Before I forget...

Thankful for this little place on the www that is a "drop zone" for memories.  If I don't drop it here, I'll forget!  :)

***

Camille

-{This morning on the way to CBS} exclaimed, "Dee-sus live!" (with a long i) Sweet, sweet, so sweet.  (Reminds me of Psalm 8:2)
-has been wearing DRY panties for 3 days!
-is putting two and three words together this week "momma go ouside." "here I am!" "go poo-pee" "i luh voo" "daddy nukkle (snuggle) bed"
-starting to say the "s" sound here and there
-comforted by thumb and blanket
-eats her ketchup with a side of food
-had her first stomach virus this weekend.  so sad.  can't look at spaghetti and meatballs for a while.
-loves to "help" me unload the dishwasher
-can name all nine of her cousins (without a picture even!)
-thinks of "Nanny" (Nana) and mentions her name throughout the day
-names and insists each clothing item either came from Nanny or "Ta-git"
-learned how to jump with both feet off of the ground last week and can jump like a champ on the trampoline.  It is the cutest sight!
-asks for "Twinkle, Twinkle" song before falling asleep and knows the words.
-favorite book is Goodnight Moon
-takes one 2-3 hour nap after lunch and still goes to bed easily
-at age 2 wears a size 2T in clothing and a size 7 in shoes

***

Hannah Reece

-favorite show is Curious George cartoons on Netflix
-eats cream cheese on everything
-wakes up at 7:30 (on the dot), immediately makes her bed and gets dressed and is ready to begin her day
-is a planner and a natural leader (we're working on patience and gentle assertiveness)
-hair is as long as it's ever been and has some big soft curls at the end
-arts and crafts are her favorite activity
-went to the eye doctor and her prescription is almost the same as last year
-comforted by thumb and blanket
-just got her first diary (with lock and key) and is very protective of her special book
-loves to play in the back yard and learned how to swing all by herself last week!
-does a great job fixing her own hair daily...she even knows how to put it up in a ponytail and a braid!
-enjoys helping in the kitchen
-pretends to be an ice skater by sliding around the house in my fluffy socks
-loves her alone time with grandparents
-growing independence is the theme of this season
-packs her overnight bag (well!) when spending the night with grandparents
-reminds us that when she is gone she misses us a "little" but misses Charly the "most"
-at 5 1/2 wears  a size 6 in clothing and a size 13 shoe

***

Graham

-loves playing computer games, especially games on Lego.com or Disney.com
-is into anything related to Avengers (super heroes)
-favorite spot in the house is in front of the computer screen or (close second) on the trampoline
-told me after a haircut several weeks ago "my hair feels like cat fur now."
-informed Dan and I this week (with a huge grin)that "I came from mommy's tummy, God's plans, and Daddy's......(.wait for it).....PRAYERS.   :)
-loves to throw complicated words and phrases into his conversations to add interest and drama. For example, today he said "Mom, I told Daddy that you would fall into convulsions when you heard what I had for lunch today. "  Wait, maybe I am the dramatic one?  ;)
-laughs until he is hysterical when watching AFV (america's funniest home videos).  I love to watch him watch it!  :)
-is becoming quite a homebody and would sleep until 9:00am if uninterrupted
-wants to be a comic strip writer when he grows up
-dips most foods in honey mustard
-asked if he could see his "memory box" this week with lots of items from his babyhood.  He especially enjoyed his newborn outfits
-REALLY wants a baby brother (or several would be fine, too)
-at 8 yrs. + 4 months wears a size 7 in clothing and a size 2 in shoes

***

 "My children have taught me that it was more important to become what they needed than for them to become what I wanted." -Ray Kane

Currently..

Planning to make this a first-of-the-month tradition.

It is Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 10:45pm EST.

1. LISTENING to nothing but the AC running (continuously...it's almost summer.)
2. EATING carrot souffle.  Did not time out our dinner meal well tonight. It was going to be a side dish, but I forgot that it takes 1 hour to bake and my people were hungry.  So I'm eating it for dessert and promised the kids they could have some for breakfast instead.  It's that good.  :)
3.DRINKING organic green tea with honey.
4.WEARING an anniversary gift from Dan.   A knit top with this print: and a swingy, knee length black skirt. I feel cute today.  It's amazing how a shower and matching outfit can do that for me!  :)

5.FEELING tired but grateful that I might actually make it to bed before midnight.  Also,  happy that Dan and his brother are enjoying some time together at the airport before they pick up my in laws from their two weeek trip to the Holy land.
6.PLANNING to get up and finish my Community Bible Study lesson at 6 in the morning.
7.WANTING some Becky Higgins Design A Page protectors that should be restocked this Thursday on Amazon...can't wait cracking on the kids albums.
8.NEEDING to sand and paint the desk I dug out of our neighbor's moving-day trash.  I'm going to make it my scrapbooking desk.
9.THINKING about how I go to bed almost every night with a list of "wish I had time to's".  Maybe I need to make a list each evening of "glad I did's".
10.ENJOYING the quiet + this little exercise.

I am....{the Hannah Reece edition}

I am Hannah Reece Oedy.
I think I want a computer and camera.
I wonder how my friends are doing in Africa.
I wish I had my own diary.
I always have friends around.
I never get to see Tom, Otim + Yeimy, but I get to send them letters.
I love my brothers and sisters in Africa.
I believe in the Lord.
I pray for my friends.

I am... {the Graham edition}

I am nice.
I think I am gifted with a good family.
I wonder what I'll be when I grow up.
I wish I would be good at ice skating like the other kids in my class.
I always think that my family is cool.
I never leave my family.
I love playing with my daddy.
I believe I would be pretty good at skating one day.
I pray that I would have a good life, and that my family will too.

shooga booga

shooga booga*sugar shine*sweet graham*delicious baby*punkin' pie* darlin'*sweet sunshine*baby doll*

*honey buns*

there are many names I call you, because I'm so glad you are mine!

all snuggled up in momma + daddy's bed

a mystery particle on Camille's finger

Oh boy, hope that's not what I think it is!

helpful big sister

Funny brother

pearly whites + provision

Tuesday was a big day...a trip to the pediatric dentist for all three of our people.  We have been visiting a family dentist, who also happens to be my parents' neighbor, since Graham's first check-up at two.  She is so sweet and I'm grateful for the ways that she and her staff set the stage for a positive outlook on going to the dentist for Graham and Hannah Reece.  They both started out by straddling daddy and I during our cleanings, even getting to spray our teeth with water or suction the water out of our mouths...which had everyone in the office in hysterics.  :)

Last week Graham and Millie had their well-checks at the pediatrician and I pointed out that Camille's top teeth seemed a little crowded to me.  The doctor checked and counted and counted and checked...and guess what?  She has an extra tooth on top! So off to the pediatric dentist we went.  Nana came along too, and I'm so grateful for her help!

First stop:  the sink for a good brushing.  Then a pink rinse to show the spots we've missed.  A little talk and lesson on proper brushing (need all the help we can get in this department!)

Look up here!  A tv playing a movie, just for children! 

Uh-uh.  Not having that daddy, not even with a movie on the ceiling.  I'm outta here!

Graham  handling it all like a champ, and Reecie did too!  They actually looked relaxed!  I even heard Hannah Reece say, "this tickles!"  I was amazed at their bravery.  

It was so convenient to have Dan run over, the office is directly across the street from the church. They had an "open" exam room with three chairs, so we filled the place up!   After x-rays, Millie does indeed have an extra baby tooth.  Right in the middle, on top.  Thankfullly, so far there is no sign of an extra adult tooth.  Eventually, the dentist will have to remove that extra tooth, but not just yet.

When Hannah Reece was 2 1/2, she had a fall that left her with a chipped front tooth.  The root was not damaged, so she was able to keep the tooth.  Over time, the tooth has turned light gray, and she has developed a small abscess that is quite painful.  The dentist told us that the grown up teeth are descending, putting pressure on the nerve that has already been aggravated, causing the abscess and inflammation.  She has begun a course of antibiotics, and will have the tooth removed in about a week and a half.

No cavities and all in all, the visit was pleasant and positive.  At the end of our visit, we were talking to the dentist and Dan mentioned how convenient her office was for him to hop over to be with us.  This led into a conversation about his position at the church and she almost immediately asked Dan and I if she could speak to us privately in another room.  My mom took the kids and she told Dan how grateful she was to meet him, that she and her husband (a periodontist) are looking for ways to "give back" to those who need dental treatment but are unable to pay because of circumstances beyond their control.  She said if we ever came into contact with folks in this situation to contact her business manager, and gave us a card.  I was almost in tears at that point, and Dan looked at me with a knowing glance and a smile.  Little did this dentist know that on Sunday, only two days earlier, such a need had presented itself.

Camille's nursery teacher at church is a single mother.  I often share new developments with Camille and we were talking about her well check-up and impending visit to the dentist.  She went on to share that they had once been patients at this particular dentists office, but they no longer had dental coverage.  Her daughter hadn't been to the dentist in quite a while and had some issues that needed to be treated.  I could see the look of concern on her face, mixed with sadness.  Her daughter's father had cancelled her insurance benefits without any notice.  I felt so burdened for her and after church, mentioned the need to Dan and we brainstormed some ways that maybe we could help out, although we are certainly not in a financial position to pay for someone else's dental care.  Dan said, let's pray and ask the LORD how he might provide for this need.

Back to our little meeting with the dentist.  I was all teary and shared this story with the dentist, she got all teary too, and said to have her call the office right away.  Our friend's daughter could receive treatment completely free of charge.  I am so grateful and amazed at God's immediate provision.  It was an incredible gift to share the news with Millie's teacher, and to witness her encouraged heart and strengthened faith through this experience.

This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

Louis Zamporini

Last week, Louis Zamporini spoke at our church.  What an extraordinary man!  Graham is our resident history buff, and he has even read portions of Unbroken on the Kindle.   There were over 4,000 people at church that Tuesday evening, some had flown in from other parts of the country.  Louis is 96 years old.  I asked Graham to type a few words about Louis and the parts he'd remember most from Louis' talk.

"Louis Zamperini was a HERO.  Louis fought off sharks survived many dangerous situations he was amazing."