All Things Supercinski

Peter Schiff …

HT Bill @ The Thinklings

It has been an exciting couple of weeks. Three of my students gave birth in one week around the beginning of the month. Two of them called me for support during labor, and all of them had the births they wanted. I am so proud of them, and it helps me realize that I’m not doing a horrible job teaching, or they are just good students.

Then my dear friend Erin gave birth a few days later to a beautiful girl.

In the middle of all that, I attended the labor of a sweet friend having her third baby and first homebirth. The labor didn’t end in a birth, but that came about several days later. I was invited to attend once again, but this time as the midwife’s assistant since her assistant was serving on jury duty in Houston that day. It was a wonderful experience and one of the best gifts a friend has given me. I learned so much that day, and I know it will make me a better teacher.

Witnessing a birth is very different that having a baby yourself. When you are the one doing it (I speak in terms of unmedicated births since that is what I know), time goes by so quickly and you are completely focused inward. Afterward, you say that it was hard work and perhaps the hardest thing you have ever done and that you aren’t excited to ever do it again. A few days/weeks/months later, you say that it was a wonderful experience and that you can’t wait to do it again. You forget the crazy parts, or they just seem less intense. Watching it is different. You really feel the intensity in a different, helpless way, and the minutes are long. Anyway, that might not make sense to anyone who hasn’t witnessed a natural birth…. bear with me, I am still processing.

My sweet friend labored beautifully. Her husband did not leave her side and whispered encouraging, loving words in her ear the whole time. It was intense and amazing. Her labor was hard but fast. After the birth, things did not go as planned (all are well), but I will let them share their story. I have not been so shaken in a long time. The Lord was near and comforting. I was reminded that life is fleeting, we are not promised tomorrow for us or our loved ones. Love them well.

I am always on the lookout for children’s book recommendations, and I have been meaning to share some of our favorites here, so here goes.

Lately, Josiah has loved reading books by Karma Wilson. She has written a series of books about a bear: Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bear’s New Friend, and Bear Feels Sick. There is a Christmas one, but it was not my favorite. The illustrations are warm and inviting, and the sing, song rhythm of the text makes for fun storytelling. Karma Wilson has authored several other books that we enjoy, especially Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive.

Some other favorite authors include Jan Brett (another amazing illustrator), Anne Rockwell’s transportation books for the young toddler boy (Cars, Trucks, Planes, Machines, Things That Go, Toolbox, etc.), Eric Carle books, especially 10 Rubber Ducks. He also enjoys The Napping House and Piggies by Audrey Wood, and almost any book by Margaret Wise Brown. She wrote Goodnight Moon and many other wonderful, poetic books for children.

As for toys and playthings, if you are looking for a fun, imaginative and inexpensive toy, try playsilks. It is basically a large piece of silk fabric that can become anything you want it to be. Josiah likes it to be a cape, blanket, hat, wrapping paper, “twirly whirler”, and so forth. I have an online friend who does custom tie-dye, making them all the more fun.

I saw this on a blog today, and I think it is great. Family members can take this as a warning that you will most likely be receiving homemade gifts this year.

Sweet little Annalise is growing so fast. I was just talking with some other moms with second babies about how quickly everything is happening this time. It is hard to believe she is already five months old, but yet it feels like she has always been part of our little family, if that makes sense.

Annalise is a really easy going baby. She is content to play on her activity mat or exersaucer for a while, especially if Josiah is around to entertain her. She shrieks and squeals like a girl, and her giggle is girly sounding, too. She doesn’t laugh as easily and as often as Josiah did, but she smiles all the time. She does laugh easily at Josiah making silly sounds, but not so much at me or Thomas.

She has almost outgrown her 3-6 month clothes, especially in a cloth diaper. She is doing a little better this month with nursing when there is some noise or activity around. She hasn’t started solids yet, nor does she sleep through the night. I am not in a hurry for her to reach these milestones (well, the sleeping would be nice), but as far as solids and weaning to fewer nursings, I don’t mind those waiting longer. They really aren’t babies for long. Instead of waiting for the next thing–solids, crawling, walking, weaning, etc. like I did with Josiah, I’ll just stay right her and enjoy this while it lasts.

At five months, Annalise usually takes three naps a day, and she stays awake for two hours before wanting to go back to sleep. She loves being swaddled for sleep, being worn in the Beco, and watching Josiah do anything, most of which she finds hilarious. She dislikes other people holding her if she is slightly tired or hungry (pouty lip and everything!), being put down for long periods of time, and not eating/sleeping often enough. That’s about it. Sorry if she cries when you hold her, she does it to almost everyone these days, except us.

These are some links for October 27th.

• Touchstone Archives: Baby Pew Sitters -
  “Worship is not simply a rational, intellectual exercise appealing to the hearing and understanding of adults. Nor is it a postmodern, emotional, narrative experience that, well, also appeals to adults.It is an encounter with the Triune God, which does not depend upon our own mental faculties (or lack thereof) or upon our emotional backgrounds, baggage, or preferences. The Word of God works, despite our sin, despite our cognitive ability, despite our age and experience.”
• One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library -
  “No endorsement of any single issue qualifies a person to hold public office. Being pro-life does not make a person a good governor, mayor, or president. But there are numerous single issues that disqualify a person from public office. For example, any candidate who endorsed bribery as a form of government efficiency would be disqualified, no matter what his party or platform was. Or a person who endorsed corporate fraud (say under $50 million) would be disqualified no matter what else he endorsed. Or a person who said that no black people could hold office—on that single issue alone he would be unfit for office. Or a person who said that rape is only a misdemeanor—that single issue would end his political career. These examples could go on and on. Everybody knows a single issue that for them would disqualify a candidate for office.”
• Touchstone Archives: Tired of Life? -
  “There has been a steady campaign by some Christians who regard themselves as orthodox and conservative to persuade the rank and file of their Christian brothers and sisters to rethink their predictable support for political candidates who are pro-life. They bring other issues to the fore—war, torture, taxes, education, health care, and poverty—in an attempt to undermine the claim that conscientious Christians must always support pro-life candidates. They imply that such “single-issue” pro-life voting is unsophisticated, often in lockstep with the mostly uneducated “religious right,” and perhaps not even very moral in the long view.”
• The Corner on National Review Online -
  “The question is whether enough Americans understand what’s at stake in this election and, if they do, whether they care. Is the allure of a charismatic demagogue so strong that the usually sober American people are willing to risk an Obama presidency? After all, it ensnared Adelman, Kmiec, Powell, Fried, and numerous others. And while America will certainly survive, it will do so, in many respects, as a different place.”

There is a program in town called Hot Shots Soccer. One aspect of it is soccer for kids, starting as early as 18 months. After hearing some good feedback about the program, we decided to give it a try this fall for Josiah. He’s in a class with two of his friends, but nine months to a year-and-a-half younger than the other kids in his class. It has been interesting.

He likes the part at the beginning where they stretch and at the end where they put their hands together and yell, “Hot Shots!” (Josiah thinks they are yelling “Hopscotch!” ) And playing at the park with his friends after soccer. That’s about it. Oh, and sitting on the blanket with me and playing with the babies and eating a snack. He’s a little young for it, but it’s been fun to get out and enjoy the weather, and he always takes a great nap on soccer days. I got him to participate a little more this week, thanks to my Beco Butterfly (review coming soon), and remembered my camera.

Stretching:

Doing his own thing:

“Hopscotch!”