Sunday, November 28, 2004

Elle Veronica Wilson





6:11 a.m., Sunday, November 28th, 2004. 4 weeks early; right on time.

6 lbs 7 oz. 18.5 inches.



Speechless about Ronni and Elle.

Saturday, November 27, 2004

going in...coming out?

well, it's 12:30 p.m. saturday night. 5 minutes between contractions now. just got the "go" sign from our midwife. Amy's here to take care of Colin. Sweet. Woohoo. heading to the hospital...

Friday, November 26, 2004

thanksgiving, etc.

had a great time with family yesterday. we've taken to alternating years between my family and Ronni's; this year it was the Wilson side, at my parents house. judy was in from NYC, awesome to see her again. McGuigans were there too. Cousins Dave and Steve (17 & 19) or something like that) are really cool--they had a big snowball fight with Colin and Grace. Amy and Ben and Ben's parents and brother came later for desert. just missing Maja, Patrick and boys (Maja's birthday tomorrow, looking forward to talking to her...it's been a long time!) and the Elkingtons (and my dad's sisters and their families--but it's a rare treat for them to come, since they live out east). great conversation, lots of laughter, delicious meal, foosball (beat Grace for only the 2nd time; she's got amazing reflexes and a good competitive instinct. Nick, Ben's bro, shut me out though, 5-0, and then he was trounced by Grace--way to go, Grace!) watched the lions get pasted by Peyton. alas. listened to some great tunes with Dad and Uncle Kit. praise God for music and music lovers.



took Colin to see his first movie at the theater today. we've been talking about going sometime for a while, so his excitement has been growing. announced that today was the day. he was overwhelmed with excitement. really. almost fainted overwhelmed. his eyes got huge, he looked a little pale, and although he was already sitting on his knees, he had to sit all the way down on his bottom to absorb the news. then he let out a big sigh and gulped a big "well golly gee" kind of gulp. it was all Ronni and I could do to keep from bursting out laughing.



the film was "The Incredibles." what a great flick. Colin loved it, of course. i thought it was an amazing animated film. captured my imagination visually, very funny, well acted and animated, and actually had me engaged in the plot. well done, Pixar.

Thursday, November 18, 2004

proud papa

this will be brief...



dinner at Chilli's with friends & kids. lively conversation. Colin pipes up, "Mom, the band!" We stop talking to listen.



"What band, Colin?" mom asks.



"The band on TV!" Colin responds, enthusiastically. We listen more closely, and pick out U2's "mysterious ways" playing in the background.



"U2?" we ask, indcredulously.



"Yes, U2...the band on TV!"



those vertigo itunes commercials sure are effective, eh?

Thursday, November 11, 2004

long distance relationships

Ed & Clare Evans (and daughters Bethia and Olivia) who pastor the Salisbury Vineyard (U.K.) have been here on holiday since the beginnning of november. Ronni, Colin, and i have really enjoyed getting to know them; they are a fab family. Ed and i took a two hour walk today, and the time flew by. we only met once while i was in England last year, but we clicked without effort; conversation is easy with him, and i find him greatly encouraging. i really admire his relationship with Jesus too--there is a genuine humility and contagious anticipation about it. he had a couple of impressions from God at church on sunday, and they seem to be spot on.



on a related but less serious note: why is it that british children sound so intelligent when they speak? Bethia (4 years old) can say anything, and it just sounds incredibly smart. clearly, she is actually a very precocious child, but her accent amplifies her apparent intellectual capacity by about 40 years or so. i'm wondering if there is a reciprocal dynamic--i.e., is an american accent in a child perceived as especially smart to a british person? i'm afraid to ask directly, because i suspect it's the exact opposite.

Monday, November 8, 2004

how to dismantle an atomic bomb

listening to U2's new album as i type. catch myself smiling, all by myself. occasionally a little teary. want to play it loud for Ronni to hear too, but she's watching a film right now. soon though. maybe in the morning when Colin's up - he digs U2. should be a lot of fun. there's no joy like shared joy. can't count on my fingers and toes the number of good friends i'd love to just sit down with and and crank the volume.



car's in the shop for new brakes. don't even care; great tunes cover a multitude of hassles.



had a good time at holy hoops tonight. cool group of guys there. my body's getting old though...Ronni laughs at how i limp around on mondays. no matter; great tunes do a body good :)