Mom & David made it home safely, but David seems to be coming down with a cold - runny nose, sneezing, coughing. He went to bed earlier than usual with a triacting nightcap (cough & cold medicine). We saw this sign planted in the ditch on the way home. I was proud to be married to one!
David seems to have been influenced by Grandpa... he gave himself a bubble goatee then began to resonate in a low tone, which required him to sing out of the side of his mouth. : )
Mom & David are still visiting Grandma & Grandpa today. Here we are checking out the bulldozers at the North Place where a new little lake is being dug. David enjoyed watching the dozers go back & forth pushing the dirt!
This evening, Mom & David dropped by to visit MawMaw & Aunt Erin. I think David's toy selection shows that he's ready to go back & see Dad!
Today's blog is dedicated in memory of Grandpappy. Thanks for reminding us, Dad.
Mom was too tired Friday evening to even post a picture of David at the Playhouse!!! So, here he is Friday afternoon playing at the bead table. (Yes, that is Larry Boy in the background.)
Saturday morning, Mom got a wild hair & since Dad is working a lot in the next few days, we came to visit Grandma & Grandpa. (In search of adult conversation!)
Here is David taking care of Grandma's cat, Tiger Tom, who was very cooperative, I might add. David also had fun on the golf cart, even though it had a flat.
My heart was melted by this photo. The original composition is even better than this cropped one. If you look closely, you can see David's mouth open as he was just jabbering away while parked on the bottom of the slide. He didn't realize that Mom had snuck around behind him!
And speaking of Mom... Have I ever mentioned how much I absolutely adore being David's mom???
Now showing at the exclusive
Refrigerator Gallery:
Abstract in Blue and Red.
Crayon. 2006.
Tort had a few hours off yesterday while David played with his stuffed cat. He laid on it, patted it & generally loved it just like he does with Tort.
Meanwhile, Mom straightened the changing table in David's room & thought, "Poor Tort. We don't want him to feel neglected... and I haven't put clothes on him since before David was born & we tried out the onesie on him... hmmm..."
I never knew how quickly a cat could take off a diaper!
The lady cutting my hair today asked if I worried about DH. I told her as long as I don't know he's in a burning house the moment he's there, I'm ok! I'm just glad he's got a job that he loves so much! Here's the latest news for those not on Dad's email list, in his own words:
Just when I thought I wouldn't have anymore fire stories to tell for a while....
Yesterday we had a 3 alarm fire. This is the first time we've had a 3-alarm fire since 1999-2000. When we have a 3-alarm that means there is only 1 fire truck left to take runs - all the rest are at the fire. They also call an any additional personnel to come in and man 2 reserve fire trucks and 1 reserve ambulance. Talk about wild!
I was up to travel to a substation to fill in. I had a choice between one on the northeast corner of town or one on the southwest corner of town. I go to the northeast corner, Station 3, possibly
the slowest station in town. I'm on Engine 3. (E3). I take a long nap, and wait for a run.. any run... it's another peaceful day at 3.
Sometime after lunch they get a structure fire call on the far south side of town. E2,E5,E7,R1, Batt Chief go. I'm looking at the map on the wall knowing we won't get to go, thinking "Man I could've gone to 2 and got to go. Dang me." Reports come in it's a fully involved house. Batt Chief calls a second alarm. Ladder 1, Medic 1 are the second alarm response. Our truck (E3) goes to central station to cover the middle of town. I'm content with that. We at least might make some medical runs, which is better than no runs, right? As we get up on the freeway, we can see a column of thick black smoke billowing across town. We're almost to Central when chief gets on
the radio and calls a third alarm. E4 and ourselves are the 3rd alarm. I'm standing up in the back of a truck going 68mph putting my gear on. The atmosphere in the truck goes from anticipation to "YEAHHH!!! 3RD ALARM BABY!!!!"
We exit to streets packed with rubber-neckers, they driver's laying on the horn, we go up a street that has a river of water in it running from the fire scene. Smoke is blocking the sun. Cars in the street part like water, we get in the alley behind the house.
Right before we arrive the Batt Chief evacuates the house. The man works on old cars and has several explosive chemicals in his garage. Ladder 1 raises the aerial ladder ready to spray the big gun on it. E2 and E5 are spraying down adjacent houses. Just like my fire last shift, Medic 1 guys are bunked out and knocking down fire from the outside of the house. Everybody else is fighting fire from the outside. All the support and administration are there - the Fire Chief, Asst. Chiefs, the training Batt. Chief, Safety, Supply, EMS support staff, 4 rookies from rookie school (they help change bottles and load hose back on the truck).
We pull off a 2.5" diameter hose to put out car parts that are made with magnesium - a metal that self-burns and explodes on contact with water. The hose is big enough where the water can overpower the effects of the burning metal so we lay it on. It looked like white lava, sparklers on the 4th, and lightning. Fire and molten metal go everywhere. I'm in water up to my ankles dragging this fat, heavy house around. We hit 2-3 cars in this man's garage. After that, we go in to help pull ceilings to find the fire in the attic. My Lt. has a hooked pole and pulls a chunk of ceiling and insulation down on both of us. Thank goodness for helmets. After taking out a portion
of the ceiling, E7 goes up a hole in the ceiling and sprays water in the attic. Naturally this saturates the insulation and sheet rock. The entire living room ceiling crashes down on the 3 of us inside. It's only sheetrock so we're ok, just filthy - which is expected. We spray some hotspots. The rest of the fire went like that - look for smoke or embers and spray them.
During a rehab break, after the fire was pretty well out, we notice that the smoke is coming out of a hole in the roof faster and hotter. We put our gear back on. I've got a newspaper photographer looking right at me clicking away as I my mask on - no I didn't make the paper. But I made the 10:00 news when I was unloading the hose. We tear out more walls, ceilings, and spray more water. (Mom is pulling strings to find the photos, though.)
Several hours later we break down the last of the hoses, gather up our equipment, and get ready to go back. It was something else seeing 3 fire engines getting on the freeway in a caravan going home. I stayed out at 3 the rest of the night. That was our only run.... But what a run.
What a blast!!! I was wore out. After unloading that big hose, I realized, my cardiovascular endurance sucks. I haven't ran since before Christmas and I was feeling it. I'm going to run a few miles before work tonight to get back into it. The hurt was worth it though. My first 3-alarm, my first time to use the 2.5" I owe ice cream... again.
Other tales..... Casey traveled to Station 2, the first-in engine, and a slow station. But he was sent back to central fire station right before E2 got sent to the fire on the first alarm. By the time he drove back to central, Central was emptied out. A driver that had just come in off-duty to man the station told him to take his gear and go over there and help.
Poor Mack.... I've mentioned our competition where we try to outdo each other. He was on one of the ambulances that didn't make the fire - he made all the other runs while the fire was going on. I call him that night to rub it in. He answers the phone. I reply, trying to stifle my grin, "Hey Mack this is..." His greeting went something like, "@$7 . You can kiss my *&^ !!@~." "But Mack, I didn't even say anything but hello.", I replied. "Yeah, but I can tell your grinning. You're calling to rub it in," he responded. His tone changed to one of excited curiosity "So what did y'all get to do...." The rest of the conversation was normal.
Speaking of other runs....during the fire the city had 2 major wrecks, and several medicals. Dispatch was getting on the radio asking for any available units to respond to the backlog of calls
coming in.
The house????? Total loss. Several antique cars... lost. He didn't have the cars insured. I can't comment on the cause, but suffice it to say he's probably not going to get his homeowners insurance to cover it either.
And I should be on Ladder 1 tomorrow.....
Here is David coming to get Mom and Mom getting him back!
I was trying to take his picture (the one to the left) and he was coming at me so fast that by the time the digital camera got him - he got an awfully bright flash in the face!!!
Here is "The Littlest Fireman" headed out to inventory the trucks.
David loves Post Alpha-Bits Cereal, even more than Cheerios or Chex! Here he is showing off the letter H for his family! This picture is from January 20.
Dad took a 12-hr overtime shift today. David was sooo happy to see him when he got back home this evening. Here is David riding around on Dad's shoulders. Notice, David is still holding Dad's belt, which he carries around quite a lot!
Uncle Matty asked how David's walking progress was coming along...
In the evenings, David likes to walk circles around the room, and back & forth between the office, kitchen, living room & his room. I took some pictures of his laps around the swing in the living room last night & tried to do a video clip. Let's see if I can figure out how to post the video...
This post is for Tia Taya! I wanted to show her some new books we got with Christmas money. I have a weakness with a certain character appearing in books....
Taya gave David his first Baby Faith video, and we LOVE it!!! I found this Baby Faith book, "God Made Music: The Story of David and the Psalms" and couldn't resist. The rattle that the plush baby is holding really rattles.
I added links to Amazon on the side if anyone who sees this wants to purchase any of these books. I am not showing the book in it's entirety.
"This is David. He loved music! - Do you love music? Can you shake the rattle?"
"David loved God very much. - You love God very much, too."
"God loved David - just like God Loves You!"
We found the "Diaper David Series" at Barnes & Noble over Christmas vacation. Dad thought the pictures kinda looked like our David, too! Mom thought it was amazing how many of the pictures in the books have actually taken place with our David!
Taya, you'll be proud of this one... although my family made fun of me trying to read it!
I wasn't intending to post today, but I guess you could say I was "driven" to do it anyway! I got to thinking about the pictures I had taken & wondered how cute they must be, so here I am!
This was yesterday. When I came home from the post office, David was wearing Dad's cap. (Yes, Dad was at home with him!) This was the first time David has left the cap on his head for a notable amount of time! When the cap was forward facing, he kept looking up & down to see around the bill. He seemed happy with it backwards... just like how Dad used to wear it when he & Mom met!
David awoke early this morning & nearly fell asleep on the way to Wal-Mart at about 9:15! He managed to rouse & complete most of the grocery shopping. Back at the car, I discovered a wet diaper, so I changed him & didn't bother putting his pants & shoes back on since we were going straight home. He was asleep before we got out of the parking lot!
Later this afternoon, we returned to the Playhouse, but I didn't think we'd be staying to play (so I didn't take my camera in)... we went to register for the February class. But the place was bustling with 4 other mom & tot pairs, all in his age range & there was no holding him back! We played for an hour before heading back home. He went to bed without a hitch this evening! He was nice & tired!
We're slowly getting Tort acclimated to "Stuff on Tort" photos. Gotta find the perfect pose to submit! Doesn't he look so thrilled?! More dignified poses of Tort can be seen in the previous post. No Tort was harmed in the taking of this photo.
David enjoyed some play time with Mom & Dad this evening.
A cat is about that righteous... Anyway, Tort's collar broke this weekend, so we got a new one. Can you see the difference a new set of clothes makes in a kitty???
On the left, Tort is wearing a blue camouflaged with worn blue bell. The new & improved Tort on the right is sporting a new gold tiger-stripped model with a handsome black bell. Doesn't he look more confident?
Move over bacon... now there's something meatier!
Mom just loves going to the mall in January! Here, David is sporting his new PJ's we got today. Original price: $15. Marked down on the clearance rack with additional percentage off: $4.19! That makes them cheaper than Wal-Mart and better quality too!
Tonight's bedtime was a success on the first try at 9:45pm! Mom didn't have to go back in at all! We're trying to be more active during the day (lots of time outside & walking), a slightly shorter nap, and around 10pm bedtime instead of 8pm. It took a few nights, but is working so far! Thanks to everyone who shared their wisdom on the matter! (No, the time stamp on the camera is not correct.)
Now we're working on not throwing things...
Keep praying for Aunt Sissy, Uncle Glenn and Cousin Lauren: We have received word that they arrived safely in Turkey. Most of their luggage arrived later and a couple pieces are still at large!
I recently discovered a website called, Stuff On My Cat, which is hilarious! People submit photos of... are you ready... Stuff piled on their cats!!! I'm thinking of submitting this one:
Notice how one face looks excited & happy, while the other face looks a little perturbed?
David & Mom went to the park this afternoon. As we were walking out the door, I said, "Let's go!" and David said, "Go DaDe," with a great big grin. So we went to the fire station first!!! Mom took a picture of this footbridge at the park for OneOldMan.
The playground at the park was under remodeling or something, so we just went on the walking trail. I think the ducks & geese were expecting some food, because they kept following us!
Here is David on the bridge looking at the water & water fowl! When I took the previous picture of the birds, I was having trouble holding David back from the water! I was glad to have him contained while we were on the bridge.
Can anyone confirm what in the world these things are??? I first thought beaver, until I saw their tail... that's not a beaver tail. They were swimming around with the ducks and getting out on the banks. One got within 2 feet of us on the bank of the river!
This one is sitting on a cypress root near the bank of the river. They were only slightly afraid of us. I asked a dog walking couple we met on the bridge if they knew what they were. The girl said, "They look like R.O.U.S.'s." Having enjoyed The Princess Bride myself, I knew she meant Rodents Of Unusual Size. The guy thought they were nutria, which does look correct based on that website. (Side note, the dog walking couple had 2 dogs. One was a pug & David showed instant recognition like he thought it was Dumplin!)
A teenage boy who was throwing something from Sonic at the birds called them chinchilla, which is totally wrong! The varmints quickly swam out to where the food was being thrown when the geese started honking about it, so I guess they're used to eating that stuff, too.
There were a bunch of them out there, though, and it did make for an interesting time at the park. David really wasn't interested in them swimming, but was interested in the one on the bank.
Fianl comments that are off topic:
Happy Birthday, Tia Taya!!!
Pray for Aunt Sissy, Uncle Glenn, and Cousin Lauren: They're on their way to Turkey as we speak to teach VBS to missionary's kids for a week!
This was so cute. I walked in this afternoon to find David admiring Dad as he played his new guitar!
If you've missed the posts in the last few days, it's because I've been too tired from the screaming at night & naptime to take pictures or to blog! The battle of wills is now under way.
I can say with a smile that Mom is making progress tonight... along with the Spoon of Education! (my family should understand that one!) Will we make it through the night? Time will only tell...
The rest of the time, David is just as cute as he can be! We went to story time at the Library today & spent some time walking laps around the back yard.
Mom & Dad went out last night. David did fine with the sitter, saving his nightly screaming fit until 4am, but he also stayed up late with her. We saw the Narnia movie & highly recommend it! Especially if you've enjoyed the books. The portrayal of Aslan, the Lion, is so striking. He is truly a loving, gentle and fierce King. As my favorite line from the book says roughly, "Of course he's not safe, but he is good."
