Our son, Salem

Wow...the past 4 and 1/2 weeks have flown by and are somewhat of a blur, but it is amazing to say that- "our son"! Joe and I (while missing good nights of sleep) are so loving being parents and are sooo thankful to God for our beautiful, healthy, precious baby boy. And he is 100% BOY- you should hear the way he grunts and burps! Since I haven't blogged at all since Salem was born, I'll try to catch up here with a few pictures and thoughts...maybe in a few posts as I think of things!

Salem Joseph Evans
born 5:45 am, 2/8/09
8 lb 1 oz, 20.5''

While it seems hard to believe Salem is almost 5 weeks old, on the other hand when I think that just a month and a half ago I was still working full-time at my old job in Sausalito, that kind of seems like a life time ago- being a mother has become my new identity.

Well first a little about his name. Salem means "peace" and is from the same Hebrew root as "shalom". It is found in the Bible in Genesis and Hebrews- Melchizedek the King of Salem who Abraham meets with and is a type of Christ in the OT, a priest without beginning or end of days. When it says he was the king of Salem (peace) it is referring to a city- probably the name for Jerusalem (the city of peace) before it was called by that name. Any way we both really liked this name from the beginning and although we considered a lot of names, this was the one we always kept coming back to and finally decided on. Besides the personal meaning the name has for us which I'll share below, I think that peace is such a huge part of the meaning of the gospel- Rom. 5:1, Eph. 2:14-15& 17, Col. 1:20.The name Joseph (besides being daddy's namesake and great biblical characters) means "He shall add" and God has blessed us with (added) peace in so many ways throughout the last year leading up to Salem's birth. About this time last year we had a miscarriage, and although the pregnancy was a surprise to us, it was a very difficult time to walk through. God, however, was with us and brought healing, strengthened our faith, taught us a lot, and gave us the desire to start a family. And now, less than a year later we have a sweet 1- month old baby boy in our arms. I was blessed with a great pregnancy (kinda crazy, but sometimes I miss being pregnant!) and although the labor was not how we prayed it would be (short and easy) God showed his grace in other ways (great doctor and hospital staff, healthy baby, good recovery for me, etc.) in denying that request. I labored at the hospital for over 20 hours and pushed for 4 hours, then in the end had a C-section. Not what we had planned, but God gave us peace and we had complete confidence in my doctor's decision (he said using forceps to pull him out was an option, but advised against it) and skill. Although I was disappointed, I realized that God was in control and he knew (even before time) the exact moment and manner that Salem would enter this world. Praise God! We are in awe of how he works and his grace in our lives and can't wait to see the plans he has in store for our son and our family.

Well here are a few more pictures (from the first few weeks...I need to keep snapping them and upload some new ones soon- he's really growing fast- weighed in at 10 lb. 13 oz. at his 1-month appointment on Tuesday!)... more thoughts on mothering in the days to come!

He has long, skinny feet like his daddy!

BIG YAWN...
You can tell they're going to be best buddies already :)
Playing around...
"I love my sleep!"
Salem and Dr. Wilner
It's time to SLEEP, sweet pea!
"I sure can't wait to play some football!"
I love this one (thanks, Shannon)... our thoughtful little boy!

Showers, maternity pics, & nesting!

Well things have been really busy lately, sadly leaving very little time for blogging...but here's an update and some pictures of what we've been up to lately. Two Saturdays ago (1/17) was a really busy, but fun day! We got an EARLY start (thanks alot, Shannon ;) to our day, having our maternity pictures taken by my friend & neighbor, Shannon who was joined by another friend and budding photographer on campus, Lindsay. We went to the Marin Art and Garden Center...it was a beautiful but chilly morning... 39 degrees when we got back to the car! Thanks girls, it was a blast and we love the pictures! You can check out more at Shannon's website!
Yep, we're due on Valentine's Day~ we know, love baby :)
Later that day, the ladies from our church, Calvary North Bay, threw us a shower. It was held at Toni's (super cute) house in San Rafael and was really fun. They had planned some games (I won the "guess that baby food" game) and had the place decorated really cute. The food was good and I ate way too much lemon cake and ice cream...yum!

Our baby boy's first stuffed animal!
Joe was set on attending even though he was the only guy except Toni's little boy, Luca. I was glad he was there, though! Maggie, Joe and I.
Brook, Tana, Sara, and Natalie
And on to next shower....The next Saturday, three dear friends- Brook, Liz, and Shannon threw me a shower on campus. It was at the Cunninghams' and a bunch of girls came- most of them either prego or new mamas! We had a great time...thanks so much, ladies!
Playing the diaper game...the melted chocolate bars really looked like poop! I was horrible at guessing, but my friend Erika got them all right!

Reann and Mara, Leah, me, Katie, Melissa, and Emily
Erika (also a mom-to-be come June), me and Brook
Liz's exquisite truffles! These things are the BOMB!
And finally, here's a sneak peak at the baby's room. This was actually about a week and a half ago, so we've done a little more...but you get the idea!
Joe has been working so hard on it...from painting the walls and washing all the bedding, to completely refinishing this little dresser (which is also our changing table)- thanks, Babe! And I think my "nesting urge" has kicked in too... been cleaning a bunch and wanting to do more in the nursery, but tomorrow's my last day at work... so hopefully I'll have time for that soon (and to rest)!
Well that's it for now...I go to the doctor later this afternoon, so we'll see what he has to say (if I've made any more progress)!

Truckee Trip!

Over New Year's weekend we were part of a youth ski trip with our church, Calvary North Bay to Truckee, CA (the coldest town in the whole state according to my friend, Lauren, at work). There were 15 people (16 counting baby boy Evans) who went- made up of youth, leaders, and some college- age kids. I went against the advice of my doctor...he was concerned since he's had several patients in the past who traveled around 34 weeks and then went into pre-term labor while they were out of town. Thankfully our son wasn't ready yet, and didn't get any ideas about surprising us early...now just watch him be late!

Here is a picture of the snow on the way up...this was before we got to the even colder temperatures where the snow was covering the trees. It was so beautiful! We got to see the snowflakes falling as we finished our drive, and fortunately we didn't even have to put on our chains.

The cabin we rented was super nice. It was actually the family's primary residence- more of a comfortable, stylishly decorated, good-sized house, than a cabin. We got to stay in the master bedroom (I guess because we were the only married folks and I'm a pregnant lady...or just because everybody was really nice!). Anyway, the bed was HUGE and there was a really beautiful view of the mountains outside the window.

Here's Johanna by the Christmas tree. It had to be the biggest, coolest Charlie Brown Christmas tree ever.

The snowman (Bob) the girls made the first night to welcome us home when we got back from renting equipment/ grocery shopping.

The skiers/snow-boarders getting ready for a big day on the slopes! And no, I didn't join them (although I secretly wished I could have), but Joe went skiing for the first time and (aside from a really sore behind) had a fantastic time!

Joe scraping all the ice off the windshield...quite an experience for us Southerners!

While everybody else went skiing, I got to hang out with 3 really sweet girls and we had a great day. We took it easy in the morning and spent some great time in the Word together. Then we went to this REALLY good little Mexican place (wish they had Mexican food that good here in Marin!) for lunch. After lunch we went treasure hunting in a couple little thrift stores, and then headed over to Donner Memorial State Park right on Donner lake- the place where the unfortunate Donner party spent the long winter of 1846, unable to cross the 22 ft. of snow blocking the mountain pass. There was a very interesting museum and video that we watched about their ordeal. It was hard for us to believe that only happened just over 150 years ago, and how things have changed. Before going back to the house, we finished off the afternoon stopping at a popular little sledding spot. It was fun, but COLD!

Here I am with Sarah W. and Kiti-

Kiti and her friend from school, Sarah-

Some really cute kids playing in a little snow fort-

Lexi, Sarah, Elisa, Johanna, and Joe C.


5 of the Chaimongkol 8! Joe, Kitima, Johanna, Tavi, and Ben-

No photo editing here...it was really 15 degrees the morning we left!

The whole gang!

Christmas at our place...

Well, I know I'm late in posting these and Christmas '08 is already becoming a distant memory...but here are a few pictures from our Christmas Day. We had a really great time, cooking dinner and hosting friends. We all ate way too much, then finished off the afternoon playing our favorite card game, Dutch Blitz.

Here we are with our friend, Katie Redd- love that girl and her Carolina ways! She had to work at Starbucks in the morning- yes, they are open in Mill Valley on Christmas Day!- then came over to our place.

This is my friend from work, Lynn. She's from Malaysia and a really cool and sweet girl. She came early to help me cook and made the harvest pie (unfortunatley I don't have a pic)...my personal fave.



Our tree...the tree we got to decorate twice- once in our old place at Tichenor, then off came all the ornaments and we moved it over to Judson. We loved having a real tree...got it from Rite-Aid! It was sooo pretty, I was really sad to take it down.



Our half-way consumed turkey...prepared in my new roasting pan from Ikea!!!

Chocolate chess pie (there's a story behind this one, notice the drip down the side of the pie dish...we nearly spilled the whole thing trying to rotate the oven racks!), homemade mac & cheese, carrot souffle, and green bean cassarole...

The pecan pie is Joe's masterpiece (great job, babe!)... it came out so well! And so did this pic... courtesy of Lynn.

One more of the tree...

Well that's about it... I got a new camera for Christmas (just a small digital one, because my other one broke and the only pictures I had been taking were with my phone) so I hope to be taking more pictures this year! I'll post some soon of our trip to Tahoe/Truckee last weekend!

A Mill Valley Christmas

Well just wanted to say a quick hello and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all our friends and family! We just finished moving everything (still have a bunch of unpacking left, though) into our new apartment and cleaning out the old one for inspection yesterday...whew! We were really blessed to have our friends (and old neighbors) Dave and Kerri help us with this monumental task! Our new place was looking really cute last weekend (freshly painted walls- Joe and a few of friends that helped out did a great job, and our tree is so pretty) when we had some girls from church over for a fun night of making Christmas ornaments... then we had to bring the rest of our junk over! How did we get so much stuff anyway? And our poor son's room has become the storage room...well not for long, though... We need to start getting ready!

We have so much to be thankful for though. I'm enjoying some time off- my company gave us this whole week as paid vacation time- what a blessing!!! We'll be cooking a big dinner and having some friends over on Christmas, then later in the day spending some time with a family from church. It's kind of different being here and away from our families on the holiday, but it has still been very eventful and fun. Last Saturday we went caroling in downtown Mill Valley at the Depot as part of the outreach program that Joe has been coordinating with our church. It was great! Then on Sunday we did a big cookie swap and made cookie plates for everyone to give to their neighbors and invite them to our Christmas Eve service. Looking forward to that, too- our pastor is doing a special message on the incarnation and we'll have a guest worship leader.

Well, things have been super busy (as they always seem to get this time of year), but I'm praying that this holiday would be exactly that...

hol•i•day
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English halig, holy + dæg, day;
holy day, day set aside for special religious observance

A holy day of worship. That we would take time to worship and wonder at our the grace of our God and the humilty of Jesus as he took on flesh and came to dwell with us. We pray wherever you are, that your Christmas is filled with his presence and joy!
Love,
Joe and Hannah

Shepherd's pouch...and Christmas gifts

Yesterday I listened to this video on Desiring God about what Christmas Day looked like in the Piper household as they raised their family. It gave me some really good ideas, and although I really, really like having a Christmas tree and don't plan on giving that up, I love the Shepherd's pouch idea and would like to start that as a tradition for our family.

Today there's another really good "Ask Pastor John" about keeping gift giving Christ-centered, especially with young kids. Good stuff...check it out! I've often thought about this and have heard different ideas- like 3 gifts for each child- one that's something needed & practical, one educational, and one fun gift that's something they want. Don't know if we'd ever stick to anything like that, but I guess it's never to early to start thinking about these things....

Favorite drink at Christmas time

hot chocolate...yum. a classic with limitless possibilites

apple cider or wassail...does anyone know what the difference is??? either is delish!

egg nog...don't really like it

Happiness is...

... well, not really a warm puppy. At least not the deepest, most lasting happiness.

Here are a few thoughts that I'm trying to wrap my mind (and heart) around...

"If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God,
and not from the world."
David Branierd

Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Frogs, snails, puppy dog tails, blue birds, and red balloons

Well, I feel like I'm coming out of hibernation...Joe and I have been sick with a nasty cold. It was even worse this time for me... because even though I checked with the pharmacist and called the doctor's office yesterday, I didn't feel good about taking medicine. One night...think it was Friday, I took a benadryl and then worried and prayed myself to sleep, and felt much better when I felt our little guy kicking me (and letting me know he was okay in there) in the middle of the night!

Well I am really bad about posting pictures (not like my friends) but will try to post one soon of my third trimester belly...less than 10 weeks to go (Lord-willing...give or take a week or two)! And we had a great trip to Louisiana over Thanksgiving we had a really good time visiting our families and got to see a few good friends while we were there too! And we both accomplished Joe's goal of eating A LOT and getting fat...well, I think we each gained a few pounds (which he can totally get away with and which I'm supposed to be doing anyway, right?)!

We're starting to get ready for the baby (it's really time!) and we got a crib last Saturday off Craigslist...pretty exciting! And we're getting ready to paint our new place and move this weekend! I can't wait to get in there and be settled, but there's oh so much to do in between...

I have been sooo indecisive about how we should decorate the baby's room. (Pregnancy seems to have made my indecisiveness 10x worse.) Over Thanksgiving I thought we had made a final decision...I found this super cute fabric and was going to make curtains and base the colors for the room off of it.

Then I kind of had to start rethinking it, because Joe wasn't too excited about a blue bird theme (in fact he'd let me do the curtains but that's it...no more blue birds)...I guess it's not the most masculine. To be honest though, I was starting to question it before that, because I found the cutest little puppy design on Anna Maria Horner's site and wanted to use it to make some wall art. And puppies and blue birds don't exactly go together...don't want it to turn into a hunting theme! Anyway the decision got even harder today when I started thinking about a red balloon theme.
I love the film Ballon rouge- if you've never seen it you should- it's wonderful...Joe and I watched it a while back and I was thinking about our little boy the whole time, wondering what he'll be like.



Well we shall see what becomes of the nursery (Any of my friends with amazing decorating sense, your suggestions/comments are most appreciated!) My little sister suggested combining the puppy and red balloon ideas...like doing a picture of the puppy following the silhouette of a toddler crawling with a balloon in one hand. Hmmm...enough dreaming and rambling- Good night!