Author Archives: Rebecca

V

The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M.G. Vassanji

This epic story looked promising. I was excited to read about the racial conflicts in Africa in the 1950s and 60s; a part of history I don’t know much about. I hoped that the story would pull me into a world so completely different from my own.

Unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to connect with the story. The writing style was clear and the descriptive vignettes were beautiful, but I just couldn’t get into the ‘meat’ of the story.

I was very disappointed that I only made it halfway through this book. I enjoy historically based novels and the cultural knowledge that can be gleaned from them. Also, while written in the past tense, at the end of each chapter Vassanji jumps to a paragraph or two in the present tense. I would have really loved to see how the past and present lives of Vik came together, but I couldn’t keep my head in the book.

Maybe at some point in the future I’ll give this one another shot. I guess it just wasn’t the book for me at this moment in time.

Milestones

fff|ppp|at Taco Bell|ppp|fff

Catherine has been keeping us busy lately. It seems like we can go weeks without any major change in behavior or attitude and then, “BAM!” the changes come on full force.

We’ve really been enjoying watching her grow and learn and change over the past few months. Although I have a vague idea of which milestones she should be hitting, I haven’t memorized exactly when she should be achieving them. Her pediatrician is happy with her development and progress, so I am too. There are so many things to be worried about in life; I don’t need to add to the stress by comparing Catherine to all the other babies out there!

For the record, though, here’s an update. Catherine is a very happy, content baby. Her smiles and babbling can melt the hardest of hearts and has an adorable laugh that is only made more exciting by its unexpected appearances. She will play pretty independently with her play gym; kicking and grabbing at the toys. She will pass the rattle back and forth between her hands and will shake it like a Polaroid picture! Anything she can get her hands on will go into her mouth. She especially likes her crinkly book with the rubbery teething toys on it.

The teething rings are very popular at the moment since she has cut her first two teeth (the bottom front- in case you were wondering). She has been a wee bit fussy thanks to the new- and forthcoming- teeth, but the fussiness is nothing compared to to the drooling. I swear she leaks a gallon of drool a day onto the front of her shirt. Thank goodness for the hundreds of bibs we received when she was born!

In the last few days Catherine has strengthened her back muscles enough to keep herself sitting up if we set her up. She can’t pull herself up to sitting, but if she leans forward she can straighten back up. She’ll sit and play or look in the mirror all while sitting up. These new muscles have made it easier to experience some other new activities; playing in her exersaucer, sitting in the baby seat of the shopping carriage and riding in our baby backpack.

Sitting up and seeing more of the world has only made her want to get to more of it. She has rolled over once (with an illegal push-off during the flip!) but hasn’t quite gotten the hang of it. Soon though, she’ll be rolling all over the place. Then we’re in trouble!

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more exciting news from Wood Central!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from us and ours to you and yours!

ppp|Catherine|ppp

Catherine has had a pretty exciting first Halloween! We attended two costume parties, one at [Chuck and Hannah](http://www.paradrone.com/) and Penelope’s

ppp|Shrek and Jack-o-Catherine|ppp

and one at Bethany and Holly’s.

ppp|Catherine, Becky, and Bethany|ppp

ppp|Catherine and Beth's Hat|ppp

Both were pretty fun and we all had fun dressing up.

Extra Halloween note: I saw this cat outside our window today. Do you think he knew that it was Halloween? He looks nice and spooky sitting there on the fencepost!

ppp|Black Cat|ppp

EDIT: The rest of the Halloween photos are [here](http://prwdot.org/gallery2/v/events/2006/Halloween/)

P.S. If you haven’t read our travelogue from our fall trip, be sure to [check it out](http://prwdot.org/2006/10/30/have-a-nice-trip-see-you-next-fall/)!

Public Service Announcement

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the Salem News in Beverly you may want to stay away from this paperbox:

ppp|Snakes!|ppp

Don’t say that they didn’t give you fair warning!

ppp|Contents: Snakes|ppp

But if you are in the market for a new snake, the price seems pretty reasonable!

ppp|$0.05|ppp

Update: I should add that although these pictures are new, I spotted this on the newspaper box several years ago, before anyone had ever heard of Snakes on a Plane!

cystectomy

Today I had three ovarian cysts removed. Here are the highlights:

*I woke up from the anesthesia with “Lovely Rita, Meter Maid” running through my head. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve heard that song played! I wonder if my Doctor was listening to the Beatles during surgery. Click Galumbeck Plastic Surgery to find out more.

*The nurses kept telling me that I “did a great job” and that I “should be the poster child for laproscopic surgery”. I just insisted that it was the doctor that should be praised; all I did was lay there asleep!

*a note to Corey: the hospital tech that walked me down to our car was, by far, a much better wheelchair driver than you. No offense. 🙂

*My dad sent flowers addressed to “my three best girls” to me, Mom and Catherine. Awwww!

I’m home now and feeling just fine. The wonders of modern medicine!!

Some new photos

Due to some server issues, we’ve had a bit of a photo backlog here at World Wide Wood. I appologize to those of you who anxiously await new pics of Lady Catherine. Hopefully these will make up for the wait!

fff|ppp|

Happy Girl

|ppp|fff

Catherine received a Baby Einstein Exersaucer as a gift at my baby shower (thanks Gabi and Tom!). She’s still a bit small for it, but we thought it might be time to dig it out just in case. My parents and brother were up visiting last weekend and they gave us a hand setting it up. Catherine seems to like it just fine, but I’m sure she will LOVE it once her feet actually reach the floor 🙂 More pics here

The weather has been pretty nice around here lately; not too warm, not too cold. Just perfect for walking around town. Catherine and I have been spending some time each day outside. We’ve always been fans of Lynch Park, but we have to drive to get there. We have started frequenting another park a little closer to home, but just as nice. We walk there, hang out a while and walk home. It is the perfect package; a little exercise and a little relaxation!

fff|ppp|

Swing Time

|ppp|fff

Last Friday, in anticipation of her four month birthday, Catherine tried out the big kid swings. Well, the big kid’s baby swings, anyway. Her first attempt was exciting. She and I decided that we’d save the underducks for when she’s a bit older. Feel free to check out her Grover Monster impression here: NearFarNear. Her impression is so good that she feels the need to go incognition. I just love those rhinestone sun glasses! (thanks Jenn!)

fff|ppp|

Self Portrait

|ppp|fff

I have discovered a problem that I imagine most parents have. I see Catherine doing something incredibly cute, or looking incredibly sweet, and I try to capture that exact moment with the camera. It never works! I can never seem to get a picture that looks quite like I hope it will. That does’t stop me from trying, though. So, we end up with a ton of cute, but not cute pics of the baby. Here are a few I took at the park yesterday.

Needless to say, we’ve been having fun. We’d like to have fun with you too. Drop me a line and maybe we can play together! Catherine would love to see you 🙂

Tooting her horn

Do you know my friend Bethany? She’s a pretty cool gal. So cool, in fact, that she wrote the front page story of the Eagle Tribune today. It’s the one about the local Grocery store closing. She normally writes for a smaller subsidiary of the Tribune (Town Crossings), but had an opportunity to step up. Hooray for her! Go read her story!

fff|ppp|

Beth, Becky and Catherine

|ppp|fff

I have known Beth for nine years now! (wow!) She was a guest of mine in Shepherd 314 during my freshman year at Gordon. She and her sister Abby were up from Texas to visit Gordon as prospective students. Little did we know that 2 nights of watching Ilia Kulik would lead to years of friendship!

Here’s a funny story: When Beth came with us to visit Catherine at the hospital (see picture) she and Peter were sitting with the baby while I had stepped out of the nursery for a minute. While I was gone a doctor (whom I had only met once) stopped in to give us an update. He was talking to Peter and Beth and it wasn’t until he asked Beth how she was feeling that they realized that the doctor thought that Beth was me! I ran into him on my way back in and he said “oh, there you are!” I had no idea what he meant. Peter and Beth filled me in.

I can’t blame him, though. Check out the picture for yourself. We do look pretty similar!

Nice job on the article, Bethany! Keep up the good work!

W

Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willett

The reviews on the jacket of this novel promised a hilariously funny novel. I can honestly say that I didn’t find any part of it funny. I finished the book, but it was more out of principle than enjoyment.

I’m not sure what else to say. It probably wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but kind of a waste of time. I guess I shouldn’t judge a book by its title; this novel certainly won’t be winning the National Book Award any time soon.