21 Months Old!

Ezekiel, you are 21 months old! By the time I write up your 2 year update you'll be a big brother -- gulp! Then how will I find the time to write updates for the two of you?!?! I'm not sure, but I will do my best.

You're enjoying playing with Daddy's cow, and, as always, straws! 

- We went to the doctor (10/23) because you weren't feeling well and you weigh 28.25 lbs. Wowzers! No wonder I get worn out carrying you around sometimes! You wear size 4 diapers and most 18 mo. clothes are a little on the short/small size for you now. Grandma Deb just bought your winter jacket -- a 2T! Super cute!

Trying out your new coat. 

The inner layer 

- You say so many words now that I won't be able to name them all here! You try to say most words that we say. You enjoy repeating and copying Daddy and Mommy. You still really enjoy reading books and can point out many of the pictures, especially animals, that we ask of you. "The Ear Book" is the only one I've noticed that you actually say some of the words before me!! Like some of the noises that the book talks about, "Toot-toot" goes the flute, "pop pop" for popcorn, and so on.

You opened the rubbermaid and put Daddy's hat on all by yourself! 

- Bath time is still one of your favorite parts of the day. You like playing with the empty bottle of Johnson's soap and pouring the water from one cup to another.

- You also enjoy our near-daily walks. Although you've started transitioning to where you want to walk instead of always riding in the stroller. Sometimes I let you because it's actually an easier pace for me to keep now that I'm in my 3rd trimester. And it sure helps you get rid of some of the energy you have!

Starting to keep your hats on now. 

Picking some fruit off the trees by the duck pond. 

Grand Junction, CO 

- One day when we were counting something you said, "two" and "six". And if we count together, you'll say 2, 6, and 9, in the correct order. Also sometimes I say "Ready?" and you say, "Set, GO!"

- You understand so much of what we are saying. One night we were sitting on the couch getting ready to watch a movie and Jeremiah said, "Scoot over, buddy" and you did! We were both really surprised you understood the word scoot!

One of our new favorite activities -- popcorn and a movie! 

- You have started sleeping in a big bed in preparation for your new brother/sister. So far you seem to be enjoying it! You have bright lime green and navy sheets and you like being able to climb off and on the bed.

You actually slept like this for 45 minutes! I was quite surprised! 

- You still enjoy helping with household chores. You help put wet clothes in the dryer and push the start button; you also help get the dry clothes out. I will give you a Clorox wipe and you clean a part of the floor or countertop. You take many things to the trash that we ask you to. One day you took both the broom and mop from the closet while I was working on laundry. 5 minutes later you came back from the kitchen because you were all "done" cleaning. I truly hope you will continue to enjoy helping me around the house. 

- You also like when I have you help me mix up things like batters or stirring the juice. 

- I love it when you reach out your hand to lead me places! 

- You have 11 teeth now! You enjoy the concept of brushing your teeth more than the actual cleaning part we help you with.

- One of your favorite songs at bedtime is "Twinkle twinkle little star." You point to the ceiling, turn your hand, and say "star." You also like pointing out the moon and stars when it gets dark outside.

We went to a pumpkin patch, and surprisingly, you had a great time in the corn maze!

Daddy and Mommy love you very much and are proud of the little boy you are becoming. You bring us smiles and laughter! It is hard to teach you obedience and discipline, but know that we always want what's best for you. 

To life... full of word development! 

2013 Goals

I haven't written an update about my new year goals since we've moved. I have continued to memorize a verse each month, but I did get a little behind this summer so I combined June/July and August/September and memorized a set of verses for each.

June/July: "Then they can teach the younger women to love their husbands and children; to be self-controlled and pure; to be busy at home; to be kind; and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:4-5

August/September: "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh with no fear of the future. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:25-27

I have continued to take walks with Zeke most days. The sad news, another pedometer bit the dust :( but now that I have a smart phone I can use the app on there that keeps track of mileage when I am out and about. It doesn't give me a daily total, but at least I can see about how far I went on my walking. That's really all the updating I've missed, but it helps me stay accountable for at least a few of them by writing about them on here.

To life... full of putting God's word in my heart. 

From the Meowth of Dora

Good Meowrning! The time has come for my yearly chat. And changes are brewing! How much more of this do they think I can take?!? First, the child begins walking, nay, chasing me around the house. And what do Mom and Pop do? They laugh, even though I have clearly stated my intentions of self-defense and, yes occasionally, revenge. What do they expect? I will just take the abuse?

Then, a few months later, they pack me up AGAIN and we drive, drive, drive, drive -- oh how sick it makes me! -- and meow we are living somewhere new. Although my new window perch is quite nice. I have a birds-eye view of the outdoors, so I can keep tabs on Ravi, the gray-hair next door. His incessant meowing sometimes trumps even my own.



And if my suspicions serve me, it appears there will be another small human to deal with. I am not sure when, but I have seen and felt Mom's belly move and I know a creature must be inside, waiting to come out. I do not understand the inadequacy my parents have felt to supersede my position as favored one with not one, but two childs! *hiss* But there is nothing to do but endure during the waking periods and relish the moments of quiet when I can lay on my back and Mom rubs my belly like she used to.

The fish they have brought home bring me no pleasure as I can find no way to capture them and therefore receive a juicy treat; some days I must settle for the popcorn and bits of graham cracker the child throws at me. I will never act like I am anything but put-off about it, but I must admit, occasionally it seems as if the child cares about me and I feel the same in return.

For meow I must go. I feel better meow that I have aired my opinions of my current life situation. It appears this is as good as it gets... I suppose I will survive.

For purr-evious "Dora Blogs" click here: 2011 or here: 2012. 

Winter is Coming...

This is my first post from my phone! We'll see how this goes :) Zeke has learned something new and we were able to capture it on video! This wasn't the first time he's done this, but it was a good day to get him to say it.

Well apparently you can't (or at least I couldn't figure out how) download a movie from your phone to your blog via the app I downloaded. But here's the video anyway! Enjoy!

To life... full of learning associations! 

A New Bed

A little over a week ago we got Zeke a new twin bed. As he is going to be a big brother, we thought we'd take the next 3 months to start getting him acclimated to a new bed so he'll be ready to relinquish his crib to little bro/sis.

"What is this?" 

It really hasn't been too bad. He wasn't spending too much time in his crib anyway, to be honest.

"I think I might like it."

Not only is he enjoying it, but Mommy and Daddy are also enjoying the easy accessibility, especially as my belly had started to get in the way of leaning down to place him in the crib.

"I can bring books up all by myself!"

I am also enjoying nap times more because instead of waking up crying, he now comes to find me and I either put him back down, if he hasn't been down long enough, or I greet him with a smile and we cuddle for awhile. It's so much better than the impatient crying from the crib when he woke up.

"And I can climb right off too!" 

So far the transition has gone very well and we have been pleased. Check out the video below of Zeke exploring his new bed!

To life... full of new beds and growing up!