Little Aurora turned two weeks old yesterday, and we celebrated by spending the day at Nana and Granddad's house. Or maybe we spent the day there because we were evacuated from our home due to a 10,000+ acre wildfire. Either way. We got home from church on Sunday to see an enormous cloud of smoke rising from the forest behind our house. Blake immediately expressed great dismay, and seemed to understand the gravity from the get go. It was not long before he had us packing up essentials and irreplaceable sentimental things, like photo albums and baby blankets made by the great grandmothers. We left home before the official evacuation notice came, a sobering act even though both of us were pretty confidant that our house would be fine.

We hung out at my inlaws' place for Father's Day, which we were planning on doing anyway, and had a fabulous, very meaty dinner of grilled ribs, steak, and chicken (can you tell that the guys heavily influenced the menu?). It was Blake's first Father's Day, and while it was definitely a special day, his beloved forest was burning down, and it will be a long grieving process for all of us. Pictures posted earlier on the blog show us enjoying Schultz Tank, which is destroyed. Our favorite trails to walk Vlad on our gone. This wilderness area began literally just minutes from our house, and we've lost something more precious than even our home, part of me feels.

Rory got her dad a new razor (and other grooming accouterments) for Father's Day, with a note explaining how much she loves his kisses when his cheeks are smooth. She may have been unwittingly influenced by her mother in picking out this gift... her parents are convinced that she is quite advanced for her age, and will entertain inquiries from interested universities starting in a year or two, assuming the stipulations are acceptable. However, something must be done about her hygiene preferences first, since she is entirely opposed to bathing and diaper changes. Have you heard how beautiful she is? I may have mentioned it a time or two. She really is the most beautiful baby. It's a good thing Blake has so many weapons to intimidate her future suitors with...we'll probably have to get a guard shack too, or maybe a nice tower to lock her up in. Mark Driscoll has a great series on the Song of Solomon, and one of the last sermons is on dads and daughters. He mentions that girls are either doors or walls, and that a door lets any guy who knocks get close. A wall, on the other hand, remains completely impassable to all guys up until the point she meets the worthy one. My fervent prayer for Rory is that she be a wall, and if she's not, that her daddy barricade her up and stand guard with his AK47 until she's past the door stage. Raising a daughter is stressful, and she's only fifteen days old!

This lovely trail is charred now

  Family picture at Snowbowl for the wedding of some friends
Caution: Slippery when wet











Pictures taken from our house

Note: At the arboretum, I learned the difference between a forest fire and a wildfire- forest fires begin naturally, as with lightening, and are God's way of keeping the forests healthy. Wildfires are caused by humans and cause destruction in an unnatural, unhealthy way. This is a wildfire, caused by carelessness. Oftentimes Flagstaff's wildfires are started by people from out of town, tourists or transients, who don't know how to manage their campfires or just don't care. They ruin things for those of us who live here, and who care so much. It makes me mad!

Life with Rory

We've been home with our little one for almost a week, and it's been a whirlwind. Here are some random thoughts about her arrival and settling in:

• Blake is much better at changing diapers and swaddling than I am, but I make awesome milk, so we're even.
• Blake made an innocent inquiry about the placenta, and the next thing we know, it's in a Tupperware container in our hospital room. Now it's in our refrigerator. Gross. What does one do with a placenta, anyway?
• After months of preparing for natural, medicine free childbirth, both Blake and I felt nothing but relief when, after hours of apparently futile labor, our doctor informed us that we would be delivering by c-section.We were glad to go through labor for the experience, but discovered that c-sections aren't so bad.
• An enormous red flower in one's hair speeds the recovery process, and is, as I suspected, an excellent distraction from a drugged, tired face in pictures.
• Things I am finding invaluable:
• enthusiastic grandmas
• a loving, encouraging husband whose also an adoring father
• my moby wrap...wasn't sure how I'd feel about it, but it's amazing
• the nice comfy glider and ottoman
• I love not being pregnant so, so much!! It's almost worth getting pregnant again just to enjoy the thrill of being not pregnant after.

My first glimpse of my beautiful daughter occurred on the operating table. My doctor probably told me that she was going to hold up the baby for me to see before the nursery people checked her out, but it did not register with me. Thus, I was a bit taken back when I heard a cry and turned my head, and leering down at me was Gollum. the creature had grabbed hold of the curtain with both hands and stayed grasping the curtain even as the doctor pulled her away. It occurred to me that Gollum was actually my baby, and while I was a little underwhelmed, I determined that being cute isn't everything, and we could work with it. However, fifteen or so minutes later, in the recovery room, Blake handed me the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She bore no resemblance at all to the slimy, unfortunate Tolkien villain; she was perfect and gorgeous and I was smitten at second sight of her.

Worth the Wait

Aurora Whitney Bowen

Born 6.7.10 at 6:32am, 8.4lbs, 21.5 inches

She is perfect!

The finished product

Due Dates Come and Go...

May 29th is gone, and no Ninja. I'm surprisingly okay with that though (I've never been partial to the number 29 anyway). Our doctor doesn't want us to go past next Friday (which seems like an eternity from now) because of the effects of the high elevation, so there is a definite end in sight! Besides, I'm having fun hanging out with my mom, getting things done, and I'm very fond of pearl as a birthstone if emerald doesn't pan out.

It's been a couple weeks of highs and lows as far as selling our home goes, with an almost certain buyer backing out, then getting a copy of the home inspection and realizing things aren't as dismal as I thought they may be...there's a buyer out there somewhere! It would have been nice to be moved out before Ninja comes, and be settled somewhere, but I'm sure she doesn't mind that her dresser is in the dining room and most of her cute nursery accessories are packed away. If our home has not sold by the end of the summer, we'll turn the guest room into a genuine nursery, but at this point we're hoping it won't be worth the effort.

The last couple days have been just beautiful, and we've enjoyed some nice strolls with Vlad in the forest. Blake came back with Vladimir one day last week with a dead snake in a ziplock bag, and proceeded to inform me of how he killed it when it tried to bite Vlad (spearing it with his walking stick and cutting off its head with his knife). He was very pleased with himself. And while I'm grateful that he bravely defended our noble beast, I hate the thought of him interacting with potentially venomous reptiles (especially since he admitted he couldn't remember how the rhyme goes: "red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow; red touches black, venom it lacks." Blake was thinking something along the lines of, "red and white, you're all right," which is completely irrelevant. I'm thinking of asking him to tattoo it on his hand in case he encounters more snakes on his expeditions... Right now, Blake and my mom are sitting at the dining room table, sewing his snake skin onto strips of leather to make a band for his new hat. It's very endearing to watch him sewing intently with his mother in law, and I'm much relieved that the snake has been removed from our freezer and disposed of. 

With all of the excitement surrounding Ninja's coming arrival, I truly don't want to forget that this is Memorial Day weekend. I'm grateful for the sacrifices so many have made in the name of freedom, and my prayer is they would not be made in vain... let's not let one soldier lay down his or her life overseas while our liberty is quietly being stripped away at home- what a cruel irony that would be.

This, by the way, is a really fabulous pie recipe, if you're looking for the perfect end to your BBQ:

http://www.thebakingpan.com/Pies_Tarts/freshpearpie.html

I made it last Thanksgiving, and Mom made it last night (everything tastes better when Mom makes it!) and it's terrific.

Enjoy God's blessings over this long weekend...and come meet Ninja should she decide to join us!

Let Them Eat (Rice Krispie Treat) Cake!

My darling husband has a couple unusual quirks (I suppose "unusual quirks" is redundant in a sense...oh well). For instance, he finds glorious things such as cake and chocolate quite uninspiring. I cannot understand it at all. But out of deference to him on his birthday, I acknowledged that a traditional cake would be in poor form, since I would enjoy it much more than he. Thus, we have the Rice Krispie treat cake (Rice Krispie treats are one Blake's favorite things in the world). I think it turned out pretty well (and for those of us who appreciate such things, there is chocolate filling in the center!).

Week 39 Musings

Change of Perspective...
Last weekend I determined that it was silly to spend everyday mournfully hoping for Ninja's arrival. Instead, Blake and I decided that each day she doesn't come, we will acknowledge and celebrate our remaining independence by doing something fun each evening. On Monday we saw Robin Hood with some friends. Yesterday we ate at Cafe Ole, my favorite Mexican restaurant (the fact that spicy food is supposed to encourage labor is just coincidence, I swear). Tonight we're going to make airpop and watch Nacho Libre (aka most awesome movie ever). Tomorrow? Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings!

What Pregnancy has Taught Me...
- I'm really bad at peeing in a cup.
- My husband is a saint.
- It's possible to outgrow stretchy pants.
- Wearing a dress with a repeating khaki diamond pattern makes one look like a whale caught in a fishing net.

Gripes
I'm extremely annoyed with just about all things political right now. I'm annoyed that only about 1/5 of Flagstaff residents voted in yesterday's election, and am annoyed and incredulous that those who did vote voted for our ridiculous mayor, and that it looks like she may actually be elected for another term. Also annoying is the fact that my fellow Flagstaffians seem to love paying taxes, and keep asking for more. I mean really, when is enough enough? I shouldn't even get started on the national reaction to Arizona's immigration bill, because thinking about it makes me crabby and it's almost bedtime (good thing I have Nacho Libre to cheer me up). What's ironic to me is the federal government loves sticking its nose in things that are none of its business, but when it comes to protecting our country's borders (which really is its job), it does not deliver. So, Arizona, fed up with the crime increase and financial burden associated with illegal immigration, takes pain to protect itself. So if you're not an Arizonan and can't relate to these issues, mind your own business (I mean, it's good to talk about, but really it doesn't concern you, and trust me, your state has issues too). I could write quite a bit on this, but ranting will serve no purpose except to make me indignant and perturbed. Maybe another day.

On a more cheerful note, Friday is Blake's 26th birthday! Happy birthday to my amazing darling, the love of my life!

Naan, not Ninja

Our daughter has not yet chosen to arrive, but it's been an eventful few days anyway...

- The education conference went pretty well...not perfect, but it was our first time, and we learned a lot for next year. We're pretty happy with how it turned out, and are so glad it's done!
- While men's dinner at FCF featured "wild game night" (think elk, not yahtzee), the Bible study girls headed up to the Babbitt Ranch for an evening of horses, great food, and fun conversation with Jamie...I had never been to the ranch, and it was beautiful!
- I finally found a baby book I like, one that is whimsical and pretty but not fussy frilly babyish.
- Blake, Vlad, and I did some exploring ar Schultz Tank, taking advantage of the mild weather. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, especially Vladimir, who dined on fresh horse poo (much to our horror).
 - Blake and I went on a preNinja date to the Himalayan Grill, which is one of our favorite restaurants in Flag. I always get lamb korma, and it's always so good. Blake and I can consume a shocking of garlic naan between the two of us (we're breadies).

Quote from the day: Upon seeing a sporty yellow car pull out of JC Penney, Blake points enthusiastically and Brittany expresses doubt as to how he can be sure as to its identity
Blake (scoffingly): "Any guy who doesn't recognize that as a Lamborghini LP 640 should lose his man license."

 

  

                                            

Horse poo face

The First Week "Off"

My first week of hardly employment (I still do some Spanish interpreting several times a month) has been flying by! In fact it's been pretty stressful, between getting things together for Ninja's immanent (let's hope) arrival, two prospective home buyers and the inspections/appraisals, and the Flagstaff Education Conference tonight. Blake and I really have no idea what we're doing when it comes to selling our home, so we're praying that God will be gracious to us and that it will be resolved to the satisfaction of all involved.
    As far as the education conference goes, our states' rights group is hosting it, and we've put in a lot of work to make it a success. At this point, my biggest worry is that we'll have all the schools there, anxious to promote themselves, and no one will show up from the community. That would really be a bummer, and I feel strongly that Flagtaffians can benefit from this event. One of our problems is that the Daily Sun (Flag's paper), dislikes our group due to our standing against the school district budget override, so they've refused to promote the education conference at all. Seems a little hypocritical since they're supposedly such big fans of education...

    In summary, it's been an eventful week, but after today, Ninja is more than welcome to make an appearance. In fact, first thing each morning, I've taken to informing her that it's a great day to be born. She's been skeptical so far. Blake, too, has resorted to unorthodox means of getting her out, even going so far as to bribe her: "If you come tonight, I'll get you a pony!" And the like. One of my main motivators, I must confess, is simply that I don't want to be pregnant anymore, but  Blake is just so excited to meet our little girl- it's really quite endearing (have I mentioned how much I love my husband?).

    There are moments when I am grieved because I know that life will never be the same when Ninja comes, and I am reluctant to let go of the beautiful days that Blake and I have had just the two of us. Clearly, though, there is a purpose in this that is bigger than me, and I know that (as someone mentioned at my baby shower) God has known Ninja since before there was a world, and this is her ordained time, and I her ordained mother. Thinking about all the fun I had with my mom growing up makes me excited to share that with my daughter, and I cannot imagine a better, more loving support network than our family (both in Flag and away), friends, and church.

Maybe my next entry will be a "Welcome Ninja!" post...please keep us in your prayers (and let me know what tips you have to get things moving, if you get what I mean!).

Inaugural Post

Why a blog?

-Because I'm phasing out facebook but assume some people will still want to hear all about my glamorous life...
-And because we're having a baby and know my parents (in Seattle) will be starved for tales of her antics and, of course, pictures.
-And because I find the most clarity in life through writing.

I can't tell you what exactly to expect from this; certainly stories of familial adventure and my ponderings of the journeys of wifedom and motherhood, perhaps the occasional recipe, and lessons learned from the constant refining process that defines the Christian's life. 

The Cast:

Me- I love Spanish and the world and my pistachio-colored KitchenAid stand mixer, I miss the rain of the Pacific Northwest and get depressed with weeks of cloudless weather. I adore my husband.

Blake- My husband is the most amazing man in the world (cliche, but you'll see that it's true). I doubt I'll ever have him figured out, as he is constantly surprising me with new interests/talents/depths, and I'm excited for a lifetime of adventures together.


Vladimir- Three year old rescue Boston terrier. Ridiculous animal, likely a mistake in breeding, but I adore him. A lover, a fighter, a licker. Would not survive two hours in the wilderness alone.

Ninja- Daughter...coming any day! I have a phobia of babies, but have been assured that she will like me.