Nuevo novio

Ella has a new boyfriend nextdoor. His name is Emmanuel. They were born around the same time. They take long walks together in their strollers and like holding hands, and looking at each other. Ella likes his hair. We might be more excited about the relationship than they are, but they'll come around.

attacking bears

Ella likes to attack things that have eyes and are somewhat her size. I hope she doesn't treat boys like this.

Camera shy

Sick

Ok, so the Compton Batstones are all officially sick. Ian was getting it last week and seemed to be getting better, Ella got some of it, and then I got it BAD. Last night all three of us were up many times: Ian was coughing, my nose was dripping, and Ella was crying. Between all of those fun things, we didn't get much sleep last night. . .
But, on the brighter side, Ella slept in this morning and I am feeling somewhat better today. Still, a bad head cold may just be one of the biggest small things that can really mess up your day (or night), especially with a baby. We now purchase Airborne regularly in large quantities, all in an attempt to ward off the "scary germies". It was working pretty well, until now...
The other bummer is, I can't take much of anything medicinal as I am still nursing Ella. After all, who wants to see a baby who is woozy from Nyquil?

Song Quote of the week

Derek Webb (from Caedmon's Call) put out a solo album that is very social activist, satirical and provocative. We really like musicians that have something to say. Here's a good quote from one of his songs.

"my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom

there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican"

Zing! Pow! Ooch! There is lots more where that came from, okay I can't resist, here's another from "Rich Young Ruler"

"poverty is so hard to see when it’s only on your tv
and twenty miles across town where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good"

In another verse he says, "come on and follow me, but sell your house sell your SUV...and your security."

I think God is against SUV's. Feels good to have that confirmed by another brother in Christ (I'm not totally joking either).

Quotes from www.derekwebb.com

P.S. Speaking of good music does everyone know about Sara Groves? Every one of her albums has helped speak the love of Jesus Christ into our lives. www.saragroves.com

First Student Lost

We just received the news today that one of our former students, Daniel Macias, 18, was shot and killed one street over from us. He lived in the neighborhood and was trying to finish his high school diploma by staying with his grandmother in another city during the week and going to classes. On weekends he would come home to see his sister and mother. He was a smart kid, who had gotten into trouble in the past, but was trying to turn it around. We liked him quite a bit and he always seemed to like us too. This really is the first student we have had that we knew well who was killed. It brings the reality home of what we are trying to fight against. And it makes me think about why it had to happen. If he lived somewhere else, very likely he would not have gotten involved in all these things, and almost certainly would not have been killed. Now all we can do is pray for his family and pray for our city. We ask you to pray too...

Baby's first bling

Ella recieved her first bit of jewelry from her godparents Tia and Arturo (and the 4ft mafia). It says "Baby Ella" on it. She also got her ears pierced! She looks much more femenine now and noone will be asking what she is. She looks purty.

Fascination with books

Ella likes to read... pound... and eat books. Poor curious George. (BTW the curious george soundtrack to the recent movie is pretty good lots of Jack Johnson, some Ben Harper and others, groovy and fun).

I think reading to kids even at an early age is important. They just seem to understand that books are interesting and fun, and a source of mystery beyond them. Alastair Begg (sp?) an Irish pastor once described the process of bible reading in his church. A robed man would get a key, unlock a special glass closet to the left of the podium, haul out a huge book, place it on the podium and begin reading after everyone was standing. He didn't understand what was read as a child, but he understood that THAT BOOK IS IMPORTANT! I think that's good. Even stodgy ceremony can highlight the important things in life. Regular book reading is very important to me.

Teething

I hope its not considered child abuse to take a picture of your kid when she's tired and in pain, but I thought our viewing public should see the side of parenting that is sometimes difficult. Erin deals with this a lot more than I do. I was trying to get her to smile (which she was doing) but it took too long to capture it and this became the result. So, yes those are two "teefies", as Erin calls them, that are poking out of the bottom row. She also is grinding with some new ones on top that are coming out. Yesterday was a tough day. She didn't sleep too much.

Learning to crawl.

Ella is on her hands and knees a lot now. She rocks back and forth, then pitches forward, she moves faster by rolling, but its a beginning.