Friday, May 30, 2008
To Mr. or Mrs. Gillette Wyoming
I added a site meter the other day out of curiosity to see if anyone actually checked this webpage. Sure enough they do:-). I've seen hits from all over the world, and all over the USA. Some I know or can at least assume are certain people. I am wondering though Mr. or Mrs. Gillette Wyoming... who are you? Seeing as how I spent four years of my early childhood there I keep wondering who checks my page from Wyoming? You keep coming back, thanks! Would you mind leaving me a message?
I got a new Camera!
Balin on the edge of the play pool
Ayden preparing our grape bowl
Balin "helping" me do laundry
Monday, May 26, 2008
Playing in the water
This weekend we visited my parents in Houston and found this fountain to play in! Balin LOVES the water, and was perfectly happy letting the jets get him right in the face! Enjoy!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
BC
Can't believe he is almost 1 years old.
Good bottle? Enjoy it now, because it isn't long before you need to give it up son! We are going to try and move you to sippy cups soon!Memoirs of my dog.
Thought I would share my written!
Yiddish :Shayna Ponem English: Beautiful Face.
1989, Eleven year old boy with no friends. Living in a house new to him with rooms the size of his own personal gym. Brother wasn’t around to play with him, and his sisters too self absorbed to do anything other then play with dolls, or dress up. Mother always on the move and new boyfriend made him uneasy. It was May, the first weekend of May exactly. Unforgettable day, because every first weekend of May is Mayday. An all day event in Minneapolis that is suppose to celebrate the labor of earth. Every year the family would gather across the park where the event was held at an uncles house. The boys moms boyfriend walking up to the boy with this small cute dark puppy. It was no bigger then the boys two palms. It was very round with lots of extra skin on the legs and neck. Looking down at the boy, he said it was the family dog. It was a female; Shayna Pondem. Said it was a Rottweiler. Nieve in youth, that meant nothing to the boy. Nor was he prepared to how big she was going to get. Sure, he knew his other uncle in the family had an old Rott. But all she did was sit around and sleep. This puppy was black all over with socks of brown on all four feet, with a brown strip over the face. The grownups were telling stories that females are easier to train, and are sweeter than males.
Going back to the house, the family let the dog explore her new home. The floor was wood, and the puppy kept running to play, which caused her to slide across the room as if she was on ice. She would lick every ones face, and would not stop to say hello until she got her kiss. She wasn’t nervous, nor scared, she acting like she knew she was home.
Training went well, teaching her to ask to go outside. At first the family put her on a leash, but as years went by she grew bigger and stronger, and would break her leash in the yard. The family tried bigger wires and stronger bases to tie to, but nothing that would keep the young pup from staying in the yard. It wasn’t that she was running away. In fact, the family knew when she broke the rope by her full body jump on the glass window on the patio to ask to come in. She was then trained to go outside without a leash in the backyard. She would walk with the person whom took her out, do her job, and walk back inside with the family member.
But those years had many hardships with the pup becoming a monster size dog. She would love to cuddle up on laps like a little dog. And many couches went through a depression where the dog slept on the couch at night when everyone was asleep. As if the dogs weight broke the suspension on the couch. She would chew on anything she could get; shoes, hats, coats. The family learned to keep things up and away. Always given her balls and chew bones occupied her from getting into trouble. In fact, her favorite toy was a soccer ball, she would speak and kick the ball around with herself between her legs all day long.
Her love to play never calmed down. She loved tug-a-war with anything she could find. She loved tag. She would run up and down the stairs chasing all the children running in the house, even when her clumsy feet caused her to slip and slide into walls. When she caught up to the children running, she would just bunt her nose into their legs or even up their rear. She would walk around the house like looking for someone to play with, and would always be handing out hugs. The children did everything to her, dress her up, make her count as another person in a game by making her sit still or speak.
She did speak. She didn’t bark, it was like a gurgle with a pity whine. She would respond after a question, like she understood or like she would take the attention even if one just talked. She did bark, but only those moments where everything seemed to be alright, and she would bark like something spooked her. She would stand up and bark out the door or at a window. She would go to any person in the house if you told her to go get someone. She knew to go up the stairs and to their rooms. She would go upstairs/downstairs on demand. And she would sit and stay for as long as the words, “okay, or go” wasn’t said.
Time went on and the children grew up, took her to the lakes where she loved to swim. They would go to the parks, and she would run all over. Play all day, and when they got home, she would sleep for days. The dog got older, her knees got weaker. But it never stopped her from trying to play. The younger boys loved to wrestle with the dog, and she would just let them take her down. On the ground, she would just like their faces. Time went on and the family moved out and moved around. Every time a family member came to visit, she would jump up on her back legs and try to hug them. But no one got hurt, because they were ready for her to jump up. It became less frequent when her knees starting given out. She greeted everyone, and she would do anything to say hello. Once she got her head pet, she could lay down and go about her own business.
Her love for outdoors grew over years. She would go outside and run around. In the winter she would jump over the snow. In the Spring she would catch the rain with her mouth. In the summer, she would run and roll in the grass. In the Fall she would burry her face into leafs. Yet, she knew when it was time to go back in doors, and never tried to run away or explore outside the yard.
Years later, she got too old to run and play, but she was so sweet, the grand children could use her as a body pillow and she didn’t mind. She moved slow, but still loved to fight the pain and sneak on the couch. In her last days, she wanted to go outside more and more as her bladder got weaker and smaller. The young boy grew up and went home to help around the house after college. One day he went through the collections of dog chains that got thicker and bigger to stronger metals just to hold the big giant teddy bear dog. She would inch her way to his lap and allow him to pet her. Even when the boy now man was down stairs, she would find strength through her pain and crawl down the stairs. Even if that meant she got herself stuck on the lower level with the grown boy. One morning, The man woke up and the dog asked in her talking voice to go outside, the “please I need to go look” So the man opened the door, yet, this time with her weak body and deep breathing old soul, wasn’t able to get up and walk outside.
The man figured its better to let her go outside, then on herself and the floor. So he lifted her up and carried her to the yard on a nice patch of grass. It was a clear, warm day. Fresh smell of air, and clean spring feel. The dog looked up with a grin with a happy pant. Then she took a deep sigh and laid her head on the grass. There in front of the boy she died in peace, happy of her surroundings, satisfied with her life. The young man want shocked 13 years is a full life for a dog. She was ready and he sad. He cried over her petting her one last time. Then he had to go inside and tell the family.
Yiddish :Shayna Ponem English: Beautiful Face.
1989, Eleven year old boy with no friends. Living in a house new to him with rooms the size of his own personal gym. Brother wasn’t around to play with him, and his sisters too self absorbed to do anything other then play with dolls, or dress up. Mother always on the move and new boyfriend made him uneasy. It was May, the first weekend of May exactly. Unforgettable day, because every first weekend of May is Mayday. An all day event in Minneapolis that is suppose to celebrate the labor of earth. Every year the family would gather across the park where the event was held at an uncles house. The boys moms boyfriend walking up to the boy with this small cute dark puppy. It was no bigger then the boys two palms. It was very round with lots of extra skin on the legs and neck. Looking down at the boy, he said it was the family dog. It was a female; Shayna Pondem. Said it was a Rottweiler. Nieve in youth, that meant nothing to the boy. Nor was he prepared to how big she was going to get. Sure, he knew his other uncle in the family had an old Rott. But all she did was sit around and sleep. This puppy was black all over with socks of brown on all four feet, with a brown strip over the face. The grownups were telling stories that females are easier to train, and are sweeter than males.
Going back to the house, the family let the dog explore her new home. The floor was wood, and the puppy kept running to play, which caused her to slide across the room as if she was on ice. She would lick every ones face, and would not stop to say hello until she got her kiss. She wasn’t nervous, nor scared, she acting like she knew she was home.
Training went well, teaching her to ask to go outside. At first the family put her on a leash, but as years went by she grew bigger and stronger, and would break her leash in the yard. The family tried bigger wires and stronger bases to tie to, but nothing that would keep the young pup from staying in the yard. It wasn’t that she was running away. In fact, the family knew when she broke the rope by her full body jump on the glass window on the patio to ask to come in. She was then trained to go outside without a leash in the backyard. She would walk with the person whom took her out, do her job, and walk back inside with the family member.
But those years had many hardships with the pup becoming a monster size dog. She would love to cuddle up on laps like a little dog. And many couches went through a depression where the dog slept on the couch at night when everyone was asleep. As if the dogs weight broke the suspension on the couch. She would chew on anything she could get; shoes, hats, coats. The family learned to keep things up and away. Always given her balls and chew bones occupied her from getting into trouble. In fact, her favorite toy was a soccer ball, she would speak and kick the ball around with herself between her legs all day long.
Her love to play never calmed down. She loved tug-a-war with anything she could find. She loved tag. She would run up and down the stairs chasing all the children running in the house, even when her clumsy feet caused her to slip and slide into walls. When she caught up to the children running, she would just bunt her nose into their legs or even up their rear. She would walk around the house like looking for someone to play with, and would always be handing out hugs. The children did everything to her, dress her up, make her count as another person in a game by making her sit still or speak.
She did speak. She didn’t bark, it was like a gurgle with a pity whine. She would respond after a question, like she understood or like she would take the attention even if one just talked. She did bark, but only those moments where everything seemed to be alright, and she would bark like something spooked her. She would stand up and bark out the door or at a window. She would go to any person in the house if you told her to go get someone. She knew to go up the stairs and to their rooms. She would go upstairs/downstairs on demand. And she would sit and stay for as long as the words, “okay, or go” wasn’t said.
Time went on and the children grew up, took her to the lakes where she loved to swim. They would go to the parks, and she would run all over. Play all day, and when they got home, she would sleep for days. The dog got older, her knees got weaker. But it never stopped her from trying to play. The younger boys loved to wrestle with the dog, and she would just let them take her down. On the ground, she would just like their faces. Time went on and the family moved out and moved around. Every time a family member came to visit, she would jump up on her back legs and try to hug them. But no one got hurt, because they were ready for her to jump up. It became less frequent when her knees starting given out. She greeted everyone, and she would do anything to say hello. Once she got her head pet, she could lay down and go about her own business.
Her love for outdoors grew over years. She would go outside and run around. In the winter she would jump over the snow. In the Spring she would catch the rain with her mouth. In the summer, she would run and roll in the grass. In the Fall she would burry her face into leafs. Yet, she knew when it was time to go back in doors, and never tried to run away or explore outside the yard.
Years later, she got too old to run and play, but she was so sweet, the grand children could use her as a body pillow and she didn’t mind. She moved slow, but still loved to fight the pain and sneak on the couch. In her last days, she wanted to go outside more and more as her bladder got weaker and smaller. The young boy grew up and went home to help around the house after college. One day he went through the collections of dog chains that got thicker and bigger to stronger metals just to hold the big giant teddy bear dog. She would inch her way to his lap and allow him to pet her. Even when the boy now man was down stairs, she would find strength through her pain and crawl down the stairs. Even if that meant she got herself stuck on the lower level with the grown boy. One morning, The man woke up and the dog asked in her talking voice to go outside, the “please I need to go look” So the man opened the door, yet, this time with her weak body and deep breathing old soul, wasn’t able to get up and walk outside.
The man figured its better to let her go outside, then on herself and the floor. So he lifted her up and carried her to the yard on a nice patch of grass. It was a clear, warm day. Fresh smell of air, and clean spring feel. The dog looked up with a grin with a happy pant. Then she took a deep sigh and laid her head on the grass. There in front of the boy she died in peace, happy of her surroundings, satisfied with her life. The young man want shocked 13 years is a full life for a dog. She was ready and he sad. He cried over her petting her one last time. Then he had to go inside and tell the family.
Steven Curtis Chapman
I just read the news about the Chapmans daughter. Growing up in the church, Chapman was probably the first major Christian music example I had. His music ministered to me in many different events of my life. To hear that their family is going through such a trauma is heartbreaking. Especially that its the loss of his little girl, his five year old. I find myself praying for the son. With the publicity of this tragedy he will not be left alone. We need to pray for his protection. It was an accident. His heart is broken for his sister and we need to pray protection for him. He will need to heal and grieve without media attention. Without accusation.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Balins first ten months
I found this remix function on photobucket and decided to try it out. The options are fairly limited, but easy to use. the music is provided by an independednt music source, so again limited. I thought this song was sweet though and captured the joy of my summer baby! Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Adoption blogging
Today I recieved this awesome surprise in the mail. My dear friend Becky had warned me something great was coming and my mind immediately jumped to baby anouncements. No shes not preggo. Lucas then suggested maybe she was sending an adoption fundraiser letter. That would be great too, but no. Instead it was this awesome bag! I pulled it it out and thought, really cute bag. Look it has Africa on it! Then I read her card. A family in Iowa that she had run across while reading adoption blogs was selling these as a fundraiser. Usually they have a heart on the Africa where Sierra Leone is, the home of their beautiful twins who are awaiting their homecoming. She had them put the heart on mine over Tanzania. So special, so sweet. I went online to look at their blog and have spent as much of my free time tonight reading it as possible! They call it The Intersection. The blog itself is beautifully done and the mothers writing about her children is poignant and humerous. They are in a very difficult moment awaiting word on their travel visas, the final step to go claim their children and bring them home. Please join with me and pray for Gods swift hand!
****The LANDERS ARE IN AFRICA! PRAY FOR SAFETY AND A QUICK RETURN!*******
Monday, May 19, 2008
At the park/The day the camera died
Thes pics are from a park we found here that has a huge sand pit with "rocks" to climb. Its really well done. Ayden can learn to boulder! tee hee, Balin like to eat the sand. We have been going as much as possible so we get that "been to the beach" feeling with sand in diapers and ground into our hair. Lots of fun!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
teething, mno and spiderman
So the tooth turned into a not so much fun experience. Ayden was always cranky when teething, but Balin has a way of yelling at you that can be quite unnerving. Fortunately the tooth is gettting a good way out and not bothering him so much. Hopefully the next one will not be bad so bad! We had a really great weekend. Lucas will be home for eight days over the next month, and will have to be working in the field as much as he can over those days. So we took this weekend for some family time. Friday night I got to go out with the moms group I joined. We went to a paint your opwn pottery place and had yummy food and conversation. Saturday we slept in (yay) and then went to the boardwalk. We kept grummpy tooth baby awake all morning and took Ayden to an early showing of Prince Caspian. Balin fell asleep as planned and we all enjoyed the movie! Ayden has been listening to the Narnia series on cd for his rest times, so he was looking forward to the movie. Then we had dinner at IHOP and walked around enjoying the cool weather while it lasts! Most of our other freetime was spent playing on the Wii which we normally don't do much of. Ayden is aparently quite good at it and he and his Daddy mkust have beat some important level because the first thing Ayden said to me when we woke up on Saturday was "WE BEAT RHINO!" Great! :-). It's a victory. Oh and on Friday afternoon I got plants! I've been frustrated not having a backyard or nice home decor so we bought houseplants! Now the living room smells like potting soil instead of poopy diaper! (I promise its a step up). Anyway, now I have something green to try to keep alive. We'll see how that goes.
Monday, May 12, 2008
I see a tooth!!!
We've been waiting for Balin to get a tooth for what seems like forever! He's been drooling for weeks and finally this afternoon his first tooth broke through! Yay! Its one on the bottom in the front. I think the one next to it will come through at any time as well. Now I know why he wont bite on anything today!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Dedication Sunday
Today was Baby Dedication Sunday at our church. For those of you unfamiliar with it its similar to infant Baptism in that it is a profession of our faith and commitment to raise Balin in a Christian home, teaching him in the Lord. The commitment is two handed, we as a family commit to provide him the opportunity to learn about the Lord by praying with him, teaching him and taking him to church. The other hand is the church commiting to provide a safe and loving home to bring him to. There were 23 families who participated! I've never been a member of a church this large, so that surprised me. They did a really sweet slideshow with pictures of the babies and introduced all the families. Afterwards they gave the babies little "gifts." One was a chocolate bar personalized with his name and the vers "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 The other gift was a small white bible engraved with his name. What a special mothers day this has been. I am blessed with two healthy children. What more could I ask for?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
My new job title
JUST A MOM?
> > A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's
office,
> > was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
> >
> > She hesitated, uncertain how t o classify herself.
> >
> > 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,
> > 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'
> >
> > 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.
> >
> > 'I'm a Mom.'
> >
> > 'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,
> > 'housewife' covers it,'
> > Said the recorder emphatically.
> >
> >
> > I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
> > in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
> > The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
> > efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
> > 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'
> >
> > 'What is your occupation?' she probed.
> >
> > What made me say it? I do not know.
> > The words simply popped out.
> > 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of
> > Child Development and Human Relations.'
> >
> > The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and
> > looked up as though she had not heard right.
> >
> > I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
> > Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
> > in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
> >
> > 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
> > 'just what you do in your field?'
> >
> > Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
> > I heard myself reply,
> > 'I have a continuing program of research,
> > (what mother doesn't)
> > In the laboratory and in the field,
> > (normally I would have said indoors and out).
> > I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole
family)
> > and already have four credits (all daughters).
> > Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
> > (any mother care to disagree?)
> > and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
> > But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers
> > and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'
> >
> > There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
> > completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
> >
> > As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
> > I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
> > Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
> > (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
> > testing out a new vocal pattern.
> > I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
> > And I had gone on the official records as someone more
> > distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
> > Motherhood!
> >
> > What a glorious career!
> > Especially when there's a title on the door.
> >
> > Does this make grandmothers
> > ' Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and
> > Human Relations'
> > And great grandmothers
> > 'Executive Senior Research Associates?'
> > I think so!!!
> > I also think it makes Aunts '
> > Associate Research Assistants.'
> > A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's
office,
> > was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
> >
> > She hesitated, uncertain how t o classify herself.
> >
> > 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,
> > 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'
> >
> > 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.
> >
> > 'I'm a Mom.'
> >
> > 'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,
> > 'housewife' covers it,'
> > Said the recorder emphatically.
> >
> >
> > I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
> > in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
> > The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
> > efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
> > 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'
> >
> > 'What is your occupation?' she probed.
> >
> > What made me say it? I do not know.
> > The words simply popped out.
> > 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of
> > Child Development and Human Relations.'
> >
> > The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and
> > looked up as though she had not heard right.
> >
> > I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
> > Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
> > in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
> >
> > 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
> > 'just what you do in your field?'
> >
> > Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
> > I heard myself reply,
> > 'I have a continuing program of research,
> > (what mother doesn't)
> > In the laboratory and in the field,
> > (normally I would have said indoors and out).
> > I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole
family)
> > and already have four credits (all daughters).
> > Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
> > (any mother care to disagree?)
> > and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
> > But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers
> > and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'
> >
> > There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
> > completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
> >
> > As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
> > I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
> > Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
> > (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
> > testing out a new vocal pattern.
> > I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
> > And I had gone on the official records as someone more
> > distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
> > Motherhood!
> >
> > What a glorious career!
> > Especially when there's a title on the door.
> >
> > Does this make grandmothers
> > ' Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and
> > Human Relations'
> > And great grandmothers
> > 'Executive Senior Research Associates?'
> > I think so!!!
> > I also think it makes Aunts '
> > Associate Research Assistants.'
Friday, May 9, 2008
57 states
so I have no comment on the election or who should be in the white house. Heaven knows we all make "misstatements" but this is great. hysterical actually.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Language
I majored in English and although my spelling is horrible and my typing worse, I have a big appreciation for vocabulary. I love finding new words, or reading stories that make use of creative vocabulary. I have come to realize though in raising children it is indeed the simple words that mean the most. We have started really listening to Balin and these are the words we believe he is saying. Words that are more "million dollar" than any I have heard before.
Dad / Daddy/ Dada
Dog (any fuzzy animal)(he loves Lucy)
Duck
Ball
bye-bye
bottle
AAAAYYYNNNN (Ayden)
Mummmm mumum (mom)
We are trying to teach him sign, but he prefers to try to speak instead and looks at me like I'm crazy when I show him signs. Ayden on the other hand loves to yell "mom I'm this" from the other room so that I have to go look, when he can talk like a third grader when he wants to. Communication. A precious gift.
Dad / Daddy/ Dada
Dog (any fuzzy animal)(he loves Lucy)
Duck
Ball
bye-bye
bottle
AAAAYYYNNNN (Ayden)
Mummmm mumum (mom)
We are trying to teach him sign, but he prefers to try to speak instead and looks at me like I'm crazy when I show him signs. Ayden on the other hand loves to yell "mom I'm this" from the other room so that I have to go look, when he can talk like a third grader when he wants to. Communication. A precious gift.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
First steps
Last night Lucas got home around 8;00pm. Within ten mintues Balin took his first steps!! I got all teary, of course and we all celebrated. How is my nine and a half month old wlaking? He's so short! It is so exciting to see him growing so fast. He started clapping today as well!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Happy May day!
Today marks three years from Lucas's proposal.. the weekend of it at least. It is amazing how fast time goes by. Balin tried feeding himself for the first time with a spoon this morning. It is so cute to watch him take on things like that. When I first handed him the spoon he stuck it in his mouth (empty) and looked at me like I was crazy! The I heped him try dipping his spoon in his yogurt a few times, and he actually fed himself a few bites.
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