Immunity

Really.  At the exact moment a woman becomes a Mom, Jeff Probst should adorn her neck with the Immunity Necklace.  A mother's body should no longer be available to get sick.  It's just not right.

I'm sick.  Can you tell?  I thought it was just a little cold, possibly allergies.  But this weary body of mine is wiped out.  My internal temperature is flaming and I feel maybe like a Survivor contestant whose body is freaking out from...

Oh, I can't even write any more.  I've got to go back to being horizontal.  Someone enjoy this lovely summer evening.

Summer Reading

The boys are involved in several summer reading programs.

A nearby library has the kids reading different genres of books this summer.

So we've got books on space, Helen Keller, baseball,

poetry, Caldecott winners, William Harrison, joke books...

I love it that we're exploring new parts of the library

and that Peter is all about it.

It's not forced fun.

It's just fun.

Peter cannot read enough.

He has bookmarks in several chapter books

and stacks of picture books all over the house.

His current stack includes:
Choose Your Own Adventure books,
Little House on the Prairie book #4,
and one about McGwire and Sosa's homerun records.

Reuben has learned from watching Peter

that reading books equals getting a prize at the library.

So he's bringing us more books to read to him too.
His faves are:
Peter Rabbit,
Popcorn,
and the Berenstain Bears.

We go a lot.

I like to be out and about.

But when we're home

all this book reading is so relaxing and calming.

We do a lot of couch cuddling with books

and the boys read/listen to books on CD together

and we play audio books in the car

and the boys read on their own.

It's so nice.

Books are just a great invention.

Thank you, ancient book creator.

I just read the other day that the Romans were the first to change from using scrolls to sewing paper into books as we do now.

Double sided that way, see.

Time for a Vacation Perhaps

Paul and I are a little off today.  I keep dropping things, then hitting my head when I bend down to pick up the dropped thing, and then my spoon goes in the trash instead of the cherry pits, and I hit my head getting into the car...  I'm just out of sorts.  And Paul joined the club when he lost the eggs today.

He found them in the freezer.

Like a kid proud of the worms he dug up,

he showed me a peeled frozen egg.

And then he cooked it for Reuben.

I would never have thought to cook a frozen egg.

He thawed it in the microwave for 20 seconds,

then scrambled it and finished cooking it.

Who knew?

Now you do.

Adoption News

I bought diapers today.  I did, and it feels good to just say so. 

No, I don't have a baby.  Nor a dog.  (I babysat for a family once who used them on their dog.)  And, sadly, our adoption wait has been extended.  It was 12-18 months, and now it's a solid 18 months.  So that takes us to August of 2011 to be matched with a child, then 6 more months until travel, which means...

I have a babe in my arms around February 2012.  

Oh man, that's exactly five years after we went to Korea to get Reuben.

But, I'm ready.  I've got two packs of diapers.  That's all I'll need, right?  I got them for $1.50 (Huggies, 46 dipes) and $0.37 (CVS brand, 34 dipes).  See how I couldn't not buy them?  And while I wait I can hug them and feel that deep sense of mothering in my chest.

Want some more drama?

Word is that Korea is closing their international adoption program in 2012.  They want to have all their babies adopted within Korea.  Yes, Korea.  Good decision.  As long as you truly love them as sons and daughters.  Can you change your country's mindset in the next year and a half?

What this means for us is that we're cutting it close to have our adoption fulfilled.  Which Paul and I decided is fine.  Maybe this process has been God's way of pacing us for moving to Tky.  We'll see.  We'd love to provide a family, a home, and love to another child, but it's out of our hands.  We committed to this program and are locked in until we receive a referral or the program closes.

For the meantime, I'll pray for Korea and hug my Huggies.

Well, isn't that appropriate.

Mr. I Can Do Anything

Reuben declared with ignorant confidence that he does not need his training wheels any more.  So we took them off, of course.  He is three after all.  He should of had them off long ago.

Strapping on all the protective gear we own.

Cute little yellow bike

that is about to bite the dust.

Reuben's power legs caused the chain to junk up.

So we move on to the bigger red bike.

Affectionately called the Rocket.

Does Paul look tired?

Have you run behind a bike lately?

Exhausting.

That's why I told Reuben to talk to Dad each time

he mentioned wanting to remove the training wheels today.

I don't just look smart,

I'm the real deal.

Reuben seriously wanted to do it himself.

So we let him.

He fell right over.

The gnats were out of control

and Paul had run enough

so we'll try again tomorrow.

When Paul comes home for lunch.

Someone's got to hold the camera

and have band-aids ready.

Day at the Dentist

"I've heard your song, Guy."

       "Well, it played three times today."

"So you said."

"Oh, I've got to spend, like, all day at the dentist."

       "All day at the dentist?"  (Say that muffly, like you have a mouthful of food.)

*Very rough dialogue from That Thing You Do.


Pete and Rube had appointments at the dentist for cleanings - first time for Reuben.  "No go to the doctor," is what I heard all morning from him.

Let's see some pictures.

Peter volunteered to go first to show Reuben how it's done.

What you don't see is a tv on the wall that puts them in
the zone.

Little guy in a big chair.

 They gave him sunglasses to shield the bright light.

And I quote:
"This is fun!"

He really liked the sucky straw.

Clean Teeth

Reuben's teeth are great, 

but poor Peter has another cavity and needs 4 sealants.

You'd think he sips soda through a bottle all day.

But his sweets intake is quite low

(a lot lower than Reuben's)

and he brushes twice a day.

Bummer for him

and our budget.

The deodorant

So, remember I tried to make my own deodorant using coconut oil, baking soda, and... something else?  But it smelled horrible so I never 'got around' to using it?

Yes.  Well, it melted in our bathroom cabinet.  See, coconut oil is solid until it melts at around 72 degrees, and our house is close to 80.  (We turn the air on night to help us sleep, and we'll turn it on when you come to visit.)

"What is that puddle on the shelf?  How in the world did water get in here?"  Pick up deodorant.  "Oh, the coconut smelly stuff.  Great."  So I tossed it.  Could have eaten it, but really the smell is just not right.  I shall try again with a different brand next time I come across it.  Last time I got it in Cincinnati.  Don't know if it exists in this dear state of mine.

Anyway, I'm smelling good with some lavender scent in my axillae (think Latin) today.  You'd approve and wouldn't mind sitting next to me.  Who just told me their child has been into sniffing other people??  Well, sniff away.  But really don't.  You shouldn't encourage that.  Remember we're trying to win friends and influence people here.