Diet Plan

I think I’m going to start marketing a new diet.  Every time you eat something you shouldn’t, a screaming baby wakes you up multiple times at night. I just have a few kinks to work out, and then I’ll be posting “work from home”and “miracle diet” signs on every street corner.

Good Times

Monday I took the kids to my hometown to visit my sister-in-law and her kids.  They’d traveled across the country, so I figured the least I could do was drive a couple hours to see them.  Miraculously, Sophia slept on the way there, and both of the kids slept on the way home.

We had a fun day.  Caleb watched his cousin Luke like a hawk, imitating him whenever possible.  We got in a short game of Apples to Apples, in which even Caleb managed to win a round.  We ate corn on the cob for lunch and took a short walk through the cemetery that we use to haunt on our bikes as kids.  We heard all about Meghan’s success at the fair, Aunt Tara got to meet Sophia, and Mom realized that Sophia is a chunk—albeit a really cute one. 

We shared some hostas with Mom from our backyard, and she was kind enough to share a raccoon from my stuffed animal collection.  Caleb hugged it the whole way home, even through his nap. 

We haven’t done much else this week since Caleb and I have been battling a bug and Sophia is working on her second tooth.  As a sick day treat, Caleb loved watching Charlotte’s Web and eating popcorn.  (Or “corn pop” as Caleb calls it.)

And how’s that for a random post? 

Helping

Caleb’s idea of helping:

We’ve been working in our backyard recently to prepare for the removal of one of our trees.  The tree has been dying slowly, and instead of taking it out piece by piece, we’re just going to have it removed altogether.  Caleb has been excited to “help.”  (He’s using his snow shovel for the job.) I don’t think he’ll be nearly as excited when he realizes his swing will have to be removed and relocated to a less optimal limb. 

We’ve taken out a retaining wall around the tree, transplanted hostas, and moved dirt so we can grind down as much of the stump as possible.  As Caleb was helping Luke move dirt, he discovered a toad and proceeded to chase it until Luke helped it find the fence  line.

Oh, and I take no credit for Caleb’s fashion statement.  Polo and gym shorts—I hear it's all the rage in the 2-year-old crowd.

By the way, if you have a use for 60 retaining wall blocks, contact us.  We have some for you.

First Words

Don’t worry.  Sophia’s not talking back to us quite yet.

The first words out of Caleb’s mouth this morning when I went to get him up were, “Jesus is alive!”  Said with an exclamation point of course.  Last night before bed we read about Jesus’ resurrection.  I guess it stuck with Caleb all night long. 

I love that Caleb is learning simple (but powerful) truths about God.  God is big.  God made everything.  God loves me.  Jesus is alive!

When I push Caleb in the swing, we play a game that goes something like this: 

“Caleb, who made the clouds?”

“God.”

“Who made the trees?”

“God.”

“Caleb, who made the sky blue?”

“God.” 

“Caleb, who made you?”

“Mama.”

“Nooo. God did.  Who made Mama?”

And so on. 

First

Sophia’s had a lot of firsts this week.  First time sleeping through the night.  First time eating her toes.  First tooth.

No wonder she’s been eyeing the food on my plate.  Soon she’ll be eating my corn on the cob. 

Summer Fun

What a beautiful day! It’s the first day of school around here, and we wouldn’t know except for the kids walking by our house in the morning.  Ahh, the luxury of working at home.  We’ll continue to eke all we can out of summer. 

We just returned from a walk to the nearby farm stand.  We left the house with 6 quarters and returned with 3 ears of corn, 2 acorns, and 1 crab apple.  Quite the deal.  

Caleb’s highlights included: watching the mailman, walking backward, pushing the crosswalk button, holding the quarters, seeing a big truck and hearing it’s horn beep

My highlights: enjoying beautiful sunshine without the humidity we’ve had recently, seeing Caleb obey when I said “stop”

I sometimes wonder what cement truck drivers think when they drive by and see my son pointing at them with his jaw dropped.  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to make someone’s day just by driving by?

4 months

“Ahh.  This is the life.”

“I just lay here, and Caleb brings me toys.”

“But if I get really motivated, I can roll over and entertain myself.”

“Or roll over and go back to sleep!”

As you can see, Sophia can now roll over onto her tummy.  Her biggest source of entertainment is still Caleb.  She could watch Caleb run in circles for an hour straight without losing interest, and I think she gives Caleb more smiles than anyone else in the family!  Aside from Caleb, she loves to play with these links and play on her activity mat/gym thingy.  Her reflux is under control, thanks to some medication (and simply growing, I think), so we’re seeing a well-rested, happy baby. 

Update w/ stats from the doctor:

• Height: 26 inches (97 percentile)
• Weight 14 lbs. 9 oz. (72 percentile)
• Head circumference: 41 cm (53 percentile)

And…drumroll please…Sophia’s starting to sleep through the night.  Wahoo!  You may think it’s early or late, but whatever it is, I’m enjoying it!

Milk Theology

Caleb and I have had many conversations lately that go something like this:

[Caleb is pulling on the refrigerator door handle with the weight of his entire body and screaming like that annoying, undisciplined child in the store who didn’t get the candy he wanted.  Then he collapses onto the floor in a heap.]

Caleb: Mwaaaahhhhhh!  Waah-aah.  Waaaaaaa-waaaaaaaah!!

Me: Caleb, what’s wrong?  What do you need? 

Caleb: WAAAAAAAA!  WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Me: Do you want some milk?

Caleb (nodding his head):  Waahh-ahh  (hiccup)

Me: How do you ask for milk?

Caleb: Milk. Pease. Waa. (hiccup)

Me: I know you need milk.  I already poured it for you.  It’s on the table.  Go sit in your chair so we can eat breakfast and have milk.

- - -

This scenario reminds me of Jesus’ teaching about prayer.  “Your father knows what you need before you ask him.”  It’s a good reminder for me to trust God when I don’t see any possible solution.  I may not see it, but God does. 

It also serves as a reminder that God has reasons for telling us to ask him for what we need.  I could give Caleb his milk without making him ask for it.  But I want him to learn something through the process.  Polite behavior.  Communication skills.  Self-control. Gratitude.  All things that will be beneficial and useful in his future.  I’m glad God has my best in mind, and not just the immediate need that I see.   

- - -

On other days, a similar scenario plays out in our kitchen:

“Mil(k). Milk! Milk!! MIlk!! MILK!!! MIIIILK!!!!”

“Caleb, how do you politely ask?”

“Milk. Pease.”

“Caleb, I know you’d like milk right now, but you need to wait until we eat breakfast.”

“Mil(k). Milk! Milk!! MIlk!! MILK!!! MIIIILK!!!!”

- - -

The whole concept of waiting is very difficult for a toddler to grasp.  Sadly, I see many similarities in myself when I ask God for something and I don’t get it right away. Again, I have good reason in asking Caleb to wait.  I trust that God has good reason in asking me to wait as well.  

- - -

And one last scenario:

Caleb (in a high-pitched, irritating, nasal voice): “mweh mweh beol gobbledygook”

Me: Caleb, you’re whining. I can’t understand you when you whine.  God understands you when you cry like that, but Mama doesn’t. 

Thankfully, God isn’t like me. 

- - -

I’m thankful God continues to reveal himself and his ways through daily events like these.  They may not fit your standard Christianesque devotion, quiet time thingy, and they may not be deeply profound insights.  But they remind me that there’s more to life than pouring milk.

Summer Evening