Fun Family Times

One week late, but we had a great visit last weekend with "Mom-mom" and her mandolin. Landon especially loves to put her pick inside the mandolin and have my mom have to turn it upside down to shake the pick out. Landon officially started calling my mom "Mom-mom" which is short for "Granmama". Mom actually had the sweetest smile on her face since Landon has named her. He actually named Stan's mom too...She was going to be called "Nana" but Landon has named her "Nanny". It is so sweet how he says both of their names with a little grin and giggle. Boy, I thought he had me wrapped around his finger...

Landon also got to visit with "KK" (Landon's name), my aunt Karen from Arizona. She was in town for my cousin, Greg's fiance's (Haley) wedding shower. We are so excited for Greg and Haley who will be married in September! We had the nicest time at Mez, where we had the shower. If you are local, you should absolutely check it out. The shower was so relaxing, we had yummy food and I got to spend some quality time with one of the very special "other moms" in my life. It was so great to be able to have her here in my home, hosting her. She has hosted me so many times. She has also always been a constant source of love, encouragement and wisdom throughout my life. It was a very special weekend. Thanks "KK" - LYTM and see you soon!

News Flash

So, we were getting ready to get into the bathtub on Sunday night and Landon squatted down and looked at the urine stream beginning to come out onto the floor. I quickly picked him up and put him on his potty where he looked down again and PEED IN THE POTTY! When he finished, he looked up at me and did the sign for more and said, in his sweet little voice, "Moowr". I jumped up and down and said, "Yes, you can do that more- anytime you want to!" He then had to dump his pee pee in the big potty and flush it himself. Boy was he proud to say, "Bye Bye" to his own pee pee instead of mine or Stan's!! Yipee! What a major milestone. Don't worry, I do realize he is only 19 months old, I know we have a ways to go, but isn't that awesome?

Peas on a Toothpick Part Two & Ramblings

And you thought I was kidding...

But look what a happy customer I have...

Yes, we are still bribing Landon to eat by using toothpicks. Hey, it seems to be working and from what I hear from parents of picky eaters, we are not the first. It is one of those things that really makes us cringe (Stan esp.). But, I really think his cheeks are starting to fill out and he is eating more foods. I always try first without, then, I say, "Landon, do you want toothpicks?" The resounding answer is "Yeah!" He has my number - that is for sure.

We had a recent all nighter again. Boy, the meaning is so different than when I was in college. Sleep deprivation as a parents can literally make you crazy. Landon has a cold this week and the symptoms started up 12:15am on Monday. Stan and I were up with Landon at least 10 times that night and we finally got him back to sleep. We both had to work on Monday, so after some major shuffling, Stan stayed home the first part of the day and I came and relieved him at lunch. We were so glad we did that b/c Landon was just not himself to be in a childcare situation (even though we have a great one!).

I thought back to those all nighters in college- I only had a couple- and I actually got to recover. I would come back to my dorm room after the exam and sleep for hours. As a parent- that does not happen. On Monday, it was all I could do to keep my eyes open and Landon was running around like a maniac. How do they have that much energy? Wasn't he tired? I thought, surely if I lay down with him on the couch and watch his favorite show (a real stretch since I don't like him watching that much TV) he would doze off...do toddlers doze off? Not mine. :) He is a great sleeper, but boy is it regimented. None of these catch up naps and laying around- there is too much to see in the world.

Since I last BLOGGED, things have been going well here. It is all around me that things seem to be too darn hard. Several of my friends have had tough times, repeatedly it seems and though it causes me to stop and count my blessings, it also makes me sad and wishful for better times for my friends. God certainly does have a plan, it is just hard to see sometimes. For all of these special friends, I am praying with faith that God will see them each through and show them His power and strength and healing.

Well, I have to run, Landon is waking early, I think an ear infection is brewing...yuck.

Learning "NO" and other words

Am I in for it or WHAT?

Congratulations Anna and Brandon...plus!

We are so thrilled for Anna, Stan's sister, and Brandon who got married on Saturday, the day before Stan and I's 6th anniversary! The wedding was so beautiful and we all had a blast. Anna and Brandon are in Jamaica now soaking up some rays and Stan and I are so envious! We are trying to figure out a way to go back!


Landon has officially started saying, "Moo Moo", Anna's nickname, since they have been gone and we can't wait for Anna to hear it in person! Stan's parents also had a great time and are so proud. I am so blessed to a part of such a special family. I love my in-laws!

Meanwhile my parents kept the little fellow- what a double blessing- for us and for them. They had a great time learning all of his new words and playing "Hide Raffie"- my dad was hiding Raffie under his shirt, under the chair, all different places and Landon had to find him- which he loved. Landon also officially started saying, "Mamama"- for "Granmama" for my mom, which absolutely tickled her. Landon made his appearance at the wedding, though brief, so I don't have any of those pictures to post yet, but here is one that captures this little guy at this time in his life.

He loves to sit on the step, pray and have Raffie wherever he is. He commonly folds his hands at least 4 times each meal and has also been known to fold his hands and point to other people, as if to say, "You need to pray too." We may have a little prayer warrior on our hands. :)