Beautiful yellow garb

Man does not live by peas alone...

...and nor could David!

Well, he did for almost a week, but thank the Lord (truly), we discovered on Monday that he had a double ear infection. This made his third ear infection (that we are aware of). However, the extreme (like never before) crankiness and food and drink strike (except for 5 or 6 peas a meal) came to an end on Tuesday morning after 12 hours of antibiotics. What a joy to have my cheerful little boy back!

When did you stop...

(so many of these things have been months and months, but I thought I would like to record the fact that you are no longer doing them)

• spitting up
• eating books, in fact, sticking everything in your mouth
• walking around with balls stuffed in your mouth
• eating baby food
• going out places barefoot
• laughing uproariously at bodily function sounds
• just laying in one spot while Mama walked out of the room for a minute
• fitting into the bitty baby onesies
• swimming every time you got in the bathtub
• taking hour+ long walks with Mama during the hurricane!
• crying every time you got in the car for a ride!
• using your pacifier completely
• sleeping in the laundry basket
• taking 2 naps a day or sever crankiness set on
• going to Sunday school with us and start attending your own class
• being called "Chunka Monk" by Mama (and the latest nickname --Munchkin Munch)

There are so many more, that have already been forgotten...My baby is growing up!

Shocking!

the latest two

Along with many other friends, I recently read Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. It takes you through the life of Mary Beth growing up and into her marriage with Steven Curtis Chapman. She then relives the event of her daughter's fatal accident and all the moments since. It is a very good read and her faith, despite circumstances, is so admirable. She is very real in the story, flaws and all, which makes her that much more likeable and her story relatable, no matter your current trial.
I then read a lighter read, recommended by a librarian friend. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. It is a fictional book of letters written back and forth from the main character (a journalist) and her friends. It describes the island of Guernsey right after Nazi occupation during WWII and the lives of all intertwined on it. It is rather confusing at first until you get to know the characters but an interesting read afterward for all the historical background. Warning, it is not written from a Christian perspective and in fact, at times is a bit contrary.

Lessons as seen from a child's perspective

Today was the kind of day you wish you could share with those most important to you. It was gorgeous (mid 60s) with cool air, not cold. Sun was shining but the rain from yesterday still made the earth smell fantastic. What a beautiful day!!!

David and I went outside for a bit to enjoy the beautiful weather. We played with his little tikes car on the driveway until he started roaming. I decided to pick him up and carry him into the backyard to play on his little slide/house. As I picked him up and we neared the back door, he started screaming. He thought I was taking him inside and he had no desire to go inside. Then, I thought how often find myself responding to God in the same manner. He has my best interests at heart and often something far more incredible waiting for me, but I kick and scream when He tries to move me from my comfort zone where I am enjoying myself. What a lesson in trust!

Things you like to do at 17 months...

• spin around in circles a couple of times and fall over (you definitely get your motion queasiness from both your Mama and Daddy)
• run
• hang upside down until all the blood rushes to your head
• ride your truck all over the house! (you also like to ride on all sorts of other things, including the tiny decorative horse in your room!)
• play with the shape sorter (the circles are easy, the squares not too bad, the stars are more challenging but doable, and the triangles seem to temporarily have you stumped. )
• go through your 8 foot tunnel
• play with your fisher price learning home
• read books
• talk on the phone (or the remote or keys or legos etc...)
• take a bath (you laugh uproariously when the water turns on)
• bat your eyelashes (mostly still at mealtime)
• eat a bit more than just chicken nuggets these days--we have expanded to pb&j, fish sticks, grilled chicken (sometimes), grilled cheese, mac and cheese, ravioli, green beans (along with the usual carrots, corn, and peas), and even willing to try other new things occasionally
• say "Daddy" anytime you are asked to say "Mama"--you even greeted me at the door of your childcare room today yelling "Daddy!"
• Say "more" when you see something you like and are asking for it (still yet to understand the word "please"
• say "thank you" about half the time
• add the new word of "Jesus" to your vocabulary--you love to sing "Jesus Loves Me" along with Mama
• shut doors (cabinet, bathroom, pantry, bedroom, etc...) The opening of them is not as fascinating unless it involves the outside door with Daddy outside (see below) The one occurrence you managed to do this without my help was a lesson, hopefully, in remembering to deadbolt the doors after ourselves.
• climb on everything--especially chairs (when I tell you to go sit down to eat, you always climb onto an adult chair at the kitchen table and wait to be fed) one time, we even caught you on the table!
• put on your jacket and ride in the car (again the laughter)
• ride in the "car" shopping carts at the grocery store
• greet your Daddy with giggles at the door

...did I mention you laugh a lot? (lots of tears too when things don't go quite your way)

sporting a Hitler style moustache...

You had a wonderful month with lots of celebrations between Christmas, Daddy's birthday, and New Year's.

The tale of the miniature horse and its impending demise

One thing leads to another...

I predicted (correctly) that David would not sleep through the night last night. No nap at all yesterday (despite spending some time in the crib :) ). This seems to always lead to waking up in the middle of the night! Fortunately, my sweet husband offered to get up with David last night. Probably now we will have the next result of a very cranky baby today before he sleeps (like a baby) this afternoon at nap time.

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Graham Houses and Mexican Train

We rang in the new year with the Browns and the Wilsons. Wednesday night after a very stressful trip down to Richmond (don't ask), we ate a yummy meal at Andrew and Shayna's new house and then were honored to become the first overnight guests they have ever had! What a beautiful home you guys have and what a sweet host/hostess.

We left there early on Thursday morning to drive the rest of the trip to Victoria and my sister's house~never forgetting our pit stop in Wharton at the Buc-ees.

David's short nap in the car left him unwilling to take another one upon arrival so we played for a while and then the girls (and D) went on an outing to Sam's Club and Walmart for the supplies for our gingerbread houses. We spent that evening staying up way too late playing Mexican Train--I think only just after midnight. (It became especially way too late though when D woke up in the middle of the night for an hour; perhaps he was too cold, perhaps he was not sure about the new surroundings, he was soaked through, and perhaps...???)

We enjoyed Friday (although quite tired) by eating a yummy breakfast, playing a bit, and then making gingerbread houses during David's nap. Here are the results!

Shayna's house sported a Christmas tree

Fritz's house was full of good cheer...

Jane's house was only ever a quarter completed with marshmallows alone since the rest of the candy made it in her stomache!

Emily's house was beautiful--while it lasted--(the roof shortly fell off due to all the heavy candy thereupon)

My house was covered with a little of this, a little of that

Anna's, of course, showed her quirky sense of humor with the smiley face on the front. Love it!

Alex's house was truly a contemporary work of art!

Our Gingerbread (rather Graham cracker) village

As you can tell, my family likes to be goofy a lot!

David was constantly "mothered."

He did enjoy his time playing in the play hut.

After a few minutes of 5 year old Emily (and 3 year old Jane) lifting D to dunk the ball in the basket, we came up with another way of playing this. They held the house (so it would not topple) while D reached on tip-toes and pulled the rim down to dunk the ball.

Even Fritz played ball with David.

Then, that evening, while the boys finished watching football, the kiddos and Aunt Shayna danced to Swan Lake in the bedroom.

That evening brought another round of Mexican train--this time with the kids.

Saturday morning we awoke to pack our bags. We wished Alex happy 10th Birthday before heading out. Here D is eating breakfast of fruit loops (he sure liked this) and trying to stay warm (notice the blue lips!) Brrr....it has been cold!

Bye-Bye Wilsons! Andrew, Shayna, David, Michael and I piled back into our car and drove home to Richmond followed by Spring. Thanks, everyone, for a great time!