Comment Page for Lake's Wish List

Friends and family have asked what little Lake will need when she arrives in December, so we've created a Lake's Wish List. You can see her list on the side panel to the right. We encourage reusing baby-stuff, so we'd be delighted with gifts from your storage bins or thrift stores. We will not be registering at a department store, but you may use this list as a registry. Please write in a comment in this page if you have taken care of an item on Lake's list. One place we do like to support -and therefore include as a suggestion- is the consignment shop called Reruns for Kids, which supports Family Building Blocks, a local nonprofit organization helping to prevent child abuse and neglect.

The Parade of Boxes

Today friends and neighbors helped us transport our belongings from our apartment of three years, one half-mile away to our first home. The boxes marched briskly out the door, winded down the maze of stairways to the truck, which, stuffed and happy, carried everything to our new place. Unfortunately, the former owners had not yet vacated as they were supposed to, so we were delayed an extra day. Thankfully, another crew of willing workers helped Jeremy unload our belongs and a team of friends helped to clean the mess that was left in the whirlwind of the move. The unpacking and putting away will drag on for a few days yet as we settle in and begin to feel "at home." A special thanks to Ruth for cleaning our bathtub. Soaking in those warm bubbles was just the thing after two days of moving. :-)

Thank you so much to everyone who helped -I know moving grad students with their many boxes of books is not a fun chore. We hope you'll all drop in and visit our garden home often!

The Big Day

Thursday we learned all about our little baby growing in my belly as the ultrasound technician showed Jeremy and me all her little parts and working organs. And yep, it looks like we've got a little girl. Jeremy and I are thrilled and anxious to meet our little Lake Mahal Wanak. Of course we are glad to let her grow a few more months before our first meeting in December. (I'm already singing Christmas tunes!) Isn't she a beauty! :-)

What's in a name?
Lake: As a gal from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I can't think of a more special place than floating on the blue, clear waters -and this little girl is going to know about her Minnesota heritage.
Mahal: This is a word from the Tagalog language (official language of the Philippines) and means 'beloved, darling, dear, costly, valuable, noble, precious'.
Wanak: She's with us!

Home
On this same day the purchase of our first home was officially recorded. Angel is excited to prepare a little nest for Lake and take up her hand at gardening. Jeremy is looking forward to starting up his new 55 gallon fish tank in the living room. We hope the floor can hold it! House pictures will be forthcoming -when we get the place in ship-shape.