My little TODDLER

Many requested more video of Oak toddling about...this week I feel like I have been chasing him everywhere we go. He takes off when I turn my head for the slightest moment. And of course, he has cuts, bruises, and bumps all over from his many explorations. Gotta go...run after Oak!!

Breathe It ALL In

The last month has been a whirlwind of activity...as August and September usually are...so much so, that I don't know how to sit here in the quiet. There will always be things "to do", but for now, I want to be still in this peace and silence. As fall comes upon us with cool breezes and the changing color of the leaves, I am trying to soak it all in...

I watch my little boy walk around our yard exploring every rock, leaf, flower, and bug. I wonder where the last year has gone...yes, it has been fun and full of adventure, trials, struggles, and joys...but I find I am sad as I watch him...why? Maybe I feel this little life that God has entrusted to us is racing by. Oak is such a precious boy, so inquisitive and loves to laugh and smile...and I feel honored to be able to see God's creation and unique handiwork in his life. I don't want to miss anything...I want to "be in" all of the moments...I want him to know how much his dad and I love him and would sacrifice anything for him. Yet, I know that he will have his own story...and we want to foster his love for life and people in such a way that he has roots and wings...is solid and flexible...is comfortable and adventurous...Lord, Oak is yours...

My mind continues to meander through the years...remembering so many wonderful times as a kid, a teen, a college student, and a young married...life changes each day, but oh, what a blessed life I have had. I am so thankful for all that God has done and continues to do...and I am in constant amazement at what He is teaching me!

Lord, help me to love each moment of life, be thankful for the past (no regrets or wistfulness), hope in the future (no worries or fears), and BE in the now (not absent)!

31 years and still kickin' it...

Alan's birthday week was so much fun this year...each morning Oak and I gave him a gift coupon for various things like mowing the yard, cleaning his car, a date night, etc. and a treat...and then his birthday came about and what a surprising day. Alan went off to school early, and Oak and I rushed around to make home-made cupcakes to take up to school as a surprise for Alan and his advisory group (basically a homeroom). At 10:00, as we were walking out the door, Alan called to say that school had been cancelled because the school had been broken in to the night before. So, Alan got to have breakfast, lunch, and 2 meetings with his fellow teachers, a day to catch up and relax, we still brought up the cupcakes and visited, and then we had a great family dinner at a Hibachi steakhouse that night. All in all, Alan said it was one of his best birthday weeks...
Oak visiting Daddy in his new classroom
The whole family at Alan's birthday dinner
My handsome, "older", hubby-I love when he smiles!!

Walking along...

So, Oak took his first unassisted steps about 6 weeks ago...but no one would believe me, because of course he wouldn't do it again in front of anyone...and it would only be one, two, three, or one, two, and then splat on his face:) Then 4 days before his birthday, he decided he finally wanted to crawl to get across the room instead of having to walk the perimeter along the walls and furniture to get to where he wanted to (probably the latest crawler in the history of mankind:). He does what we call the "wounded soldier" crawl, one leg up and one leg dragging behind as leverage. He now moves pretty quickly using this method. The day after he started to crawl, we were at the mall just walking around. I was holding his hand and walking as usual, and all of a sudden he let go and took about 10 steps to the next bench. Then he did it again to the next pole. From then on, Oak walks alone when he feels like it (dependant of course on the terrain, time of day, mood of Oak, the alignment of all the stars...ha ha:) Now, on most days, he switches between crawling to one spot, holding my hand to another location, using furniture to the next pit stop and then taking his own steps for the final leg. It is so cute and quite hilarious to watch him waddle around. Our little guy...growing up too quickly!!

This is video of him walking on the "mall" day once we got home and showed daddy (we'll have to get some new video because he has gotten quite a bit better in the last 3 weeks).