On Speaking

Many of you know that Eleanor has been slow in speaking (although she is a great communicator and understands everything). But I am realizing more and more in recent days that much of that is due to her wanting to have control over something! No one can MAKE her talk!

So I say, "Eleanor, can you say 'red'?"
She says, "Nope."
I say, "Can you say 'ball'?"
She says "Nope."
And so the conversation goes.

BUT if I don't ask her to say anything, here are some things she has been saying on her own:
"Daddy, read the book please."
"No potty or poo-poo in there yet" - peering into the potty chair.
"Mommy, come sit here by you."
"What's that?"
"Come on, buddy!" - to the dog.
And so on.

Stinker! At least I know she has the capacity for speech!

Big Weekend for William

Will is officially crawling! He has been rocking on all fours, and scooting backwards, for some time now, but on Saturday something clicked and he was crawling all over the place! He is quite skilled now in form and building up speed. Also, he cut his first tooth! And, yesterday he got sick. Yep, he caught the PLAGUE from Eleanor and I. Sweet little boy, I am praying he does not get hit hard like his mama and sister. On that note, today was my first day with no fever, first day feeling fine in 9 DAYS. Eleanor is much improved, but quite cranky and still barely eating. My mom has been here to help take care of all of us, praise the Lord!

"Feel-Good Friday"

I actually thought about titling this post, "Has Anyone Ever Died of a Sore Throat?" but decided against it. I feel physically crummy, but I still have lots to be thankful for about this past week!

*My husband, my dad, my father-in-law. I never got to a Father's Day post because of a very busy weekend, but I am so blessed to have these men in my life. Todd is the most wonderful Daddy I could imagine for our children. He is loving, gentle and compassionate, silly, a great teacher, a playmate, a model. My own Dad has always been to me a picture of humility, hospitality, and servanthood. I have many fond memories with him growing up...hiking, fishing, looking for mountain lion tracks, listening to him tell stories in bed at night, him rubbing my feet when I had "growing pains." My father-in-law is thoughtful, generous, supportive, interested. I love all these guys!

*We spent last weekend with our church's missionaries to Pamplona, Spain, Joshua and Naomi Smith and their littlest one, Selma. (By the way, they were here; we were not in Spain!) I was encouraged in our fellowship; reminded that we are to be the church in the MIDST of the unbelieving world; reminded to treasure the character qualities in the beattitudes. All in all, a really great time.

*Our friend Amy came over to be with the kiddos while Todd and I went on our first date in at least 2 months! Dinner and a movie - Indiana Jones! We had such a great time together and were thankful for a friend like Amy.

*Todd worked only mornings on Thursday and today so he could take care of us!

*We have a potty-trained 2 year old!

Sick as a Dog, but Here are Pictures Anyway

Where does that dog expression come from, anyway?? I feel much worse than our canine friend Luther has ever appeared to feel! Other than Todd, who possesses super-human powers of immunity, we have spent most of the past 10 days sick. Sick with all different crud, sick with who-knows-what. Maybe more on that later. But here are the pictures. One a little smudgy and the other just not that great of a photo, but both a little symbolic.

Eleanor on the big kid swings. Since a little before Will was born, and we wanted to prepare her for being the BIG sister of the family, we have asked her if she is a baby or a kid. She always has said "baby-kid", which I think has been pretty on the mark! But just this week Todd asked her that question and got a different answer: "Kid!" And she is. Sleeps in a bed, not a crib. Wears underwear, not diapers. Rides the big swings at the park! She is having a lot of fun being "big."


And sweet William. Already developing quite an attraction to the forbidden, the off-limits, or just the things that are not his! I set him in front of the window a few days ago with one of his toys, and moments later, this is what I found! He had strewn Eleanor's coloring supplies all over and was chewing on a purple crayon. He wants the telephone, the remote, my filthy shoes, the food on everyone else's plate! He often cries when he is denied these desired objects, sounding so sad and hurt! He is my sweet, funny little boy.

"Feel Good Friday"

Things I enjoyed this week (in no particular order) ...

*Ponytails

*Warm days and cool nights

*Big progress in potty training E: from Monday thinking I would never leave the house again to Thursday with no accidents - and a trip to the park!

*Watching "West Wing" with my man

*Realizing today that my bad sore throat will probably not last forever

*Success in healthier eating for Todd and I

*Peeking at my babies while they sleep

*Finally getting caught up on the laundry


God shows His goodness in the big AND the little things of life!!

Enjoying the Outdoors

Dad's Birthday

My dad is one of the men I look up to the most. He is generous, humble, hospitable (sometime I will have to a post about my parents' hospitality and some of the people we had in our home growing up! There are a couple of "doozies"!), teachable, and has a great love for the Church. This week for his birthday we drove up to Lake City and surprised him! It was great fun. Here are some photos.