Where Did He Learn This Stuff?

Sometimes I am truly amazed at how observant and smart my son is. Surely, I am a little biased. But, the other day, while in his bedroom, I asked Toad if he was hungry. I asked him if he wanted to eat breakfast and he promptly repsonded "DA!" (his version of Yah!). So, I told him to go to his high chair and he could eat. So, the little dude waddled his way down the hallway, to the kitchen. There, he proceeded to pull his high chair out into the middle of the kitchen floor, which I normally do and headed over to the round-about cabinet (the only one he can open) and attempted to pull out the toaster. I was really shocked. Now, I have known that he knows what it means to want to eat. But, I never expected to have him actually pull out his high chair and then head for the toaster. What a little helper he is. And, smart too, if I do say so myself. Often, I say to myself, or to whoever is around (my hubby, my mom, my MIL), "how does he know that? I've never sat down and taught him where the toaster is and I've certainly never taught him to go get it out of the cabinet". Truly, the way children learn is absolutely amazing to me. I love watching the proverbial wheels turn in Toad's head.
Here are some recent pictures of Little Buddy:

First Things First

This afternoon, my mom (who is visiting from CA) and Toad and I went to a local sandwich shop to have lunch. I ordered, while mom got Toad situated in the high-chair. Once I sat down and our food was brought to our table, I was distracted with finding my spoon and napkin. I hear my mom quietly saying my name, trying to get my attention. When I look up, I see that Toad has grabbed my mom's hand and is reaching out for mine. He wanted to pray! Now, granted, he wasn't planning on being the one to say the prayer, but he apparently knew that before we eat, we pray. First things first, ya know. So, we said a short thank you to Jesus and he was quite content with that. He smiled and then promptly proceeded to devour his grilled cheese sandwich.... and flirt with every girl that came in the door...from age 2 to 20. It just warmed my heart that he has picked up on something so important at such a young age.

Now, we just have to work on manners when it comes to passing gas. After we got home, he was standing between my mom and me and he just let out a long, indiscreet fart. It was sorta startling, actually. Afterwards, he looked up at me, with those precious eyes glimmering, and smiled. It was really as if he knew that what he did was not okay for just anyone to do and get away with. Then, again, with that smile, he might be able to get away with it far longer than most people.

Rejection

Recently, I've experience more rejection than any one person should have to face in such a short time. Being as how my biggest fear in life is REJECTION, it has been tough. I've dealt with the issue on a few different levels and it has been hard. It hurts. I've wrestled with God as to what His purpose in all of this is. I've questioned why He would allow certain events to take place and to end up in this place called "rejection city". Last night, I was talking with God and something came to mind. Granted, I'm not sure that this is the answer to those questions I posed to my Lord, but if it isn't, it is, at least, a reminder to me. Christ said that if I was to live in this world and live for Him, I would be hated... (translation: rejected). The world will throw things at me and Satan will use them to defeat me. Do I still feel defeated? Maybe. The pain of the rejection still stings, but I don't know if what I am feeling is really just defeat. Confused, hurt, rattled? Yes. Hopeful? Yes, too. I have a hope which is in Christ. If I choose to live in a world that hates the One I serve, I should expect to also be hated, rejected, discarded. As we talked in my Bible study class this past week, we may not always understand why God works the way He does. We may not understand why He acted the way He did in some biblical events. We may understand it someday, perhaps not until we get to heaven. Then again, as Julie said, we may be too busy praising and worshipping to even care to ask "why"? I hope that by the time I meet Jesus face to face, the pain and confusion will be so far removed that I'll have forgotten what I even wanted to ask "why?" about.

Mixed Signals

So, yesterday, I took Toad to MOPS and left him in the nursery (Moppets) while I went to the meeting. When I dropped him off, he cried. And, I fully expected to get paged to come get him prior to the end of the meeting, 2 1/2 hours later. When the meeting was over and I hadn't gotten paged, I was pleasantly shocked! I stepped into his nursery room to pick him up and he actually seemed pretty content. Then, I realized partly why he was so content in the nursery and why he didn't come running over to me, grateful that I was there to "rescue" him. You see, I wasn't the one with the animal crackers.
It was sweet to watch him ask "please" for more animal crackers. The nursery worker, Shauna's mom, mentioned that they don't usually give the kiddos food in that room, but that Toad just seemed sooooo hungry. And, I was fine with her giving them to him, since I had specifically packed them for him, in case he needed a snack. He always needs a snack.
It wasn't until I got home that I realized what had most likely taken place in the nursery... and I started laughing, out loud, to myself, in the kitchen when I thought about it.
Well, we've taught Toad to say "please" in sign language, by rubbing his open, flat palm, in a circular motion, over his heart. However, sometimes in his excitement, he rubs a little lower and looks like he is rubbing his belly. You must also know that it is a regular occurence in our house for Toad to walk over to us, grab our finger and try to get us to go with him wherever he is headed. Therefore, we've also taught him that if he wants us to go with him, he has to say "please".
So, here is what I believe happened: Toad likely went over to Mrs. V and tried to get her to go with him somewhere. But, because she didn't know that we expect him to ask us "please" and because he was probably so excited to have a new person to drag around, I think his "please go with me" sign looked more like "I'm rubbing my belly cuz I'm really hungry". Then, she felt badly because the poor kid was so hungry that he was actually rubbing his stomach to get her attention. And, since she gave him an animal cracker, pre-approved by mom, he said "please" again. And again, his "please" was likely seen as "I'm famished. I really need another cracker". And, so it went. And, then I realized it once I got home. She thought he was just rubbing his belly cuz he was starving. When, really, he was likely trying to politely ask her to go here or there with him.
I guess we'll have to work on accuracy in our signing. We're just proud that he does some signing. We don't expect perfection. But, this is just a classic case of misread signals.

Blessing #17--My Mother-in-Law

Okay, so I realize I am super behind. I owe you two blogs still. This is one of them. However, I have at least 3 or 4 that I still intend to post at some point. August was just a really busy month. And, the first half of September was filled with travel. But, I am pretty proud that I did as well as I did with sticking to posting almost daily during this "blessings series".

That said, on to another blessing of mine... My mother-in-law... or as I sometimes refer to her, my "mother-in-love".

Me and my MIL, when I was very pregnant

I can not tell you how uberly, unbelievably, abundantly blessed I am to have the MIL that I have. It kinda goes along with how blessed I am with the FIL I have. I don't think I could have envisioned a more amazing "in-law" situation.

My hubby and my MIL dancing at our wedding

When I think of my MIL, the word "family" pops into my mind. Aside from God, I truly believe that family is the most important thing in her life. She lives for her family. She loves on her family. She caters to her family. And it makes her happy to do so. This woman loves her husband, which is obvious. On her birthday, she made food for my FIL. While I would have probably told my hubby that it was my day and he would have to fix his own pizza, she lovingly did it. And then there are her boys... She loves them so much it probably hurts... She wants only the best for them and I think she might even physically feel their pain when things don't go perfectly for them.

My hubby and MIL at our wedding

My MIL dancing with her other son at his wedding

Not only does she give of herself for her husband and her boys, but she loves her daughters-in-laws (or is it daughter-in-laws) as if they are truly her own daughters. Almost as if she had given birth to us herself. That's the love she displays for us. See what I mean? I'm blessed. In fact, she is more of a friend than an "in-law" or a parental figure.

MIL, me, my mom at my baby shower

My MIL laughing at dinner with my sister-in-law

For a while, my MIL and I would make a trip to Wal-Mart together every Sunday. On one particular trip, I thought she was going to pull out in front of on-coming traffic. I may have made some vocal squeal or something because she commented about how I was going to go tell my friends what a crazy, horrible MIL I had. That lead to a conversation about how I had recently been thinking about how the opposite is so true. I actually have a mother-in-law who I like. It isn't the old cliche situation where I dread seeing or talking to "the in-laws". I told her how most of my friends have at least one "in-law situation", where either they or their husbands don't get along with one of the set of parents. But, not us. I feel truly blessed. My parents love my hubby and I love his parents. I actually enjoy spending time with my MIL (and my FIL, but this post is about my MIL, remember?).

My mom and MIL being silly with their lipstick
Selfless is another good word for describing my MIL. She will rearrange her entire day, I'm convinced, to accommodate her family's needs, wishes and desires. If my hubby or I called and asked her to watch Little Buddy that same day, she'd do it. This woman sacrifices her own plans, without complaint, to give haircuts, babysit, or just spend time with her family.

The fam

I think my MIL was designed with some special grandmother feature. She is an amazingly loving, wonderful, patient, creative and thoughtful grandmother. Despite the fact that, at least once an hour, Little Buddy will grab her finger and lead her to the "vacuum closet", she still lets her fingers be visible and she still lets him convince her that he needs to see that vacuum "just one more time". And, my son adores her! When he was going through his stranger anxiety phase, she was one of the only people he'd go to, aside from me and my hubby.

On Toad's Birthday

Just loving her grandson
I could probably write a book on how fortunate I am to have Millie as my mother-in-love. I only wish everyone had this same experience. I wouldn't trade her for the world.

Blessing #16--My Sister-In-Law

YAY FOR MY AMAZING SISTER-IN-LAW

( This is what happens when you cover your face when I'm trying to take your picture.)
I was unbelievably ecstatic that October day when I learned that my brother had proposed to A. Yes, I was thrilled for him, but just about as much, I was happy for ME! The day my brother married A, he gave me one of the most amazing gifts ... the sister I always wanted. At their wedding
I can remember the first time I met her. She came walking around the corner, hand in hand with T, wearing that oh-so-cute white skirt. The fact that they were holding hands, comfortably, as they approached me and my folks spoke volumes to me before she ever spoke a word. This had to be a really amazing person, I thought. And, soon, I learned just how right I was.
At my wedding, between T and Gram
In what was a very significant statement, T invited A to accompany him to my wedding, which was only a few months after they started dating. Now, I really knew things were serious. And, I was thrilled! That wedding weekend, A just seemed like family. She asked for opinions on which dress she should wear and she shared some special information with me about my brother. I enjoyed that time so much.
One of their engagement photos
Soon, T and A were engaged and then married. When she walked down the aisle, she made my brother cry... which made me cry. She looked absolutely beautiful. In fact, there is a picture that her photographer took of her lying on a couch in a posh L.A. hotel that looks like a magazine spread. I wish I had that photo to post.
With two of her bridesmaids, before she had her dress on



Me and A at her wedding reception
Yes, she is very fashionable. In fact, when I was visiting her and my brother, recently, she even had these snazzy shoes to go with her lovely grey sweatpants. :) he he. (she's gonna kill me for that)

Enough said

She has such a comfortable presence about her. Even though she hasn't grown up around all of our "family friends", she acts like she has known them for years. My sister-in-law just fits in so naturally with our family. And she is soooo good with babies. I can't wait for her to have one, too! Oh, that thought just brings me such giddiness inside. No, I'm not making any announcements on her behalf. To my knowledge, she is not pregnant. I'm simply saying I can't wait for the day that she is!

At my baby shower

Holding Little Buddy when he was a week old

Our family (minus Little Buddy)

I remember how excited she was to learn that she was going to be an Auntie. She took time off from work and flew to AZ to visit her little nephew the first week he was born. She doted on him and was such a help. She made us food and she spent precious time with Little Buddy. A is amazing with children. It is no wonder that she has worked with them so well, for so long. She even taught uncle T how to change a poopy diaper, during one of our trips to CA.

He survived

A and T at Thanksgiving

She is so real. I just love hanging out with her. We don't get to do that often enough, living in different states, but I truly treasure the times we do get to share. We don't have that obligatory relative relationship. I don't feel like I have to be nice to her just because she married into the family. I genuinely love her. She is more like a friend than a "relative".

Me, Little Buddy, and A at Amy's baby shower

Auntie A sharing her Pinkberry with Little Buddy

This chick is a fantastic a fantastic chef. She can cook and she can bake. And, it all tastes good, to boot. On top of being a great chef, she is a wonderful aunt who's nephew adores her. She has endeared my entire family to her because she is just so sincere and real. I love how easy she is to talk to and how happy she makes my brother. Hospitality is definitely a gift of hers. She always makes people feel welcome and comfortable. For all those things and more...She is loved. Everyone should be so blessed to have a sister or friend like her in their lives.

Blessing #15--Little Buddy

Truly, my son is one of the most amazing blessings I've ever received. His funny faces crack me up, his laugh is contagious and his tears melt my heart. I'm totally hooked. I treasure the morning moments we have together and I cherish all the milestones that have gotten him to the walking, climbing, jabbering little guy that he is today. I love this boy more than life.

Moments after being born Less than 24 hours old

Eating and pooping makes a boy tired

One of his many funny faces

Yet another of his faces

Sad lip, melts my heart

Just kickin' back, relaxing after a round of golf

Whatchoo looking at?!!?

My little Santa

Concentrating on ticklin' the ivories

Another silly face at the piano

CHEESE!!

Like father, like son!

The "pooping" face

"After biting a lemon" face
"Birthday Cupcake" face

Happy Boy

Goofy Little Guy