Two and a Quarter (Lucy's Monthly Photo... turned quarterly)

I was actually planning to stop these monthly updates for Lucy at 2 years old.

But the green outfit still fits her.  And I've actually missed documenting some of her little milestones!   So here's another one.

WOW has Lucy changed in the last 3 months!  Unbelievable.  She can now count to ten in English and Spanish.  And she is singing the ABCs beautifully -- barely skipping any letters.

She loves to sing "Baby Jesus" -- which is actually "Jesus Loves Me."  She especially loves hearing her Nonnie sing it.  In fact, during the baptism ceremony, when she was feeling scared before her turn, she said to me, "Nonnie sing it Baby Jesus!"



Just in the last week we have seen the dark side of the terrible two's.  DARK.  It's been rough, mostly at bedtime and sometimes at nap time.  I am praying for patience and grateful for God's grace, b/c I am not doing this perfectly.  It is hard.

Lucy's newest skill that she loves to show any new friend or guest is a jump.  It's difficult to remember a time when it seemed difficult to coordinate my body into doing a little hop, but she clearly has to concentrate on it and then be careful when she lands.  Her somersault is also looking very good these days -- another favorite to show to new friends and guests.



I adore hearing Lucy talk to Elliot.  My favorite little phrases are these:
"Wha-- happen, baby boyyyyy??  Wha-- happen?"  (What happened, baby boy??  What happened?)
"It's otay, Ehyot.  It's otay." (It's okay, Elliot.  It's okay)
"Baby Ehyot's awaaaaaake!" (Elliot's awake!"
"Wonna Ehyot!"  (I need one for Elliot)
"Ohhhhh Ehyot!" (When he's crying.  "Ohhh Elliot!")

We've finished up the swimming season, and boy did Lucy enjoy the end of it.  She really loved jumping off the diving board by herself and swimming to me or Daniel.  She is a little fish!  She is still more committed to floating on her back than swimming with her face in the water, but that's okay.  It will come.



Lucy loves this little game she plays at the dinner table with Daniel. She steals his napkin and looks at him with this sneaky little grin and says, "heyyyyyyyyy!"

That's all, for now.  Not sure if I'll do another update or not.  I sure do love reading these months after the fact.  I can't even remember most of the stuff happening with Lucy a year ago--until I read it.  Can't wait to print this blog! 

Ten Months Old (Elliot's Monthly Photo)

New stuff this month!



Elliot is standing up all by himself now.  He hasn't ventured a first step yet, but we think he's close -- probably this month! 



He has developed this little impish laugh with squinted eyes and rapid inhalations -- it is SO cute!  I remember Lucy getting this laugh when she was about his age.  He particularly laughs a LOT at the dinner table. 



He is still doing 2 naps/day, sometimes with a little 4 o'clock "rest time" just to recharge for the last part of the day before bedtime. 

He is talking, talking, talking.  Lots of consonants!  No "mamas" or "dadas" yet, but he hummed "uh oh" when we were in Beaumont several times -- so that might count as his first word.  It's iffy.

He is feeding himself everything nowadays.  Applesauce is a no-go for me.  I let him get REALLY messy with things like applesauce and yogurt occasionally, but really only if an immediate bath is feasible. 



He is suddenly very interested in the strap that goes between his legs in his car seat.  I'm not sure he really ever noticed it before this month, but now it's the first thing he looks for when I put him in his car seat.

He is just barely beginning to sort of enjoy going down the slide.  But he really likes being thrown in the air and spinning around.

He has warmed up to bath time!  At last.  He hated baths for the last several months.  But now he and Lucy LOVE their bath time and are sad when it's over. 



He actually has started throwing his first fits -- full out crying and thrashing when he doesn't get something he wants.  He's still mostly really easy going.  But I've seen 2 fits in the past few days, so... it's coming.



Elliot, what a joy you are to all of us.  Can't believe you'll be one in just 2 months!

Our Week in Beaumont

Daniel and I hit the open road this week--in separate cars. 



He had some work in Houston, so the kids and my MIL and I grabbed the kids and headed south. 



I was SO pleased on the way down to find a Sonic with a playground!  I didn't know those existed.  But the kids were grateful to get out of the car and play for a few minutes, and I was really grateful.
 



We had a great time!  The kids did awesome on this trip.  I mean, the nights were rough (for both), but everybody woke up happy in the mornings. 



We did a lot of playing around Joe and Sarah's house.  Just hanging out and talking.  It was a really enjoyable time of conversation, with lots of stories.





Joe and Sarah's house is such fun to explore, with lots of bedrooms and toys.  The kids loved it.



Elliot has been pulling to a stand like crazy lately!  He loves standing up without any supports and then squatting back down to regain his balance.  He really balances well now!  We're thinking he might take his first step pretty soon.






And, of course, we visited the local library again.  I love this play kitchen corner!  And the kids really enjoyed the puzzles.



And we visited sweet Evelyn, who turns 94 next week!  She LOVED getting to hold Elliot again.  She held him back in February, when he was only 3 months old. 
 

She remarked numerous times on how heavy he has gotten. 



And how soft his little feet are.



Lucy loved the buggy this time.  It scared her last time, for some reason. 

 

But this time, she was all about rides in the buggy.



And rides for Elliot.



And rides with Elliot!



The ride home was... tolerable.  Barely.  But a highlight was stopping at our favorite rest area, just north of Huntsville.  I love this playground - it's really tall!  



And it has a nice variety of slides -- that's important to Lucy these days.

Joe and Sarah, we already miss you and can't wait to see you again! Thank you for the lovely visit.

Two Babies Baptized

Today Lucy and Elliot were baptized! 




Despite several days of what I hoped would be adequate preparation for Lucy--(repeating again and again that "baptize" means water on your head by a nice man named Mr. Davis and that it's all happening Sunday!) -- she was completely horrified.




Neither of us grew up Presbyterian, so the concept of infant baptism was foreign to both of us.  We were acquainted with "baby dedications" and assumed that's what the baptism would be - plus some water. 
 

In fact, our church recognizes both paedobaptism (infant baptism) and credobaptism (baptism of faith).  Our church baptizes infants because baptism is a sign of the covenant Christ fulfilled - one of grace and mercy for any who believe in Him.  Just like circumcision in the old testament was a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham to bless him and his offspring (which He did, through Christ). 
 

It's not a baptism to "save" Lucy or Elliot -- rather, it's a sign of the promise that God has made -- to love them (more than we ever could) so that they can some day begin to be freed from their sin... free to worship Him, instead of themselves. 
 

So it was a (stressful, but) exciting day for us!  I remember my 9th grade teacher going on and on about ceremony.  I can't remember exactly what she said, but it had to do with the importance of ceremony.  Today I was grateful for ceremony -- the opportunity to remember God's goodness to us in the presence of other believers and our children.  Really cool.
 

We were hugely blessed to have the company of many family members at the ceremony and then at a brunch afterward at our house. 



And also very blessed to have these pictures - thank you, Nickie!

New Favorite Foods and Elliot's Everest

Remember the slide that Lucy's grandparents gave her for her birthday a few months ago? 



It has become Elliot's little Everest.  Every day he makes it just a little bit further up before sliding down. 



Lucy likes doing the slide head first and backwards - we could have named her "Adrenalina."  It's actually sort of a cute name--"Adrena" for short. 



...Anyways.  I think we discovered Elliot's favorite food the other night.  Either that, or he was starving. 



Chicken Divan.  Wonderfully simple and yummy and low-carb. 
 

Broccoli and cubed chicken with a sauce of cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, cumin, and lemon juice. YUM.   



Lucy loves it, too.  Actually, everybody in my family loves this recipe.  It is what an old friend would have referred to as an "Edstrom family classic" (EFC). 



And guess who is starting with his very first tooth?!  One of the bottom front ones is coming in.  Lucy got her first at 11 months, and now Elliot is getting his first at 9 months. 



I was just commenting to Daniel last night how much I love his little toothless grin.



But I suppose I will love his little toothy grin, too.