More on Liliana

I'm counting today as her official sit-up-from-lying-on-her-stomach day.  January 17, 2011 She's 8 1/2 months old.

I may count today has her official crawling day as well.  She goes about 3-4 little crawls at a time.

Today is also her official pull-herself-up-on-the-furniture day.  Just to the standing point.  She can't actually crawl up onto the furniture.

She's just growing by leaps and bounds.  I'm sorry to see my little baby changing to rapidly.  I'm happy for her but sad for me.  What a selfish mom I am.

Christmas with George Washington

After we unwrapped our gifts and ate a little breakfast, we got dressed and rode up to Washington's Crossing, PA to watch the re-enactment of George Washington's heroic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776.

Unlike the original crossing, we were dressed in warm clothing, there wasn't a nor-easter blowing through with wind, snow and sleet and it was about 1 o'clock in the afternoon.  For some reason, however, my mind was caught up in the fact that these men were so poorly dressed that many didn't have shoes, but wrapped their feet in cloth if they could.  They stood on the bank of the Delaware in the horrid storm, waiting for there turn to climb in a boat to be rowed across with chunks of ice crashing all around them.  All this was done in the dead of night, in fact, the last man wasn't over until about 4 o'clock in the morning the day after Christmas.  I cried as I watched the first boat launch and battle the current of the Delaware.

The good news is that not one American man was killed in the Battle at Trenton that morning after they marched another nine miles.  A few were injured but none died.  That is just amazing to me.  These poor men.  What they did to allow me to eventually live in such a great country.  To wake up with my children on this lovely Christmas morning and celebrate the birth of our Savior.  I will never be able to adequately express my gratitude and devotion to these men.  Never.  They are my heroes.

I am fascinated by this moment in history.  Maybe because it's so easy for me to visualize.  Maybe because we've been studying so much about the Revolution that it's finally registering with me. I don't know why.  I'm just grateful.

Spur of the Moment

Yesterday I decided to take the kids into Philly to experience the downtown area rich with history. I have a true desire to instill within my children a sense of patriotism. We've been studying the Revolutionary War period of American History for the last year or so. It's been exciting to me to feel like going on field trips again. During the pregnancy last year, I'll I did was mope around the house and feel miserable. I didn't know if I would ever return to being motivated to go anywhere ever again. Ahhhh....live has returned to normal. And I got a sweet little baby to going with the deal.

Ok...so yesterday we went into Philly. I didn't know that there was a Junior Ranger program associated with Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It's a free program run through the Parks Dept. Just go to the desk in the building across from the Liberty Bell. They'll give you the booklet on the program and send you on your way. Once the activities in the booklet are completed, go back to the Ranger desk, they'll check the booklet and then swear in the children to be a Junior Ranger. The kids all get a badge and everyone is happy.

Our Ranger guide through Independence Hall was awful. He was a quirky little man and did not have a voice that carried very well. He knew a lot of information but the spirit of the history did not particularly manifest itself through him. He seemed more interested in the trivial bits than the stories behind the bits. What I did like was that the kids seemed interested as they worked on the questions in their junior ranger booklets. Even Joey was asking the Ranger guide questions on his own. I was proud of him.

I think that they were genuinely interested in the set up of the room in Independence Hall. They saw the "Rising Sun" chair in which George Washington and other leaders sat. It was fun to remind them of scenes from the movie "National Treasure" where they used these great buildings to solve the mysteries.

At the Liberty Bell, they learned who Pass and Stow were.

It was a lovely day, weather-wise. I'm glad we went. I enjoyed it myself. I had gone once before when Sam and I were first engaged. Then a second time with my parents, but Lucy was just newly potty-trained and had to go to the bathroom. There are no public restrooms on the Square so I missed the tour with my family. So, this was my first time back in 14 years. Hmmm...we need to go more often.

My favorite part this time: the ink well that was used when signing the famous documents. Somehow I could feel the spirit of the history by looking at that ink well and imagining who used it.

Whenever I visit these places, I have such a desire to read and learn more. I just need a few extra hours in the day to do all that I want. :)

New Blog

I started a new blog. It's a work in progress. I'm doing an experiment on gratitude.

You can check it out at gratitudeproject.blogspot.com

Another Milestone

November 5th was Lili's official "sit up" day. She really seems to have the sit up under control. Still needs a little work, but practice makes perfect.

Two Things

1. Liliana officially rolled over from front to back today. 11/4/10 I went in to get her from her crib and found her on her back. She seemed a little stunned that she was laying on her back. Kinda funny.

2. This is for me to know where to find it when I need it.

Holiday Mail For Heroes is back for a fourth year! The American Red Cross will collect holiday cards from regular citizens all across the country and distribute them to service members, veterans, and their families. Many active service members must spend the holidays apart from their family. Give back this holiday season by sending a card to thank those who have given a great deal to their country.

Send cards to the address below,

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456

All cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 10th. Cards postmarked after this date will unfortunately be returned to the sender. This deadline ensures enough time to sort and distribute cards before the holidays.

Lili Rolled

Just a quick note to myself to remember that Liliana rolled over from back to front on October 2, 2010.