True Michiganders

How do you know when you've adjusted to life in Michigan? You squeal with delight when the temperature reaches 50 degrees and you rush the kids to the playground despite mud and snow. Most would still say that's too cold or yucky, but it felt downright balmy outside to me! I dressed Benjamin in his grubbies and off we went. So much fun! We came back soaked to our knees from the puddles, but we ran around outside for the first time in months without snowpants and boots. Yipee! I'm ready for spring. Too bad there's snow in the forecast for tomorrow!

The World Opens Up

The world has become a much bigger place for Isabella this weekend. She turned 9 months old and she's learned to crawl! Oh the places she can now explore! Benjamin's potty seat, the dishwasher, and mommy's bedroom have been her first places of interest. It's been so fun seeing her scoot across the floor when I'm still so used to seeing her stationary. She also had her 9 month check-up and she's 28.5 inches (80%) and 17.5 lbs. (40%). So she's doing well and is still our happy little girl. We love her so much. Her favorites include smiling at people, sucking on paper, and clapping with delight.



By the way, my talk went well. I actually had a lot more to say but ran out of time. I like that way better than when I look at the clock and realize I'm going to have to stretch 2 minutes of additional material into 10 minutes. The additional unused material left me feeling unsatisfied, however, so that I became incredibly loquacious in Sunday School thereafter. I guess it's true what they say about women and their required number of words per day.

Livin' on Love

Benjamin has obviously developed the ability to photosynthesize without me realizing it or he's just getting all the energy he needs from my hugs. All this week I've been trying to get him to eat and he just won't. He doesn't seem defiant. I think in his mind he's eating. But I'd hardly call this enough food to sustain such an active kid for the afternoon.


Repeatedly throughout the day he'll ask me for certain food. I'll prepare them for him while he dances excitedly around my legs. "Ready yet?" he'll demand a hundred times a minute. Then he'll run over to the table, sit down, take one bite and declare he's done. What?!?! No amount of cajoling can convince him to continue. The funniest thing is that some weeks he won't stop eating. Two bowls of cereal, a grapefruit, and two pieces of toast for breakfast and he's still demanding more 2 hours later. I guess that's a toddler for ya.

One of Benjamin's favorite places to hang out is his "fox hole," not as in WWII safety spots, but as in Swiper the Fox from Dora the Explorer. He thought it would be fun for Bella too, and she was okay until he shut the door and everything went dark. Then she erupted. Poor little thing would not calm down until she was out of there. Not sure if it was the darkness or the fact she was in cramped quarters with her over-active brother without protection from me.



All the time I have today for posting. I'm speaking in church on Sunday so I need to get back to the prep.