A Winner!

For years I've entered the occasional contest and give-away, but THIS TIME I actually won! When I got home from teaching this morning, our sitter informed me that I had received a package from UPS. Really? That's odd...I didn't order anything. Maybe some sweetheart out there thought of me. Secret admirer? Hmm. Curious, I picked up the package and read the return address label "Tropical Traditions." Yes, that sounds familiar, but I am certain that I haven't ordered anything recently. I open the package only to see a 5 lb. bag of Certified Organic Hard Red Winter Wheat and invoice that says, "Congratulations, Winner!"  Sweet!! 

So, here I now sit with a handful of wheat berries wondering how I should eat these whole grain goodies! Maybe I'll try the first recipe I read from miss organic's blog.  Thanks, Jen, for giving me the opportunity to try something new and healthy....and to feel like a winner! 

If you are new to Tropical Traditions as I am, be sure to check out their website for some organic goodness! I was pleasantly surprised to see that the owner of this wonderful company is also a believer in the one true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! See here. 
 

hand talk

G at breakfast while eating pancakes strikes up a conversation with his hands:

right hand (rh): "do you want pancakes?"
left hand (lh): yes, do you?
rh: yes, I do.
lh: ok. 

Then, G sneezes on both his hands and apologizes to them for getting them dirty. He asks me for a towel. I get him a cloth napkin and he politely says "thank-you." Then looks at his hands and begins to clean them while saying, "There you go; you're clean now." 

He eats a little more and is back to conversation with his hands:
lh: ding, ding, ding. are you done?
rh: no, i'm not done.
lh: ding, ding, ding, are you done?
rh: takes a drink of water
rh: i'm done.

switching gears again. lh is making the pancake vvvvvroooom like a race car around in the syrup.
I pour more "syrup" (Agave Nectar) onto his plate and he says, "hey, mommy, it looks like a dinosaur."

Oh, when and how do we loose this active imagination?! I appreciate his joy in the little things, which are big things to him! 

THANK YOU , G, FOR GIVING ME JOY IN EATING  BREAKFAST!

10 months

Our little belle is now 10 months! It's hard to believe that in just a little 2 months she'll be diving into her first birthday cake. I don't mean to sound cliche', but really, TIME FLIES!!!

Eme is such a fun loving baby with a wonderfully strong personality! In the past month, she has continued to amaze us with her cognitive skills, physical milestones and growth. As she still adores her big brother and he adores her, they are playing together more and more. It is such a sweet bond! As I type, G and E are splashing and playing a tag game with the bath cloths in the tub. She just giggles when he initiates a fun game like this one. And now, I think she might just drink a bath full of water as she is now sucking profusely on the wet cloth in her hand. Yikes!

says "utt-oh," when she drops something (loves to play this game with an adult who will keep dropping the item!) Lady Di got to see E playing this game yesterday! * still loves to bounce to music (she and G make music together as they each hold a different instrument) * has been cruising around the furniture for a couple of months, but doesn't seem as interesting in walking * stands and holds onto furniture with one hand * wrinkles her nose and breaths through it quickly (snorting) * climbs the stool * shakes her head "no" when she doesn't want another bite of a new food * signs "all-done," "milk," "more" * let's you know if she is frustrated by making a face and crying (although, sometimes, I think she is "crying wolfe" when G is just getting on her nerves!) * strong-willed * does not like here nose wiped one bit * loves the bath-tub - splashing, laughing, playing w G * takes out ALL hair bowS * LOVES being outside - makes the wrinkle nose face when the wind blows her face; crawls all over the yard! * crawls extremely fast....did I mention, I don't think she'll be walking anytime soon * when-ever she can and we aren't watching, she likes to crawl to the hall bathroom and play beside the toilet, in the trash, and pull all the toilet paper down!* likes to throw the toys and anything else that might be in the bathroom into the tub when we are in the shower * threw a temper tantrum on the floor with her entire body last week when we can in from playing outside. she came to the back door; looked and me and cried to go back out. when i explained that is was dinner time, she threw herself down on the kitchen floor, cried, and flung her legs around! * still HAS NO TEETH....but has all the right symptoms..crying out in pain, staying up til MIDNIGHT!, gumming things, licking her lips * crawls quickly to her "da-da" when he comes in the door and offers him kisses (open mouth) * cuddles her babysitter, Katy Mc * waves "bye-bye" at the door whenever anyone leaves * says "ba-ba" in reference to Garrett (started this at 6 m.) * says "ma-ma" only when she's really tired and wants mommy * plays chase on the floor with Garrett (this started at Christmas time) and giggles when she chases you * plays pat-a-cake * claps often * sings when G is playing music * plays with all of G's toys....when he lets her * she is a joyous baby and very girly!

brilliance

Conversations with my precious 3 yr. old amaze me!

Garrett: "Do you remember Jimmy?"
Mommy: "Yes."
Garrett: "He was at the restaurant."
Mommy: "Yes, he was at the restaurant."
Garrett: "And 'Tott' (Scott) was there."
Mommy: "Oh, yes, you are right." (I just now get what he is talking about!....this past summer in Chattanooga!)
What in the world?! I wish all those folks who are in the line of thought that babies and toddlers have little to no memory would hang out with my little guy for just a short while! It is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G what G is able to recall. This is such a wonderful asset.....as long as the event is not traumatic. Wow!

G also reminds me how big he is getting when he calls me by name:

Garrett: "Yook (Look), Jill. I have chill bumps."
Mommy (Jill): "Yes, I see."