a few thoughts at the end of the night...

I've always loved thunderstorms. I don't ever remember feeling terrified of the lightning or the big booms and claps of thunder, even as a child... in fact, I think of them as more thrilling than anything. God's great power on display, and our world's natural order a bit out of whack as our weather responds to conflicting forces, etc... It's pouring here right now, and with our kitchen window propped open, I can hear the rain washing through the gutters, into the streets and sewers beyond. It's a soothing sound to me.

This morning on a very rainy walk from the car to our final mom's group meeting at the Zidlickys, I was delighted to hear Jack try to say "water" as he pointed excitedly to the rainwater gushing through the streets next to the curb. His efforts at communicating (with something other than grunts and screams) continue as we've started working with a speech therapist once a week. Seeing him come alive to everything around us is so fun. He loves to point out balls (bahhhwww) and dogs (agggff - his own version of a barking sound) everywhere we go. The first time he noticed a plane high up in the sky was the first day of May, as we were strolling around a few blocks after supper with Uncle Steve & Mitsuko. He was completely amazed at the bird-like thing zipping through the sky. It was precious.

Brooks asked me this week what the birds were doing up there in the sky, "flying without flapping their wings". I tried to describe "soaring" (floating up on the wind), "zooming" (diving towards the ground) and "flapping (working hard against the wind), but realized that Brooks might be at a disadvantage with this as probably has never laid on his back in the grass and watched birds fly. While I love that he waves at the strangers we pass by on the sidewalk when we're out for a neighborhood stroll, knows to do "check-ins" with me at the local playground, and watches for the walking man or red hand lights at major intersections, there are definitely a few disadvantages to being a city boy. Hopefully we can rectify that this summer at the grandparents' houses.

On Sunday, the boys leave for a week of "Grandparent Camp" at Grandpa and Nana's house. Brooks is completely delighted with the prospect! He really can't wait, and I'm so pleased that he's looking forward to the time so eagerly. I think having Jack there will be more fun for everyone, too. Brooks and Jack play very well together, typically, and based on how they choose to spend their free play time at home, I think they'd be a bit lost without the other around for a whole week.

After celebrating a cousin's wedding in Medina the following weekend with them and the rest of our OH family, we say goodbye to Dada who'll zip off to London for work, and we'll head to TN for a few days. Being at my parents home is the best sort of vacation for me - getting to watch my family and my children interact, having more helping hands for everything, and getting to sleep in as much as I want... I'm looking forward to all of us being spoiled rotten for several days on end! And hopefully playing in real live sunshine!

We hope the sunshine will follow us to Hilton Head, as we'll head there as soon as Dada flies home from the UK for our first true "family vacation" - not traveling to see anyone, or planning to do anything but hang out with each other - in a very long time. We were actually dreaming about this trip in October 2008 in Santorini, Greece, if you can believe it. The Greek island was beautiful and we LOVED the architecture, the rugged beauty, and the warmth of the people, but we were ready to just slip our toes into familiar sand and do nothing productive for days on end.

My new camera takes beautiful photos, but unfortunately, I haven't downloaded a single one to my computer yet. I'm sure the correct cord will find it's way into my possession. Right now though, it seems like one more thing that needs my attention. Hopefully before vacation when we plan to take LOTS of happy photos.

Until then, I think I'll crack my bedroom window open and tuck in for the night. The thunder is still rolling through. I'm grateful for a warm bed and safe shelter.

Night, night.

Today

Today, I've been celebrating the sunshine as I sit with a glass of fruit tea and enjoy the wind chimes tinkling outside my open windows. Today is the first day of really springy weather in Chicago, and I've dug in the dirt, washed dishes while whistling and bought sidewalk chalk for the boys to enjoy doodling with before suppertime.

Today, I've also taken my eldest to the doctor to be tested for strep - positive! And surprise, he also has scarlet fever. Apparently, that's not as bad a diagnosis as I thought it was when I was a child. My best childhood friend's sister had scarlet fever when we were very young, and we were worried that she wouldn't live. Perhaps I had read Little Women by that point and already wept through little Beth's tragic demise. Now, they just give us a bottle of pink bubble gum flavored antibiotics and tell us to avoid other kiddos for 24 hours! I love modern medicine.

Today, I've been delighted by Jack's curls, frustrated with him by his inability to articulate exactly what he wants to eat & drink, and entertained by his desire to simultaneously walk everywhere and be carried everywhere. To say that we are eager to see his speech develop would be an understatement. Thankfully he has very expressive eyes and grunts and gestures. Without those, we'd be at a loss 99% of the time.

Today, I've been feeling anxious to blog again, though for no particular reason. I just miss it. Maybe this will motivate me to download some photos. :) Love from sunshiney Chicago.

Current obsessions...

Right now, both boys are a bit focused on a few (wonderful) things. It's fun to see what captures their minds and imaginations as various points as they grow. These photos are quite representative of our boys' life right now....

Books, books, books! Why in the world did I ever think that our second son didn't like books!?! Right now, Jack is loving 15 Animals, My Car, Brown Bear, and What Do You Say? In fact, it's hard to get him to sit through a reading of anything else. He completely melts down if we try to read him another title, so we're just perfecting our rendition of those favorites. Thank goodness for great children's book authors!!


Richard Scarry sure is fun to flip, though. :) Big pages, lots of photos, not a lot of words. This one is a current favorite for solo-reading!


Birthdays... Brooks turns 4 (yes, FOUR!) in just over a week, and we're talking a lot about age and birthday celebrations. Looking forward to a quiet family celebration with Uncle Steve who will be visiting from Japan! (this photo is my favorite from Dada's 35th birthday back in Sept. Love these two men!)


Bathrooms!!! How are we already spending so much time in the bathroom with this one?! It's amazing! But he loves the potty, the toilet paper, and especially the bathtub! It's hard to get a modest photo of him "Swimming" in the tub because he's thrashing and splashing every single second. It's truly a wrestling match in the bathtub every night!






Buses, Beefeaters, and Bears named Paddington... All things London have come alive again for our little world traveler after our adventures back in the UK earlier this month. We're so thankful we were able to return to our old neighborhood while a few fuzzy memories remained locked inside. It was great to make some new memories with our dear friends there, too!




Bananas - the photo speaks for me.


Basses! Today, Brooks and Jack and I went to visit Mr. Paul (a friend from our church)'s violin shop. While Brooks knows him as a fantastic bassist, Paul is also a professional violin maker/repairer and opens his shop up for field trips. He let Brooks try out the "Brooksey-sized Bass" (a cello with it's endpin shortened!) and the smallest violin I've ever seen. Brooks was THRILLED!


Just a glimpse... Life is busy and full and usually so fun!! :) I rarely feel rested, but I'm so thankful for these two little men to chase after. Aren't they precious!? :-D

Happy 1st birthday, Jack!

Jack, what a beautiful boy you're becoming! We love you so much, and your giggles and hoots, bear crawl and your cheeky grins all bring us great delight. In honor of your first birthday today, here is a collection of your momma's favorites from this past year.

What a cute baby burrito you were in the hospital!


Your brother loved you from the very beginning...


So did Dada...


Everyone wanted their turn to hold you...


Or to try and make you smile...






Mama likes watching you sleep,


and loves that you have your Dada's big blue eyes and dimply knuckles.


You've already proven yourself to be a great traveler...


And met lots of really wonderful people... (Eric's grandma, Ellen Wheeler


and our niece Sally Joy Fender - who looks like a tiny babydoll in this photo but is actually an appropriately-sized newborn!)


And made good pals with the little guys at Mom's Group... (Jack's in dark green, then clockwise - Elliot, Aidan, Sam, and Cooper... we were missing Caden and Beckett that day to be the complete set of boys!!)


You've celebrated Christmas...


And been to a family wedding...


You've learned to play...


and grab your toes...


and do push ups...


You can sit...


And stand...


And crawl on your hands and knees...


and today you "cruised" for the first time!


You've eaten LOTS of good food! Plastic chicken legs...


and applesauce...


and corn on the cob...


and now, birthday cupcake!


I love you, Jack! And I thank God for you every day!

Tonight's Bedtime Prayers...

Tonight as I was putting Brooks down for the night, we got into a conversation about Jesus and Batman and Curious George. He mentioned bad guys again - he's had a thing about "bad guys" lately, perhaps taking my warnings to stick close to me in crowded, busy places VERY seriously. He announced that bad guys like to come out when it's dark, but that they go away when it's light outside. I told him about Jesus being the Light of the World, and how when we have Jesus in our hearts, we don't have to be afraid, even in the darkness... That Jesus can drive away the darkness and our fears.

Brooks wanted to know who was good, or MORE good - Batman or Jesus? When I explained that no one was good ALL the time, except for God/Jesus, and that that meant that Jesus definitely won that one, he said "is Curious George good?" Boy is this guy literal, or what? All his Curious George books start with "This is George, he's a good little monkey and always very curious. One day..."

After telling him that God was by definition good, that He was the perfect example of all that is good, I sang "Love Him" and tucked him in. As I moved to the door, Brooks announced that Batman visited his room sometimes at night, after we turned the lights off. He wanted me to stay in the room after switching the lights off to see if we could see him. Lo and behold, Brooks announced as soon as it was dark "there he is, Mom!! See!?!" Me? I was still in the dark. (Hmm, when did this obsession with Batman start? Probably at the eye glasses store, where they have a Barbie-doll sized Batman with movable limbs for kids to play with while their glasses are adjusted.)

But I told him as I said my final goodbyes that Jesus is always with us when we ask Him to come near, and that He would be in the room with Brooks tonight, in the dark. He just had to call Him. As I shut the door and listened with my ear to the crack, I heard "Jesus? JEEEE-sus? Are you there??"

May he hear Him answer, and open the door for God to come into his heart at this tender age.

Screech!

Jack screeches. It's true, as much as I might wish it to be otherwise.

When he needs anything, or just wants to get our attention, there is no subtlety with this one - just wide open, LOUD, throat-ripping screaming. It sounds like he's going to strip a gear. Sometimes it seems he'll make these sounds just for fun - a bit of vocal experimentation, I guess. It keeps us on our toes.

Last week, especially, we had some memorable moments of screeching. One day, we were checking out at our local grocery when Jack just opens his mouth and lets a huge one fly. It was one of those abrupt, needle-scratching-a-record moments when everyone in fifteen check-out lanes turned around to stare at us. No, I promise, I'm not abusing him. I just laughed out loud. What else could I do?!

Today I had my camera at the store, and apparently Brooks was remembering our checkout challenges from last week. He did some preemptive corking - the only effective way to mute the sounds...


But you can tell, his physical affection wasn't all abusive.


Brooks really does love his brother, the resident screech owl.

Jack does come by it honestly, I guess. Brooks was nicknamed "the nazgul" by our friend Adam Judd for his similar early, um, "singing"... I wonder if I could get this lovely noise on video...? Would I want to relive this sound at any point!?!

Construction Joy

I just went on a "field trip" with Brooks down our alley. The BIG HUGE digger that unloaded in front of our place last week was knocking down an old house and scooping the remains into a giant red dump truck. It was a little boy's dream.


Several things about this are wonderful... First, it's free entertainment within walking distance all week long. Second, this is the view from our deck. Not too close, which means no dust or noise to speak of inside.



AND, I've met two other families with preschoolers all standing around to watch the action! Maureen and her daughter Leeza and Kristin and her daughter Sophie both stood with us to watch. It was pretty darn exciting, even for the little girls! :)


Oh, and I love all the questions from Brooks... Why is his door open on the digger? How does he make it move? Can I drive that when I'm bigger? Will the dump truck be LOUD when it moves? How come that guy's not wearing his construction helmet?

We got a chance to speak to the digger operator while they were waiting for one of the empty dump trucks to return for another load. When asked about his job, he answered (in an Irish-sounding accent) that it was fun for the first week, he guessed. Haahaa! Brooks didn't get it.

Now, we've come back home to play "construction worker" dress up... I think this is the theme for the day...


Will he kill me for publishing this image when he's older? Maybe. But its priceless! :)

Household Noise

I must say that sometimes the noise level around here is deafening. But tonight, I'm struck by a profound sense of joy to hear Brooks singing VeggieTales' "A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart" while he plays toys in the living room...

A thankful heart is a happy heart!
I'm glad for what I have,
That's an easy way to start!

For the love that He shares
When He listens to our prayers,
That's why I say thanks every day!


Jack is happily chattering to himself in his highchair while he finishes pulverizing some blueberries - his first full meal of table food successfully completed.


Dada's traveling for work on this Father's Day 2010, and I so wish he were here to enjoy the sweet (loud!) sounds of our little men.

I love you, Eric and I'm glad to be on this parenting journey with you. I love you, Brooks and Jack and am so glad I get to be your Momma!