Mama and Grandfather Dick

Growing up, each thanksgiving wasn't complete without my great-grandparents, Margaret and Richard Carlisle. Uncle Shel unearthed a bunch of old pictures and here is one from who knows when of my great-grands.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Loving the attention!


We had a fun Thanksgiving week here in the Evans household. With Gram, Schmidts, and Jordan and Lisa here it was a full house for a couple days. (One night we had 13 sleeping over in the various nooks and crannies of the house). Josie and Sophie had lots of time to discover each other, either having fun or not knowing what to do with another baby!

For Thanksgiving dinner we had our family plus 7 Chinese students over for the evening. It was hilarious to watch Josie interact with them. It was like she found her long lost family-- she talked the entire evening and sang the doxology at the top of her lungs with us. Very very funny. She loves an audience and a bunch of smiling faces speaking Chinese to her was lighting her right up. She must have an innate sense of familiarity, being made in China and all.

We also had our cousins over for dinner another night, filling the house up to 31 people! Now that everyone is gone, and Josie is sleeping in the swing and Dave reading for his grad classes, it seems a big quiet. It hasn't been like this for a week! This won't last though, as Dave is headed to Vancouver to seek our housing for our new life there and I am going to Hilton Head for the week on Wednesday to spend with Gram. Traveling solo with a baby is going to be interesting. But I better get used to it as it will be more than familiar once we set on our way to Vancouver!

Our little ham.

This is Josie, alone without mommy and daddy but with her entire family keeping her occupied. She didn't seem to mind at all being the center of attention! This is a very encouraging sign, as her previous behavior tends toward complete breakdowns when she doesn't see me at all times. Thanks to Margo, Marianne and Phil, and of course the grands, she was a happy girl!

Josie's First Race

Josie made an appearence and "ran" her first 10k at the Hobble Gobble Prediction Run this Saturday. She rolled alongside her mama and was pushed by here Baba for 1 hour and 7 minutes. Her Mom thought maybe, this being her first race after pregnancy, predicted that it would take an hour and a half to complete the run. Her father was a little more realistic, predicting a 1:03 finishing time. They met in the middle (sort of) at 1:07, both far from winning any prediction run, but had fun all the same. Besides a few sore muscles and some fatigue, everyone is feeling good. (This is something, considering that Josie was up for feedings at 7,9, 11. 1:20,2:30,4:30 and 6 the night before). She must have been nervous that she wouldn't have enough nutrition or be dehydrated for her race the next day. Her Mama was pretty tired in the morning but made it though:)

I hear there is a Marathon in Vancouver this spring!!! Six miles down, twenty to go! Can Josie do it?

Friends

This weeks has been rich for me, rich because dear friends have come to visit. Don't get me wrong, living in the country is wonderful, though sometimes it is a big isolated. But these days have been full. And with Thanksgiving coming up, a holiday famous in the Evans home for lots of people, fun and food, truly we are blessed! My family says each year, "Thanksgiving isn't really Thanksgiving unless Bryan is there!"- and this year, unfortunately, won't truly be Thanksgiving I suppose, because Bryan made his visit this weekend instead. And Josie liked that! He even brought her a beautiful home-made gift.

Unfortunately, Josie didn't want to sleep that night, probably because she missed Uncle Bry and wishes he didn't live so far away.

He also helped us turn these

into this! Baby Food!!! (And dessert for Daddy!)

She was happy again yesterday, when Sarah and her 3 kiddos came for lunch and a walk in the field.

I'm not sure who enjoyed the visit more- Josie and 6 month old William had a talking contest to see who could be louder. The jury is out still to see who wins. Hopefully we'll have a re-match soon!

Running

It's hard to believe that it's been over a year since I gave my Beijing half marathon number to my friend Leslie to run in my place. At the time, I was 8 weeks pregnant and not at all feeling like running a race like that one. In fact, I hadn't run any significant distance since the day I found out I was expecting and that day was a painful 8 mile walk run. Life just hasn't been the same since.

I really thought that perhaps I would be competing in races shortly after giving birth. Not running, but maybe swimming? I had been swimming regularly up until the week before giving birth and going at a fairly good clip- by Chinese standards:) I even thought maybe I could team up with Dave and do a swimming portion of a triatholon the week we returned to the states-- 3 weeks post delivery. These were all pre-birth thoughts of course. What was I thinking? I guess first time moms have no clue that one may not be able to walk straight for weeks or even months after giving birth. I certainly was uninformed (or at least, not wanting to accept this fact until I experienced it for myself)

However, in an attempt to motivate myself to pretend I'm a runner again, I signed Dave and myself up for a 10k which happens to be competing this Saturday. I signed up over a month ago and since then downloaded a novice 10k training schedule and have stuck to it as closely as possible. ("As possible" being the key phrase here) It's possible to do training runs when I get the timing right in between Josie's nap schedule and can take her out in the jogging stroller. Better yet, if someone is home and can watch her while she sleeps and I go out running. The best scenario though is if Dave goes with me, pushes the stroller and encourages me to run. This happened this past Sunday afternoon, the final "long" run before the race (5 miles with hills). Oh boy, was I ever tired and slow. What at one point in my life took me 45 minutes now takes almost double that. Honestly, it's kind of depressing. However, as Dave runs beside me, I'm encouraged to put one foot in front of the other, to keep going. And Josie may look over and smile or sing as she rolls along- very cute. It's kind of like she's saying "I know that this is hard mom, and I know it's because of me, but you can do it!" And each time, I can.

And why not just walk? Good question. I like running. I've liked it since I saw my first track meet when I was in middle school (we didn't have a track or a track team at my small school so in 9th grade I petitioned my school board and another bigger, close by school to let me join their team. They let me, and I ran 4 years of track in high school. ) I loved running sprints or hills while playing soccer. Sometimes I even ran after practice for fun. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't always easy for me, and I'm not built to easily run distance or fly down the pavement. I have what you call "sprinter thighs"- but I do love a beautiful brisk day and the feel of sun on my face, a breeze in air and a little sweat to make it worthwhile. I love the feel of finishing and the sense of accomplishment. I even like a little competition, but find it discouraging in my present state. So, even now, even though I'm probably the most out of shape I've been since 5th grade, and it's downright painful in my lungs, calves, tendons and thighs to run a mile uphill, I think it's worth it.

It was worth it in high school when I pushed though the out-of-shape uncomfortable spring time to compete in the 400m hurdles. It was worth it to work hard on sprinting to be a force on the soccer field. It was worth it in college when I ran my first half marathon and during my second year in China when I ran my first full marathon. Now, 7 years later, I'm training just as hard for a 10k. Times have changed, I have changed. Everything about my life has changed-- but I still love to run.

And though no one can really know now what Josie will be like, I have a suspicion she might be just the same. She's got her father's long legs, and she knows how to kick em! She's got stamina (right now it shows up in her crying and persistence to get my attention), but I do wonder if there's an athlete among us that might surpass both of us! IT will be interesting to see who the little girl rolling on the ground at my feet making vibrating spitting noises for the past 20 min straight will turn out to be.

At least I know that she has a heavenly father who knows all those things. And he certainly loves surprises!

So, now that I've started running again, my goal is to actually RUN a half marathon (do I even dream of a full marathon?) before getting pregnant again. A good goal to have right? Maybe Josie will do it with me? I better get running!

33 years

We celebrated my parent's 33rd anniversary yesterday. Here they are walking down the isle 33 years ago. Bet they couldn't have imagined all that surrounded them then. Makes me wonder what my life will look like in 33 years. Thanks for getting and staying married all those years Mom and Dad!

5 months!

Sorry, still no variety in the posting:) Jos is 5 months today and has discovered a couple of things.

First, her feet, which provide hours of entertainment. That is, unless it's 5:30 or 6 am then which feet alone just won't do the trick. Only mom then.

but those toes sure are munchable!
Then, sitting up.

She can't get there on her own but once I plop her up she has a good time.

She also like to conduct the wind a bit like August Rush.
And just so you aren't bored with pictures of Josie I'll put a few others to show what life has been like at the farm.

Yes, no kidding. This was taken last Friday. That was the day that my dad and his friends all went up to camp to go hunting.

That was the day that my dad and his friends all went up to camp to go hunting.

Not because we're lacking in deer around here though. (this one is finishing up the last of my dad's beloved brussel sprouts)

I think they go up to camp perhaps more for the experience of being out in the woods and being a hunter in the elements. My vegetarian husband even joined the hunting crew for the weekend. More for the male bonding experience and to enjoy the great outdoors. (Rumor has it that the hunters actually just go into the woods and take a nap though)

Last Friday was also my dad's birthday was last Friday and he got a brand new ipod to take with him. (I don't know about taking an ipod in the woods so you can enjoy the great outdoors, but I guess sometimes you just gotta meet somewhere in the middle.)

Like making vegetarian stews for a group of hunters at camp (which was done, actually.)

But it's not snowing now, in fact it's quite the opposite. Like in the 60's. I'm supposed to be training for a 10k which takes place in 2 weeks. Supposed to run 5 miles yesterday but I was too tired. And then I was supposed to do it today. I got about 3 minutes out and a migraine nipped that idea in the bud. So, instead I've been playing with my camera. Looking online for a good 50mm 1.8 lens (via recommendation) and folding laundry. Well, not really. I need to in the next 10 minutes before Dave comes home from being a 4th grade teacher so it looks like I did SOMETHING today! Besides be a mom- which ain't half bad.

Smooch!

You would think I have more to do than take pictures of Josie. Well, I don't. She's such a fun model and when you capture shots like this, well, it's worth it. However, this is a rare shot for me- eyes in focus, no blur, no flash. Any of you photographers out there (eh hem, Katie) have any suggestions for capturing those beautiful kid shots? :)

gerber baby?

I've been surprised at how much Josie is just growing up-- wasn't she just a little thing not too long ago? And now, in a week, she'll be 5 months! Here we are at 21 weeks.

Does this look like someone who sounded miserable all night?

Who just didn't want to sleep between the hours of 12 am and 5 am?

Can you believe these eyes cried for many hours? Oh silly baby, silly silly baby. You are such a goofball!