I Want

Julianne's latest word trick is saying, "I want_______." It comes out sort of fast and slurred like, "Iuuuunt" Lelo (for Leo), baby, bunnies, cookies, ice, etc. Cara told me that this stage is most likely about Julianne discovering that she has some control over her world and what we do. Therefore saying "I want" about 100 times a day is just her trying to exert some control over her little world and her surroundings. I find myself saying, "Settle down - you don't have to have something every single second of every single day." I am struggling a bit with how often to give in to her demands. I want her to know I am in control, but I also want her to feel independent from me so she can grow and learn to make her own choices, etc. Speaking of independence, on Friday of this past week I walked Julianne into her classroom and we were the first ones there (unusual for us) and so I was visiting with her teachers. About 3 mintues later Julianne came at me from behind at a decent clip with a fairly forceful push and yelled, "GO!" I took this to mean she really enjoys having her own special place to go without mom and dad. I do admit it hurt my feelings a bit. So off I went only to return to find her not at all ready to be reunited with me. She threw an absolute fit because she did not want to leave school and she actually laid down in the hall way on her back and would not get up. I pretended to leave without her which only made her more upset. When I finally wrestled her off the ground we made up and went the Chick-Fil-A where she proceeded to sing "Happy Day" to some kid who was having a birthday party there. The rest of the day she sang, "Happy Day...to you."

A Visit from Longview Friends

We had a fun visit with the Carliles 2 weekends ago. Grant is 8 months old and shares my birthday month of February. Cam and Les are doing great as new parents and have not slowed down one bit. I enjoyed playing with the "beebee" and was very jealous of his cool hat. This pic was taken at a "pumpkin patch" where it was way too hot and too crowded, but what can you do. We really enjoyed having our old friends at our house.

Backpacks

I was told to get a backpack for school. My mom did not know any better and so she bought me a normal size backpack - not realizing I would really wear it! Check it out!

School Days

Julianne started pre-school this Fall and goes every Friday from 9-1. The school is called The Children of The Woodlands and is not affiliated with our church, but happens to be held at our church. It works out great because she is familiar with the building and absolutely loves going there. It is so cute to see her wear a little backpack and go into a setting where she is learning and surrounded by other kids her age. I know lots of kids go to daycare/school every day of the week, but this was a pretty big step for us and she has adjusted so well. I think next year I will sign her up to go twice or maybe even 3 times a week. The have music class, play outside, have centers, story time, snack time, lunch, etc. She is one of the only kids who does not eat her lunch because she is so excited to just be there. It makes me think she has been bored out of her mind all this time at home. Oh Well. Julianne is imitating almost everything and putting words together to make very short sentences like, "Want Goldfish" or "Bye Mama" or "Go Night Night" and she is also jumping which is fun to see. We spend a lot of time outside doing bubbles and sidewalk chalk which is fun.

I finally got my camera cord and camera back so we can post again. In the meantime, I got this email called The Station that I thought I would post:

The Station

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of steam pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering – waiting, waiting for the station.

“When we reach the station, that will be it.” We cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college,” “When I have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”

Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly out-distances us.

“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.”

Robert Hastings