before he finished his vanocka!

One of Caleb's favorite gifts was a dinosaur plate, bowl, and cup set. He probably chewed on it for a good 30 minutes! Thanks, Uncle Paul!

Now Caleb and I can play duets! Thanks, Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Michael!

Caleb using his walker the way it was meant to be used. Thanks, Uncle Jason and Aunt Amanda!

Caleb using his walker "creatively."

And one of Caleb's favorites: a tonka truck. Right now I'm listening to Luke push Caleb up and down (and up and down...) the hallway on this truck.

And the icing on the cake: a pony.

As you can see, Caleb raked in the loot this Christmas--and this was only one side of the family! What can I say? We have very generous families.

Peace Like a River--a story worth reading.

For the majority of my reading I'm torn between two poles. I can read something readable and enjoyable, but of no lasting consequence (i.e. pop fiction and Christianesque fiction) or I can read something serious, thought-provoking and painful (i.e. Pilgrim's Progress and Faulkner). I guess most reading is like most food: good or good-for-you. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger manages to bridge the gap between these two poles, creating some readable, seriously enjoyable, and thought-provoking fiction. I suppose if Peace Like a River were food, it'd be Citrus Salmon with Pineapple Orange Salsa.

The plot line is pretty far out there. Far enough that when I first came across the book and read the teaser paragraph, I dismissed it. After reading the book, the extraordinariness of the book became one of the things I loved about it. In fact the narrator's purpose is to serve as a witness to the miraculous. As he says several times in the book:
"Is there a single person on whom I can press belief?
No sir.
All I can do is say, Here's how it went. Here's what I saw.
I've been there and am going back.
Make of it what you will."

Ooo, I love that part. But you have to read the book to see how cool that part really is. I love the frank, straightforward approach of the narrator. No manipulation, no marketing. It's your choice whether you believe him or not. After all, he's speaking of miracles. And this is what he says about miracles:
"Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it's been used to characterize things or events that , though pleasant are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week--a miracle, people say, as if they've been educated from greeting cards. I'm sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word. Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature.... A miracle contradicts the will of the earth" (page 3).

Aside from the well-told story, this book was worth my time for several other reasons. The picture of a father frequently wrestling in prayer with someone alive and active was one treated carefully and not typecast as a fundamentalist freak show. Also refreshing was seeing a character committed to standing up for what's really right and wrong, not just legally right and wrong, and patiently training his son, Reuben, to do the same. This story lives and breaths faith, miracles, and an active and present God without having to pause for preaching. I did find the nine-year-old Shakespeare-Stevenson-Homer-quoting poet who reads gazillions of westerns and understands poetic meter (and despises free verse) slightly unbelievable, but in a book highlighting the miraculous, how can I argue with a character's plausibility? Characters in Peace Like a River turn an unbelievable, crazy kind of belief into real, compassionate, and faith-filled life. I highly recommend it--that kind of life and that kind of reading.

Moving

I'm not sure what to call this--crawling or limping--but Caleb is definitely moving. He's been thinking about it for a week or two now. His muscles cooperated with his brain this past Thursday.

Overdue Update

I haven't posted in a long while, mostly due to the fact that we're getting less sleep and more play/cry time around here. But before I have a mutiny on my hands, I'd better update everyone.

What's new?

• Caleb started eating solids. Thanksgiving week he got a full meal including sweet potato, green beans, and pumpkin. Ok, so he forgot the turkey. Maybe we'll get to turkey by Christmas.


• We were able to see family for Thanksgiving. My parents and grandmother came to Cedar Rapids on Thursday and managed to eat our (dry) turkey, and we traveled to Ottumwa to see all of Luke's family on Saturday and scarfed down the (delicious) turkey.
  

  Oh, and I suppose the grandparents had their chance to hold Caleb, too.
  

  
• Caleb's third tooth came in. And don't worry, Grandma, he's not addicted to his pacifier. This is how I found him after one nap this week:



• Caleb started sitting up and playing on his own. And now he's thinking really hard about moving. I'm enjoying the last few weeks before we really need to babyproof the hazardous parts of our house.


• Caleb had his six month check up, and we discovered just how skinny he is. Evidently he needs to be eating that turkey--maybe the whole thing. With the way he's been eating lately, I wouldn't put it past him.


• We hosted a Chili Cook-Off at our house with our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) from church and managed to plug in 12 or 13 slow cookers in our kitchen without blowing any fuses. Caleb proved his extraverted tendencies by staying up past ten because of all the excitement.


• Luke, being his diligent self, has been putting in some long hours at work as they approach(or miss) some deadlines. Thanks, Luke, for being such a great husband and father even in the midst of busy weeks at work.



• We managed to put up Christmas lights before the first snowstorm. Yay!
  
• Caleb has started putting syllables together. See the following video.

Nature v. Nurture

Have I mentioned that Caleb's future is planned out for him?

He'll be an avid reader,

an internationally renowned pianist,

and I suppose he'll enjoy an occasional video game.