Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas ... although we are in a bit of a sleep-deprived fog these days so it could have been an awful Christmas and we just didn't notice. Although, seriously, we had a nice holiday and were happy that we were able to celebrate with Nana and Padre Thompson, Brian and Bridgette and their kiddos.

The day after Christmas, Patrick and Carrie stopped by for a quick visit and dropped off some food for us, which was awesome. This week, Joshua does not have to work so we plan on sitting around house and going for long walks. Yeah holidays!

Two weeks old

Our sweet Alma is two weeks old today.

This past week has been exciting with Joshua heading back to work (sure, this was supposed to be the week he worked from home, but in a relationship-focused occupation, he ended up in Camden most days), wrapping up last-minute preparations for Christmas since half of our gifts needed to be mailed cross-country, and the largest snowstorm since 1993 with 24 inches falling in Philadelphia.

Alma has been enjoying our daily walks with the dog. She isn't fond of the bundling process but then she immediately falls asleep as soon as we head out the door and sleeps soundly the entire trip.Yesterday since the snow was too deep to use the stroller, Joshua wrapped her in his jacket as we went to the grocery store for more baking supplies. It was fun to be out and see everyone shoveling. At our last doctor's visit, we learned that Alma is up to 8lbs 11 oz. This is up from her birth weight of 8 lbs 1 oz. Based on how hardily she eats, we are guessing that she is going to continue to grow quickly. They also told us that she is almost 19 inches, which surprised me because when she was born we were told that she was 21 inches. Ends up the hospital mis-measured and she was really 18 inches when born. Ha! Evidently, this happens often.

To make a birth announcement, Alma and I did our first photo shoot in her beautiful Christmas outfit, which was a gift from Alma's Nana Thompson. Not wanting to spoil the winning photo, here is one of the out-takes. She seems to enjoy saluting in photos, which I find endlessly humorous. She did the same thing in the hospital photos.

Here is a short video of our household that we took today. Enjoy!

World, Please Meet Our Daughter, Alma

To celebrate her first week of life, here's her story from the beginning ...

Since we had an ultrasound appointment on Monday morning (December 7) to have some tests done [since I was one week "overdue" with my pregnancy and there was a chance that we would be induced], we wanted to decorate the house and get all the last minute items together over the weekend. On Saturday we went to Lowe's to get a Christmas tree and all the trimmings with our wonderful neighbors Randy and Erin. Sunday was spent decorating, going to a prenatal yoga class and attending Mass. By Sunday night we felt we were finally ready to go into labor ... and so we did!Monday morning at 4:40 a.m. I was sitting up in bed reading when my water broke. (I woke up at 4 am most nights of my pregnancy, usually for a bowl of cereal.) As requested, we waited until 6:30 a.m. to call the doctor so that we wouldn't wake him up. He told us to come into the hospital right away. Here I am in the evaluation room right before switching to hospital clothing. I wanted one last photo of being pregnant.We were able to have an awesome birthing experience. My body was well-prepped for the day -- all that prenatal yoga paid off! -- so I didn't need any pain medication and labor progressed naturally and quickly throughout the day. The only intervention the doctor decided to do was re-breaking my water since my natural water break was higher in my belly and not effective enough. I only had 25 minutes of pushing at the end of the day, which I hear is quick for a first child. I feel so blessed by how (relatively) easy the process was for me.

We were also blessed to have the same nurse for the entire delivery. Debbie was such an angel/ peaceful spirit/great cheerleader. I'm bummed that we didn't get a photo of her. Honestly, I don't think that I would have been able to have a completely natural birth without her encouragement.

But more than anyone else, Joshua was my pain medication. He stayed so calm and was extremely attentive. With his constant positive attitude and soothing massages, I felt comfortable enough to do the things which eased my contractions, like singing and swaying to stay loose. I don't think that nurses have seen many women sing as much as I did. It felt natural for me to use music as a way of relaxing.Alma was born at 6:24 p.m., weighing in at 8 lbs 1 oz, 21.5 inches. She had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck twice but that was quickly resolved.When the doctors and nurses were completing the paperwork, they stamped Joshua's white tee-shirt with her feet. How cute is that?! After Joshua and I visited with her for an hour, we invited my parent's back to the delivery room to meet her. It was fun to have them there and see them glow over their newest grandchild. We had to part from her for a few hours so the medical staff could evaluate her and my parents had to leave because it was the end of visiting hours. Joshua and I went to our recovery room and were so geared up that you might have thought that we just won the Super Bowl. We ate some dinner and recapped the events of the day. It was nice to have that time with just the two of us. Our hospital stay was great. Joshua was allowed to stay overnight in the room with me and we didn't have the share the room with any other patients. It was nice to have those two night to get used to parenthood in a little cocoon of care.

The following day, Brian and Bridgette came to visit. It was wonderful to see their excitement and feel their support.On Wednesday evening, we left the hospital. My parents stayed with us for two nights and provided invaluable help -- cooking, cleaning and shopping for us so that we could simply concentrate on taking care of Alma. The only problem with having both my father and Joshua in the same house is that they are too funny. I feel like my healing was delayed from all the laughing. Sounds corny, but it is true!

Then Kate and Neal came from Pittsburgh to cook us meals, show us a few pointers for taking care of the baby (Kate is a pediatrician -- lucky us!), and share photos from their recent trip to SE Asia. It is always good to see them, even when sleep-deprived.

The pets are handling the new addition well. Shanti the cat is keeping her distance. Simon the dog is also keeping his distance ... with a little prodding from us.

Overall, the transition to life with a baby has been super. Sure we aren't sleeping much, but we didn't expect to. Alma is very sweet and too cute to comprehend. Here are some photos from today. Since I needed some fresh air, Joshua and I took the dog and the babe to a local park. It felt so good to be outside and walk around a bit.

And, since this was a hot topic prior to her arrival: No, she doesn't seem to have red hair. It is a beautiful shiny blond color. Although, it is difficult to tell at this stage what color it will be when she grows up.

We will be sure to post more photos soon!

CCOP in The Economist

Camden's crisis

Ungovernable?
Nov 26th 2009 | CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From The Economist print edition

The state may have failed the city it took over

ROSA RAMIREZ is an active member of Camden Churches Organised for People (CCOP), a large and powerful civic group in Camden, New Jersey. She complains that rubbish is not collected. She worries about drug dealers hanging out on street corners and in the city’s many abandoned buildings. But when her daughter, who lives in the suburbs, begs her to leave, Ms Ramirez replies, “How can I leave? Camden needs me.” It does. Not enough people care about this city of 79,000 people that lies in the shadow of Philadelphia.

Hopes rose seven years ago, when the state took over the post-industrial city. The inept municipal government was struggling to provide even the most basic service. Poor management and lack of resources meant possibly waiting hours for police to respond to calls. Corruption was rampant: three former mayors ended up in jail. Camden was given $175m in bonds and loans and in return the state was given municipal authority over the city. The governor appointed a chief operating officer who could veto decisions made by the mayor and the city council. The state also took over the abysmal school district and, in 2005, the police department. Much of the money went to big urban development projects. The waterfront, with its fantastic views of the Philadelphia skyline, was given particular attention. Hospitals and universities in the area received money to expand and more than $1 billion was leveraged in private investments.

But the city’s districts, many blighted with abandoned buildings, did not get much cash. In the Cramer Hill district Brother Jerry Hudson of the St Anthony of Padua church talks about the run-down place next door to the parish school. Although the city had boarded it up, vandals routinely broke in. It became a den for drugs and prostitution. Though many such buildings have been demolished, Brother Jerry reckons there are just as many now as there were in 2002.

Camden had the highest crime rate in the country in 2008, according to CQ Press, with 2,333 violent crimes for every 100,000 people. The national average is 455. Camden spends $17,000 per child on education, yet only two thirds complete school. Two out of five people live below the poverty line. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently summed up a series on Camden by saying that “residents are just as poor today and just as likely to be murdered. They are just as unemployed…And the city is twice as reliant on state taxpayers as before.”

Little wonder then, that Chris Christie, the governor-elect of New Jersey, has called the state takeover a “failed experiment”. He hopes to return control to the city, perhaps even before the takeover expires in 2012. But not everyone feels the city is ready. One former chief operating officer predicted it would stay under state control until 2030. As there is no tax base to support city services, Camden would still have to depend on the state for funding. But New Jersey is struggling to balance its own books, and it is not alone: less state support can be expected all over the country, just when cities most need help. The National League of Cities has found that 88% of city finance officers are less able to meet fiscal needs this year.

But there is some good news. Crime is down 13% this year so far. Murders have fallen by 38%, while shootings are down 18%. Big construction projects at Rutgers University and Cooper University Hospital are under way. Tom Corcoran, the former head of the Cooper Ferry Development Association, thinks that if the city can lower crime and improve schools, it can turn around. He thinks the waterfront is key: the city has 15 miles of it, though only 10% is accessible to the public.

Ms Ramirez is typical. She thinks the state is doing a bad job, but she also worries that the city will fall apart without it. “It’s in Christie’s hands,” she says. “If he can figure it out, he would be a hero.”

40 Week Update

Still happily pregnant ... although we are starting to feel that labor could begin soon. Exciting stuff!

Thanksgiving morning photo:

Photo from this morning:

Keep us in your prayers as we start the process of meeting our little SweetPea!

---

In other news, we had a great Thanksgiving with my parents, Brian, Bridgette and their little ones. It was so nice to have everyone over to our house for a big meal. Thanksgiving is easily the best holiday of the year.

Three Mile Island... it might be a sign!

Three Mile Island had another radiation leak yesterday! Hooray, because that means that I will have the baby in a few days!

What We Do While We Wait

We have been enjoying the last weeks of pregnancy with lots of fun projects.

Last weekend, Dad came out to visit. And, in typical Dad fashion, he completed a metric ton of projects around the house that have been haunting us. Mainly, he fixed all of the electrical outlets and light switches that we tried to enhance. For example, we have been living without a light in the kitchen -- beyond the little one over the stove top -- for over a year now. Having a real light in the kitchen is pretty amazing. Possibly even life changing.

Here he is installing numbers on the front of the house with Joshua.
As a break from all of the work on the house, Dad and I headed over to the Independent Seaport Museum, where I worked for a short time, for an afternoon of gawking at boats. It's always so much fun to hang out with my father. To celebrate Brian and Bridgette's newest babe, I recently made this quilt. Honestly, I'm a bit of a hack when it comes to quilting, so I was really pleased with this one. It may be the best one yet and it was really fun to make knowing that my first niece will get to enjoy it.

Since some prominent literature suggests that black and white designs are good for a baby's development, I also made a quilt for our little TBD.

Today, Joshua is making two poviticas, one for Thanksgiving and the other to celebrate the coming of the baby. And, because using power tools is always more fun when pregnant, I'm replacing all of the kitchen cabinet doors. We had to replace the kitchen cabinet doors because the Ikea laminate on them was falling off.
The back story: When we first moved into this house, Shanti the cat accidentally (or at least that is what she tells us) turned on the kitchen faucet when we were both at work. Since there were dishes in the sink, the sink filled with water and then the water started to fill up the entire kitchen (and basement). The water seeped into the cabinets and caused them to split. Now, two years later, the cabinet doors were really starting to split apart even more. Good thing Ikea still makes this design.
Before:
After (with Shanti looking away in shame) ... also notice the dishwasher that we recently got as a graduation present from my parents:
And since no pregnancy is complete without lots of "showing off the belly" shots, here you go. This was taken two weeks ago. My belly seems even bigger now. Having a pregnant belly is awesome and I'm already sure that I will miss it.

Pregnancy Update from Joshua

This morning Laura and I had the opportunity to go to the doctor again as well as check out the birthing floor at the hospital. Laura continues to move along in the labor process, showing more signs that everything is progressing well and that her "practice" contractions are productive.

We are taking each day at a time but feeling like it could still be a couple of weeks before the little one arrives.

The hospital seems like it will be great. During the walking tour on the birthing floor, they showed us the delivery room, the post-op room, the postpartem room, and the sign-in room.

Now there is one area that I'm strongly concerned about, they did not show us the landing strip where the storks arrive. I held back from asking the nurse who was giving the tour because I did not want to come off looking stupid and all the other couples seemed calm like they already knew where the birds land. Call me old fashioned but I hope they have not turned the stork landing process into a factory model. Remember the days when the stork would arrive at your home window and the new parents would have the chance to sit down with the stork for tea and cookies. Man, if they just show up with the baby and we don't get any stork time I will be pissed, mark my words!

Adam and Jen's Wedding

Adam and Jen's Halloween wedding was such a great event. Quite possibly one of the most enjoyable weddings I have ever attended and easily one of the greatest Halloween parties I've attended.

Jen was beautiful and Adam was all smiles at the ceremony in the little Lutheran Church in Lutherville, Maryland. Once the ceremony started, we were told not to take photos, so I didn't get to capture all of the magic.
After the ceremony, we went back to the hotel where the reception was being held to change into our costumes. Patrick, Carrie, Megan, Adam, Joshua and I dressed as the running of the bulls. I decided to be the bull, since I figured that I was the slowest in the group -- you know, being eight months pregnant and all. We made a grand entrance into the cocktail hour by having a grand chase. Then, later in the evening, we had another chase in which Patrick threw Joshua into the path of the bull (me), I gored him and then (pretend) stomped on him while he was laying on the dance floor. The crowd seemed to like our antics.

I got lot of comments on my speed as the bull. I have to admit that it was nice to have an excuse to run. I've been feeling very fit these days. My pregnant belly feels more like awesomely tight ab muscles more than the burdensome bump that many pregnant women describe. And with this cooler weather, I often feel like going for a run more than I feel like pigging out on food. Thank goodness I have prenatal yoga class four days a week so I can expend some energy. Revelers at the party had great costumes; like this group who dressed as a bouquet of flowers. Cute!

Happy Halloween!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Lupus Loop

The Lupus Loop was great fun! It is always so nice to see my cousin Christine, her husband Doug, daughter Paige, son Quinn and my Uncle John. What a great family and what a great way to honor my Aunt Kathleen who passed away from complications caused by lupus ten years ago.

I always remember this story my father used to tell me about Aunt Kathleen, his oldest sister (she was the third born of nine children): When she was married and had her own place with my Uncle John, she used to open the fridge and just look at the food. Since they grew up in a household where opening the fridge was not allowed and no one was ever allowed to eat food without permission, Aunt Kathleen enjoyed being married and marveled at the fact that the food in the fridge was all available to her. Ha! I love that story because it is so sweet.

The walk was so nice -- great weather -- and Joshua enjoyed the quick 5k run. You can still donate here.

Happy Birthday, Joshua!

I love Joshua to bits. Not only is he:

• the most handsome man in existence;

• the person who can both keep me laughing consistently but also make me laugh so hard that it often aches;

• my best friend and confidant,

... but he also prioritizes us and our relationship before everything else. It is so reassuring to know that I'm part of a life-long commitment to someone who is so already so exceedingly wonderful but who also strives every day to be a better man, better husband and better human. Who could ask for more?

Joshua is very intentional about making sure that I'm well taken care of and that I know that I am actively loved and adored. While I try to return this adoration on a daily basis, I love celebrating his birthday since it can be a day fully devoted to him!

Here are some recent birthday celebrations:
Sailing in Seattle, 2005

Chewbacca Playing Football Cake, Philadelphia, 2006

Awesome Mustache, Philadelphia, 2007

Being Tough, South Philadelphia, 2008

With the delicious Whole Foods Carrot Cake, Philadelphia, 2009

This year, he spent this birthday helping a neighbor pack up their moving truck, going to a 3-hour pregnancy yoga class and then waking up early the next morning to do a charity run. Not that he didn't enjoy all of these things, but it is this selflessness that seems to run through everything Joshua does. He is amazing.

Simon update

We haven't written about Simon recently, so I thought I would post a recent photo I took of him at "his park" (a.k.a. the local high school where we play fetch with him every day) and an update email to his foster mom, Heather. While he isn't perfect (just visit our home to see how excited/crazy he gets for visitors), we like him a lot and I'm very grateful for his companionship and love.

---

Heather,
It has been about a year since we welcomed Simon into our home and I wanted to thank you again for encouraging us to adopt him. He has been such a great dog for our family -- he loves being outside as much as we do, he is a big ball of affection (especially for Joshua, with whom he is a little obsessed) and he even loves our cat a much as we do. While this past year has had its challenges with his desire to bark at everyone who passes by our house, dog training classes helped us all to find a way to communicate and his barking has subsided greatly.

We took Simon and Shanti (the cat) to the vet last week and the vet was excited by how healthy they both are for living in a small rowhome in South Philly. We have been blessed with Simon's ability to play in parks off-leash so we spend over an hour every evening playing fetch with him. He is quite the runner and is always getting comments on how fast he is. Most weekends we go for a longer hike along the Wissahickon Creek in Fairmount Park. Simon used to just wade in the water, but this summer he finally got the hang of the doggy-paddle and now it is all he wants to do! We have also been taking him camping. He is still getting the hang of sleeping in a tent -- it is hard to get him settled when there are so many noises in the woods -- but he is slowly learning.

Overall, we could not be happier with having Simon as part of our family. Thanks for helping us find him! Below are links to some videos of Simon and I've attached a few photos, too. Enjoy.

Hope you are well!
Laura and Joshua Chisholm

This past winter when we went snowshoeing with Simon

A month ago when Simon decided that swimming is the greatest thing ever

Some photos:

---

Heather's reply:

Hi Laura -

Wow, what a great treat to hear from you guys! I've thought of Simon often and I can't believe it's been a year already. I will always think of him flying through the backyard with those ears just flopping. He will always be one of my favorite fosters ever!

I'm so glad to hear how happy all of you are as a family! I knew in my heart that you were exactly right for Simon and he knew it too! The pictures are wonderful (I LOVE the hat!!) and the videos really made us smile. Simon deserved a family that would encourage his vitality and incredible sense of wonder and joy and I will be forever grateful that he found just that!

We took a break from foster dogs to help a kitty in serious need - Pumpkin was almost euthanized at a "pound" in Montgomery. I pulled him and got him a cage at PetSmart to be adopted but he developed a serious upper respitatory virus that ended up in his eye, which he almost lost. Most vets would have just taken the eye but Del Val decided to do surgery and, with lots of prayer, TLC and medication, he has recovered and is ready for adoption! The problem is that after all that he went though I'm not willing to put him back in a cage at PetSmart. Getting kitties adopted is tough and especially from a foster home but I'm holding out for the best! I'm hoping he will be as lucky as Simon and find the perfect family!

Please, please give Simon a hug and kiss from us! You have no idea how happy you made me with this E-mail!!!!

Many Thanks,
Heather