a cow says "moo"

...unless you ask David at Chick-fil-A appreciation day while wearing his cowboy hat and he will tell you, "yee-haw."

Should I mention that we ate both lunch and dinner there for free? Had to get Michael in on the action of dressing up like a cow! David ate like a champ both meals!

Last month as a baby

You can almost call a one year old a baby still, but at age two?

David,

We have seen some very different emotional changes in you this month. The beginning of the month brought major separation anxiety (which you are still dealing with). No longer will you run into your classroom at church and happily start playing. I have to pry you off of my body and leave with screaming in my ears. (which quickly stops, however)

Perhaps it is this same emotion that causes you to scream at naptime and bedtime now. I admit you nap far worse suddenly...some days you nap for 3 hours still, some days not at all. However, whether tired or not, you are pretty upset when we walk out of the room--fine while we are in it. We have started playing praise music when we leave and this settles you down quickly after we leave.

You have also discovered your terrible two phase this month. You are pretty cheerful most of the time, but when I take something you had or you don't get something you want, BEWARE! You are becoming more obedient though since the spanking spoon has been put to good use regularly this month.

When you are not screaming, you are most often giggling or full of sweet babbling...which day by day becomes a little more distinct. I finally determined that you were talking about a "police car" when you say "pizza." You love police cars!!! You will alert us to all of them along the road with nothing but the siren sound. Very funny. You do get confused sometimes and think that all trucks, taxis etc...with lights on top are police cars, but what do you expect at this age? I love the fact that you say "one more" (with pointer finger to lips) when you want me to sing more or tickle you again or read the same page in a book again.

After getting a puddle jumper flotation device, you absolutely love being in the water! I think you like the freedom that it brings, although you tend to still be a bit cautious.

You still love all things boy: your matchbox cars, your ride on truck, and all balls. I have found that you are partial to golfing though since any ball and almost any type of stick, including hairbrushes, becomes a golf club. You do have a pretty good arm on you though. You do enjoy sitting to read now though. One book after another and if mommy makes enough sounds, you even sit still for the whole book now. Summer reading program prizes include 2 free books, a free t-shirt, and several store credit cards for Half Price Bookstore.

You enjoy hats often now too--instead of just tearing it off of your head. Your cowboy hat ("yee-haw") is your favorite.

You are becoming so much better coordinated. You can handle a fork and spoon moderately successfully now; often ambidextrously but still with the tendency toward left-handedness??? You enjoy your puzzles and can manipulate the pieces within seconds. You have also begun opening all doors! Fortunately, we have the door alarm chime on (and try to keep the back door locked) because you often try/open the back door to go outside.

You have so many more teeth now! Perhaps most of them? It makes it a bit more painful when you gently bite us then; you see it as a "love bite," but you have already gotten a spanking for it. This must not continue! Along with your teeth, you can eat most anything now...whether you will is a different story. You stopped eating peas and hot dogs for a while this month. You would even hide your eyes when I tried to feed you because everyone knows that "if I can't see you, you can't see me!"

It has been interesting this month watching you interact with other kiddos. You don't like being bossed around at all but really enjoyed your time with a boy pal around the same age, even sharing your toys and dancing together (sorry, D, Jackson dances far better than you!)

What a fun month we had--minus a few tantrums. I would take those anyday as long as I can see your little personality forming and able to interact so much better with you!

Much love and can't wait to see my 2 year old!

Love, Mama and Daddy

A night on the town

Michael and I spent 4th of July evening watching very different fireworks as the stars of Wicked, the Musical lit the stage up in a fantastic performance!!! The musical score was catchy and clever and it was lots of fun to watch a play I had never seen before! We enjoyed the evening in black tie attire. Thanks to sister Susan who watched David!

Thirty Days Has September

I know this is not a very original post title (as you will understand soon), but...

I just finished a book that my sister-in-law gave me for my birthday, Thirty Days Has September, cool ways to remember stuff. It was fun to read and will probably serve as homeschooling wisdom for later. It covers topics like grammar, history, geography, math and general knowledge. Different formulas, dates, and rules are made into rhymes, songs, or mnemonics to ease the remembering. I sure wish I had had this book back when I was teaching middle school math!!!

88 cents

at CVS and Walgreens a couple of weeks ago

Weekly deals

If you are in the market for:

• Diapers
• Body Wash/Shampoo
• Contact Solution

...then this week's shopping was for you. I have been trying to keep up with the "drugstore game." It has been pretty rewarding. I do think I will tear my hair out at Walgreens though!!! No official coupon policy and it changes ever day and with every different store you go in!!! I have been getting so many groceries with about $2 out of pocket every week for close to $20-30 of groceries. Items like diapers, deodorant, candles, windex, shampoo, hair clips, wipes, body wash, razors, toothpaste, medicines, etc... I generally only buy the items that are free or money makers each week. (other than diapers) The picture below cost 88 cents for all items!

Today...CVS- 1 big box of diapers ($20), and 2 power bars ($1 each) for $7 but I got back $12 in store credit. Walgreens- 2 containers of Gilette body wash/shampoo ($4.50 each), 1 big bottle of contact solution ($7.50) for $2 and got back $12 in store credit there too. Both money makers...not to mention things we use.

For those who need diapers, here is how the deal worked. I printed a $3.00 coupon online (Coupons.com) for the Huggies Diapers. I had gotten a $3.00 CVS coupon by scanning my CVS card at their booth. I used a $4 off $20 purchase (buy one power bar (free after ECB) or other small item to put over the $20 since the diapers are $19.99) I used the $4/20 first. Stacked with the CVS coupon and the online coupon. You get back $10 ECB with Huggies box diaper purchase. This meant free diapers after other coupons and store credit!!!

PS this post is dedicated to Suzi! :)

Motivated by fear

I have been thinking a lot about how "we" respond when motivated by fear. It can prompt us to do all sorts of things we would never do otherwise. My parents told me about an Afghani friend of 4 years in SA who just chased my father away, never to be seen again. He even reminded my dad he could turn him in to the authorities for proselytizing. Fear over his own plight if it were discovered that he had been discussing Christianity in an oppressive muslim world?
Backtrack 60 years. I just finished a book, Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay. It was recommended recently by one of my friends. It is a thought-provoking read. (note: definitely some adult topics addressed and from a non-Christian perspective). It is a historical fiction book that takes place in Paris during WWII. The historical part is the tale of the Vel d'Hiv Roundup that took place in July 1942. This roundup was done by French policemen, under the orders of Gestapo. However, apparently, they rounded up the young children too, not part of orders. There has been criticism toward the French for this. Their actions were deplorable and wrong. Imagine, however, the fear these Frenchmen experienced. Probably the great motivator.
Perhaps this is why I John 4:16-19 says, "We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us." Jesus alone provides that perfect love to drive out our fear, enabling us to respond with peace and love in the midst of frightning circumstances. There but for God's grace and love, we could all make those same horrible choices when fear overtakes us.