Summer

It was been so hot… too hot… must just be me. But after being up since six o'clock (early sunrise wake up) with Isaac this morning, and already days of building trains and Lego towers, there is only so much of being cooped up inside that a body can take. So, Stephen helped us venture outside early this morning, filled the pool and new water play table Isaac got for his birthday. It was not long AT ALL before I got in the pool with Isaac. And he LOVED it! We had a lot of fun being and silly and playing. I was wishing for the beach today, but this was just as fun. Cool water. Warm sunshine. Lots of water. Fun and giggles. And as we were inventing games together I remembered I used to be the Summer Camp teacher… HOW did I come up with all that crazy stuff to do! And I am a bit disappointed that I have forgotten so much.

Sing-Along

Song: Who built the ark?

Isaac: "Knome-uh! Knome-uh!"

Song: Who built the ark?

Isaac: (Brother) Knome-uh (built the ark).

A Daybook

For Today, Sunday, July 18, 2010...

Outside my window...

It's hot. Miserably hot. I don't know what is wrong with me this summer, but the time I spend outside is just awful. I think it's because I'm pregnant. It has been a really funny discovery though: One night we went to a park or somewhere as a family. And Stephen (who is always, ALWAYS hotter than I am) turned to me and asked if I was ready to turn the air conditioning down… it was then that I knew I had a problem. I wasn't even close to being cooled down, in fact, I was still very warm. I talked to the doctor about it and a few friends who have been pregnant before and they said it is just because I'm pregnant. The doctor asked if I had a pass to the pool, he advised spending my time in the pool, soaking up the coolness of the water. As the weeks go by with the end to these "dog-days," the gigantic size of Isaac's pool is looking quite comforting.

I am thinking...

It is nice to not have anything due or places to go for a while. Summer is fun, and I love the people and places we see, but it is also nice to be at home. Looking forward to the heat being over, but not exactly ready for summer to be done.

I am thankful for...

Air conditioning.

From the kitchen...

Are cries from the dishes to be cleaned. I hate when they do that!

I am reading...

Family Feasts For $75 a Week, I highly recommend it. It's not really so much about making that specific dollar amount, but it is a wealth of practical, non-pressure-ful information on how to take care of your budget and in particular, managing a menu, home, and pantry.

I am hoping...

I can hustle around and get Isaac up so we are not late for evening service.

I am creating...

This post for now!

I am hearing...

My husband asking me questions I am not really paying attention to. Focus, focus!

Around the house...

Are chaotic signs that Sunday has come to our house again: Isaac has fully taken advantage of the quiet time mom needs to finish getting ready and getting lunch… and who has time to fix it all up again when we need to find shoes, tuck in shirts, comb hair and get out the door? I despise the chaos Sundays make at our house. It always makes Mondays so hard, too much work and plain dreadful.

One of my favorite things...

Air conditioning.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

-Write a few notes

-Look at the calendar

-Celebrate our anniversary!!!

Transitions

Now that our young guy is officially two years old, it's time to transition off the pacifier. We had narrowed it down to just bedtimes successfully since last Winter or Spring. And just the past couple days we have cut it out altogether.

My first plan of action was to snip some of the end off it. He still got his pacifier's presence and comfort, but it wasn't doing the old job for him. One night of that was enough for me, we needed a clean break. So the next day he and I made a special Big Boy Day, road the train at the mall, played in the playground and went off to find a much coveted Pooh Bear he had wanted at a gas station stop but was denied. So we went off to find Pooh to replace "pacie." We were excited to find him on extreme clearance at the Disney Store and were able to get Tigger (his other favorite) on sale too! Both much less for the price I was expecting to pay for just one. Last night went so smoothly! I was surprised. He woke up bright and chipper talking to Pooh and Tiger, brought them out and snuggled down on the living room carpet to finish waking up. (A normal tradition now that we have a new carpet he very much adores.)

But naptime… this is not going as smoothly. Which I have heard does not go as well. Understandable. It's the middle of the day, and learning to soothe one's self to actually stop and go to sleep could be hard for an active little guy. He's just saying, "Mum, cum. Mum, cum." But I have noticed his little voice is just singing now, must be talking to Pooh or Tigger, and it's getting softer… softer… softer. I have a feeling that after being in there for almost an hour now, he'll fall asleep.

We do have a routine before naptimes, which has helped so much. I noticed today though, since he's been trying to put himself to sleep a couple days now, that the closer we got to our "normal" naptime, the quieter he got. He actually laid down on the floor and rolled his trains around. I could tell he was able to start feeling that he was getting tired, which he has never had to do before. So I scooped him up and he cheerfully waved bye to his train, "She yuh!" (See ya.) We did a bathroom run and while putting on his pants again he saw Pooh waiting in his bed for him. He told Pooh he was coming, and started snoring. He was ready. He was so ready I thought for sure he would be asleep by now! I know I could be. But when I personally take naps, my days just get so behind. Maybe once I finally here zero noise from his room I can drift off for a quick pick-me-up.

You know… do you ever have one of those days where you wish you were blogging and posting your pictures from your most recent trip to Hawaii. That thought just struck me… huh! Nice. Aloha!

Try, Try Again

So… I have this notebook I write in almost every day, about what's going on in our schedule, Isaac's development, things I've learned or am in the process of learning, and "profound" thoughts that cross my mind about life in general that I might perhaps one day want to remember or give to Isaac. Because of that my blog is extremely lacking. There are only so many minutes in my day. And writing all those things over again in a "censored" manner is not appealing to me in the least.

When I look at our blog stats and see names or accounts I don't recognize, regularly logging onto our site, I do not have any desire to post my personal thoughts and information. Our blog started (four years ago to be exact… can you believe it has been that long!!!) to be for our family and friends. Now when I follow links left behind I see our blog is posted on someone else's (several someone else's) blog for others to click on through and read. And then some even have our blog somehow linked up in such a manner that every time I post something it pops up on their front page and lets others click on through so they can read the rest of the story. And then to meet people in random places who say "Yes, I follow your blog."… People I have never met… ! It's just a little unsettling for me personally. I know there are some who would debate that, but I can only speak for myself. Each time I even think about writing something I am thinking of all those OTHER people who are reading, knowing that it is not for them that I ever intended to write.

So I am going to give this blog a try. I know I can't keep complete strangers from reading it, but it's a fresh start and won't be given out to an endless amount of people. If you are reading… don't be tempted to link this blog to your own, please! We love connecting with family and friends and want to keep it as simple as possible. I don't have the time to maintain a blog which requires invitations and passwords for everyone to come and read. So I'll just try this one more time and see if it works out.

Here's to trying again!

Stool

Do you recognize this stool? Isaac loves to flip it over like it is a seat. He carried it into the living room especially to be by his new library books and read them. I made this stool in my Jr. High shop class. It is by no means the steadiest stool made, in fact it can be quiet dangerous to your health to stand upon... but for this... it's perfect! It has achieved it ultimate purpose in life!

Isaac the Builder

This fellow could sit and build all day long! In fact, he does pretty much! If he isn't helping me around the house, he is in the living room building with blocks... or reading his ever changing collection of library books. We have added the weekly Toddler Time at our local library into our routine. Our regular teacher was not there this week, we missed her. She usually keeps everyone engaged and interacting. The sub this week.... I give her huge applause for trying! How difficult to step in for an ALL boy toddler class. Not that it HAS to be all boys, girls weren't excluded, it's just that apparently our city is low in the population of toddler girls. A few girls would add calmness and quiet to a room of toddler boys anxious to be out and feeding off of each others energy.

Off to Work

Daddy's Boy

Daddy's Hat

I had to snag this picture. He loves anything and everything that reminds him of Daddy while Daddy is gone for the day. So this hat, was stuck on his head for a while before Daddy came home. He had left it out to dry in the laundry room after coming in from shoveling snow that morning. By the time it plopped off his head, he was sweating and curly headed. But he was happy while it lasted!