"Ella"

Weeda Weekend

We spent the weekend with the Weedas in Blaine, WA. What a treat. We not only had the joy of spending time with our dear friends from college, but we finally met their new baby girl, Livia Mae. They just moved to a new house on Birch Bay and we truly enjoyed our vacation-like visit. The entire trip I kept saying "wow, this is where you live!?". We loved watching the tide go in and out and especially checking out the starfish, crab, clams, and sand dollars at the beach. It made Wenatchee look a little shabby. Although on the trip home, we were taken back by the beauty of where we live too. The 200+ mile trip was gorgeous. We stayed up too late visiting and getting hosed by Andy playing Monoply. We feasted in a way that you only do with your best of friends. It was wonderful and will be another cherished family memory. We are happy to be back home, as traveling with tiny ones can be exhausting for both kids and parents. Thank you Weedas for a great weekend. We love you guys. (Once again, we forgot to take a family picture)

Giggle Giggle

Haircut

Maddeck has been getting really wiggly when we try to cut his neckline at the end of his haircut. He was able to watch Word World and eat popcorn if he was able to sit still. He ended up (after a struggle) sitting still and allowing Kyle to trim. He was so excited! He enjoyed an entire bowl of popcorn, and entire bowl of green beans (he just thought they sounded good), and ice water with his show that he watched on the computer.

Some new Maddeck Quotes I thought I would share ...

Maddeck: "I love Grace. She is such a cute girl."

Mom: "What do you think Evan will call you when he starts talking?" "Will he have a nickname for you?" Maddo: "I think he should call me Little Bear or Goosey" (Interesting and cute choices ... I guess that is why kids don't pick their own nicknames. They just sort of happen.)

Maddeck: "Mom I am sorry that I poop in my pants ... I will poop in the potty next time." (This makes my heart melt. He is so sweet.)

Maddeck: "I am gonna be the wedding bearer at Jesica's wedding."

Maddeck: "I want to wear my Tebas (Tevas) today."

Maddeck: "Blueblerry and strawburry smoovie" (he loves smoothies he just can't pronounce it)

8 Months

Yesterday Evan turned 8 months old!! Time goes by so quickly.

Evan is making new sounds (ra, ma, da, la, ga)! He has always been vocal, but it was always in the form of vowel sounds. This past weekend, Evan's Aunt Laura asked him to say Laura and he said "la-ra". We asked him again and again to say it. He kept saying it ra-ra or la-ra-ra-ra-ra. We, of course, proudly labelled the sounds as distinct words. 'Laura' is officially his first word to both myself and Laura K. Anyone else with the name Laura would also confirm. :)

Other big things on Evan's progress report include waving hello and goodbye. He also rolls his hands around and around. We are going to start working on signing more with him now that we know he is ready to communicate with his hands. We started with the basics with Maddeck -- more, eat, and milk. One of my favorite signs to teach is 'help' because Maddeck used it a lot when he was frustrated as a early toddler. Instead of crying and freaking out he learned to ask for help. We hope Evan will be successful using sign language as well.

Yesterday Evan pulled himself up from the sitting position to his knees and then to the standing position. He seems pretty shaky so I don't think he is going to start walking anytime soon but he may start moving around furniture before too long. Right now he enjoys holding our hands and walking around. He has the army crawl down and gets up on all fours. He can also sit and dig his heels into the floor and scoot around backward. You can tell he thinks it is cool to move while sitting up. Yesterday he was sitting and scooting across the kitchen floor and backed into the island. He couldn't figure out why he had stopped and kept trying to move. He gave up and went back to his forward moving army crawl.

Scoot

Eternity

Yesterday my great uncle Joe passed away. I spent some time with him about an hour before he died. He was almost 93 and dying from cancer. He weighed less than 100 pounds. There is nothing like watching someone die. You can't help but realize that we are not meant for this life. We are perishing. I have known three people who have died in as many weeks. What is the meaning of this life? When this life is over, and it will be, everyone will go before the Lord. One week before our friend Wayne died he was lying in his hospital bed, his mind was completely aware that his body was shutting down. His soul was alive and well, but his body was about to turn off. It was in that moment, that he knew he was not just going to go in the ground (his belief his whole life) but that his soul was going somewhere. He accepted Jesus Christ and was forgiven for all his sins that day. For the last week of his life he knew the joy that comes only through knowing Christ. After a life on the broad road the Lord made a new path for Wayne. In the words of Jesus, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade ... In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

Talking on the phone

Maddeck was playing with his hairbrush and using it as a toy phone today. Here are two of the conversations he had.

Hi Jordan. (Pause) What are you doin' today? (Pause) Oh, you're at Papa's house. (Pause) Oh you're painting. Okay bye. (Click)

Hi Mimi. What are you doin' today? (Pause) Oh, cleaning the kitchen. You're so cute. Bye. (Click)

Art

Here are some faces that Maddeck drew on the chalkboard. I like the teeny tiny one at the top.

Sweet Evan

Evan after his bath last night.

Playing

Discovery

Oh the joy of living with a 3 year old ... constant discovery. I sat down at the computer desk and saw ear plugs lining the base of our table lamp. I left them there most of the day because I just thought it was so funny and odd for him to first of all, find the earplugs, and then to put them on the lamp as if it were a work of art. Maddeck is playing more independently now and loves to have pretend conversations with his toys. Example: The race car says "where are you going?" and the dump truck says "hurry or we will be late". I love to just sit and listen to him play and imagine. The weather has been nice and it has been great to let the boys go outside. Maddeck needs to be able to burn some energy! He can run pretty fast now. He also loves to ride his bikes and scooters in the driveway.

Coffee with my son ... so much fun.

Maddeck Quotes

Maddeck: Cows make milk.
Mom: Yes they do.
Maddeck: When I see a cow I will say "thank you for making milk cow" and the cow will say ... "sure". Then I will pet the cow and say "bye cow" and then we can go home. Does that sound like a deal Mom?
Mom: I love you Maddeck. (What else can you really say?)

You would think that he would know how to say this one since G'ma Cindi has one.
Maddeck: Look a rotorhome (motorhome).

Birthday Message

Hope you have a great Birthday. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Maddeck's Easter Card