Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Happy Working Song

This is how cleaning goes at our house:.
I'm just a really good wife, what can I say? {Go here to see the words.} My friend and brother-in-law, Joe, a HUGE Disney fan, told me about this cute movie. Then I made Eric watch it with me. Then I listened to it three more times before we had to return it. I especially love the scene in the park which includes dancing, music, made-up-on-the-spot songs, and the participation of everyone in the park (as all good movies should).

What is cleaning like at your house?

Friday, May 16, 2008

Elijah's 103 degree temperature was caused by a mystery virus which then led to a raging ear infection. {His first ear infection, which I will proudly attribute to my nursing skills~;-)} Our fabulous pediatrician cleared everything up with a round of Amoxicillin, which we obtained at no charge from Publix.

Elijah was well enough to attend Uncle Matt's (last!) graduation! We now have a doctor (EdD) in the family! After pointing and staring at the largest congregation of black people he has ever seen, Elijah was escorted off the premises to have a nap in the car. We got this picture back at the house:
Congratulations Uncle Matt! We love you!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

"Very Expressive"

That is how my Mom describes Elijah. It is really just a nice way to say that he is LOUD. (I suppose that is a trait inherited from his mother, "Megaphone."*) Elijah is loud all the time - happy, sad, angry, excited - everything is loud.

These last two weeks Elijah has started throwing fits. Eric says, "His level of disobedience has really jumped to a new level." Well, as you can imagine, the fits are LOUD. Fits are confusing to me. They don't actually help anything; Elijah usually ends up throwing himself on the floor, which cannot be comfortable. Besides the fact that we must figure out how to address this new form of disobedience...besides the fact that fit-throwing is a blatant sign of sin in my dear child...besides the fact that I have no idea what to do at home, much less in public...besides all this, the fits are LOUD. And that is trying.

It was most refreshing then to read Proverbs 29:17 this morning. Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. Praise God for timely encouragement to persevere in consistent discipline. For how we want Elijah to be content, thankful, and self-controlled!

Other encouragement comes from recalling the six week stretch when Elijah screamed all the time. That was pre-crawling. The issue then was contentment as well. God gave help, and that behavior stopped. Then there was the month long stretch when Elijah was disciplined several times, at every meal, for throwing his food off his high chair. God gave help, and today there were only two grapes on the floor after lunch, both dropped accidentally.

God is good. And Elijah already does delight my heart, despite - or perhaps because of - his "very expressive" personality.

*Oh look, Eric, my parents did have a nickname for me!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

103 degrees

Should this be concerning? "A fever is not necessarily bad" Anne Marie tells me. "What? You haven't given him anything? You should always give a fever-reducer for anything 101.5 or greater" says Dr. Frank while casting me the evil eye which clearly state "You are too stupid to have a child." (This following the obligatory "Do you have any other children?" "Mmmmm....Hmmmm.") Well, Dr. Frank, maybe you can pass along your tips to your own advice nurse. If Fundamentals of Good Mothering: Medical Facts You Should Know Before Giving Birth has yet to be published, at least consistency at the pediatrician's office would be helpful. This is what happens when you call in on Dr. Pinkley's day off.

My child's activities of late:



My house is quite clean, but I would gladly trade that for a happy, eating, fever-free boy.