Maybe it is Spring heading into Summer, maybe it is being surrounded by children who seem to grow an inch overnight, but I have been thinking of all the growing going on around me lately.
Let me start with Matthew. At his one year check up, the doctor was very concerned that he had only gained ONE pound since his six month check up. In fact, for the "little man" who started at the top of the weight chart when he was born, he is now not even on it. I admit, I was concerned, but I really was thinking that it all had to do with him being sick for practically six months and all the antibiotics he had been on during that time for his ears that, er, gave him the runs (I'm sorry- there is no nice way to describe it!). Anyway, even though our beloved doctor really wanted to go ahead and start running some tests, she decided to give me another month with the condition that I keep a food journal and if he hadn't gained any more weight in a month, the gauntlet would fall.
Well, praise God that last week at the check up he had gained a couple of ounces, which under the circumstances (he had some sort of stomach virus for about 10 days) was acceptable. I am to bring him in again in another 6 weeks and I'm sure he will have gained more weight. After all, as I told our doctor, he eats like a pig! He routinely out-eats Grace, and on a number of occasions has matched what I ate. This is what I had in mind as I am telling her how much he loves to eat:
I admit it, the table doesn't always get cleaned up right away after a meal. There is on occasion a potty emergency, a phone call, or I just get distracted and plumb forget. Matthew has never been one to pass up food, so seeing that he left some on his tray, he decides to help me out by cleaning up for me. I just happened to catch him in the act. Hey, could be worse. He could be eating off the floor again!
This year we decided to finally grow that garden we have talked about since we first moved in five years ago. My Dad and Erik built the frame, Erik hauled in the dirt and added our compost, and then he and Grace bought the plants on a "Daddy date". Have you heard of the book about the $64 tomato? Basically this man starts a garden, and after all the materials, the plants, the dirt, the fertilizer, he figures out that his one tomato cost him $64. I think he got his inspiration from our little plot here:
After all the time and work this project has taken, I'm sure it would have been easier just to go to the grocery store! But it sure wouldn't have been as much fun (well, fun for me- all I had to do was stick the plants in the ground!). And these three were about as helpful as you can see:
Now this is a father's love: he lets his daughter eat the $64 strawberry! :)
Oh, I forgot one last tidbit. Matthew is finally all weaned. I dropped the dreaded evening feeding last week, and he hardly complained. He even let Daddy put him to bed! Now that is an accomplishment for a mama's boy.
And lest you think this is one of those "clever" blogs (like you could be so fooled!) that ends a blog about growing by telling you I am pregnant, let me put your fears at ease. :) I am not! That would fall under the crazy mommy category right now! However, I do have a funny story to end with.
Grace telling Daddy at dinner: "Well, I am going to have a baby in my belly, and Mommy is going to have a baby in her belly."
(Me, side glance to Erik, "No, honey, don't panic, I'm not pregnant!")
Grace: "We are going to have Matthew, me, one boy and one girl." After pausing for just a moment, she says "We are going to need more mommies and daddies!"
Amen to that, sister! I couldn't stop laughing at her perceptiveness!
The boys fish, the girls and kids through rocks. Look for this to be a recurring theme.
The big kids got to take a train ride on a 1920's steam locomotive through the mountains. Poor Matthew positively loves trains, but was happier napping at home I suspect.
At this point I think Erik 'shrieked' :) "are those train cars tipping?" I believe he also stopped leaning over the edge to take pictures of the river thousands of feet below!
How to keep babies entertained for part of the long drives and flights. Hey, you get desperate.
More rock throwing... I told you there was a theme here!
Turn the hot tub temp down and it is like a giant warm outdoor baby pool!
Seriously, my baby almost got attacked here by rabid chipmunks who apparently other people find fun and cute to feed. But the baby can't defend himself! It was crazy. Grace also slipped on pond scum trying to get the perfect rock to throw into the lake. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of the wet underwear and shorts drying on a stick in the sun like a white flag of peace for the chipmunks.
Lots of travel and lots of fun, but still good to be home too!
Matthew thought his sister was the star of the show, clapping and screaming when she came out to perform. Only problem was he was trying to be the star from the audience. Needless to say the men left during intermission.
