A little earlier than usual, we have our first snow today. Of course, the snow is only sticking to the grass (the roads are just wet), so it’s not too terribly dramatic, but still, it doesn’t usually snow until around Halloween.

I just talked to my folks, up in Monument, and they actually have a FOOT of snow on the ground, plus snow-covered roads. Amazing what 1000 feet of elevation will do.

It’s official; next month, I move away from the “West Side” of Colorado Springs, into a house in the burbs. As much as I love the old homes in the North End downtown, I have to admit that having something that isn’t 100 years old (even 30 like my condo) and in constant need to repair/remodel is *very* appealing.

So far, the folks I’ve met in the new neighborhood seem great — around my age and with younger children. Who knew I’d so soon join the cast of Desperate Housewives? Well, minus the “wife” part, anyway…


Maya will finally have her own room. How much she’ll actually sleep in it remains to be seen.

Left: Allison, 10 months. Right: Maya, 11 months.

But she’s still way cuter.

My coneflower (aka echinacia) has finally started blooming, and it’s more than 3 feet tall!

For anyone who likes macro photos, I’ve added another photo gallery here.

A baby girl weighing a whopping 14 pounds, 3 ounces was born in Kentucky, a hospital official said.

14 pounds, 3 ounces. That would be the same weight as my daughter at her nine month checkup. Granted, Maya *is* a peanut, but really, OMG.

Last month, a baby weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces arrived…so, what’s with these enormo babies? Gestational diabetes? Big-baby genes? They’ve always happened but being reported more? Then again, maybe I’m just *noticing* the stories that I would have blown by in years past.

Scene: Bathtime.

Maya’s in her tub playing. I’m sitting next to the tub on the floor, sipping a glass of wine and browsing a magazine. A grunty noise alerts me to move Maya from peripheral vision to my direct sights, and I see that she’s about to push. Quick! To the toilet! Maybe she can poop there!

She was done so fast, I didn’t even get the lid up.

Observation #1: She poops MUCH faster without a diaper providing counterpressure.

Observation #2: Boy, she eats a lot of peas and corn. I wonder: does she actually get nutrients from them, considering they seem to go through intact?

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve seriously considered starting a second blog — one that would focus on what’s on my mind, my thoughts on life, and the mess that is (well, will be) dating as a single mother…assuming I ever actually start dating. I have such mixed feelings about it.

On the one hand, starting a second journal — one that I could keep mostly anonymous — would be freeing. I could write about anyone and anything, without the worry that friends or family might take offense. It would keep this blog more purely a blog for Maya.

On the other hand, life is LIFE. It’s messy. It’s real. Is there any reason that I shouldn’t just let it loose? I fear that if I took the “reality” moments away from this blog (like this one, or maybe this one), it would become a little too perfect and Stepford. Ugh…don’t want that.

Thoughts or comments anyone?

Came across this quiz via Jesus Outside the Box, a blog I found recently (and am enjoying immensely so far). Yeah, these results sound about right. The only problem I have is that here in Colorado Springs, I’m not having much luck finding anything that might look like a Postmodern Evangelical church. The one I’ve visited a couple times strikes me as Charismatic, dressed up in Postmodern clothing…but still basically closer to Fundie than I’m looking for. Vanguard’s close ties to Focus on the Family tell me quite a bit.

As much as I’ve enjoyed the services at Vanguard, the basic school of thought at First Congregational (Liberal/Classical type) seems to suit me better. It’s too traditional for my tastes in form and music, but I don’t find myself having such a disconnect of beliefs there.

The photo below is of a fellow named Brian McLaren, who is apparently the posterchild for Postmodern Christianity. I haven’t read any of his books…yet…but have read a few quotes from them in Donald Miller’s books and on some of the blogs I’ve picked up recently. Looks like he’s someone I might enjoy.

My results:
You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don’t think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this.

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

All of my past experiences and anger aside, I find that I continue to return to Christianity. Let me clarify that this is NOT returning to religion…I’m still having an awful time finding a church purely because of my dislike of rules for rules’ sake. There are lots of churches out there…most housing lots of religious folks who don’t act Christian at ALL.

This guy gets it:

Perhaps if I was willing honk with my heart, honk with my faith, and honk with my life in the same manner Jesus did we wouldn’t need bumperstickers.

a new life emerging: Honk if you love Jesus.

See him here. (He’s the stocky guy, second from the left.)

Good God…some folks on my “mommy group” were talking about googling exes to see where they’ve gotten off to. Since my college bf, Noe, is the only important one I haven’t kept up with, I figured “why not?”

Last I talked to Noe (1999), he was working for the state of Texas as a lobbyist to the feds in DC…and his boss (GWB) was thinking about running for President. He had aspirations of working in the White House. Looks like he’s made it. Lord knows, he probably gets off on the whole power thing — he was always very into looking important…LOL.

That photo was pre-2004 election. Looks like now, he’s an Associate Director of Political Affairs at the White House. Can’t say I like his boss, but hey, good for him, right?