On a Date

Jamie and I had a date this morning. A real one. Not a "rent a movie and have popcorn downstairs" sort of date. We left the house without our children. It was wonderful.

We got drinks and a snack at Borders, read, talked, relaxed... What an excellent time! Our boys had a spiffy good time, too. Our friends, the Nehres, watched the boys and I didn't worry one bit. Not once did I wonder if they were all right. Heather would be fine with the little dude even if he cried and Jonathan loves playing with their son, Andrew. They are two peas in a pod (only two weeks apart in age).

I promised the video of bible stories, but it takes a while to download so it is coming when I find the time to complete that process.

"I go with you, Mommy" and other randomness

I wanted to go to the grocery store one night last week (alone). Jonathan took my hand and looked at me with his big eyes, "I go with you to the store, Mommy." Who could say no to that? Tonight I needed to make a trip to Target. Again, "I go with you to Target, Mommy." He used to detest having to go places. We've turned over a new leaf (at least for the moment).

One of the friends I have met here had a genius idea. One that I LOVE and am using with Jonathan. Nightlight on a timer. Jonathan started getting up earlier and earlier. We were rapidly inching towards 6am. Not good. We put this nightlight on a timer in his room. It goes on at 745pm right before bedtime and stays on until 645am. When he started asking to get out before then we told him he had to wait until the light went off. Now he waits until the light goes off and loudly calls to us, "The light is off. I want out!" But, no more begging to get out and "play toys" at 6am. Hallelujah! And, if he sleeps later there is nothing that wakes him up so it is perfect.

Wish that Jamie's work was on a nightlight sort of schedule. No dice. He has had several 5am departure times this month. Yesterday was almost a nineteen hour day. That is no fun. However, we are most thankful for a job. A job that pays for food and a house and occasional meals out.

Videos of "bible tories" coming soon...
Sarah

Smiles!

When Jonathan first started making cooing noises and smiling, it was wonderful and I thought it was the most amazing thing. Now, my younger child is doing the same thing and I still find it amazing. And entertaining.

He has also started sucking on his hand with fervor. Today I noticed that he had only his thumb in his mouth. He seems quite disinterested in the pacifier when given the option of his hand so I think he will likely suck his thumb. I guess only time will tell.

Sarah

Real Simple

Real Simple has to be one of the best magazines. I have tried four new recipes the past two weeks from this magazine and they have all been good. And not too difficult. Not to mention that they are a bit different than the norm and don't contain dairy products that Jonathan can't have.

Try it - you'll like it.

The House in Video

I found this video when I was downloading the one of Jamie and Jonathan. I had forgotten about it. It makes me laugh. Mom and Dad sure know how to play in the house.

Fixing things with Daddy

Jamie's family has commented about my husband's patience with Jonathan in regards to his "help". I was supposed to be distracting Jonathan from Jamie's efforts, but he was amazingly persistent in his desire to "help". Finally, it was just too funny. I gave up trying to distract and just got the video camera.

Sent with Love and Glue

We made Valentines this year. Remember that Jonathan loves glue? In light of this fact, I decided that our Valentines would need to include lots of fun with glue. Glue and stickers. Jonathan had a whee of a time creating these gems...

Happy Valentines' Day! If you are a grandparent or cousin - enjoy your Valentine. It may be glued to the envelope.

Sarah

Best Day

I deem yesterday as the best day I've had as a mother of two, thus far. Caleb slept splendidly on Sunday night, we attended Storytime at the library without event, both children napped simultaneously, and we played in the basement nicely until Daddy arrived home around 5:30. None of this may sound noteworthy, but in my world this ranks as a day worth writing about. I've made a concerted mental effort to hold no expectations for a repeat. Just thankful for these days when they occur.

Today has been quite enjoyable due in large part to the weather. Almost seventy degrees in February. This kind of weather every so often gives me encouragement for at least a week or two that spring will come!

I'm off to work on our taxes. Tis the tax time of year~
Sarah

"The House" and Other Fun Times

Mom and Dad arrived on Wednesday. What a glorious three days we had with them! It is such a nice break to have others to entertain the little munchkins. Jonathan and Caleb love Mom and Dad. Jonathan would love to have both of them all to himself. Caleb is a little bit more understanding and only requires one person's attention at a time. Jonathan's cardboard house lives on. I thought he would have lost interest long ago, but he loves it as much as he did the first day we put it up. He did NOT want Grandma to leave the house: "Grandma, tay in there." Mom was in there for over an hour while Jonathan went in and out with various items.

Grandpa had his turn, too. At one point Grandma, Grandpa and Jonathan were in the house.

Grandpa and Jonathan also played trains. Grandpa gives Jonathan a run for his money. It is good for him :+)

Caleb is a much calmer child to entertain at this point than Jonathan. Mom and Dad both loved holding him as he is a more pleasant child to hold than he was a month ago. His neck looks a little goofy here, but he slept with Mom for about an hour.

Enjoying an unseasonably warm day and thanking God for it every minute!

Sarah

Two Months

As is customary in our country, two months of age means a doctor visit for shots and a check-up. Today was the day. We were all bundled up and ready to leave when we realized that the interior lights in my car had been left on, thus meaning a dead battery. I've been lamenting the fact that we haven't gotten Jamie's old car ready to sell. Today I was thankful that we still had the car. After transferring the car seats into that vehicle, away we went.

Caleb is in the fiftieth percentile for all three measurable items: height, weight and head circumference. He a healthy, mostly happy, spunky, lovable boy. He even tolerated the shots reasonably well. Reasonably well... there was still a fair share of crying and such, but he has been pleasant this afternoon. Not as sleepy as I had hoped, but pleasant.