Okay, I'll confess. Sera and I were watching Toy Story 2. I think Woody's Round Up was the inspiration for today's post name. It fits though as it's a hodgepodge of thoughts today.
How is it humanly possible to love someone more each and every day? Is there no limit?
I see Sera laughing and smiling so much that it just amazes me that she is this child. Then I take her into a new situation or new place and I see that serious solemn look appear. She doesn't cry or fuss when she's uncertain. She gets very quiet and still.
Sera has four words that she is using pretty regularly: mama, dada, uh-oh, and hi. Dolls and stuffed animals haven't really interested her until the last week or so. Right now she's getting excited about anything with a face, particularly children and animals...including stuffed and dolls. She says hi with the sweetest, softest voice and waves to them. Her most enthusiastic wave and hi is going to Shadow these days. When we get home, she always seems so surprised that he's still here. She bounces and waves and twists around to see him.
She added a new word yesterday, but she only used it once. It doesn't count yet. She was sitting in her high chair eating breakfast. She kept reaching out and letting me know she wanted something, but I couldn't figure out what. I followed her line of vision and saw that she could see the bananas hanging from the basket on the kitchen island. I asked her if she wanted a banana while making the sign. We haven't worked on this sign yet, but I thought it was time to start. I got up and headed to the kitchen, still talking about her banana when I hear her shout, "NANA."
Sera has learned that the differences in Shadow's barks. He barks whenever someone drives into the cul-de-sac, or if anyone is walking out there, or if a squirrel or rabbit dares to enter is field of site. He has a special bark, however, when he hears Jim's car. He barks, runs through every room downstairs, then he runs upstairs to the window that lets him see the road and then back down to the door. When he does this, Sera will crawl to me as fast as she can and raise her arms to be lifted. She then sits on my leg and bends backwards to get a good view of the front door. The whole time she is bouncing and laughing and has the biggest smile on her face.
Speaking of smiles, Jim and I have been together October 1998, almost nine years. I have never seen the man smile so much or be so happy. He had serious doubts, though I did not, about his ability to parent. Jim had a very difficult life as a child. He lived through situations no child should go through, including severe physical abuse. He's built a pretty strong shell around himself. Most adults would describe him as sarcastic and he can seem very condescending as he does not suffer fools gladly. He would also give a friend the shirt off his back. He is the most ethical and honest person I've ever known. He's sometimes too honest. He never had to learn how to deal with office politics and can sometimes lack diplomacy. He's a wonderful teacher. His students know that he cares. He shares his personal story with them. He wants them to know that there is nothing they can't share with him. He also wants them to know that if he can make it out and be successful, so can they. I tell you all this so you can get a picture of the man I married. In the time we've been together, he's danced once, and that was at our wedding. I wasn't sure he'd dance then. Well, he dances now. Why? Because his daughter loves music and loves to dance. He holds her and dances. He's even danced with Ellen! He smiles so much now that it's a joy to see. When sometimes he was too serious, he is now a man who dances or lies on the floor playing with his daughter. I love watching them together.
I had more thoughts to share, but I hear my bundle of joy waking up from her nap. She wakes up so happy now. She's in there yelling and babbling, but she doesn't cry. When I walk in, her face will light up and she'll reach for me, smile, and laugh. I love this little girl!
Here's a picture from last week's baby shower. She was "helping" Lilly by removing the Legos and handing them to Lilly's mom.
Updated to fix bad link.
How is it humanly possible to love someone more each and every day? Is there no limit?
I see Sera laughing and smiling so much that it just amazes me that she is this child. Then I take her into a new situation or new place and I see that serious solemn look appear. She doesn't cry or fuss when she's uncertain. She gets very quiet and still.
Sera has four words that she is using pretty regularly: mama, dada, uh-oh, and hi. Dolls and stuffed animals haven't really interested her until the last week or so. Right now she's getting excited about anything with a face, particularly children and animals...including stuffed and dolls. She says hi with the sweetest, softest voice and waves to them. Her most enthusiastic wave and hi is going to Shadow these days. When we get home, she always seems so surprised that he's still here. She bounces and waves and twists around to see him.
She added a new word yesterday, but she only used it once. It doesn't count yet. She was sitting in her high chair eating breakfast. She kept reaching out and letting me know she wanted something, but I couldn't figure out what. I followed her line of vision and saw that she could see the bananas hanging from the basket on the kitchen island. I asked her if she wanted a banana while making the sign. We haven't worked on this sign yet, but I thought it was time to start. I got up and headed to the kitchen, still talking about her banana when I hear her shout, "NANA."
Sera has learned that the differences in Shadow's barks. He barks whenever someone drives into the cul-de-sac, or if anyone is walking out there, or if a squirrel or rabbit dares to enter is field of site. He has a special bark, however, when he hears Jim's car. He barks, runs through every room downstairs, then he runs upstairs to the window that lets him see the road and then back down to the door. When he does this, Sera will crawl to me as fast as she can and raise her arms to be lifted. She then sits on my leg and bends backwards to get a good view of the front door. The whole time she is bouncing and laughing and has the biggest smile on her face.
Speaking of smiles, Jim and I have been together October 1998, almost nine years. I have never seen the man smile so much or be so happy. He had serious doubts, though I did not, about his ability to parent. Jim had a very difficult life as a child. He lived through situations no child should go through, including severe physical abuse. He's built a pretty strong shell around himself. Most adults would describe him as sarcastic and he can seem very condescending as he does not suffer fools gladly. He would also give a friend the shirt off his back. He is the most ethical and honest person I've ever known. He's sometimes too honest. He never had to learn how to deal with office politics and can sometimes lack diplomacy. He's a wonderful teacher. His students know that he cares. He shares his personal story with them. He wants them to know that there is nothing they can't share with him. He also wants them to know that if he can make it out and be successful, so can they. I tell you all this so you can get a picture of the man I married. In the time we've been together, he's danced once, and that was at our wedding. I wasn't sure he'd dance then. Well, he dances now. Why? Because his daughter loves music and loves to dance. He holds her and dances. He's even danced with Ellen! He smiles so much now that it's a joy to see. When sometimes he was too serious, he is now a man who dances or lies on the floor playing with his daughter. I love watching them together.
I had more thoughts to share, but I hear my bundle of joy waking up from her nap. She wakes up so happy now. She's in there yelling and babbling, but she doesn't cry. When I walk in, her face will light up and she'll reach for me, smile, and laugh. I love this little girl!
Here's a picture from last week's baby shower. She was "helping" Lilly by removing the Legos and handing them to Lilly's mom.
Updated to fix bad link.
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