Week Long Adventures

Sunday August 24th at 3:00 Ben drove us from the church to the air port, where we joined the many people there saying "good bye" to their loved ones as they dropped them off curbside, at the Continental terminal booth. After Ben joined the throng of people going into the terminal, I drove off with a sleepy boy to go home and take a nap. A little after we got home, Ben called to say he got to his gate within 15 minutes, so he had 2 hours of sitting ahead of him, waiting for his plane. What fun...

Joseph and I had a whole week a head of us without Daddy...what can we do to stay busy...hum?

Monday: walking, breakfast, swimming, lunch, mutual nap, pick up winter clothing for Joseph, dinner, play with Grandma Rose, clean, bath play time, bed for Joseph, Mommy gets "me time"!!

Tuesday: no walk, no swimming (it rained all day), breakfast, play indoors, go to library, lunch, mutual nap, play indoors some more, read books, dinner, clean, play in tub, bed for Joseph, Mommy gets "me time"!

Wednesday: no walk, no swimming, breakfast, play, indoor picnic lunch and B-day celebration with play group, mutual nap, play, go get food, dinner, play, clean, bath tub fun, bed for Joseph, Mommy gets "me time"!, watch Princess Diaries

Thursday: late morning walk, breakfast, shower, play, lunch, mutual nap, go late B-day shopping with and for Grandma Stalder, go play with Stalder Uncles, dinner, play, play, watch movie, Mommy and Grandma sew clothes, bed time for Joseph, Mommy goes to bed, Joseph wakes up at 1am vomiting, Mommy cleans up, helps Joseph feel better, back to bed for all,

Friday: wake up again super early to give Joseph medicine, Mommy helps Joseph feel better, back to bed until 7am, help sick Joseph get better, take a hot shower bath, eat breakfast, go get sick food to help Joseph feel better, take a nap, eat lunch, play a bit, clean, clean, clean, nap, Mommy get's "me time", dinner time, play at park (to burn off fever), watch movie, bed time for Joseph, Mommy get's more "me time", watch Ella Enchanted

Saturday: Joseph wakes up through out the night, Mommy sleeps in while Joseph plays, breakfast, clean, play, watch Nelson boys, lunch, mutual nap, shop at Target, play at Toys R Us, eat Wendy's for dinner, dinner at Pullen park, ride the chu chu train at Pullen, bath for Joseph, bed for Joseph, watch Holes

Sunday: Joseph wakes up through out the night, Joseph wakes up early, TV and play time for Joseph, Mommy sleeps in, church time, lunch time, mutual nap time, GO GET DADDY!!! YEAH!!! Daddy is home now!!!!!

What a fun and busy week. It was a bit rough to be a part for so long, but it was a great experience.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

Daddy and Ball

Now that Joseph is officially 18 months old, he is starting to pick up more words. He knows a ton of words and phrases, and can say a handful of words...and just to Ben and me a few phrases. We didn't take away his pacifier until after the doctor said it could impair is speech. Well since we don't want that, and since the only reason we let him keep the pacifier was because he is still teething, and most of his teething was awefully painful, so we cold turkey'd his pacifier.

So what words does Joseph know how to say: Ball, Daddy, Mommy, Light, Milk, Bottle, Doggy, Kitty, Thank you, balloon. What phrases have we heard him say: What is that?, Where is it? Who is it? Where is the ball? Of course there are a few others, but we can't think of them right now... What words does he say most often: "Daddy and ball. Everything is daddy and ball, in some variation or other.

Its very interesting how that happened, but somewhat frustrating too, because we want him to say other words too, even if its words he knows how to say, but now all of a sudden, out of the blue he won't say anything but daddy and ball...oh well. He's still just so cute!