Katie at 10 months

Katie turns 10 months tomorrow, and as I mentioned earlier this week, she's a true delight. Even though she's been sick practically this whole winter (including a viral infection this past week), she rarely complains or fusses. She has a cheerful disposition and is quick to smile.

Here's a photo I took yesterday after Katie climbed up her first step. Time to put up the baby gate! But in the meantime, she's pretty proud of herself (and Daddy and I are proud of her too).

Here's also a funny video of a typical evening at our house -- Katie pulling up on the coffeetable, then deciding she wants to be with Mommy and maneuvering to try to get closer to me. In this video, Bella the dog also makes her first video appearance on this blog.

Utter contentment

Do you know that feeling of utter contentment? Those days when you just can't stop smiling? Today's one of those days. I'd love to say it's because of something profound, but really it's simply because Katie is an pure delight.

Often I'm too busy with my "to do" list to really sit with Katie and enjoy her for long periods of time. It's easy to be counting the minutes until she'll nap so I can get something else done. But when I do that, I miss the little joys.

Katie's almost ten months, and is on the cusp of doing so many exciting things. No longer is she content to be a passive observer. She seeks adventure at every turn --What new thing can I explore? Can I reach that ledge, or is it too high for me to pull up on? How close can I get to the dog / dog food / wires / (fill in the blank) before Mommy notices and pulls me away?

Today we borrowed a Fisher Price Learning Table from friends whose baby isn't yet pulling up on things. Katie LOVES it. (I wish it wasn't $70!) She pulls up on it, and then every time a song plays, she bounces at the knees and wiggles her tushy in order to dance to the music. If she happens to be sitting when she hears music, she claps and claps. This week, she's been doing this with every toy she has that plays music. It's so much fun to see her become interested in music, especially since John and I love music as well.

If I put Katie in front of a mirror, she will pose and mug as if she was Madonna in the "Vogue" video. She will squint her eyes and grin, pointing her chin toward the mirror. She will clap. She will grab hold of the mirror and talk to it, or even lick it.

Again, it'd be easy to miss these moments of fun if I was distracted with other things. But when I focus on "being in the moment" and spending time with Katie as I would spend time with any other friend, I find myself really loving being a mom.

The Story of John and Jen, Part 5

July 7, 2002

We had spent the July 4 weekend at John's parents' vacation home in West Virginia and were driving home. I had been hoping for a proposal that weekend, but after an emotional few days (long story) I had given up on it happening that trip.

On our way home, John got off at my parents' highway exit. When I asked why, John said that he wanted to sing worship songs by the lake nearby. We had spent several dates at that lake, and we were both emotionally frazzled, so it sounded like a nice idea to me... although I have to admit, I started wondering whether "this was it" since the idea seemed so out of the blue.

We found our way in the dark to a hill by the lake, and John pulled his guitar out of the case. Strangely, this evening he had trouble coming up with the chords for the worship songs he played every week in church.

After two or three songs, John started playing chords that I recognized, but not from a worship song. We both love the movie "The Wedding Singer," especially the song that Adam Sandler sings to Drew Barrymore at the end, "Grow Old With You." I had told John at one point how much I'd love it if he'd learn that song and sing it to me someday, and in my mind I had thought (but not verbalized) that it would be a great way to propose. It seems John had thought so too. And when John started playing the chords, I was pretty sure I knew what was coming.

I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad

Carry you around when your arthritis is bad

All I wanna do is grow old with you

I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches

Build you a fire if the furnace breaks

Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you

I'll miss you, kiss you

Give you my coat when you are cold

Need you, feed you

Even let you hold the remote control

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink

Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink

I could be the man who grows old with you

I wanna grow old with you

(Below is the clip from "The Wedding Singer". John sings it better but unfortunately I wasn't quick enough on the draw to videotape his proposal.)

When John finished singing the song, he pulled a box out of his pocket, opened it, and asked me to marry him (we were sitting on the ground so taking a knee would have seemed ridiculous). I remember thinking to myself, "Say something witty or profound, because you'll be telling this story for the rest of your life" (my mom had answered my dad with the very romantic, "Are you sure?"). But the best I could do was stutter out, "Of course!" and throw my arms around the man whom I would never have to let go of in this lifetime.

Before leaving the lake, we took these photos:

Then we drove the five minutes to my parents' house so my mom and I could jump around the den together and we could call all of our immediate family members.

Happy fifth anniversary to the man I will love forever!

Celebrating Five Years Together

I found the one whom my soul loves.
-- Song of Solomon 3:4

The Story of John and Jen, Part 4

(To celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary tomorrow, I've been sharing the story of how John and I met, fell in love, and ended up promising ourselves to each other forever. You can read the rest of the story here.)

If you thought our first date ended awkwardly, it was nothing compared to the first time John tried to propose to me.

But let me back up a bit. In Fall of 2001, John and I had been dating 3 years and I was getting antsy for a proposal. We had already gone through our church's class for engaged or seriously dating couples (where we had been assigned a wonderful mentor couple, Dave and Gloria), and we had been affirmed in our compatibility. Our families confirmed this to us as well, and my mother already considered John a son (and always took his side when I was mad at him, to my chagrin).

I struggled to be patient. From time to time, I would set up ultimatims or deadlines for John, then God would convict me that I was not being loving toward my boyfriend, so I would back down and try to be patient awhile longer.

When the anthrax scare hit Capitol Hill in Fall 2001, John and the other House of Representatives employees got the week off of work. John wondered what he was going to do with this sudden week off, and I (only half joking) replied, "Why don't you go ask my dad for my hand?" After years of nagging John for a proposal, I didn't expect him to think anything of yet another sarcastic comment.

Two days later I called John around lunchtime and his phone rang and rang. When I asked him about it later, he said he had been sleeping in and had unplugged his phone. I took him at his word and didn't think anything else of it.

The following Saturday, I went to my dad's company picnic and met the receptionist, Jean. Although I didn't know Jean well, she immediately asked me how my "sweetie" was. I asked her how she knew about my sweetie, and she replied, "because he came into the office the other day."

Jean didn't know it, but she had given it away: John had taken my dad out for lunch the day I had called him, and had asked for my hand, which my dad had happily agreed to.

November 6, 2001.

For our three-year dating anniversary, John and I went to Baltimore Harbor and had dinner at Phillips Seafood Restaurant. I didn't know it at the time, but John had the ring in his pocket in the hopes that there might be an opportunity to propose that evening.

After dinner, John and I walked around the harbor. It sounds romantic, but it really was anything but. Everywhere we went, we were approached by homeless people asking for money. One man seemed legit, and we agreed to take him to a McDonalds to buy him some food. But McDonalds was closed, and after 45 minutes we had to give up and just give him money to find food on his own.

The mood was spoiled, but John decided to try again. We ended up on a small bridge where John pointed to the hospital where he had been born. He began to tell me how he had been extremely sick with jaundice as a baby, thinking this might lead to an opportunity to tell me that he believed one reason God had spared his life was to marry me. However, I already knew about the jaundice and dismissed him casually, so that he wouldn't waste breath telling me a story I already knew. (John says my response was simply, "So?" but I still can't believe I would be that heartless, so I'll continue to argue that point with him.)

After I had unknowingly shot down his attempt to propose to me, John was discouraged enough to give up, and we headed home. Only on our way home did I realize what John had been doing, and how I had responded. And I was going to have to wait 8 more months for another chance to respond correctly.

The Story of John and Jen, Part 3

(See Part 1 and Part 2)

Friday, November 6, 1998

Kim helped me get ready for my first date with John. Red sweater, black slacks, makeup done perfectly. I wasn't all that interested in this guy, but I wanted to look good nonetheless. We were slated to meet at 10 pm at Bennigans, and though John's roommate Jeff had told him NOT to be late, he kept me waiting till about 10:10.

We ordered dessert and I encouraged John to order a beer if he wanted to. He jokes now that I tricked him into dating me by getting him drunk. (I kinda doubt that one Corona would have done that.) I will say that I was very impressed with his ability to flip a Corona upside down with one hand to make the lime float to the bottom of the bottle. I still can't do that.

Several hours later, we were kicked out of the restaurant when it closed. Time had flown by, and I remember being stunned that I felt like I was seeing into the heart of this man I had only known casually. After we left, we sat in my car and kept talking. I was having a great time.

And then I began to panic.

What was I doing spending all these hours with a guy I wasn't interested in? Was I simply rebounding from a guy who had broken my heart a few months before? Would I hurt John by leading him on? And I started spurting out warnings to John: "There are warning lights all over me. Be careful."

And suddenly what had seemed like a wonderful evening to him got very confusing. We parted ways and went home to our respective families.

John told his family he had met a girl and they all rejoiced. He tried to make sense of my confusing mixed messages.

I told my family and they were excited too, but the most important message I got was in prayer. As I prayed about the situation, I felt the Lord's peace come over me and an assurance that I was to trust God and walk forward carefully.

Sunday evening I met up with John at our church's evening service. After the service, I walked him out to his car and gave him a bag of homemade cookies. I told him he could pursue me.

Turns out, the pursuit was already over. We mark November 6, 1998 as the day we began dating.

Her name is BELLA!

Thank you to Emily (who turns 10 tomorrow), Jack (age 8), and their mom Deb for suggesting our doggie's new name, Bella!

Deb, Jack and Emily have no way of knowing that the term "Bella" is special to John and me, and a great fit for our St. Bernard mix. It is the Latin (and thus Italian) term for "beautiful".

After learning in Fall 2006 that we were pregnant with Katie, we took a "babymoon" to Europe -- a train through the Swiss Alps, where we got to hug on a St. Bernard in front of the Matterhorn. This is the trip that confirmed to us that we wanted a St. Bernard or Bernese Mountain Dog someday.

During the last leg of that trip, we visited special friends in northern Italy. The granny in the Italian family had been friends with John's grandfather since World War II until he died a few years ago, and we promised Granny and her family that we would stay in touch with them. The granny doesn't speak much English, and we don't speak much Italian, but one word is used often in conversation with Granny: "Bellissimo!" or "Very beautiful!" Here's a photo of us with Granny and our Italian "cousins". We miss them very much!

Back in the U.S., Bella is turning out to be a wonderful dog for our family. We had prayed for the right dog and we could not be happier. She is social and fun-loving -- a perfect fit for our family! She is very gentle and has learned very quickly the few things we needed her to learn.

Introducing the newest member of our family!

Our family adopted a dog today! She is a 3-year-old St. Bernard mix -- probably with border collie and/or English setter. Her name was "Greta" when we adopted her, but then we found out that the Humane Society had given her that name -- her name was actually "Sack" when she was given up by her owner a few weeks ago. (Who names a dog "Sack"?)

Anyway, we're still trying to decide on a name. John suggested simply "The Head" since that is her most prominent physical feature. We're leaning toward "Bernie" since "Bern" is German for "Bear" ("Bear" was my first name suggestion, again thanks to her gigantic head).

Katie is delighted to have a doggie to play with, and the doggie so far seems quite content to be here as well. She has endured a 2-hour car ride home and even a few fur yanks when I was trying to teach Katie how to pet gently.... oops. But so far, no snaps or nips or anything, so all seems well. The dog is incredibly strong though, so I'll still have to figure out how to walk the dog and Katie at the same time without one of us toppling over.

Here are photos of John and Katie meeting the doggie for the first time (I have the flu so my photo will not be shown here):

Here's the doggie after we brought her home:

And here are Katie and the doggie after John gave Dog a bath. Quite an adventure. Nothing like having to pick up a St. Bernard who is spreading all 4 legs as wide as possible so as not to have to go in the bathtub. I didn't get to watch since John did it all with the door closed. It's a shame. I had my camera ready for a good photo op.

I don't know who's more tired tonight -- me after a weekend alone with Katie and the flu? John after a weekend retreat where he hurt his back playing basketball and then had to wrestle a big dog into the bathtub once he got home? Or Doggie, who found a new home today?

I vote for John. But it's still time for all of us to go to bed. G'night!

The Incredible Hulk

What growls, is green, flexes its muscles impressively, and knocks down towers in a single swipe?

The Incredible Hulk? No -- KatieLu!!

The Story of John and Jen, Part 2

(See Part 1 here)

October 1998. John and I had become friends serving together on both our church's young adult worship team and our church's volunteer youth staff. One night after youth group, a group of us youth staffers went out for dessert to celebrate another staffer's birthday. John sat across from me in the hopes of getting to know me better. However, his efforts were thwarted when the youth minister sat next to John and proceeded to ask him question upon question about politics and culture.

However, John did give me a ride back to the church afterwards, so we did get a chance to talk. He learned that I was casually dating another guy on youth staff, but since all I did was complain about the guy, John's hopes were left intact.

The next Sunday, while the guy I was dating was around, I went up to my friend John and gave him a big hug around the neck. I probably did this to make the other guy jealous, but God used it to give John hope: John saw it as flirting and decided to make the next move.

Two days later, I got a carefully-crafted email (it turns out that John enlisted the help of his female intern in writing an email that was cool and casual). In the email, John said he was going to Sunny's birthday party that Friday night, and would I want to go with him? I ran over to my coworker Kristi's desk and showed her the email. "Is he asking me out?" I asked her. We decided he probably was.

Since I obviously wasn't too happy with the guy I had been seeing, and since I was impressed that John had the guts to ask me out, I decided I'd give him a chance. However, I had already made plans for Friday night with the high schooler I was mentoring at church (now one of my closest friends, Kim!), so I had an excuse to keep the outing brief. I turned down the party invitation but told him I'd meet up with him afterwards. We made plans to meet at Bennigan's at 10 pm on November 6, 1998 -- a date that would forever change my life.

The Story of John and Jen, Part 1

John and I celebrate five years of marriage on March 22. There have been tough challenges, sure, but there have been countless blessings as well. I'm so thankful God has given me John as a husband -- it's been one of many ways that He has smiled upon me!

I'm going to steal an idea from my friends Mary and Sarah and share "The Story of John and Jen" this month in several parts to remember the beginning of one of the best adventures of my life.

____________________

The first time I remember seeing John was when I was home from college for Christmas break my senior year. I was on the summer worship team for my home church's college/young adult group, so I was surprised to see someone I didn't recognize leading worship that Sunday. I turned to Sunny, a girl I had just met, and asked who the guy was playing guitar, and she said, "Oh, that's John." I went back to worshipping and didn't give it another thought.

After church, the girl went up to John and told him about the girl sitting next to her who had been checking him out. Excited, John asked who the girl was, and Sunny could not remember my name. By then I was gone, and off to college for my final semester, and John was furious at his friend for dropping the ball regarding a girl who was apparently interested in him.

Eleven months later, I told my new friend Sunny that I had gone on a date with John. And suddenly she remembered who it was who had been "checking John out" that morning.

Katie at 9 months

(this photo is of Katie with my parents and my grandma, who celebrated her 85th birthday on Sunday -- Happy birthday, Grandma!)

Katie turned 9 months old this week and we're still having a blast!

We had our 9-month dr's visit today and she is 18.8 lbs (50th percentile) and 28 inches (60th percentile). She's getting better at crawling, especially when she sees something she's not allowed to play with across the room. She's also becoming proficient at pulling herself to standing, and stood for a few seconds today without me holding her.

She's making me laugh this evening -- I'm teaching her to clap for the American Idol contestants. She made everyone at my dad's office laugh today when we stopped by with birthday presents (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!!!) and she danced and laughed and cooed at everyone.

We had a rough weekend last weekend -- she had (at the same time) a bad cold, a 103+ degree fever, major teething issues, and a touch of the stomach virus that her daddy had had a few days earlier. Poor girl. But she seems to be all better now, and has 5 teeth now with 4 more about to pop out any day now.

She has no interest in baby food anymore -- besides nursing, all she will eat is Cheerios and whatever Mommy's eating. The doctor says it's ok to move her to adult food, and my friend Katie M. is lending me her food grinder, thank goodness.

Her big obsession right now is animals. You saw the earlier video with her meowing and mooing. She's now roaring like a lion as well. She loves dogs and cats and we go on walks everyday to try to see dogs in the neighborhood. We also visited the local animal shelters last weekend to try to find a dog for our family. We've put in three applications (see here and here for the doggies we've applied for) so we're hoping the right doggie comes our way!

Thanks to all of you for your support of our family.