play date

My friend Rachel and I took our kiddos to this play place. We'd done it once before a couple months ago and it was cool to see how August's running/climbing skills had grown. Best part I had gotten a coupon for 1/2 off in our local mailer, so for some reason it was free! I think because August is still under 2. But that was a very nice surprise.

At one point I was at the bottom of this climb and I heard August crying so I climbed to the top. Sure enough he'd been laid flat out by that huge ball. I hugged and rocked him and asked the little kids around if they'd knocked the ball into him. It was a good lesson that sometimes when you're playing, you get hurt! This dad was climbing up with his kid and says to me "you flew up there like spiderwoman!" which was a nice compliment I guess. Hey a mom knows her baby's cry and no flight of foam steps gets in her way!

I guess I still can't get videos to play on here, but he liked running after all the basketballs.

He keeps me busy!

I read some thing recently that toddlers/preschoolers are supposed to have active play 5-8 hours a day (and it said preferably outside) to stimulate and grow their proprioceptive reactors or something. That number seemed so high to me. And being outside that long isn't even realistic unless I want him to get skin cancer at 10. But the main idea of the article was to let kids play, occasionally get hurt, but to move and learn to use their bodies. So places like this are great.

"Father's Day"

We celebrated on Friday, since I had to work Saturday and Sunday, hence the quotes. We started our day with a delicious breakfast of eggs and chocolate chip banana bread and then headed to the Zoo. Man it was crowded! And hot! But we had fun.

no likey the fake dinosaur

First carousel ride!

Looking at giraffes

prairie dogs!

Fun with water froggies

Zipped into the Penguinarium before we left

Family photo. That kid photobombing in the back makes me laugh, his mother was taking our picture so he was probably wondering who we were :)

That evening we tried a new restaurant for dinner. It was nice we sat outside as August remains in a huge, annoying, food throwing phase. So less to clean up. It was nice to spend the day as a family and celebrating Doug. He is such a great husband, and I couldn't ask for a better dad for our son. He's patient when I'm losing it, he is fun, he is helpful, he leads us all closer to the Lord, and he loves us and is faithfully here in the mess with us. I love that.

The work weekend was ok, and I got to call my own dad and talk to him too. I'm also thankful to have such a great dad!

And we are back to everyday life. August had a growth appointment today, he's gained weight and inches so the growth specialist wasn't worried. It is hard though if he already fell from his growth chart (prompting the growth specialist), and now he's super picky and hardly eats meals, so it remains something that we have to keep coming every 6 months for. I'm thankful he's healthy though.

Feeling some stress with stuff at work and wondering about switching up my job or not. Kinda want to, but really, really, really, do not want to work midnights. So asking myself if it's worth the short term (1+ years) sacrifice to be in a specialty or not. Prayers appreciated!

Lasts

We are down to the last bags of frozen breastmilk for August. Just a couple more days worth. I had hoped to make it to two years, but 19.5 months is pretty good.

I've been feeling pretty discouraged lately as we are so hopeful for another baby, and yet it's just not happening. I look at August and I feel so blessed to be a mother, his mother, when some people aren't given the gift of motherhood at all. But I always wanted more children. And as I look at that last box of milk, and at my growing boy, I just hope he isn't my first, and last, baby.

So. Praying today to trust the Lord. And His timing. And that I can learn to be content in all circumstances (Phil. 4:11b), and with whatever the Lord chooses to give me.