Little man says I Love You!

Wow! The power of those three words said umprompted by the cutest three year old. Paul started out the morning by coming into our room and saying Mommy, Mommy instead of the Mama, Mama I was used to. Mom in Chinese is Mama. The about 20 minutes later as he was playing with his cars he turns his head towards me and says, "Mama, I love you." I just about started bawling. I called for Rick and said, "Watch this, Paul what did you say to Mama?" and he repeated I love you. Poor Rick... he said, "Paul, say I love you Daddy." Paul gave him this silly, mischevious smile and said, "no, no." He gave his Daddy an I love you later in the day. What a groundbreaking day for our family. We know we are bonded with Paul and even though you are pretty sure he is bonded with you... you just love the reinforcement.

Paul has experienced time out several times this past week. Another sign he is bonding with us. He is now testing us and finding out exactly what he can get a way with. Fortunately for us, Paul is sensitive and smart and once in the time out chair, okay it took twice, he ran and picked up his toys. He is learning his ABC's and singing away to songs and he loves to dance. He also loves to screech at the top of his lungs just to hear how loud he can go... he isn't quite as loud as mommy yet!

Paul has his birthday party this weekend and we are excited to see him blow out his candles and eat his Duck cake Auntie April made him back in July.... we had the cake at the shower!

We are stressing a bit about selling the house and finding a house in the Tri-Cities. Budget, tax rebates, etc. and selling our house... what fun! It is so interesting to be going through the process of buying something so huge with another person. Even though I professionally know that Rick and I have very different decision making styles, I still get so confused by the slowness of his decision making... did I say confused or annoyed? After decades of making our own decisions independant of anyone it is so difficult to come to a common point. I would like to say I was a bit surprised by this... I thought we would gather information, look at the details and make a plan and execute the plan... I hadn't anticipated the difficulty in making the plan. I am realizing just how much I want Rick to look at the details and then tell me what we are doing... but he doesn't. Oh well... I sense another "big" discussion coming our way. Probably should get a little more sleep before we do. Anyway, we know God is working in our lives and if we are listening and prepared we will make the right move. Happy May Day everyone.

Rainy Rainy Rainy

What a good morning. Paul came into our room and stood by the bed and said, " Mommy, Mommy" instead of Mama, Mama and then later just turned around and looked at me and said, "I love you." He looked at Rick and said the same thing. I have been getting my recruiting speil down for the calls I need to make today for the Whitman team. I am several days behind on returning calls. Where does the time go? Paul went to a free tennis class I did for a small, rural high school near here. The coach was in a wheel chair with a broken ankle and he and Paul had races -- Paul was on his Diego Trike. Paul won.. we won't talk about how he cut corners because he is only three. He loves his cars, see through bean bag filled with buttons. We are off to Walla Walla again.

Midnight rambles

This is a special picture taken at my toddler shower in June 2009.  My Aunt (my Mom's oldest sister), my cousin and Godmother Christine and my other cousins and their children were all there to help us celebrate.  I love intergenerational events and with my Mom dying in September of 2004 the whole becoming a Mom thing was a little tougher.  She was such a great Mom -- of course as she got older and my siblings became wilder (hee, hee) she would yell a whole lot more.  Or maybe because one really shouldn't have teenagers and be going through menopause. Or maybe because by the time she got to children numbers 7, 8, and 9 she was just tired.  I totally understand now when I go to bed at 10 pm if Paul gets right to sleep...okay at 11 pm and then he wakes up once or twice... boy am I glad I am not breastfeeding!!!  Actually, he is finally sleeping all night again.  His surgery messed up his sleep schedule, along with the no no's.  Speaking of sleep I am going to bed!  I am rambling. night night

The Familia