We haven't yet decorated, I think we're going to wait till adorable Clarity, Abby, and Maddy arive. Christmas isn't Christmas unless there are kiddos running around. So this will be Christian's first Christmas, and I'm so glad he'll have some cousins to spend it with.
So, I have to say, lately I've felt like such an adult. You might be wondering if it's because I have a child. I don't know if that's so much the reason as all the wonderful Christmas cards I've recieved. Teenagers get pregnant, but teenagers don't get Christmas cards from friends. I'm afraid I could not return the favor (perhaps because I'm not an adult, I just have friends who are) and I never got around to sending Christmas cards. I guess I'll write an update blog.
Stephen was able to celebrate the birth of his "firstborn" by spending hundreds of dollars applying to PhD programs around the country. Three of the programs were in California and two were in New York, so we'll see in which super expensive place we end up. He applied to a few others as well. His honors thesis was accepted for publication in Dialogue for this summer, but don't worry, he still has a testimony. Another one of his papers have been accepted for a conference in Chicago and he'll be going out there in April. He's been taking great care of Christian, except for when I find Christian without any pants on in our cold basement. I ask Stephen where his pants went and Stephen says he has taken them off to look at his cute little legs. sigh.
I, Rachel, have just finished my coursework for my masters program in Sociology. All I have left to do is my thesis. I'll be working 20 hours a week as a TA next semester, but only 6 of those will have to be on campus when Stephen will be watching the boy, and the rest will be grading and reading that I can do from home. We feel blessed that my professors have been so willing to work with my pregnancy and me being a mama.
Christian, our litte joy, is a sweetheart. Though he cries when we give him a bath, change his diaper, or when he's hungry, he's usually a little angel. I hope in naming him Christian, we haven't set him up for a life as a silent monk. yikes. No, we've appreciated his good temper, especially these past busy weeks. We're excited for him to get chubby wubby, but until then, we still think he is adorable as can be. He's not nursing super well, so we supplement with formula and with pumped breastmilk.
It's hard to believe that two years and 5 days ago, Stephen and I were both leaving our missions. We have felt so very blessed since then.
5 comments:
I'm so glad I got to meet your sweet Christian this week! This has been quite a year for you two!! Glad your professors are flexible, but man, 20 hours a week still sounds like a lot to me, even from home! But watching you, I can see that you take it all in stride much better than I do, so I'm sure it all be a piece of cake for you!
My mother always said you can tell when the father is watching the children and I have yet to have found any evidence contrary. Most of the evidence I have found, sadly involves the lack of at least one item of clothing...
We loved spending Christmas with you and think you and Stephen are cute parents.
It's great to hear what's going on in your lives. That's so wonderful of your professors to work with you! Christian sounds like a great baby. Good luck with the grad school process. If you end up in New York, we should plan adventures together!
Just last week I was looking at the Christmas cards on the back of my apartment door, and they were almost all from our high school friends, and I suddenly felt extremely grown-up. It was a disconcerting feeling and I promptly ignored it, but I'm glad to know you felt the same way.
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