Sledding at the Fitzy's

Or, as Callum would say, the 'Patrick's.' Yesterday, we headed over to visit with Brad, Sasha, Siena, Caden, and Mia. A great time with great friends, and we had a blast. Here are some of the things we did:
1. While the kids played trains, and Siena reclined on the couch with Maira, the grownups played THEEE world's longest cribbage game--after sixty thousand interruptions and queries from the little ones, Amanda and I managed to SMOKE Brad and Sasha. Oh wait. We lost.
2. We ate roughly thirty one pounds of popcorn Sasha made in their new, movie theater style popcorn maker....popcorn kernels mixed with oil, butter, and special seasoning= YUM. Sasha even sent Callum home with a "grab bag" that he's been picking at since he got home....
3. We had delicious corn chowder and homemade bread
4. We went sledding down the driveway, and Callum had so much fun....which is great, because we thought he would still be scared of going fast down a hill (he was last winter)
5. We danced, under the glow and resonance of a disco light--to some SP4D hits; Siena and Mia have a little "dance corner" in the basement, and we were all kind of grooving to some hits....

Here are some pictures of sledding:

Here's Mia and I, while Callum looks on sadly (haha) as we sled down the packed snow. Mia was really into sledding with me, and she and Callum took turns going with me.....

WOO HOO! We were going faster than it looks. We are pretty hardcore. You should know that. Also, what a beautiful spot the Fitzy's have to call home!
After Callum and Mia got bored with sledding, they followed the patterns of Brad and Caden (who were also outside with us), who were accosting each other with snowballs and such. Naturally, I became the "target of the toddlers," as Mia and Callum ganged up on me and starting pelting me with icy nuggets. My body feels fine, but my pride and self worth are still black and blue....
Callum, in his infinite eccentricism, would not sled unless he could go "backwards" and face me as we went down the hill. Weird. And fun!
And, lucky for me, I got to watch his smile the whole time we went down the slopes.....

Blizzard #1

And another visitor: Winslow alumnus and good friend Michelle came by--like she usually does on her breaks from school--to meet Ms Maira and say hello to Callum. So great to see her, as always. She is fortunate enough to go to college in Boston, where it is always so beautiful around Christmastime--it reminds me of one of Amanda and I's first dates, where we took a bus down to Boston in December, ice skated on Frog Pond, dined at Paglucia's in the North End, looked for the Enchanted Village that wasnt there, and just walked around the beautiful winter cityscape. Good days. Callum is SO into puzzles lately--he got several for Christmas. His favorites are the Charlie Brown Christmas puzzle Dave and Muriel got him, and the four-way (firetruck, bus, train, racecar) puzzle we got him for Christmas. Below, he and Michelle work on a firetruck puzzle. I'll brag: He is an extremely smart little boy and he understands the schematics and logistics of matching jigsaw pieces better than I ever have (or will). He gets that from his mommy.
I'll be objective: I have lived through many winters and cleaned up after many snowstorms. Never, in my memory, have I struggled with the shovelling more than with the blizzard we just got on Sunday/Monday. Shovelling the driveway and walkway was an absolute nightmare, and I am not going to try to be all masculine and say "it was fine." Because it was not. At all. People often wonder why we dont just get a snowblower. Perhaps its a romantic (or stupid) notion, but, while I can do it, I want to shovel. I dont need (or want) technology for everything in my life. There is nothing wrong with a little suffering and hard, miserable work once in a while. It keeps you honest. Someday, I'll be unfit to shovel, and then we will get a snowblower. Yesterday, Callum and I cleared the walkway, and the fire department came around, shovelling out hydrants. Callum was thrilled, and got an up-close look at the truck.....
And in the afternoon, we tried out our new snowshoes!! Look--its Nanook of the North! (this particular model of snowshoes are called "snowflakes"....hilarious!)
The snow drifts in our "backyard" were up to my shoulders....I couldnt even walk back there; but Callum, since he had his snowshoes (and an excessively low body weight) seemed to float on top of the snow.....in this photo, he said he was "climbing a mountain."
And here is one happy little boy, enjoying the Northern winter in style. Check out the snowbank behind him from the plow! We only spent about ten minutes outside, since the windchill was so severe. But tomorrow and Friday--when it is supposed to be warmer--we'll head to the woods on our shoes and sleds!!

Visitors and Appointments

More visitors for Maira over the holidays--she was born at a good time, right in the heart of the Christmas season--and people were out and about, making special trips to come meet her. Pastor Nielsen and his wife Deb came by soon after we got home from the hospital (Pastor Nielsen also came TO the hospital to pray with us while Amanda entered the insane segment of her labor. We'll be having Maira baptized soon. Pastor and Deb brought us a wonderful dinner of chili (which was awesome) and some salad.....

And the Fitzpatricks (minus Brad, who was sick) came by the next day so the kids could meet the little lady. Here is our Siena, their oldest, holding Maira....
and here is Callum's little friend Mia holding her, guided by Sasha. At one point, very shortly ago, the Callums and the Mias and the Emmys were the "babies" of the church; now, there is Maira, Lucy, Amy's baby (who will be born in February) and Betsey's baby (who will be born at the end of January). Our church continues to grow, and we are blessed with lots of new little people!
Maira's first doctor's appointment with the man everyone is my family loves to tease us about: Dr. Murray James. Maira had a GREAT first appointment--her birth weight was 8.12 and she left the hospital at 8.05...most babies, Dr. MJ said, take the first month to reach their birth weight again (and that is the norm, he explained). Maira is already weighing in at 8 pounds 14 ounces. A big girl. She will, very soon, start beating up her older brother....

Also, is Maira getting ready to flip off the camera?

I wish we had pictures from Nannie and Upbob's visit--it was fun! They came up on the day before Christmas Eve, took Callum to Governor's for shrimp and rice, and then came back to our house where we just had a good visit! Nannie got plenty of time holding Maira in the rocking chair by the wood stove, Upbob and I shared a glass of wine and toyed with the notion of possibly imbibing some Allyn's Coffee Brandy, and Callum got to open one of his favorite gifts of the entire holiday season: A Charlie Brown Christmas sound book where you read the story and press certain buttons that "mimic" the TV special. Actually, he has already worn out the batteries.

All in all a great Christmas season--waiting for our little girl during the season of Advent was so appropriate and beautiful. And we enjoyed our time with family. The only downside, for me, was the limited time I got to spend with my family down in Mass. We didnt travel at all this season, for obvious reasons. But we missed "Nana's Christmas Party" which is a yearly tradition in my family. It would be great to have my mom or dad up here one Christmas to see the kids in all their resplendent craziness and joy! Perhaps one day. My dad and sister are headed up in a week or so to meet Maira, so we will look forward to that!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 2010

LOTS of pictures and events have transpired since we left our camera at MeeMee and Grampy's house last week. We are glad to have it back! So I hope you enjoy this "photo-essay." This first picture I just LOVE because I think it truly captures the spirit of Callum.....

A few days before Christmas Eve, we were over Lynne and George's so a) I could run their beautiful wooded and hilly roads b) we could help decorate their house for Christmas c) because Grampy REALLLLLY needed Callum's help throwing out a slew of old apples into the back woods of Springpond so that the "reindeer" could eat them. Callum was a little upset...I think he thought he would be seeing deer that day...haha. (Editor's note: Please notice how Charlie Brown needed to come along.....)
In between this event at Springpond and the next few pictures, Nannie and Upbob came up for the day to meet Maira, see Callum, and give presents! Of course, we had no camera. But we did take lots of video instead. And Nannie took lots of pictures. But she doesnt read this blog I dont think....so I dont know if she will heed my request for her to send me some pictures!

Here is Uncle Jon holding little Maira.....
Christmas Eve dinner and festivities were held, once again, at the Goldsmith abode. Dinner was awesome! Amanda made Auntie KK's famous cheesy potatoes, and I made a special sauteed greenbean with bacon, shallots, almonds, and a Marsala reduction. Its all about the reduction. And, for the main event, as you can see on the left side of the stove, I barbecued/smoked a MellowGold from Joseph's; I used my special whiskey marmalade glaze, and it turned out perhaps the best it has turned out yet!
At the end of Christmas day at Lynne and George's, I was ZON.K.ED. Soooo tired. I actually fell asleep with Maira on my chest and Callum on my...well.....legs. I was just kind of waking up when Amanda took this. Two kids (with one of them a two week old) around Christmas is quite the mental workout
Our Christmas Eve table from left to right, starting with Amanda: Muriel, Dave (Muriel and Dave, as we have written before, are our good friends; they joined us for Christmas Eve), Callum Stuart, George, Floyd Landis, Kelsey, and Lynne. Maira was someplace. I have no idea where. Probably wherever poop was.
Staredown: YOU'RE IT! (or) "whacha talkin bout willis!?"
Christmas morning tradition: Amanda and Callum sit at the top of the stairs while I "check" to see if Santa came. While "checking," I also stoke the fire, put on coffee, and get a Christmas record spinning. (Editor's note: Callum was a little creeped out by the fact that a big red fat man came to his house while he slept....he was also a little creeped out thinking that, perhaps, Santa was still creeping around his house that morning. All of that went away, of course, as soon as we gave him the green light to start annihilating the wrapping paper covering his gifts....
If peeing your pants is cool, then consider me Miles Davis!

Santa brought Callum the sweetest trumpet EVER!!!!
And nothing like some post Christmas present sibling affection shown as the two kiddys napped in mommy and daddy's bed while Mommy and Daddy did shots of tequila downstairs in preparation for the busy day that lay ahead

Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming.....

Fear. When we think of Christmas it isnt something that really comes to mind, is it? Yet, as we have been doing our Advent devotions, listening to Christmas music, and meditating on the true meaning of Christmas, it is plain to see how the real Christmas--the first and most special Christmas--was one completely predicated on fear. Absolute, unabashed fear. Consider Mary, who was told by an angel that she would conceive a baby who would become the savior of all nations. How was she to explain this to her family and friends, who later would shun her? Consider Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary (back then, people were "married" as soon as they got engaged...but they could not have sex for a year), and later found out, when Mary returned from a three month visit with her cousin Elizabeth, that his wife to be was pregnant with someone other than his baby. How he must have felt--how he must have wrestled with what to do, how people would react, and what his future life would be like. Joseph often gets overlooked, in fact--even when he does take responsibility for the baby Jesus, he has to know in the back of his mind that this baby will not--nor will ever be--his own. As a father of two, I can only imagine the loneliness and unsureness this must have brought him.

Fear. We just dont think of it at Christmas time--we go out, we buy presents, we drink egg nog, and we eat ham. We dont usually fear things at Christmas; in fact, the holiday is more or less based on peace and joy and love and forgiveness. It is based on a 'returning' to the things that matter in life. Isnt it? A returning to family, a returning to love, a returning to unresolved issues that are later rectified: These are the precepts on which Hollywood Christmases are based. Which is why it is so appropriate, in fact, that the original Christmas, the one stoked in fear and unknowingness, is latently a story about returning. Joseph needed to take his wife and her unborn son back to Bethlehem, to the place of his own birth, to satisfy the census that Caesar wanted to take on his subjects. A journey of a hundred miles--from Nazereth to Bethlehem--made up the first Christmas journey to return home; a journey made by so many of us, either physically, mentally, or emotionally each and every year. To what do we return when the weather turns cold and the wind blows and the days become short and we find ourselves seeped in thought and meditation about where we are and what we have become and where we want to go? To whom do we want to return? Who has left us and who has abandoned us? We could never possibly fathom the abandonment and the fear and the unknowingness that Mary and Joseph must have felt--but we can come close.

For all too many people I know--and sometimes myself--Christmas is about that journey home to satisfy the needs of someone else. Joseph didnt want to travel one hundred miles to Bethlehem--who would? A pregnant wife? A feeble donkey? Thieves? It doesnt sound all that appealing, does it? But he did it. But that is the way of a journey home, no? There are the unresolved emotions and reactions and things left undone. But he had to do it, simply because the emperor wanted it. But, as the author Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "can we ever really go home again?"

And, for all too many people I know--and sometimes myself--Christmas is a time of fear; a holiday so rooted in joy and good tidings somehow innately brings out all of our own iniquities and shortcomings and lackings--we strive to make it good and we push to make it worthy and we dream of a time without fear or inadequacies or questions about our own motivations or wills. And this is sad. For so many reasons. Why is our first impulse fear? Even the shepherds, when seeing the star over Bethlehem that first Christmas, were "so afraid." So what are we to do? Perhaps we need to look toward the song--the beautiful song--"Lo How a Rose 'Ere Blooming"--and just enjoy the moments life brings and think of the rose--the beautiful, mysterious, and complicated rose, with all its own shortcomings, shrouded in thorns and sharp stems, and how, each spring, it finds the courage to bloom, in all its resplendent beauty, and awe the world. Just a little bit more than it had been awed before.

Maira's first vistors

So many of our friends and family have been fantastic throughout the first few days of our daughter's life....we have so much great food prepared, sent, and brought to us....and people are great about coming by to see us. It is funny: Everyone always is a bit apprehensive about going to visit friends with a new baby....they think they are bothering them, etc. But we WANT people here...it is fantastic to have people share in the celebration of a new life. So come on over!!!

Here are a few of Callum's first visitors at the hospital and at home....

The Fitzpatrick's came to the hospital bright and early on Monday morning to see Maira (and Callum, for whom they brought a 'big brother' present). Sasha was anxious to hold the little girl....

And then, while Callum and I were getting a drink in the kitchen, we ran into Erma, the midwife who was supposed to deliver the baby; midwives are not on call during the weekend, so we had to have Dr Glidden deliver (in theory...since she was at Starbucks or something and never showed up to the hospital....). We really love Erma, and she is so good to us. She was sad that she didnt get to deliver Maira, but she was at the hospital on Monday morning for another delivery, so she stopped by and had her picture taken with Maira and Callum
And then there was Amanda's friend from high school--Elizabeth--who came by....
And Mandy Pelotte came Monday after school (I work with Mandy). Her sons Liam and Griffin are Callum's buddies at daycare. We were at the hospital when Griffin and Liam were born, and now here she is, seeing our second in the hospital as well. Really neat.
Lori, Trevor, and Riley Loftus came by later that night. Lori, about whom I have written before, is my friend, running buddy, and co-class advisor.....
We were very blessed to have our good friend Brian--who lives in Virginia--in the Northeast region around the time when Maira was born. Originally up to celebrate a wedding with friends in CT, he then spent the night in Rochester, NH with Andrea and Michael Clauss-Veal. When he heard that our baby had arrived, he drove immediately 2+ hours up to Fairfield to visit, bring us a lasagna, and tease Lupine with a laser pointer that he ended up giving to us so that we could tease her as well. Brian, as some who read the blog will remember, is the one who has the great Adirondack island camp on Seventh Lake....
And on Tuesday, our friend Krista Carlson came by to deliver us some terrific baked ziti!
Our friends have brought us baked ziti, American chop suey, pork roll, lasagna, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, and more. It is great to not have to cook!

Things here at starting to settle down a bit; Maira is sleeping in (sometimes) 3 hour spurts. So that is fun. Let's hope this expands a bit soon.....

Our new life

Maira Elizabeth Goldsmith
Born: 12/12/10
5:03pm
8 pounds 11 ounces
21 inches long

It was Sunday morning when I was at church teaching Sunday School.....in the middle of talking about the birth of John the Baptist and how it corresponds to the birth of the Christ Child--in the book of Luke--I suddenly heard the phone in the church office ring. "Who calls a church on Sunday morning?" I asked myself. I just followed my intuition, went upstairs, called Amanda back, and sure enough it was what I thought: Her water had broken, and she was trying to get ahold of me....I sped home, and off to the hothible (Callumish for HOSPITAL) we went. Amanda's labor was difficult with Maira; it was a completely different experience than Callum. Her contractions were intense, but she still did the whole thing without ANY drugs. At all. But when Maira decided to come, she made her entrance QUICKLY! In fact, the doctor who was supposed to deliver her (midwifes are not on call on weekends) didnt make it to the hospital. Maira was delivered by the two nurses and the resident intern, Dr Wardwell. No matter though. She came out crying and screaming, just like she was supposed to. It was a cold day on Sunday morning, and the day led way to a warm air mass that brought, later that afternoon and night (and the next day or so) 2.78 inches of rain. It sucked. Why couldnt it be snow? It was for the rest of the country, it seemed. Throughout the intense portions of Amanda's contractions, the Patriots tore up on the Chicago Bears at Soldier's Field. I am writing this so I can remember this ten years down the road when I look at this blog and reminisce. I teased Amanda about not being able to watch the most classic football scenario ever: A Pats game. It December. At Soldier's field (only to be outdone at Lambeau). In a snowstorm. Where the Pats dominated. Maybe Maira needs a Bears doll or something.....

Literally SECONDS after Maira graced us with her presence....before any of the mucous or yucky birth crap (for lack of a beter word or phrase) was washed off, Amanda wanted to do the all important "skin to skin" time with Maira. This is supposed to be the first chance for mother and baby to bond.....this was also the first photo ever taken of Ms. Maira.
This is the only photo where I think Maira even remotely looks like CS....and it is because of the "goldsmith pout" where they uncovered her to start to clean her off......Maira looks like Maira, in my opinion. If I didnt see her come out, I would think they gave us the wrong baby. I think she looks like NO ONE. She looks like Maira....
On Monday morning, Callum and I had a "guy's breakfast" at the Flatlanda' (of course) and then went to Flo's Flower Cart to get mommy a nice arrangement. Callum picked out a flower for his sister, and he selected a purple rose, which he carried up through the hospital, marched into room 308, immediately dumped it in the bassinet, and said "this is for you my baby sister."Callum also brought Maira his favorite Nutcracker ornament (seen below) and threw that in the crib too....as a gift for her....
Callum and Maira. He loves having her on his lap. "She is warm, daddy."
George took this one of me. As you can see, I rushed from church and didnt even change. I dressed for the occasion.....

The Stockings were hung....

Well, we actually dont have the stockings up yet. In fact, I dont think we even have stockings. But all the rest of our decorations are up, and our house looks so festive. We decorated very early this year, since we thought our little girl would come early...but, alas, she is almost a week overdue. Typical woman. Huh?

Here is a shot of our "grand staircase" complete with the lights Amanda got from QVC this year...she intertwined them with the holly and berries she already had. And let's not forget my favorite things in the world: the antique German nutcrackers on the steps!!

And our beautiful tree, all decorated. The picture doesnt really do it justice, but I think this is the nicest shaped tree we have ever had; it is perfect for ornaments, and it fills our living room nicely. And of course there is Callum, on the couch, watching Rudolph for the 131st time. Today.
BaBa, as I have mentioned before, is quite the woodworker, and over the years we have accrued a steady supply of BaBawood products. Below are the MERRY CHRISTMAS blocks he made for us a few years ago. In front of those is Callum's "Russian Doll" of all the nativity characters. He loves putting these things together and taking them apart! And let's not forget the Menorah from Papa, that Callum thinks is a jazz music instrument. And, as I have also mentioned before, our manger scene is made from horse husbandry equipment; Amanda's old friend from college has a dad who has a "tack shop" where he makes saddles and horseshoes. The nativity characters are made from horseshoe tacks....
The "Classical Christmas Specials" DVD has become Callum's go-to "thing" this holiday seasons. We never thought anything could take the place of Charlie Brown....but Rudolph runs a close second....
And new this year on the Christmas scene in the Goldsmith house are the two "soldiers" we got from BaBawoodworks last year....he did not make the Santa....THAT is from QVC. Of course....haha
It is definitely strange being home while school is going on; I made Wednesday my last day in anticipation of the baby. But she doesnt seem to be in a rush to do anything! I dont blame her in a way; it is COLD out. Our stove is running overtime; it was 3 this morning. That is the coldest yet. BUT, I am still going to go run 5 miles now, so see ya......

Well, here we are

SteveeCee, Emma, and Callum trudge through BaBa's 'back 40' the day after Thanksgiving, going to play in some big piles of leaves.....One of the FUNNY FACES Callum makes

Face to face....a couple of Silver Spoons.....


Remember that show? But here we are waiting for the little girl to be born. She still does not have a name. I really think we will need to meet her first, to see her personality and to see her whole presence and what she looks like. Amanda's due date came and went yesterday, and, as expected, nothing happened. Some contractions, but they are few and far between. I am making tomorrow MY last day at school; I will take the next week and a half off, then go back a couple of days before vacation....

Everything is all set for the little girl. Now she just needs to get here!

Nothing else to report. Over and out......

sweaters and trees and such and such

Now that Amanda is due ANY MINUTE with our little girl, Callum and I often get up and do stuff in the morning on weekends--in order that Amanda can sleep in a little bit. We like to put on our cool Irish sweaters and go promenading around town, looking at girls.....

Callum is wearing a sweater his Grammy made him. If you blow this up you can see the firetruck "buttons" which Callum loves. My sweater has been around for a while--it is one of the Eddie Bauer sweaters I got the winter I was diagnosed with cancer. I remember that only because that was a REALLY cold winter (the winter of 96) and I used to joke with my doctors that the thing I was looking forward to the most was going home and wearing a big comfy and warm sweater....and NOT a hospital johnny.

Today, by the way, is in fact my 14th year anniversary of being in remission from lymphoma. So I thought it was appropriate that I wear this. So this sweater is 14 years old! Try keeping anything that long from LL Crap!!
Callum is changing and changing and changing every single day. We are having HUGE problems with him lately, as he DOES NOT want to stay in bed. We put him to bed, and he IMMEDIATELY gets up and comes to the foot of the stairs. He is silent because he knows he is doing something "bad." But when you finally see him, he tries to make us believe he has already slept for the night, and can thus watch another Charlie Brown. OR, he stalls unbelievably, and asks questions that have nothing to do with anything: "what is on your shirt daddy?" or "have you seen my white bunny rabbit daddy?" or "so what have you been doing today, mommy?"

On the other hand, however, he is continually creative and hilarious. His new routine, as seen at bottom, involved dragging his chair and my bongos into the kitchen, getting his two conducting "batons" from the kitchen drawer (white stirring spoons) and alternating between conducing the Nutcracker album playing on the iPod, or drumming along to the beat of Vince Guaraldi classics from Charlie Brown Christmas Album.....Also, he brings his dreidel along for good measure. Papa got him a singing dreidel. Oh, thanks Papa!
Yesterday afternoon we went to pick out and cut our Christmas tree. A great tradition and experience, but this is the last year we will do it this way we think. 30 dollars is the starting price for these trees now. We think that is a bit much. Instead, we'll plant some balsams or blue spruce trees over at Springpond (oh, by the way Lynne and George, can we do that?) and in six years we will have a steady supply. Until then, we'll hike out back of BaBa's and Grampy's house (our our new place if we move soon and have some woods) can cut a tree down.
Snoopy came along too! And why not? And I dont know if you can tell, but it was snowing lightly....
And here I am, cutting it down. Tonight we brought it into the house. It is in the stand. Tomorrow, for "Monday Funday," we will decorate it.
We are supposed to get a snowstorm tomorrow. Let's see what happens. All we ever seem to get in central Maine is rain. The fake Maine (york county) always seems to get slammed. That, and Rangeley. I hope we get TONS of snow this year