New Home!

We're closed on our new home!  Pictures and video to come soon!  In the meantime, please be praying that our home will  become a place full of visitors and life.

Sarah the Instigator

Would this sweet child ever pick a fight? According to the story I was told when I picked Sarah up from nursery last Sunday, she sure would. It seems that Sarah was quite awake and sharing a nursery worker's lap with another child. Using her newfound dexterity, Sarah was feeling with curiosity the other child's arm. This child was not a fan of being explored and proceeded to give Sarah a bite on the hand. Lesson learned? Probably so. The worker said she knew something was wrong when Sarah let out a sudden cry, which this experienced mother knew to be a cry of pain. With a small red spot as evidence, the story quickly unfolded. By the time I picked her up the spot was almost gone and there wasn't a tear in site. Only a tired girl who loves being doted on in the nursery!

Let it snow!

Sunday night I drove a few girls to our senior girls discipleship group Christmas party. On the way over we encountered a little precipitation. On the way home it was definitely snowing. The girls were looking forward to a snow day (which I understand they did NOT get) and I was looking forward to our first New England snow.

Monday morning we woke up to what we considered a winter wonderland. The snow was about 3 inches deep and covering everything! What we didn't know was that by the end of the day we would have about 8 inches of snow (or even more!). Eventually the plows came through and we took a little drive to see the sites. As expected, the Cape is beautiful when snow covered.

This morning (Tuesday) the snow is still here and has even blown against the porch to a couple of feet high. Sidewalks are now plowed (I saw my first snow blower in action) and some snow is melting. It continues to be overcast, but the current temp is 34 degrees. More snow or rain is expected over the next couple of days. This could be our first white Christmas!

Happy 5 months!

Today, we are excited to celebrate 5 months with Sarah! What a blessing she has been. Here are some of the highlights of the last month.

Weight: our home estimate gave her 20 lbs, though I doubt it is really that much
Height: long! Onesies not snapping are the first sign an outfit is too small, even if her sleeves cover her hands!
Head: ?
Diaper: Size 3- the past couple of nights she has mysteriously leaked on her clothes without getting the diaper wet...
Clothes: 6 month full time and 9 month are most comfortable for the torso
Likes: playing with her fingers, picking with her fingers, standing in the bouncer, smiling!, motorboat (buzzing her lips)

Dislikes: I can't think of any right now! She has grown out of most of last months.

Schedule: We are currently thriving on about a 4 hour schedule. Sarah is sleeping, eating, and pooping well. She is very flexible within this routine, which means that we have the opportunity to get much accomplished.

7:30 Wake, nurse, and cereal

9:00-11:30 Nap

11:30 Wake, nurse, and cereal

1:00 Nap

3:30 Wake, nurse, and cereal

5:00 Nap (only 30-45 and not always)

7:00 Nurse, then down for the night

10:00 Last feeding and back to bed

Hair: This month Sarah's hair fell out, with the exception of a few tufts right on the back of her neck. Every day it seems like more has grown back. It is coming in much fuller and very brown. We are excited to use our bows again!

Rolling: Sarah still only rolls to her right, from back to front. She definitely considers it an old trick and is now just as content to play on her back as her stomach. Standing up is probably her favorite way to play though, and she has big fun playing in the jumper.

Solids: We started feeding Sarah cereal a couple of weeks ago (12/1) when she was exhibiting what we read were classic signs of readiness. Namely, she showed great interest in what we were eating at meal time, opened her mouth, and holds her head up well. At each meal she nurses, eats 1T of rice cereal mixed with 3T pumped milk, then nurses again. "They" say that until 6 months the main source of nutrition still comes from nursing, but it is time to learn to eat from a spoon. Sarah is doing very well with this. We are working hard at not only getting the food in, but doing it in a disciplined and routine fashion.

Next appointment: Sarah has a routine check-up and shots on January 19 at the pediatrician. She also has (hopefully) her final check-up with the pediatric cardiologist in Plymouth with Boston Children's Hospital on January 20.

enjoying some lap time

eating our first bit of cereal

sometimes we have a tummy sleeper!

Life update

Is anyone as shocked that we are within 10 days of Christmas as we are? While we have been celebrating the advent of Christ, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas just seems extra short. Just want to update folks on some exciting things happening for the Cooks in the next few weeks.

1. We hope (prayers appreciated) to be closing on a house next Thursday, December 23. This home would definitely be an answered prayer, as it happened faster than we expected and is far more for our money than we expected.

2. Shortly after Christmas we will be visiting the Cook side of the family in Florida. Thaw out the orange groves before we come, because while we love this MA fall, we are looking forward to some warm weather! This will be a special time for Sarah to meet some of her family for the first time.

3. Howell family (my dad, mom, and little baby brother) are coming north for a visit mid-January. We are excited to have them for some oohing and ahing over how Sarah has grown and a time of exploring the Cape. Do we wish for snow or no snow?!

Our Little Rapper

My name is Sarah Cook

I'm a little girl well loved

my parents like to hug on me

and squeeze me like a glove

I love to eat my cereal

it keeps me full all day

then I take good naps

and don't cry the night away

Pink is my favorite color

'cause I'm a little girl

so bathe me down, dress me up

and take me for a whirl!

(Mom can't figure out how to turn off the underline!)

Date Day

Not long after we arrived in Osterville, Dave received a flier at work advertising a production of Handel's Messiah at Symphony Hall (home of the Boston Pops) in Boston. Knowing that I love a good show and with interest in learning about Messiah, Dave purchased a couple of tickets. That's right, just two! This was an adults only date. He proposed to the idea to some friends on the worship team who he knew would be interested, and one sweet woman said it sounded great, but what if she kept Sarah while we attended? Of course, we gratefully accepted this gracious invitation. Tickets, check! Babysitter, check!

So the night before the date Dave was confirming our schedule, route, and parking arrangements and discovered what became a playful counterpart to our sophisticated outing. The Boston Pops were kicking off their winter season with a carol sing. Not just any carol sing. This was a world record attempting, continuous carol sing. We needed to join with 7,200 other carolers for approximately 15 minutes of singing to beat a record set at Bob Jones University in 2004. So Dave called our babysitter and rearranged our plans so that we could carol. And carol we did! Though a mere 3,200 people showed up, we had a great time singing with the masses.

After singing and before the matinee show time, we enjoyed lunch at Legal Seafood. (Mom, I kept calling it Barely Legal- remember the charter fishing boat?!) It was delicious! Dave enjoyed a nice crab cake and I had the fried seafood platter. Mmmm!

We then headed to the show and were astounded by Symphony Hall. It is beautiful! The production consisted of a chorus, four soloists, and an orchestra of predominately strings. Messiah is wholly taken from King James Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer sung through recitations and arias. It is divided into three parts with the popular Hallelujah chorus concluding Part 2. It is divided as follows:

Part 1: Prophecy and Birth

Part 2: Life, Death, and Resurrection

Part 3: Redemption and Judgement

It was a very moving and powerful work. What a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season!

Happy 4 months!

One week ago we celebrated Sarah's 4 month mark. Here are some of the highlights after 1/3 of the year:

Weight: 16lbs 5ozs (95%)
Height: 25 in (90%)
Head: 17 in (95%)
Diaper: Size 3 (as of 11/11)
Clothes: Size 6 month clothes fit the best. She can wear up to 12 months, while the three month clothes are getting snug.
Likes: playing with her toes, baths, diaper changes, mirrors, smiling, rolling, being upright

Dislikes: being on her tummy too long (though this is improving since she began rolling over), being startled, having her diaper put on after a bath

Schedule: We have been doing well with this 3.5 hour schedule and are testing out 4 hours between feedings. Since daylight savings she has been waking up before 8:00, but usually falls back to sleep until we get her for the first feeding.

8:00 Nurse

9:30-10:00 Nap

11:30 Nurse

12:45-1:00 Nap

3:00 Nurse

4:30-5:00 Nap

6:30 Nurse

8:00 Down for the night

10:00 Last feeding and back to bed

Newest trick: ROLLING! At 3:40 on November 16, Sarah rolled over for the first time. She rolled to the right from her back to her tummy and has been perfecting that move since. Hopefully she will learn to roll the other direction soon. :) The couple of days leading up to the event she had been flipping on her side, but couldn't get her head, hips, and shoulders to budge. She now likes to flip over halfway through her nap and sleep on her tummy, though we still encourage sleeping on her back. I think one day she will be the type of baby who likes to sleep with her tush in the air! 

The result of her very first roll!

Sarah LOVES sitting up (with help).

Bashful?

Nope! I just love making my parents nervous by putting my blanket over my face.

Naked baby!!

Sarah gazing at her first bit of snow.

Soooo...we are "under contract" for this house :)

eec

Singing Lessons

We're starting Sarah early on her singing lessons.

Heritage Museums and Gardens

As we take time to explore the Cape, we want to keep a record of where we've been and what we've found. This can also serve as a sort of review for those who might visit and want to plan an itinerary.

While the Cooks were in town last month, our sweet friend Catherine gave us complementary tickets to the Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, MA. It is about 25 minutes from our home in Osterville. We went on a gorgeous morning and spent a couple of hours exploring the site. While there, we saw antique cars, a windmill, an art museum, and many gardens, including a garden maze (we made it out!). It was a perfect relaxing morning after the hustle and bustle of moving. I would recommend a trip in the spring when the flowers are blooming!

-EEC

Tummy Time!

Sarah is becoming quite proficient at tummy time.  She's almost ready to roll over!

Men's Leadership Retreat

Emily and Sarah spent two nights without Dad for the first time, while I headed up to New Hampshire for the weekend.  The leaders of OBC had a great time studying the Scriptures, hiking, kayaking, watching football, eating, and meeting.  Here are a few pictures I was able to take in between activities.

-DC

Sarah Update

Some random things going on in Sarah's life at three months, two weeks, and four days.

She...

1. ... is finally starting to lose hair, primarily on the left side of her head. It is pretty funny looking and I am worried that if the pattern continues to the rest of her head we may have to go bow-less for a while. No indication of a possible change in hair color.

2. ... likes to lift her bottom when on her back. So far she enjoys playing with her knees, but has yet to find her feet.

3. ... has started gently grabbing things. What she used to just eye and maybe bat at, she is now holding onto and...

4. ... puts everything into her mouth! I can't wait to see what all will go into her mouth when she is crawling. Even her thumb occasionally makes it in.

5. ... doesn't roll over yet, but seems very close to sitting up. Her favorite is for someone to hold her hips so that she can be in a sitting or standing position. She is lifting her head and upper body really well during tummy time.

6. ... makes the sweetest noises. Over the past couple of weeks she has really found her singing voice and loves to coo. It is so fun to listen to/interact with. She has declared that her favorite Old Testament king is King "Agur".

7. ... is living the scheduled life. Sarah currently eats at 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, and 10. She sleeps a little between every feeding, going right back to sleep after her 10:00 meal. We are considering moving her to a 3.5 hour schedule since she is a "healthy" girl and generally has to be woken up in order to eat.

8. ... thoroughly enjoys bath time. Since Mom and Dad have learned how to dry her off without setting her down, bath time is big fun.

9. ... smiles like it's her job. And she is good at her job! It doesn't matter who is smiling at her or even if she is crying, she can't help but smile back.

10. ... makes the cutest faces when we go outside. I think she really likes the wind and the cool air!

eec

I love napping in my front carrier.

Ok, Mom, I'll be cute for the new iPhone.

Where's my thumb? Found it!

Bundled up and ready to walk!

First Anniversary Celebration

On Sunday, October 10, 2010, we celebrated our first (Lord willing of many) anniversary. The joys of the evening were three fold:

1. We enjoyed a walk down the boardwalk to Boardwalk Beach in Sandwich. The setting sun made a beautiful backdrop for our stroll. Dave couldn't resist taking quite a few pictures.

2. We had dinner at the Belfry Inn & Bistro. It was wonderfully delicious and fancy. During diner we reminisced over our first year of marriage chronologically. It was a fun challenge and interesting to see how different details of the year stood out to each of us. 

3. BABYSITTER! We had a blast going out by ourselves and are so thankful for a church family that is constantly offering to watch Sarah for us.

It has been an exciting first year with highlights being a baby, a new job, and a move. We are starting year two by buying a house- they say go big or go home! We are definitely going big and looking forward with joy to all that lies ahead. 

eec

Pumpkin Fun

What's October without pumpkin carving?

Dad Carved the church steeple into his

Mom carved our family Name

Daddy's Office

All of Daddy's office equipment has arrived at the church, which means he's finally been able to set up his office!  I remember the days when Daddy's office used to be my bedroom, and I could watch him work while I pretended to sleep.  But now he has his very own office, and I can't wait to show it to you!

We made it to Osterville!

Dave and I are glad to be settled into our new home as we celebrate three weeks on the Cape. Lots has happened in these three weeks, but I would like to begin by taking you back to Kentucky as we prepared for the big move.

We were excited to witness the wedding of Rebecca and Andrew Lucius. Andrew and I (Emily) graduated from Southern Miss together and Rebecca was the nurse who assured us that a positive pregnancy test meant we were indeed pregnant. Needless to say, these are two people who mean a lot to us. The ceremony was beautiful and truly a testimony of how the Lord has worked in their lives and will continue to sanctify them through their marriage. This was Sarah's second wedding and she did fabulously (aka, she slept through the ceremony and smiled through the reception)!

The next morning we celebrated the Lord's day one last time with our church family at Eagle Heights. Afterwards we were treated to a fantastic feast where there were as many desserts as savory items. It was a sweet time of fellowship. Then we hit the road and headed south for Sarah to meet her MS family. With only two feeding/changing stops, we made it to Hattiesburg without being on the road too much longer than normal. While in Hattiesburg we enjoyed sleeping in and talking late. Sarah met her great-grandmothers Ma and Grandma, along with many aunts, uncle, and friends. It was a sweet time and we look forward to seeing everyone again when we head south for the Katye Artmann wedding in May!

Reenergized by the mini-vacation we headed to Tennessee for the marriage of Phil and Laura Metcalf. Dave led worship for this wedding, so we enjoyed the rehearsal and a delicious dinner before setting in for a nice long sleep. After a warm rehearsal and with threats of rain, we were pleased to find a clear, cool afternoon for the wedding and reception. Everything was beautiful and Dave did a wonderful job. He decided he liked wearing a boutonniere.  :)

We then set our sights toward home and took on the challenge of navigating back roads without the GPS rather than sticking to the interstates. It was a successful bonding experience that got us home just before midnight and in record time. My parents arrived about the same time and we settled in for the first of many short nights. The next morning we worshipped with Highview Valley Station, one of Dave's former stomping grounds and home of Jon Akin, who performed our wedding ceremony. He was kind enough to pray for us at the end of the service and send us with blessings on our way. The rest of the day we furiously packed and cleaned- and finished with time to spare!

That evening we had dinner with friends (thanks Joel and Seth!) and then geared up for packing the truck the next morning. The Cooks arrived just as Dave drove up with the truck- let the madness begin! Amazingly, within just an hour or two everything from the apartment was arranged in the truck. Many hands make for good work! We appreciate all the hands and hard work that made loading the truck so easy. The next morning Dave took his ladies to the airport for an early flight and he and his parents hit the road not much later. We arrived in Providence and made it to the Cape just after lunch. The rest of the Cooks joined us around dinner time the next day.

We made it to Osterville! Thursday morning a few strong men unloaded the truck while Catherine (the sweet woman in whose condo we are staying), Vicky, and I unpacked boxes. By mid-afternoon everything was out of the box and within a few days in its rightful place. Since that time, Dave has started work and we are slowly getting to know our new home. The Lord has brought us to a beautiful place filled with kind people. We are blessed to have a church home and fellowship and look forward to more fully getting to know Osterville, our new home.

* Since Dave is now working 8-5, I am the chief family blogger. I apologize in advance for a comparative lack of creatively and interest- Dave is just good at blogging!

Farewell to Morton's

Thursday Emily and I had the chance to visit Morton's one last time- and take advantage of our last complimentary dinner.  We found that watching my now former co-workers do what they do best was the best possible way to say farewell.  

For nearly five years I waited tables at their Louisville restaurant, learning much from a company that is particular about everything.  At Morton's everything has to be done just so, and it has to be done very well- a standard that anyone would benefit from being held to for five years.  As a result, they saw local business rise during a recession, filling some of the gap left by sharply declining convention business.  They are the number one diner-rated special occasion restaurant in Louisville, and it's because of the good work they let me be a part of.  

God used Morton's to allow me to work for a rural church for three years, one that couldn't have otherwise afforded me a livable salary.  He used Morton's to allow me to graduate seminary and start our marriage with savings instead of debt- something almost no one in seminary gets to do.  Through it I was allowed to bring the Good News of Jesus to so many lost co-workers, bear a testimony of wise work to all who watched us, and find good jobs for many other seminary students.  They are just a company, run by lost executives, but they work hard and they work well.  And God uses that.  

But He didn't just use them to provide for me- he taught me through them.  I work better at everything I do because they have raised my standard of meticulousness.  I better understand the feast awaiting believers, provided by God himself, because I've gone in five times and eaten Morton's feast on their dime.  Why can I learn such important life lessons from a non-Christian company?  Because it is run by humans who are made in the image of God.  When they run things well, they image Christ- who is at the same time the ultimate human and the very God they are rebelling against- and they don't even know it.  

Now we sit with our bellies still full from last week's feast and our thoughts filled with memories, but then all we could do was enjoy ourselves.  It wasn't a time for bittersweet tears.  Now, however, that time is here.  I will miss these people dearly.  Oh, how I want them to hear and perceive the truths God has made plain to us.  How I wish God would use the Christians who are still among them, many of whom I introduced to the company, to bring the Gospel to them.  He is full of grace, and I have watched Him work there in the past.  May He continue to.  

But now we move on, and we say farewell.  Thank you for five good years, Morton's.  May all of you taste of the better feast.  

Osterville Q&A: Dave's Job & The Move

What Exactly Is Dave's Job?

The official title is "Associate Pastor for Worship and Arts."  One way of describing it would be to take a traditional Music Minister and move the style of music he coordinates toward a modern sound.  Then add everything your pastor does, but subtract regular preaching.  Another way is to add together a part-time Worship Leader and a part-time Associate Pastor. Yet another way is to take your Pastor, subtract from him the responsibility to preach every week, and replace that with leading the music each week. 

Another way is to forget the math and just tell you what I'll actually be doing.  They want me to have the main job of leading their Sunday Morning singing, but they want me to be a pastor about it.  This is one of the reasons I was drawn to this church, because that is exactly how I look at leading the singing.  So I'm called to lead them in singing, coordinate the musicians who accompany it, and shepherd the worship service the same way a pastor makes sure his sermon feeds the flock.  I'll make sure they're singing truth, that it's appropriate to the time in which they're singing it, and that it's being done as well as it can be done.

When you look at leading worship like this, and then consider that worship is only true when it is done all week, is becomes apparent that the person leading it needs to have both the authority of a pastor when leading and the responsibilities of a pastor throughout the week.  Is he qualified to lead you in worship on Sunday morning if he can't give you wise council in the Hospital?  We don't believe so, and thus throughout the week I'll act more like an Associate Pastor than a Music Minister. 

When and How Are you Moving?

Tonight, September 15th, is my last night at Morton's.  OBC voted and offered me the position on the 1st.  So today, two weeks later, I leave Morton's.  Tomorrow we're going in one last time for my annual free dinner for two, and that may be the very last time I go into the building.

Our apartment is close to being all packed up, and we will use the next three days finishing that work.  Then Saturday we will attend our 2nd wedding this month.  Sunday will be my last week leading Eagle Heights Baptist Church, and after a farewell lunch we will drive down to Hattiesburg.  Then, next Friday, we plan to drive up to Liberty, TN for a rehearsal dinner and our third wedding this month before heading back home.

The next Monday, the 27th, we plan to load up the Penske and my parents plan to fly up.  Early Tuesday we'll drop Emily and Sarah off at the airport and point the cars up toward Massachusetts.  We'll tow the Camry behind the Penske.  Then Emily and Sarah will spend the night in the Condo that is waiting for us in Osterville, while my parents and I will stay in a hotel somewhere on the road.  Late Wednesday we hope to arrive, kiss the girls hello, and go to sleep.  Then we plan to unload everything into the Condo, a Storage room another church member has provided us, and the Church office on Thursday.  Then my parents plan to stay a few days before they fly back to Florida. I don't start at the church until that next Monday, and my first Sunday leading them will be Anniversary! 

We hope this satisfies a little more curiosity.  There's more to come, of course.  In the meantime, here's a picture of Sarah taking her bath!

Osterville Q&A: How Was The Trip?

This will be a series of posts answering the most common questions we get regarding the move to Osterville, MA.  This one answers the question, "how was the trip?" 

The trip was great in every way.  Sarah did very well on all the flights, which was of great relief to Emily.  Once we arrived, we had dinner with the search committee and settled into the condo that would be our home for the week.  The head of the search committee owns a second condo above hers, and we enjoyed staying there and playing on their Wii Fit. 

Wednesday morning we had breakfast with the staff and got to know them a little better.  Then Nick, the pastor of the church, took us on a tour of the area and dropped us off at the condo to rest.  The evening was spent having dinner with the Deacons and then an interview with Dave and the Deacons while Emily and some of the ladies of the church took off and had a good time. 

Thursday we spent the day looking at houses with our buyer broker and then had dinner with Nick.  Then Dave went and led the rehearsal for the worship team while Emily rested and cared for Sarah.  Thursday was the first night Sarah started sleeping for longer stretches, so we woke up energized.  One of us (Dave) actually got a full night of sleep for the first time since she had been born!  (Emily is still waiting on hers.)  Thus, we were finally recovered from the plane ride and able to be ourselves for the rest of the trip.

Friday Dave met with the head of the Trustees and then we had a lunch with the Deaconesses.  It was very encouraging to see a church in which women serve and nurture the body so effectively.  Then we left there for more house hunting, before being taken to dinner by the head of the search committee and her husband. 

Saturday we had a cookout at the home of the Pollards, a loving and very encouraging family.  Around 50 people attended, and for the first time we met more people than we could remember names for.  That night Dave did a Q&A for the whole congregation, at which Emily shared her conversion story and a short version of her life story.

Sunday morning Dave led the Morning Worship and then had a debrief lunch with Emily and the search committee.  That evening was the Baptism service- one of our favorite traditions of Osterville.  We all went down to the beach, played, ate, sang songs together, and then Baptized the two newest converts of the church.  Dave led the singing and gave a brief time of teaching on Baptism.  Then we slept, got up, and rode back to the airport for the flight home.  There was nothing left to do but wait for the vote, which came on Wednesday and was a success.

That's the long version.  The short version is that we had a great time and can tell we are going to like living in Osterville.  It felt a lot like cooler St Augustine, with the tourism, beaches, and history.  At the same time, the wooded areas and local roads made it feel much like Hattiesburg.  Below is a picture of the Beach Night.

Soon we'll be answering questions about the church, what life will be like there, and our vacation plans.