my son, the genius

Eli gave us a laugh yesterday and I have to share the story:

Chris, Ella and I were sitting at the computer watching a video on youtube (I have posted this video on my facebook page for your viewing enjoyment.) Eli crawled up to Chris with a diaper in his mouth. Chris thanked him and smelled him to confirm that, yes, Eli did need a diaper change. I loved that Eli took the diaper to Chris because that meant that Chris had to change the diaper. hooray! Chris of course complained that Eli forgot to bring the wipes. Much laughter ensued.

I know, I know. You are thinking, "What an amazingly smart baby to bring a diaper in request of a diaper change." Well, technically Eli had simply been playing in the diaper bag and thought it would be fun to crawl around with a diaper in his mouth. It was mere coincidence that he needed to be changed. Although I do think he is a very smart little boy and I am not at all biased.

Eli's first meal

I know it was a month ago, but late is better than never...

When Eli turned six months old we celebrated by feeding him rice cereal.

Chris did the honors.

Eli didn's seem to like it all that much.

No meal at my house is complete without finding mom's hair in it.

Eli likes his food a lot more now. And we have yet to find another of my hairs in his food, thank you very much.

Family Vacation

Chris recently had one of his two vacations of the year. It was great to spend consecutive time together as a family.

We went hiking up Sabino canyon:

We visited family up in Prescott:
We drove down to San Carlos, Mexico:

It felt strange to have a family vacation where we didn't go home to one of our parents. We had a family vacation with just our little family. I remember going on family vacations when I was little, but this was different...this time I was the mother. Aaaaaah.

It's fun to play at the Y M C A

We joined the YMCA today!

Happily we are still poor enough to receive financial aide--and thus can afford a membership there. Ella loves the gym. It is actually because of her that we joined. I used a two week trial membership a few weeks ago and learned that pregnancy and a year of no exercise left me slightly out of shape =). Well, Ella loved going to the gym and playing in the child watch area. This is a really good play area with a park outside, play kitchens, princess dress ups and occasionally a movie. At any rate, I asked Ella what she wanted to do today and she said she wanted to go to the gym. Since she has said this for a week straight I gave in and we went and joined the local YMCA. It is a great motivation to work out when your kid tries to get you to go the gym every day.

And today I ran two miles. Wahoo! When I started my two week trial I could barely run one mile. I like to push myself and hope to be back up to five miles soon. We'll see...

Eli is almost crawling. He moves around like an inch worm. He is also sitting up all by himself, though he needs help getting into the sitting position.

Ella still loves Eli which is good. She is my best helper. She will play with Eli so I can shower or cook etc. and she loves to help me bake and clean. Ella is completely potty trained
(except for when she is asleep) and thankfully she still takes a nap (though a late one that starts at three in the afternoon.)

Yesterday when I had a doctor apt. Ella was especially good. Chris was post call, but had previously agreed to watch Ella so that I only had to take Eli with me. When it was time for me to go to my appointment Chris was home, but he was sleeping. So I put a movie on for Ella and told her that when the movie was over she needed to go in and wake up her daddy so he could put her down for her nap. She said okay and was very excited to watch a movie in the middle of the day. I estimated the time the movie would be over and called Chris to make sure Ella was alright. Chris told me that she had just woken him up so he could put her to bed. What a very good little girl we have!

Well, I think I'm out of stories except that Chris has vacation next week which is exciting.

Oh, and Sunday is my birthday so you must call me and wish me happiness.

--Mal

It has Begun

So week one as an official resident has come and gone.  I've grown soft over the last few carefree months; I'm not used to working everyday, nor am I used to working 9-12 hrs straight (I know, like I said: soft).  I have a trick though that makes it easier.  The husband of one of my classmates is currently doing a prelim year in Surgery.  He's going into Anesthesia, so working like a surgery intern is exceptionally painful.  Whenever I start feeling stressed, I just remember how easy I really have it compared to most residents.

Actually, working in the ED is quite fun and gratifying.  I don't know if the day will come when the traumas, acute abdomens, homeless drunks, and "emergency sore throats" grow stale, but for now I can't think of a better job in all of medicine.  At parties, who do you think has the best stories?

I'm trying to learn the balance between speed, efficiency and malpractice.  Most of the time it seems that the majority of my brain is dedicated to paperwork, protocol and dictations, while diagnosis takes a back seat.  Of course this is temporary; once I get the system all figured out I can start playing doctor more fully.  

Enough rambling.  I have some new videos up on YouTube.  One is Ella playing in the tub, which made Eli laugh real hard.  The other is one Malinda took of Ella giving me grubbies while I played Xbox.

Ella making Eli laugh

Ella grubbies Dad

a success

We now have only one child who wears diapers. Sigh. They grow up so fast...wait, I mean, Hooray!
Ella began her potty training on Monday. Chris nearly moved out that afternoon when Ella drank too much juice (my fault) and had diarrhea--luckily she had the accidents in the bathroom and Chris is still living with us.
Ella is a quick learner and improves everyday with her ability to know when she needs to go and make it to the potty in time. Today I moved her toilet from the family room to the bathroom with confidence that she will make it to the bathroom in time. If we survive church tomorrow I might start letting her out of the house again (all trips to the park and library etc were temporarily canceled this week.)
I didn't take any photos of this process (how embarrassing would that be!) but here are some pictures from our recent family vacations to Harriman Ranch and Disneyland:

Two-Party Bondage

To illustrate my point better, I put together this Simpsons clip.  Enjoy it, then read the rest and pass it on.


In my last political rant, I ended referring to the current crop of presidential hopefuls (Hillary terminated her campaign that same day) as “very different shades of the same color.”  I wish to expound on that.  I am constantly bewildered by the argument that there are no good candidates to choose from, and I do not wish to lump myself into that category.  By that I mean that I do not wish to be one of the complainers.  If we lack any candidates of integrity, then it is a result of our own pride, apathy and cynicism in previous elections.  I believe, and King Mosiah of the Book of Mormon tells us, that our leaders are a reflection of the peoples’ moral standing.  (At least initially.  Remember that after an unrighteous people allow evil men to come to power, they are stuck under their heel in bondage even after the people repent.  At that point, only by God’s mercy and intervention is a nation delivered.)  It is from this perspective that I urge for a moral revolution.  Such a change cannot grow from a two party system once both parties are corrupted. 

 

Again, in that last political rant I referred to Classic Liberalism.  I referred to the choice that we must make between Globalism and Independence.  I feel that the current leadership within the Libertarian Party most closely matches my philosophy of independence and the liberalism of the Founding Fathers.  No, I’m not referring to Ron Paul (who has withdrawn from the race).  I’m referring to Bob Barr and Wayne Allen Root.  I’ve been watching them for a while now and I feel a ring or truth in their words and common sense in their policies.  I am no expert on all their policies and cannot speak to their character other than what the media has afforded me.  But in an election where so many people are voting for “hope” and “change” and “getting away from the politics of the past” and “finding common ground” I cannot understand why the masses have not paid more attention to Bob Barr.  

I am bothered by those who are afraid to “throw their vote away” on a 3rd party candidate.  I can think of nothing more patriotic and in line with the Founding Fathers than to do away with the two-party mentality.  The rules of the parties are not made by the voice of the people.  They are not beholden to the Constitution and thus are an opening to bondage.  Democrats should understand this better than anyone given the recent disputes of Michigan and Florida and the ominous superdelegates.  

To shine a different light on it, many conservatives feel a need to begrudgingly pull the lever for John McCain without agreeing with the majority of his policies.   Unless you are a one-issue-voter, and that issue is either the War on Terrorism or Supreme Court Judges (ignoring the fact that the incoming Democratic Congress will stonewall any conservative nominations), I cannot understand how in good conscience you vote for McCain.   “But a vote for a 3rd party is a vote for Obama…”  No.  There are a great many Democrats who feel disenchanted with Obama after his war with Hillary.  They need to be taught that a 3rd party like the Libertarians is not another wing of Republican ideals.  I am not advocating the watering-down of ideals and principles in order to widen the political tent.  I simply urge Democrats to consider what issues are of highest priority and then use their God-given gift of discernment to judge whether Obama, McCain, or a third party candidate such as Bob Barr will advance those issues.  Simply put, a vote for McCain is a vote for McCain; one for Obama, Obama’s.  Vote your conscience and speak your mind; for this is the only course of action with any lasting promise.  

I understand that in democratic society one must often compromise some points in order to achieve a greater good.  But it is my belief that we have overstepped the line from compromise and goodwill into the territory of appeasement and apathy.  To continue the two-party system is treason to our values.  

welcome home

What a great new home we have!

This morning we walked to one of the neighborhood pools for a swim. Ella loves to swim with her dad in the big pool and I love that there is a little pool she can play in while I watch Eli (this is my plan for when Chris begins residency next month). We all love that we can walk to the pool. I know it is hot here, but who can complain when you can swim away the heat?

Did I mention our house? I love it. I couldn't begin to explain all the reasons why, but for those of you who know me well it will suffice to say that the walls are a creamy shade of mild yellow.

And our backyard is great too. I know that there is no grass, but the pebbles we have are fine with me. Ella loves to draw with chalk on the cement and I love that it is small, and enclosed so I can let her play out there while I cook.


As you can see, Ella also loves the orange trees in our backyard.

As an orphan named Annie once said, "I think I'm gonna like it here."

After that last weighty post, I thought I'd give y'all a little Ella & Eli. As you can see, we're all loving Tucson. (I'm really not satisfied with the quality of these, the video I'm uploading is much better--maybe I should switch from YouTube.)

Jumpin' in the Pool

Eli talk

What I did for Freedom Today

So I started to leave a comment in response to this post by my good friend CroMike. I had so much to say that I thought it best served by posting it on my own blog:

Now, I cannot creep into the minds of Bush, Rumsfeld or Cheney and divinate their intentions when they first put Iraq in the crosshairs. I do not attempt to justify them. But I hate seeing good minds bowled over by the onslaught of misinformation. Allow me to give a bit of perspective. Bush and Powell repeatedly explained--but it was never hyped--that they were going into Iraq to "Change the Face of the Middle East" and ultimately to influence the culture of ignorance, poverty and fear that is constantly breeding terrorism and destabilizing the region (read: "keeping oil prices fluctuant"). Then came those darn WMDs.

That wasn't why we went into Iraq. It was one small piece of the intelligence pie that justified war; Bush and/or his advisors erroneously thought that “Weapons of Mass Destruction” would resonate better with Joe Shmoe than "Democratizing the Region", so Weapons of Mass Destruction got tons of media hype. If you like, I could send you dozens of quotes from foreign governments (Russia, UK, Germany, France, Italy...), President Clinton, Hillary, and the intelligence community stating their belief that Saddam had WMDs. So if he never did, he fooled not just Bush, but the entire planet (including his own high-level staff). Congress supported the war, it had a buildup of over 8 months, it was popular. If any legislator voted his or her approval disingenuously, then he should answer before God and the people whom they serve for so callously discharging the lives and limbs of our servicemen.

I am a classic Liberal. I believe in the Constitution and the principles espoused by the Founders. They were, for the most part, isolationists. So I agree with you that America should not have a preemptive, aggressive or manipulative foreign policy. But in this day of rapid transit, porous borders, economic entanglement and geographically incongruous natural resources, an isolationist policy would require too many actions that people currently oppose (e.g. drilling for oil in the States, building refineries, drastically stronger border defense, Israel-style air security, slightly higher prices on some foreign goods--all of these things I support, by the way). The point is, America had to make a choice after 9/11 (and Bush is culpable for not presenting it to the American people). The choice was, Do we continue to pursue a globalist, entangled future for America with dependence on other nations and regions, or Do we seek independence and relative isolation? The former will require a larger military presence to police the world with its inherent cost, the latter will require a long term resolve and probably carry with it a brief economic recession until the markets stabilize from the drastic changes. Which will it be?

Unfortunately Americans want the best of both options without any of the costs. And to maintain this fantasy many have chosen to ignore what they understood quite well a few years ago: there are people who believe America is the Great Satan and want to shoot you in the head. There are also people who, for the sake of security, want to build a "Brave New World" which requires reeducation and a distortion or erasure of history. There are people both home and abroad who despise fundamental American ideals. Without a healthy vigilance to these trends and influences, you will be blown off course unawares.

Hopefully that gives a bit of perspective. Too many people think with their hearts and feel with their brains. I think it stems from pride, a desire to nonconform.

Let me assure you though, that of the 3 current presidential candidates, not one will pull us out of Iraq. All three are globalists, all three are Senators, career politicians and smarmy. They are very different shades of the same color. It doesn’t matter though; Americans have proven just how short their memories really are.

Look What We Made!

Where to begin?  There is much that needs to be added to this blog.  However, the advent of our son, Elijah, trumps all other news so forgive me if subsequent posts are chronologically backwards.  (I have some fun videos and comments on visiting various cities throughout the “Interview Season”, visiting the zoo, Ella at the gym, and the Winter that just keeps on giving.  It might even get a bit political—so stay tuned.)

Elijah Keith Williams (we’ll be calling him Eli) was born 12:19 on March 6, 2008.  He weighed in a 8lbs 1oz and measures 22inches.  He has a good pair of lungs (like his sister); he and Ella have some facial similarities so far, but he is definitely a different personality.  Eli makes very little noise while sleeping and eating.  So far, in his first 8 hrs of postpartum life he hasn’t really cried much at all (please, all of you knock on something wooden right now).  He picked up the whole suckling thing much quicker than Ella did—or maybe Malinda’s a better teacher now.  It will be fun to see how he shapes over the next few months/years. 

Ella scored huge points today by not hitting, scratching, poking, squishing or stomping her little brother.  As an added bonus she doesn’t seem to resent him or her mother for the current change in feeding and seating arrangements.  We’ll see.  Anyway, I’ve set up links for the first of many Eli videos and one Ella video that I had previously edited. 

Ella & her songs

Eli's 0th Birthday

Eli's Comin' (Jed Cowley...Click Here!!)

Ella & Eli