Whoa, Baby!!

We are now living in a Quinn-centric universe.

Quinn Irene was born at 5:54 am on November 17, 2007. She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 19 inches long. She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl and we are so delighted by her -- even in the middle of the night!




See lots of photos at the blog of her doting daddy.

It feels like ever since I gave birth, I've been living in an alternate reality. This could have something to do with the pathetically small number of hours of sleep I've logged in the past 3 weeks, but it's also the mental and emotional adjustment of taking care of this entirely new other person, and getting to know her, and Being a Mother.

It's amazing to me how tiny she is, and how every part of her little body works. I get stuck sometimes staring at her pinky nail, usually when I'm trying to file down her nails, which are long and sharp and grow fast. I'm fascinated by the weird little noises she makes, often in her sleep: grunts and squeaks and snorts, and every once in a while (okay, every time she eats!), a contented little hum.

It's also amazing to me that such a tiny person can dictate so much of our lives, and demand so much of our attention. Especially since the focus of our time and energy seems mainly to be around Digestive Events: Eating, Burping, Peeing, Pooping, and the dread Spitting Up.

So, she has taken over our life, and we love her! Isn't she cute?

Baby!

So, Tim and I are having a baby -- the due date is November 10th. See his post here.

Opting Out

One of the best dialogues in cinematic history is from the movie Say Anything. Lloyd Dobbler (played by John Cusack) is over for dinner at the home of his valedictorian girlfriend and her ambitious, overprotective single dad asks what he intends to do as a career.

The father of course asks the young man what he intends to do with his life, what career he wants to pursue. His response is, “I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.”

“Well then,” asks the father sternly, “just what do you intend to do?”

His earnest response is “Kickboxing, sir. It’s the sport of the future.”

I used this in my sermon on Sunday as an example of someone attempting to opt out of the economy -- his list is fairly exhaustive, and includes most possible careers (although, unless you think we're selling something ;) , doesn't include pastors). But even if young Lloyd did manage to avoid buying, selling, and processing as a career, he would still be using all kinds of things that were bought, sold, and/or processed...

My point here being that opting out seems like it's almost always not an option. We are inextricably entangled in too many systems and institutions (economic, political, social) that despite their deep flaws, we can't escape. And most attempts at "opting out," whether in personal interaction or on a larger scale (e.g. not voting b/c you don't like the government) turn out to be acceptance and implicit affirmation of the status quo.

I have a blog now too.

Caving into peer pressure (and desiring to comment on certain other blogs), I now have a blog, too. We'll see what gems come forth... stay tuned.