Bedtime

AJ just went down for his second nap (yay!) and I'm sitting here looking at the disaster all around me. I really should be cleaning, tidying, organizing, etc... things that efficient moms do while their children nap. Instead, I'm going to write for a minute (or two... or three...). Best you don't drop in for a visit today! (yah, like that ever happens up here)

Last night I took my turn going to bible study and left the little gaffer home with his Dad. I was so pleased with the report I received when I got home to a quiet house. Except that it never seems like the child misses me when I disappear. What's that mean?!

I know - it's actually a good thing, and I'm thankful he's not pining away at the door thinking I abandoned him. But, I'd like a minute of "Wait - where did Mom go?!"  Nope. Nothing.

Anyway, apparently he played around nicely... then brought a clementine over to Dad who thought he just wanted to play the game of "pass back and forth" (very popular in our household). When Dad didn't seem to get the message, AJ decided to start peeling the orange himself. Little piece by piece.  Finally Dad noticed and did the rest. He also made the elephant face out of the peeling, but was offended AJ didn't see the humour.

This is his morning look.

After filling up on fruit, he did a full blown diaper. AJ that is. Lucky Dad. When he started to get tired, he took his pajamas off the couch and kind of swished them around... Dad, who's getting smarter with the signals, dressed him for bed.

A couple minutes later, AJ kept coming close and standing there, so Dad asks "Do you want to go to bed?" Response? Yup! (I love that he says this frequently in the right context) AJ climbs on the couch with Dad and leans into him... so to make sure, Dad asks "Do you want to go upstairs and go to bed?" Yup! So up they go. Sing a few songs, and AJ is laid down in his crib... he just looks at Dad like, "Yes... this is what I wanted!" Dad walks out the door and all is quiet. Perfect bedtime routine.

Doesn't happen all the time, but I love it when it does. Especially since the child has no idea what time bedtime is after the last month and a bit. We call it "summer hours"...

I know... Your life is so much better now, after reading this edifying post... you're welcome.

So far behind... A summer update

I'm sitting here in our very, very hot little cottage listening to the rain outside and the sporadic thunder crashes, and... praying it cools the air *just* a little. We're here for two weeks with my in-laws (the Mister has gone to pick them up at the airport and I'm waiting for their arrival), and all I can think about is how we might survive the heat and humidity without A/C. I'm guessing *lots* of day trips in the air conditioned van... ;) We are within walking distance of the beach, so we'll hopefully visit there most days... but AJ and his grandparents might not be able to endure for loooong periods of time. ;)

Now where was I... oh yes, feeling the pressure of a "dead" blog... is it really August?? And was June really my last post?! Seems like so much has happened since my little Man's big birthday...

So I'll just briefly bring y'all up to speed.

oops. My company just pulled in ahead of schedule... this will have to wait... it could be January before I get back to it!! ;)

I'm back! And it's only two days later... and since you're all dying to know, the Lord answered my prayer and gave us a much cooler Sunday night and beautiful Monday! I know it will get too hot again, but this has been a nice breather.

Instead of going all wordy like usual, here's a picture montage of our summer so far:

 BEACH DAYS!

Lesson on tools on Father's Day... the question is: Who's teaching who? :) 

AJ wasn't sure he wanted to give the card away...

Meeting up with good friends who up and left us for Vancouver a year ago...

We'll eventually forgive them :)

Not everyone was ready ;)

Fun in the back yard in the Bend!

Quiet cuddles outside

Back home... going around the pond across the street... 

AJ's going to be a horticulturalist I think! 

Sometimes you just have to get up-close-and-personal!

Clearly he knows how to relax...

Fun morning at a petting "zoo"

Back to the Bend for more beach time!

So... this deserves a whole post of it's own... We had a great surprise in June! After 3 weeks + of nausea and *weeks* of extreme tiredness, I surrendered to a pregnancy test... and to our wonderful surprise (yet, not really a surprise after all the signs!), we are expecting again! AJ is "scheduled" to be a big brother the end of January... 19 months apart. Terrifying yet exciting! 

Out for our 5th (!!) anniversary supper... our first real date in over a year. 

Need to remedy that before the next bambino arrives.

My Love.

As you can tell, it was a busy night for the restaurant... Not.

A Starbucks' latte to cap off the evening :)

Back to the Bend for another weekend and beach time. Evening is the best time to go for this little man.

So excited to try the new restaurant just down the street from our place in the Bend... HIGHLY recommend Smackwater Jacks - everything is delicious. And AJ claims they have the best french fries :)

Back home (we made a number of wknd trips to Grand Bend in July, but spent most of the very hot week days at home... in air conditioning) - AJ reveals his treasured rock (of the moment) to the world from our back door :)

That brings us to the last weekend of July, when AJ and I made a flying trip back East for my cousin's wedding and family time. Will try to get the update posted soon!