We’ve enjoyed listening to LB babble away in his little baby-speak for much of the year. Daily, we hear mama, dada, hi, gobble (???), good, and lots of other random fun noises. Some of them include adorable, breathy utterings and clicks. But today, we took pride as he repeatedly called our cat, Maxine, “gata.” Just so you know, that’s Spanish for “cat.” We even called up LB’s Mamita in Guatemala to have her confirm his new word!
Ahora bien, si el dijera “Te amo” en español, imagino que mi corazón se derretiría.
Update(from Daddy): And we have 2 more words in Spanish : Pato (duck) and Vaca (cow). The Vaca word is pretty exciting since it will open up to a family classic joke. The return of Gando is imminent!
A few weeks ago, LB had a grand adventure. He visited his cousin, Little Buchs, and other family and friends for a birthday party. He visited Kouts, Indiana, and enjoyed meeting lots of Grampy’s family. And then he went to visit his buddy Lori D. in Berne. Saw his first Amish buggy–actually he almost missed seeing his first Amish buggy as Amish teens tried to race each other down the street. Oh, and his first group of sweet Amish ladies standing in front of a liquor store. ???
Anyway, another first was getting to play on a trampoline, much to his delight!
Today in Guatemala we celebrate “Kid’s Day”, we can say it’s a tradition, and since you, my sweet boy, have Guatemalan blood, I thought it would be nice to share this tradition with you, so as we say here in Guatemala: “Feliz Dia del Niño”. I love you very much, and each day that I receive your pictures my heart and day is filled with joy, which you have brought since the day you were born.
Love you,
Auntie Lucia
PS. Check your front door for something special, it should have arrived today!
Dear Auntie Lucia,
Thank you so much for the gift! I LOVE it! If you click on the link below, you can see just how much! I’ve already mastered putting a few of the shapes in, but I’ve got a lot more to practice. Thanks for thinking of me on this special day for kids in Guatemala. I love you very much. And I want you to visit. And I want you to bring Mama, Mamita, and Opa. And I want you to stay. And I want to give you hugs and pat you on the back. And I want to show you how big I’m getting. And I want to show you how I can walk a little bit.
And now I’m so tired. Goodnight! And thanks again!
Monday was really a “Monday” for me. Not just another manic Monday, but worse. Riddled with a headache and crankiness all day from being stuck in a room with 27 kids who struggle to listen to directions at the best of times, I wanted to just go home and go for a walk with LB. Instead, we set out to buy some file folders that I needed for school. But the store I went to didn’t have file folders. Well, they did…fancy, schmancy file folders that cost way more than I was willing to spend. No plain old, manila folders. And at this point, going to another store would have put us home a half-hour past LB’s dinnertime, and that’s just not fair to the little one when I’ve got the choice. So we left the store empty handed and headed to the car.
After reaching our roasty vehicle, I swooped LB into his seat and tried to pull out his car seat straps. Both of which were stuck under his tushie. And I couldn’t get them out. And it was hot, and I was tired, and I just dropped my head over his car seat and started to cry. Silly, I know, but sometime we just need to cry. (You know it’s true…R.E.M. told you so!)
And as tears dripped from my face into LB’s lap, he reached up and firmly put his hand upon my head. He held on to my hair and pushed my head up until he was looking directly into my eyes. And I saw Jesus. And as I stared into those beautiful green-blue-gray eyes that I’ve stared into so many times before, a giant grin spread across his face. He pulled my head towards his until our foreheads were touching…a long-time love gesture LB does with both his daddy and me.
I needed that. A beautiful, pure, sweetest-moment-ever. Heaven on earth is the only way to describe it!
Not only is toilet paper a riot around this place (see post of August 31, 2009), Kleenex has also become quite the cotton delight. I know this is a rediculously long clip, but it’s all priceless in my mind, and this isn’t even the entire event. Plus, you can really see the progress he’s made at school learning how to get things out and put them away. Yay, Educare, and yay LB for such fun!
Lima Bean was trying so desperately to send an e-card to his beloved cousin. Blast those broken computers!!
A very happy and blessed birthday to cousin LB!! We’ve been thinking about you all day, Little Buchs, and we look forward to celebrating with you soon. Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives and making 9-11 a day to cherish.
LB so exhausted playing tonight that a little roughhousing continually left him face down on the floor giggling.
Daddy disciplining LB by sternly saying his name repeatedly to get him to stop playing with the blinds. LB simply turning, grinning, and waving back at Daddy.
LB trying to wait patiently in his high chair as Daddy and Mommy finish dinner. Although he was fussing with a pacifier in his mouth, he determined a piece of strawberry might still be enjoyable, and proceeded to try to put it in his mouth already occupied with said paci.
So little LB is a climbing fool! I recently uncovered the “lid” to part of his toybox where all his books are, and he wanted to get up close and personal by climbing right in. Voila! Baby in a box. He’s having a dandy time. Meanwhile, Daddy and I stand back and laugh and remember a time when our family room didn’t look like a tornado just blew through. Fun times!!!
I’m glad LB is learning this skill before he heads to Educare next week. Hopefully this bodes well for his sharing abilities. Grandpa Wes, I bet you can’t WAIT to share some Cheerios with LB!!!
