Girabbit's Xanga

Big questions

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:46:40 GMT

“Mommy, why did the bad men kill Jesus on the cross?”

I’m filling up my dishwasher and thinking of vacuuming next. Out of the blue, my just-turned-four son wants to know why Jesus was killed. How do I tell this little boy in a way that he will understand?

Carefully, I tell about Jesus’ life and death, and the miracle of the Resurrection. This is one day when I don’t mind how many times my boy asks “Why, Mommy?”

I come to the end of the story – that Jesus has taken away all of our sins and lives in our hearts.

“Thank you for telling me that Mommy!” Larry hugs me tight, then suddenly scampers off to his next “job” (currently, fixing the “ship” that is our house). I sit and wonder how much he understands – and how soon he’ll be ready to know for himself.

Finally . . . Four!

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:09:02 GMT

Finally. Because 1) I've finally gotten around to posting about it [or anything else, for that matter], and 2) he's been waiting and waiting and waiting for this!

Little Larry, my oldest special boy, is four year old! We had a small family celebration on the 8th, including his favorite "cheese noodles" (homemade mac n' cheese), and then an extended family party on the 9th with his requested cake (chocolate with M&Ms on top) and plenty of nice gifts. Everyone seems to know what will please this boy: anything Star Wars or Transformers, tools, and robots (or books about any of those things); as well as paintbooks, coloring books and new crayons. He's still thrilled two weeks later.

He reminds me at least half a dozen times a day that he is FOUR now, so he is a "bigger boy." He loves when we play a game or show him something with the number four in it.

*

In other news, both boys had check-ups at the pediatrician yesterday and did very well, despite having a number of injections each. Both came away with bright green band-aids and a new book. Malcolm's head now measures 51.5 cm. That's just 0.5 cm smaller than mine, folks. Nothing new - just good old familial macrocrania!

All he'll want for Christmas is . . .

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:35:35 GMT

Yesterday, Mal suffered a mishap that left his front right incisor and the tooth next to it jammed back up into his gums so that they are barely visible, surrounded by super-swollen gums and much purple bruising. It seems he was chewing on a block and fell on his face. After a trip to the ER last night and a check with a dentist this morning, it's been determined that his teeth are fine and should re-descend within 6-12 months! Other than a lopsided smile, a swollen face, and a desire to nurse constantly, he's doing very well.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:06:59 GMT

Big Larry: "Larry, go hug Malcolm and help him feel better."

Little Larry: "I can't help Malcolm. Only God can help Malcolm."

Nine Years

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:54:12 GMT

Larry and I had a wonderful anniversary day yesterday. After a fairly typical morning of feeding the kids their breakfast and going to the grocery store, we dropped them off at Rah-ree's house, and headed out to the Waterfront. Much to my delight, Larry had suggested going to see the new Star Trek movie, which we both enjoyed very much. Then we walked around for a while and did some shopping (I don't know if anyone else would find an office supply store as romantic as we do, but that's just who we are). Then we had a fantastic dinner at Mitchell's Fish Market before heading back for our boys.

Nine years ago... so much has changed in our lives. We've gone through so much together, weathering the storms of life and revelling in the sunny days.

But some things will never change. Like how much Larry loves me, how hard he works for me and the boys, how committed he is to providing and caring for us. Like how he makes me laugh every day.

I am blessed.

The most amusing e-mail I've had in a while...

Fri, 08 May 2009 18:24:43 GMT

Emily -

Thanks for your order with CD Baby!

[order info]

Your CDs have been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with
sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.

A team of 50 employees inspected your CDs and polished them to make
sure they were in the best possible condition before mailing.

Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over
the crowd as he put your CDs into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.

We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party
marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of
Portland waved "Bon Voyage!" to your package, on its way to you, in
our private CD Baby jet on this day, Monday, May 4th.

I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did.
Your picture is on our wall as "Customer of the Year." We're all
exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sigh...

--

Larry and I had a good laugh over this one...

Birthdays

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:46:55 GMT

Happy Birthday to me! Well, one day late.

I love my birthday. I don't care if anybody knows how old I am (31, if you're curious). I had a lovely evening out with my dear husband - a delicious dinner at P.F. Chang's and a stroll through the Waterfront (including the bookstore - my favorite). I remembered bringing my sweet little baby home from the hospital exactly one year ago - my best birthday present ever.

Fun Facts:
I share a birthday with my cousin.
My son Malcolm shares a birthday with my sister Sarah.
My husband and my mother share a birthday.

Malcolm is 1!

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:17:30 GMT

My littlest boy turned one yesterday! He has grown and changed so much recently, it hardly seems possible that it's been only a year.

.:He's starting to take tentative steps, "talk," and wrestle with his big brother.

.:His love for his Daddy grows every day (even to the point of pushing Mom away when Daddy comes home from work).

.:He's got an ENORMOUS appetite (a whole banana and a bowl of rice cereal for breakfast today and he's just getting started).

.:His smile is infectious. He is such a happy, content, sociable little guy.

.:I am so blessed to be his Mommy. His face still melts my heart!

Just more kid-related gushing

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:04:39 GMT

My sister had a baby a few weeks ago.

My BABY sister had a BABY. Oh, boy. [Or, girl, actually - and cute as a button.]

I got to go up with my parents to meet my new niece, and Malcolm was with me. Next to the dainty, 6 pound Kay, he looks absolutely HUGE. Of course, the fact that he's climbing stairs and standing on his own makes me realize that he's Growing Up, and I won't have a Baby much longer. I can't believe he'll be a year old in 6 weeks or so!

On the way to drop me off at my parents to head up to Saint Marys, Little Larry fell asleep in the car. It was his naptime, and we were leaving right away, so we let him sleep on in his carseat while we transferred suitcases and Mal's carseat, said our goodbyes, and got ready to leave. Big Larry got back into the car, at which point Little Larry suddenly woke up and tearfully said:

"I tell Mommy I love her, and I don't hear her say it!"

Whereupon he is brought inside for a proper farewell hug, kiss, and "I love you" and all is well. That boy sure knows how to tug this mama's heartstrings.

The Boy with the Big Head, concluded

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:53:45 GMT

Malcolm’s visit with the neurologist today could not have gone better. Though we had to wait about an hour past our appointment time to see the doctor, Mal was happy and a big flirt with everybody. No wonder we jokingly call him "Mal-Content."

Not only did Mal do all his “tricks” for the doctor (excellent reflexes, good focus and eye movement), but the doctor had NO concerns whatsoever about his ultrasound. Big Larry and I were both there, and after examining Malcolm and measuring everybody’s heads, he was convinced that this is “famililal macrocephaly” and we don't have to follow up or anything.

God is good!