Positive Discipline: Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Trust Vs. Mistrust: "Can I Count On You?"

• To develop a sense of trust, a baby must learn that he can rely on the affections and support of others, so he needs to have his basic needs met consistently and lovingly.
• A neglected baby will develop a sense of mistrust; but so will a baby who is extremely pampered because he has never had to learn patience and self-reliance.Help your infant develop a sense of trust:
• 1 - Meet all your baby's needs in the first three months of his life.
• 2 - Learn the difference between needs and wants.
• 3 - Avoid pampering (have faith in children to handle not receiving all their wants).
• 4 - Learn about developmental needs (social, intellectual and physical).
• 5 - Learn parenting skills (including long-range results of what you do).
• 6 - Have confidence and trust in yourself.
• 7 - Enjoy Your child.
• Don't worry about spoiling a baby the first three months. It's next to impossible. As your baby grows, however, you will need to pay attention to what he is learning and deciding about you, about himself and about what "works" to achieve a sense of belonging and connection.
• A study found that a primary factor in the development of a child's trust is his sense that his primary caretaker - usually his mother - has confidence in herself.
• The four pillars of security are people, place, routine and ritual. When these things are stable, a child feels secure.
• For a child to develop trust, life must become predictable, and that is the role of routines. Establishing routines forms an important part of a parent and child's first months and years together. By the age of three months, most babies have settled into routines.
• Rituals add texture to life and define it as they contribute to a child's experience of a predictable world. Such things as mom always blowing kisses on a baby's tummy before bath time or Dad singing "twinkle, twinkle" every night become patterns that help little ones make sense of their days and nights.

Doin' the Potty Dance

• Enjoy your children and yourself. Your baby will sense your worry and doubt, and his growing sense of trust may be hindered. Use this opportunity to increase trust in yourself, remembering that it is not helpful to take mistakes too seriously. It IS helpful to learn from them with gratitude. When this learning is built upon the foundation of enjoyment, awareness and education, confidence will filter through your heart and you'll know what to do.
• We suggest you forget about being the perfect housekeeper or other things that make you feel overly stressed or rob you of your time to enjoy your children (discuss your priorities with your partner). Children often become fussy when their parents are upset. They also sense when we enjoy them and know when we don't. How can infants develop a sense of trust if they don't feel the energy of enjoyment from their parents or caregivers, knowing that they are loved, wanted and appreciated? When your child is an infant, make sure your eyes light up when you walk into his presence - and continue this practice for the rest of his life.
• Ask yourself this question when circumstances get in the way of simply enjoying your children: "What difference will this make ten years from now?" Whether or not the house is clean, the lawn is mowed or the furniture is waxed won't make any difference; on the other hand, time you spend with your partner and your children will make all the difference in the world.

Potty Time

Joshua is intrigued by his little potty in our bathroom now. He points to it and says potty (like he does to ours) and tries to sit in it clothed. However, with the shield/deflector, he can't quite manage to get on himself. If we try to sit him on, he bounces out of it like he sat on a hot potato. In saying that, he also falls into it and gets stuck in the container. Right now we're just trying to get him used to the idea and encourage him to sit on it (even clothed) so it's not a big deal when we start working with him to actually potty train him. I was considering starting now, but I figured there's no harm in waiting a few weeks until we are settled into more of a routine with the new baby. I don't want to make lots of progress only to go backwards. Notice his cute hair in this picture - he looks like such a big boy!

You know it's time for a haircut when...

Tonight we broke down and gave Joshua a hair cut, even though we think this look is adorable. Pictures to follow!

Positive Discipline: Chapter 5

I'm so much further ahead in this book than what I've posted, so I'm going back now to post some interesting tidbits from the chapters. I would highly recommend this book to any mom (or dad). The next chapter (five) is on Temperament: What Makes Your Child Unique?

• While attitudes, behavior and decisions may change with time and experience, our temperament appears to be part of us for life. Although some temperaments are "easier" than others, none are good or bad, right or wrong; they are just different. Understanding your child's unique temperament will help you work with him to learn, grow and thrive.

Temperament is molded by the following nine characteristics:

• 1) Activity Level - the level of motor activity and the proportion of active and inactive parents. Parents of active children will often have to be more active and alert themselves. You'll need to provide lots of opportunities for safe exploration and play before expecting your child to focus on a task.
• 2) Rhythmicity - the predictability of biological functions such as hunger, sleeping or bowel movements. Understanding your child will help you build effective everyday routines.
• 3) Approach or Withdrawal - how does your child react to a new stimulus such as a toy, food, person, or place. If your child welcomes new experiences, celebrate. If it takes him longer to adjust, you can look for small steps to help him adjust to change without taking his reactions personally.
• 4) Adaptability - how a child reacts to a new sitation over time; the ability to adjust or change. Wise parents adjust their schedules to their child's adaptability.
• 5) Sensory Threshold - the level of sensitivity to sensory input (touch, taste, vision, smell or hearing). If your child is more sensitive to stimulation, you'll need to go slowly when introducing new things. Soft light and quiet will help him calm down, and he may become nervous or irritable in noisy, crowded places.
• 6) Quality of Mood - a rosy outlook or a constant scowl; it's all part of temperament.
• 7) Intensity of Reactions - how children respond to events around them; some wear their hearts on their sleeves and shriek with laughter or throw impressive tantrums when angry while others barely react or look up.
• 8) Distractibility - a child's willingness to be diverted from present behavior. Distraction and redirection are two of the most common and effective methods for managing the behavior of young children, IF they are easilty distracted and redirected. Your child's ability to focus on an object or task will influence his behavior - and your response. Rather than becoming frustrated and angry about your child's distractibility (or lack thereof), look for ways to make his environment safe and easy to explore, focus on solutions to the problems you encounter and recognize and accept his inherent temperament.
• 9) Persistence and Attention Span - a child's willingness to pursue an activity in the face of obstacles or difficulties and the length of time he will pursue an activity without interruption. If your child is less patient and persistent, there are ways you can help him get along in a sometimes frustrating world. Be sure he has something to engage his attention if you must wait quietly at a doctor's office. Break challenging tasks into small, achievable stpes; you can coach, but don't rush to rescue your child. When he gets frustrated, let him know that you understand his feelings and don't give up on him. You can always use humor and playfulness to defuse a frustrating situation, and walk away for a calming positive time-out if tempers flare.

It's important to understand a child's temperament and be willing to work with the child to encourage healthy development. That doesn't mean shrugging your shoulders and saying "that's just the way he is." It means helping a child develop acceptable behavior and skills through patience, encouragement, and kind, firm teaching. For instance, a child with a short attention span will still need to learn to accept some structure. The key is to find balance. The first step is to determine what will work for all family members, including you as a parent. Finding balance between your needs and those of your child can take some time and practice, but learning to accept and work with the individual, special temperament of your child will benefit you both as the years go by. (Then there are suggestions for the various temperaments.)

Work for Improvement, Not Perfection

• It may be wise to ask yourself occasionally, "are you looking for blame or are you looking for solutions?" The more you know about temperament and effective parenting skills, the better you will be at finding solutions that help your child develop into a capable individual, despite his differences and uniqueness.
• Use kindness and firmness with children. Kindness shows respect for the child and his uniqueness; firmness shows respect for the needs of the situation, including a child's developing need to learn social skills.
• By understanding and respecting your child's temperament, you will be able to help him reach his full potential as a capable, confident, contented person. And there's a bonus: you'll probably get a lot more rest, laugh more and learn a great deal about yourself and your child in the process.

Putting the Bean to Bed

Last night, instead of reading to Joshua, I told him a story of a little boy named "Joshua" who was soon going to have a baby brother. I explained that Mommy & Daddy would need to go away to the hospital for a week to go get him and that Joshua would stay with Grandma and be a good boy for her. Then, we would come home and Joshua would be a big brother and share his toys and his attention and his love with this new little life. Then, I told him that no matter what happened and how the dynamic of our family would change, we would always love him completely and unconditionally.

Say Cheese!

After the 'story,' we snuggled up for prayers as usual and Daddy put "Revelation Song" on in the background since he was on the computer. I sang along while holding and rocking Joshua..."holy, holy is He..." and Shawn & I were amused when Joshua repeated in a sing-songy voice "is-he" (sounding a bit more like EA-SY!). Soooo sweet. When the song was finished, I couldn't see Joshua's face, so I quietly said his name. When he didn't respond, I whispered to ask Shawn if the Bean was still awake. Shawn said his eyes were barely open and looking very heavy. So, I said in a louder voice, "Joshua, would you like to go night-night?" He immediately crawled down off my lap and headed to his new big boy room. Then, I was surprised as he moved his step stool we had strategically placed in his room in case he fell out of bed. He put it right in the middle, climbed up and threw himself onto his blankey. Since I had been right on his heels, I was expecting to lift him up, hug and kiss him, and gently lay him in bed. But, before my very eyes, he took care of it himself. I bent over and gave him a kiss anyway and told him I loved him and that we'd play together in the morning.

Then I walked back into the office and burst into tears, telling Shawn that my little boy was growing up so quickly. Shawn reminded me that we want Joshua to learn independence - that there may be times coming where I can't lift him into bed. And, we want Joshua to become a capable adult so it starts with his learning now. I knew that, and I am so proud of my little boy, who slept all night long. Shawn told me that recently when he laid Joshua down, he kissed him and Joshua wiped away his kiss. That would have made me sadder, I think. What a big little guy!

This morning we found out that Shawn's Grandma Kennel is back in the hospital for heart-related issues. Our pastor also just had a mild heart attack. We are remembering both of them in prayer.

Positive Discipline Tidbits: Chapter 4

I haven't posted from the book I'm reading for awhile. Chapter 4 is about the 'Miraculous Brain: Helping Your Child Learn.' I found the following parts interesting from this chapter:

• The first three years are especially important; what a child learns and decides about himself ('am I good or bad, capable or not capable?') and the world around him ('is it safe or threatening, encouraging or discouraging?') becomes part of the "wiring" of his brain.
• While the brain is amazingly flexible and is able to adapt to change or injury, there are windows early in a child's life during which important learning (like vision and language development) takes place. If those windows are missed, it may be more difficult for a child to acquire those abilities. (It makes sense why Early Intervention for kids up to age 3 is so important then.
• Some scholars belive that fast-paced modern culture (and some of our "educational" tv shows) may be adversely affecting children's ability to pay attention, to listen and to learn later in life.
• Babies and young children learn best in the context of relationships. How you and your child's caregivers relate to him - how you talk and play and nurture - is by far the most important factor in his development. Young children learn best when they are unstressed and when they live in a reasonably stimulating environment. What children really need to grow and develop is unhurried time with caring adults, people who will focus on the child and follow his cues without distraction or expectations.
• An infant's development of a sense of trust in the first year of life is directly related to a mother's sense of trust in herself.
• What you do (the behavior you model) as a parent is so much more powerful than your words in teaching a child.
• Touch helps your little one attach to you and provides both comfort and stimulation. As children grow, a pat on the shoulder or a hug may communicate more than the most eloquent speech. Speaking, too, is important. Talking and reading to infants and young children stimulate parts of a child's brain responsible for speech and language development.
• While repetition may be boring to you, it isn't to your child. Babies and toddlers learn through repetition.
• Music also appears to have a powerful influence on growing brains.
• Play is a child's work. It's how he experiences his world, learns about relationships and tries on new roles and personalities. There is no better way to understand your toddler's world than to play with him. Take time to discover what makes your little one sparkle, then create opportunities to explore. Babies also need private time to explore by themselves: "the ability to self-entertain is one of the most important skills children can develop."
• Harsh criticism, punishment or shaming may damage a child's brain.
• Remember, what children (and all of us) need to know is that they belong, that they have a special place in life, and that they have value to those around them. No matter how busy your life and no matter how serious you take your responsibilities as a parent, take time to simply love and enjoy your child. The quiet moments of wonder, the laughter and giggling, the delight you take in the special qualities, first words and adorable actions of these new little people are not wasted time but precious investments into the future of your family. The housecleaning, yard work and laundry will wait; slow down occasionally and just enjoy the time you have with your child. It speeds by all too quickly.
• Raising a young child is indeed a serious responsibility. In many ways, a child's first three years last for the rest of his life.
  

Enjoying Time with the Bean

We've been working away on our house and getting things ready for the new baby. Finally it dawned on me that although we've been including Joshua in our progress, maybe we should just hang out for a little while and enjoy time with him. First, though, I asked Shawn to hang the sports letters in his room, one of the last finishing touches (I still have a picture frame coming and some day want to order a little baseball glove lamp I saw on Ebay, but these are minor things). Shawn thought the letters were "retarded" but I think they're adorable.
Shawn does a great job with measuring and putting things together. We were going to hang them a little lower, but I was afraid Joshua might be able to grab them off the wall. I think Joshua's new room is so cute, and he's been doing an awesome job at sleeping in his big boy bed. So well, in fact, that I decided to bring up the potty seat that sits on the floor that Brian & Gayle lent us so that we can start working on mastering that new skill soon enough.Tonight, though, we just went to the park as a family. No cleaning (although I did manage to do a couple things in there and last night I baked Daddy some cookies) - just family time. When we got home from the park, Shawn & I tossed a frisbee in the back yard and Joshua helped and played with his other toys. It was beautiful today. So, even if the baby decides to wait another full two weeks, I want to just enjoy time with my husband and son, who now points to my belly and says "baby!" He's sooo cute and so funny. Shawn & I love him very much - can't wait to see what the next one will be like!

Week 38

Fetal Development:
The baby may be gaining an ounce a day now. His intestines are accumulating lots of meconium (baby's first bowel movement). The circumference of the head and the baby's abdomen are about the same size.

Maternal Changes:
False labor contractions are irregular and can be very painful. These contractions may be felt in various parts of your body (back, lower abdomen, pelvis). True labor contractions start at the top of your uterus and then spread over the entire uterus, through your lower back and into the pelvis. True labor will become stronger and more painful and won't be alleviated by changing position.

Ideas for Dad:
You catch a glimpse of Mom's profile and see that big belly . . . and you feel instantly guilty. She's tired, cranky, sick of pregnancy, can't sleep because she has to get up every 30 minutes to go to the bathroom, has chronic heartburn and indigestion, and her mood is reflective of these late-pregnancy discomforts. You feel responsible, and you know what? You ARE responsible!
But let's think about that for a minute. Mom can't conceive without Dad, and Dad can't without Mom. That makes pregnancy a team effort. It's true that you don't have to go through the physical discomforts of pregnancy, but you do have your share of worries and a myriad of conflicting thoughts ~ and you have to watch someone you love change before your very eyes.
What's a Dad to do? You know already and that's why you're reading this guide. Just be there for Mom. It's a big job, and you're the best one to do it! You can't bear the brunt of pregnancy physically, but you can help Mom lighten the load considerably. And what do you do when Mom screams at you that "this" is all YOUR fault? Calmly remind her that you couldn't have done it without her part . . . and then run for cover!

Nesting

Shawn finished painting the fence out front this weekend. It looks so much better, I think! Now we have new windows that are aluminum capped, new front porch posts, a new bay window and a new front door. Our front yard is starting to grow in, too - no more trees or roots or dirt pile where grass needs to grow (although we still have a few bald spots). I've also been cleaning away. I bought two new products that I love and thought I'd share with my readers. One is the bathtub scrubbing extender. For less than $5 at Wal-mart, this purchase was super for saving my back and extra-large belly while scrubbing the tub and the master bathroom shower. My only word to the wise is to use less cleaning product since a little goes a long way with these things. (I spent longer than I would have needed to trying to get the Soft Scrub with Bleach off.) Shawn also bought me a carpet flick for my birthday, and while it won't replace vacuuming, it's great for cleaning up the area rug underneath the dining room table where the Bean sits. I also love Clorox wipes - what did people do before these were invented? And, I'm into the new Tide with fabric softener/febreeze already added (although Joshua's skin's too sensitive - we use unscented Dreft for his laundry). Tomorrow I'm going to mop my kitchen floor and the bathroom floors (can't do that while Joshua's awake or he might slip) and vacuum again. For the most part, though, my house is really clean. [Come, baby, come!]
Joshua, on the other hand, was not so clean after a day outside. He was "helping" Dadda in the dirt until he he got some in his eyes. Then, I brought him in for a bath and had to take a picture of his dirty little face - so cute! Such a boy! There goes my super clean bathtub. Such is life!
I'm happy to say he looks much better now - the dirt washes away and we have a smiling little face left...my precious oldest son. How much our lives have changed with you! I'll never look at airplanes or birds the same way again...or much of anything. My perspective has changed with many things as he grows and learns and becomes interested in different things. I'm truly blessed.

Ridin' Dirty

Okay, I've shared Joshua's favorite music video. You can see mine at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw. I love Weird Al Yankovic, and this song "White 'n Nerdy" was created as a spoof off of the song "Ridin' Dirty." Too bad many of my friends could fit this description - I like 'em smart. And, I fit the description of 'whiter than sour cream' which I tell Shawn all the time (as I apply more sunscreen). Here's Joshua "ridin' dirty" in his car from our neighbors. He's wearing his new 'Atlanta Braves' outfit from Grandma & Grandpa Ginder - thanks for the gift!
Today was beautiful out, so after church and a nap, we spent the entire day outside as Daddy worked on our overgrown landscaping and pressure washing the deck and brick of our house. Joshua loves to run in and out of the garage with his toys, and he's enjoying this car more and more.
His car is parked in between Mommy & Daddy's. He must get his driving 'skills' from the Momma!

A Blast from the Past

On Friday afternoon, Joshua & I went over to Mom's house since she had the day off work for a medical procedure and my sister Becky had off because she had worked a ton with Vacation Bible School at their church. Becky swam while we watched (the water was too chilly for us to go in) and we all visited. It was nice. Mom needed a ride to the post office since she wasn't allowed to drive and the gal filling in for her was having problems, and I saw this picture on her desk. It's from 2003. Lot's of changes in our family since then - with Grace the only one born at that time, we've added four additional kiddos to the family with another one due anyday. Mom also became a widow since that picture was taken. New jobs, new houses, new adventures...and yet, the same sisters and mom, the same loving husband...the same important things in life have remained constant.

Tales of the Sleep Napper

Since Joshua did so well in his big boy bed overnight Thursday night and for his naps, we decided to go for broke, draw the line in the sand, and say this is a permanent move - no going back to the crib for any reason. In fact, this weekend we raised the crib back up for the new baby, changed the sheets, added the bumper with it's new ties (thanks, Mom!) and put back on the mobile.

Friday night, I put Joshua in bed. He cried a little but then I didn't hear him after a few minutes. So, I peeked into his room after awhile to make sure he was really asleep. My heart pounded when I didn't see him in his bed. Then, I saw the cutest thing ever - he was clutching his blankey on the floor, sound asleep. I whispered for Shawn to come up from downstairs and take a look at his son. He came up and we both laughed - and Shawn grabbed the camera, of course. Afterward, Shawn picked up his sleeping little boy and gently put him back in bed, where he slept until 6 am the next morning when he flung open our door and scared us half to death. But, I was glad he came right over.

He slept well in his bed again at naptime yesterday, and then last night I put him in bed. This time, it was Shawn who called me upstairs to take a look at our son. I peeked in his room expecting to see him on the floor. Nope! I looked in his bed - nope! I was a little nervous...until Shawn pointed to our room. There lying in the middle of our beautifully made queen size bed was a little boy clutching his blankey. Daddy went to get the camera, but Joshua wasn't asleep yet. Instead he sprang to his feet and went "HAAAA!" We all laughed. Silly Bean! Daddy put him back in bed once again, and we went downstairs to watch a little TV before turning in ourselves to make sure that the Bean was really asleep when we came back. And he was. I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't sleep, so at 5:30 I got up for good - and Joshua must have heard me walking around because he soon joined me. But, he slept well again for his nap in his big boy bed, so I'd say we've made definite progress.

The First Night in a Big Boy Bed!

Last night, Thursday, June 19, 2008, Joshua spent his first full night in his new big boy bed in his new bedroom. Hooray!

Yesterday he had played the entire day (almost literally) outside with Daddy as Daddy worked from home on his laptop. (Once again in the morning I started violently vomitting and had a severe headache, so I spent the day in bed until it was time to go to the doctor's. My blood pressure is good and the baby's heartbeat sounds okay, so they told me to take Tylenol and rest...easier said than done with a toddler. But, thankfully Shawn came to my rescue. I don't know what I'd do without him.)

I told Shawn I thought we needed a similar-but-somewhat-new routine to prepare Joshua for the transition to his new room. We started off with an earlier-than-normal (and much needed!) bath for Joshua (just look at his hair in the above picture!). Then I got out new (to us) PJ's for the Bean. Then instead of rocking him in the chair in the nursery as usual, I asked Joshua to pick out whatever book he would like to read together from his bin and bring it to me in the office rocking chair. We read "Peekaboo Zoo" where he lifts the flaps up, and then Joshua started climbing down to get another book. But, instead I told him it was time for prayers. We prayed and then I sang him a song or two. He was still awake and not quite understanding what was going on. Then I told him it was night-night time. When he headed for the nursery, I said he was going into his new bedroom tonight and acted excited, which made him excited, too. I layed him down on his bed, gave him his blankey and told him that I loved him and gave him a kiss goodnight. Surprisingly, he rolled over onto his blankey like he normally would have in his crib.

I tip-toed out of his room and closed the door behind me. Then I asked Shawn for predictions on how long it would take him to come out. But, we didn't hear a peep. Since neither one of us wanted to sleep quite yet - just to make sure Joshua was okay - we headed to the family room to quietly watch a movie. We came back upstairs and I peeked into his room, and Joshua was out! So, we shut all doors to the upstairs except for his and ours (he can open them, but we hoped if he got up we would hear the doors or he would first try to come into our room). Then, Shawn put up the baby gate to block off the bathroom and the stairs. I was still nervous - my little boy in that big bed!

Then...it happened. Shawn and I were quietly whispering in the dark around 11:30 pm when we heard...THUD! And then a wimper. Joshua had fallen out of bed. Shawn sprang out of bed and saw a cute little Bean trying to climb back into his big boy bed without success. So, he simply helped him back up and came back to bed. Joshua slept the whole night through until 6 am this morning with no more issues. Hooray!!! And, for his nap today, I put him back in there without him being asleep and he again grabbed his blankey and I haven't heard a peep. Hopefully we've turned the corner to him sleeping in his new room. I'm so thankful for our precious son! And, I'm thankful that God keeps an eye out for him in these new adventures.

Way to go, Joshua, on sleeping in a big boy bed!

God's Little Boy is...Prayerful

Being prayerful is the last bit of "wisdom" from this fun little book. There will be so many times that Mom & Dad can't help - that only through prayer and petition will Joshua be able to seek God's wisdom for the situation and do the right thing.

The Bible's best wisdom for all little boys

Is not to want treasures of trinkets and toys!

Instead God says you're to simply cling

More to the Lord than to any thing.

Dear God above, for this I pray -

To be a godly man someday.

Make me a man who loves You true,

A man of wisdom who pleases You.

Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord.
And understanding begins with knowing God, the Holy One.

Proverbs 9:10

Dear God, we thank you that you have given us access to you through prayer 24/7. We pray for Joshua that he would grow up to be a man after your own heart, wise beyond his years. (And we pray that for his brother, too!). We ask that you would mold their character into your likeness. When Joshua needs help, we pray that he would automatically think to to take it to you in prayer. When he's happy, I ask that the Holy Spirit would remind him to thank you for his joy and strength. We pray that in any situation, Joshua remembers that the prayer of a righteous man avails much and that he would remain in constant communication with you. I pray that he would read your word and get to know your heart and pray for the things of your kingdom. Teach him, guide him and be with him even when we can't be. Thank you so much for our amazing son(s)! In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Happy 21-month birthday, Joshua!

Happy 21-month birthday to my sweet Joshua! The day started when he cried at 4:30 am...I decided I needed to let him soothe himself back to sleep (after all, we're going to be having another one soon that I'll need to tend to). But, at 5:30 I simply couldn't take it anymore. An hour is long enough to be upset any day of the week. I picked up my tearful Bean and we cuddled. He was sooo cute and seemed so glad I came to his rescue. He kept softly talking to me. Eventually I put him back to bed, letting him know that I love him and even though the sun was up, he didn't need to be quite yet.After that, he woke up later than usual, not helping Daddy get ready this morning. He's been waking up before Daddy and then "helping" him with his morning routine. But, not today. The only problem was that I couldn't get back to sleep... bummer! I was tired but I couldn't get comfortable again. Whe he finally arose, we started off playing in the playroom. Joshua's favorite thing to do right now is be read to, I think. (Or he knows that I enjoy this as climbing and other activities are getting harder by the day as I seem to keep growing, unfortunately.) He especially likes books where he can lift the flap and turn the page. I'm impressed with his knowledge sometimes - he'll point to something and tell me what it is without me having said it first. While I know we've gone over these things in the past, it's interesting to see him develop, learn and remember.Also this morning as I changed his diaper and got him dressed, I started singing "Doe, a dear, a female dear..." and he started repeating certain words in the song to sing along. I loved it. Yesterday at Grandma's, he was very interested as we sang to him. I think he's at the point where he can start learning some little guy songs. Mostly when I sing to him at night, I sing worship music that I like. But, it's time to introduce him to songs for his age where he can sing (and do the hand motions).As you can tell from the above picture, it's time for another haircut. We've been putting it off because it's so cute when it's wild like this; and unfortunately when Daddy's cutting his hair, he moves around and we end up giving him a pretty short buzz. But, it should probably be done before the baby arrives. Since Joshua had slept in, when I put him down at his normal nap time, he talked and talked for half an hour. So, I got him out of bed and decided that maybe he didn't need the nap and we'd get an early bedtime. Then as he was eating his lunch and I was cleaning the baby's car seat, he fell asleep while eating. Literally the hand underneath the tablecloth has half an eaten cracker. I saw his eyelids looking heavy as he was drinking his milk but I never would have guessed he'd lean his head back and take a snooze right then and there. I had to grab the camera.Unfortunately, when I picked him up to take him upstairs, he woke up again. Sleep? He wanted nothing to do with it! Eventually I took him outside since they were (accurately) calling for rain later in the day. His schedule was all out of whack, which was strange for us both. Hopefully tonight he sleeps well throughout the entire night and we can get back on track tomorrow. When we don't get enough sleep, we're both a little cranky (believe it or not! ha!). I think Joshua's favorite part of the day is when he gets to play with Daddy. They wrestle and have quality time together, and Daddy is much more easygoing than Momma. Joshua can push his limits a little farther than mine. The picture below was taken by Daddy as they were tumbling in Joshua's new bedroom.
I'm sure there are other new things Joshua is doing or saying, but it's after 10 p.m. so I'll have to leave those for another post. Enjoy the pictures from the Bean's 21-month birthday!

Fireman Joshua

Yesterday, Joshua helped as I did laundry and re-organized the laundry room a bit and froze the rest of the strawberries. We had another productive day; and I cleaned the coat closet (I'm guessing this is nesting; although, it did need done. It was just starting to drive me crazy!). Last night we went out to dinner at the Olive Garden to celebrate my birthday and Father's Day with Nonie & Poppy, Aunt Alicia & Jordon (who Joshua just loves), and Uncle Brian & Aunt Gayle and Grant & Jenavieve.
When we got home, I was disappointed to see that the water in our family bathroom was coming in a scary-looking brownish red. Shawn & Joshua were playing outside but soon came in and Shawn said he knew the cause. The Eden Fire Company was having training behind our house and using a ton of water, and he guessed that maybe it was taking all our reserves or something. I was appalled...until Shawn told me the next story. Joshua was enthralled watching these firemen train, and they came up and gave him a hat that says "Fire Chief." Soooo cute! Joshua was so excited!
The water was better this morning, so I'd say we're back in business (which is good since I'm hoping to do more cleaning when Joshua naps this afternoon). We have lunch plans today and then I'm hoping to have more play time with Joshua since the days of just the two of us are winding down. I'm sure we'll still play, but I also realize the dynamic may change with the new baby. I love my little boy! I'm also praying the next one is healthy and just as sweet as Joshua (but a bit more easygoing)...

FULL TERM - 37 weeks

Fetal Development
Average size is around 6.5 pounds now! The baby practices breathing movements preparing for life outside the womb. His grasp becomes firm, and he will turn toward light.

Inspirational Thoughts:
"If pregnancy were a book, they would cut the last two chapters." ~Nora Ephron

A Productive Weekend

This weekend was very productive. Shawn mowed our yard and finished trimming the bushes around the fence, only taking out one other flower that he mistakingly thought was a weed until he saw an identical one on the other side...this blooms in the spring and was done for the year, but didn't need to be yanked out by the roots. Oh, well. I'm just glad that he's willing to work on the yard since I don't enjoy it. We have more trimming to do on the sides of our house and around the walkway leading up to the porch, but one day at a time. Shawn also pressure-washed the fence (it looks great!) and the brick out front. Now there's just the deck. Again, there's always another day. He bought the paint for the fence out front, but they've been calling for rain every single day (and yesterday we got hammered) so he'll wait until a time that they're calling for at least 24-48 hours of sunshine to paint so it's not a waste of time.

Meanwhile, I cooked and cooked and cooked, preparing meals for the freezer. I only made one lasagna rather than two, and we ended up having the chicken-fried pork chops for dinner tonight (which were delicious, if I do say so myself). Other than that, everything is in the freezer. Our neighbors stopped by while I was getting my hair done on Saturday and gave Shawn four quarts of strawberries. We had strawberry shortcake for dinner Saturday night, and it was delicious. Mom came over and joined us. I'm going to look for a recipe for something to use the rest up because we have a ton and they definitely need to be eaten within the next day or two. Maybe I can freeze them, too. I've been cleaning up as I go while cooking, but this week I intend to clean the house again in preparation for baby. I noticed a few nooks and crannies that could use scrubbing.

Mom finished sewing the baby bumper (thanks!), and Shawn brought up the car seat for me to clean since it's been in the garage. I also want to get the pack 'n play ready since there are good chances that Joshua won't quite be used to his room yet when the baby arrives. He's been napping in there when he's already completely asleep, but we tried laying him down in there for his nap while he was awake and shut the door. Pretty soon, he walked into our room and shouted "Hi!" He can open doors now and knows how to unlock them. He also opened my tylenol bottle the other day, which I immediately took from him (I never minded before when he played with things like this because he just liked the noise of shaking it, but now that he can open them, they're going up high.) He's a sponge these days and only has to watch once or twice before he starts trying out his new "skills."

Today we went to church as a family and Bob Hazelett from Touch of Fire Ministries spoke. (He's one of our favorites.) He had a great message about us not worrying about recession but realizing that the Kingdom of God is advancing. He spoke from Matthew talking about how the ravens and the lillies don't have to worry about food or clothing (and who can even add an hour to his life by worrying?) He also commented about how lillies grow in the winter, underground, where it's dark and things are usually dying; and we're to consider how they grow. Then he talked about Joseph and how he was like a lilly - he was so blessed that wherever he went, God's blessings followed. Even when he was in jail or in a 'depressing' time, Joseph was blessed. When the land was in "recession" in his day, he became wealthy because he had prepared and had storehouses. So, we are to have storehouses now that God will continually bless. It was an interesting sermon for sure. (You can check it out online through the link to the Lord's House of Prayer on the left of my blog.) They had a time in the beginning right after worship where they talked about praying for anyone who needed "deliverance" - I looked at Shawn and said "I'd like to be delivered! Lord, bring on the baby!" But, obviously Sunday wasn't his ordained time to come.

Shawn & Joshua had more bonding time today - which is super to watch on Father's Day especially. We are so blessed to have Shawn as the Dada. I love how they play together and Shawn includes Joshua in what he's doing (although some things like pressure washing and painting aren't meant for the Bean quite yet). We had a nice productive weekend, with lots more to do this week.

God's Little Boy is...Thankful

Thank you, dear God, for blessing me -

with food, a home and a family.

And now, oh Lord, I ask if You might

help me be honest and do what is right.

The Lord...is pleased with an honest person's prayer.

The Lord...hears the prayers fo those who do right.

Proverbs 15:8,29

Dear God, we thank you so much for Joshua. There are days that I question why you gave him my temperament instead of Shawn's easy-going personality, but Lord, I am so thankful for our son. I'm thankful that he is doing well health-wise, learning and growing. Even as he gets into every little thing, I thank you that he is curious and doing developmentally appropriate things. Please help me to be patient with him and guide and direct him in a godly way. We pray now that Joshua would have a thankful heart. May he always be grateful for the freedom he has in this country, for the house he will grow up in, for the food we offer him, for the clothing he has on his back, for having two parents who love each other and him deeply, for having grandparents and extended relatives that pray for him and want the best for him, and for the ability to grow up in the church and learn about you. May he never feel 'entitled' but always thankful and appreciative. Please guide and direct him and give him a thankful heart. Bring joy and peace to his life and let him always praise you for who you are and all you've done for us and continue to do today. Thank you for the gift of salvation and showing us the way to live. We love, honor and praise you. In Jesus' holy name, AMEN!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy! You're the best! And I love you!

(& Happy Father's Day to my Grandpa's, too!)

Friday, the 13th

Friday the 13th - oh the horror! Today I ventured out shopping with Joshua. While he's not a big fan, he actually did okay. We started at Target where I got a little back-pack 'leash,' a camera case that hopefully fits the camera Shawn bought me a long time ago and a Father's Day card for Daddy (thanks for the gift card, Grandma & Grandpa Ginder!). Shawn said what he wants most for Father's Day is his second son - and there's nothing I'd rather give him. From Target, Joshua & I headed to Giant to buy some things to make a few meals to put in the freezer. Even what I did buy won't last long, but I figure if we can survive the first week or two while we're adjusting to the baby and I'm recovering from surgery, we'll be doing okay. After we got home I baked a cake (which didn't turn out too well - I think it could have used five more minutes in the oven to be a little more crunchy on top, but I've never made it before and didn't want it to burn). Then I made two pans of 'elegant chicken' that went right into the freezer. Tomorrow I'll be making chicken noodle casserole, mini-cheddar meatloaves, lasagna and chicken-fried pork if all goes well. If all does not go well, I'll be making some things on Sunday, too.

Joshua was not thrilled to not be picked up when he asked since my hands were covered in raw chicken; such is life, though. After I was worn out from cooking and Daddy said he had some things he wanted to accomplish, I took Joshua to Grandma's for a little while to go swimming with his cousins. This year, surprisingly, he's not a big fan of the pool...yet. He likes to walk down the steps into the pool and then immediately says "out!" for us to lead him back to the steps to walk out. He could do this for hours, but it drives me crazy (and wears me out, truly). He did slide down the slide twice with Grandma at one end and Aunt Jen at the other while I kept an eye on Daniel. Joshua & Daniel have matching swimsuits that both Jen & I bought at Wal-mart since they come with a life-vest, helping them to float. Grace was pretending her name was Michelle, and I asked her who I was then if she was Michelle. She thought about it for a little while and then called me "Aunt Pretty" the rest of the night. What a cutie pie! All of Jen's kids were loving the pool. Mine? Not so much! So, Joshua & I left to come home and see what progress Shawn had made.
Shawn was working on clearing out some of the bushes and flowers near our fence so he could pressure wash it and paint it white. Unfortunately, we had a miscommunication and he cut down Joshua's mum. We had cut it back in the Spring and it was growing beautifully - the first year it was all together and huge. Oh well. Hopefully he'll have enough time to finish up the project this weekend, even though I'm getting my hair done tomorrow.

I cried most of the evening. Why? My guess is hormones. I heard that stupid (and I do mean stupid) song "Butterfly Kisses" and I cried that Joshua will grow up some day and that he's growing up so fast now. I cried about the mum (which is really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things); I cried at the thought of having two kids when sometimes one feels a little overwhelming even though I love him to pieces. I cried over my stupid cake not turning out well...and truly, who needs cake anyway? Oh, in many ways, I'll be glad when this baby comes... until then, I'm grateful for Shawn & Joshua who put up with my moodiness and even try hard to make me feel better. I love my boys!

Farm Days

Today Joshua & I met my friend Julie and her kiddos, Jude and baby Kate, at Oregon Dairy. We started out with a nice big breakfast and then headed to stand in line to get on the tractor ride (which Jude was VERY excited about - Joshua, not so much!) The tractor went through a cow barn (where Joshua mooed) and told us all about milking, etc. and then dropped us off at the main event area.
Bummer this picture isn't clearer. I had Shawn's camera (the batteries are just about dead) and I was a little shaky from it being 1,000 degrees. Here are Joshua & Jude playing in the corn, the highlight of their day.
Jude had the coolest monkey backpack that had a leash on the back of it. I didn't use to think those were "cool" until I saw him go. He was able to have the freedom to walk around (unlike the Bean at times) but he was always close enough to Julie that she didn't have to worry about him wondering off. Joshua will walk holding hands for a little bit, but I understand it's impractical for him to have his arm straight in the air for long periods of time. It's just as impractical for me to bend over at nine months pregnant for long periods of time to be on his level. So, I think the monkey backpack is genious for events such as these where it's crowded and there are LOTS of temptations.
We had fun visiting, but we soon ran out of things that kiddos our age would enjoy. It was time for Kate to eat, and we were all sweltering in the heat. So, we got back on the tractor and headed toward our cars to head for home. Thanks for venturing out with us, Julie and family!

A New Bedroom for Joshua

Hooray! Our new sports quilt & valance just arrived. I'm still waiting for a few other treasures to make the room complete, including sports letters that spell out Joshua's name for the wall and a few decorative pillows, but it's almost done!Joshua "helped" while I made the bed...
He loves the foam baseball bat from Nanny Jo that has his name on the "glove" (thanks, Aunt Erica!). Here's his new dresser, filled with his clothes. And, I started putting his books on the bookshelf and other keepsakes. His room is almost ready for him. Hooray since soon his brother will be taking the nursery!

Hot, Hazy & Humid...And Did I Mention HOT???

Today the bank clock read 100 degrees. It doesn't feel as hot today as it has the past few days, though, so my guess is that that's not quite an accurate reading and comes from being directly in the sun. Either way, it's been in the 90s with high humidity and HOT, HOT, HOT! My sister said she remembers being pregnant with Grace and breaking all sorts of heat records. She heard we're breaking some now with June, and she blamed it on me being pregnant. Thank the Lord for air conditioning. Whoever invented it should have won the Nobel Peace Prize - I think there would be a lot more wars without it (at least in our house).

We had a busy weekend this past weekend, which included seeing my dear friend Suzy (thanks for the birthday gift! It was great seeing you!) and going to Daniel's first birthday party. Joshua desperately wanted to be with the older kids and even sat at their plastic picnic table. But, he also kept stealing cheese curls off other little ones' plates (namely Emma) much to their dismay. We have to work on table manners. Normally he's not within reach of our plates, and if he does take something, Shawn & I don't usually care (after all, we love him and would give him anything). But, he won't be the popular kid if he can't keep his hands to himself. He did enjoy playing there and eating the scrumptious watermelon. He was just in a pair of swim trunks (since they had out the hose on their slide), Crocs and no shirt, and watching him eat watermelon with it dripping down his belly was adorable. He is getting bigger by the second! I wished I had remembered my camera!

That morning, Shawn & I took Joshua swimming at my mom's house. Unfortunately, though it was hot outside, the water was still cold. The Bean was NOT a big fan. I bet it would be warm enough to go now, though, and he would enjoy it. We didn't stay long, but I was glad we had put sunscreen on the Bean since both Shawn's & my shoulders ended up slightly pink.

Sunday Joshua was an absolute gem again. I put him in his new fire engine outfit from Grandma (thanks, Mom!) and we went to church early with Daddy, who was upstairs for his A/V team responsibilities. I was afraid Joshua may not be good with having to be there so long, but I think he got used to the environment from being there and wasn't so overwhelmed when the people came in. He played and played and was good the entire time, even cuddling up with me during worship. He then went downstairs and played well in the nursery, and once again we heard the entire sermon. This was especially impressive since our church felt like it was a thousand degrees or hotter. The rest of the day he was also happy as a clam. He giggled and laughed and I don't remember one temper tantrum. We had really prayed the night before on how to best guide and discipline him, and he was amazing. (Yesterday was a different story, but I think he had a belly ache since I was changing diapers about every other hour).

Okay, the drool is nasty, but the face is adorable. I'm pretty sure he's cutting a molar in the back of his mouth as he often puts his finger back there and cries. And, we've got the glamorous drool to go along with it.

I'll end this post with other good news. We just received a check from the Lancaster Housing & Redevelopment Authority. I had posted earlier that they were wanting to pay the tree guy who had damaged our sidewalks rather than either giving us back the money after he chose to walk away from the situation or fixing the sidewalks themselves. I didn't deal with them at all, but allowed Shawn (who is much more easy going and tolerable) to deal with them. He finally in no uncertain terms told them over the phone that if they were going to pursue this route, we were okay starting with binding arbitration and they needed to present to us in the legal documentation we had all signed where they had full control over our money. We heard nothing back for weeks...which drove me CRAZY! I had been all fired up, but I kept praying about it. Finally Shawn told me I could email our contact and just make sure that they had received his emails with all the estimates, etc. What I heard back shocked us both. They were mailing us a check and not pursuing what they had originally insisted upon - in fact, we got the check this weekend. Hooray! Now I need to schedule the sidewalks to get fixed. It's amazing what God can do when you let Him handle the situation. There are many times I'd like to give someone a piece of my mind, but many times that's inappropriate for the situation and praying about it and coming to a respectful resolution is a better approach...even if the people you're dealing with seem downright crazy-go-nuts! Hooray for everything working out!

Week 36

Fetal Development:
Our baby is almost ready! He could drop into the birth canal at any time now. This week, the fat is dimpling on the elbows and knees as well as forming creases in the neck and wrists. The baby's gums are very rigid.

Maternal Changes:
Less than a month to go ~ you'll probably be visiting your care provider once a week at this point. The average weight gain now is between 25 and 30 pounds. You should be consuming about 2400 calories per day. Make them count! Your body is working hard now and needs quality fuel.

Signs of Labor:
Here are some of the signs that labor is approaching. You may not experience all of these symptoms or be aware of them:

• Lightening ~ aka the baby dropped
• Bloody Show ~ aka the mucous plug
• Rupture of Membranes ~ aka your "water broke"
• The Nesting Urge ~ aka you want to clean everything in sight
• Effacement ~ aka ripening of the cervix
• Dilatation ~ aka opening of the cervix
• Diarrhea ~ aka you know this one
• Contractions ~ aka OUCH those labor pains!

Inspirational Thoughts:
"A torn jacket is soon mended; but hard words bruise the heart of a child." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

God's Little Boy is...Responsible

When something or someone means something to you,

There's no task so hard that you wouldn't do.

A responsible person makes sure to attend

To taking good care of his things and his friend.

Joshua...protecting our house. No one better try to break in, or they'll have to deal with this guy!

Be sure you know how your sheep are doing.

Pay close attention to the condition of your cattle.

Proverbs 27:23

Dear God, we thank you for Joshua and your work in his life. Lord, we pray that you would make him responsible. I thank you that you have given him Shawn as his father, a male role model who works hard and takes care of us. Help Joshua to understand the importance of looking after the people around him and his things - help him to be faithful in the little things so that he is charged with bigger things. I pray that someday he will have a wonderful wife that we will appreciate and beautiful children that he will be responsible for - and that he'll do a great job with his family. Thank you, God, that you are working on his heart and in his character. I thank you for our responsible little boy. We love you and praise you. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

The Bug Man

Last week we hired Terminix to come spray for ants. We don't keep food laying around, but we've not been able to get rid of these tiny pests since we've moved into this house. After getting quotes from three different sources, Terminix was by far the cheapest for the job. The guy who came was the same one that I had seen at Julie's house last time we were there; although, I'm sure he didn't remember us. I remembered him because he looked older (he has totally white hair) but then told us he has a three and a five year old. Joshua LOVED him. He was very expressive when he talked and told us about his family (showing us a picture of his wife and kids and artwork his kids had just given him that he keeps in his briefcase), and the Bean wanted to follow him around while he was inside (outside is where they do more of the harmful chemicals to try to create a barrier from entry into our house, so I didn't allow Joshua out there). After he had sprayed around the house, Barry "the Bug Man" came back inside and told me he had a word of encouragement for us.

He said from the moment he pulled into our driveway, he knew that this house was filled with the Holy Spirit and that Jesus dwelled within. He said that without signs or anything tangible, he could feel it the moment he pulled up - we were a light in the neighborhood. I was shocked, and told him he was right - Jesus does live here. He said that I should tell Shawn, too, that he sensed it immediately. After chatting a bit, he told me that he feels called to serve in the underground church in China and thinks that eventually he will be going to serve there. For now, he helps train up leaders to go over there. He said that in China people can't post signs or wear 'WWJD' pins; they instinctively have to know who is a Christian and be 'plugged into' the Spirit. He's been asking God to give him this inside knowledge...and God has been faithful. He said there are some places he goes and feels like he needs to be cleansed afterward and others like ours where he knows that Jesus is there already.

We talked some more and I found out he goes to Christ Community Church in Harrisburg, the church where the parents of my twin friends go. I've heard a sermon or two from the pastor there (I think his name is Dave Hess), and Barry said that in the 70s Dave told him that they needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Neither of them quite knew what they were in for, but they've never been the same since. Barry also works with Justice & Mercy, a group who is trying to get folks who have been recently released from prison back into society to live a 'normal' life of working and going to church, etc. so they don't go back to their old ways. I knew of this ministry from writing one of their brochures through MM. He said that ever since working with this ministry, God has been opening doors for him to go into houses (through his job) where he would need to be to meet people. For example, he went to the Mayor's house and was able to talk with him. He said God has been faithful to put him in a place where he gets to know 'key players' for the kingdom. He was quite interesting.

I remember reading one of my favorite books called "the Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. In this true story, she and her sister had been had been captured for helping Jewish folks and were imprisoned in Nazi Germany. As they were leading devotions one day, they read in 1 Thessalonians 5 to "give thanks in all circumstances." In this particular prison, they were getting eaten alive by fleas. Her sister began thanking God for the fleas and Corrie was flabbergasted - surely God didn't mean ALL circumstances! Laster she found out that the reason that they were able to do devotions and lead others to Christ was because the prison guards refused to go into this flea-infested area to stop them. So, there was a 'reason' to be thankful for the fleas, even though she didn't see it at the time. I thougth of that story immediately when talking to this Barry. I've been cursing these ants and all creepy crawlies that somehow find their way into our house. But, we are to be thankful in ALL circumstances - you never know what God is going to use to further His kingdom.

The-Hers-Day for Da' Momma

Today I had a wonderful birthday. I told Shawn it would be great if God gave me a "twin" but so far, no such luck (and it's after 8:15 pm). Shawn took the day off work today to be with us, which is the best gift I could have ever asked for. He then had quite the breakfast spread with fresh fruit, pancakes, donuts, breakfast sandwiches, orange juice and milk. He also had beautiful flowers, cards and gifts waiting for me. I loved having him home all day. Mom sweetly offered to watch Joshua for us so he could take me to my favorite restaurant, Fiorentino's, for supper.

The only real "negative" of the day was the fact that I had a doctor's appointment and after waiting an hour for the doctor, I decided to leave. My blood pressure, urine and weight were all low-to-normal, and I was just there on Monday for some tests which showed everything looked good, so I wasn't going to wait all day on my birthday. Otherwise, we had a nice day overall. I don't feel a year older...yet I do feel "old" in thinking about welcoming our second child into our home, etc. A big thanks to Shawn & Joshua, mom and the rest of our family & friends who made this day special!

Two-sday

When we were at Brian & Gayle's house, Gayle gave us a "doodle-pro" for Joshua since Grant had a few. The Bean LOVES it! He will draw and draw and actually can erase it by himself and start over. He knows how to put the pen back, and I love that there's no way this artwork will make a mess on our carpet. Thanks so much for the gift!

Last week, Joshua got his first ever boo-boo when he fell on our sidewalk and scraped up his knee. What a big boy! Most parents probably don't delight in their kid's boo-boo's, but I thought this little wound was adorable and shows just how much he's growing. With his fearless climbing and constant desire to be in the sunshine, it's probably the first of many.

With June here, we've definitely welcomed summer. Sunday night Joshua & I went to a cookout at Grandma's house while Daddy stayed home to get some things done. The steaks and watermelon were delicious, and the girls swam even though the water is cold (according to Grandma). We left a little early because Joshua also wanted to jump in the pool, but Momma hadn't brought our swimsuits or any sort of floatation device and the Bean doesn't realize that he'll sink to the bottom without some assistance. Some day he'll be able to swim by himself, but not yet! Yesterday, Jen & her three youngest kiddos (since Grace was in school) and Joshua & I went to the park to enjoy the sunshine. It was warm with a nice breeze...hooray!

Joshua has been doing more new things by the day, but when I don't post for a few days I sometimes forget them until later. You can watch his favorite music video by going to this clip: Boston by Augustana. I guess Shawn downloaded it or something for our TiVO and happened to play it when Joshua was nearby. The Bean will literally stop everything when he hears the piano being played, which Shawn thinks he enjoys since I play and did even while he was in the womb. He also will play with a big piano or a little toy one but doesn't bang on the keys but more gently touches them to have music come out. It will be interesting to see if Joshua will continue this infatuation into his later years or if it will become a memory of him when he was little.

The Bean also loves to dance. When Shawn was putting together furniture, he had his laptop playing a mix of XM stations (or something) and a song came on that has a good beat but not-so-nice lyrics (in fact, it's a song made fun of by Chris Rock). Joshua went into the room and started busting a move, which cracked us up. Of course if we laugh, he hams it up more.

I recently taught Joshua where his elbow is, and he loves to say "elbow." Sometimes he points to his arm rather than the elbow itself, but I think he gets the general idea. The other night when we were riding home in our car, Joshua was saying "doo-dah, doo-dah, doo-dah" in the backseat. This brought back a memory of Jordon riding with us somewhere doing that, and Shawn had said at the time "can you imagine when we have a little one saying 'doo-dah' in our backseat?" We realized at that moment, we were there. And, it felt good - he's precious!

God's Little Boy is...Industrious

A boy can do many things with his time;

He can waste it...or spend it using his mind.

Better it is when the day is done

To have learned, and grown, and had some fun!

Those who work hard make a profit.

But those who only talk will be poor.

Proverbs 14:23

Dear God, thank you for your wisdom that is found in the Bible. We pray that you would help Joshua to be industrious and make good use of his time. Help us as parents to also guide him in using his time wisely and not wasting the hours of the day away. Enable us to find productive things to do that keeps him learning, growing and having fun. Also mold his will and spirit to be like you! We love you and thank you for working in Joshua's life. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Week 35!

Fetal Development:
The average sized baby is around five and a half pounds now! (Hmmm...since they said our little guy was bigger-than-average, I wonder what he would be right now.) The fat accumulations plump up the arms and legs this week. The baby has gotten big enough to take up most of the uterus, and there's less room to move around. The testes have completed their descent in males.


Inspirational Thoughts:
"You can either despair that the rose bush has thorns, or you can rejoice that the thorn bush has roses." ~Anonymous

Getting Ready for the Baby

On Saturday morning, we met Nonie & Poppy for breakfast at Silk City and they took Joshua home with them for the day. He had fun playing with them and Jordon and being outside while we worked and worked on his soon-to-be new room. (Thanks, Nonie & Poppy!) We went through all our clothing and put things in boxes for the attic and for a Water Street donation and then moved all our old furniture out of that room, giving some to my sister and taking some to the curb. Then we started assembling the new furniture for the Bean, which we still have to finish. I also packed the bag for the hospital awhile and made lists for people who would watch Joshua of his normal routine, where to find things, etc. I also made an "in case of emergency" paper, giving permission for others to make decisions on our behalf, having copies of his insurance cards right there, and his entire medical history. No one should ever need this, but just in case, it's done. Finally, I made an announcement list to take with us to the hospital.

I went through the last of the bins of baby items and have out the burp clothes and receiving blankets, etc. and found the pacifiers in case this baby likes them (Joshua didn't). The diapers are all organized with one side of the changing table for Joshua's things and the other side for the baby. I also cleaned the changing table and all the furniture in the nursery. In going through our things, we'd often pause and remember when Joshua wore this or that. For example, I found his little sun hats for when we go swimming, which he should still fit this year. But, we decided to go back and look at the videos of him splashing last year. How big he looks now compared to that little boy!

Mom came over to measure the bumper to sew some extra ties on it, and she swept and mopped my floors. Thank you! What a momma! She also gave us her old vacuum cleaner (a much nicer one that I've ever owned) since ours had broken. Thanks, Mom! We had a very productive day, and I'm feeling a little better about being ready if the baby would grace us with his presence sooner rather than later. We ordered a quilt for Joshua online but it still hasn't arrived. I started buying a few other decorations to go with the baseball/sports theme. I'm excited for his room to be done! One more thing to cross off the list! Now I just need to make some meals to put in our freezer and I'd say we're pretty well ready. Here are some pictures of a very pregnant me.

On Sunday I helped lead worship - my last time for a few months. That afternoon Shawn mowed the yard and we continued to work on getting things ready for Joshua & the baby. Please pray that this little guy is healthy and doing well!

A "Blah" Thursday

Thursday I woke up in the morning before Joshua and started cleaning the house while waiting for him to stir, including starting laundry and dusting, etc. Then...I started violently vomitting. I guess there was a stomach bug going around, and I evidently got it. Thankfully Shawn was able to come home and stay with Joshua because I spent most of the day in bed then, not necessarily sleeping but just feeling weak and yucky. I felt mostly better that night, thank God! Joshua was still schnarky from his cold and very glad to have his Dadda home with him.

Friday I woke up and started where I left off with cleaning, making sure everything's ready for when the baby decides to arrive. I went through Joshua's clothing and put things in boxes that are too small now and made sure his summer things were out. All his clothes are now in a big boy dresser. I also did the normal house chores, but Shawn sweetly offered to clean the bathrooms for me so I could take a break Friday night. I told him I truly didn't mind, but he insisted. What a gem! He works all day and then wants to pamper Joshua & me at night - I couldn't ask for a better husband! That night we went out and bought the new baby a baby book, a cover for the boppy pillow and some newborn and size one diapers. I also went through Joshua's closet and moved his things over to the new room. Little by little, we're getting there!