1st time mama questions

Has anyone used one of these learning towers?

When do babies start using toothpaste?

What is the age for introducing peanut butter? I keep seeing different reports.

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Baby Genius update...in a sense Matthew knows what letters are because we have the letter magnets on the fridge and, when we see different words, I will point out each letter, say the letter, and then say the word. Well, we were at the grocery store yesterday and, while I have never done this before, he pointed down to the cart handle which had the store's name imprinted on it and started using his finger to point at the letters while he made quick sounds. This kid cracks me up!

New Prayers for America

Stop by my blog Salvation for the Nation and join me in prayer this week!

Matthew's First Word!!!

So what do you think it was? It wasn't daddy...or mama...or more...or milk...or fiduciary responsibility.

Matthew's first word was help!

playDOH!

I've been meaning to post these photos for awhile. Sorry they are so dark and blurry. I bought M his first playdoh set along with his first coloring book and watercolor paints. These activities have come in handy on afternoons when it is just too hot to be outside!

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Rebecca is saying adios to the public blogging community because she is joining the Ice Capades....no, wait, that is Scott. She gives the actual reasons for her decision HERE.

So much of what she says has been quite heavy on my heart lately, but she said it so eloquently that I'll let you read her words instead. I'll just share the quick comment I left on her blog:

Oh, look, my BBFF wrote exactly what I have been thinking!! This has been heavy on my heart especially since being reconnected with my friend in Mexico. So much of what we do give is out of our insane abundance...perfectly good stuff that we just don't want anymore...or we give it away because we want something new. We really know very little about sacrificial love and sacrificial giving. Why not keep our old coat and buy a brand new one...a NICE brand new one...for someone else? Why not use our vacation money to pay for another person's vacation...someone who cannot afford to "get away"? We tend to feel OK giving for other people's basic necessities...but what about lavishing them with luxury...just as we have been lavished? Great post...I'll miss your blogs...and I hope to get an invite to your private one! LOVE YA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday Fun

Thought I better post some photos before my mom begins to riot! We went to feed some nearby horses today (although we made sure to leave some carrots for our beloved Xena). Then we hit a roadside drink stand for refreshment...and a lei for Matthew! Despite the fact that he is not smiling in any of the photos, I think he had a good time!

OOOPs...this first pic is out of order....

M is 16 months old now and continues to amaze me with his observant nature and memory. He seems to know his basic shapes...when he is interested in that topic, of course! He received a car that goes up and down....yeah, like a low rider...and the first time he saw it move, he picked it up and turned it over to see where the batteries were. He makes connections easily...like we were playing with his block shapes and I asked "what shape do you see?" which is a line from one of his books, and he immediately went to find that book.

He is still not saying any words and while I am not worried, I feel bad because I can see him becoming more easily frustrated due to not communicating...which I know is common. We started out teaching signs when he was really little, but he hasn't seemed too interested in them. For example, he knows the sign for "more" and will sign it if we bring it up, but is arely proactive in using it.

He seems to be keeping up his growing and still towers over other kids. This morning at the train station we met a 2 year old who was pretty much the same size as M. We don't have his next check-up till June or July, so I will be interested in seeing where he is on the height chart.

He continues to passionately dislike having his diaper changed and waiting for his food.

can't think of a title

Can you believe I went a day without posting??? Well, for very good reason! Yesterday I had some great fun taking photos of great friends! I had a blast and the photos turned out well...mostly because these people are gorgeous inside and out...through and through...top to bottom! I think I took close to 400 pics, so I'll share them at a later date.

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I took M to the doctor because we still have the junk. He was tested for strep which was, thankfully, negative. But the funny thing is this...we took along M's play doctor set and, when the nurse brought us into the room I casually mentioned that M might try to give her a shot. Well, we talked a bit more and she left...and then M threw a FIT crying and pointing to the door. I finally figured out that when I said he might give her a shot, he thought that meant he was going to be able to give her a shot! So when she came back in, I explained, she obliged, and M gave her a perfect shot on her arm! She was very impressed and said he has a good future in the medical field. I told her he would probably follow in his dad's footsteps in a career with the Ice Capades.

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Gotta go...hope everyone is having a GREAT week. We are blessed beyond belief here...HOORAY GOD!