Cook me, please.

New toy, new room, new look

Our good friends and former neighbors from Bruce View, Ricky and Barb, dropped by our house yesterday to visit. We were in the backyard cutting the Parrino boys' hair. They gave Stephen a wonderful wooden train and a set of dino pjs. I opened the train set this morning and Steve's been having a blast with it. I think he's put peices of it in all parts of the house.

Sadly, while I was giving Ricky and Barb a tour of the house, I left my two hairy guys outside. Joe got impatient and buzzed all of Stephen's hair off :-( I wasn't too happy about his new look.

And, it's a new room because our friend, Tatiana, moved out a few days ago to go live with her aunt. So we've converted her room into its original purpose: my office and our guest room. And of course, Stephen's other playroom. Every room in the house is his other playroom :-)

Visit from uncle Jimmy

I guess Jimmy is really second cousin or cousin once removed or something like that, but I think Uncle Jimmy has a nice ring to it :-)

Joe's cousin was in town to take some professional voice lessons in Nashville. We enjoyed eating vegan and talking about NASA, where he works.

Jeremiah's coming!

Stephen is soon to have a little friend... one that will keep him up at night and one he'll probably try to sneak up on and poke if we're not watching!

Jeremiah Isaiah Andrew Hartwell is set to be born Sept. 10... next Thursday! His mama, Tatiana, lives with us and has a sweet bond with Stephen. She is planning to be induced at midnight Wednesday. Your prayers will help this be a smooth and healthy labor.

I was recently reading the book of Jeremiah and I liked the beginning of the first chapter.

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."

"O Sovereign Lord," [Jeremiah] said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!"

The Lord replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go whereever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!"

Then the Lord reached out and touched by mouth and said,

"Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant."

This makes and great prayer for a little boy, still in his mom's womb!

Tune Coupe Mystery

There was a rather brutish knock at the door this afternoon. It came just as I was trying to undress Munchie for a long overdue bath. So, diapered infant in tow, I tromped to the porch door. No one there. I stepped outside to see if there was anything left for us. I heard the faint rumble of a FedEx truck in the distance, so I slid on some flip flops and carried Stephen around front, realizing most people probably think we actually use our front door and entryway. We never do. In fact, I often forget about its existence beyond being the black hole we cram all the unpacked junk we haven't figured out what to do with yet. OK, so all that to say the truck took off with a rumble (he was parked in our neighbor's driveway). And on our front step, a giant box labeled "Toddler Tune Coupe."

I don't know where this came from, but if the sender is out there, thank you!

It was great fun watching his little feet scamper Flintstones-style as Daddy pushed him around the front yard.

MYSTERY SOLVED: Thank you, Aunt Mary Alice! The coupe is a great first birthday present for Stephen.

Squirrel watcher

The dogwood in our front lawn is a great attraction for the local squirrel population. Stephen still thinks these cutest of all rodents are in the canine family, but he can spot them faster than his mama!
This squirrel seemed to think it was a bat.
And Munchie thinks he's a monkey!

Fingerpaint and thank you notes

Before going to the pool, we got Stephen's feet wet in my folk's hotel tub.
There he swirled his fingers in some paint, while grammy, gramps and I tried to shove pieces of paper under them as he created his Munch-terpieces.
Afterward he enjoyed a towel swaddle and a bottle of juice.