New pictures

Sometimes Pax is so cute it hurts...

A Good Date

There are very busy seasons of our family life and for some reason, we are in one of those right now. Travis has had retreats, trips, out of town meetings, events, the swine flu episode, and conferences the last several weeks/weekends, which has led to a lot of one on one time with Paxon. This helps me be even more grateful that I enjoy the majority of the time I spend with him. He is such an interesting little person and I am enjoying getting to know him every day. He has been very good company in Travis's absence lately. In fact, sometimes I am surprised how much they are alike. Nature or nurture, I wonder.

Paxon has had an excellent day. We ran errands this morning and for a treat, I told him we could have a lunch date at a restaurant. He chose the "Mexican food store." He had good behavior at the restaurant, he ordered from the waiter, and even used good manners. He gave me a big hug as we were leaving and I told him he was a good date. Clearly, this was not a familiar term. When he asked me what a "date" was, I fumbled the best answer I could on the spot (this is becoming my challenge in parenting): "A date is when you go to a restaurant or somewhere fun with someone you like...if you have a good time, then you give them a big hug when you're done... and when you get home, sometimes you snuggle."

When Pigs Fly

At the beginning of this week, Travis was diagnosed with the swine flu. Since neither Pax nor I had been innoculated at that point and because both of us are considered higher risk for complications from the flu, we were strongly advised by all of our doctors (PCP, OB, and pediatrician) to move out of our home for the week, leaving Travis to fend for himself. Lovely. This is another time when I am grateful that we live near our families. So, much to Paxon's delight, we spend the week at GiGi's and G-Daddy's. Truly, it was to my delight as well. I am thankful to have family that I enjoy so much.

Thanks to Tamiflu, Advil, and some TLC from a few friends who have already had the swine flu, Travis seems to be on the mend.

Note to self: When pandemic flu breaks out next year, do not wait to get vaccinated. Hand sanitizer is not enough.

Big Brother

So we were in the grocery store last week when, out of the blue, Paxon announced in a loud, clear voice, "MOMMY HAVE BABY IN MOMMY BELLY!" This is why you refrain from telling your two-year-old that he will be a big brother before the rest of the world knows, but really, how can you reign in that excitement?

Looks like Round Two starts for us in May.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Garner's Gardening Service

Pax has a future in lawn care, I just know it...

Dirty Laundry

Lately, it seems I have this never ending pile of laundry. I wash it, I dry it, I put it in a pile to fold, and then I get distracted. Later in the week, I fold it and put it away. The only trouble is by the time I have it folded and put it away, I have a new pile of dirty laundry to wash, and the cycle begins again. I can't seem to catch up to it. Regardless, today after putting away laundry, I returned to the playroom to find this...