Rowan meets more family and the Flower arises!

Here is the latest growth from the bulb over the weekend. Today it was almost taller than the leaves.But this Grammy was too tired to actually take a new picture and post the photo!
Rowan is growing and now surrounded by 2 sisters and 2 girl cousins!
The Reluctant Sister, Elayna, known as "Ooh! he smells!"

The Joyful sister, Eden, who could not wait to sing him Happy Birthday just like in her class!

The Eager Cousin Ellie, known as "Will I get to Hold him?!??!"

The Oldest Cousin, Lizzie. To me she looked bored because he was sound asleep. Her Mom said not to let her fool me!

The community of Jeff's friends are pitching in with meals and more meals. Too bad he doesn't have a larger freezer!
Rowan wore his new outfit for 2 whole hours before he managed to pee on it. He is a King at those bodily movements!!
He nurses about every 3 hours, just like his Dad. I put one of Jeff's baby photos right next to Rowan's. One lady at church said it was spooky because they look so much alike.
Can't wait for Bob's Dad, the new Great Gramps to meet him!

Daddy Went to Work

It was hard for Jeff, the new Daddy, to go back to work today. He was leaving the drama of baby discovering the world, Mommy coping with the after effects of surgery, twins off to Montessori School. Oh the wonders that unfold moment by moment in the life of a newborn son! This Grammy was there briefly yesterday and Rowan was awake!


Eyes bright, and peeing all over every outfit they chose for him to wear before seeing the Doctor. The plan was to go purchase more "onesies" after the appointment. Here he is all bundled up and ready to go, sans car seat cover, etc.

His appointment went just fine. He is in the 75th percentile for size... imagine! His crocheted hat and matching booties were both too small. I've made 2 more hats. Back to work on some booties. Actually, they would have fit without socks on too.

Tomorrow he meets his cousins, Lizzie and Ellie. That ought to be a blast. No telling what Ellie will say. When she saw his video clips on facebook she said, "I think I could hold him sitting down!" Better let her have her turn last. She will probably not share well with infant holding, but she comes by that honestly. Her Grammy does not share well with infant holding either! When his sister Elayna met him, her first comment was "He smells!" She only held him briefly.


Eden thinks he is wonderful!


We went to see "Social Network." Great movie but what a sad lonely man. Hope he is surrounded now by people he can trust. Hope he has learned to interact one on one better, too! The facebook and blogger experience are fun, but Rowan's birth drives home how good it is to BE THERE. May his family always be present for his growth and adventures! My heart goes out to all families separated by distance.

The Baby, The Bulb, and the Grammys

Rowan has been born and is at home now.

The bulb continues to grow.


My new friend Grandma Sue and I have fun laughing at Rowan's expressions. When he was born every time he would cry all I could do was laugh!

It has been a hectic week or so. Hopefully I can catch up soon with some things I want to share.
Rejoice with us over the birth of a healthy BIG baby boy. I just love those rolls on his arms and shoulders, don't you? The family is settling in and actually got some sleep his first night home. They did 9 loads of wash today and look forward to the meals that arrive at their door!
Jeff goes back to work tomorrow night. Thank goodness Grandma Sue is staying for a while!!

Amaryliis and Anticipation

This year I asked for an Amaryllis bulb as mine had no produced a flower after a couple of years. I had meant to take photos as it grew, but failed to do until this morning. The flower is bud is about 3 inches long today and I knew it was time to start the photo progression as it goes fairly fast from here!
The bulb comes in a plastic bag, with no signs of life. It gets planted in special "soil." And then you water it and wait. Jeff and Jen bought me a lovely one! As you can see, the planter is shiny silver.
While Bob has been away I have been thinking and praying about one topic for the 4 Gardening Retreats at the Convent this spring/summer/fall. The topic for April is Surrender to God/ Yielding. The most used topic for this in the natural order is autumn and the changing, then falling of the leaves as the trees go dormant. The Lord has been speaking to me about the tremendous surrender and yielding required from the trees and plants by the change from winter to spring. And then, WHAM! He drew me to His heart and spoke to me about what I have not surrendered lately. Beth Moore was featured on one webcast speaking about paralysis and what has you stuck in your life. I knew I was having difficulty getting the material for the retreat pulled together because there was something I had not yielded to His will and His ways. I began to yield my heart to Him and the material was flowing great this morning!
Never before have I enjoyed winter as much as this year. The anticipation of getting snow bound and NOT going anywhere has been a huge draw for me. Yet, simultaneously, we are awaiting the birth of our first Grandson and I am sleeping with 2 phones ringers turned on at the bedside table. Talk about dashing out!
As the amaryllis grows out of the bulb, drawn by the warm sunshine, I know that my heart must thaw in the areas where I have been stuck and yield to what is next for me in the Lord's plan.
May all of your January days be a yielding and growing and full of anticipation as His Spirit leads and grows you into the flower He had in mind when you were born.
And yeah, I'm sure the blog will soon sport photos of the first Dutina Great-Grandson!!

Winter walking

Bob returns today from his visit to California! I am certain one of the things he will want to do when he gets home is take a walk on his favorite trail at Harsha Lake, Eastfork Park Lake. We have walked there at every season. Recently we took a winter walk and here is a small harvest of photos. I think of winter as shades of white, gray, and browns. Imagine my surprise when the fallen bright blue berries drew my attention! (I think if you click on the berry photo you can view it enlarged.)The tree looked like a cedar to me, but had to have been a juniper of sorts, don't you think? Of course, even on this trail we found the ubiquitous single glove. Enjoy your winter season!




Bubbles on the stream.

Ice on the trail.


Some of Jack Frost's works of art!

Mystery in the Sky

Monday, December 27th as I drove away from home to run errands I saw an unusual flock of birds moving across the sky. Instead of the "V" formation these birds made a shape with one in front, three on one side of the "V" and about thirteen on the other side! They looked too large to be geese! At the first stop light I could see them aloft and kept asking, "What are they? What ARE they?!" I remembered the Sandhill Crane migration I saw part of in New Mexico. These looked large enough for that kind of bird, closer in size to Great Blue Herons than geese. Then again perhaps they were Snow Geese as their under belly appeared white. As I was going west down the hill on the highway, they crossed over the road. I decided to make the exit with them. They went before me and turned over the river. As quickly as I could turn around hope arose in me that just maybe they would land on the river! I followed the road trying to keep them in view without crashing the car. They flew down river and then they turned left and out of sight.
As I turned around once again I felt disappointment of a mystery missed. I was amused when I realized as a child I had these adventures on foot. Here I am a 60 year old chasing birds with a 2005 Corolla! I briefly considered asking a Naturalist at Cincinnati Nature Center if they had spotted an unusual large flock with a cockeyed formation. By the time I hit our suburban shopping area I let the wonder go with breath prayers of praise to our Lord. He did not have to let me see those birds!! And yet He blessed me.
The next day as I let the day unfold after plans were scuttled, I sat by the window at Starbucks with my hot tea. Suddenly, Canada Geese began rising off the hidden lake next door. I studied them trying to decide if I was perhaps mistaken about the mystery birds. Maybe yesterday's flock were merely Canada Geese. I'm not convinced. Even closeup they do not look as large or as white of belly. The mystery remains a few moments of glory for me.
When was the last time you experienced mystery? Perhaps remembering the wonder of your childhood will help spark an occasion for mystery in 2011? Last week my oldest Grandgirl looked out at the bird feeders on our deck and declared, "Grammy, do you know there are STILL birds out there?" I am certain it was a moment of wonder for her as there was snow on the ground and it was quite cold. Look around and be amazed today.