David and Goliath Part I

The graffiti adds something, I think, although it is a bit of an anachronism.

David and Goliath II

Why pay for cable or dish when you can get this for free?

David and Goliath Part III

I am wondering what people might have thought about the message on the back of our van as we drove home last night: THE DEATH OF GOLIATH. That isn't your typical shoe-polish message. Ah well, it will be on there today, too, and probably for a few days more until we get around to cleaning it.

Fall Festival

Dark Guitar

Simon's Daddy plays guitar and Simon wanders around room with mini-guitar strapped to himself. I apologize for the dark footage ... should have turned on the light or opened the windows while filming ...

Chuck E. Cheese

Simon 'dancing' at Chuck. E. Cheese. I don't think we can call Simon shy, and I guess we need to work on respecting others' personal space.

How Great...Is God

Our Little Drummer Boy



He is singing, in case you cannot decipher, "How Great is our God." I know I videotaped it vertically, but it was soooo cute I thought that you wouldn't mind a sore neck.

First Video Post

Well, I know this first video post will make some long distance grandparents very happy.

Cutey Patootie in Bear Pajamas

Simon is doing much better with the bed transition. So far, he has been in his big boy bed for 4 nights and 3 naps. The last two nights have needed ZERO prevention methods with the paintstick. We have been so happy to see his adjustment in this area. The naps are becoming increasingly easier, with yesterday only needed 3 separate meetings with the rod. It's so cute to hear him say, "wod."

When I went in there yesterday morning, which was after his first night of no breaking of rules, he was sitting on his bed, cross-legged and said, "Down, please," when I turned on the lights. Precious.

Well, today I hope to go over to a friends house who has 5 children and just kind of help out for a bit while the 5 kiddos + Simon play. It's a good excuse to hang out with someone, anyway... :)

Unchanging

A Dry and Weary Land

Matt just finished making a dvd for Kellie of pictures, music, and scripture that she will show in groups as she prepares to leave next fall. These are a few of my favorite snapshots.

Kellie and I 'joke' about how one semester of rooming together in college has reaped such great benefits in so much as friendship, accountability, and shared vision.

More Pix of New Room

Simon's room has evolved to taking on more of an eclectic cowboy/star/transportation theme. Kind of random. We're just going to leave the fun fitted sheet on his bed with cowboys and cattle instead of dealing with making a bed...We're more comfortable, anyway, with him just sleeping with his blanky. I know he is big enough not to get 'lost' in sheets and a comforter, but...I think we'll wait on that...



There is an adorable pix of Simon and his cousin Alex on his bedside table. Hard to believe that Simon has a bedside table!




Today's nap only took an hour as opposed to yesterday's 3 hours to fall asleep!!! We're hoping Simon realizes that getting out of bed hurts and that he chooses to stay in his bed for self-preservation reasons!





I love the pix of Matt and SImon in their red shirts and (almost) matching pajama pants!

THE BIG CHANGE

What were we thinking? Now I know why some friends postpone the inevitable crib-bed transition. So, far, Simon has slept 2 nights and one nap in his 'big boy' bed. The nighttime events have required less than 5 interactions with our 'rod,' but naptime yesterday...that blessed 2.5 to 3.5 hour respite...probably had around 17 interactions with a paint stir stick. He went to nap at 2, didn't fall asleep until 5 and we let him sleep til 6:45 since early that day he had had a low fever.

At 2.30 in the morning, I thought I heard something. I thought correctly. I went in to Simon's room and he was standing at the edge of his bed saying "mommy?" I picked him up, ready to inforce our rule and consequence, but I noted his breathing was that of someone sleeping. I looked at him and he was sleeping! Creepy. I hope we don't have a sleep-walker or sleep-stander... Maybe he just fell asleep when he was picked up and held. I think he was out of the bed rescuing 'stoopy.'


Aww...He is saying, "Fuffin?" and wandering around the kitchen. We had muffins last week and he really liked them. Sorry, buddy, it is oatmeal again today!

Simon

Guess what Simon is doing in the third picture? Actually, don't guess, but those who have kept him probably know what he is doing! :)

Playdate with Timmy

Timmy is four months younger than Simon.

At one point in the day they hugged and they both fell down. Precious.

When Simon was playing the drums, he would sing, "HOW GREAT....GOD!"

The boys picked some bell peppers that I forgot or didn't realize were still producing. I guess watering our foundation is also watering those plants.

We're hoping to work something out where the boys can spend one morning together a week at our place. This will be good for developing a strong friendship, tradition, and social continuity in their little boy lives!

My Little Man

The train pictures are from Barnes and Nobles. I want to try and take him to storytime there one Saturday morning with Matt! I think that would be much fun. I was at the libary with Simon on Monday night and one of the moms suggested taking Simon to Barnes and Nobles. The little girl at the libary was 3 and kept calling Simon her "little brother."

I think Simon looks a bit like a train conductor in his overalls.

Last night was Simon's last night in his crib at home. We plan to put him in a 'big boy' bed this weekend. We are also painting his room and then switching his room to the guest room and the guest room to his room. Confusing, but we think it will work better for Simon's needs.

I became a little sentimental while putting him down last night. Had it not been for the company who was over, I think I might have had a little cry. Thankfully, his pajamas still make him look like a little boy.

I was reading "Love You Forever" to him this morning, and all of my 'pent-up' tears from last night had a release. Really, that book is a little overly sentimental and creepy in my right state of mind, but in my motherly stupor, I just weeped and sniffled like a hurt toddler. (In referring to the books, the song that the mother sings to her son is okay, but the idea of her driving across town with a ladder strapped to her car so that she can break-in to her grown son's apartment to rock him and sing the song while he is sleeping IS a little over the top. Ah, but that is what sells.)

Here is the song or lullaby lyrics:
"I'll love you forever.
I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living,
My baby you'll be."

**************************************

Simon gets all snuggly on the guest room bed with his favorite stuffed animals. Ah, life without lamby would be sad! Coming in second, for Simon's affection, is Snoopy (pronounced Stoopy.)

Chuck E. Cheese and Pumpkin

Scott spent the night over here on Friday the 13th. We all walked to Target together to buy ... matches (seriously that is what I needed) and then we picked up chips and salsa at Chilis for dinner. While I finished making the tortilla soup to go with our salsa, the boys (all 3) went to the park and kicked the soccer ball around. This was a milestone for me. It was almost dark. To let Simon go to the park where there is the danger of the road and the creek without me was a HUGE act of faith.

After Simon was asleep, we watched (Okay, Matt and Scott) watched a scary movie that they had rented. Fog -- the 1980s version. I can't do the scary movie thing. Instead, I indulged in what I consider an extravagant use of time -- creating a myspace. AGH. It is a necessary evil. Without the simplest of Myspace accounts, I can't comment on other people's myspaces. Most of the teens in the class we teach on Wed. have Myspaces. I have misgivings about Myspace, but I hope to just use it for comments and such. I AM FAITHFUL TO MY BLOGSPOT. I LOVE GOOGLE.

If you are so interested and want to invite me as a friend, my Myspace is www.myspace.com/conversationswithamy

So, Simon loved Chuck E.Cheese. It was his friend James' party. Simon was dancing with the 'real' Chuck E. Cheese when he came out. It was sooo cute. He was right up in the front, on the little stage, just dancing along. I have it on video. Priceless. We discovered that tokens are a waste for his age. He would hop off a ride right when it started OR just press the orange button that took the token over and over instead of actually playing the game.

Matt carves a pumpkin. It is NOT AN INDICATION THAT WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN! I tried to get Matt to be non-traditional and carve Texas' outline or just moon and stars. But, we went mainstream with the non-halloween design that we chose.

Simon kept walking up to the pumpkin, and acting like he was eating it. He would put his hand out, touch the pumpkin, put it to his mouth and smack his lips and say, "Yum, pumpkin." Or, he might say, "All gone," after he 'ate' some of the pumpkin.

Fall Exposure

Today was our first day that really felt like a different season was upon us. It was so nice to leave the air off and to be able to use the oven without worry!

Simon sporting new clothes: See explanation below:
We received two large boxes of hand me downs for Simon last week. This is only the 'second shipment' of hand-me-downs that we have ever received for Simon and they have both been from the same childhood friend in Alabama, whose youngest son is now 6. The sizes were perfect for this new season and I might be able to put off buying new pjs, unless these 4ts are too big. Prob'ly not, though, since I bought him 4ts at Target a couple of weeks ago and they fit well. All this rambling to express that we are really thankful; it's fun to see Simon in autumn wear. Plus, the timing was perfect as we just sent a couple of boxes' worth Alex' way!

Simon and I were sitting on the front porch, reading a book. When dogs passed by, Simon would yell, "SAMMY! SAMMY," with all the fervor and camaraderie of old pals...but his efforts at communication were one-sided. But he didn't give up, Sweet Simon, he didn't give up.

College-Friend Nikki and Baby

pix coming soon, I hope.

Today

Matt videotaped the youth-led service at Wesleyan today. He will be making a dvd for them soon.

I hosted a baby shower for Nancy later in the afternoon. She is expecting a baby girl in a week or so.

Simon is so cute when he tries to blow bubbles. He puts his mouth right on the bubble wand and usually gets some of the liquid on him. (non-toxic) He was blowing bubbles the other day and then I noticed that when he laughed, bubbles came out of his mouth, too!

Warning: Children at Play

The nintendo picture was taken just minutes ago.

Notice that Simon's controller isn't even connected.

Simon is so sweet, so gullible, that Matt doesn't ever have to implement his famous game system line, "Here, let me show you something." (He then takes the controller from whoever and they probably don't ever get it back.) Yep, I married a wonderful game-hog...though he will deny it with force!

They are playing the old-school nintendo, pre-Nintendo 64. Tecmo Basketball.

Things I have overhead recently:
"Come on, Simon, we're only down by one." (Tecmo Basketball.)
"Simon, don't eat Dr.Who." (Referring to a Dr.Who Action Figure that a friend of Matt's in the UK bought for Matt.)

What a nice Saturday morning. Matt left early for a much needed oil change for the Camry. He was back just as the coffee finished brewing and the muffins came out of the oven. Then a wonderful call from my friend Amanda wanted a partner in shopping for her maternity clothes. I was able to do that as well as finish shopping for Nancy's shower tomorrow. When I left 'the boys' this morning, they were watching old-school Superman cartoons (VHS) and Simon was wearing his Superman cape!

Rollercoasters

Even though it is almost 2 a.m., I wanted to record some funny memories from tonight. Briefly, it was all night prayer and we tried to take Simon though we should have known better. He usually stays with my parents, but they are out of town. We didn't even have a playpen, so we really should have known better.

Simon did great, though. He didn't just plop down on the floor in the meeting room with all the lights and noise and people and just go to sleep, but he did go to sleep in the 'Pakistan Room,' -- a small room down the hall. So, here I am in the Pakistan Room with Simon from roughly 9 p.m. till 1 a.m. Simon went to sleep around 9:30. What did I do? Hmmm...that is what this post is about.

I didn't sleep. The floor was so hard and my feet were cold. Plus, I have a complex sleeping in strange places, and I think the Pakistan Room qualifies as a strange place to sleep.

On the upside: I did get to spend time praying for many things BUT on the other hand, at one point I found myself actually about to pray for a situation in a book that I am reading. Hmm...maybe I was a little tired.

On the upside: I had many motherly bonding times with Simon. Getting him to go to sleep next to me, looking at his face and hearing him breathe, making sure he was tucked in tightly and that his pajama pants went down to his ankles instead of riding up to his knees, BUT on the other hand, I did at one point convince myself that since Simon was sleeping soundly, he wouldn't miss and didn't really need his pillow and blanket anymore. I confess I took them. But for only about 5 minutes. When he readjusted to snuggle up under a rolling desk chair, it was too much for me to take. I surrendered the blanket and pillow.

On the upside: I was so bored waiting for Matt to come relieve me that a cricket in the hall only upset me for a little bit. The cricket who normally would have annoyed me by its very presence actually kept me entertained b/c I watched its travels up and down the hall.

On the upside: When Matt finally relieved me, I thought we had another hour before we could take Simon home. (Matt was leading worship at the beginning of the second session and we had to wait until then to leave.) But Matt came AFTER leading worship, so we got to leave right then (GAIN.) I was really confused about what time it was b/c when he came, the clock on the phone in the Pakistan Room said January 5th 11:55 p.m. This is the clock I looked at every 4 minutes or so. Then I got in the van and saw that is was almost 1:00 a.m. (LOSS) It was such a roller coaster of gaining and losing time.

All in all, I really have no idea how I passed almost 4 hours by myself in wakeful solitude and physical discomfort. I kept wishing I had someone to laugh with over the funny things that kept happening.