July 1

July 1 has a history of being a rather eventful day in our lives. This year, we are moving. Five years ago, I had a miscarriage during our first pregnancy. Four years ago, my brother, Christopher, died. I kind of hate July 1.

In the interest of staving off depression, here is a short list of some of my best memories of Christopher:
1. He was always willing to go so far over the top to get a laugh. Once, at a church event, there was a contest to see who could produce the best fake vomit. Christopher actually vomited. Most of his antics were less gross, but still really funny.

2. Christopher really loved babies and little kids. He was equally willing to cuddle a newborn and wrestle with a six year old. He was a great uncle to Niki's boys, and I am sure he would have loved my kids too.

3. He could thread a piece of spaghetti up his nose and out his mouth.

4. Even as a little kid, he loved to eat duck. It was always funny to hear a five year old request duck for dinner.

5. When he was a toddler, he would march around the house with his eyes scrunched shut singing the "Duck Tales" theme song at the top of his lungs.

6. He made really good waffles and pancakes from scratch.

7. He had gorgeous curls that got him tons of attention both as a toddler and a high schooler. When I was a senior and he was a freshman, people would ask me, "Oh, are you Chris's sister? His afro is awesome!"

8. He used to talk to people in public in a very convincing sounding fake language and make me "translate" for him. It was particularly entertaining when he ordered food in restaurants.

We love you and miss you every day, Christopher!

Because I've got tons of time available right now...

...I decided to start a blog. The movers packed up our apartment in Los Angeles yesterday, and we're currently camping out in the empty apartment on air mattresses before heading up to San Jose on Friday. The middle of a move isn't necessarily the best time to take on a new project, but one of my goals is to be better about keeping track of things that are going on with our family (hence a written record), as well as to update family and friends with what is going on in our lives. I'm terrible about baby books (I've lost several), phone calls (I'm self-diagnosed with debilitating phone anxiety), and emailing photos to those who are interested in seeing them (no excuse); a blog should cover all of those bases while allowing me to exist in a comfortable state of seclusion. Also, I always worry about sending people email updates and pictures, because I have these self-conscious visions of people opening their email, moaning in disgust when they see my name, and then marking it as spam. So now you can feel free to read in delight or disgust, or rant about the navel-gazing qualities of blogs in the privacy of your own home. You're welcome.

These last two years in LA have been some of the most challenging, but also a lot of fun. We've made great friends from all over the world, enjoyed the city, had a new baby, and found a church that we really love, all while Chris was in class/working/studying for over 100 hours a week. Do you blame me for wandering around in a state of catatonic exhaustion most of the time (or "blorft", as Tina Fey refers to it in Bossypants)? I'm not going to lie and pretend that I'm not relieved that he's done with school. I also can't pretend I'm not sad to leave LA. It isn't easy knowing that we're about to start all over again in a place that is brand new to our family. Really the thing that is getting me through this move is the knowledge that I'm about to have my very own dedicated parking spot, as well as a beautiful, shiny (non-coin op) washer and dryer right in my very own house. I kid. Maybe.