apostelhouse's Xanga

the new school year

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:06:28 GMT

Hina's new project this fall semester is to learn to write her name. Some of you may remember when we began this blog and she composed her first paper on our old Mac laptop. More of you probably recall her melodious rendition of ABC's last winter, in a short video premiering from the Michigan house. Now, hopefully, all of you will watch, love, and sear to your memory the following video, which shows Hina scribing her first perfect "H." It won't be too long before you see all four letters in full glory. In fact, she went on to mark up her page with many an "I" later that same night. And, truth be told, some of her "H's" look a little like "A's," so we really only have to work hard on the ideal "N" from here on out. Enjoy the video!

Siri Mae Emerges

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:08:35 GMT

True, "emerges" may be a strange word to use, but it seems to me, now, the appropriate one. I say that because I'm fixated with the image of Shawn, during the c-section, looking over the curtain covering my stomach to see Siri's head, rising out. Startled, eyes squished tight, head shaking back and forth, covered in new baby goo, Siri emerged from my womb to not only the sight of doctors, a green curtain, and sterile instruments, but also to her father's face. For this, I, a mother who is unable to have children naturally, will ever be thankful.

Since Friday, July 18th, 2008, Siri has also emerged from the recovery room, her fashionable hospital-inspired t-shirt, and, of course, the hospital itself. We made it home on Sunday, the 20th, and took a little nap before Bibbits and Poppy brought big sister Hina back to the Forest Avenue house. Hina is a very concerned sibling, always asking Siri, "What's wrong, baby?" when she cries, and eagerly jumping to turn on her light when it's time for a diaper change. Now if we could just transfer that eagerness to potty training...but that's for another blog.

We hope you are equally eager now, as you view some of the pictures we have taken of our new daughter, Siri Mae. Her first name is, to us, "a burst of new life," just as it was to Andrew Wyeth when he painted a girl named Siri after two of his very dear friends had died. Mae was my great-grandmother's middle name, as well as my grandmother's middle name (I think--the story is a foggy one). We like how the two names sound together, and Hina also has a family name (Davis--from Shawn's side) as her middle name, so the two sisters complement one another in this sense. (There are more pics in the Siri Mae album on this site and on our Facebook, if you are connected there, in the "new baby" album.)

When 2's Matter

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:36:01 GMT

I suppose it's appropriate that I'm two months late on sharing the fun of Hina's second birthday. Since tardiness is an ongoing theme for this blog, I'm sure all of you are simply getting what you've expected, and, if you think really well of me, you're actually getting it earlier than you expected. So let's get to it....

You may remember that last year, when Hina turned 1, I talked about the phenomenons of the birthday week and birthday months. However, it's more appropriate this time around to tell you about her birthday through something else that's becoming a theme (in this blog at least)--the number 2. Hina was graced this year with two parties--one in Georgia, with her friends and family down there, and one in Michigan, with Mama, Papa, and more friends.

We were in Georgia for ten days in February when Shawn went to Honduras to help build a church in a remote village. The night before our return to Michigan, Aunt Taytee (aka Katie), Uncle Will, and Cousin Ceanna hosted Hina's first party. She opened a Cabbage Patch kid from Bibbits, Poppy, and the above hosts. She also received a pretty cool animal encyclopedia from her godparents, and she now asks us to read it to her often. Of course, no toddler party would be appropriate without at least one gift of candy, and Tova delivered there. I try to reserve those candies for successful potty attempts, so they should be around for a long, long while.

At Hina's second party, Mama and Papa spent hours and hours cooking Southern food for a group of mainly Northerners and Midwesterners. The dishes trailed us for days, but Hina could have cared less because she was presented, mid-party, with a giant platter of homemade chocolate donuts (see video below). We learned at her first birthday that she's not a fan of cake, so the donuts seemed the next best thing. We nailed that one. Thankfully, the chocolate sauce came out of her clothes pretty easily. By far, it was the hit of the party, despite the piles and piles of fried chicken and macaroni and cheese at the other end of the table.

Added Feature

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:11:34 GMT

When I look back to last Halloween, I think of Hina trick-or-treating in sleet and snow. I remember my fears that we were inviting major sickness upon our child for letting her get candy in below 30 degree temps. I see her dressed in her butterfly costume, walking down the halls of Shawn's school and receiving candy from students outside their dorm rooms. I see Shawn dressed as a bag of espresso beans, with thanks to Brian and Michelle Miller, who gave us the bag when we first moved here four years ago. I cringe at my red shoes, which were supposed to complement my Keroppi get-up in a tree frog sort of way. What I didn't think of at the time, but that I do think of now, is something we were unaware of then. Rather than being cryptic, I should probably just deliver the obvious.

And perhaps that's why I'm finally brave enough to deliver...because it is so obvious. I guess when you're six months pregnant, it gets harder and harder to physically hide. It's been an up and down pregnancy, with two scares and one emergency room visit, after which I was told I was never pregnant and was misdiagnosed at 6 weeks with a blighted ovum. The Tuesday before Christmas changed all that, when we discovered how grateful people can be at refusing doctor's suggestions (in this case, for another D & C--dilation and curettage). At any rate, here we are now, still wondering the sex of our second child (since it's legs were shut at the twenty week ultrasound; see picture below), and still a little nervous whether or not we will actually add a new feature to this blog come July. We covet your thoughts and prayers in this respect. So, for the time being, here's a peek at Apostel #2:

Photo Shoot

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:31:06 GMT

With many thanks to Public Image Photography, Hina and I recently surprised Shawn with some pictures of mom and babe. We've already printed some and hope to do more soon, but options are limited here in the arctic wasteland, where only Wal Mart (ah...small town woes) lets us make prints. We have both black and white and color of all of the 50 or so shots, if anyone is interested. Here are some of our favorites, but you can feel free to check out the albums on this blog for more:

To the tune of ABCs

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:34:58 GMT

While too much time has, obviously, passed since I last reported Hina's escapades, I have been thinking and planning how to show off the last few days of her one year old life. Yep. She's almost 2--her birthday is one week from today.

Before we get to that blog, however, I'd like to share her ABC abilities. She can pick out every letter when we ask, but it's far more entertaining for us to hear her attempts at the famous song. I got a few of them on video the other day, so here is one of the best from the line-up. Enjoy.

O Tannenbaum

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:37:43 GMT

We've been blessed, this last winter in the arctic, with the craziest amount of snow fall we've seen so far for this time of year. Repeatedly over the last two weeks, I've marveled at how much I'm reminded of the month when Hina was born--February. Although in some ways, I wish it was the season of love, I'm happy to welcome in a month of peace and gift giving. It's also, though, a month of baking, traditions, and trees. And this last item is what brings me to you today.

This morning, as soon as we finished breakfast, we headed out the door to our friendly beekeeper's house. Don Wells is a thoughtful, productive friend I've known since we first arrived. Almost as long, we've been in a bartering system with him. Homemade cheese for honey. Banana bread for pumpkins. Cookies and mead for trees. This year, Don got double chocolate sables; we got the biggest Apostel Christmas Tree yet.

It's been a long while since our minuscule beginnings of digging up trees behind TFC power lines. Now we strap on snow shoes, grab the saw, and trudge through the fluffy insulation into a field of spruces, replete with snowmobiles revving in the background. If we could have actually seen the trees through the snow, and if we had been able to feel our fingers and toes, perhaps we would have stayed out longer. Hina, for one, loved the search and didn't seem to mind the cold. I must admit, though, that it was one of the first times we've let her really play in the snow. It just takes so long to put four layers of clothes on a toddler.

Post Treats

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:23:09 GMT

Before the next holiday arrives (in a week--crazy!), I wanted to be sure to share a few pics from Halloween. Hina dressed up for five occasions. First, we took her to the Safehouse, which is at Shawn's school. The college kids decorate their halls and have small games for trick-or-treaters. Hina got into it after a few stops. She liked the Monster's Inc hall the best, since it featured not only candy, but also a TV set up with the film playing.

Later that night, we went to a grad student Halloween party. This second occasion gave Hina the opportunity to play a game with mama and papa. She was allowed, for once, to waste toilet paper by making Shawn into a mummy. Here's my favorite shot from this event:

You're probably asking what Hina was for the candy fest. Before I tell you, I should also note that she wore her costume to Parents Day Out and a Halloween luncheon at Papa's school, and, of course, for the official trick-or-treating. By the end, it was so worn out, I had to throw most of it away. Here's the full effect. Our little butterfly. Notice the homemade wings and black tights doubling as insect legs. And, luckily, her hair made the perfect antennas. Mom is keroppi (gotta love those high school fads), and Papa is a bag of espresso beans. We actually finally threw the "beans" away just yesterday.

A Day in the Life

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 03:28:38 GMT

What's more unreserved than a day in the life of a toddler? Just tonight, on our way home from a friend's house, I was telling Shawn how refreshed I've been at the opportunity to be so unabashed around Hina. Whether she's touching my face to remind me that I have teeth or handing me toilet paper when, well, I need it, she's not only learning, but also teaching me. I guess I've come to realize that I let go best when I let her lead me.

So I thought it would be a re-energizing experience for Hina's blog fans to also get the chance to follow her around for a day. Enjoying life while living and learning can only be relished wholeheartedly through the eyes, hands, and minds of a toddler. Needless to say, I hope you enjoy.

On this particular day, while I was trying to urge Hina upstairs to get dressed, she decided to ransack the magazine stash in the downstairs bathroom. Of course, she was proud of her handiwork...so proud, she readily demonstrated for the camera.

Playing with and--forgive us--accosting Percy takes up much of Hina's time. On said day, she decided to invade Percy's crate (better known as the "hobbit hole") and take Percy for a stroll. Papa helped with this latter one.

Later, after her nap, it was time to primp. She choose a barette, decided on a pony tail, and, before going out on the town, gave a quick check of her reflection in the kitchen trash can, which is actually a fairly accurate mirror.

Finally, before "night-night," it was time for her favorite hobby--reading books. In truth, we probably read at least half a dozen times on this day, but since the evening ritual includes at least 10 of her best-loved titles, she wanted to be sure share a pajama shot with you.

Even while reading, when she was most intent, Hina couldn't help but be original. At the end of each book, she jumped up, shouted "Amen!" and did a little Happy Feet dance. As I reached for her next tome, Curious George Goes to School, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd prance about, beam, and let go of my excitement the next time I found pleasure in what I was doing. Check back with me tomorrow. I'm not sure I'll find time to read my own book, but I know I'll make plenty of time to dance with Hina.

Harvest Time

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:30:59 GMT

The fall has been full, no doubt. We honestly think that the holidays will help us catch up on free time. From trying to stay ahead of the harvest to attending endless meetings, every night is busy and spoken for. Thus the absence of new blogs. And thus the string of blogs you'll soon see. We’ll start at the beginning, just as the leaves here we’re starting to turn.

This has been our first (and probably our only) harvest here in the UP. When we got back at the end of June from our trip down South, we immediately started a little garden. Perhaps surprising, we were behind planting season by only a week or so, and we were actually able to reap a plentiful amount from our meager plot of land. Although the zucchinis never quite made it, we did enjoy many red and (fried) green tomatoes. Basil dishes were plentiful (Shawn swears you should try my eggs basildict), and peppers went in many batches of salsa. We also have a little plum tree in our yard, and this year’s crop was excellent. From it, we made plum butter and plum wine. We’ve also made blueberry wine, apple wine, and mead since then. Our other harvest fare includes apple jelly, hot pepper jelly, a dozen or so wheels of herbed cheese, and Christmas pesto. And all of this from a 4 X 10 foot garden!

Who knows what we’ll harvest if we ever do find that organic farm of our dreams…