Thief

Bagels have been working for breakfast lately. 

I like them with cream cheese.  G likes them with butter. 

So I'd made us each one, left the kitchen for a minute, and came back to this....

New Expressions

There are two frequent phrases lately that I love.  I'm not sure that either will come across without photos of the attendant facial expressions & gestures, but I will try.

- G will do something ridiculous.  I'll ask him: "What are you doing?"  He'll look back at me, totally perplexed, and say "I na no, Mama."  (I don't know, Mama)

- I'll be trying to accomplish something (always).  G will be troubling around my feet (always).  Finally he'll think of something that he wants to go get/accomplish.  Before he goes, though, he'll call for my attention.  Then he'll stick up his index finger, drop down his chin, raise up his eyebrows, and sincerely assure me: "I be reye ba (right back) Mama.  Reye ba."

Movie Night

Last week we had a less-than-stellar week here.  On Friday night I was ready to engage Joseph in a major Teen vs. Mom explosion. 

Instead, I took the boys out for pizza.  Then ice cream.  And then we watched a movie.  Joseph & I both love "The Emperor's New Groove."  It was our first time watching tv with G.  He really liked the opening credit music/dancing.

The night turned out so much better than the brawl would have.  Thank goodness.

Floss anyone?

When G decides to work on his oral hygiene, there's plenty of floss to share.

Growth

February 18th
Stretching up to Joseph's doorknob:

August 22nd

I asked him to stretch up to Joseph's doorknob.  He was willing:

although kind of puzzled about why I'd want him to stretch.

(Note: 6 months later, still no pants)

I recently measured him at 37" and 31#. 

That would mean - in the last 6 weeks - he grew 2" and no pounds.  Is that possible?

Celebrating the Boys

Little by little we're stealing moments to celebrate Joseph's 18 years.

Friday after band camp we gifted him.



Comforter & sheets for college.  Not too exciting when college is still a year away.  But exciting if you realize that he wouldn't otherwise get new sheets for college.

Saturday was dinner in Chinatown with his dad's family.  No one there was very concerned about photos.  Which may explain why all I have is these...

No evidence that the birthday boy was there.  You'll have to trust me.

And then celebrating G....  Can you believe that I can take him out to a long restaurant meal now?  At church now we make it through all of the opening songs before I have to take him out.  He's developing the ability to sit!

Don't ask me why sitting is a problem.  I imagine him at the orphanage for 3+ years doing nothing by lying & sitting.  Yet when he came home, he could/would not sit still for anything.  Maybe it's the "quiet" part that was tripping him up.  Maybe it's just that he knew what fun alternatives to sitting we have.  For whatever reason, it was an issue.  Only it's becoming less of one all the time.  Love it!

Bip Bop

One of Joseph & my favorite things is when G declares that he wants to wear his bip bops.