God made everything

James is learning so much at sunday school. The B-I-B-L-E song, David and Goliath, David and Jonathan, and now, God has made everything. We were talking about this on the way home from church yesterday. I was telling James that God first made light and then darkness, thats why we have morning and nighttime. And that God had made him, his mommy and daddy, sister, grandparents etc. And then we get on the topic of Superheroes...the topic of interest lately. And James realizes God made Hulk, and this is fascinating to him. He giggles.

Also funny, T.A. (the youth pastor) spoke at our church. He was talking briefly about kids, and how he has come to the conclusion that kids do one of two things when you take them out in public. They can make you look like amazing parents, or embarrass you. Remember that.

Sometimes after church we'll stop by the mall to let the kids blow off some steam and run around. The stores are closed and the mall is fairly empty except for those mall walkers....
James was in a pretty whiney mood today, and after the final straw Josh has told him, if you throw one more fit, we are going home....minutes later a fit so we're leaving. James is making the most horrible sounds I've ever heard. At one point he is so angry, he rares back and slaps his sister in the head....great, now 2 screaming kids. Now I had mentioned that the mall was fairly empty, but it seems at this point all the mall visitors are focused on my screaming kids. Josh pulls James aside several times to explain to James why we are leaving. He just can't handle that we're actually leaving the mall.

We make it out to the car in one piece, barely. One final discipline to this 15 min tantrum seems to set James right. Whats leftover is his whimpers and big huffs of breaths, you know when you've cried so hard and you're just trying to get your breath back. Josh and I quietly discuss this as we're driving home. And also giggle over the embarrassment that just ensued. Though honestly I wasn't embarrassed, I would much rather my child be screaming because they didn't get their way. I've also learned that this is a great learning experience. Something similar happened at the playplace months ago. We had only been there, 10 minutes at most. And James badly wanted to play skiball, after telling him 3 times, that we did not come here to play this game, and if he asks one more time we're going home, screaming at me "NO MAMA!" I swiftly pick up James, Scarlett and all our belongings and leave. Has James asked to play those games again? nope. He sweetly points at them and says ball and smiles.

So yes, sometimes embarrassment, but more often its great joy, because he is learning and he is becoming more obedient. God help us.

Superman....smells?

James has been wearing the Superman shirt and cape for 6 days in a row.

Now he's still been bathing, but must immediately put it back on after his bath. He's worn it to Target, the library, grocery store, the play place, and yes, even bed. He's been recognized everywhere. Even once showing up at the salon wearing said shirt, with camo shorts, and cowboy boots.

When he is "spotted" in public, usually he bows his head. I'm sure its of embarrassment that 'Superman' was spotted shopping in the store with his mom and sister. Though today at Target he did actually show how fast he could run. Quite impressive.

I wonder how many days he would actually wear this if I let him. And then how many days until it can 'stand up on its own' as my dad says about dirty clothes. I would let him wear it as often as he wanted, after all as a kid he can get away with it. I mean how weird would it be if you see a 28 year old man wearing a superman shirt with cape attached, could you not make a face about that?

So for now I'll let him wear it however many days in a row. After all it does save me laundry. And maybe he could set a new Guinness World Record. Now if he wants to wear the same underwear over and over, that's where I draw the line.

How bad do you want it?

My husband sent me this picture of our daughter literally stuck in a toy basket. I only wish I were there to watch her in the process of leaning, gonna get that toy that my brother always takes from me, leaning, oh no! I'M STUCK! of course also to console her after completely freaking out. How fun are kids?

Well, well, well

Here she is walking in all her glory. She literally woke up Sunday morning took a few steps here and there, went to church, Target (and pushed the cart with daddy) came home and started doing this all over the place. I've been so impressed. James took almost a month to get walking and she seems to have got it down in a weekend. Way to go girl. And yes, she is wearing silver shoes!





Just for fun, here's a video of James' first steps in Spring of 07

Excuse me, where is your Li-boo-bee?

Today marked the first day of story time at the Library. We went last week, only to be sorely disappointed to find I took the kids on the wrong day, well not the wrong day really, story time started the 9th. In the car, I'm telling James we're going to the library for story time, then I reenact some silly songs that we sing there to refresh his memory. Fun in the car, embarrassing in public. He remembers with a silly grin, to shout out "Li-boo-bee!" I snicker..."Yes James, the library!" This one is definitely going in the memory book.

In we walk. He hasn't fully understood what whispering is, nor does he understand that whispering is what we do at the library. Shouting as soon as we walk in the doors, "li-boo-bee, storytime!" That gets a few giggles from other mommies with their toddlers. We grab our ticket and head to the back. As soon as we enter that room, James turns into another child entirely. Quiet, reclusive, finger chewing. What my mother also labels some kids as 'crotch babies'. This is highly abnormal for James, as he's the kid at the park, going up to complete strangers yelling "HI" at them, even the grocery store.

We make our way up front, me holding Scarlett whom desperately wants down, and James clinging to my leg for fear that I may leave him, I think. We find a seat close up front. And await librarian Suzanne for her amazing attention grabbing and story-telling skills. James is in my lap and Scarlett is sort-of. Once story-time starts, James is himself again, and participating and so cute and funny. Scarlett is reenacting things of her own, like the Little Mermaid singing. awesome. James gets a stamp on his hand at the end, its of Ratty's feet. (Ratty is the hand puppet Ms. Suzanne uses to talk silly to the kids). Scarlett gets a stamp too, only to immediately lick it. Ms. Suzanne tells me the ink is not toxic. That thought didn't even enter my mind, I was more worried that she would have green lips after licking it. Was that wrong?

So most Tuesday mornings, you can find us at the li-boo-bee, for story time. yeah

sidenote....before actually checking out the books, I highly recommend reading them through......thoroughly.

Happy Birthday my baby girl.

How quick does a year go? I've always been told that time seems to literally fly by when you have children. It totally does. With Scarlett, at least I tried to anyway.. really cherish those baby times...Now she's 1. What a sweet little lady she is. So much happiness in that face. And so much sass. I love that girl.

We sang Happy Birthday to her and James chimes in "Happy Day Baby". I wonder when and if he we ever call her Scarlett. Or even stop referring to "baby cry?", whenever he talks of her.

Nonetheless, my baby is now 1. How time flies when you're having fun.

birthdays

September 1, the love of my life is 27. 3 more years til he approaches 30. When he turned 26, he called it the downward slope. Lets just hope and pray its the downward slope to finding better employment, or a briefcase full of money to pay of student loans. No matter though. We have our health and each other. And an everlasting Love from God.

Happy Birthday Babe. Love you mucho mucho!