Oden Adventures

Week 50 was also spent in Oregon, where he continued to charm relatives & friends, and work on his standing, grew three top teeth, and enjoyed the various birthday & pool parties!

 It was at this pool party at Aunt Jenny's, the last day of our time there, that he took (what Mama is calling) his first official step!

O's 49th week was spent traveling to & in Oregon for the first part of July!

Taking his turn at the wheel (kidding, kidding!)

 "Grandma gave me a waffle!"

His introduction to the wonder that is fresh summer Oregon berries!

 "Silly Grandma, these rubber bands won't stop me from getting into your cupboards!"

 Learning to climb off things...

 ...and to climb up stairs!

Oliver joined the world of the teethed people for his eleven monthiversary, but still isn't so sure about the world of the walking upright on two legs.  This doesn't stop him from getting wherever he wants, though; he's a speedy crawler and couch surfer and is starting to climb over things (like boxes on the floor).  He loves to laugh and clap and play with his big sister (which has reached a new level of interactivity) and stick out his tongue and snuggle with Mama and water the lawn with Daddy and mostly just be too darn cute for his own good.

It's apparent that Oliver has inherited his mama's watermelon-loving genes as his sister before him, so we're all reveling in the wonder that is watermelon in the summer!  He even protests if he sees me give Vianne some but he doesn't have any!  That's my boy!!

 Our little explorer lets no obstacle stand in his way!

Change is afoot for our little family! Friends, this is our story, this is our song:

God has parted the sea of what-seemed-like impossibility (read: a very difficult time to find a job in academia) and made a path for us to walk through it. 

Patrick has signed a contract for a three-year Visiting Professor position to teach all of his favorite subjects at Fuller Theological Seminary, specifically, the Sacramento campus, which means we'll be moving northward by the end of summer.

We have enjoyed living (and becoming a family of four) in San Dimas and it will be so hard to leave family & friends down here, though we'll visit often.

But I can hardly even find the words to say how amazed we are by this opportunity, by God's provision in our time of need, being mindful of us in so many particulars, so we are very excited to take hold of what He has in store.