Hmmmmmm

Justin is really trying to develop a vocabulary. This past week he has been pretty intent on saying and gesturing for "baa." That would be 'ball' for the rest of us.

Austin was insistent on laying next to me on the couch today and telling me to push him out of my belly. I can't imagine where that came from. Ok, MAYBE it came from the maternity ward show we had just watched. My little doctor, or, my little weirdo! Or, too much t.v. Or, too many stories about his and his brothers births.

Ashes! and such....

PRECIOUS!!











A baby shower cake I made today. REMEMBER, I am NOT a baker!

The reason for posting a pic of it is to see if you see what Austin saw in the side piping....feet! He said,, "mommy, that's very pretty feet on there."













Ashes. That is Justin's new word. It sounds like "assuzz." He did it last night when we were all in bed and I was singing my usual 10-15 bedtime songs to the boys that puts them all (all 3) of them to sleep. When I got to Ring Around the Rosie, all I did was look at Justin (who was sitting up in bed instead of laying down, now that he can sit up on his own) and repeated "ashes" at the end of the song. He smiled and then repeated it. So I said it again, and so did he. I was so tickled and made sure Matt heard it too so that I wasn't imagining things. This went on for several minutes. Interesting word for a kid that only says "mama", "dada", "bubu" like bubby, and lots of babbling. I think I blogged sometime ago on 2 words I was sure he said in bed, but they haven't been repeated since. We are really milking ashes. If you ask him to say it, mostly he complies.

I noticed a couple of days ago that when I told him to go get the football (which was quite a ways away and he hadn't been playing with it and we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 10), he looked over at it and started crawling for it. I was shocked! So in bed last night, before the ashes thing, I told him to go get daddy, he looked at Matt, and then started crawling to him.

Altho this is a weird new word, I will say again what I said when Austin was learning to talk, "I am glad his first word wasn't french fry!"

Its MOMMY official!

Justin is finally crawling on all 4's. I mentioned in an earlier post that nursery workers at church had seen him do it. However, I had not. Late this afternoon that all changed. I suspected he was based on where I would see him 1 minute and where he was ending up, still on all 4's. But when grandma Paula came over for a surprise visit, she and I witnessed it together! Funny thing tho, I took him to the Dr. yesterday, turns out he had a sinus infection and they put him on antibiotics, and they asked me if he was crawling and I said no. Question is, where do we go from here? He has been pulling up to his knees for a couple of months. He never did the army crawl (neither did Austin), just rolled around a lot. Today he was sliding off the couch feet first, so I just let him go to see what he would do. He landed on his feet, stood there, and then kept pushing himself backwards until 1 push too many landed him on his backside. They grow up so fast! Now, about the talking. By the time Austin was 1 he could say many single words and say 2 word sentences: 'hi mommy, bye daddy, hi puppy," etc. So far Justin still only says mama & dada and lots of babbling. On request, he can wave hi and bye, growl or grunt in chorus to you, head butt, give kisses, and "get you" which means steer clear because he gets his mini claws out and goes for whatever on you he can grab/scratch. I'm in no hurry, I love him still being a baby, albeit not for long.

A few updates....and an apology or 2

Austin, Elizabeth, and John finished their 3rd week of preschool today. We reviewed the past 2 weeks of stuff: square, circle, blue, red, A, & B. We spent 1 day this week at the zoo, so it gave them an opportunity to find all of the things they had learned. (We took pictures and they made a collage. Elizabeth & John are holding their's.) We gathered a bunch of red leaves for one of their crafts. (Austin is holding that one.) Here they are: #1 at the zoo, #2 showing off their crafts from the last 2 days, and #3 having their last red & blue snack.













Austin has been very generous w/the compliments lately. Now I am a good dancer. Sadly, since I'm really not, I am less excited about his other compliments.

Justin's 8th tooth broke through 3 days ago (bottom left next to traditional 1st bottom tooth). That makes an even 4 on the top and bottom. Justin finally fell off of our king sized bed for the 1st time tonight. Thankfully he was on his belly w/his feet hanging off the edge as he went down. He was a little scared but didn't cry. I say "finally" because Austin had fallen off head first a couple of times by this point. He certainly isn't having any trouble getting around even tho I have yet to see him actually crawl.


1st apology: Our Sunday school class attended a bonfire at the home of one of the class members this past Saturday. It was fabulous! However, I owe everyone who was there, by the time we were ready to eat, an apology. As I was giving some announcements my husband said something to me and I snapped at him. As soon as I did it I was embarrassed for myself. I was very convicted over the next couple of days to offer an apology to everyone. However, I let sin take over and I didn't do it. So, after admitting and apologizing to the ladies in my bible study tonight, I decided to post an apology here.

2nd apology: It has come to my attention that while discussing specifics of meals with other ladies in my supper swap group, someone overheard what they thought was inappropriate talk about the women in the supper swap. I have had 3 lengthy conversations with 3 of the supper swap participants, and at no time did we ever specifically discuss any woman's bad cooking abilities. I was mortified and saddened that someone may have thought they heard such a thing, and in no way would I want to dishonor God by gossiping about another woman. My professional cooking background makes me feel like I can "help" others with small, easy food cooking techniques. I would want the same feedback from others who might happen upon my cooking. However, my point is this, if I have offended any woman in my supper swap group w/such talk, I am truly sorry and deeply ashamed. (I did offer this apology tonight at our supper swap, but we were missing 2 of the ladies and I know they occasionally read my blog.)

Now I am a good cooker too....

A couple of days after telling me I was a good cleaner, I received a new compliment from Austin. As I was fixing breakfast Saturday morning (fried mush, yummmm!) and cleaning the dining room table, Austin told me once again "your a good cleaner." After thanking him & kissing him, I went to the stove to check the mush. He came over and hugged my leg and said "your a good cooker mommy." I promise I have not been coaching him! How cute! It just makes your heart melt. Then today, I was outside with both kids and Austin patted my back and said "i'm here for you mommy." What a cutie!

Two weeks ago I started preschool w/him and 2 of the Steven's children. The first week they learned the letter A, the shape circle, and the color red. The second week they learned the letter B, the shape square, and the color blue. This coming week will be a refresher week on all of the above things, and maybe I will throw in a number. ooooo But this past week has been interesting with Austin because he now points out the things he recognizes by first saying "look mommy, we learned that." The biggest one for him has been the letter A because he sees it so many places while we are driving. Karen said John even drew the letter A for her. Teaching can be very rewarding.