No sleep til Brooklyn!

Two great smiles! Erin loved all the attention she got from her Texas family, not to mention all the candy and cookies :-)

Fighting off the volatile grey skies...

It was such a blessing to see the progress Dok made from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I'm sure she'll find out more about what happened to her when she sees the specialist next month, but its obvious to everyone that the Lord is healing her and it makes us happy to see the light in her eyes again. We love you, Sis!

Don't drink the water...

Ah yes, having babies seems to run in the family... but then again, I guess it runs in every family. This is Kristen and me with our cousin Allison and her daughter McKinley. We had such a good time fellowshipping with my dad's side of the family in Ft. Worth and its always amazing to see how everyone changes (and multiplies too!). More pics to come...

Tradition, tradition!!

Carrying on yet another treasured Warren tradition, it is Erin's turn to wear the family bonnet that graces the top of our Christmas tree every year. It originally belonged to our cousin Michelle who wore it to her father's (Dad's brother Bill) funeral in September of 1976. It was then passed to my oldest sister Aubrey and has been worn by every Warren girl since.

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow...

This is Erin having her first taste of Granny's buttercream frosting.... She liked it.

Here's Erin wearing her Mom's new hat - 9 months old and already borrowing my clothes! Frosting my first cookie and looking much more ghetto than I intended, which I blame entirely on the brother beside me.

Dok, looking cuter than ever... We're so happy she's feeling better :-)

Today was Cookie Baking Day at the Warren house!! We frosted about 10 dozen cookies and most likely ate half of them on the spot. The kids had ohso much fun with red, green, blue, yellow, and white frosting, and so many sprinkles and red hots it should be illegal.... actually, having this much fun in one day is the real crime. Hooray for cookies!!

Heedless of the wind and weather...

Here we are with our humble tree - just the right size for the amount of ornaments we have -and this is us getting ready for a church Christmas party. It was a nice break this year not to have any formal affairs to attend! Erin had TWO babysitters (Steph and Vanessa) and did very well despite being nervous about the new experience...

We're heading back to Texas this week and hoping like crazy that there are no new mutant viruses making the rounds again :-) If you're reading this from the Lone Star state, we hope to see you while we're there. Drop us an email or just stop by the Warren house and say hello!

You don't need money with a face like that, do ya?

So here's proof of thanksgiving with the Warrens/Russells/Slaughters in Texas... Abby loves her Uncle Caleb! We had a great time visiting, but eventually all of us fell victim to at least one of two viruses that ran their course over the holiday week. Caleb was tossing his cookies from Texas to Virginia (literally), Erin had the aches and fever of the flu, and I suffered the same fate after returning home. Our friend Trish ended up in the hospital with an IV and poor CJ succumbed to BOTH bugs simultaneously. Hopefully we got it all out of our systems - we're headed back at the end of next week for our Christmas visit!

winter just wasn't her season...

I'm not sure how I feel about my new winter wardrobe... Mom keeps telling me that I'll get used to feeling bulky. I reluctantly agreed to the coat and hat, but drew the line at mittens. I am obsessive about my hands (I HATE it when people touch them) and couldn't bear to have them squeezed into furry pouches that keep me from holding my toys. Mom says I can leave them behind for now but when it snows, they aren't optional. I don't know what snow is, but it better be good.

someone saved my life tonight...

Introducing Caroline Welty!! She is the newest member of our family - my sister-in-law - and she arrived on a plane from Guatemala yesterday evening. We are so excited to finally meet her! She is about 12 lbs and still feels so small and fragile, but maybe that's just because Erin is at the top of the growth charts :-) Anyway, it is such a blessing to have one more in the Welty fold and more importantly one more in the Covenant family! God is good and we know that He has plans to prosper this little girl. Welcome home, Caroline!

...I'd buy you a green dress but not a real green dress, that's cruel.

So the kitchen is finally complete... I had no idea I'd derive such joy from gaining two extra inches in sink depth, and two lazy susans (I'm pretending like we're rich), and the thought of buying new kitchen towels and oven mitts its more excitement than I can take. Sweet fancy Moses!

Its too good to be true, like a whole new you.

Well now I know for sure that my daughter takes almost all of her features from her father, with her "prominent" ears being the only exception. My best estimation is that Erin and I are roughly the same age in these pics and I couldn't resist cutting and pasting... now if I can only find one of Caleb :-)

Don't you put me on the back burner...

After more than seven months in our townhouse, we're finally replacing the "unique" cabinets, countertops, and sink that are probably original to the place. Not only are they ugly, but falling apart as well. One of the drawer faces fell off within one week of us moving in. To save money, we are disassembling the old cabinets ourselves which means dividing up the work. Caleb got to wield the manly saw and hack through the countertops, and I was left sweeping up sawdust. Not that I mind - hey, I'm getting a new kitchen. And my sweet husband already replaced my stove and dishwasher. What more could a girl want?

To one thing constant never.

I'm a last minute person. Several months ago I had highlights added to my dull brown hair and now they're grown out and I'm tired of them.... So for some insane reason I decided that Sunday morning (when we were already running late and there was no time for anything unnecessary) would be the perfect time to dye my hair. I had a box of plain brown that looked about my color, so I grabbed it and headed to the shower where I took more than my share of hot water waiting for the dye to take hold. Upon rinsing, towel-drying and brushing, I came to realize that the brown was much TOO brown and a whole lot darker than I had intended. But I'm an optimist, so I decided to use this as a teaching moment for my beloved husband. I promptly dried and styled my hair, trimmed my bangs and went in search of the poor soul who had no idea that he was beat before he even opened his mouth. The following conversation ensued:

Anne: "Do you notice anything different about me, honey?"
Caleb (glancing all over, but mostly at my clothes): "Hmmm...."
Anne (only slightly impatient): "No honey, above the neck."
Caleb (with mild trepidation showing through and looking intently at my face): "Hmmmm..."
Anne (really impatient): "No honey, AROUND my face!"
Caleb (just downright scared and frantically scanning my hair): "Oh, did you cut your hair?"
Anne (deflated, and knowing that he was partially right but choosing to ignore it, because its the principle that counts): "NO, I DYED IT - ITS DARKER!!!"
Caleb (just relieved that its over): "Oh yes it looks good!"

Caleb marched straight into the bathroom to brush his teeth and discovered my hair clippings in the trash... At that point my lesson was lost as he rejoiced (foolishly) over having guessed the "right" answer.

So much for optimism.

The rings of saturn.

This is my Saturn. She has been faithful to me for three years, and now we're getting her ready to sell. As I was taking pictures of her yesterday to post on the web, I was reminded again of how the Lord provided so much through my father when I was single. Dad went with me car shopping, test drove it for me because I didn't know a manual transmission yet, gave me the confidence to get a loan on my own (why in the world someone wanted to loan ME money at that time still baffles me), and sat with me while I signed all the papers and whatnot. What should've been a daunting and stressful experience was made so much easier - Dad never made me feel like I was on my own because I was an "adult". And I know that if I had been single at 35, he would still be doing the same for me. Its just a silly car, I know, but the significance is worth way more than anything we'll get for the car on autotrader.... Now Caleb is taking care of me (and my transportation needs), and now HE is my reminder of God's providence. How blessed I am to have men in my life who take their responsibilities seriously.

Come on babe, why don't we paint the town?

Caleb, Catie and I took Erin to her first football game last weekend - Virginia Tech hosting Marshall. In accordance, Tech cleaned up nicely and enjoyed a festive Homecoming weekend. We couldn't resist buying a VT sweatshirt for Erin... she says "my colors are maroon and orange" (no, papa, not agent orange). We also had a good visit with the Borgquists and Andersons in Charlottsville where we dined on wonderful italian food and played quite a bit of Texas Hold 'Em. How thankful we are for good friends and great fellowship!

Take my picture by the pool 'cause I'm the next big thing.

This pic courtesy of Shane Kyle and his fancy schmancy paint program. If you ask real nice, he'll edit pictures for you and help your kids become movie stars. This is Erin's latest head shot, and she has her first audition next week.

How 'bout that ever elusive kudo

So we're near the end of Caleb's first week off. In accordance with the prophecy, he's well on his way to completing many of the tasks on his list and I have barely started mine. And by that I mean that I've barely started making my list. This is the difference between a first-born son and a baby princess/middle daughter. He is patient with me though and I am grateful. When you're single, you imagine what married life will be like. Sometimes you're right but most of the time it ends up being totally different that what you expected.... And interestingly enough, this is a GOOD thing. Sending my husband out to Home Depot for much needed supplies to complete a project and insisting that he take the baby so that I can take a shower and then finding out that the backyard needs to be mowed and raked first, all the while trying to get packed for a weekend at the beachhouse that may or may not happen depending on how much gets done around the house... These are the scenarios that did NOT occur to me in daydreaming about wedded bliss, but they remind me that we are a team. We don't get props for coordinating our day so that every item on the to-do list gets a 'check', but we get the joy of knowing that putting someone else's needs before our own creates harmony. I'm working on this virtue, and still have a LONG way to go.

No champagne flute for her lips...

...because she's too young. Tonight we went to a surprise birthday party and Erin ruined the surprise by talking right when the birthday boy walked in. Good thing she doesn't know enough to be embarrassed. This is her with Auntie Cindy - the family resemblence is amazing.

Something in the wind has learned my name....

When she was bad, she was horrid... so we stuck her in the laundry for reflection and repentance.

The minor fall and the major lift.

Since I'm too chicken to post a top 25 like Miss Jones, I'll just post bits of stuff I like in the title and y'all can guess the song. This is E playing in her port-a-crib. She's humoring me here - normally being relegated to the crib is an insult and she makse sure to let me know.

Grave robber.

Tomorrow my husband wraps up almost 8 years in the IT field and at HSLDA/Patrick Henry College altogether, and both of us are feeling slightly melancholy about it. We are finding that even though we are confident in our decision (and more importantly, in step with the Spirit), its hard not to be sad leaving a place that holds so many good memories for us and still employs some of our best friends. We are thankful that the Lord gave us an opportunity to be integral parts of those ministries, and we are excited about what He has for us in the future.

We found out this week that my dad's dad is suffering from prostate cancer. We don't know yet how advanced it is or what the treatment options are, but my Pawpop is a strong man - one of the strongest I've ever known - and he knows Who holds his future. What a testimony.

Being a mom brings fresh perspective and new worries... What if she's allergic to peas? What if she never remembers my grandparents? What if she wants to join the Peace Corps? What if she doesn't like being tall? I've always been a worrier and motherhood just magnifies that in me. I just don't want to smother my children and keep them from the Lord's work (here or over oceans)... Its a good thing that the same God who laid Moses in his grave is lifting us out of ours.

...and this is er, sitting again.

In an attempt to woo a certain young man (whose name will not be divulged here but MIGHT be progeny of one S. Kyle), Erin has chosen a variation on a Veggie Tales quote as title to her latest pictures (which may or may not be part of a portfolio that may or may not exist in a continuing effort to win the affection of the aforementioned young man). Erin's hobbies include sitting, rolling over, drooling, eating organic sweet potatoes, pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain. Write to her and escape.

This is sitting...

Stealing creativity

Ok Shane has been showing us all up with his cool pictures (see "Il Bussola") and so I tried my hand at doctoring some of ours. Of course its nowhere near as nifty, but you get the idea. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, yada yada yada.

Hmmm... looks like fake snow on one of those cheesy Christmas postcards.

How do you like them apples?

Here's some advice from an experienced 5.5 month old: if the pediatrician tells your momma that you might be a little late at sitting up because you are - hmm, how to put this - slightly *large* for your age, make him eat his words. At my last well-baby check up, I weighed in at a healthy 17 lbs 4 ozs and measured 28.5 inches long... And while I was early at rolling from back to front AND front to back (both completed by 3 months old), Dr. H was telling mom not to hold her breath for the next milestone because of my size. Well today, I sat up for 2 (two) minutes straight and wasn't even propping myself up with my hands!! If there's anything "top-heavy" about me now, its only my swollen ego. Too bad I don't have any friends to impress, I guess this blog will have to slate my prideful thirst for now....

Don't be surprised if I love you...

Celebrating a hole-in-one... at mini golf. This place (The Pirates' Cove) gave us a good feel for the REAL history of Williamsburg. Arrrrrgh!

Ah yes, we are thick as thieves...

In accordance with the prophecy, Erin had her first frosty this weekend in Williamsburg compliments of her Auntie Sessa.
What a treat!

Everyday feels so incomplete 'til you walk into the room...

After more than 5 weeks of working mad overtime (more than 120 hrs per week), Caleb is finally back at home with Erin and me. Not that he doesn't have to work at all, but he will be coming home every evening at a somewhat normal time. This is good because when he's not around I have no motivation to continue on with home improvement projects (the downstairs bathroom has been half-painted for about a month now) and most of the time I'm doing good just to keep laundry and dishes going. As I've said before, I'm domestically challenged. Why am I so helpless? Aubrey would say I have "baby princess" syndrome... But really its because without Caleb, I am only half of a person and so who can expect me to complete a whole task? This is my rationalization anyway, and rationalization is one of my spiritual gifts. At any rate, we are so grateful to have Caleb home and that life will be returning to normal. Normal is good.

If there's anything better than this, I'd like to know.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love this little girl? This precious face is what makes me smile a million times a day and I never get tired of her! Caleb and I say to each other periodically "I can't believe we have a daughter!" and the euphoria still hasn't worn off :-)

The Whole Gang

This one is kinda fuzzy - hopefully Dana got a better shot :-)

Erin in Wonderland

My first tea party!
This is my very good friend Sessa - she let me have cream butter!

From Erin

Yesterday Mom took me to a fancy tea with some of her friends. She parked the car on S. Market street when we were supposed to be on N. Market street.... It was a long walk. I was very sweaty when we finally arrived at Cafe Anglais but Mom said it was ok because I don't have body odor yet. Anyway, I got to taste some real cream butter, scones, and the filling of a cream puff and boy was that good! Mom is really holding out on me here at home. Maybe I can get Dad to slip me some goodies - we'll keep it on the down-low (or 'low-down').

Erin and I went to work today... The girl who replaced me turned in her two weeks notice (right before all the students return and she's desperately needed) so they called me to come back and help for awhile. I don't mind it, and its a good excuse to get out of the house and see my husband and old co-worker friends. The only downside is that Erin is getting too big and loud to keep at the office so if I'm gonna work part-time, I've really got to find childcare. I hate the thought of being away from her!

In other news, well... there is no other news. Ok how 'bout this: we might get new kitchen cabinets this month. And I've decided that I'm domestically disabled. I cook the same three meals, I can't hang picture arrangements decently, and yes I'm pretty much outshined by my two older (and one younger) sisters in all things homemaking. Is there a class I can take? Hello? Is this thing on? Is this a fake hangup? This is a fake hangup...

I couldn't resist painting Erin's toenails - aren't they just the cutest??

Family Ties

Today my little sister had her heart broken - for the first time - and it makes me so sad to "see" her like this. She's a strong girl with a level head, and she's handling it remarkably well but I know she's hurting inside. No amount of compartmentalization can make a break-up easy for a girl... Sometimes I wish we were more like guys in that area!

All of this drama gives me a taste of what it'll be like when its MY daughter's feelings that have been trampled. From the instant she was born, I knew I'd lay my life down for her. But how can you save someone from being hurt without sheltering them from the whole world? What's the right balance of exposure and protection? These are the questions that already keep me up at night. I always said that my kids wouldn't be 'homeschool weird' and I still stand by that, but maybe the people who end up with kids like that were just trying to protect them to begin with. Can I blame them for wanting to guard the hearts and minds of their progeny? Oh the joy and pain of parenthood! One of these days I'll have all the answers :-)

Blue is my best color!

From Erin:

My mom says she was born in Hawaii, so my Papa Warren brought back a pretty outfit for me when he took his trip to Honolulu. Someday I want to go there too! Here's some pictures of me in my new dress - thank you Papa!

and once again i'm guilty of depraved indifference to my blog. i realize that i stopped right in the middle of my wedding story :-P

... so yeah it rained and we moved the ceremony inside, but we managed to get all the pics outside before the storm. the overcast skies actually made a very romantic setting and even the rain during the ceremony lent some coziness to the atmosphere. so long story short, it all worked out great and we had ohso much fun on our honeymoon (cruise to caribbean). after arriving home, i got bronchitis and missed yet another week of work. no worries though, because two months later i was pregnant and saw the light at the end of the professional/corporate ladder tunnel.

fast-forward to March 18, 2005: at 400a we were racing to the hospital and by noon we had a precious little baby girl! Erin Grace Welty weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 21 1/4 in long. she was worth all the pain of labor and is the greatest joy in our lives :-) tomorrow she'll be 4 months and is becoming more active all the time. she constantly scoots off of her play mat and rolls all over the place. i love being a stay-at-home mommy! more to come, i promise...

And this is Erin being baptized! Not surprisingly, she slept through the whole thing :-)

This is Erin's Baptism - our pastor is sharing some thoughts...