Lookin' Out My Back Door

The Countdown's Begun

We are down to our last two weeks in the Midwest. A couple things going on with us:
1. I managed to fit into my regular jeans for church on Sunday. It only took me a month, and I am SO happy. (Yay for nursing!)
2. Win is almost finished and finally was able to call this past week. He is doing well, just impatient to be done.
3. Hearing Lem say, "Thanks, Mama," may be the cutest thing ever. He has also gotten very helpful recently.
4. Gwyn just keeps getting fatter and fatter. I think she is working on her third chin already.

Air Show

Today we celebrated Gwyn's one-month birthday by taking Lem to the air show at the Air Force base near us. My mom and my cousin Kelly and her two kids joined us, and I think it's safe to say Lem thouroughly enjoyed himself. I know I had fun. I love things like this.
We saw lots of planes, walked through a C-5 and one of those that re-fuel in the air. We also saw the Tora Tora Tora perfomance, which includes explosions and lots of smoke.
My favorite part was seeing a piece of our past and a piece of our future. Below is a C-130, the type of plane that my formerly airborne husband jumped out of. The open door on the side would be where they jump from. I was pretty excited to see it, but Lem was more interested in the bouncy slide.


And here is what I'm pretty sure is an Apache helicopter. Something Win could very possibly be flying in a couple years. Pretty exciting.

Gwyn slept pretty much the whole time, except for a quick nurse in the C-5. I LOVE my sling. And Lem did get to go down the bouncy slide, and I went with him. I have to admit it was pretty fun.

More Fishing Adventures

Yesterday, four nuns came down to fish in our lake. They were serious fisherwomen and ended up with 21 fish. Lem got out his Batman pole, and with the help of Grandpa, did a little fishing himself. He caught a fish on the first cast, but lost interest pretty quickly after that. He then proceeded to play with the fish in the bucket and tell the nuns where to fish (off the dock). But by far the best part was when it was cleaning time. We dumped all the fish in the grass, and Lem got to hand Grandpa each fish. The big bass was his favorite. As you can see.
Lem spent all day outside and didn't nap. By dinnertime he was exhausted. He started nodding off at the table, but kept waking up to laugh at us (we were laughing at him) and then say, "More meat?" He really likes Grandpa's BBQ-ed pork steaks. He finally nodded off with his head on my knee, a mouthful of pork, and a piece in his hand. I'd say it was a good day for him.

Tractor Drivin'

September Days

Pure joy for Lem (but he took it very seriously)

Four weeks old and major bed head

Great-Mother Gum and her great-grandchildren

I feel so accomplished.

So. It's been about three weeks since my post about the disastrous trip to Schnucks. Since that trip, we've been laying pretty low, venturing out really only to see family. I have to admit, I've been a little gun-shy of taking both kids in public on my own again.

But yesterday, Gwyn passed the four-week mark, and we had spent a solid four days at home. So this morning, I decided to take the kids (by myself!) and run a couple errands. Easy things, just to the post office and then to Schnucks for diapers and milk.

Success! It only took us about two hours to get out the door, but Gwyn slept and Lem didn't fight too much. Post office a breeze --no line. I tried it without putting Lem on the leash; he wandered off around the corner but didn't run away. Gwyn rode in her sling so I'd have two arms free. And we got to see a John Deere tractor mowing outside, that made Lem's day.

Schnucks wasn't bad either. Lem on the leash but in the cart, Gwyn in the sling. Luckily, that thing puts her right to sleep. Since Lem behaved this time, I might let him use the car-cart next visit.

So, this was a little trip, but man, do I feel accomplished. I have to say though, I really miss my little post in Italy, where I could park in one place, put Lem in the stroller and walk to do all my errands. This in and out of the car for every stop thing wears me out.

Lem fell asleep on the way home and just woke up (yay for naps!) and now Gwyn is sleeping. Maybe it is time for a little snack and maybe some trains.

P.S. Congratulations are in order for my little brother. He is graduating in a couple weeks and already has a job out in California as a chiropractor. I can just see the future billboard: Dr. Paul, Chiropractor of the Stars (or Surfers)!

Some of the Books We've Been Reading