websites I recommend!

I just discovered these two websites and thought I'd share!

First is Itty Bitty Bistro, which contains "healthy recipes for babies, toddlers, and children." We're planning to start Anna on solid foods next month and I've liked the things I've found here - there will be all kinds of fun things to try once she's more into toddler foods.

And then there's Sort Floor Books, where you can find all kinds of books for a song. They have discount, bargain, used, damaged, and out-of-print things... lots of children's books, but lots of everything really. Check it out!

(I won't even get into my favorite blogs, which is a whole other post!)

What are some of your favorites?

anna goes swimming...

... and other summer photos are now up here and here.

five years!

Exactly five years ago today, Seth & I became co-workers at Lutheran Summer Music, thus beginning our lifetime partnership. Fourteen months later we were married!

What a ride it's been: grad school, law school, the loss of my brother, an apartment in St. Paul, a move to New Mexico, buying a house, travel, jobs, kitties, friends, family, and the birth of our precious daughter!

Note: Isn't it amazing that Seth took an interest in me despite the fact that I was sporting my worst haircut ever? If that's not proof of grace, I don't know what is...

Love you, honey!

what's in a name?

A number of people have asked us about the origins of Anna Justine's name. Here are some tidbits (probably much more than you wanted to know!) about how we chose her name.

Anna means "gracious and merciful" in Hebrew. Our names (Seth and Elizabeth) are both Hebrew in origin, and we wanted to continue the tradition with our own children.

In the Old Testament, the story of Hannah tells of a "barren woman" (not a fan of that term, by the way) who prayed every day for a child and promised that if God blessed her with a child, she would dedicate him entirely to God. God answered her prayer and sent her a son, Samuel (incidentally, my maternal grandfather's middle name). After a time of praying for our own child, we are blessed beyond measure to have one of our own.

In the New Testament, Anna is a prophet who prophesies when the infant Jesus is presented in the temple. She was married for seven years, then after losing her husband at an early age, devotes her life to living in the temple to worship, fast, and pray. Rather than spend the rest of her days dwelling on loss and unfairness, she chose to embrace life and devote herself to ministry and caring for others. This resonates with me, as I am someone who is constantly striving to do the same.

Anna is revered as one of the first figures exemplifying feminist theology. In her book Taking Up the Cross, Barbara E. Reid writes: "That Anna is a widow provides an interesting lens on her prophetic ministry. The Greek term for 'widow,' chçra, means 'forsaken,' 'left empty.' Instead of being forsaken, she forsakes her home in Asher, in the north of the country, to take up residence in Jerusalem. Rather than one 'left empty,' she fills her days with fasting and prayer and prophecy. The Hebrew word for 'widow,' almanah, has at its root the meaning 'unable to speak'; a widow is one not spoken for. Ironically, as one 'not spoken for,' she speaks as God's mouthpiece for her people." The figure of Anna embodies qualities we hope to cultivate in our daughter. Instead of being defeated by life's challenges, we hope she will devote herself to positive thoughts and actions and a life of service to God and others. Instead of staying silent, we hope she will speak up for her convictions and be an articulate voice in the world. (No pressure, right??)

Anna is also a popular name in Norway, paying homage to our Scandinavian heritage. The name Anne/Ann/Anna also appears on both sides of our family tree. Ann is the middle name of Seth's maternal grandmother, my middle name is Anne, and my great-great-aunt (a professor at St. Olaf) was named Anna. There is also a miniature china tea set (for dolls) that has been passed down to any woman in my family with the name Anne or Anna. I received it from my great-aunt, also named Elizabeth Anne, who received it from her Aunt Anna. It's in a glass display box, which will hang somewhere in our home with a description of all the Annas who have had it before her.

Last but not least, it is a subtle nod to my most favorite heroine and wonderful role model, Anne of Green Gables. :)

Justine means "just, fair" in English, and also has French origins. And, totally by accident, it happens to be a combination of our mothers' names, Jean and Christine. And no, it's not because I'm a lawyer. It was Seth's idea – he just loves it! And so do I.

Lastly, it just so happens that Anna and Justine are the names of two lovely, musical women whom my brother loved and respected greatly (and so do I—they are both terrific friends of mine). In fact, both of them appeared as guest musicians on Eric's college senior recital! We didn't name our daughter after either of them, but I really like knowing that Eric likely would have approved of the choice.

an actual post!

Oh dear. I have shamefully neglected this blog since Anna's birth... but I'm guessing that if you are on Facebook, you are pretty well caught up with what's new with me (short answer: not much, except I am the mother of a now-4-month-old daughter and am back to work full-time). The combination of the 4-month-old daughter and the full-time job means that there is precious little time for anything else, which is why I am hopelessly, hopelessly behind on thank-you notes, birthday cards, and sending gifts in the mail on time (three things at which I had previously been fairly decent). This weekend I finally got caught up on the thank-you notes (I think... but if you sent us something recently and don't get a note from me in the next, say, week, please tell me). I also indulged my OCD tendencies and bought something I've wanted for a long time: a greeting card organizer. Now, instead of my old Rubbermaid container full of stationery, I have an organized box of cards divided by month and occasion. I went through my calendar, made a list of all upcoming holidays in the next three months, and went shopping for cards. Every occasion until the end of August is now neatly organized and ready to go. Of course, this still does not guarantee you will receive a birthday card from me on time, considering I also have to write in the card, find a stamp, and put it in the mailbox.

It's amazing: I considered myself a good, even a very good, multi-tasker before Anna was born. And I think I was as prepared as one can be for the tumult children add to one's life - even though I didn't know exactly what it would be like, I certainly expected that it would change everything, and it has. It's pretty incredible how you can go through an entire day without a break and still not have anything to show for it (although I'd argue a well-fed, well-rested child is certainly an accomplishment). It is a very different kind of being busy than I have at the office. At the end of a particularly busy day at work, I might have done one or two hearings, written a brief or several motions or letters, talked with any number of clients or attorneys, spoken with my clients' therapists or physicians, researched issues of law, attended a committee meeting or bar luncheon, or any combination of these. Yet this is a tropical vacation compared to life with a newborn!

As if the universe is mocking me for having just said this, I just got handed a doozy of an emergency assignment (kidnapped child, taken across state lines by non-custodial parent), so I'd best sign off... but first need to congratulate my dear friends Jenia & Eric on the birth of their daughter Siri! Anna, Seth, & I are thrilled for you and big sister Annie!

More later...