Dog Days

Well, the rest of the week has proven to be exceptionally hot, even hotter with each passing day. Isaac and I did not venture out to the store or any type of play places by ourselves since earlier in the week. We went out early in the morning, when the heat was less oppressive; however, morning temperatures of 80 to 85 are not that low really. The first morning out I put the sprinkler on low, I thought this may be successful now that he is a pro at the water splash pad at the zoo. And it did work. He had a lot of fun. I took a video, but am having trouble downloading it. I will have to wait until Stephen can show me how to get it onto my computer from my phone (surely that's possible!). We also filled up his pool. What would we do without our little (big) swimming pool? Isaac would not be a happy camper because there is no way his own mother would sit outside without that nice pool! I have deep gratitude and amazement at everyone who works outside on days like this. How can though do it? I can literally feel my skin burning! We frequently (minute by minute) keep dousing ourselves in water to keep from melting. Melting would be a bad thing…

Playing Around

I thought I heard mouse in there!

Climber

He knows he isn't supposed to be up there, right? So what does he say, "Mom! Cam-uh!" Cheese!

At the End

It's been another long day. Either they really are getting longer, or I am just realizing how long they actually are. Today was so long because it was full every minute with activity. I could tell when Isaac woke up that he was not feeling completely whole… his little eyes were puffy but his smile was still there. He had energy, until about lunch time when he completely bottomed out. All he could do was snuggle down on the floor and run a car across his tummy. I told him his cheeks looked a little red (like he had a fever) and he said, No… they were blue. Oh, okay. Then could I please look in his mouth to see if there were any polka dots. Orange and green of course. He took a nap, and pulled on my heart when he woke up. He was still so tired and whiny. It is not a happy thing to see your little fellow not feeling 100%.

After Isaac woke up, Stephen did an amazing job of being here at home and completely rearranging our living room! We are enjoying it now. He has finally come in for the day, and working on the couch with his computer. He has done an amazing job keeping our house looking nice both inside and out. Several things off our to-do list today!!! We took the dining room table down and moved the couch where that used to be. We moved several other pieces of furniture… nothing stayed in the same place except the two corner cabinets which are occupying the only two corners we have in the living area. (We of course live in a square house, but the other corners are busy with doors and hinges, and the like.) We have a lovely, cozy sitting area now where we used to have the dining room and have a nice open area… although I am currently noticing my son is trying to circle around my recliner… as if the living room just isn't big for him…. Some people are never satisfied!

A Quote to Remember

An original sentence… by Isaac. (Unwilling to put pants back on after a diaper change. Rather, enjoying the comfortable feel of being undressed.)

Day is Done

It has been a really, really long day. But it is over now…almost. As soon as I can finish writing and wind down a little bit. But I so happy to report that I can now flush the toilet without fear! I can (one day, when all the backwashed grime is gone) take a long, long shower. (Exactly how many scrubbings will it take to get the bathtub clean again?) And Isaac is good for one more year before having another maintenance check-up. Today's was long (I said that, right?)… very long. I am so thankful for a husband who went through this entire day's trials with us. A large sacrifice of time on his part, hours and hours…including taking care of Isaac while I had Bible study to night. I think right now I hear him getting back into the ticking groove on his keyboard.

Isaac is 37 and a half inches tall, and 25 pounds. Extremely skinny for his age, and exceptionally tall. The doctor did not consider the bruises a testimony to any type of child abuse thankfully; even casually overlooking the bruised bump that conveniently found itself on his forehead right before we had to go in today of course! By the dirt collected under his finger nails and between his fingers from admiring the plumber's rotating machine in the front lawn today for over an hour and by the popsicle stain running down his arm… she came to the conclusion that he was active. But little did she know that drama leading up to the appointment. I overcame the feeling of being belittled because… there is just really nothing you can do when the housing plumbing is beyond your control. Thankfully she didn't see the stains on my own shirt from those same popsicle-hands and muddy fingers, that were much dirty before I was able to get them somewhat clean before we got in the car. I just don't even notice things about my own self when I am trying to get my own child looking decent. There are days I get to our destination and wonder if I put my shoes on, or did I even look in the mirror to fix my hair? Or… what am I wearing?

It's been a long… LONG day!

My Simple Daybook

For Today, Sunday, August 08, 2010

Outside my window...

The sun is very bright and is ten degrees less than the projected temperature on the radio this morning. A very nice blessing indeed!

I am thinking...

Where are my Aunt and Uncle right about now? Are they in the plane, still waiting at the airport? Have they arrived?? I hope they have a fabulous time on their trip to (the state of) Washington and are rested and revived! Praying for you every day! Anxious to try out your phone numbers a week from now to find out if you made it safely back to civilization!

I am thankful for...

I got to talk to my brother today! What a surprise! Sorry for my parents who heard him hang up on them, but happy all Jon could here was a busy signal and decided to use his few remaining minutes to talk to his old sis'. Thankful he is able to still have his cell phone working, despite the added expense a few months for someone else! Because just getting some news from him each week is worth it!

From the kitchen...

Are some wafting aromas that remind me of our fun muffin baking yesterday. Isaac and I decided to make Banana Crumb Muffins for breakfast yesterday. And he actually did a great job helping! He was really into it (literally and figuratively), he couldn't wait to see how they would turn out. He was completely in charge of the brown sugar crumbs we put on top just before sticking the batter in the oven. He was very successful and because he used handfuls instead of pinches, probably turned out better than I could have made them. Don't remember if you remember that really, really old post of him in his green apron… he was extremely reluctant to wear it then, but yesterday… had a hard time getting him out of it. He kept explaining to me that he was a baker, he needed it!

I am reading...
Finding Peace for Your Heart, by Stormie Omartian. I have been really touched at her testimony and her encouragement to find fresh faith. It has "empowered" me with basic explanations, easy to reference Scriptures, and answers for very basic, basic questions unbelievers (and new believers) have about God, salvation, and living a godly life. It has been a real encouragement to me and I am anxious to finish through it so I can start on her next one too!

I am hoping...

I do not have an hour and half wait in the doctor's office tomorrow (again). Last time was a nightmare! I have been talking to Isaac about what the doctor will check, but I can't bring myself to mention the shots. He is a big boy now, and he can kick! That means someone is going to have to hold him down. It means he is old enough to blame someone… oh please don't let it be me!

I am creating...

A LOT of spelling mistakes in this blog! I think I am catching them, but will not be going back over and reading this because… why torture myself?

I am hearing...

The air conditioner! So thankful for the air conditioner!

Around the house...

Are signs of great progress being made! Isaac's "old" toys are put away, leaving only the toys he actually adores out on his shelves. The dining room table is clear, and ready to be put away, making more room in the living room area for baby equipment come a few more months. The laundry has just that… laundry stuff… no junk waiting to be put in the garage. And the bathroom… is waiting for the plumber to come fix our horrible draining problem!

Isaac is…

Changing every day! He is starting to get excited about stuff. For example, when he sees someone he has missed like Dad at the end of the day, or a friend at church… he just cannot control himself and seems to turn off all his listening ears. Monday, when we were going to Wisconsin, he was so excited to be going on vacation he could not WAIT for us to pack the car. He was going around the house just pulling random stuff out, chattering on and on, banging stuff, being a general nuisance, and by the time it was time to actually be in the car, he had worked himself up so much he was in tears!

Our second child…

Has several nice clothes waiting for him in the garage. I was able to go through several baby boxes this week in the garage and organize them. There is a large tub waiting to be washed and put away in the dresser once I get all Isaac's stuff in the house organized and stored in the garage. I am thinking there are a few more boxes I missed because there are some onesies and little tiny pants we bought when he was two weeks old that are missing still. I'll find them before December. I was blessed to find a great garage sale this week and get some winter baby clothes for a quarter a piece! Including one brand new, tags still on, winter suit to wrap around Baby, and transfer him in and out of his car seat because it has this convenient little hole in it, so I don't even have to worry about getting his out in the cold. I can just strap him in and go!

One of my favorite things...
Surprise phone calls from brothers in Basic Training, and then calling the parents for a nice, long, Sunday afternoon conversation! Sundays were made for such things!

A few plans for the rest of the week…

-Take Isaac to the doctor

-Have a first women's Bible Study on Luke Monday night

-Celebrate Play In the Sand Day on Wednesday

-(Secretly) celebrate International Left-Handers' Day on Friday. (I told him already, but I'm thinking he won't remember, therefore it will be a surprise!)

Birthday Dollars

Isaac thinks he is a "fye-mun." Everyone is a "fye-mun": the police officer, the construction worker, the mailman. All helpers and workers get lumped into his all time favorite job: fireman! So how convenient that the week after his birthday he is able to spend some birthday dollars in the Dollar Aisle and buy a fireman hat and jacket? A dream come true I tell you!

Kenosha

Before the summer got away from us and the busy-ness of our Fall schedule begins, we wanted to take a little vacation together. And by "little" I mean one night. Two days, one night away. And for each of us, it was just the right amount of time. We enjoyed each other's laughs and giggles, relaxed, played, didn't worry about doing dishes, cleaning up toys, or staying up too late (because we were exhausted). It was nice.

We drove about an hour and ten minutes out of the city and up to Wisconsin, right on Lake Michigan. Thanks to Priceline we got an amazing hotel, and felt luxurious. We left before lunch and stopped off at Trinity, taking a grand tour of the new facilities they have just put up there. We enjoyed seeing where Stephen goes to school and works, and met many new friends we had only heard about this past year since we have been gone from that area. After that it was only a few minutes until we were unloading at our hotel, and then taking our picnic lunch to the beach. The first day we were there was overcast, but still warm. By the water, we were a tiny bit chilly, so we put our blanket a little ways up the shore. The water was ice, but thankfully when we went back at lunch the next day, we found a different beach that actually had sunshine and sand… and had a much warmer experience. But both were extremely fun and relaxing. Can't go wrong with a beach-y day, sun or clouds, in the middle of summertime!

After the beach and late lunch we took a tour of the city, found the lighthouse, and several other places of interest. We went back to the hotel, washed all the sand off of us, and turned in early. The next day we enjoyed a yummy breakfast and went off to tour the Jelly Belly Factory. It was pretty cute… and I learned so much about jelly beans!! Amazing stuff! When we left the factory, the sunshine was calling us back to one more trip to the beach before we headed back home late in the afternoon. We stopped off at one of our favorite places for a very late lunch, and then meandered our way back home.

This scrapbooking design created with Smilebox

My Simple Daybook

For Today, Sunday, August 01, 2010

Outside my window...

The sun is shining and the temperature is not nearly as humid or hot as it has been last few weeks I have sat (I almost wrote "have sitten"… I don't even think that is a word!) down to write. The temperature is a lovely 84 degrees and the cicadas are outsides humming away. I like to hear them, but I highly dislike finding them on a bench I am about to sit on or in the grass where I am about the take my next step. "Huge bugs they are!"

I am thinking...

About my family far away. I had the wonderful privilege of talking to my Aunt on the phone for several minutes today. Isn't it so nice to talk to someone who seems to have always known you? I remember that same feeling when my grandparents passed too, that feeling that someone who has always known me and those memories of my life are missing. But as this same Aunt and Uncle inspired me to think: Don't cry because it is gone, smile because it happened. And the more time goes by from me, and now as I frequently fold a shirt of Isaac's for the last time, or find some other memento that has served its purpose and is to put away or given away, I do smile instead of regretting that time is over. It has been good, each moment I am blessed with, because God has been good, He IS good. We look forward to what is ahead. And I am thinking of my brother. Funny how you think of someone even more when you know you cannot easily get in touch with them as you once would have.

I am thankful for...

A wonderful husband who is so tender and supportive through all the ups and downs of pregnancy!

From the kitchen...

Comes the remaining yummy aroma of roast with potatoes and carrots. I love the smell of Sunday dinners when we walk in from church. Yea for the crock-pot and a timer on the plug and outlet that make it work so well for us. Even a train that made us wait over fifteen minutes today couldn't make me worry… I knew things had already switched off and weren't awaiting my arrival lest they burn!!

I am reading...

Beyond Ourselves by Catherine Marshall.

(I thought I had read all her books until I picked this one off the shelf last week. How long has it been sitting there unread??)

Most impressionable moment from it this week:

"…the Christian life must be lived in the will, not in the emotions; that God regards the choices decisions and choices of a man's will as the decisions and choices of the man himself—no matter how contrary his emotions may be. Moreover, when this principle is applied, the emotions must always capitulate to the will. I don't 'feel' God's presence today' we wail. What is the remedy? It is simplicity itself: Our emotions are not the real us. The motivating force at the center of our physical being is our will."

I am hoping...

We have wonderful weather for our two days off together as a family. We are looking forward to two days up in Wisconsin, enjoying a little family vacation before we fall into what appears to be an extremely busy Autumn schedule!!

I am creating...

(Don't laugh…) An Advent Calendar. Yes, this is for Christmas. "Christmas in July" (except now it's August). I have finished all our family devotions for the Jesse Tree and have chosen some activities for us to do every day during the holiday season. The reason I am doing this now is that if my first trimester symptoms return the third trimester, I will feel like doing nothing which will really frustrate me because I adore the Fall and Christmas. So I am getting ready for it now, especially since we do not know when Baby will be officially coming and how. So now there is something for Isaac to always do every day whether I am in the hospital or feeling unmotivated, fat, and overtired at home. I was telling Stephen I actually like this planning (because it's almost done) and feel like I will enjoy the holiday instead of doing all this DURING the time of celebration. It will all be done and I can actually BE! So don't send me your wish list… yes, it's already been bought. Even down to the wrapping paper and bows.

I am hearing...

The hum of Isaac's baby monitor while he takes a nap since I cannot hear back in his room while the air conditioning is on!

Around the house...

Are several little boy toys. A well built track that is waiting for its Engineer to return and a truck load of animals waiting to be unloaded again into the barn. What a relief that girl themed toys will not have to be added to our collection (nothing against girl things at all, just one more thing that's "easy" this time around).

One of my favorite things...

Sunday afternoon coffee. Thinking ahead for the week. Reflecting on the past. Rediscovering how much I enjoy writing letters!
Writing every week has developed in me this realization that… things pass. As I go through a new phase with Isaac (spitting, kicking, whatever) I have gained an amazing perspective that made me realize we are always in the process of development… so work hard at growing… and that nothing (whether annoying, bad or adoringly good and comfortable) comes to stay for always.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

-Go on vacation!\

-(Still) wait for the new Ladies' Bible Study material to come (they had to make a new recording for us)

-Start organizing the unorganized baby stuff that was quickly packed a year ago when we moved