Family News

Chocolate lab, already semi-trained, 3-years-old and loves to cuddle.
The girls adore her and we’re teaching Elisha that “long-suffering” does *not* equal asking for more suffering.
I am so thankful to have found her.
The short story: We’ve been looking at the shelter a couple times a week the last few months.  We’ve looked at a number of [...]

Two weeks ago, now, Jay and I droe to Anchorage and back, leaving Friday afternoon and returning Saturday night.

The next weekend the Renaissance Faire got rained-out, but the girls still got to wear their costumes:

On Saturday to Papa and Grandma’s, and Sunday to church.  Yes, Melody wore a shirt under that vest.
I find I didn’t [...]

Let’s see, I don’t have dates for these, but they weren’t happening before, so we’ll get them on-record.
Elisha is jumping now.
It started with jerky one-steps off a low stair and has progressed to a full-grown hurling of himself from any permissible hight to the next-lowest point.
Permissible is defined as anything Mom or dad has not [...]

Thursday Night Elisha showed an understanding of… something new.  I don’t know what to call it.

“Oops, sorry that was me.”

He cried out when I bumped him, and stopped when I apologized

Pretending to be asleep

In his car seat.  This comes from copying his sisters who do it wanted to be carried in.
It was hard not to [...]

This is a glue stick.
This is lip-stuff.
And he’s not allowed to apply either one yet.
He is currently moaning in my lap over the unfairness of life.

Melody’s fever seemed to break last night, but she’s still coughing and emotional/clingy today, along with other symptoms.
Elisha has a low fever and isn’t keeping anything down.  We keep feeding and watering him “against orders” because Jay figures if the boy’s going to be throwing-up anyway we might as well make it less painful.
This is [...]

Natasha (commenting on the shape of the syrup she just poured): Look, it’s like octopus tentacles grouped above its head!
Interesting that a girl who still says “muquis” instead of “music” can articulate “Octopus tentacles.”
Melody (at breakfast): Mommy, can you scoot me in the proper way?
And when I went down the hall to learn what Elisha [...]

So, mainly from recognizing the influence that goals had on me as a foster parent, I’ve decided I need to set goals for my own kids. And these are going to be basic, realistic goals here.
“Independently using the potty” is too big a goal for Melody just now. We’re going to start with [...]

Like I mentioned earlier, I spent most of January 1st working on books.
The girls and I traded bookshelves in our bedrooms. These pictures are the girls washing their “new” kid-sized bookshelf.

And then I saw Elisha in his little rocking chair, sitting with “Where the Wild Things Are” [...]

Elisha said “Mama” yesterday, very distinct.  It was so clear I didn’t realize at first it was him talking.
He also managed a distinct, polite “no” today, in answer to a question.  Up till now he’s communicated that by shaking both his head and shoulders (like he knows the body language, but hasn’t figured out the [...]