My initial response to this new Fox reality show is one of repulsion. But, upon remembering my horror some five years ago at the notion of a herd of castaways dropped on an island to “survive”, I’m not too concerned. Television has really changed dramatically in the past five years… Now we’re constantly entertained by supposedly real circumstances. At almost any time of day you can watch a living room renovation, a face peel and rhinoplasty, a game show, a session in court, or a person being tempted to cheat on her partner. I’m not ready to throw it all out just because there’s some bad programming mixed in with the good. But what’s up with Fox? Their stuff seems to be a bit more crass than the rest.

I am a huge fan of The Amazing Race and faithfully stay home most every Tuesday night to catch the latest episode. Suffice to say that last night’s program (12/14) was quite disturbing in the emotional, verbal and physical abuse displayed. Jonathan is absolutely out of control in his treatment of his wife. My husband and I were horrified to see such abuse played out on my favorite CBS show. I think the producers are being neglectful if they allow Jonathan to continue with this behavior. Victoria is worthy of respect, love and peace and I would hope the producers of The Amazing Race help her find a more hopeful existence apart from Jonathan. Please do not air such abuse again.

Respectfully,
Rebecca L. Tredway

I don’t really have a Christmas break, but years and years of studenthood have created within me this expection for some sort of Christmas vacation. So what do I want to do this Christmas during my non-existent break? Watch movies! We don’t get out to the theaters very often these days but I’m just dying to go several times over Christmas, uh, break. There’s something magical about the big screen and popcorn and a room full of strangers all laughing or crying about the same moment. I love it.

I’ve been creating a short list of movies I’d like to see soon… which involves surfing around my old haunts like Movies.com and The Movie Box.net… which then reminded me to watch the teaser for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Has anyone else seen this? Huh. I do not in anyway consider myself a fan of Tim Burton films (that would be my husband), so it shouldn’t surprise me that I find the teaser a bit frightening. And Johnny Depp! So girly looking. I will try to withhold judgement until I see more, but this quick peek made me long for the Willy Wonka of old.

We purchased a johnny jumper a few weeks ago to help Livia build her leg strength. Unlike another amazing child, this one has taken a wee bit longer to put weight on her legs (though, as my mom said, “Some kids are born standing!”). The Prairie Box doorways are not very jumper-friendly—the wood trim is too deep for the plastic clasp—so we had to work awhile to find a place to hang it. Two solutions were discovered: 1) a simple hook fastened a doorway where the clasp can hang temporarily, or 2) a 6′ 5″ uncle can hold it. Voila! Problem solved!

Note the red balloon affixed to the hook in the doorway. It was meant as a beacon to warn 6′ 5″ uncle against head damage, already twice incurred. Being tall comes with risks.

As a small child at a private Christian school I ruined Christmas for another student: I told her (gasp!) that Santa Claus does not exist.

I’m pretty sure this tragedy evoked the one and only phone call home from one of my schoolteachers. She told my mom to make me stop telling kids that Santa wasn’t real. I believe Mom told her that I was just speaking the truth. Ha!

As you can tell, I didn’t grow up believing in Santa. In our house, we Believed in a Savior who was born on Christmas Day—and I must say, we didn’t even Pretend in Santa. Now, I kind of like the idea of pretending in the magical fat guy who drives a reindeer sleigh and lives with elves in the North Pole. I’m not at all opposed to letting Livia pose with Mr. Claus for a pic this month (though we really don’t have the money to do it this year) or to decorating with cute Santa things around the house. But overall, I have no intentions of telling her Santa Claus is real.

Furthermore, it cracks me up when a kid (like me) can no longer hold the truth about the myth inside and whoops! tells the other kids. Sorry, Santa just isn’t real… But Merry Christmas anyhow!

*Here’s to Megan and her sanity in a house full of Santa-believers ;)

If you’re embarrassed by frank discussions, read no further.

In the past few years I’ve become much more aware of fertility issues due to the fact that Jeremy and I wanted to start a family. A woman’s ability to have a child is a huge deal and is not a subject to be taken lightly. (For the record, and because I have no shame related to this topic, Jeremy and I did not adopt Livia due to infertility. This is one life struggle we haven’t had to deal with. My health concerns and our high regard for adoption were the top two reasons.) Anyhow, I am absolutely convinced that our society’s high level of problems with infertility are mostly environmental. I have all sorts of thoughts on subjects from birth control pills to processed foods, and, as I am no scientist, I am probably wrong on 99% of them. Still, I usually think that infertility is a women’s issue… One article on CNN made me think a little differently. Guys, if you’re reading this from your laptop, well, for the sake of your future offspring, think again about your positioning.

Dear Livia,

You’re seven months old! Somehow that age sounds so advanced to me. You’re no longer a teeny baby but now a big one.

I’m working on relaxing about your physical development since all the experts say children will grow and change at their own rates. Your favorite position, still, is lying flat on your back where you can see the world pass you by! You do roll, squiggle and scoot around by turning on your side and kicking your legs. In fact, you’re never in the same position in your crib that we placed you in when we get you in the morning; you like to kick around until your body is short-ways in the crib, head and feet butting up tight against the railings. Soon you won’t be able to fit your body in this position because you’re growing in height really quickly.

Your dad and I love watching you talk. You’re exploring new sounds all the time, and constantly experimenting with lung power and volume control! I’m actually avoiding certain more grown-up restaurants now because I’m not sure how loud you’ll get over a meal. Sometimes I feel like a big meanie because I laugh at the words you say when you’re sad… but it sounds so cute that I can’t help it. Going hand-in-hand with talking is the development of Attitude. Most of the time you continue to be really mellow and content, but every so often a screech or cry will let me know that you absolutely do not appreciate having your clothes changed or being strapped into your carseat. Ah, the emergence of the will!

Speaking of meals, this past month you began rejecting baby foods for some reason. I’m doing my best to get vegetables into your tummy, but you gag ferociously on sweet potatoes, acorn squash and green beans. (I was HOPING you wouldn’t be the sweet tooth that I am. Darn.) Yesterday you tried applesauce for the first time and, tada!, loved it! Feigning sneakiness, I mixed a portion of squash into the applesauce for dinner tonight, and though you ate most of it, you still knew yucky squash was present and gagged to show your disapproval. Sheesh. What’s a mom to do?

God is so good to us by giving you to us through adoption. He has filled our hearts with happiness at being your parents—and I believe you are the best birthday present I could have enjoyed upon turning 27. You also are quite blessed by all the love that surrounds you; Daddy, Mama, Nana & Papa, Grandma & Grandpa, Great Grandma & Great Grandpa, Uncle Adam and Uncle Andrew, Aunt Kris and Auntie Bean, your Grand Aunties and many more love you sooooo much! You are special. As I say as night when I tuck you in, Jesus loves you and so do I.

Love,
Mama

I love birthdays. If you look up ESFJ’s (my Meyers-Briggs personality type) you’ll find that we value traditions greatly. This explains my penchant for birthdays. All my life I’ve decorated with streamers, balloons and homemade banners, made certain gifts were purchased and wrapped, and celebrated friends and family member’s birthdays to the hilt.

Today a new tradition begins. On my 27th birthday, I’ve decided it’s ridiculous that adults don’t celebrate as children do, and I vow to (gasp!) TELL people when my birthday is!

“Hey, Rebecca! How are you today?”
“Good. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!”

[answering machine picks up]”Rebecca, just wanted to leave you a message about that order…”
[snatching up the phone] “Hey! IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!”

“Rebecca, can you make it to the Building Committee Meeting tonight?”
“Probably not ‘cuz IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!”

So… Happy Birthday to Me. Thanks, Mom & Dad for doing all the work of birthing and raising your second-born. Thanks, Jeremy for loving me so darn much. Thanks, friends, for all the sweet birthday thoughts.

Given to me by my sister-in-law… What we’re listening to while decking the halls:

• Holidays Are Coming, Coca-Cola
• Christmas Time is Here, Charlie Brown Christmas Special
• Carol of the Bells I, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
• Do They Know It’s Christmas?, BandAid (Bono & Adam Clayton)
• Christmas Vacation Theme, Soundtrack
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Eric Clapton, et al
• Wonderful Christmas Time, Paul McCartney & Wings
• Bells Will Be Ringing, The Eagles
• Blue Christmas, Elvis Presley
• O Come All Ye Faithful, Faith Hill & Leann Rimes
• Where Are You Christmas?, Faith Hill
• Song for a Winter’s Night, Sarah McLachlan
• Silent Night (Gaelic), Enya
• Ding Dong Merrily, The Baltimore Consort
• Wassail Song, Robert Shaw & Chamber Singers
• The Christmas Song, Natalie Cole duet with Nat King Cole
• Winter Wonderland, Aretha Franklin
• I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Billie Holiday
• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Frank Sinatra
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald
• Silver Bells, Bing Crosby
• Do You Hear What I Hear?, Bing Crosby
• O Holy Night, Vienna Boys Choir
• O Christmas Tree, Charlie Brown Christmas Special

Gail Buckner hits the nail on the head with this article about how possessions actually can’t buy you happiness. The line that drew me in? “Once the gifts have been torn open, are you left with an emotional hangover, a sense that, despite all your careful preparations, there’s still something missing.” Um, sometimes, yeah. It’s a good reminder to focus on keeping the important things important.