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Addison Rose and the family

Addison's Birth Announcement

"Everything about birth is firmly rooted in a holy union of science and faith, patience, love and best guesses."

Brianna has a new baby sister! Addison Rose Locks was born this morning Friday, October 12, at 6:36 a.m. She weighed 8.16 lbs at birth and measured 19 1/2 inches.

We very much appreciate all those who continue to support our family in various ways. You are all blessings to us, and we love you! Please feel free to drop by when you get a chance. We'd love to introduce you to Addison. She's got a lot of very special people to meet, and it may take her a few months to reconcile faces, names and reputations, so visit often!

Thanks for checking in!

We'll be wintering on Carnegie Drive!

Update on our housing situation: Chuck has given us a big break! He promised that he won't sell the house until spring. That is a welcome bit of grace, as who wants to move with a 3 week old into a house they don't really want in the first place. We're excited we will get to winter on Carnegie Drive with all our friends. Snowball wars outside at 2:00, everyone!

Due Date

Today is the day. That elusive due date the doctors give you by simply guessing the date of conception of your baby. This is the day that you look forward to sleeping on your back (when you get to sleep), not getting kicked from the inside out (which you will miss) and meeting that little baby that has grown inside you for 9+ months. This is the day. Or it’s supposed to be. Or maybe it isn’t. Yesterday wasn’t the day. Tomorrow may not be the day. Tomorrow may be the day. I guess today could be the day if "the day" is night. All we really know is that there will be a day. I hope that day is today or tonight, ok so I was hoping for yesterday.

Come out, baby, come out. We’re ready to meet you.

Language and its explicit and implicit messages

Exhibit A-the dreadful telephone call of 10-1-07 from our landlord
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Ring, ring---

Clint: Hello?

Chuck: Hi, Clint. This is Chuck, your landlord.

Clint: Oh, hi! I haven’t heard from you in a while. How was your trip out east?

Chuck: Well, Clint, I’m going to be selling the house I’m renting you. I just wanted to let you know (that you and your family are soon going to be out on the street or paying some exorbitant amount for a cramped, older, falling-part place in a bad neighborhood with a new baby and a two year-old).

Clint: (Whooah! Did he say..?) You…what?

(silence on both ends of the line)

Chuck: I wanted to thank you for being such a wonderful tenant. If everyone was like you, I’d probably still keep the houses I’m renting.

Clint: Oh well, that’s nice of you to say (but how does that help me today, buddy?! You wanna see NOT nice?! I can show you NOT nice, too.) I really appreciate you, as well. You’ve always been prompt to return our calls and you fix anything that’s broken within a few days. (How about fixing THIS and just giving us your freakin' house, Chuck? Huh!? How ‘bout THAT?)

Chuck: Don't worry--I’ll give you 30 days notice once I talk to my realtor.

Clint: 30 days? (How generous is THAT?!) Chuck, that’s not much time (to pack up our entire existence and drive away from the million things we love about this house, this neighborhood and this area). We’re going to need at least 3 months to be able to find a place and move out. What can you do for us? (Help a brutha out, here!!!)

Chuck: I’ll talk to the realtor, Clint. I’ll do what I can. I just wanted to let you know. (Now leave me alone. I’ve done my good deed today. “Into every life…”).

Clint: OK. Well, thanks for being straightforward with us about it. I’m sure it’s in your best interest (diametrically opposed to OURS, of course!) I wonder--would you be open to a rent-to-own scenario? I think we could both win here.

Chuck: No, no. I don’t think so, I just need to get these houses of mine out from underneath me. That’s all. Have a good day. (Of my numerous headaches, you are my favorite).

---Click---

Into every life, a little rain…At least I’ve got a job. No house, apparently, but a job.

Bri turns 2

On the 3rd Brianna will be 2 years old. We had a fun little party last weekend to celebrate. Here are some Bri shots. Enjoy!

(This picture is from the park the other day)