More Harry at 6 months

Harry at 6 months

The Harrier turned 6 months old over the weekend!

(We've been calling him The Harrier almost since birth. It's a great nickname, as all associations are positive - hunting hound, hawk, fighter plane, and cross-country runner.)

Today we headed in to the doctor for his 6-mo. checkup. He's over 21 lbs. and is in the 95% for weight and height, and thankfully healthy in every other way. Thank you, Lord, for this little boy.

Overheard

I keep kicking myself for not writing down more of the cute things Jackson says. Even in the evening when I try to remember for Matthew, it's gone. So while it's on my mind. . .

just now -

The dishwasher was "broken" (the wheel came off, and I mumbled under my breath, "I'll fix it later").

J: "I'll fix it. I'm a man."

me: "Okay, go ahead."

J: "I need my tools."

me, walking to his play tool box: "I think you'll just need your hammer for this job." (trying to avoid getting all tools out)

J: "No, I'll need the screwdriver."


earlier today -

We dropped Matthew off on campus, and when he had shut the door back home

J: "Hi, lady", addressing me.

This is one of the many phrases Jackson uses that are imitations of ours. Other funny ones:
"Oh dear", "Goodness", calling us "Babe" like we do eachother (and of course"lady").

Today is his half birthday - Happy 2 1/2, Jackson!

Diva Dash 5K

My sister and I participated in the Diva Dash 5K Run/Walk this weekend. Proceeds from the race benefit Girls on the Run, a program that facilitates race training for girls in 3rd to 5th grades. The girls meet with running coaches twice a week for 12 weeks to prepare for their first 5K! Some also have running buddies, adult female runners who run with them for moral support and encouragement. It was such a neat event! This was also Mara's first 5K and she did a great job! She even got her company to sponsor her and two co-workers. Congratulations, Mara!!!

Putting on our 'diva gear' before the race. You could register a certain levels to get certain gear: I was a 'Sporty Diva', which means I got a tiara. Mara was a 'Supreme Diva': tiara, sunglasses and feather boa!
Me running during the second mile.
Mara walking during the first mile with co-worker, Sherry.
Crossing the finish line and laughing at my enthusiastic cheers.
Posing in true Supreme Diva fashion.

Silas Baldwin

I spent a few hours yesterday in the Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton, which houses the University Archives, a fairly extensive collection of materials on Princeton alumni. Following a lead from Meme, I found the file on her paternal grandfather, Silas C. Baldwin. This is apparently his graduation photo, taken in 1865. (Then Princeton was The College of New Jersey; the name was changed in 1896.) Unfortunately, the alumnus file does not contain a lot of family information, and there's some ambiguity in what's there. But here are a few facts: Silas was born in Harford County, Maryland in 1840 (or '45) to William and Hannah (Powel) Baldwin. He attended Princeton from 1861 to 1865, and then completed an M.D. at the University of Maryland. Although we know he ended up in Arkansas, he apparently practiced medicine in Baltimore for a number of years before heading west. He married Sarah Elizabeth Brice, and Meme's father, William Alexander Baldwin, was born in 1885, but where they were at the time is unclear (unless Meme has more information).

But at any rate, the other very interesting thing they had in his file was his personal autograph book. This was apparently the 19th century equivalent of a yearbook (w/o the pictures). It's essentially a blank leather book in which dozens of his classmates wrote personal notes and reminiscences. Some of the entries are quite lengthy and give some insight into his character, pasttimes, and ideas. I can tell more to anyone interested, but I thought I'd include a couple of short entries here. He was addressed throughout as either "Si" or "Baldwin."

Dear Baldwin,
If your principles be always as strict and your habits as virtuous as your dispositions are kind, I predict for you a clear course through life, a complete overbalancing of foibles that may be alleged against you. From my heart, I wish you success and happiness now and in the future.
Yours Truly,
Galen W. Seiler of Pennsylvania

Everyone signed his name with that form, "John Doe of X." Here's another that I thought was pretty funny.

Dear Baldwin,
I shall remember you as one of the select few in the class of '65 to whose gallantry and care the fair young ladies of Princeton can be safely intrusted. Believing you to be gallant and chivalrous, I am happy to subscribe myself
Your friend,
Samuel A. Butler of Illinois

Incidentally, the autograph book was apparently purchased by a Princeton alum in Baltimore in 1957 and given to the university. They've got a lot of these in the archives. My plan is to see if they have one that belonged to one of Silas's close friends, which might have a substantial note from him. We'll see. So there he is, great-great-grandfather Si Baldwin! Does anyone think there's any family resemblance?
-Matthew

Toddler Theology

Somewhere we've gone terribly wrong.

The only thing Jackson has gotten from the Easter book we've been reading for past month is "soldiers. torches. soldiers help Jesus. Jesus prays Noah." Jesus apparently prays to Noah in the Garden of Gethsemane. Apparently, the soldiers were a great help to Jesus when they came at night with torches and led him away to be killed. Did you know that?

Conversation with Jackson after my weekly Bible Study at church:

me: What did you learn at church today? Did they read you a story?

J: yes

me: What was it about?

J: Jesus born. Man happy. Man mad. Couldn't find him. Horses. I can't find Jesus.

me: Jesus isn't on the earth anymore. Even though we can't see him, he's always with us, but his body is in heaven.

J: Bruce Degen*

me: No, heaven.

J: I love Bruce Degen.

*Bruce Degen is the author of Jamberry, his current favorite book. I was surprised to hear J say his name the other day, but Matthew informed me he always begins reading it with the title and author, something I don't do (because, duh).

He can move!

Harry rolled over for the first time on Sunday afternoon. My mom worked with him all week, and he finally did it while she was in the air on the way back to Alabama. I've been waiting to post this until I could take a video of him, but I can't find our camera. Go, Harry! Other hobbies of his include sucking his fists, grabbing like mad, and smiling and giggling, especially at Jackson. I am so crazy about him. I can't wait until everyone can get to know him better!