The Willing Family: March 2010

In all of my adult years (and child ones, too, for that matter), I cannot remember the month of March being so mild. That said, as today is only the 16th, I'm quite certain Mr. Murphy will see to it that the weather changes tomorrow. Or perhaps tonight. :) But, for now, most of the snow is gone, perennials are pushing up through the dirt - bulbs, rhubarb, etc. - and we have thrown off the winter coats. Could spring really be here already? Or is this a pretend Minnesota spring??? You know, the kind that hangs around just long enough to convince even the most skeptical and then disappears...leaving winter brutally in its wake. Sigh. I guess time will tell. For now, however, Luke, Peter, Lucy and I are loving the warmer weather!

But, before I get too far ahead of myself, I must write about how much my baby-turned-toddler is changing! Let me just make a list:

Most 15-month-olds would, I think, pick up a stray piece of dog food from the floor and shove it into their mouths. Peter, however, will carefully pick up that piece of dog food and gently place it into Lucy's dish.
His words: Oooh!, Cool!, Go!, Yes (only sometimes), Whoa!, Uh-uh! (uh-oh), Mmmmm!! Still no "mama" or "dada". Oh, well.
He had, up until recent muddyness outside necessitated otherwise, solely worn Bobux shoes, which, by the way, he LOVES (and so do I!). They are soft, comfortable, leather shoes that were perfect for the long winter months. They kept his socks on and feet a little warmer! I think they're a little like wearing super comfortable leather slippers all the time. Now that he's a full-time walker, however, being outside in the mud was posing a problem with soft leather soles...so I had to get something else. At the advice of a friend, I went to Once Upon a Child, found some great, hardly (if ever) worn Nikes (for $6.50!) and brought them home. He hated them!!! He screamed and carried on like someone (namely me, I guess) was trying to torture him every time I put them on. Oh, dear me...now what? I guess it would be like going from those great slippers to a pair of heavy, not broken in steel-toed boots...fortunately, it only took a few days of trying them on...and he realized that he must wear them to walk around outside...and now he loves them! In fact, he will bring them to me to put them on when we are getting ready to go somewhere. Or if he just wants to go outside. :)
Despite his somewhat independent (and stubborn!) nature, Peter is really starting to show a definite tenderness, as well. Any time that he receives correction from Luke or I in any way, shape, or form, he throws himself into our arms and his attitude instantly changes from one of defiance to something sort of like: "Oh, mommy (or daddy), I'm so sorry! I will never, ever, scream at you and then throw that toy again! I love you so much! Please tell me that you love me still, too???" It is one of the most precious things I have yet to encounter as a parent...mainly because it is so sincere! That must be what it is like for the Lord when someone truly, truly repents. Precious.
He laughs whenever someone else laughs. Truly, he has quite the sense of humor!
He has dropped his morning nap.
Before bed, when we plop down (the further along I get in this next pregnancy, and holding a 23lb child, "plopping" is about all I can do!) into the recliner in his room to pray, he flings himself back so that his head is resting on the armrest and his body is stretched out across my lap. And then he silently lays there as I (or Luke) pray. Again, this is one of those precious moments I love as a parent!
He just figured out how to fold his hands when we pray before a meal. He is starting to figure out that this is a little time to be quiet...but as soon as that "Amen" is said, he's ready to eat!
The other night, the three of us went out for dinner. The waitress accidently brought me a glass of watered-down orange juice, so I decided to let Peter have some. He has not mastered drinking out of a glass without a lid yet, so I had to keep wiping him off. After a while, he started grabbing his own napkin (aka daddy's) to wipe off his face. When we were done eating, I pulled out a wet wipe to clean his hands and face, and what did he do? Grabbed that napkin again to help out. Pretty cute!
He likes to pretend he's putting on lotion. Rubs his hands together a little, then on his tummy and legs.
Gets crabby when he's hungry (just like me, unlike Luke who just gets hungry).
Doesn't like to get his hands dirty outside.
If you ask him what an animal says (ANY animal), he will make a "roar" sound. Well, except for fish. We're working on that...
I think he knows where/what his nose is. I think.
Loves other kids his size! Actually, loves other kids of any size - he just loves other kids!
Was completely traumatized at the doctor's office this morning. An older child (5 or so?), was screaming bloody murder and refusing to be weighed, etc. This set Peter off and the rest of the visit was not much better...he finally calmed down when we left. Of course. He was a bit of a mess for the rest of the day, though. Climbing up the stairs, he somehow bit his lip and made it bleed profusely. And after dinner, he was lugging around a can (evaporated milk, maybe?), and smacked his face on it. As he was crying and walking towards me, he ran smack into the dining room table. Poor guy. What does a person do at that point? It had been a day...so I got him ready for bed and tucked him in. We'll start again fresh tomorrow! Great is God's faithfulness! His mercies are new every morning...

As spring begins (maybe?), bringing fresh, new life to the world again, we, too are making some changes. Since January, we have been looking for a new house. While apartment life has been good, with an active toddler, a 70-lb yellow lab, plus a new baby on the way, it is time to get a house again. And so we are looking. And hopefully we will have fun new house pictures to share soon! (Our lease is up in 2 1/2 months, so we're really hopeful!)

Picture time!

Peter and Luke (Ron in the background) as we were saying goodbye to Ron and Judy. We had a fun weekend with them - even if I was at a class all day on Saturday! :)

What a ham! What more need I say?

I have decided to try my hand at making our new baby a quilt, since Luke's grandma Ruth, who made Peter's quilt (and one for us!) is no longer able. Here are the fabrics I have chosen.

Luke picked this one out. :) This will be the back as well as some of the squares on the front (and was the inspiration for all the other fabrics I chose!)

This is the practice square I made. I found the pattern idea here and fell in love with it. So simple and yet so fun! I had to try it out first to make sure I was capable. And so, with the help of Betsy, Sami, Rachel and many others, I'm sure, hopefully I will be able to actually make this thing before the baby comes!

Luke likes to make remote controlled airplanes and Peter LOVES to play with the remote.

Here is one of the many he has made. Fortunately they're made from cheap foam, and so whenever they crash and he needs to make a new one, it's not a big deal!

We went on a walk at a local state forest on Sunday afternoon with our friends Jeff and Lisa and their adorable daughter, Kaitlyn. It was a beautiful day!