Yes, it has been quite awhile since I've put any post up on this blog! Once work started up again, and James was back to full-time graduate student, part-time professor - well, life got real busy and time for blog posts was quite minimal. But it's a snowy, cold February day and Madeline is taking a nap so I thought I'd upload some random phone pics from January and February with a little update. I may do some "back posts" on some fun things that happened between Sep 1 and now, but no promises. :0)
With the arrival of January, we finally saw a true Chicago winter emerge. And thus we've had to bundle Madeline up for the single digit temps - Madeline keeps her gloves on for approx 2 seconds!
We've had lots of indoor play during these cold days. Here Madeline is sporting her "Miso Cute" onesie from Uncle Evan - thanks!
I had a work retreat in January, taking a group of students to a Lake house in Michigan. Gotta love working with College students - freezing cold relay races and Pin the Kiss on the Cupid!
Madeline was invited to the "Celebration of Life" party hosted by the Voice For Life club on campus - she was delighted to come eat cake and play games, and the College students always love having a baby around!
The last several weeks we've had a consistent supply of snow, which has come at the perfect timing. It's about this time of the year that I start to get real ansy and pine for spring. Growing up in the Evergreen State, the bleak, brown winter landscape of this region is not my favorite. But a beautiful blanketing of snow immediately changes the landscape and brightens my spirits! We've been bundling up and taking Madeline for snow walks on the weekends.
Madeline was loving the snow, until she face planted in it and then it wasn't so fun. :0)
It's also been fun to watch Madeline "graduate" to new toys, all the fun things she received for Christmas and her birthday. Her Ama sent her a baby doll and stroller for her birthday that she is loving!
So, that's about it for now. Bundled up snow walks, playing in the house, seemingly constant rounds of colds/flu, and the constant and elusive search for work/life balance. We are also waiting to hear back on Ph.D. programs for James; it will be so nice to know the final outcome and be able to plan ahead a bit, whatever that may mean. But we are trying very hard in this season to enjoy each day, and trust the Lord's faithfulness for our future. God has provided so many good things for us in this "Wheaton" phase of life, and we are so very grateful. Hopefully I'll be back sooner than later!
