Rachel Writes

Micah and I have spent the day packing and I'm happy to announce that we're over half way done. Wow. We're actually doing it! Tonight is a Christmas Eve service and then tomorrow it's lunch with the immediate family (minus the Baker 3). Saturday night is Sojo's birthday party. The rest of the days between now and January 6 th are packing days. Hip hip hooray! Then off to the Philippines to teach and live and grow in the sunshine. I'm especially sad for Sojo to leave both sets of grandparents behind, but I know that she'll get to know them. We'll just have to be creative.

Making Snow Angels with Mumbles

Last night to sleep as a guest. Tomorrow we will be traveling back to Greencastle for 2 weeks of rest. I don't have the equipment to upload pictures yet, but I am eager to let you see more of Sojo. She's growing so much. It's really snowing in the Boston area. I wonder how this will affect our morning travel plans. My throat is feeling a little bit scratchy today. Ick. No complaints, tho, because I've made it so long without a cold of any sort. It's been great to spend the past few days with Melissa and Paul. They are so generous letting us eat yummy chicken and pasta and watch Iron Man with them. Have to go rescue a crying baby now.

If I do not wake up before Sojourner, I can kiss my shower and prep time goodbye until noon. This is not any fault of hers, it's me. I cannot seem to think straight enough to handle getting Sojo ready for the day and myself. It's one or the other. When she's ready to nap, I can have some peace and think about the day. She is toddling everywhere. It's so very cute. We play with blocks, monkeys , puzzles, and random objects. The top to a thermos is one of her favorite toys. Sojo eats about 5 mini meals a day. She enjoys most foods. I'm trying my hand at being her nutritionist . I hope she's getting all that she needs. If we go to a store, it's best to go in the morning. That's her best time of day. We end our day with a bath and a story. I hope that she gets to interact with more kids her age when we get to the Philippines. I think that will be fun for her and other kids.

I like the colors of fall, but that's about it today. It's too cold. I'm uncomfortable outside. What a whimp ! Sojo does not understand that we are back to Standard Time. She was up at 5:30. Hurray! This means that she needed a nap earlier and I have a chance to do fun things-- blog, knit, look up self waxing recipes. North Carolina was wonderful. I especially liked spending time with Neil and Hayley and carving pumpkins on Halloween night. We found a dinosaur costume at a second hand store for Sojo . So cute! The tag actually said dragon, but it definitely seemed more like a dino . I got it because of the noises she makes. I knew she needed to be a dinosaur, a monster, or a cat. (Combine these sounds and you will hear the sweet melodies of Sojourner.) Any ideas for fun things to do with my one year old during the day? Let me know! Off to surf the web! SMILES.

Wrapped up my substitute teaching application today. It was nice to finally have all that paperwork turned in. I may get to sub for 3 or 4 weeks before returning to the Philippines. I'm still excited for a chance to work in the school system a bit. Sojo points a lot and makes lots of noises. She's fun. She shares food, even a bite she has already started to chew. What a sweetie. Micah and I are thrilled to be visiting his sister Hayley this week and then to attend a friend's wedding on Saturday. To top it all off, I finally get to see Daniel at Virgina Tech. Hurray sunshine! Hurray travel.

Same Old: *Cold weather makes me want to hibernate. *Sojourner is so huggable. *I spend a lot of time writing letters, which I love. *Our parents have been so incredibly helpful. We can't thank them enough. New: *Micah and I are returning to the Philippines in January. Hurray! *I have sold most of my winter clothes. Guess I have to shop... or freeze. *My sister had a baby- September 16th, Ryder Alan. Micah's sister had a baby--few days ago, Duncan.

It's always nice to spend time with Micah's parents and this time around we get to visit with Grandmom , too. She's staying with the Stevensons . Mumbles (that's what we call Micah's mom) keeps the sewing projects and crafts coming my way. It's nice to have manageable projects with concrete, almost immediate results. Sojo is such a big girl. The first word is coming soon. I can sense it. And I estimate that we are only a few weeks from walking. (I say 'we' but mean Sojo .) We spend our evenings playing games which is a favorite of Micah's. I hear my baby laughing and have to go see the fun.

I just had a great lunch with a friend-- feeling recharged. Sojo is dozing in the swing with the fan sweeping cool air around her. I have time to do a few emails before heading back to the apartment to organize. In one month we move to the Philippines. We have one month to finish many important tasks. Will the family work as a team to accomplish this goal? That is the question of the hour.

It's the end of the Philadelphia and daycare era of my life. Tomorrow Micah, Sojo , and I ship off to Greencastle , our home base for the next month. Home base and launch pad (We're off to Boston, Eire, and Philadelphia before our departure for the Philippines.) I'm tired, but can't sleep yet. I feel that this day is very important, but I cannot quite state what is so important in words, yet. I'll have to sleep on it. My students, my kids, were very much themselves today: cute, rambunctious , funny, noisy, and willful. We had a great week together. I cried, really cried, only once today. When I had to say goodbye to my darling Reva. I better sleep. Goodnight, blog world.

I spent 18 years in one town. Then there was college. Then the Philippines. And now I'm married to Micah, so who knows how often I'll move. We leave Philadelphia on Saturday and spend the next month saying goodbyes before heading back to the Philippines. It's been an eventful year. Most notable: having baby Sojourner. I'm sad to say goodbyes to the preschoolers that are the focus of 8 hours of my everydays , but I sure am looking forward to some relaxation and some good social time. I've felt socially deprived this year. Like I've been forced on a social diet and now am angular and gaunt . I need lots of good chatting and lots more chatting to help me plump back up. If there's one thing I've realized about myself this year it's that I need personal contact at least once a week. Watch out friends in Greencastle and the Philippines. I've got a lot of chatting to catch up on.