Week Forty-Five with Vianne

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , Thursday, February 21, 2013 4:09 PM

This week we both had & captured an iconic childhood moment...Vianne found the Kleenex!  We found this very amusing as she pulled out one by one!  She was so amazed that they just kept coming & coming!
I didn't (once again) do so well in the photo department this week, except for Thursday, which was Valentine's Day, and Friday, which we are calling Family Fun Day.  This semester, Patrick only teaches in the classroom on Mondays & Wednesdays, which leaves three whole days at home with V & I.  Our family life last fall (with him going to campus every weekday) was largely all work & no play so when we got back from Oregon, I insisted that we start intentionally seeking out some family fun.  Well, January was sacrificed on the altar of the almighty dissertation, and the first Friday of February, I got sick.  So, what with the inevitabilities of life, we are trying to keep low expectations for Family Fun Day.  There are only two rules: 1) We must physically leave the house, and 2) We must do something fun.  So finally, last Friday, we left the house, had Chick-Fil-A for lunch (Patrick had never been and I hadn't been since Clackamas Town Center housed one) and then, since the nearest one is in Upland, we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine at nearby McCarthy Park afterwards.

Getting down & dirty...







I know.  A lot of almost identical photos.  BUT THEY'RE ALL SO CUTE. #I'mThatMom






Since we didn't bring her walker toy, Vianne improvised with her stroller.  She made Daddy walk around & around & around...




She loved being let loose in the grass, but still employed this wacky crawl. Usually this is reserved for dress-wearing. And have no fear, folks: No actual grass, leaves, or dirt was consumed in the making of this film.
  






The trees in the background aren't doing the ladies' hair any favors...but these family shots are still cute :-).

Patrick's artistic shot
My sweet girl :-)
Daddies are the best playthings!

prov·i·dence

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , Wednesday, February 20, 2013 5:55 PM

a often capitalized : divine guidance or care
    b capitalized : God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny
2  the quality or state of being provident

I was looking just now through a box of old photos, while Vianne took a rare but short nap and I came across this newspaper page that I'd saved for the last six years or so.

Imagine the scene: a 29 1/2 year old Amy, who at this point is pretty fed up with men doing stupid things to her, has begun - with much reservation, fear, & trepidation, mind you - interacting with this guy (Patrick Oden) that she met through a Christian Artists' website called Shoutlife.  She's on there promoting her CD, he's on there promoting his forthcoming book.  They struck up a "conversation" based on the sole fact of both having attended Wheaton, and even two of the same years (but had never met there).  They've gone from witty posts on each other's online profiles to more witty and involved private messages to emails...to phone calls!  And he's definitely caught her interest, but she's highly suspect, used to disappointment, and constantly wondering whether or not to open herself up to this...

Her head's a constant flurry of this wondering, as she goes about her life...when one day, at the office, she wanders into the break room to find this staring up at her from the counter...

Her mystic side kicked in long enough to save the page.

And, well, the rest, as they say, is history.

Week Forty-Four with Vianne

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , Monday, February 18, 2013 6:54 PM

Just a few snapshots from this week...

"They" always say not to only keep/post the good pictures of your kids.  So here's a less than pleasant moment.  Vianne really doesn't cry that much - except at night when she wants me to get her :::yawn::: - but I think she was objecting specifically here to being contained & photographed.
Playing with Daddy & the laundry basket
Vianne is mostly eating finger foods now!  She is a good eater and loves peas & broccoli, pasta, and cheese especially.  I love watching her pinch and eat the little peas - it's just so cute!

Vianne also turned ten months old this week!

Week Forty-Three with Vianne

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , 6:48 PM

Definitely teething!  (But as of Feb. 18, still no teeth have shown themselves...)
She was getting a kick out of her little mirror...


A whole lotta cuteness follows...you've been warned.




Still loving her books.  Moo Baa La La La is one of her favorites - and mine, too, so I'm thrilled!






Figuring out how to climb stairs at Rachelle's.  She's made it up two so far (under my watchful eye)!  We don't have any flights of stairs for her to practice on at home.