Random Ramblings

Remind me next time I take on a two month endeavor that my will power only gets me through 6 or 7 weeks.

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Bethelle and I were outside weeding for an hour.  It's July 29th.  What did we eat when we came inside from our labors?  A popsicle?  Ice cream?  Nope: hot chocolate.  We were cheated out of most of our summer last year, so I really thought that wouldn't happen twice in a row.  I'm still waiting for global warming.

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Bethelle has a new favorite movie, Testaments.  She is watching it on her computer next to mine.  Oh, it's so good!  If you don't know, it's about the life of the Savior and about what's happening in the Americas at the same time.  If you have seen it, you'll know that I mean by "Helam!"  Oh, that's the best part!

If you don't have it, it's available from church distribution and is only $4.50.  You can watch the trailer here and order it here.  Even for those who are not members of the church, it's a fantastic movie.  You may think of part of it as more fictional than I do, but it's so well done and such a tear jerker!

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What qualifies as a first word?  Rigby has said, "da da", "ma ma", and "buh buh" on command for a while now, but I haven't thought that he knew what he was saying.  Just lately, he has begun to respond to saying "buh-bye" by repeating it and waving his hand.  Is this a word?

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Rigby had his 9-month check up recently.  He is in the 20th percentile for height and below the charts for weight.  He doesn't look skinny to me!  I'm supposed to take him back in in 4 weeks to make sure he doesn't fall any lower on the scale.  Meanwhile, he's supposed to eat cheese and avocado.

Consider Yourself Warned

If you are a mother who doesn't like to hear about other kids' accomplishments and think that some moms brag too much, pull the plug on your computer now.  I have been putting off writing this one up, but I don't really keep any other record, so I've got to post it.

Bethelle is reading.  OK, just a little, but it's real sound-out-the-word-and-say-it reading.  She doesn't know quite all the letter sounds yet and we haven't mentioned long vowels, but she's starting to get the hang of it.  We're doing the same program my mom used to teach me, Owls Eyes.  Nick is actually doing most of the teaching.  It's been coming on slowly, but a few nights ago she read the word "land" during story time completely on her own.  She also adds on her fingers, just make sure each number is 5 or less.  Good job, Bethelle!

Rigby Wordle

I just discovered Wordle on a friend's blog.  What fun.  I created the above image using the text from my blog post, The Making of a Mother.  I think I'll have it printed and framed.  Give it a try with your blog, a favorite Shakespeare play, or anything else you can grab the text of.

Rigby's Bag of Tricks

They get smart young, don't they?

Rigby has, for quite a while now, had a little habit of cocking his head to the side and resting it on whatever is near - a couch, his highchair, your shoulder - for just a moment or two.  About two weeks ago, Nick taught him to do this on command.  We say, "Rigby, loves!  Do loves, Rigby! Loves!"  He then lays his head down and smiles.  He is proud of himself and gets a lot of praise for this.

Today he learned to really use his new talent.  When he gets in trouble (for heading toward the stairs, biting, or pulling Bethelle's hair), I say, "No, no, Rigs."  He looks up at me and drops his head onto my shoulder for some "loves" and praise.  It is so funny.  And clever.

Image Tag

This is the cutest tag I've seen.  I wasn't officially tagged, but I'm doing it anyway.

1. Favorite Food

Elke

Nick

2. Favorite Color

Elke

Nick

3. Name of Past Pet

Elke

Nick

4. Place I'd Like to Visit

Elke

Nick

5. Place I Like to Be

Elke

Nick

6. Major in School

Elke

Nick

7. Favorite Holiday

Elke

Nick

8. Middle Name

Elke

Nick

9. Age at Next Birthday

Elke

Nick

10. Bad Habit

Elke

Nick

Anyone who is interested may consider themselves tagged.

Elle Arrive

(It's French)

Bethelle and I have generally been together most of her life. When we have been apart and come back together, I get very dramatic like the greatest thing has just happened. I tell her that I missed her and was a little bit sad, but I'm so happy now because she's back. I hug her and squeeze her and kiss her...

Somewhere along the way, maybe when she moved into her "big girl" room, I started doing this when she woke up. It's beginning to have an effect on her.

You should see her enter the room now. She could've been out of my sight for 2 minutes, then comes in the kitchen taking in a deep breath, throwing her arms out, grinning from ear to ear. Then she just looks at me, waiting for me to recognize that the greatest thing has just happened: Bethelle is here!

The girl's got self esteem.

Rushton Reunion 2008 - The Last Round-up

Rushton Reunion was at Fort Flager, a state park on the north-east corner of Washington's peninsula.  It was so beautiful.  On arriving, the first order of business was nursing.  I set up with this as my view:

Bethelle dancing.  Try to imagine the twirl.
Just too cute.
Bethelle took this picture.  Pretty good, huh?!
Walking, er, strolling down to the beach.  Check out how Rigby looks straight at the camera!
Accumulating a collection of rocks.
Eating a collection of rocks.  They taste like salt!
Nick with his brother, Casey.  He lives in AZ but has spent the summer in Gig Harbor.  We will miss him!

{Doesn't Casey look like Mark Wahlberg?}

The reunion was so much fun.  Other than Rigby's lack of sleep, everything was perfect: the weather, the food, the beautiful views, the scenic drive, the company, and Nick even cleaned house in a round of Texas Hold 'Em.

I should also report that Rigby had a post-op eye appointment.  The doctor said that everything looks perfect!  We are so thankful for this blessing.  One surgery is more than enough for a little guy (and his momma).  There was originally a 20% chance of needing a second surgery, so we are relieved!

Where'd You Get Those Peepers?

Today was the big day.  Nick and I took Rigby to Harrison Hospital in Silverdale for his strabismus repair.  What an ordeal!  I had thought I could handle it alone, but I am so glad Nick came.  Surgery support is a two-man project.

Poor little guy - he was so hungry!  You can't eat before anesthesia, but try explaining that to an 8 month-old.  I pretty much tried to hide from him for the hour before surgery, since I'm the source of milk.  Nick got him to sleep a little.
And here we are after surgery.  Dr. Cheung said everything went great.  Recovery was typical, they say, but not any fun.  He woke up from anesthesia quickly and just cried and squirmed and could not be consoled for almost an hour.  That's hard on a mommy.  He finally fell asleep and we went home.
After a good nap, he was good as new.  He's already acting like himself, playing with toys and doing his army-man crawl at top speed.
Isn't it amazing what can be accomplished with just 2 hours in the hospital?  He's a new man.

I don't think so.

Last night I told Bethelle she could have some strawberries after she ate her dinner.  As she ate them, she asked, "After I eat these can I have something else?"

"Sure."

So she finished them up, and said, "I'm ready for something else."

"What do you want?"

"A cat!"

Our Feeble Attempt

I'm finally trying my hand at a garden.  I have kept it small in an attempt to keep it successful.  I hope to find that I enjoy this and can learn to do it better each year.

Bethelle and I spent several hours in it today.  I had been behind in planting; I only had three rows sown until now.  It's more enticing to be outside now that the weather has finally turned.
I am planting cucumber, pea pods, sugar snap peas, green beans, lettuce, and PURPLE carrots.  Cool.  Bethelle has a small section of a collection of wildflowers.  When we chose the seeds for our garden, she kept picking out packets with pictures of pretty flowers on the front.  She loves flowers.  I found this mix and told her that it was for children.  She lit up like a candle and said, "I can do it all by myself?!"  That was it.  She was sold.  I would have had her plant them somewhere else, but I didn't want to prepare any more ground.
Here are a few thriving pea pod plants.  This may not excite my readers, but it excites me.  I'm so anxious to see if I can turn dirt and seeds into anything useful.
Bethelle found some dried out flowers from an old bouquet that I was getting rid of and planted them in the garden.  I thought it was an adorable idea.  I hope she'll be alright when she sees what the sprinklers do to them!