Cheap Entertainment

Silly Face Glasses from Dollar Tree: $1.00

The look on David's face
when he saw himself in the mirror:
Priceless.

.

Suddenly this week....

"NOSE"

First of all, sorry for the lack of pictures this week... we've been a little busy.



How did this happen? Suddenly this week, David has changed so much. I don't know how to express how proud of him I am.

First of all we started Mother's Day Out on Tuesday & Thursday. He was so tired on Wednesday, I wondered how he was going to handle twice in one week. But as always, he amazed me. My classroom was directly across the hall from David's, so every time I walked past the door, I'd look that way. I saw him playing happily, contently eating his snack and later lunch, and later playing at a table with another little boy. They were laughing together and banging wooden toy food on the wooden table. (Side note: As I heard the "tap, tap, tap, tap..." on the table, I had a feeling it was David.) I know he saw me at least once, but he didn't throw a fit to get to me.

After MDO was over & David was with me while I cleaned my room, his teacher came over & started bragging on how much fun he was today. She said he showed great personality and had them laughing all day, he played well and ate well. I wish I could remember word for word everything she said to me and frame it. She went on & on. I was so proud that I almost started crying.

He was asleep in the car before we got home and had a good nap. When he woke up, we had a snack together as I contemplated whether or not to try taking him to the MOPS meeting tonight. It was our first MOPS meeting of the fall, so I was excited about going, but didn't want to push it after such a busy week. He seemed happy, so we went to McDonald's (I wasn't sure if they were serving supper this year because the time changed) and shared a cheeseburger and french fries. Still happy, we went on to MOPS. I explained the teacher about his week & if he got tired & started having a hard time they could come get me.

One more time today, David amazed me. MOPS was over & I walked back to his classroom. He was happily playing and didn't run at me like he was ready to be picked up. He kept playing, brought me the school bus he was playing with and was just as happy as he could be. His teacher said he played happily all evening and ate a lot of the meal they served, too - pizza and cookies. When he finally let go of the bus, I quickly grabbed his hand & said it was time to go. He started telling everyone "Bye Bye" and continued to do so throughout the building, charming all the other moms and teachers that we passed.

The good mood continued all the way home, a few minutes in the back yard talking to Dad, bath time, milk time, brushing teeth and all the way to bed. How did he grow up so much this week? I felt like I couldn't hold him, kiss him, tell him I love him and am proud of him enough. I feel like if I close my eyes for too long, we'll be helping him move into a dorm!

Whew... This has indeed been an emotional week for Mom & Dad!

One Name Down...

Since this blog is currently named, "What's he up to now?" I thought I should start off today's post with a David story. The speech therapist came today and was floored by his speech while she was here! Yeah, David! (I always knew he was a genius!)

Among a plethora of other things, here are a few of the things he did/said today:

• He said 6 and pointed to it on a book with absolutely no prompting. Dad was there & I ran back into tea room & said, "he didn't just do that, did he?"
• He then repeated 5 and on his own said 4.
• Looking through a book of farm animals, he made the correct sound for each animal including both a "bock bock" and a rooster crow for the chicken.
• He put a pile of little books into a box saying "IN" with each one he put in.
• He repeated individual letters and pointed out the correct letter: B, C, D, E, and T
• Later he said the run 4, 5, 6.
• He asked for water to drink. I gave him water out of the fridge & he shivered saying, "Cold!"

I could go on, but you get the point. Genius, I tell you!!!

Now, "What's she up to?"
Family has been notified by email, so I can make the formal announcement that we have decided to name the baby Elizabeth. At today's OB appointment, her heartbeat was 130. Dr said I measured the right size and sonogram agrees with a January 12 due date. The sonogram technician had said January 7, so I'm just going to go with early January. My dr doesn't exactly elicit my full trust. I go back in 4 more weeks, then after that we start the every 2 weeks.

Obviously I need to start thinking if I'm going to leave this blog titled, "What's he up to now?" or if I'll be changing it. That name doesn't stress me, though. You may log on occasionally and see different names at the top until I've decided what I'm going to do. Or you may not notice a thing.

Here we go!

Can you tell that Dad doesn't use the camera much? : ) I think David was actually smiling in this one, but it's hard to tell.

This is David & Mom headed out for our first day of school. (aka Mother's Day Out)

David was really happy in the car going to "sool". And Mom handled everything pretty well, too. I think I was too busy to get emotional! Dad met us there to escort David to his class. I already had a kid in my class, so I couldn't leave to walk David down the hall, which I was a little sad about. But the 3 boys in the class I subbed for today kept me busy.

I had 3 boys who were all 2 1/2- to 3-years old. One completely potty trained, two in diapers. The first "incident" of MDO went to my class... The biggest boy pushed the smallest boy out of a chair, then said he didn't do it but later apologized for doing it. Video footage was shockingly deliberate. I was looking the other way when it happened. A huge forehead knot developed, but the boy continued to play with the others after a bit.

And I stayed emotionally stable until I got home and read the email that Dad wrote about how he broke down after taking David to his class!!! Now I'm really glad I stayed in my class! (but seriously, how sweet is that???)

Here are a couple more pictures from the morning, but honestly, I like the one with my head cut off best:

Aunt Sissy - Can you see his shirt? It's that one you sent, green covered in BUGS! Which also happens to be one of David's new words! He really likes the shirt! (Short sleeves can't go in the fall sale anyway : )

David's class was full - 12 2-year-olds! Can you imagine?!?! They were by far the loudest class in the building. Two little boys had never been left with anyone & were having a really hard day. David did amazingly well with all the commotion. I was so proud!

Since I didn't have any Tuesday kids in my class, I substituted in another class for a teacher who's mom was in surgery today. I'll meet my class of 4-year-olds for the first time on Thursday. If I still don't have any Tuesday kids next week, they may put me in David's class to help out with all those 2-year-olds.

All Tied Up!

While he had lots of fun unrolling my string, I don't think David liked the predicament he ended up in! Does that look read, "Mom, put down the camera and untie me," to you?

At least the day ended happy! If this picture doesn't make you chuckle, then I think something is wrong with you!

I just thought this was pretty. I think I might enter it in the fair next year. This is my hibiscus bloom after this morning's rain.

Happy September!!!

Can you believe it's September already?!?

Here's another adorable picture of an adorable boy!

This is a test... I just wonder who all's reading this... anybody want to know the name we decided?

What's in a Name?

This article, from a recent MOMSense Magazine (September/October 2006) seemed most appropriate:

My mother took great care in naming me. I supposed most mothers do. Even the famous "Hogg" family from Houston, Texas, where I grew up, thought about the selection of "Ima" and "Ura" for their daughters names.

In my family, the story goes that my mother lay in her hospital bed with the newly born "me" close by in a bassinet. My father sat with a box top from a gift folded flat in his lap and a pencil provided for my mother's meal selection between his fingers. My mother stared at the ceiling and every now and then recited another name for the growing list. My father scribbled it down and then doodled first-, middle- and last-name initials into monograms. Monograms must have been big in 1955.

See, the thing is, my mom wanted to name me Lisa. By my dad said that Lisa Lee (my maiden name) sounded like a stripper. Like mad scientists among test tubes and potions, they worked together to concoct a suitable variation that carried the intention of my mother's imagined identity for me and the boundaries of my father's protection.

I still have that box top with my father's neat printing scrawled in columns:
Melissa
Alisa
Malisa
Yllissa
Ilisha
Ilisa
Melesa

And there... topping off the upper right-hand corner, the winner: Elisa.

I think back on this process and wonder, Who would I have been if I was Alisa, Melesa or Yllissa rather than Elisa? Would it really have mattered?

Names shape us. Just as the place we're born, our order of arrival in a family system, the decade in which we grew up, the presence or absence of our father and mother, and the income level of our neighborhood - names shape our identity. We grow up into them.

In the Bible, people took great care with names because the culture of the time understood the connection between naming and becoming. Eve - the first woman - means "mother of all the living." Fitting, don't you think? Mary, the mother of Jesus who so unbelievably released her son to his destiny, carried about a name meaning "bitterness." There are many moments recorded in Scripture where a name was changed to reflect a change in identity. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter, "the Rock" on which God would build His church.

Elisa means "consecrated to God." I'm pretty sure my parents had no clue. I found that out in my early 20s when I did some research for a project, and ever since, there's something in me that wants to grow up into the meaning of my name. I wonder what Yllissa means. Probably something like "One-eyed Owl."

Anyway, today I know that my name has shaped me, both in the way in which it was selected and in the way it's carried me for half a century. Funny, though, other than my husband, few family members ever use this name when they address me. My brother calls me "Itza" for "Lisaitsapizzaface." My grandson, Marcus, runs piping through the door, "Yia Yia! Yayayayayaya Yia Yia! And my kids - even in their 20s now - call me a name that also has come to define and shape me - and one that I want to grow up into: Mom!

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1

Elisa Morgan, President and CEO, MOPS International

Stay tuned... maybe we'll choose a name for Baby Girl soon.

Tabi & Dad Hit the Big Time

Probably over a month ago, I submitted a photo to Stuff on my Cat

(before the contest you all heard about). Today, I was checking the new photos that I missed while gone this weekend - low & behold - there was Dad & Tabi on the website!!!

Here's the link: STUFF ON TABI

Again, there's nothing against Tort... I've been trying to get a photo of him for the website, too, but he won't cooperate! And to follow up on the contest - Thanks to all who voted!!! Tabi did not win, but she came in 14th place out of 20 contestants! I'm happy with that - I just didn't want her to be last! : )

Update on the baby (answering questions you've asked) - She was VERY active this weekend at the Women of Faith conference! We have not yet chosen a name. According to the sonogram technician, she's due January 7, 2007, but the doctor will review the video and measurements and make the final call. I go back to see the doctor next week.

Presenting...

You can see the femur (bone) in her left leg and the outline of her bottom cheeks on the left side of the picture. The little yellow arrow is pointing to what the sonogram technician said are girl parts. She was very active. We saw her yawn, squirm a lot, and literally kick the instrument that was pushing on her!

We thought long & hard to come up with a unique and fitting name back in April when we decided to do this. Today Grandma & Grandpa reminded me that one of my cousins recently named a baby the same first name, so now we're back to the drawing board.

VOTE FOR TABI !!!

Tabi's photo made it into the Stuff on My Cat Back to School Contest! PLEASE GO VOTE FOR HER!!!!

VOTE HERE

The cats are featured in alphabetical order, so Tabi is at the bottom and labeled as "TAB"; the voting box is after all the photos. Here is the photo you're looking for:


She's got some good competition. Tort's photo didn't make it to the finals. Voting must be done before Tuesday!!!