Sensory Snapshots

#1 and #2

2011-11-12T16:18:00.001-06:00

#1 - During a recent trip made by the Matlack family, Aunt Gracia taught Elijah to say "Aw, Man!" So here we are displaying our skills. Also, notice that anything Daddy does/says is awesome and will be imitated by this little monkey!

#2 - Daniel took some pretty talented photos and I made some special shirts several weeks ago to help us announce some special news to friends and family.

So if you haven't seen the Facebook album yet. FYI. I am 10-weeks pregnant and our little #2 is due on June 5th of next year!

#1 is going to be a great big brother!

No Reason...

2011-09-02T15:49:00.002-05:00

Mostly I just wanted to reflect a bit on how I should be living such a thankful life. What a struggle that is at times! Especially when you have your own plans and they don't necessarily match up with God's perfect plans! But seriously, what could be better than what He has given me already!

My sweet, sweet boy who is turning into a Curious George!

Celebrating our 3rd Anniversary this weekend on the Spirit of Chicago

Wonderful friends to watch our baby for his first sleepover!

Dear friends who can be happy AND sad with you

Skype and far-away friends

Hummus!

A spouse who totally gets it
A new trash can that keeps babies out :P
Leggings
The sun - even if it's too hot to go to the park

Not necessarily my most exciting post ever...but I needed my own reminder of how great I've got it.
Life's Good!

Pathetic.

2011-08-12T09:42:00.001-05:00

Far from the title of this post. I believe the actual video is adorable. I wanted to post to show you his excellent walking and dancing skills. Yeah. He's a real groover.

But what is pathetic is...

a) how messy this snapshot makes our house look. Whoops!

b) the reason I recorded this video. I thought if I could get a cute pudgy baby to dance to my favorite song by my favorite artist that maybe I could get free tickets to his concert. Uh...maybe exploitation? But still. If Mat Kearney decides to check out this video maybe he'd give me a couple tickets? Who knows...

P.S. The only time he dances is at 9seconds. Told ya. He's a real beat boy. :P

Uh Oh...

2011-08-01T13:27:00.000-05:00

My little guy is getting so big! 1-year-old and we'll be hitting 13 months soon! So crazy to me that only one year ago I was crying wondering if I was ever going to sleep again. Obviously, that's not a big deal anymore. Phew. :P

So, at the risk of being too serious, I have to tell you that I almost cried again when I realized that Elijah's "nanana's" really did mean "NO Mom!" Crazy, right? And so a new stage in our lives has begun. And this one freaks me out far more than knowing that I will only be able to sleep in 1.5 hour increments for the next 3 months.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Prov. 22:6

That is our responsibility! Yikes! Heavy stuff. And on my heart a lot lately as it seems that "nanana" has turned into our favorite phrase. Prayers and words of wisdom are appreciated! Seriously, way intimidated by the next 20ish years of parenting right now.

Birthday Balloon - UPDATED!!

2011-07-10T20:06:00.001-05:00

On July 11 (the day after this episode...), Elijah spoke his first real word! Which just happened to be "Balloon". Pronounced something like "Buh-Luh". Proud Mama!

For Elijah's 1st Birthday we threw him a party, he received books and toys, he played with friends, and he had his first bites of cake. But he was at his happiest while Mommy and Daddy cleaned up, playing by himself, with his birthday balloon (not even the big one).

We edited down the video for maximum baby giggles (he was doing this for a looong time).

Proud Mama

2011-06-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

I've been noticing lately that Elijah's word-recognition is growing dramatically! I decided to show that off by making him do tricks for you...

Playing Hooky - Vroom

2011-06-12T12:22:00.002-05:00

So this is Daniel...not Rachel. Elijah and I are playing hooky from church this morning. Elijah is doing fine now, he should get an Oscar for his performance this morning, so we played a little. Here are some before and after shots. VROOM VROOM!

the day before 102F fever....

Sunday morning we had no fever but Elijah acted sick and was really worked up....until after mommy left for church...

and after that .....

and that will entertain us for a while (not sure why the video is so blurry sorry!)

Queen For The Day

2011-06-11T13:36:00.000-05:00

Most have seen the bestbest part of my birthday already! If not...check out my previous post. :) But my birthday was so great. I just had to share!

First! All ready to go! With one happy baby!

Second, no picture of lunch (Flat Top Grill) but it was across the street from Harpo. So Elijah and I had to take a photo at the brand new Honorary Oprah Winfrey Way...

Next, my birthday gift! My very first Mani/Pedi - in my whole life! Seriously. I was the queen yesterday.

After a wonderful shopping experience in Oak Park, Daniel dragged me out to Ben & Jerry's! My favorite ice cream spot.

Later that night, after giving our little guy a bath, Daniel made me one of my favorite TexMex dishes.

Then, I got to partake in something I didn't get to do last year! A glass of wine! Yay! While I watched a new (to me) movie - "Where the Heart Is". Was anyone else sobbing at the end when this came out (like 10 years ago...)? I was!

Best Birthday Gift EVAH!!

2011-06-10T17:47:00.002-05:00

So Elijah has increased his walking abilities today! He's so close to joining the walking community. ;) He turned 11 months today (I turned 276 months old...or 23 years...). Best gift!

I am chronicling this birthday - because it's AWEsome! I will post my birthday photo journal tonight! Just couldn't wait to share this though!

Little Mr. Personality

2011-06-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

Elijah is 11 months old this Friday! (His mama's birthday :)

And boy, is he one little bundle of silliness.

Examples:

Daniel and Elijah playing Eli's "leaning game" during Daniel's birthday BBQ Kabob dinner. Why? Who knows. Elijah likes to do it.

Always Mr. Independent. Once Elijah learned that he could walk along only holding one adult hand, he refused to hold two. He's so proud and excited.

Elijah loves books. As soon as he wakes up from nap he heads straight to the book corner and spreads them out. Taking turns flipping happily through each one.

Our little gender stereotype. He is so stoic! Rarely will he smile, talk or giggle with others. Only when he thinks it's appropriate. Such a boy. :P

An observer. When in a new environment, he just studies everything intently with his blue eyes and long lashes. Beautiful!

And now I can really tell you that he says his first "word". Which is "mama". :) Technically "Mama" could mean anything that he wants me to do for him. But still, only when directed at me. So maybe a little early. But he knows it gets me to do stuff for him! So it counts...right?

Enough with my proud mama bragging. Sorry! So excited to have a 1-year-old soon! Can't believe my tiny guy is so beautiful and such a blessing to us! LoveLoveLove him!

Speed Racer

2011-05-20T15:33:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to say hi and post a video of my tiny guy. He is so fast! Imagine how far he can get as soon as I turn my back! Scary...

FYI: This is not the original video. But the original was too long, so this will have to do. Seriously though. He is so stinkin' fast.

LoveLoveLove!

2011-04-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

(Old Photo: But of something that we love! Our neighborhood!)

It's been so fun this week (the first "nice weather" week) to get out in the neighborhood again. Everyone is loving being out in their yards, at the park, and walking with dogs/strollers. Plus it's Spring Break here, so children rule the sidewalks and swings.

Elijah loves the swings, the wind, trees, dogs, and smiling at people. And I love chatting with business owners/shop workers, neighbors, other moms, and taking long walks. So Spring is basically the best thing that has happened to us.

Pray for our interactions as we meet/reacquaint ourselves with our neighbors! Also pray that we would have opportunities to open our home to others!

A Day in the Life.

2011-04-09T09:11:00.000-05:00

Here are Some Photos from a Typicalish day at our Home:

It was time for some laundry (and coffee...) at the Matlack house.

Elijah spent some time playing and in his explorations he found a toy bin! Jackpot!

The best time of day is the time when Daddy gets home!

Mommy gets to go shopping at her favorite place (Pilsen Vintage and Thrift) with a good friend Becki!

Showing off (most) of my purchases all at once. *yes, like a little girl*

Blog Review!

2011-04-07T16:52:00.000-05:00

This is our 50th(!!) Post! *dingdingding*

So to celebrate. I'll give a recap of our time in Chi-Town based solely on Blog posts. :P

And I begin:

Back in August, Daniel and I braved the crowded beaches and watched the Air and Water Show here. That's the only time that will happen! Crazy!

After that, I was looking for a job, but instead found my favorite store! And a dream began!

We hung out doing cool stuff like going to the zoo and finding new friends.

We even had a cat named Mollie for a while (who ended up peeing selectively on only my things).

Friends visited!

Date nights were had (where Daniel scored 5-Hole-In-One's).

New friends!

So many wonderful friends blessed us with their presence!

We got creative with some local kids.

And made a sports movie about Rachel's Soccer Skills.

Our baby was once so tiny he was the size of a SWEET PEA!

A baby was growing in my tummy. ;)

And our house became a hotel for New Years.

Baby is still growing!

Cruise time! Also. It's a BOY!

Much needed family time came.

Getting ready for our move! And our baby was much closer than we thought!

Elijah is here! What a tiny little surprise for us!

My sister got married! And everyone met Eli!

Lot's of learning and growth happened for both Mommy and Elijah.

A rough patch occurred in the sleep area. :(

More growth going on! And some changes for Mommy!

If you made it through that list...Gold Star! I'm not offended if you just skimmed and popped down to the bottom. Mostly this post was for me *selfish, I know* to reflect on our time here and appreciate where we have come from.

God's been here through everything! And we love our home and family here! What a blessing these last two years have been! Thanks for reading!

A New Addition.

2011-03-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

This is a post All About Me!

And my New Addition. *giggles* After (literally) years of contemplation. And much debate and research.

I have tattooed myself!

Above you will see a picture of the very fresh (and painful) marking. Hebrew for "The Lord's", I got the idea for the tattoo from Isaiah 44:5 - "One will say, 'I belong to the Lord'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's,' and will take the name Israel."

Pretty self explanatory, but "I belong to the Lord" and have "taken the name Israel".

So Are The Days Of Our Lives...

2011-03-09T17:59:00.001-06:00

So! Here's a little "Sensory Snapshot" of our lives lately:

Our little family!

Elijah:

*8-months-old tomorrow!*

*"Crawls" leapfrog style. Pouncing forward onto things.*

*Would rather be walking, holding onto two fingers*

*Gives "High-Fives"*

*Eating Cheerios and small bits of fruit*

*Loves his singing monkey and knocking down towers*

Daniel:

*Beginning training to run the Chicago Marathon this week!*

*Loves building towers for Elijah to knock down*

Rachel:

*Enjoying being involved in Bible Study Fellowship*

*Loving time around the house (naptime) to work on my "home-making" skills*

See above: The chicken-pot pie that I proudly made

*Loving playing Peek-A-Boo with Elijah*

Book-It!

2011-01-17T15:55:00.000-06:00

I can't take credit in any way, because it could be just a phase, but our little guy sure does love books!

(One of his favorites shown above.)

Do As I Say. Not As I Do.

2011-01-11T16:32:00.000-06:00

So, lately I have been considering the list of guilty pleasures that I have, which I wouldn't be pleased with Elijah doing.

Examples:

1. Eating chips out of the bag

2. Drinking Pepsi

3. Pop Music

4. Leaving the TV on in the background

5. Yelling at other drivers

6. Plus much more...

While I am completely fine with an occasional "Because only big people do this", I know this shouldn't apply to everything. Watching Elijah repeating little things now at 6 months --> turning pages in books, hitting cups together, blowing raspberries, splashing in the tub --> makes me realize how quickly my life will become a little instruction manual for my tiny son. Pretty powerful stuff!

Mission: Sleep-Easy

2010-11-05T15:10:00.001-05:00

Daniel and I recently made the decision to begin sleep training Elijah. We have chosen the "Cry-it-Out"/"Extinction"/"Ferberization" Method. This will be a little journal of our experience so far.

Night 1: Wednesday, Nov. 3rd

7:00pm - Begin bedtime routine (jammies, feeding, storytime, prayer, song, 5ish min. rocking)

7:45pm - Set Elijah in crib calm, with binky

crying,

still crying,

more angry crying.

9:00pm - Finally asleep

11:30pm - Poor baby woken up by car alarm outside his window

- Check temperature, diaper, give back binky

crying,

lots of crying.

12:15am - Sleeping soundly once again

2:45am - Wakes up for regular night time feeding

- Daddy changes diaper and rocks Lijah until he is calm

3:30am - Asleep --> with no crying!

7:00am - Good Morning!

Day 1: Regular morning nap missing, a very fussy baby emerges the first day.

Night 2: Thursday, Nov. 4th

6:50pm - Begin bedtime routine

7:30pm - Elijah in crib, calm with binky

crying as expected,

more crying (Mommy is sad).

8:30pm - Sleeping!

3:30am - Wakes up for regular night time feeding

- diaper changed, rocked till calm, set down in crib wide awake!

4:10am - Sleeping like a baby - with no tears!

8:00am - Wake up Mommy! I want to play!

Day 2: So far so good! Shorter morning nap, but lots of smiles and giggles. :) Mommy, Daddy and Baby Lijah are so happy to have had a great night sleep.

Pray that crying is even less tonight! Pray that God blesses our son with good rest. Praise that his sleep is beginning to regulate itself. :)

Sad news: Happy Meal ban won't stop kid obesity

2010-11-04T11:12:00.003-05:00

The decision of San Francisco city officials to thwart toy giveaways with high-fat, high-calorie meals is supposed to protect kids from obesity.

Interesting story.

I completely agree with demanding that fast food chains create healthier meals for children. But honestly, if taking away a toy is going to save children from obesity I think that parents need to suck it up. If a child's desire for a toy is what drives your dining decisions I think those parents need to take back control.

October At A Glance

2010-10-26T15:08:00.002-05:00

So October was a crazy month for the Matlack family! Here's some highlights:

Daniel gets to play soccer on Saturdays! He loves it! And Elijah and I love watching...as you can see. ;)

Aunt Bekah came to visit! Such a fun time for me and for her tiny nephew! We are big fans of this girl!

Play time with baby Bridgette! Only a week apart and they are just discovering each other. :) Love hangin' out with Bridgette and her mommy Tracy! (See this post )

Other notables were visits from both sets of Grandparents plus Aunt Ashley and Uncle Tyler! We had such a great time and feel so loved! Yay for fun fall adventures!

Lights and Sounds

2010-09-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

So. Obviously I love being a mom. But Elijah's new play mat made me think of so many of the reasons why I am so excited to watch him grow and develop. In school, so many of classes talked about the importance of the first few years of a child's life and my internship with Parents As Teachers was such a neat way for me to see the importance of parents as a child's first teacher.

Mostly I just love how a baby is set up to learn just by observing and playing. God really made babies to be little miracles! Elijah doesn't do much intentional playing at this point, but watching his reaction when he accidently hits the rattle lambie above his head is great! I love to see those connections forming! Brushing the base of the arches shakes his toys and he's learning that he has an effect on the world around him!

I am so excited to be a part of helping him grow up!

Quietness and Trust

2010-09-22T15:32:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 30:15a

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."

Lately, I have been reading in Isaiah and this verse really popped out at me. The Lord is telling Israel that if they come back to him he will shield and protect them. But already at the "b" portion of the passage, the people of Israel have said that they are not willing. They would rather fight and sacrifice their own lives and horses.

I think that I see a lot of my own life in this. I am so quick to rely on my own energy to make it through a day (or long night) full of fussing, tears, feeding and diaper changes. And part of what is so awesome about being a mom is that maybe before my little guy arrived I could have sufficiently made it through a day on my own power, but now, I see that I am sorely lacking on my own.

Tiredness, frustration and anger are enough to keep me down. But the Holy One tells me that all I need is returning, rest, quietness and trust. These four things are a picture of grace to me. And that is exactly what I pray to become --> a picture of grace.

Hobbies

2010-09-16T15:44:00.000-05:00

So, I've always wanted to learn more about photography. And now, I have a little more time on my hands (and way more motivation to take pictures). :) I know that some of you already are skilled in this area and wondered if there were any websites/books that you could recommend to help me get started.

At this point, most of my photos are just "take as many as possible and at least one has to turn out alright". (And as a proud mama, I feel like I have a pretty photogenic baby.)

But I see so many things that I feel are begging to be photographed and it just never turns out right...

Can't afford a new camera at this point, but any helpful hints would be appreciated. :)

Thanks!

Teething Tablets

2010-09-14T12:25:00.000-05:00

These tiny tablets have become my lifesaver. I am so thankful that one of the ladies at Immanuel mentioned them to me. Who knew the only thing my son would develop early is teeth...since 7 weeks these two teeth have been coming up and down. Hyland's Teething Tablets are great! They are wonderful, and help almost instantly.

Just thought I'd share since I am so grateful for them!

Traditions

2010-09-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

I love traditions.

I think I get it from my Dad. We have had so many family traditions as I've grown up. Elijah received a panda bear from my Granddad and a sweet afghan from my Grandma just like I did and every one of their grandchildren. My dad started a new tradition and gave Eli a lamb. :)

Recently Daniel and I have been talking about starting a bedtime routine for Elijah. He has started sleeping more reliably and where he is at developmentally he will start remembering more and more. We have talked about the normal things (reading a story, singing, bathtime, prayer, etc.), but I'd love to hear any unique bedtime traditions that you may have had.

Thanks for sharing!

We love KS!

2010-08-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

Daniel and I were so excited to introduce our son to our families and the great state of Kansas this past weekend.

Many of you were praying for my fears of flying with a 6 wk old --> and praise the Lord! our son is a rockstar and did awesome on his first two flights!

We got to introduce Elijah to so many of our family, one highlight was collecting a "four generations" picture with my mom and Grandma Pat.

But the most most most special thing about our weekend was my little sister's wedding. I am so proud of her and excited to get to know my new brother - such an awesome couple and a beautiful bride!

We are so excited to have such a rapidly growing family!

A Long Time Coming

2010-07-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

Most of you already know - but it's about time we made it blog official.

As of July 10th at 3:01 a.m.

Elijah William -->

was born weighing 6 lbs and 5 oz and was 20 in long.

Since then, he's spent most of his time growing, sleeping, eating and pooping.

We are in love with him!

A Few of Daniel's Favorite Things:

2010-06-24T18:53:00.000-05:00

I am pretty sure this is the ranking of Daniel's Favorite Things at this point:

1. His very (34 weeks) pregnant wife (he spends most of his time picking things up off the floor for me)

2. His baby son (he spends a considerable amount of time chatting with him ;)

3. World Cup Soccer (namely the USA making it past the grouping phase - but just World Cup Soccer in general)

Not really ranked, but Daniel spends a lot of time admiring/appreciating our view since we are moving in 1 week! He spotted this photo op last night after a big storm came through the area.

Catch up!

2010-06-21T15:48:00.000-05:00

This picture is of my good friend Tracy and me after my baby shower here in Chi-town. She is having a girl (probably) almost exactly one month to the day before me. What an encouragement it has been to get to know her and to go through all the fun (and icky) stages of pregnancy with her! I cannot wait to meet her sweet daughter soon!

Daniel and I signed a lease on a new 2 bedroom apartment! The pictures I took weren't great but I wanted to put up at least one! So I thought I'd put this one up since I've always wanted a clawfoot tub! Other wonderful perks include our own washer and dryer(!!) and we are so near to our church and wonderful families and friends from there and only 1/2 a mile from the hospital where we will deliver! Pray that our move would go smoothly over the July 4th weekend! And praise God for volunteers willing to help us move!

We are not in Kansas anymore - but we were!

2010-05-25T14:51:00.002-05:00

Daniel and I headed to Kansas on the 13th for my brother's graduation. We loved seeing our family and friends again! After Daniel went home on the 16th, I got to stay another whole week! Here are some of our adventures.

My little brother graduated highschool! He heads to Manhattan this fall - KSU can't be too long without a Hood there!

I got to spend a day with Michelle - she gets married on August 21st! At the park above! Can't wait to celebrate with her!

All of us Hood girls spent a night Tie-Dying and watching girl movies. One of my favorite nights! Love these girls!

Wish I had thought to take more pictures of my adventures! I loved seeing girlfriends and having real chats with good friends face-to-face instead of over the phone. I was so excited to be able to spend time in Manhattan and Salina. We love Kansas!

Family Time!

2010-03-28T15:59:00.002-05:00

Daniel and I got to spend our "Spring Break" with his family on the Grandeur of the Seas. What a blessing for us to be able to get away from the city for a bit and spend time with family again!

We loved spending time with Daniel's brother and sister and their spouses. (And his parents - although I don't have a picture.) We have such a fun family!

It was so nice to spend so much time together and away from the business of the city. We are so refreshed.

Introducing...!

2010-03-28T15:51:00.001-05:00

...Our Son!

19 weeks and 3 days.

Only 127 days till we get to meet him for real.

Bulls!

2010-03-03T15:09:00.001-06:00

Daniel and I got tickets to a Chicago Bulls game this Monday from my boss at the YMCA. They were SO close! We felt like VIP's. We had a great time together and loved listening to a play-by-play from a 5-year-old boy sitting behind us. :-P Little Baby Matlack liked listening to loud music too and kept Momma distracted by jumpin' around. :)

Baby Bump Upgraded

2010-02-11T08:20:00.000-06:00

As requested! 15 week belly: no bloating now - just baby! (Thank God!)

Input Please! (Week 15)

2010-02-09T09:24:00.001-06:00

According to our blog posts it may seem like our lives run on "baby time" - and they sort of do! But seriously - we do other things too. I just only post about the baby. ;)

This week I would like to ask for input! Within the next month, our tiny baby will begin to HEAR the voices and sounds that are near my belly.

So first thing: I am making a playlist for baby (kind of cheesy...but I just love him/her so much). So If you would like to input songs, I can never have to many. Classical songs, educational songs, love songs, songs about anything and everything! It would mean so much to have songs being sung to him before he is born by people we love so much.

Second thing: We read to the baby at night. I am looking for special books (children's books mostly) to supplement what we already read. Also, and most importantly, I am looking for a good children's story Bible. So (especially moms) if you know of one - let me know!

Thanks!

Baby Matlack

2010-02-02T08:56:00.004-06:00

Many have already seen, but I keep forgetting to post these on our blog! These pictures were taken two weeks ago of our tiny baby and now he/she is over 3.5 inches long!

You can see his whole profile here!

His whole body is in this one (with his arms and legs flailing wildly).

Here you can see his and face and his tiny hand (with all five fingers)!

Another shot of his whole body and you can see one of his tiny feet!

In this pose he is facing the "camera". Daniel likes to call him "The Terminator". :)

Baby and Mommy (and Daddy) are still doing well! Both of us have been pretty busy with work and are hoping that February brings a more relaxed atmosphere to our home again. :)

Baby Bump

2010-01-17T18:52:00.002-06:00

My "12 Week" post is my first evidence that we actually ARE having a baby. We aren't making it up! The little plum size (2.5 inch) little Matlack is squirming around with his fully formed fingers and toes. If only I could feel it! :) Most exciting of all is that this Tuesday morning Daniel and I will get to see him/her for the first time! Ultrasound photos will be posted as soon as possible!

2010 Begins!

2010-01-05T08:19:00.004-06:00

Six K-State guys came to stay with us over New Years. (Backstory: they all purchased a trip to Chicago when we auctioned it off to raise money for our trip to China.) It seems like most of the pictures I took of people were while we were eating - but we ate a lot - so maybe it's appropriate. ;-)

(From Right: Wes, Daniel, Kyle, Kyle) Eating in China Town

(Kyle, Kyle, Wes) Helping me out in the kitchen. :)

Also, we spent a lot of time playing Wii to work off the food. (Kyle is skiing here.)

Another really exciting tidbit about this weekend - Daniel was baptized!

(From Top Right: Joe, Kyle, Wes, Ben, Kyle, Rachel)

It was way too cold this weekend - so we all huddle for warmth under heat lamps at an El stop. Some of us are happy about it - some not. :P

Most importantly, Daniel and I had a blast spending five days with these guys. We were so blessed by their presence and desire to serve us. Thanks for sending us to China guys! And thanks for coming to visit!

Peppy Prune :)

2010-01-05T08:03:00.005-06:00

It's been a couple of weeks, so our baby has more than doubled in size! His hands have fingers and he is able to move on his own! Tiny baby teeth are developing and his organs are beginning to move to their permanent positions.

Our first ultrasound is scheduled for Jan. 19th, so stand by for updates on that! Also, mommy has the beginnings of a tiny baby bump. Most importantly, we are in the third month - so the first trimester is almost over! Hopefully soon, mommy will have her energy back (which daddy would appreciate very much since he does a bulk of the housework). ;-)

Our Little Baby Blueberry

2009-12-17T11:58:00.003-06:00

According to our Dr.'s visit last week, our little blessing will arrive on the 2nd of August!

This week our baby has sprouted little hands and feet with knees and elbows and tiny finger nubs. He or she has grown up to 10,000 times her/his original size! Mommy and Daddy are so excited to meet him/her!

Our Little Sweet Pea

2009-12-07T21:00:00.004-06:00

Daniel and I are very excited to announce the coming of our very first little Matlack!

Only the size of a tiny sweet pea, we can't wait to meet our little gift! Tomorrow brings our first doctor's visit and hopefully an official due date!

ART

2009-11-23T20:59:00.003-06:00

My beautiful wife's beautiful paintings. The Chinese characters mean (from left to right):

YESTERDAY JESUS FOREVER

(this picture doesn't even really do justice)

Our Little Friends!

2009-11-22T18:55:00.005-06:00

Daniel teaches Sonny to play English Chess after he gets whooped at Chinese Chess.

Daniel and Sonny put the lights on our tree!

Getting to work decorating - we are Pros!

Our new friends Lawrie and Isabel came over for a craft day!

Isabel is an artist and made me a beautiful hat!

Enjoying the weather while it lasts!

2009-11-14T16:19:00.002-06:00

So this weekend I (yes this is Daniel actually writing on the blog) took Rachel to the park on a beautiful 75 degree day in Chicago to play some soccer. I decided to video some of it and wanted to share our little time with internet and all its people. I hope you enjoy.

So that last little bit I was trying to kick the ball over the tree between us (not actually hit Rachel). Nice video work though I must say.

Anywho this past week I had a pretty busy week at work with almost all of my projects being submitted so we haven't done anything else really exciting. Then today I had my last soccer game with the Moody Church league...we ended up losing in the playoffs :( but its ok. It was a fun league to be in. There's really nothing else to report. I'm sure Rachel will have something for you soon!

Looking Forward!

2009-11-06T10:07:00.003-06:00

This week Daniel and I were informed of an exciting opportunity! The week after Christmas a conference call "Grace 2009" is coming to the City of Chicago for the first time. Every three years a different city hosts this conference where Leaders of house churches in East Asia can come for further training and to be refreshed. They are looking for hospitality and small group leader volunteers. Daniel and I are so excited to even just be there to watch the conference!

This Saturday we hope (maybe not since it is outside of the city and we can't get there on CTA) to attend a Revival and Informational Meeting.

Please pray:

- For the planning committee: that they would be given wisdom and endurance

-For the speakers: that they would be given words from God for those in attendance

-For the Leaders! For many it may be dangerous to come, but they are being faithful. Pray that God would prepare the way and prepare their hearts.

-For us: That we would be open to whatever part we are able to play and that we would be able to encourage those involved.

City View

2009-10-19T11:08:00.003-05:00

Daniel and I are doing well and loving Chicago. We feel like we are adjusting nicely to city life and enjoying public transportation. Lately though, a feeling of discouragement has set in. We know that God wanted us to move to Chicago but yesterday we hit our 3-month mark here and still get the feeling we don't know what He is wanting us to do.

This week please be praying that:

- We would keep our eyes open to what He wants us to do and not just settle into our routine.

- We would find our fulfillment in Him and not in what we may or may not feel like we've done here.

October = Fun

2009-10-11T13:11:00.009-05:00

The beginning of October found us celebrating fall at Wrigley Field (Where the Cubs lost 8-2) with free tickets from Rachel's work at the YMCA. Yay for job perks!

Our dear friends Sarah and Paul Bruss spent an evening/night with us. So wonderful to hear how God is using their lives and marriage at KSU!

The visits continued that weekend with Rex and Lynda (Mom and Dad) staying for a couple of days. So nice to have them with us and have a little piece of home again!

Jessica and Michelle spent the big bucks ($4.50 total) to Megabus to Chicago to see us. So nice to see my sisters again! Miss you girls!

K-S-U!

2009-09-23T09:14:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, a good friend of ours came up for a long weekend. What a relief! We were missing home and Carolyn was such an encouragement to both of us! Long talks, Chinatown, soccer games, and touristy sights made for an awesome weekend. Thanks Carolyn!

Labor Day Luck

2009-09-08T11:42:00.002-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS DANIEL!

Five "Hole-In-One's"

congratulations rachel...most difficult shot award.

"Taiwan is Also Good."

2009-09-03T08:59:00.005-05:00

Storytime Alert (or this post may be long):

Yesterday I began with another trip to the YMCA where I recently accepted a position. (Thank you dear friends for your prayers!) On the way there I boarded the #11 Northbound bus and began to read (The Black Tulip, FYI Michelle), but one or two stops later a group of Asian students got on and sat at the front of the bus. I could tell they were a little new to the area as there were 3-4 cameras out snapping pictures of everything (also they had luggage). I stopped reading to watch them for a while and learned from the maps and repeated inquiries for directions that they weren't sure where they were going. I am still so new here that I don't usually offer directional help (may do more harm than good). Eventually, and sadly, the bus driver told them that they had missed their stop and needed to head back the opposite way. They all exited the bus and headed across the street to wait for another.

I continued my trip to the Y, signed paperwork, met my coworkers and got better acquainted with the facility. So 45ish minutes later, I board the #11 Southbound bus and again pull out my book. One stop later, the same group of Asian students boards. :) Still towing luggage and maps. SO, I know I am the only one on the bus who knows that this group of students has been lost for over an hour. My stomach immediately gets tied in knots and my heart flutters a little (the feeling I have told many of you about which has been coming when I know that God wants me to do something, but I don't actually trust that He'll follow through with helping me - I am crazy) but at least this feeling confirms that I am definitely supposed to help them.

So a moment later I am sitting down next to one of the girls, introducing myself and informing them that I had seen them on another bus an hour later, "Do they need help?". And now I find that I have stumbled upon a group of five Taiwanese students who are working for the summer at a amusement park in Ohio and have traveled to Chicago for two days to explore. They are looking for their hostel (and had been since 9:30 that morning). The bus driver again tells them that they have missed their stop and should get off now. They all head off the bus and the moment of decision comes to me. So quickly, I also exit the bus. I explained my reasoning to them - I had studied abroad this summer and would have been lost forever if I hadn't been blessed with friends to show me the way - so I wanted to make sure they found their hostel. (Keep in mind that we are in Lakeview/Lincoln Park and I live Downtown so I basically only know the #11 bus route.)

So I get on the phone with the hostel, they don't answer. I call Daniel and he looks up the map. We are close! Unfortunately we are standing at the intersection of like 3 different streets, so it's not entirely clear which is which and I am a bit distracted with getting to know five Taiwanese students. Needless to say I chose the wrong street. We head West instead of North. By the time we find the hostel it is 1:30 (they have been searching for four hours). Fortunately though, by then we are good friends and they have invited me to lunch - at Unos Pizzeria (my favorite in Chicago). Needless to say I spent the rest of the day with Mimi, Jamie, Jerry, Allen and Casper getting to know them and showing them around Michigan Ave. and the parks.

God is so faithful! Even when I was afraid to follow him He gave me all I needed. Even though I didn't really get to share anything with them besides that I love Jesus, I know that He can use the time I spent with them! Pray for my five friends and for the time that I am planning to spend with them this evening.

Sorry this post is so incredibly long.

2009-08-30T16:49:00.003-05:00

This weekend Rachel opened up her new business, "Rachel's Razor Cuts", a new hair salon. So this weekend I stopped by to check it out and let Rachel cut my hair...and well you can see for yourself its not half bad! For her first time she did a pretty good job. We ordered a trimming kit online after we found out that it costs about $18 for one hair cut here! Crazy! So, by getting my hair cut from my lovely wife the new trimmers pay for themselves after 2 uses! Rachel is taking new customers to any of you guys out there who need a free hair cut make sure to give her a call. She will do anything except perms, highlights, beard trims, conditioning treatments, major scissor trimming, and girls cuts...so basically just anything that involves using the razor.

Mollie

2009-08-25T20:27:00.004-05:00

This is our new family member! Her name is Mollie. Daniel and I picked her out at the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Center. She is two years old and loves to play and explore! We both love our new little baby!

Zoo Day

2009-08-24T20:36:00.004-05:00

Our Saturday activity was the Zoo! Daniel's first time at the nation's oldest free zoo! The weather has been cool here so it was the perfect day to be outside! The camels, seals, polar bears, chimps and gorillas were enjoying it as well!

On Sunday we tried a new church that was such a blessing to us. Immanuel Baptist Church (http://www.immanuel-baptist.net/) was such a warm place! We met a lot of new friends there who had a heart to serve Christ and love the nations! We are excited to continue pursuing relationships in that community.

Having Sundaes on Friday

2009-08-21T19:38:00.006-05:00

Hello world! This is my (Daniel's) first blog post. This evening Rachel and I headed out of our apartment to get some tasty Sundaes at McDonalds....and wouldn't you know, there is one about 46 floors below us. Nice. It definitely reminded me of our time in China, going to get KFC Sundaes almost everyday. I miss that place...

So everything here in Chicago is going pretty well so far. I like my job, I like the people I work with, I like this new project I'm working on. However, the missing link still seems to be connecting with a close friend. God is still having us wait a little bit longer for that. I suppose having some Sundaes on a Friday night will have to do for the time being. I can't complain about that ;)

Now Rachel and I are going to enjoy the always funny Monk.

This is Daniel Matlack...signing off.

Building Blocks

2009-08-20T13:21:00.000-05:00

Today I found my dream job. On the way to interview at the YMCA I arrived a little early and decided to stop into this quaint little children's toy store across the street. Needless to say, I fell in love. Independently owned, educational books and toys for children, with friendly and educated community-oriented staff who want to help children learn and grow! I applied. They will begin hiring for a full-time position in less than a month. Please pray! They seemed very interested in hiring me but the Y wants to offer me a position within the next week. We don't know if we should pass up a job offer for one that (while positive!) isn't guaranteed. Your prayers (and words of wisdom) are appreciated!

Air Show

2009-08-19T11:59:00.001-05:00

Daniel and I spent this last Saturday people watching at the Lake Michigan beach. He was excited that there was also an Air and Water Show taking place. Above us and to the left you can see the Air Force Thunderbirds make a pass over the beach.