Congratulations Stuart Mark Birn

Congratulations to Stuart Mark Birn on his baptism yesterday. It is always a blessing to see children brought into the covenant of grace by the sign of baptism.

He was a trooper as well. We were telling Steve and Janna how Anna smiled as the water ran down her face, but Owen cried when Rev. Lanning was baptizing him. It seems as though he did not want to be a member of the church!

May Stuart grow up to love the Lord Jesus above all things and without compromise.

(Thanks e-Chuck for the stolen photo as well.)

Car Seats Are for Babies

Consumer Reports claims that many of the infant car seats that they reviewed 'failed miserably' when tested at speeds of 35 miles per hour.

I am not opposed to car seats, per se, but I hate being told that I have to wear a seat belt and that my children have to be in car seats.

Should these be laws, or should this be up to the discretion of the parents? Why should 'Big Brother' tell us how to buckle our children? Remember the days when babies rode on mama's lap in the front seat? I am sure that it is just as safe.

Pregnancy Talk and Stuff

Now that we have announced the future Eshelchild is on the way many pregnancy-delivery issues arise as discussion in our home. Lydia wants to be open-minded about delivery because she thinks that if you come in with your list of natural things that are required you are destined for a C-section. I want a home-birth, but she is not too excited about it.

One thing that Lydia and I do agree on concerns the manchild. If we have another boy we will not participate in the cultural norm called circumcision. We know that we cannot lord over people's consciences concerning these things, but I have much difficulty with this practice in our culture.

If you can stomach to watch it, this video shows a routine circumcision. It is 5 minutes long, but I do not think that most people could watch more than 2 minutes of it. One thing that would make this practice more stomachable is giving the infant some numbing drug so that he could not feel the pain. Hospitals do not give meds unless the parents ask for them. I need an Ativan just from watching!

Wow!

I want to be JUST LIKE you... NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

What if our (or anyone's) children grew up to be just like us? That would be horrible!

Personality- we desire so much more for our children.
As for intelligence- man! I hope that they learn something before they turn 20.
Looks- well, let's not go there.
Spiritual life- we pray that they never know a time when they did not love the Lord Jesus Christ.
Overall character- we hope that they learn from our downfalls and desire to please God in all things.

Of course, we could not be just like our parents. We know that through the fall of Adam in the Garden that we are just like him by way of sin. If we were all just like our parents though there would not be those that are redeemed by Jesus Christ. I guess that we would desire that our children would be just like God their Heavenly Father, and their Eldest brother, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

Be At Peace

The following is found in "The Fruit of Her Hands" by Nancy Wilson, directed towards women, but applying to all Christians. This is in light of The Director's recent post on Wendler Cottage. This is quite helpful and we thank Marion for her summation:

Be at Peace

Nancy Wilson

[Wo]men who want to be at peace with other [wo]men must come to understand the very important difference between principles and methods. A dictionary defines a principle as "a basic truth, general law, or doctrine used as a basis of reasoning or a guide to actions or behavior." A Christian [wo]man must learn to think biblically; [s]he must derive her/his basic principles of living from God's Word. The world eagerly presses its principles regarding marriage and child-rearing upon us. But if we learn to think like Christians, we can discern between worldly and Christian principles.

A method, in contrast, is "a procedure or way of doing something." In other words, we use methods to apply our principles. For example, a sound mothering principle is "All Christian mothers should feed their babies." This principle could easily be substantiated in Scripture, and few, if any, would take issue with such a fundamental principle. In spite of general agreement on this and other related principles, however, much disagreement exists on the method of applying this simple precept. Some women breastfeed their babies; some bottle feed. And of course there is the question of schedule feeding vs. nonschedule feeding, when to wean baby, and so forth.

Within a Christian community, families will certainly share many common principles, but their methods will vary. Sometimes an overzealous allegiance to method will lead to confusion and controversy, for the method of feeding baby can become larger and more important than the principle of feeding baby. Suddenly, pressure is exerted to convince women to join the group and support a particular method.

Of course, this is not an argument that all methods are equal--they are not. Some methods are inferior to others. Rather, the point is that the methods of others are not really our business. If a friend asks for advice on a method, we may of course give it. But when sharing a method, we must remember we are not on a moral crusade.

Young Christian [wo]men are particularly vulnerable to this wrong kind of pressure. When the sisters get together they very naturally "talk shop" about children. This can provide an overzealous type quite an opportunity to apply pressure. If the young women feel inexperienced, a woman with "a strong case" for her method can exert a great influence. The young Christian woman can be made to feel that she isn't really dedicated unless she adopts "the method."

Because every family is a distinct cultural unit, it is good that our methods differ. God did not intend for us to walk in lockstep with one another. This is not altered when some families have inferior methods; we may deem their methods to be unwise. And remember, there are others, wiser than we, who see the inferiority of some of our methods! We ought to rejoice in a common commitment to biblical principles, and rejoice in the variety of methods God's people employ.

If we become overzealous for conformity to our method, strife between Christians will commonly result. I have talked to women who, because they felt strongly about one way of feeding babies, became critical toward their sisters who used a different method. This should not be! "Be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thess. 5:12-13). Certainly the [wo]men of the church ought not to be squabbling about whether or not to schedule feed their babies! Who cares? What someone else does in this regard is no one else's business. It is not a moral issue, and we have no business fighting over it.

We do not honor God if we are critical or defensive. How our friends feed their children is not our concern.

The biggest danger is when people begin to think their own methods of applying biblical principles are the most spiritual, for the really committed. If we fall into this trap, then it becomes an issue of first importance for us. The result is a feeling of superiority over others who differ. This obviously leads to self-righteousness, envy, jealousy, defensiveness, and quarrels.

As we grow in grace, may we all learn to discern the difference between principles and methods, and relax, and keep the peace, when our friends' methods are not our own.

(From A Hedge of Courtesy)

But another aspect to this whole question of different methods needs to be addressed and that is the question of common courtesy. How do we treat our friends when we differ with them over methods? Do we criticize them behind their backs? The Bible calls this backbiting. Do we openly criticize them? Do we tell them their method is inferior to our own? That can be arrogant or just plain rude. Do we make officially "polite" but loaded comments which express our displeasure and disapproval of their application of God's principles? Do we try to embarrass them to make ourselves look better? This is not courtesy.

Can Christians ever discuss their methods? Certainly! But the hedge of courtesy and good manners should be firmly in place. If it is not, defensiveness and hurt feelings will be the common result.

More here...

And Another

Here is another sleepy time photo that I thought would be a great follow-up. Notice there are no Elton John glasses. Also observe that Owen is sleeping and that Anna is totally faking. Think how many muscles it takes to make a fake sleeping face versus a real one like Owen's face.

Just A Little Thought

Despite the social prejudices against the practice, the verdict is in with our children:
Co-sleeping is the Coolest!

Anna loves it so much that she offers her brother a celebratory kiss!

Stroller Derby

If anyone over five feet tall has pushed an umbrella stroller- you know what a disaster it can be. The back aches and the wheels get kicked every other step. Quite annoying.

We are both 5'10" which does not qualify us for the Nephilum, but it is tall enough to know that this is quite obnoxious! We feel sorry for our loved ones at Wendler Cottage who are respectively, 6'9" and 7'10". I am sure that they feel the pain way more than we do!

So our search began for the perfect fold-up, store in the car, and use at the mall style umbrella stroller. Immediately our earthly desires turned towards the best that the UK has to offer. The MacLaren. We cannot even afford one on ebay!

We then heard about the Peg Perego, but we do not know Italian so we could not learn about them from the material that the company sends out. They are supposed to be the best in Italian strollers, but to me they look like the cheap styro-wheeled junk that you get at WalMart complete with cup-holder for you 64 oz. Mountain Dew. I have a hard time believing that the Italians, who designed the Lamborghini, could have made something that costs so much and looks so cheap. My theory, and I should have had the NotLiberal family check this out while in Italy, is that they are conspirators who are attempting to steal the dumb American's money by selling over-priced items that they refuse to use. Just a theory.

At any rate, we made our decision and we found something that we can use that does not make us look as though we are hunched-over freaks pushing our child through the mall. It is called the Chicco and it is a perfect balance between aesthetics, practicality, and value. They are also Italian made, but would be more in line with the Fiat than the Maserati!

How Much Time Do You Give?

Most families have a dad who spends about 8-10 hours a day at work and a mother that does the same. In this recent study we see that when both parents are working outside of the home , the children recieve 19 minutes per day of undivided attention!

Is that enough attention to raise children? We spend more time in front of the mirror.

Croup DeVille

Our little Owen gave us quite the scare this weekend. (Well, me at least!) He had to be taken to the doctor because he was having difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with Croup and given meds to help open his airway. This was the first time our little O-O refused to smile in his whole life. The little look of horror on his face was so sad. I hope that he is back to 100% by his birthday on the 25th. Both sets of grand-parents will be here to celebrate with us!

Gnothi Se Auton

The famous philosopher Socrates spoke of Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi. The oracle was said to be inscribed with the phrase "gnothi se auton" or in English, "Know thyself".

Now I do not commend heading down to the nearest pagan oracle to find out who you are, but I do think that it is wise to know your weaknesses and your struggles. You will not be able to fight off your sin without a battle plan.

I think that Anna has begun to know herself. She knows, from an early age, how her main struggle with sin will manifest. I hope that this self knowledge drives her to Christ as a young girl.

John Calvin said that there is no knowledge of God without knowledge of self; and there is no knowledge of self without knowledge of God.

Imago Dei and the March of the Penguins

Oma and Opa M. gave us a copy of the DVD, March of the Penguins. It is a really interesting movie that shows the care that a mother and father penguin go through to take care of their egg, as well as their infant chicks. It is amazing that even in these dumb birds God has instilled a sense of nurture that shows them the way in which they are to care for their young.

In some respects, animals are better at taking care of their young than many humans. Animals in most cases do not neglect, abuse, or harm their young. The abortion rate is much higher in humans than any other creature that disposes of their young. It is very sad that creatures who are created in the image of God have been tainted by sin so badly that they will treat their children with much less care than birds of the air or other created things.


Parents should search the Scriptures for parenting advice. It seems that our fallen nature has caused us to neglect and to refuse to show the love and nature that our children deserve as creatures that are created in the image of a loving God.

Toddlerhood is no longer

Lydia and I receive an email about every month from a group that tells where your baby should be developmentally. When she was pregnant with Anna, Lydia signed up for this, and it walked us through the pregnancy telling us exactly what is going to be happening in that week (it is VERY amazing how accurate this can be).
After the delivery the emails kept coming... subject line: your baby is three weeks old! and then we would see: subject line: your baby is four months, second week old! Then came the scary ones...Anna was no longer a baby to the developmentalists, but a toddler. They continued to write on about the things that went on while Anna developed, right down to the number of words that should be in her lexicon. It remained amazing.
Now we get these emails about Anna, as well as Owen, so that we have a refresher as to where our bundle of boy is to be, as well as our little precious girl.

Today we got the shock of our lives....I feel as though I am aging by the minute.

Subject line: Your preschooler is 25 months old!

Preschooler. Wow! This is going way too quickly; can someone help us to adjust?

John Calvin on Breast Feeding

Who knew that John Calvin, the great Reformer, was also a member of LaLeche League?". . .the Lord does not in vain prepare nutriment for children in their mothers' bosoms, before they are born. But those on whom he confers the honor of mothers, he, in this way, constitutes nurses; and they who deem it a hardship to nourish their own offspring, break, as far as they are able, the sacred bond of nature. If disease, or anything of that kind, is the hindrance, they have a just excuse; but for mothers voluntarily, and for their own pleasure, to avoid the trouble of nursing, and thus to make themselves only half-mothers, is a shameful corruption."
Commentary on Genesis 21.7

To hear one's own thoughts

Not all moments in our home are this quiet:

The dogs slept curled in separate corners, denying one-another's existence.

Owen nursed slowly in the arms of his loving mother.

Anna read while snuggled in under the window.

The hum of the furnace, the tapping of the keyboard.

All is good on Union Avenue.

Master's Degree (in diaper changing)

Some things are better done when one is single or before children come into the home. (And no, I am not recommending the use of birth control for these things.) One of which is completing a Master's Degree. As you all know I have been working on a Master's of Divinity over the past two years. It has gotten more difficult with the birth of Owen.
Education has not gotten any easier with children. I have taken this week off of work so that I could catch up on papers that need to be completed before the fourteenth of December. A good amount of my time has been entertaining Anna, comforting Owen, or attempting to fix some toy related tragedy for Anna. It has not been an easy week.
Here is what still needs to be completed before semester's end:
Papers on the following topics:
Literacy in the Bible
Mark 13 exposition
House visitation
The circumcision of Christ
Baptism
Preparation for the Lord's Supper


Too bad I cannot write a paper on the morality of Thomas and Friends. I am sure that I know all that there is to know about our little British train buddy. I think more Thomas research has been done than paper research.
Maybe I am just a doubting Thomas, but I hope all gets finished.

From the archives.

A little something from the archives. I cannot believe how fast these little critters grow!

As a public service announcement: The American Pediatric Association does not recommend the use of walkers.

I on the other hand do....Does everyone remember The Bratmobile? Soon Owen will be scooting around in it. Oh, so dangerous! Love it!

Killing me softly

Any parent of more than one infant/toddler can tell you that there are one of two ways that the older sibling will act towards the younger and more vulnerable sibling. The humorous part of the two methods of sibling interaction result in the same end: injury.

The first type of elder to younger sibling interaction is that of the jealous and subtle type. This sibling is the one that puts the pillow over the face of the new baby while pretending to show it the pattern on the pillow. This is also the one that punches the sibling or gives it little head butts in the name of kisses. Thankfully this is not Anna towards Owen.

Anna is the other dynamic in the sphere of sibship psychology. Anna is the sibling that wants to always hold Owen, count with Owen, name all of the orifices on Owen's head, and most definitely kiss him all the time!

I guess that I would rather have children that are overly affectionate towards one another than ones that have violent rages in the name of jealousy.

Here is Anna playing a lazy version of name that body part. Sometimes for fun she will point using the digital portion of the lower limb. This of course is much more exciting than using her index finger. Here she is saying, "head". Owen is saying, "ridiculous"!

This is one of Anna's favorite moves. This is referred to as "drop, hug, and roll". This move always ends with us saying, "Be gentle Anna, he is a baby"! She will usually give him a kiss and roll off.
But these are the times when it is all worth while. These pictures were during the Sunday nap. Anna woke up and decided that it was not time for her terrorize the home yet, so she cuddled in next to Owen, covered herself with his blanket, gave him a couple of soft kisses on the cheek and fell asleep next to him.


I love these times. It is amazing how this little family that began less than four years ago is growing and developing into a loving home. This is Life on Union Avenue.

The baby wearing revolution

Here is Lydia's new sling. It is from Hotslings and we think that she is going to keep this one. She had tried three or four types in the past and has not been satisfied with these for diverse reasons.
This Hotsling is reversable so that she can be boring in beige or fabulous in floral; depending on her mood.
The sling has a padded hem so that little Owen has something to rest his arm on. Anna can also use it. She will be in an upright position and it frees Lydia's hands for things that she needs to accomplish.

Owen is really content when he is in the sling. It seems that babies do well with this method of carrying. Slings are really great for things such as reflux and colic as well. Many pediatricians recommend "baby wearing" as a method of infant parenting.

For more information visit these sites:

www.hotslings.com

www.thebabywearer.com

www.theslingset.com

www.zolowear.com

www.mayawrap.com

www.kellymom.com/parenting/sling.html

www.rockinbabysling.com

www.freehandbaby.com

Children of the Cloth

People often wonder how others can use cloth diapers. They say, "that is gross! having to wash all of those things". I say that cloth is much more fun than disposables that pile up in your bathroom waste basket.

How could you get such fun diapers if it was not for cloth? Huggies and Luvs attempt to do it..but they fail. A faded Minnie Mouse print on the front is nothing in comparison to the aesthetically pleasing nappies that our kids wear.

Check them out at www.fuzzibunz.com You can also buy some for us if you want to. (Anna is in large and Owen is in medium!)

Enjoy!