Boden Matthew

I cannot believe how big Boden has gotten so quickly!  He is talking up a storm and keeps us moving and laughing.  He is a busy, busy little guy.  He will pull the kitchen chairs up to the counter or go get a stool in order to reach just about anything he sets his sights on.  He has learned to open the pantry doors and more than once I have found him sitting inside with a spoon and the oatmeal container.  He loves oatmeal and will even eat it "raw" out of the container!  It is also not unusual at all for me to find bites out of the apples, pears, and whatever other fruit I may have stored in there.  He is very good at letting everyone know exactly what he wants.  Anything from, "Nack (snack), Mommy" to "Ben-a-men, No!"  His most recent obsession is going potty.  This is great as long as he doesn't have any clothes on.  He will run to the potty or out to the porch and shout, "Mommy, tee-tee grass" or "tee-tee potty". But, if he has ANY clothes on, he will forget what he is supposed to do and just pee wherever he happens to be.  This isn't a problem until we want to go somewhere or someone stops by.  I'm hoping the constant diaper-on, diaper-off won't confuse the poor kid and in a few months maybe he will get the hang of things ! 

Boden's favorite time of day is when Ryan comes home.  He will run screaming, "DADDY!" to the door and throw himself into his legs.  It is so cute!  Ryan, of course, loves his welcoming committee.  Then, almost always, the next thing out of Boden's mouth is "Daddy, play row-rows"  This means he wants Ryan to crawl around on the floor with him and play puppies.  Sometimes though the puppy turns into a frog and it's hilarious to watch Ryan trying to figure out if Boden is a "row-row" or "ribbit".

Another thing Bo loves is walking along curbs....or in our case, railroad ties. 

He also loves being a helper and will help out with little chores happily.  His favorites are:  putting the wet clothes into the dryer and then "push buttons" on the dryer to start it, putting away the silverware and plasticware from the dishwasher, picking up his toys, picking up trash outside and putting it in the trash can, putting away the folded laundry, cleaning the floor or windows with a rag....anything I can think of to let him do to help and he is a happy camper!  He stirred the scrambled eggs yesterday morning and then watched intently as they cooked in the skillet. 

The three older children are so great at finding things to do with him too.  Sarah loves to take him outside to the picnic table where he can finger paint and play play-doh.  Maya loves to snuggle and read to him and is a great help at getting him to eat!  I have often found he and Benjamin running around kicking the ball or playing some sort of boyish thing that is active and loud together!  He is the most well-loved and well-entertained 22-month old I have ever known!  

Last, but not least, Boden has started sleeping with Benjamin every night.  He is quite the wiggle-worm and when I go into check on the boys at night, I frequently find his legs under his pillow or his face in Benjamin's armpit or some other body part thrown this way or that.  Several times I have gone in to find Benjamin down at the end of the bed and Boden sleeping across the whole top of the bed.  I have asked Ben several times if this arrangement is okay with him.  Boden does have his own bed we could insist he sleep in instead of in the bed with Benjamin.  But, Benjamin always just says, "This is what I have been waiting for.  I like him in bed with me."   Referring to the fact that he has been waiting for a brother to sleep with and take a bath with and play with.  A playmate, a companion.  My heart is full of rejoicing.  Thank You Lord for brothers and sisters.   Thank You for children, for two-year olds, for babies.  Thank You for families who love each other. 

Random Thoughts

1.  I love how Benjamin chooses to say things.  For instance, last night instead of saying, "Mom, I'm really tired."  He said, "Mom.  That shower just used up the very last of my energy!"

2.  I love to see Ryan and the boys doing things together....like walking down the driveway taking out the trash or walking through the back pasture trying to find the deer trails.  They are so sweet.

3.  I am so glad to be finished with school for the summer.  We haven't taken a "summer break" in several years and we are really looking forward to this summer.  Of course, I have to have some kind of plan or we will all be going stir crazy in a matter of an day or two.  The plan?  I ordered each of them a recorder and music book and an art "curriculum".  That along with some book reading, baking, game playing and swimming should keep us pretty busy until August.   I still love to read aloud to the children so we have several books planned for the summer that we didn't get to during the school year.

4.  All three of the kids are really into the "Boxcar Children" books right now.  Thank you Brown Family for contributing to our addiction with your give-aways!  I love to hear the children discussing the mysteries with one another.

5.  Our house is about half-way packed up and Ryan has completed all of his "to-do" list.  The house officially went on the market today.  Now all we need is a buyer!  We don't really have a plan beyond today.    It will be interesting to see how God leads and provides.

6.  Our chickens are keeping us well provided for eggs.  Maya has even sold a couple dozen to some friends from church.  We also trade with our friend Michelle.  She gives us fresh-caught bass and we give her eggs---we all agree that this is a good trade!