Vacation: Day 2

Thursday: Aunt Jana had some finals today and tomorrow morning, we we took this time to go visit Tia Taya. This was the first time we'd met the newest family member - Lavery. Dad looks like a pro holding her, doesn't he? Does he look like he's getting ideas???




Sarina and David look at books. I thought it was hilarious how Sarina sits so pretty with her legs crossed, while David squats like a frog! David & Sarina are 2 months, 2 days apart in age.




While David took an afternoon nap, Sarina helped her Mama water the vegetables (and grass) in her garden!



Lavery napped in her stroller while their dog, Prolly, kept an eye on things. Prolly is a small dog... : ) half lab, half great pyrenees! He's a very sweet dog!






Back inside, Sarina finished her supper and crawled up in the chair with David while he shoveled macaroni & cheese into his mouth! Sarina also gave him a drink, holding his cup for him!







Tia Taya supervises bathtime. I was careful to make sure nothing was showing in these photos!!! In the second photo, David was splashing Sarina. We spent the night in an RV at Taya's house. They had borrowed it for her mom to stay in when Lavery was born. It was really nice!

Vacation: Day 1

Wednesday morning, we loaded up & hit the road. But first, we stopped by the fire station to get ice from the ice machine. They were having training, so all the trucks on this side of town were at the station.


This is pretty much how Wednesday went. We left at 10am and arrived at Aunt Jana's apartment about 6pm.

We're ok, just getting ready for a trip. We may or may not post again before we get back...

Saved by a Fireman

Before we get into the story, I wanted to show you David's new use for tomato cages!!! She blends in with the floor, but that's Tabi (the cat) inside the stack!


Isn't this an adorable face???

Well... Mom forgot to get some cash for Dad when she went to the bank, so on the way to MOPS tonight, Mom & David stopped by a convenience store for $4 cash. I guess with gas prices so high, this store found a more lucrative business (than gasoline) to be video slots. The "store" was FILLED with smoke and packed with people playing slots. Isn't this illegal in our state? Anyway, I was a little embarrassed for taking David in there, but he seemed to enjoy the colorful lights & music!

Back out at the car, I loaded him back into the carseat, tossed my purse in the front seat, and shut his door. As it latched, I realized that I had just pushed the lock button. Yes.... I just locked my baby inside the car at a slot machine store!!! Luckily my cell phone was in my pocket, so I called Dad, who was on duty at the fire station. OK, there's no luck involved. God was watching out for David. Again, I "lucked out" that he was actually there & not on a call. His Lt allowed him & his driver in the ambulance to go to our house, pick up the extra key, and come to the store to rescue us. I called my best friend while I waited to pass the time & keep me from crying! The ambulance got there pretty fast and our favorite fireman rescued David from his mother's absent-mindedness.

Later, when we visited Dad at the station, he taught me how to break the car window with the antenna.... just in case it ever happens again on a 100+ temperature day. Better a broken window than... enough said.

We finally made it to MOPS & both enjoyed it. Here is David's art project and the Moms arranged flowers for our craft.

Mom's Happy Birthday

Thanks to everyone who sent text messages and called wishing Mom happy birthday! You know you're a mother of a toddler when your perfect day included going to Hobby Lobby by yourself, taking a nap, and going to the Playhouse! : ) (which we recently found out will be closing at the end of the month!!) : (

As usual, David had a BALL at the Playhouse! Pun intended!

Here he is picking up chicks in the ball pit... hahaha, not really... he's picking up BALLS!!! : )

Mom concluded a great day with some creative activity! The webbing on this lawn chair was falling apart - doesn't this look better????

And yes, it does hold weight! The fabric lady at Hobby Lobby was skeptical about my project, giving two negative comments. I think the result negates her comments, though. I LOVE how it turned out!


Next, I built a garden shelf with some old wood. It doesn't show up very well at night against the fence, but I like how it turned out, too. I'm trying to make the yard more homey. I'll work on some more attractive displays on the shelf another day.

Easter Egg 2006

We did an Easter egg hunt in the back yard this morning. David wasn't sure what was going on at first, but quickly caught on!




He would not hold his basket, though, so MawMaw helped out. His basket is a fire truck!











After picking up all the eggs, David found his way to the big bucket of potting soil and proceeded to get filthy! But as always... he was having fun!

Our church didn't have an egg hunt, but we went to another church for their egg hunt. When we got there, they were not ready to get started, but they had an awesome preschool playground, so David was happily entertained. This thing he's sitting in below spun around like a sit & spin, but it was a rocket ship that 2 kids could ride!








Dad spun him around & David laughed & laughed. When he got up, he staggered around the playground, quite dizzy!














Finally the egg hunt began. Preschoolers started first. David picked up about 4 eggs before entering the sand box...









Looks like he is going to pick up that green egg, doesn't it? Actually, he was burying it. And the Easter egg hunt quickly turned into a sand box fest!

David's First Trip to the Zoo

MawMaw and Aunt Erin came to visit David for their Good Friday holiday. On Friday, David went on his first trip to the zoo!

Here Dad and David are looking at the monkeys swinging. David is wearing his monkey outfit, too!

Aunt Jana - Wish you had been there to defend yourself while Dad reminisced about trips to the zoo growing up!



Here was David's first view of the giraffes. I think by the smile on his face that he liked them! : )









David's hands down favorite animal was one of the elephants, though! I can't remember what her name was, but she's the second oldest African elephant in North America - and she had the wrinkles & gray eyelashes to show it! She was reaching out into the grass with her trunk to pick up little pieces of crackers and gather up bunches of hay. Every time she stretched it out, David got tickled!




Do you see it? Dad is explaining to David what a rattlesnake is & that he should watch out and never touch one!







This strange bird screamed very loudly like a little baby... and caused David to go hysterical, which only caused the bird to get louder & more baby-cry-like! Here is Dad carrying David away from the bird. Mom was soon required for comfort.

The aquarium building was much more peaceful. Click on the picture to view this one better - David is touching the glass with an alligator right there. Note the expression on Dad's face. I love this picture!


Guinea fowl ran wild all over the little zoo. I guessed for insect control. Aunt Erin pointed out this one in the flower bed to David & he wanted to get it! It didn't run, which is odd for a guinea, so I pulled him back thinking there might be a mad mama involved. Sure enough, Dad found a nest with eggs on the other side.

Mom will add more animal pictures later.

ECI Update & NIGHT

Today we had the speech eval from ECI today. David does qualify for the program based on 3 or more months delay for his age. They weren't specific with how delayed they think he is.

Our coordinator also did more fine motor skill testing & wants to have the OT do an eval on him as well. The fine motor skills that he regularly does at home, he does well, but he had a hard time with her test objects - and he never stacks blocks. They don't like that. She said to see if I can get him to string Cheerios because that would help develop his fine motor skills.

The SLP wants to start therapy 2x week, starting with us & how we interact with him. She said we're making things to easy for him. I'll try to talk to the coordinator tomorrow & see what's next & when it will take place.

Tonight after brushing teeth, David & Mom went into the kitchen & I said, "Night, night, Dad!" Dad replied, "Night, night!" And David said, "Night!"

David Measures & Dad Climbs

David has this thing with tape measures... he likes them. As you can see here, he has pulled out the entire 100 feet of tape - rather quickly, I might add... first thing this morning!

And then he walked across the room, with a loop of tape around each foot, dragging a trail of tangled tape and other objects along behind him. And he looked awfully cute doing it, too! I couldn't help but laugh. Now, Mom gets to untangle it all & roll it back up before Dad gets back home!

I ended up just shutting the door to the office for most of the day because I didn't have time to mess with it & as long as he could see it, he wanted to play with it more.

Mom & David stopped by the fire station to pick up some info from the secretary after lunch. Two busses were parked in front of the building and kids were pouring out. We said hi to Dad then went into the office while he helped with the tour groups. In a few minutes another fireman came in to tell us that Dad was about to climb the ladder for the kids... the big ladder.

Up... up... up... he went!
75' up!

When he got to the top, he waved at the 80 kids, teachers & everyone else on the ground. The kids let out a loud cheer! I could hear David in my head, "See that fireman at the top of the ladder? That's my daddy!"


As he was coming back down, I tried to get David to look up, but he didn't until Dad got just above the cab. David started getting excited when he realized it was Dad! He ran over to him & gave him a bear hug!

Here is David helping Dad open the storage doors on the truck for the kids to look into.










And here is a distance shot so you can see the ladder fully extended. Click on any of the pictures to see them enlarged. Dad is standing at the base of the ladder in this picture. One group of kids is coming around the back of the truck.

In case you're wondering. Mom & David had no idea that this was going on, but like I tell Grandpa - be prepared! The camera was in the car, so I was able to run & get it in time to get the pictures. And yes, I was shaking! Shaking, holding David in one arm, trying to take pictures with the other hand! It's a wonder they turned out! : )

Find Your Wings

This is a new song that's out. I think it's for David:

Mark Harris - Find Your Wings
From the album The Line Between The Two

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

Update: Here's a link I found where you can listen to the song: MARK HARRIS. This page will play a snippit in the flash intro, then you can click on "Download the full version" to play it on your own computer. You can also listen to an interview with Mark about the song. This did not work for me in Netscape, but I was able to listen to both with Explorer. Don't know the name, but do know the face? Mark is from the group 4HIM, one of the best groups in Christian music history, and currently on their farewell tour. (We're going to see them in May!)