Jimmer is Two!

Yes, the coolest cat in town is two. Time flies. Jimmer loves peas with a little ranch dressing, milk and the venerable cookie. 

We love Jimmer pulling on our hands to show us something, his affectionate head butts, and his love of reading stories before bed. We love reading stories, too!

Samantha loves Jimmer's big hugs and hand squeezes. Most of the time. 

Happy birthday, James! You are the sweet in our tea and the pie of our eyes. 

April

So sorry, 2014 has been a bloggy dead zone...

And truth is, I'm not really engaging in any new commitments. Just the usual things.

1. Keeping Jimmer out of the pond. 

2. Teaching Samantha about puffs.

3. Keeping the boss happy with an occasional dinner.

And all the usual dentistry stuff, too.

This year, for Lent, I gave up purchasing myself anything material. Exclusions include food and drink and work-relate necessities.

I'm doing good! Its kind of relieving to go to the mall and realize that everything is off limits. There is some stress involved with the stress of the unnecessary purchase. 

And I just don't have time for that.

Ain't nobody got time for that. 

Samantha Politely Declines:

Cold breastmilk

Cold formula

Breastmilk/formula combinations of any kind, at any temperature

Reheated formula

Any formula other than Alimentum

The last two ounces of a bottle of any fluid or size, no matter how hungry she seemed at first 

Applesauce at the end of a meal

But she does love kisses. :)

There is Nothing Worse

...than trying to be a good parent when you are sick.

And your husband is away for two days for work.

And you are scared to sleep in your house alone.

So you don't sleep well, and like I said, you're sick.

And your darling minions are up early and full of energy and need mama.

And you have a work day with a sitter prepared and a big long list of things to catch up on.

But all you want to do is sleep.

And you are stuck at a Panera with the slowest WiFi you've ever seen.

But you can't go home because, well, the minions.

There is nothing worse.

Except for hyperbole.

You've heard it before, but..

.

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

(Song for a Fifth Child ~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton)

Back in the Saddle

I won this sweet yoga mat in a raffle sponsored by the cutest blog: www.vintagesimplylove.blogspot.com The blog's writer, Janelle, might be the cutest, sweetest human being ever. And she has excellent taste! 

You can get your own "the mat" here.

I am so excited! I never win anything! Hopefully this will spur me back into a yoga routine...or a workout routine of any sort. Just before our wedding, I was doing this great yoga class at V Power Yoga...let me tell you, I was fit.  And I loved it. Much better than the 13-mile days I put in during the summer of 2005 for the Columbus Marathon. The first and only marathon I will ever run. Actually, I really haven't run since that marathon. Lesson learned.

I did some vinyasas today during naptime and when James was playing quietly. It felt good. I miss the flexibility I used to have! Good thing it can be regained...unlike the four minutes of my life I lost watching this. 

(Toddler not included.)

December to Remember

It's amazing that December is here already. The past months have flown by; these days it's hard to get my teeth brushed, let alone blog. I fully expect this to get worse. 

At least our tree is up on time. As I reflect on the passing Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for all those who are supporting us in this season of our lives. I am also grateful for the energy to continue to pray for the ever-growing number of friends and family who are ailing. It is good to know that our God is the great physician. 

And as far as doctors go, it seems that our celebration of His big Ob/Gyn doctor visit is just around the corner?