The leaves are falling, trees are changing colors and the weather is a roller coaster ride. Just a few days ago it was in the 30s and then it got up to the 50s and rained and now it's supposed to be in the 60s, sunny, and warm. Our grass is just starting to pop out of the ground. The yard is starting to have a shade of green instead of dirt with wet newspaper on top. I enjoy each season of the year but will miss all the outdoor time during the summer. I always said I'd be the kind of parent who would just bundle their kid up and go out during the winter. I do that, but I guess I didn't realize that an hour of red noses and cold hands is more than any little boy can endure.
Dylan is with his Dad and Grandad checking on his Uncle's land for deer tracks. Uncle Brian reached the United States yesterday. He's been on tour in Iraq for the second time over the last 18 months. He'll be in New Jersey for 3 weeks before getting to come home, but at least he's state side. We have prayed for his safe return and are thankful God saw fit to answer that prayer with a YES. We're hoping with a little running water on Uncle Brian's land the deer are nearby and Uncle Brian will get to snag a deer his first time out this year.
I have been reading the Blog of a missionary our church supports. I have met her personally several times. She was Dylan's grandma figure at the Missionary Retreat back in August. In the last 3 years, she has lost a brother-in-law, her father, a daughter, and most recently her husband. She is leaning on God for comfort and what an amazing story she has. She is now back in Taiwan continuing the ministry she and her husband started so many years ago. She has a great testimony and a legacy for her grandchildren. You can check her Blog out at http://feistels-in-taiwan.blogspot.com.
The boys have returned home now and are going back and forth from the garage to the sunroom. It's too muddy to go around so they are coming through the house and it's very distracting. I'll get back to my blog some other time.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
One Week
One week from this moment I plan on being in an airport in Orlando, FL. It will be the first day of our vacation. It will be the first official family vacation out of the state. We are very excited. Well, at least I am.
So, I am talking to my Mom the other day and she starts asking me about a will. Have you ever tried setting one up? There are several samples online but for it to be legally binding you have to have a lawyer write it up. That's fine, but wowser that's expensive. So, for now I wrote something up in a Word Document. We don't have enough money to fight over and there aren't many people we would want to leave our son with. Did you also know it's kind of depressing writing up a will? It envokes all kinds of emotions you don't really want to feel. I know it needs to be done and I will do it...just not today.
I'm sitting in the kitchen looking outside and it's gloomy. Fall has arrived. The changing tree colors are beautiful but the constant cloud cover and getting dark early really sets the mood for a day. I can see how people who live in Alaska get depressed easily.
Dinner isn't far away and I probably should be cooking but I enjoy writing much more. Ranch chicken is on the menu. I've never made it before but a friend made it for us a few weeks ago and Chris raved about it for hours. I thought I'd take a stab at it. Now that I'm talking about it I am realizing it takes like 15 minutes to prepare plus like 30 to bake so I don't have much longer to talk.
Dylan and I went to hang out with Uncle Aaron and the kids today. Dylan seems to find his favorite toy at certain places and he played with some sort of heavy equipment digger type tractor thingy 90% of the time we were over there. You can tell how much I know about that kind of equipment by my special name for it.
He's growing up. I know I probably say that all the time but it seems like new things are always abundant. He's starting be more clear on his words. He's starting using two words at a time, like "Dad's truck". He used to just say truck. That's progress. I want you to know. He's started to not whine when you ask him to get in the bath. Although, we still generally have to hear a little whining when we are getting out of the bath. He still loves to sleep with his favorite female Disney character. People say you let him sleep with a girl doll. Well, first of all it isn't a doll. It's a stuffed animal. And, yes, I let him sleep with a girl. As a matter of fact I prefer him to sleep with a girl. Are you kidding? We don't need to start out early teaching him to sleep with a boy, now do we? Ok, enough about that.
We're still having difficulty eating what I call big people veggies and fruits. He likes green beans and that's about it. So, he's still having to eat baby food fruits and veggies to keep his daily diet balanced. Otherwise, the boy would eat meat, pasta, rice, and cookies or candy. I kind of like that diet personally but have been trying to be a much better example to him.
Did I mention that a week from now I'll be in the Orlando airport starting the first day of our family vacation? Yes, I know officially the first 3 days will be spent doing "Daddy's work stuff". But I won't have to be cleaning house, doing dishes, or laundry. I will however, still have to be changing dirty diapers. Why is it that can't magically disappear on vacation like the rest of the hard work? We are going on the Disney cruise and they always talk about where the "magic" happens. How about disappearing diapers for a week? That's magic I want to see and would pay to have. How about you?
I'm kind of cold so I think I'll go turn the heat up. I probably should start cooking dinner so maybe I'll just turn the oven on and that will probably fix my problem.
So, I am talking to my Mom the other day and she starts asking me about a will. Have you ever tried setting one up? There are several samples online but for it to be legally binding you have to have a lawyer write it up. That's fine, but wowser that's expensive. So, for now I wrote something up in a Word Document. We don't have enough money to fight over and there aren't many people we would want to leave our son with. Did you also know it's kind of depressing writing up a will? It envokes all kinds of emotions you don't really want to feel. I know it needs to be done and I will do it...just not today.
I'm sitting in the kitchen looking outside and it's gloomy. Fall has arrived. The changing tree colors are beautiful but the constant cloud cover and getting dark early really sets the mood for a day. I can see how people who live in Alaska get depressed easily.
Dinner isn't far away and I probably should be cooking but I enjoy writing much more. Ranch chicken is on the menu. I've never made it before but a friend made it for us a few weeks ago and Chris raved about it for hours. I thought I'd take a stab at it. Now that I'm talking about it I am realizing it takes like 15 minutes to prepare plus like 30 to bake so I don't have much longer to talk.
Dylan and I went to hang out with Uncle Aaron and the kids today. Dylan seems to find his favorite toy at certain places and he played with some sort of heavy equipment digger type tractor thingy 90% of the time we were over there. You can tell how much I know about that kind of equipment by my special name for it.
He's growing up. I know I probably say that all the time but it seems like new things are always abundant. He's starting be more clear on his words. He's starting using two words at a time, like "Dad's truck". He used to just say truck. That's progress. I want you to know. He's started to not whine when you ask him to get in the bath. Although, we still generally have to hear a little whining when we are getting out of the bath. He still loves to sleep with his favorite female Disney character. People say you let him sleep with a girl doll. Well, first of all it isn't a doll. It's a stuffed animal. And, yes, I let him sleep with a girl. As a matter of fact I prefer him to sleep with a girl. Are you kidding? We don't need to start out early teaching him to sleep with a boy, now do we? Ok, enough about that.
We're still having difficulty eating what I call big people veggies and fruits. He likes green beans and that's about it. So, he's still having to eat baby food fruits and veggies to keep his daily diet balanced. Otherwise, the boy would eat meat, pasta, rice, and cookies or candy. I kind of like that diet personally but have been trying to be a much better example to him.
Did I mention that a week from now I'll be in the Orlando airport starting the first day of our family vacation? Yes, I know officially the first 3 days will be spent doing "Daddy's work stuff". But I won't have to be cleaning house, doing dishes, or laundry. I will however, still have to be changing dirty diapers. Why is it that can't magically disappear on vacation like the rest of the hard work? We are going on the Disney cruise and they always talk about where the "magic" happens. How about disappearing diapers for a week? That's magic I want to see and would pay to have. How about you?
I'm kind of cold so I think I'll go turn the heat up. I probably should start cooking dinner so maybe I'll just turn the oven on and that will probably fix my problem.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
My Boy!
Everyone knows Dylan is "My Boy". He's one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. Some day God may bless us with another child and that'll be fine. Until then, I'm going to enjoy every moment I can with Dylan.
He is so smart. Every parent says that. You know what? They are all right. Kids are smart. They are learning so much at this age and every day it's something new. They remember where they put something the night before. They say something you taught them the day before. They do a new sign language to communicate what they want. It's the greatest feeling in the world to know they are learning from you.
I call my husband daily and the conversation starts out like this, "Do you know what he just did?" My husband loves it. I know he wishes he could be here for all those precious moments, but he's also grateful I call him and tell him what's going on in our world. You know what the best part is. My husband sacrifices daily so I can stay home with "My Boy" and enjoy all those precious moments. I don't have to get a phone call or hear from the babysitter. That's nice!
So, now it's my turn to brag. We make a trip to the bank at least once a week, Dylan and I do. I ride my bike and I have a seat on the back for him. My best "girl" friend bought it for him at the beginning of the summer and it has definitely got lots of use. Back to the story, though. Every time we go to the bank, whether we go in or through the drive-thru...the teller always gives us a sucker. Usually, I just open it and give it to him. By the time we get home, it's running down his chin and neck, it's all over his hands, all over his face, and sometimes in the seat. So, I thought...today when they give me the sucker I won't show it to him, I'll just stick it straight in the backpack (I carry a backpack when we go to the bank). He'll never know I got one and we'll be on our way. The tube came back from the lady inside. I didn't show him the tube. I dumped all the contents straight into the backpack. He never saw a thing. I know he didn't, because I made sure. I put the tube back and before I could start petalling, he said "Mom". I turned around and he was pointing to his mouth saying "Ducker, Cannie". Those are his words for suckers or candy. I told him that it was in my backpack and he could have it later. We left the bank and went to the post office and then the park. It was quite a while before we got home. Before I could get him off the bike when we got home, he was pointing at my backpack saying, "Ducker". That kid doesn't forget anything. He's so smart!
We take walks around our neighborhood daily. Sometimes several times a day. It's so much fun for a little boy. There are skidsters, bulldozers, and all kinds of big equipment running. Construction is going on everywhere. There are rock piles to climb, sand to play in, and tons of hidden treasures. Dylan's hidden treasures are pieces of wood or nails. Sometimes his favorite toy is a piece of pvc pipe used for plumbing. We never take anything that isn't in a junk pile or can't be used. But, wow, we end up with a lot of construction items in our trash weekly. It's so much fun to see what he'll find each day. He's adventurous!
One of Dylan's things lately is to get down really low or lay down on the concrete to find bugs. When he sees something crawling he gets up and jumps on it or steps on it. It's funny to watch him try to step on a grasshopper. He falls quite often. He also likes to dig in ant hills. It hasn't got him hurt, yet, but I'm sure one day it will. He's so crazy!
He's the biggest immitator. He loves to have you pretend to put deodorant on him right after you have done yourself. He hammers the walls in the sunroom while Dad is working out there. He pretends he's eating food when he sees a picture of it in a book. If you're laying on the floor, that's where he wants to be. You never completely understand how much fun that is until you've been a parent experiencing the same things. He's the funniest!
He loves gum, but doesn't know how to keep chewing. He always swallows it. He loves balls and has since he was very little. He is trying to learn how to bat a ball already and no one showed him how to do that. He just brings you the ball and holds on to his golf club like a bat and says, "K". You throw it and he swings. 99% of the time, he misses, but we do it again and again. He can hear a plane before he can see it and then he figures out where it's coming from and points it out. I love him!
Thank you, God, for allowing me the opportunity to love someone else, someone so little, and even though they can't say it back you know they love you, too.
He is so smart. Every parent says that. You know what? They are all right. Kids are smart. They are learning so much at this age and every day it's something new. They remember where they put something the night before. They say something you taught them the day before. They do a new sign language to communicate what they want. It's the greatest feeling in the world to know they are learning from you.
I call my husband daily and the conversation starts out like this, "Do you know what he just did?" My husband loves it. I know he wishes he could be here for all those precious moments, but he's also grateful I call him and tell him what's going on in our world. You know what the best part is. My husband sacrifices daily so I can stay home with "My Boy" and enjoy all those precious moments. I don't have to get a phone call or hear from the babysitter. That's nice!
So, now it's my turn to brag. We make a trip to the bank at least once a week, Dylan and I do. I ride my bike and I have a seat on the back for him. My best "girl" friend bought it for him at the beginning of the summer and it has definitely got lots of use. Back to the story, though. Every time we go to the bank, whether we go in or through the drive-thru...the teller always gives us a sucker. Usually, I just open it and give it to him. By the time we get home, it's running down his chin and neck, it's all over his hands, all over his face, and sometimes in the seat. So, I thought...today when they give me the sucker I won't show it to him, I'll just stick it straight in the backpack (I carry a backpack when we go to the bank). He'll never know I got one and we'll be on our way. The tube came back from the lady inside. I didn't show him the tube. I dumped all the contents straight into the backpack. He never saw a thing. I know he didn't, because I made sure. I put the tube back and before I could start petalling, he said "Mom". I turned around and he was pointing to his mouth saying "Ducker, Cannie". Those are his words for suckers or candy. I told him that it was in my backpack and he could have it later. We left the bank and went to the post office and then the park. It was quite a while before we got home. Before I could get him off the bike when we got home, he was pointing at my backpack saying, "Ducker". That kid doesn't forget anything. He's so smart!
We take walks around our neighborhood daily. Sometimes several times a day. It's so much fun for a little boy. There are skidsters, bulldozers, and all kinds of big equipment running. Construction is going on everywhere. There are rock piles to climb, sand to play in, and tons of hidden treasures. Dylan's hidden treasures are pieces of wood or nails. Sometimes his favorite toy is a piece of pvc pipe used for plumbing. We never take anything that isn't in a junk pile or can't be used. But, wow, we end up with a lot of construction items in our trash weekly. It's so much fun to see what he'll find each day. He's adventurous!
One of Dylan's things lately is to get down really low or lay down on the concrete to find bugs. When he sees something crawling he gets up and jumps on it or steps on it. It's funny to watch him try to step on a grasshopper. He falls quite often. He also likes to dig in ant hills. It hasn't got him hurt, yet, but I'm sure one day it will. He's so crazy!
He's the biggest immitator. He loves to have you pretend to put deodorant on him right after you have done yourself. He hammers the walls in the sunroom while Dad is working out there. He pretends he's eating food when he sees a picture of it in a book. If you're laying on the floor, that's where he wants to be. You never completely understand how much fun that is until you've been a parent experiencing the same things. He's the funniest!
He loves gum, but doesn't know how to keep chewing. He always swallows it. He loves balls and has since he was very little. He is trying to learn how to bat a ball already and no one showed him how to do that. He just brings you the ball and holds on to his golf club like a bat and says, "K". You throw it and he swings. 99% of the time, he misses, but we do it again and again. He can hear a plane before he can see it and then he figures out where it's coming from and points it out. I love him!
Thank you, God, for allowing me the opportunity to love someone else, someone so little, and even though they can't say it back you know they love you, too.
Old Friends, New Life
Ok, so every once in a while I start thinking about old friends. Then, I think how did I lose contact with those friends. For some, it was just that our lives went different ways. For others, it was a cross-country move. For the focus today, it was marriage.
Have you ever thought about when you first started dating "The One"? You probably were like me and didn't double-date too often. As a matter of fact, most of my friends were not dating at the time. So, you drew closer to your future spouse and further from your friends. I forgot about my friends. Sure, I still said Hi when I saw them out. I never made special occasion to call any of them or hang out. What a mistake? Does everyone make that same one?
I miss certain people I hung out with before I got on the serious dating scene. I have made new friends since dating and marriage. They are great friends and best of all, most of the time, they are friends we as a couple can enjoy together...married friends.
However, there are some people I became friends with after I was married but they were not. Now, they are in the serious dating stage or married and they are going through the same things I did in that era. Try to remember friends are very important. Best of all, if they are real friends, they'll still be there when you decide you want to talk again. Trust me, you'll get there. Having your husband or wife to talk to is great, and family too, but it's always nice to know there's someone else that can relate.
Have you ever thought about when you first started dating "The One"? You probably were like me and didn't double-date too often. As a matter of fact, most of my friends were not dating at the time. So, you drew closer to your future spouse and further from your friends. I forgot about my friends. Sure, I still said Hi when I saw them out. I never made special occasion to call any of them or hang out. What a mistake? Does everyone make that same one?
I miss certain people I hung out with before I got on the serious dating scene. I have made new friends since dating and marriage. They are great friends and best of all, most of the time, they are friends we as a couple can enjoy together...married friends.
However, there are some people I became friends with after I was married but they were not. Now, they are in the serious dating stage or married and they are going through the same things I did in that era. Try to remember friends are very important. Best of all, if they are real friends, they'll still be there when you decide you want to talk again. Trust me, you'll get there. Having your husband or wife to talk to is great, and family too, but it's always nice to know there's someone else that can relate.
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