As we undertake to keep up with the rest of the world and technology... we will attempt to keep our thoughts penned regularly for you here on our blog. Most importantly, we would like this to be a reflection of the love of our Faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Required Reading

Those words just made me shudder (and yet, somehow I enjoyed almost all of my required reading in MS, HS and college).

I did finish Jungle Pilot, the life story of Nate Saint, pilot missionary to South America. It was wonderful!

And then I meant to read some "light" reading (fiction, probably) and do another book review. Instead, I am doing my "required reading." In fact, I can't keep up with my required reading.

All of these are free mags I have received in the mail over the past month...not to mention about 5 other different subscription issues that I had already read and thrown out--including Family Circle, Family Fun, a photography magazine and who knows what else. And to think that I have a year's subscription for most of these. May be a while until I get to the "light" reading.

(I cannot wholeheartedly recommend a few of these after reading them, so please keep that in mind when you see some of theses titles)

Thanksgiving and giraffes

As I told some of you, I am so thankful for a potential nasty situation this week in which God showed his hand very clearly. I lost my credit card this week. In Houston, that is never a good thing, but I found out that I lost it at Walmart. (and not only that, but the Walmart on 1960 and T C Jester, a rougher part of town) But I am so thankful! Someone at Walmart found it in the parking lot and called Discover and reported it as lost (they closed the account)...and all this, without so much as buying a stick of gum with it! God's mercy...

As for the giraffes...we had a comical moment last night when David finished his bottle. He sat up and looked down at his pj feet in wonderment as if to say, "What am I doing wearing giraffes on my feet?" He poked at the horns (that stick out) and then kept looking at his feet curiously. Even at only 8 1/2 months old, he knows that giraffes don't belong on his feet.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Guess What Revealed

Please see my original post for an update on which items were what. There were 34 items. Did anyone guess all 34? 33? 32? or even 30?

This was so much fun and I have a bit of new artwork for the house from it so maybe I will do it again soon.

Peace and Calm

For those of you who know Michael, you will understand that he loves music! (almost as much as fast cars! :) ) From the moment he comes home, we have music playing in every room--if we are lucky, it is the same music. I practically go nuts with all the noise at top volume. I have heard a rather vocal baby all day and am ready for some quiet, not more noise.

Faith, Hope & Lullabies

How different would it be if he were to turn on this music? I am sure not only would it calm the baby but Mama's nerves too. I love "Faith, Hope & Lullabies: Songs Of Worship" too because I can mentally sing along with the praise words that are a part of these lullabies. This music is so soothing...and at the same time "Michael-friendly." I encourage you to consider checking this music out if you have not done so already!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Study in Everyday Objects

a Canon ink cartridge tab that gets taken off before inserting a new cartridge in the printer
Seeing this object out in the street last week--and the pride I had from recognizing its random shape--prompted me to focus on all the unusual objects and shapes we see everyday. If you grew up in my house, many of the items below are common-place items but probably not so in all homes. Others are just plain odd.

Take a guess (some are easier than others) and check back next week for the answers to the pictures.

a Christmas light gun that effectively restores a burnt out strand of lights to a fully functional one
a ring holder (slip the rings you are not wearing onto the stem)
a letter opener (where would I be without my two)
part of a baby cabinet lock
a milk tab
a cinnamon stick
the lid to a Snack Trap cup for baby snacks (snacks stay in but fingers go in )
an egg separater bowl
a luggage rack (for incoming visitor luggage)
a candle mold
a furniture foot anti-hole making thing (can you tell I don't know the official name--it keeps heavy furniture from marking "weight" holes in the rug...works well)
a sweater anti-fuzz comb (gets rid of the little pills)
a toothpaste roller (never worked well though, fyi) to get the last bit out of the tube
a "real" film canister (know what that is?) but to Advantix film (oval shaped)
a cuff link
a touchpad that gets plugged into the wall and a lamp and makes any lamp into a touch lamp (love it!!! have 2 around the house)
cat nail clippers
an earring back
a plate wall hanger
Silver Dollar Plant
an old-fashioned metronome (to which the paper clip serves to keep up the less than tight weight)
no, not a crochet hook. an orange peeler
a carrot or other veggie curl-maker
an olive or cherry pitter (works great on olives!!!)
the back stand of an acrylic desktop picture frame
a cell phone charger plug
Aloe Vera
candied ginger
a boot-horn (works very well to remove boots)
an upside-down coffee creamer cup
a silver butter knife
a lamp socket
piano keys

Monday, April 13, 2009

T-Minus 121 days to 1 year

In other words, Happy 8 Months, David!

If possible, you are even cuter and more fun than ever before!

You have learned a new trick this month...I have found you in your crib standing watching the mobile go round and round since you figured out how to turn it on. (And this requires some skill! It actually takes pushing the button twice to turn it on)

You are now pulling up on everything, and I mean everything! I was out of the room for a minute last week and came back in to find you on the first step of the stairs attempting to scale the second step! Since then, you have managed to get up a couple of steps but with Mama's supervision. You often crawl now with your feet flat on the floor and your bottom up in the air because you so desperately want to stand. I also regularly find myself dragging you around the floor as you pull up on my legs at least a dozen times a day. You will even let go with one hand. So close to standing on your own! (Well, I should add, you can stand on your own for a couple of seconds. We even have it on tape! But never longer than that...yet.)

You will cruise the furniture if you see something you want on it, but not just to get around yet. You will walk though, when we hold onto both hands and walk with you. And when not walking, you are showing your natural curiosity and exploring every corner of the house! You also chase after the vacuum cleaner...

What a great investment your activity table was! You find it the perfect height to pull up on and this is probably your favorite toy at the moment. You also really like any ball (either to put in your mouth or to chase around the floor), your little tikes workbench, and you are showing even more interest in books as Mama reads to you.

We have changed your schedule quite a bit this month, moving you from 5 bottles a day before to more formula at each feeding and now only 4 times a day. This normally means 7:30 or 8:00 am, 11:30-12:00 a.m., 3:30ish, and 6:00ish p.m. We have reverted back to a bedtime of 6:30 since Mama and Daddy need their time together. This new schedule also means your naps have changed a bit too. Mostly still about 3+ hours of napping a day, normally split into at least a one hour nap and a two hour nap. (or as below, even succumbing to exhaustion in the stroller on the way home from storytime.) You do not nap well out of the house, though, as a general rule.

You still love your bath time! In fact, any water is OK with you--whether tub, sink, bowl, outside etc...You don't even mind it in your eyes. You just shake it off and keep playing, i.e. crawling, in the tub.

You got your two bottom teeth this month too! But not before some crankiness, a huge loss in appetite temporarily, and a little bit less sleep.

Your feeding horizons have broadened to take in some bites of Mama's table food occasionally and other rarities like dirt, sticks, bluebonnets, leaves etc... Just a couple of days ago, you also added cut-up grapes, watermelon, and cucumbers to your list of edibles. You are quite capable of finger-feeding yourself, but the feeling of grapes and bananas in your fingers somehow does not appeal to you. You are quite happy eating them though if Mama feds them to you.

Did I mention you suck your thumb often now? With those teeth? Ouch!

Mama has finally given up on putting you in your 0-3 month clothing (with only a very few exceptions) and even many of the 6-9 month outfits are getting snugger. You have a pair of 12 month pjs that you fit quite nicely!

You went to your second car show this month as well as several storytimes, a Sunday school picnic, an Easter egg hunt (no interest in the eggs), your Daddy's softball game, your first Walk for Life, your first playtime MDO with friends, your first time to dye Easter eggs, your first professional photos, and are now enjoying (or sometimes enjoying-- if not too tired) a new Sunday school class after promotion to the "crawlers" class mid-way through this month. It's about time, I suppose!

Dying your first Easter egg

You are also now riding in your big boy carseat (still facing backward). You have much more room to chill out and lounge!

You are exhibiting your will quite strongly at times now. However, along with that, you are also beginning to understand how to obey. Mama had removed a painting from over your changing table for several months because you wanted to touch it and had knocked it off the wall several times. Last month when I told you "no, don't touch," you just laughed and tested the waters again. A few spankings later for other things has taught you to obey so when I put the picture back on the wall this month, you obediently removed your hand when I told you not to touch. How pleasing your obedience is to God! (and your parents)

You love your Daddy! You smile every time he walks into the room! (and what fun you have when he plays with you!) But not to leave me out, you also light up when I come in and get you out of your crib in the morning.

We love you, David! Can't wait to see what joy next month brings...

Happy 8 Months!