The Dinkins

Ski fever!

2012-01-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

Nevermind, that's actually a bad pun, in light of Gus just emerging from 3 days of fevers and a bad cold that reached its zenith with an ear infection. At least we caught that early and today he is feeling markedly better - antibiotics are a good thing, when you really need them.

We've been watching and talking about skiing. The plan is to take Gus to Laurel Ridge this winter and teach him how to ski in earnest - he seems ready. Today, after looking at Daddy's skis for a week, he decided to try them on for fit.

He kept saying "push, Momma, push" as I snapped the picture and he even attempted a somewhat uneven Texas Tuck.

Atta boy! We can't wait to hit the famed black diamond slopes of Western North Carolina!

Xmas in Bama

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

Due to the mysterious ways in which Apple wants us to handle pictures on iPads I've lost most of my pictures that I took over Christmas break (well, I didn't lose them, they are on my iPad, from which they refuse to move to a blog, no matter what I do). So here are the four quick snapshots I took as we all prepared to leave Alabama after a wonderful, relaxing Christmas with the entire family.
This is my kind of Alabama, balmy, blue-skyed and utterly open. I love it.

Another view from the driveway. Yep. It's that beautiful where Jacob's folks live. But you do have to drive 45 minutes for a cup of Starbucks...just to put the beauty in perspective.

The three cousins, never giving up hope that one more present could materialize somewhere among the refuse...don't worry they each got their body weight (and some of them are quite hefty) in toys.

"Really, there isn't another something wonderful and plastic in this box?"

These are a few of Gus' favorite things...

2011-11-15T12:07:00.000-08:00

"Drizzling" (we are working on not throwing ANYTHING) rocks, pepples, sand, nuts, leaves, etc. into storm drains, is one of Gus' very favorite things to do...he can do it for hours (I can tolerate it, depending on location, for the maximum of time it takes to read the front section of the New York Times...we make quite a pair out there. Him crouching on the crate, me camped out on the curb.

These are the sweet moments. Sometimes I find myself turning off the faucet or snapping shut the dishwasher and suddenly hearing Gus high voice talking quietly for his own entertainment and amusement - that's always a bonus for a child, to whom talking and communicating is not second nature - when I round the corner, I find him splayed out with a book or watching something out the window, while using every memorized phrase he can connect to the subject at hand. He does not want to be disturbed, and I try hard to respect that.

Eventhough he always looks extra cuddly in these moments.

A walk in the woods

2011-11-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's a long, sunny Saturday sans Daddy, so we headed out for a long, lazy walk behind our neighborhood, that Gus' OT (and my good friend) Anna turned us on to. So funny how we sometimes forget that the beautiful woods and vistas begin, quite literally, in our backyard. So here we are walking up Burrell Mountain.
Wait, what is Gus up to while I'm snapping away?

Gotcha! He loves to bombard me with leafes (or is it leaves, I can't remember and, for the moment, I don't care)

The view off Burrell Mountain, just as the morning fog lifts. Gus calls it "smoke" and thinks it is "spooky"...but he thinks my hair is "spooky", too...which just goes to show you that he has a way with words.

Heading down toward the creek, where we sit and throw rocks in the water...what an idyllic moment.

Biking ahead...

2011-11-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Can you see him? Well, I can, just barely, just enough to know I'm in trouble, because in the time it took me to close the hatchback on the Subaru and grab my newspaper, Gus has managed to get way far ahead of me on the bikepath...he is on a two-fold mission: To go "very fast" and to go to the playground with the "twisty slide"

Gus poses impatiently for me. Cute but focused on his goal - "very fast" and "twisty slide"

This is why I run. I have to keep up with a kid, who doesn't slow down even on the uphills.

A reminder, that posing for pictures - at least in his mind - is a waste of time. The playground is THAT WAY, Momma!

Boo!

2011-11-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

A bit belated, but here is the proof, despite a general disinterest on our family's part in all things Halloween, I managed to dress Gus up "spooky" for preschool and a subsequent brief trick-or-treat outing in the evening.
The monster-face hat was the only compromise I could think of that Gus would tolerate (he has absolutely no interest in dressing up as anything) yet wouldn't make me feel like a complete party-pooper...I felt a bit better after dropping Gus off at preschool, where exactly all girls were dressed up in store-bought princess/mermaid/fairy outfits, and the remaining boys split about even between (store-bought) superheros and (store-bought) draculas...

...at least I didn't spend any money for something that means little to any of us three.

....we are still eating the candy Gus got (he went to four houses and was done) for after meal mini-desserts...Boo!

Make a bed, and lay yourself in it

2011-10-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

Jacob had a rare day off yesterday and got inspired to build the bed of my dreams...a copy more or less of something I had spotted a while ago in an IKEA catalog...it's a simple design, nothing fancy but the shelves hidden behind the headboard are ingenious...they keep clutter that tends to accumulate around beds (especially those inhabited by book and magazine readers, noseblowers, hand-creamers and etceterares)out of sight. I've been wanting our bedroom to be an oasis of calm and simplicity...now we got it...my vision is almost finished...

...it's so wonderful to have a handy husband...I spout off things and point to internet pictures...he goes to Lowes, comes back with boards and a few hours later, voila...I have my own custom-built, Swedish (actually, Alabama)-designed bed.

I slept well last night.

Bigger than Big-Boy Bed

2011-10-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

The transformation is complete. Gus' digs - save for his baby quilt - is completely void of all nursery touches. Everything is big-boy now...actually the bed is bigger than big boy, at least in my mind. Full seems huge to me and making this bed will require daily acrobatic acts of me...just hope and pray I won't have to do it too many times in the middle of the night...

A very mellow yellow party

2011-10-02T05:31:00.000-07:00

Gus' belated birthday party went off without a hitch on a beautiful early fall day in Dupont Forest, where we met with a handful of dear friends to eat yellow cake cupcakes, drink syrup and play on decommissioned forest fire-fighting equipment. Gus had a great time with his friends and we all enjoyed a sunny afternoon outside.

Happy birthday, Gus. Now it's on to fall.

One Fast Pair!

2011-10-01T17:10:00.001-07:00

So, I do mean to brag...about us running the inaugural Asheville Airport Runway 5K...

...Jacob ran a lighting-fast 22:22 in blisteringly-cold headwind...keeping up with a handful of leggy guys, with important looking watches and other unnerving gadgets...coming in an overall 9th place and winning his age group!!!

...I missed the podium by two in my age group but finished with a strong 24:13 (or a pace of 7:59)at 46 place overall. Very happy considering my running has been erratic at best as of late.

...I'm pretty sure we were the fastest couple together....didn't see another matching set of last names that high up on the result roster...so I'm claiming that title before anyone else tries.

That was a lot of fun, Gus got to sit in a helicopter and we got two cool (and actually useable technical) race shirts.

Ahh...I love a good race now and then.

Me, Myself, Mommy and I

2011-09-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Gus and I are rarely in the same picture together, reason being that Daddy doesn't know we own a camera, plus the man so wholely lives in the moment, he doesn't ever see the necessity to capture anything for posterity. Most days I am happily employed behind the camera, but today our neighbor landlord snuck up on us and took this picture of the two of us, lazying on the swing on the front porch.

He e-mailed it to me an hour later and now here we are...even if everyone always tells me how much Gus favors Jacob...he's got a bit of me too...the proof is in the big grin.

Photo Shoot

2011-09-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

While waiting for pizza at our favorite hip eatery in Hendersonville, Gus and I amused ourselves by playing supermodel and photographer. A new outfit (though stained already, 4-year-old boys are NEVER stain free it seems)against a pictoresque fire escape on a mild sunny day and voila we are getting Gus' portfolio ready.

He's got the pout. He is working on Blue Steel, next.

For a Rainy Day

2011-09-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Gus' expression nonetheless we are excited about our birthday present from Granna & Pap, a brandnew very cozy, water-proof rain jacket that has plenty of room to grow into.

Paired with his rainboots (a present from Aunt Leah last year) Gus is armed and dangerous to any rain puddle out there.

Evening Out

2011-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

Gus and his Swiss Grandparents (Osi and Grosspape) had a great time Monday night sitting out front the garage apartment, enjoying a late-late summer evening that was just the right kind, breezy but not chilly and almost free of mosquitos.

The tan is brought to you by Destin Beach Florida by the way. The loved the white beach, restaurants, shopping, hotel and everything else and it shows.

FOUR continued again

2011-09-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Presents...presents are a lot of fun with Gus, he is always so excited and so happy to make a new friend....for this special day we picked a super-sized, maximized, giant-sized frontloader...ask Gus he knows exactly what they do...

FOUR continued

2011-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Conveniently, we gave birth to Gus on a balmy September day that always happens to always fall onto Western North Carolina's Fair week schedule...so every since he was two, he thinks we throw him a REALLY BIG party that everyone is invited to...and until he is 18 I won't tell him any different...here he is visiting one of his favorites - the fire prevention helicopter...

All alone and very brave making his way through a maze that I thought he was too little for...his Dad sided with Gus, so it was 1:2 and I lost out...he had a great time, puzzling his way through it...

Coming off the finish of the maze in style...on the second and third run-through he decided to come down alternately on his belly and back...

Riding another - smaller - helicopter with a tiny co-pilot, who was two and couldn't be trusted either...so we all just clenched up and stood ready to catch our children while they went in circles...

Ahhh the fair is a great place...Gus loves his party every year!

FOUR

2011-09-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hmm...that's not cereal...

I like this sweet breakfast by candlelight

Fine Momma, I'll blow them out...but please stop singing, OK?

Happy Fourth Birthday, son. We love you!!!

At the fair with Grosspape

2011-09-13T04:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, after weeks of waiting and talking about it, Gus is riding on the Ferris Wheel with his Grosspape...how nice of the Western North Carolina region to put on a big party, complete with rides, just for Gus' birthday...

Gus channels Easy Rider...he cried when he had to get off this one...

Gus the helicopter pilot...I sweated bullets when the thing went high up in the air....Gus cried when I pried him off this one...

He rallied nicely though, and drank lots of coke and ate 1 1/2 hot dogs while Grosspape ate a rack of ribs and cabbage...everyone was happy!

First Day of School

2011-08-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Gus ready and charged to go to preschool this morning.

Gus sitting - very reluctantly and at times barely - in group. We got our challenges cut out for us.

Gus successfully works on his first art project of the school year - a bracelet for Momma. That's Miss Bobby, his teacher, helping him.

Gus lined up with his buddy Wilder at the door the second outside play was announced...much better hearing there than for group time.

An overall very good first day. We'll go back tomorrow.

Calling in Sick

2011-08-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today was first day of school - so we decided to call in sick and go on a play journey instead...

Not really Gus has been exempted from school for another two weeks, because he is heading back for another 8 days of Tomatis therapy, but since therapy won't start until Wednesday and since I had the day off (though the laundry sat and the sink stayed full) we decided to head out on a playful journey a la Gus since it was one of those rare North Carolina breezy but sunny late summer drowsy days.

First we went to Holmes Educational State Park, a wonderful small pocket park in between Brevard and Hendersonville, where old Forest Fire weapons go to retire in a lush green, trails-framed pasture with lots of educational plaques...among Gus' favorites is a 1963 Huey Helicopter, that saw action in Vietnam and flew through many wildfires before it became a plaything and possibly Gus' very favorite object in this world.

Next we went to Pack Square, where Splashville reigns the universe of all kids who come here to cool off, while the parents get a chance to just sit and enjoy a beautiful late summer day.

I forgot to take pictures at Cafe Europe on Broadway in Asheville, where Gus ate a fabulous Banana Chocolate Cupcake, while I drank a real cup of coffee - in a porcelain cup with (!!!) saucer...lovely...Gus had a great time with the gilt framed mirrors, mugging and admiring himself while he ate his cupcake.

I also forgot to bring the camera when we stopped at the mall, where I got a few new pieces for my sluggish wardrobe, while Gus sat nicely in the stroller and chatted with the bored sales ladies...

We got a juice, then rode the escalator until we could ride no more...seriously...

...one good day...

Making Marinara

2011-08-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

I have my work cut out for me today. Making marinara sauce. All of the ingredients are home grown. Yum!

Beachside Potty Training

2011-08-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

Against all odds, predictions and expectations, Gus did fabulous with potty training on the beach, in fact, he successfully "generalized" the skill of sitting on a potty from his home bathroom to a strange bathroom and never even flinched. He got to enjoy a lollipop and a movie after each successful visit. We are now on day 17, guardedly hopeful that we are finally moving in the right direction...

Bro Dominic & I

2011-08-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

All gussied up and ready to go out for a night in Charleston

Dominic and his cool rental ride. We enjoyed tooling around in this burgundy beauty.

Edisto Beach Day 5 & 6 or so

2011-08-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

Gus would have swum to Cuba if we had let him.

Gus and Jacob snuggle on the couch on a break from the beach.

Jacob enjoys a sandwich for apres-beach snack in the lazyboy

Gus rides his bike home from our afternoon beach trip

Edisto Beach Day 3 & 4

2011-08-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

A school of dolphins (or is it gaggle?) swam lazily along the beach as everyone scrambled for cameras and camcorders.

Gus and Jacob in the water

More wave dashing

Gus takes a moment out from wave dashing (his favorite thing to do on the beach) to pose for Mommy

Edisto Beach Day 1 & 2

2011-08-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Lunch stop at McDonalds somewhere near Columbia. Gus and Dominic ham it up for me.

Gus gets reaquainted with the beach with his favorite boat in hand.

He shrieked so happily when that first wave hit him.

Apres-Beach fun a la Gus: Find a golf cart and pretend it's yours, then strike a pose that's vintage Robert Redford.

Gus' favorite week of the summer

2011-07-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

Pap and Granna came for a week-long visit in July and boy, do the pictures tell the story of how much Gus enjoyed his summer staycation with his grandparents.

We've been practicing looking into the camera and smiling, but these shots are genuine Gus.
They make me very happy.

Beautiful

2011-07-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Fresh from the Bahnson Family Garden (which I'm blessed enough to be near)a gaggle (school? pile? den? bunch?) of red, white and blue potatos that make me want to run out and buy an artisan hand-potted bowl to serve in, because they look so precious to me.

I love summer for it's hard-working, goal-oriented nature. Make stuff and put it out there. My kind of season.

So big, such a boy!

2011-07-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Proud to show off his new boy haircut and a new pair of shorts from Osi, these cover the knees, which is nice we realize.

Yep, feeling stylish and working the camera, "cheese" is the operative word...

OK, Momma that's enough

Momma? Momma? Are you in there?

I know I'm so handsome and you can't get enough pictures of me.

Happy Fourth!

2011-07-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

Gus loved the fireworks, which we watched from an abandoned loft fire escape/stairway that intrepid Jacob found on a whim...we had a good view...save for a few powerlines...proud of how well my camera captured the fireworks...happy Fourth to everyone!

Two Brothers for Gus

2011-07-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

We've been fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of a Swiss family staying up the street with a neighbor of ours. Sons, Lupino, 11, and Livio, 9, have been a great addition to our outings to the forest as both love to swim in wild lakes and don't mind a bit of mud and muck in the least.

Gus adores these two and works hard to stay just a foot or so behind them. He even seeks to hold Livio's hand as we walk and hike places...very sweet.

Danke, Osi, fuer's Paeckli

2011-07-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Danke vielmal, Osi, fuer's liebe Paeckli. Ich han mich ueber's Feuerwehr T-shirt sehr gfreut. Alles liebi und en grosse Schmatz vom Gus.

Two Boys, Wow!

2011-07-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

Rion came to play with Gus this morning and early afternoon and it was non-stop fun. We kept moving from the front yard to the backyard, to the garden patch, back to the porch swing and back...endless, leisurely circles for the sole purpose of play and fun and discovery.

They were so much fun to watch, such good buds who compliment each other well.

First Day

2011-07-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

First Day as a full-time firefighter with the Hendersonville City Fire Department! Think of him today, please. I don't know what to pray for...lots of exciting calls or a calm quiet day to settle in...take your pick...he'll likely get some of both...

So handsome with such a brave heart.

Goldilocks no more

2011-06-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm stilling wringing my hands, but the haircut given by Daddy was in order and went over without major incident for the most part.
Voila, I present to you, my almost-grown son, Gus.
I can' believe how different he looks.
So big and boyish.
Surprise.
Where, where has my baby gone?

Best Buds

2011-06-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Gus is very fortunate to have a best friend in Rion, whose Momma, Heather, also happens to be one of my best friends. These two match each other very well in temperament, energy level and feistiness - often to our consternation, outmatching us.
I took these shots on the way to the shoals where we have a weekly standing date with hordes of other Mommas and their little boys and girls to splash in the shallow water, enjoy a brisk walk in the forest and eat a snack together while we all socialize, far from work, traffic, to dos and other stuff that daily life seems to be too often made of.

Gus and Rion were having a great time riding together in a one-seater and cheering me on to go faster and faster on the gravely road....quite a load especially on the uphills! The sweet thing for me to see was that not only was Rion holding on for dear life, but Gus, too, had a protective arm around Rion, and was concerned to let him go once the ride came to an end.

Sweet. Little boys...despite the dirt, the tantrums, the endless likes and dislikes...they are so sweet.

2011-06-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you Pap and Granna for another action-filled weekend...your home is a haven for little boys.

Road Trip!

2011-06-22T05:40:00.000-07:00

"To infinity and beyond"

"hmm fruit cup from Chick-a-Filet"

Afternoon Nap

"Almost there! Looking for Pap's barn"

Gus was a champ this past weekend, spending 6 hours each way to journey from Brevard to Locust Fork, Alabama and back. He is and remains the best traveler kid I've ever been around.

D is for Daddy

2011-06-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

They are so alike in so many ways and complement each other in so many other ways that I often feel like the third wheel, the odd man out, the one left out of the circle...in a good way...I marvel at how they are similar they are down to their genetic core and see the world in a color scheme that is just a few hues off from mine. Gus adores and loves his Daddy (one of the first letters he learned was D because it is for Daddy) and the feeling is very mutual as Jacob is that one individual in Gus' life who isn't trying to "fix him" whenever the chance arises, but instead, simply let's him be the person that he is.
They are a perfect match for each other. A good Son for a good Dad and a good Dad for a good Son.
Happy Father's Day to a man who elevates the meaning of Fatherhood each day to new highs.

A restful place

2011-06-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Jacob's been working hard to finish our bedroom, which has been in the works since Christmas...I now for the first time in four years have a bedroom closet...a place to hang and stack clothes and shoes (especially Jacob's Imelda Marcos-sized collection of footwear). It's been heavenly and has made folding laundry a fun venture - almost.

Over the past week, Jacob's been plastering and painting the walls and fixed up the baseboards, which in a 110-plus-year-old house is akin to a day of puzzling math problems, not a single 90 degree angle to work with, but he's got it done.

Check out my "feature wall" (yes, I watch too many decorating shows on my computer) it's called "lounge singer" and I loved it just based on that name...it's a beautiful muddy grey that seems to go with everything and make everything look more relaxed and stylish....which is exactly the theme I'm going for: Spartan, Simple, Relaxed, Uncluttered, Clean.

I can't wait to sleep in here again.

Next up. Jacob is building us a custom bed...it may hang from the ceiling by ropes, or be on stilts or feature cement, but whatever he does it will be beautiful and a pleasure to look at every day.

Did I mention I can't wait to sleep in here again?

First Day of Summer Break!

2011-06-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

It's Gus' first day of summer, as he said good-bye to some dear - bigger - friends at preschool who will not be returning in the fall, but go on to kindergarten...since that's still two years away for us, we decided to spend the first day off doing whatever felt good...like go floating in an inner tube with our friends, Heather and Rion, disappear - temporarily - when our mothers weren't catching up fast enough, though Heather tried, and earlier this afternoon, Gus strapped on an apron and helped me bake blueberry muffins...well he mostly liked the apron and being near the sink...but he did do some measuring and mixing...aside from looking adorably cute...maybe he'll be the next cute TV chef...although I don't see him yell at some poor underlings or charm random people at grocery stores into taking him home to cook for them....

The muffins are yummy though, and Gus is soundly napping...

...sweet summer is here.

What a Smile

2011-06-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

One more from the floating in the river session. Just because he smiled so big and looked so straight at me. This makes my heart leap with joy.

Floating Along

2011-06-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as temperatures lazily hovered in the mid-80s, we decided to cool off drastically and quick, we loaded up the Jeepster with an inner tube (this spells a good time, if your name is Jacob) and tooled on down to Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest - that's right, we live just two stumbles from this beauty and we go wallow in it every chance we get.

Gus loves the inner tube and I love watching him and Jacob playing in and around it...until they get in the currents where things get a bit too dynamic for my taste...but of course, that's what makes my two men-hearts go pitter-patter and makes them want to do it again and again...needless to say we brought a innertube, but left anything useful and safe (such as towels or Gus' swim vest) at home.

We were shivering by the time we were done, and stayed nice and cool for the rest of the day.

Summer is such a treat around here!

Making a splash in the big city

2011-05-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Gus and I had an appointment with TEACCH (an autism program that teaches parents educate their kids for life) so we decided to make an afternoon of it in Asheville, the "big city" about 40 minutes from Brevard.
Asheville is funny. There's a bumper sticker that says "Keep Asheville weird" and that pretty much sums this town up, I think. If you stand at any street corner in Asheville, you are bound to look out of place if you are simply wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers - unless you sport a tatoo..if you don't have one of those you are definitely in the minority.
Anyways, while stand at your street corner of choice you will be able to experience everything from grey braids, hippy flouncy skirts, robes, Indian sitars, gay insignias, chanting, tribal tats, piercings and lots and lots of other dramatic ways of self-expression.
Asheville, is all organic, all PC, all recycled and repurposed, respectful of all that is different to such a degree that normal is the new minority.
It's a trip. And if you can I highly recommend it. It is an endless bounty in people and stuff watching.
One of Asheville's premier sights, however, is Splashville, which sits right smack in front of the county court house and catty corner to the Asheville Fire Station in a beautifully appointed park named Pack Square.

I don't know anything about Splashville other than that it is a ton of fun, easy and completely free. Gus spent two hours running through the jets of water (they turn on and off in a seemingly unpredictable manner, sometimes sending the kids on a wild goose chase, othertimes "surprising" an unsuspecting kid or parent to the great delight of everyone that is camped out around.
I met a Dad, who wrapped his Brand-name wifebeater shirt around his head to get relief from his great head of dreadlocks, whose daugher, Sunny, took a liking to Gus - whether he liked her back or no. I met a Mom with more tatoos than I have shoes, whose toddler daughter's name was Lutz (I asked, just to make sure, that's the spelling..."interesting" I said in my brightest intonation) I met a Mom, who immediately began sharing her favorite yoga teacher and studios with me (my arm muscles make people think I do more sun salutations than I ever actually do...it's a nice problem to have), and I met a Dad, who made the Middle-East Process sound so boring, I wanted to go end it all (that one I only had to listen to, he wasn't talking to me but a friend, who looked as bored as I felt).

Sun-tired we took a little walk around town, ate hormone-free, happy and grass-fed food at a local eatery and then met our TEACCH team for an evening of making and talking about box skills.

Our big city is a hoot - from every angle.

This is how we play

2011-05-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

My hair wants to live on the beach and I - sometimes - want to live in a big city. Sometimes I wish I had two or three children (but the same husband) Sometimes I miss snow and mountains you can ski on, but then on a lazy, sweltering Monday afternoon I'm reminded of all that I have right here:
A beautiful, funny, energetic only child, who is game for any adventure I propose.
Trees galore. Healthy ones to look at, climb on, breathe in. Old dead ones to play on, slide on, hug and simply marvel at.
A State Forest so big and varied you can get lost in it any day and not worry one bit about how to come out (if ever)
Waterfalls, waterfalls, waterfalls. In fact we have so many, that I can hardly be pursued to stop and look at it unless it is at least 3-stories high and running good. I don't consider those stair-stepping water tumble affairs anything spectacular and I'm not pulling my camera out for a drizzle of water.

This is Gus' favorite hike. Moore Cove. Today he hiked (or ran, skipped and darted) the entire 1.5 mile loop on his own (I just carried the Ergo as a fashion accessory) it is lined with bridges, as it follows an enchanted little brook along huge boulders to this stunner of a waterfall that is accessible from 360 degrees and backed by a pictoresque overhanging wall of rock.

It is here that I commit to buying a better camera every time, then return with my point and shoot to get frustrated because I can't capture the athmosphere exactly.

You have to be there to feel it. It's magical.

Take Over

2011-05-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

Psst...I have to type VERY QUIETLY because the intruders are asleep, but would someone please come and rescue me before these two blond, blue-eyed monsters ruin my home completely and eat me alive???

I'm kidding - of course - what I really mean to say is that Gus and his friend, Argo, are both asleep, and I just spent 30 minutes putting the house back together and screwing my head back on.

I don't know how all you Mommas of two and more ever do it, ever! I don't know, I only know that I have had so much fun this morning and got absolutely nothing done (well I did bake a cake and deliver it to my friend, Aleshka - Argo's Mom - at the hospital where she is celebrating a new baby AND her birthday) but beyond that I did NOTHING, though I never sat down, never ate, never touched my coffee, never stopped talking and never stopped either kissing booboos, wiping noses (or butts) changing diapers or changing outfits (on them, I'm still wearing whatever looked clean yesterday).

Wow, now it is naptime and I'm toasting a bagel and starting my day (the hair!!! I can't believe I went out looking like that???!!!)

The boys are so sweet together and so playful, give them anything, ANYTHING...a straw a shovel, a stick...and they have a good time playing off of each other...

I think Argo is really enjoying this two-kid thing (only kidding again, he is a really happy member of a family of six)

But a little extra attention is always a treat.

Wow.

While I was out (at the beach)

2011-05-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

I spent a long weekend on Folly Beach with 14 or 15 of my dearest girlfriends (I lost count at some point, but you get the picture, there were A WHOLE LOT of us) and had a blast.
Yoga with wave noise in the background (and pigeon cooing in the foreground), long runs on the beach before sunrise, lolligagging in a beach chair with iddle talk that I either inserted myself in or let just wash over me, happy hour that lasted 6 hours or longer....delicious dinners, wonderful buffets, lots of laughter, too much hillariousness, ralleys to go see the historic lighthouse, an exploratory bike ride with a friend I never get to spend time with....I can go on and on...

It was AWESOME...good for the soul, good for the heart...and I even got a tan along the way.

When I returned I found that my bedroom had been redone.

That's right. Extreme Home Makeover must have come to my house while I was at the beach. Actually, Jacob pulled off a big surprise beautifully, letting me believe that he and Gus were going to Alabama for the weekend, when in fact he transferred Gus to Granna and Pap in Atlanta, hurried back and with the help of a good friend, finished the long-pined-for closet and even plastered two walls. The room looks wonderful and I can see the finish line in sight.

I spent all yesterday evening "moving into my closet" and then standing in front of it and adoring it...it's amazing how much you can want one when you live without one for 3 or so years...

Gus had a great time in Alabama and came back bigger and with more words. He made quite a show out of the Krispy Kreme doughnut and hat that I brought him as a "souvenir"

I feel so blessed.

Smelling the Roses

2011-05-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

They are my pride and joy, inherited with the house and completely untamed by me, but I baby them with the odd banana peel now and then.
Jacob's birthday and Mother's Day always seems to be about the time my roses bloom. It's an overnight thing and it fills me with such joy, I don't have the words to describe it. They are so tender, so beautiful, so fragrant without being too perfumey...they are perfect as far as my mind can grasp perfection.

Unrivaled, un-fussed with beauty, right here on my front porch.

Now if I could only get my macro setting to work right...it always shows the leaves better than the bloom.

Happy Birthday!

2011-05-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

Thirty-three years in the making...and - yes I am partial - only getting better with each passing year.

A very happy - understated by his own wish - birthday to my husband,the strongest, smartest, funniest and simply most amazing man I know.

We know you hung the moon, rigged up the scaffolding for it out of whatever was lay around and then proceeded to make it a fun endeveaor for everyone involved...because that's the kind of man you are.

We are starting the day with cake and plan to finish it with cake, too.

Where does he get it from?

2011-05-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

So.
Gus is really doing a number on me these day. Aside from the No. 2 (which has yet to go in the potty, but goes anywhere else at any time of the day now) he today began entertaining the preschool teachers with new words. Words that they had to repeat to me in hushed tones right by the door. He's already regaled them with all kinds of words for excrements (which he gets from all his poopie books and movies) as well as a couple of words he uses for certain parts of the female anatomy, which is payback for me nursing him until he was two.

I've heard from other parents before that your kid will embarass you someday by repeating things at school that are not meant for the general public, however, Gus in his trademark I-will-top-that fashion has added a twist to it.

He says words we don't say, never have, whose origin I'm simply not sure of.

Preschool teacher (by the door, looking worried and curious) says in a whiper: "Gus cussed today."
Me: "Oh really. What did he say?"
Preschool teacher (looking over her shoulder to the backup teacher for agreement): "He said damn."
Me: "Damn? We don't say damn at home, are you sure he is saying damn?"
Teachers in unison "Oh yes, he said it several times."
Me (now looking puzzled) "Well, I guess we'll tell him not to say that, but I honestly don't know where he would have that from."
Teachers (now both cornering me by the door): "He also kept saying divorce, divorce."
Me: (now mildly worried and at the same time looking for a candid camera hint but to no avail): "That's not a word we use either, and it's not in any of his books and I'm pretty sure Elmo doesn't say it either."
Teachers (all three looking sufficiently worried now): "Well that's what it sounded like"
Me: (now feeling defensive without wanting to): "We are not getting divorced nor would we say that word in front of him."

I made a quick exit after that (with Gus' poopie undies in a knotted plastic bag in hand and Gus in hasty tow)

Where does he get that from?
Really, no one he knows is getting divorced.
And I don't cuss. Ever. Neither does his Daddy.
Though right now I want to say a bad word.
But I won't.
I can't wait for the next "word surprise" he dishes up.

2011-05-01T13:52:00.001-07:00

This is a close-up of one of my heirloom tomato starts (it's a Green Zebra to be exact). When I started them in March I had 36 and at first they were my pride and joy. They were easy, some water, some sun, soon they peeked out. I congratuled myself for being so resourceful, growing them from seeds harvested from my heirloom tomato plants from last year. I pictured myself generously giving them to friends and family and plant a half dozen myself.

I knew nothing then of heating mats, 16-hour growing lights and a rigid and very fussy fertilizer and watering schedules.

In other words, I was too dumb to know better.
Six weeks later, I have less than 16 plants left and at the present rate of artrition I will have maybe enough to plant for myself, at which point I will have to defend these fickle things against the elements, pesky critters and plenty of pests. They die mysterious and tragic deaths, looking limb one minute and positively strawy-dead the next, all despite the fact that I faithfully carry them inside overnight and place them lovingly in the sun during the day, water them with the care I usually only afford to my beloved, and I feed them on a schedule I consider both ludicrious and prissy.

I want to admit that I should just tip them into the compost pile and go buy myself a half dozen heirloom starts, it would safe me a lot of time and effort, but apparently I'm a sucker for disapointment, and since potty training is going so well - not - I might as well grow my own tomato plants...

I love spring though. I love the season of growing things that will later nurture me and my family. I want to. I really do. And if one of these prima donnas survives and bears fruit. I'm going to make a BIG DEAL out of it. I will EAT IT and ENJOY IT!!!

And next year I'm high-tailing it to the farmers' market for some starts that have outgrown the fussy stage.[

Potty Training Immersion Week Starts!

2011-04-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Just a brief harried note to say that we are commencing the "Great Experiment" also known as potty boot camp or Spring Break in the Toilet or whatever other bad pun my frazzled mind can come up with.

I'm hoping to keep a daily diary, so if you are interested, want to support me, or know someone who might benefit from reading my daily dispatches go to purzelbaumlein.blogspot.com

Wet & Wild

2011-04-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

Spring may be here to stay, but the Davidson River continues to run icy cold - a fact that does not disuade Gus, who after a bit of indulging me with some tame wading and rock skipping, decided to turn the fun-o-meter up a couple of notches and make an escape for the deep.

See those pant legs? They each weighed about a pound once they were properly soaked, again not slowing down my mini braveheart who proceeded to clamber up a huge downed tree and simply hurl himself into the icy stream. I spent a split-second deciding whether to rescue him or simply document it all for posterity. I opted to fish him out, hence no picture of the quixotic Gus event of the day.

So we return home not for the first time from a "hike" with a ball of wet clothes in the back and a still delighted Gus riding in his booster seat sans a stitch of clothing. He is a pure adventurer at heart and a nudist in the making.

He knows how to live and he won't let a bit of goosebumpy skin get in the way of it.

A is for Autism

2011-04-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have not been truthful with you for almost one year now. It’s been a heavy burden to carry and I'm finally ready to unload it.
April is Autism Speaks month, and - the sad irony is not lost on me- it was in April one year ago that we began the heart-breaking process of having Gus evaluated for a series of tell-tale signs of this puzzling and utterly confounding disorder.
By June – after a gut-wrenching, stressful and at times humiliating battery of tests - we had an affirmative diagnosis and since then Gus has become a busy little boy with an individual education plan that grants him a special education spot in a 5-day morning preschool, as well as occupational and speech therapy.
Autism is a neurological disorder affecting boys and to a growing degree girls. It presents itself with a variety of symptoms between the age of 2 to 3. Though first described in the 1940s and heavily researched and popularized in the past 10 years, the exact causes of Autism are not known and at this point are believed to be a combination of genetic abnormalities and environmental triggers. It affects a child’s ability to function in our society, manifesting itself in a brain and nervous system that has trouble sorting, decoding and processing the millions of sensory messages we face in every instance of our daily lives.
At age 3, Gus has tested at the high-functioning end of the spectrum that is Aspergers-Autism. He will be re-tested throughout his school career and may move up or down on the spectrum.
Gus has many of the tell-tale markers and is far off the range for neuro-normal functioning children at his age: He has some trouble with eye-contact, pronounced echolalia (endless repeat of memorized phrases) amazing rote memory, a stunted ability to report or answer questions spontaneously, as well as a tendency to wanting to be alone and play alone.
As for the good news, Gus also displays some innate skills and early achievements that other kids with Autism struggle with their entire lives. He loves being affectionate and seeks physical contact, he is not shy and enjoys telling jokes he has memorized. He is a mini-braveheart when it comes to dealing with unforeseeable events and he also tests at the level of a 5-year-old when it comes to physical mile markers, neither suffering from loss of balance nor fine/gross motor disabilities. He loves animals, being active outdoors and learning new skills, which he masters with an uncanny and un-childlike tenacity. Most of all, he is verbal – though he talks only in tested phrases and haltingly, he talks and likes to talk - I’m grateful to God for his words every day.
For the first six months on this sad path, I didn’t sleep more than 4 hours at a time. Thoughts of a lonely, peculiar, young man, named Gus, forming in my mind. Feeling jealous of everyone else’s "normal" child, feeling guilty for wanting to change my child, feeling sad – simply very sad.
I now sleep a little more reliably with the help of some melatonin. The trick is to stay asleep, if I wake up in the middle of the night I’ve lost the fight and spend a day feeling weepy and vulnerable, and worried that I’m a lousy mom.
I run really early after those nights, seeking relief in the mindless pounding of my legs, letting my mind wander to happier days and hoping that the adrenaline will carry me through at least part of the day.
In the past 12 months, I have gone through too many moments of humiliation to count, most unintentionally, but a few leaving me simply too stumped to comprehend. One of the worst came when a doctor, though decorated with many impressive degrees and distinctions, but also outfitted with an amazingly apropos lack of bedside manners, informed me that I should have my genes mapped if we planned to have more children – on the way home I could feel the radio-active sludge that is my genetic material course around my reproductive system. I’m still working through that one, all the while wondering what could have possibly possessed that man to say something so insensitive to parents who have just found out their child will have a life-long disorder.
I have trouble reading books or watching TV shows or movies featuring individuals with Autism. There is a long reading list that has been recommended to me. I dread it and leave it untouched, I’m an unapologetic and uninformed mother of a child with Autism, owing up to this fact is the best I can do.
I try to ignore news reports about immunization or untested wonder drugs or overly restrictive diets. We tried the gluten-free, casein-free thing. We didn’t see a difference other than in our grocery budget. I step lightly around anything I see or hear where the word “Autism” is paired with the word “cure” since it all seems to be the product of some equally desperate parent somewhere who has latched on to something with a fanaticism that scares me.
On bad days I feel singled out – 149 neuro-normal children, then Gus, then another 149 neuro-normal children, at least that’s the current statistic -will have that effect on you, trust me. I try to hold my head up high and steel my mind, but setbacks are as frequent as they are unpredictable and painful. Misguided interactions with those around us weaken my spirits on a continuous basis.
I brace myself every day to tell another person - or six or 10 – of Gus’ diagnosis, trying to put on a mild smile that signals that I’m tough enough to deal with it. The reactions run the gamut from tired clichés to heart-felt sympathy; “Special” is a loaded word in my world. I don’t feel special, regardless of how many people insist that I am. I would give my writing hand to be ordinary again. I’m not special, I just don't have a choice. I would love to have one of those not-special children – and I feel deeply guilty for wanting that.
Most people want to focus on how good we seem. How good Gus seems, how good the therapies must be going, how wonderful everything seems. I try to indulge them, but on a crappy day that seems like adding much too much insult to my injury. I’m constantly taken aback by how everyone expects me to be upbeat. I wonder why do I have to make others feel better about my predicament, shouldn’t it be the other way around? I’m starting to dread chance encounters, telephone calls and meeting up with friends, because it all seems like a never-ending curtain call for me to rouge my dark moods a fake pink simply for the benefit of others. I'm still a sad clown when the show is over. Yes, we may seem great, but who can I tell that Gus has swatted me point-blank in the face twice last week, for reasons not yet determined, but leaving me in tears nevertheless? Who can I go to when I’m all out of ideas about potty training, faced with a child who has officially outsmarted me and every book I've read? I don’t want to talk to another mother of a child with Autism - that seems like a waste of time and an excercise in mutual pain to me.One autism professional I’ve met recently said to me “if you know one child with Autism, you know one child with Autism.” It is so true as I’m finding so preciously little to compare Gus to and mountains of information, tips, tricks and suggestions that do not apply to us. It seems like the disorder itself tries to isolate us.
I’ve been told repeatedly that I’m not alone in this, yet this struggle to be socially graceful and truthful at the same time feels very lonely to me.
There are so many other stumbling blocks in my daily life: Photos of Gus when he could still look straight into a lens and smile. The well-meaning mother suggesting a play date eventhough her son is visibly bored with Gus. The proud father at the playground, who won’t shut up about how developmentally-advanced his little daughter is. The many well-meant “you must read this/see this or that” or “Didn’t Einstein have Autism?” The family get-togethers, birthday parties, doctor visits, holidays, haircut appointments, photo ops, the play dates that leave me depressed. The thought that Gus will be ridiculed in elementary school, bullied in middle school and – at best – ignored in high school. The thought that I will never stop having these thoughts. The thought that these thoughts are driving me crazy.
As you can tell, I’m not at peace with the diagnosis - not yet, maybe never.
I struggle to know what God’s intentions are for a child who has trouble relating in a world that is all about facebook, twitter and social networking. I’m at a loss there and have no answers – not yet, maybe never. Pray for me if you can. I’m not losing my faith, but I struggle with my purpose in life and with Gus’.
I mourn the loss of that sweet innocence of childhood that I so enjoyed with Gus. For two years, everything was possible and nothing was bad or wrong or wasted. Everything new was funny and wonderful. Now everything is either progress or distress or just plain and simple stress. I catch myself following Gus around with a mental clip board, ticking off the good, the bad and the ugly so I can disect it later. I so miss that carefree time and wonder if I didn’t appreciate it enough. Didn’t relish it enough. Didn’t thank God for it enough.
The best part of my day are the hours I spend alone with Gus – hiking, reading, learning numbers and letters, going to physical therapy, running errands. We are a good team together. He is funny, easy-going, affectionate, playful, fearless, an eager student and adventurous play buddy. Most of all – unlike me – he is thoroughly unconcerned with what others may think or say with words or looks. I pray that he stays that way for a long time. I dread the time when he’ll notice that others judge him.
Those carefree afternoons are the times when I daydream of moving us to a remote location leaving all those pesky social to-dos behind us. We could simply focus on us and Gus. I know someday he will have to live on his own or at least without us, so we wouldn’t do him a service removing him from society. Still, it’s tempting whenever Gus turns to me with one of those luminous smiles that is meant for me - and only me.
When you’re 12 months in, people subtly begin to suggest that you move on and pull yourself together, find those boot straps and heartily yank on them and roll up those sleeves while you’re at it. I, do that with Gus every day. I work hard with him and for him and use all my positive energy to urge him on to do an endless list of things that don't come easy to him. As for the me-moving-on I can’t do it. Simply can’t. This diagnosis is so much bigger than me, I haven’t got the strength or wisdom to stand up to it completely and break through it – not yet, maybe never.
I’m profoundly sorry for not ending this on an uplifting note. Yes, there are many improvements and achievements and I thank God every day for the husband I have, a man who sees Gus as perfect and treats him accordingly, a man who loves us both and keeps our family strong and makes our lives fun. I am also deeply grateful for family and friends who have tried and sometimes found the right words and stuck by me even though I’m an unpredictable mess of feelings and reactions. I’m not as much fun as I used to be, but I have people who care about me regardless and I’m grateful for that.
So this is my half-cheery attempt at a closing. If you care about us, take time this month and do/say something nice to someone affected by Autism. Run a race, buy a tote bag, slap a sticker on your bumper or borrow a book from the library and educate yourself. Moreover make it a point to compliment a haggard looking parent with an out-of-control or odd-behaving child – he/she may not have Autism – but there are plenty of parents who are defenseless and gravely wounded in the crosshairs of the ignorant. I know that from personal experience: The tsk –ing from the old woman at the grocery store or the stares from other mothers at the playground. I fantasize about the bumper stickers and T-shirts I’m printing “He has autism, what’s your problem?” or “Autism is the new normal” or “He has a diagnosis of Autism diagnosis, You are just plain ignorant”, but then again, would that mean anything to them?
So make someone feel less judged, less special. Do it, help us, help others. Thank you.
I will continue to write about Gus and our lives with Autism, but I’m going to move these thoughts to a different blog at http://purzelbaumlein.blogspot.com. Go there if you want to know more, stay here if you want to see us - a family first, a family affected by Autism second.
Thank you for reading along with me.

Critter & Cares

2011-03-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

One of the true axioms in my life - pardon me I can't resist using one of my hard-earned GRE words - is that if stuff hits the fan it's in the form of a mudslide...

...so in the past week, I learned that moths had taken over my pantry, where I like to keep food stuff, not critters. After a little online searching I inured - ha! Another GRE jewel - myself to the following facts: That I would have to throw out everything edible, disasemble the shelving, bleach it, wipe down the walls and every nook and cranny, twice with white vinegar, put the shelving back in, buy new dry food...and..oh...$70 worth of air-tight containers...and still live with another 6 months or so of the pesky creatures...

I got it done. It wasn't pretty - as you can see in the picture I took when a brief breather - and now our pantry is semi-moth free...I kill the ones that still show up with a wooden spoon, it's my new hobby...open the door quickly, shine into the corners with my handy flashlight and unleash havoc with my spoon...

...in the meantime, I've managed to launder Jacob's iPod (it's clean now..except it doesn't work anymore), break a saucer from my rapidly diminishing wedding china, forget all my bank online passwords - again!!! - and let Gus water my fragile tomato seedlings..
...I'm about out of stupid things to do...

A is for Alligator

2011-03-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

We have been working on the Alphabeth for the last several weeks, so Gus was very excited to find an "A is for Alligator" in a mailed surprise from Granna & Pap from New Orleans.

He likes it, except what are those pointy white things in its mouth? We fed it a cookie (after Momma demonstrated that it could eat Gus' beloved Gordon Engine) and it likes it just as much as the Cookie Monster...

...thank you for the sweet letter too.

Bubble Bath

2011-03-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

Like any Mom I'm quick on the trigger of my video camera (well, it's just my digital camera) but I try to consider the victims - you - so more often than not I refrain from posting video clips, but this one I couldn't resist...partly because we watched it only a gazillion times in the mere 10 minutes since we downloaded it....

...ready? One, two, three!!!

Spring Come and Stay!

2011-03-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Gus has discovered trees and their many useful ways, thanks in no small part to Curious George. So now I have a human-monkey on my hands, one who likes to climb fences, trees, cars and swing from his tire swing at a rate that makes me want to sit down and put my head between my knees...

Oh...and he's grown at least 2 inches overnight.

Daddy is back!

2011-03-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

They are so alike: aloof yet intensly loyal, quiet and calm yet sharply observant and intelligent...I could go on and on, but really, what I mean to say is that we are so happy to have Jacob/Daddy back here after a week-long absence. Gus has missed his adult counterpart as he showed in his need to be near Daddy once he was back in within his reach. He even went to the bathroom with Daddy - willingly!

Three is our magic number!

Girlfriends

2011-03-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

A recent study - I forget it was either Harvard or Yale or some other ivy-covered place of intense examination - praised the measurable health benefits of girlfriends. It struck me as one of those duh-studies you read and wonder why anyone has to even study what we all know to be self-evident truth and moreoever who is paying for this scientific folly...???

...well, whatever the answers are, girlfriends are wonderful to acquire and to have and to fall back on. I've been charmed all my life to meet and get to know some amazing girls and women, who have walked with me for a while or are still walking with me mile after mile of this life. I'm still surprised at myself, for having them in the first place. I've always had an easier time making friends with men and have always felt uncomfortable around large groups of women, but I'm finding out in middle-life that a select group of a few is a true treasure to cherish

Yesterday evening I hosted a sit-down potluck with my Brevard contingent of girlfriends, over wonderful salads, an old-fashion fondue and wine, we giggled, gossiped and spun deep philosophical nets around complicated issues all within three breaths with that ease that only comes when you are comfortable in each others' company and have nothing to compete for.

I love it. It recharges my soul. It is good for my health. I can feel it. So go ahead and study me.

A sight of Spring

2011-02-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

I adore my winter jasmine...one was given to me as a parting gift from my friend Alston and her hubby Nick, who rented our house before we bought it, and the other came along soon thereafter, I can't remember from whom and why. What I do remember is they didn't look like much to me that September and really for most of the year I wrestle with the stubborn shoots trying to train them up my porch stairs and feel little love for this very diligent grower in my puny landscaping plan, but today they remind me that all can be well with just a bit of warmth and sunshine.

Aren't they glorious? I'm so longing for the mild days of spring...and though I know my winter jasmine is aptly named because it'll snow on them at least one more time, the simple forethought of spring makes me pause and smile.

The Best Baby Blanket Ever!

2011-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

I haven't done many tutorials - in fact, I don't think I've ever done one - and I mostly make things out of curiosity only once to try to fiure out how it works and if I can do it and then I let it go and don't care to make it again, but this baby blanket is a keeper and because it is so easy, so cheap and so super cute, I'm going to try my best to spread the word. This idea by the way is not an original of mine (I wish) rather I saw this blanket on a cute little boy named David, whose auntie made him one. I think her name is Molly - credit where credit is due.

This project takes a day flat or two afternoons, take your pick, it requires virtually no knowledge of anything crafty (yes, even my dear friend, Heather - if held at gun point - could make this) and done in pairs or even a set of three, this could be a perfect group-gathering shower gift to make for a new Momma in need of many cuddly, warm swaddle blankets. Seriously, if a half dozen women get together they can crank this blanket and a few more out in a single sitting, while chatting and drinking wine.

Here is what you need:
- 1 yard of a cute cotton print
- 1 yeard of coordinating flannel
- 6 yards of embroidery silk (or floss, if that's what you must call it)
- 1 packet of pins
- 1 ruler the longer the better (better yet a cutting mat but not neccessary)
- 1 sharp pair of scissors
- 1 embroidery needle
- 1 pencil
- 1 iron and board
- Optional: Fabric glue or fusing band

TOTAL COST (rough estimate) $20

Here is what you do:
1. Buy, gather all the materials

2. Prewash the 2 yards of fabric, together on a cold setting with a baby-friendly detergent

3. Dry them and iron them

4. Cut the two pieces of fabric into two perfect squares of 36 inches each side (this is trickier than it sounds, work slowly, measure twice before cutting, make sure you have 90 degree angles and control by folding it into triangles to make sure they are perfect squares, also - duh - make sure both pieces are EXACTLY the same size)

5. Take measuring stick and measure 1 inch and mark all around on each piece on the WRONG side

6. Fold edges to the 1 inch mark all around and iron the folds, voila 1/2 inch seam allowance!

7. Make hospital bed corners. Unfold the corners and fold the upper fold into a triangle in. Iron down. Make sure no rough edges show to the outside (see pictures)

8. Spray of lay a bit of fusing under the ironed down edges to hold in place. Iron down. I don't do this because it makes the edges a bit stiff, but if you feel handicapped this is perfectly fine to do.

9. Pin the two pieces together, the ironed down (and glued or fused down) edges facing each other.

10. Cut 1 1/2 yard of embroidery silk (floss) divide the strand into two (there will be three individual little strands in each strand you create) this is a bit tricky to do but with some patience and a lot of fussing and untwirling you'll be fine.

11. Thread one strand into embroidery needle and make a knot in one end, insert the needle in one corner BETWEEN the two layers (to hide the knot) and make your first neat litle stitch about a 1/4 inch from the edge. I call this a mattress stitch a simple through both fabrics out one side, back to the other side sort of stitch. You could do different ones if you wanted but I'm finding the simpler the cuter and the more fun for everyone. These stitches don't have to be super straight or uniform (that would be boring and store-bought looking) but they have to be fairly snug and you have to make sure that you grab all four layers of fabric in each stitch.

12. Make stitches all the way to the next corner, darn in the remaining silk (that's two tiny stitches in between the layers that can't be easily seen, snip off the remainder silk and start anew (or let another friend take a turn, ideally two or even three people should be able to work on the same blanket if it is laid out on a table.

Voila! A super cute, super soft, super cuddly baby blanket.

Sweet Saturday

2011-02-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

We've been so busy lately that it seems like a special occasion when all three of us are in a room together. Hence, this photo op of my two favorite guys in coordinating grey sweats cuddling on the couch.

I love them.

Little Feet Going Big Time

2011-01-29T10:52:00.000-08:00

These are the adorable feet of our littlest, newest addition to the greater Dinkins family - Jude Twilley - in my newest creation duckie booties. They are a pain to make, but so worth it when you take just one look at these pictures...

Very grateful to Jude for modeling them, since his Momma's blog got linked on a big-time blog Cup of Jo because of his adorable-ness.

Laura's had 4000 hits so far and I'm in a hurry to get the listing in my etsy shop.

Wish me luck, maybe Ducks have it. otherwise I just feel tres chic because Joanna of Cup of Jo picked us

Gus & Daddy

2011-01-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

These are a bit behind date, but the first picture is my new favorite of Gus, it captures his essence; unconcerned of others' opinions, equally enthralled by the big picture as delighted by the detail, fearless, brawny, unconcerned with comfort or absence thereof, easily amused, devoid of malice and keen for adventure.

The second and third picture show him with his role model, for which all of the above are true, just as well.

I love them both.

Critter Care

2011-01-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

Gus loves spending time on his Pap & Granna's farm and we spent almost every morning making the rounds on the mini-four-wheeler to feed and cuddle the livestock in the neighborhood. Among his favorites: The Pike Chickens, Baxter the friendly cat and, of course, ever loyal Ollie, who kept a watchful eye on Gus as he roamed up and down the little country lane.

What a life. Gus loves the openess and being free.

Christmas break

2011-01-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful, peaceful and fun holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus with many, many presents, good food and lots of board games with the family.

Gus was happy after the first present and it took him almost clear into the New Year to open his last. He loves them all very much though and is very grateful for these tokens of love and care.

Happy New Year!

The Sick Bug

2010-12-21T10:18:00.000-08:00

Gus is sick with a tummy bug that has slowed him down and makes me whince every time he looks longingly at food and then starts gulping with watery eyes...needless to say we are washing a load of assorted clothes, wash cloths and towels every day, guzzling gatorade and waiting for this nasty thing to wear itself out. Gus doesn't complain, instead he politely wakes me in the middle of the night and we sit in the bathroom and wait until his last meal has come and gone down the drain. So sad, but a little bit sweet, too, since he is more cuddly than ever and seems to need me and quiet time more than ever.

Yesterday he wanted to cook "cheesy pasta" which he later ate hungrily and actually retained so far. Today for his nap, he insisted he sleep "in my tent" so I let him and he laid there for a good 10 minutes just smiling to himself before falling asleep.

I pray he feels better for Christmas, he is so looking forward to it. Reciting his story of Baby Jesus' birth dutifully every day.

Early Christmas with Grosspabe

2010-12-17T06:14:00.000-08:00

Gus got a play tent for Christmas and since Grosspabe is only here until today we decided to make it an early Christmas and unveil the great tent yesterday evening. Gus was so excited! He couldn't wait for it to be set up and then everyone got invited to sit in it with him.
Now it sits in the middle of my living room and I'm contemplating charging Gus rent for it. He loves it!
Danke vielmal Osi & Grosspabe.

Full Steam Ahead

2010-12-15T11:51:00.000-08:00

Gus loves LOVES his new Thomas slippers that came from Osi via Grosspabe, who landed here safely yesterday afternoon. Gus has been a light-footed ballerino (Jacob cringe inserted here) ever since. Tip-toeing around with a big smile on his face.

I'll get a picture of Grosspabe on the blog as soon as he holds still long enough to snap a picture, right now he is re-organizing my basement and thawing out my deep freezer, next up fixing my dishwasher door and decluttering my laundry.

We did have a great relaxing morning at the mall though...now I have a lot of wrapping to do.

Grosspabe is a very useful engine!

Powder Day

2010-12-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

First powder day of the season here in Western North Carolina! We woke up to about a half a foot of snow and the eerie silence that accompanies any amount of snow in the South. It's the sound of everyone staying in and watching the Weather Channel and fretting about driving to the grocery store - to buy beer, bread and milk.

I still feel very Coloradoan here, puzzled by how a bit of snow will close down everything and how except for kids, people only venture outside for dire emergencies - or to joyride cars completely unfit for the conditions around the back streets.

We had fun this morning, building a snowman, a snowcastle and many half-snow angels (Gus doesn't believe in moving his arms) we went sliding in the neighbor's yard and are now sitting down to our second meal of the day.

Happy winter to all of you.

Trimming the tree

2010-12-06T16:51:00.000-08:00

Gus and I have had a surprisingly nice time decorating our North Carolina Fir for Christmas. Nothing broken, no pricks, no tangled or dead lights, just lots of giggles and fun - except when I got the bright idea to quickly make a couple of Thomas the Tank Engine ornaments and then asked Gus to hang it - he was game until it came time to hang Thomas...he just couldn't part with him...so he is carrying him around for now, but otherwise all is sweet and nice without too much spice in the Dinkins household.

He even posed for a picture with the "Chismas Tree" backing up into it for better effect.

Then he gave his little Thomas engine a tour of the tree, limb by limb.

Have a sweet and peaceful holiday season.

Hero-Husband

2010-12-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

Look at these pleased-as-spiked-punch mugshots (his idea, not mine), that's my wonderful husband, who now is the proud owner of a plaque proclaiming him "Fireman of the Year" of the Brevard Fire Department. Among his many accomplishments - listed by the chief as the major shook Jacob's hand - finishing EMT training in less than one year and answering more than 41 percent of all calls for the year.
It's been busy for us as a family, but extremely rewarding for Jacob.

Now where, I ask you, do you hang a plaque?
Right next to my "wife & mother of the year plaque?

Gobble-Good

2010-11-26T05:01:00.000-08:00

Voila, it took me 40 years to make it here, but I saw, conquered and cooked this turkey! What a feat, what a feast!
Lueg, Mami, min erschte Truthan!

I remember being in my early 20s, working minimum-wage as a cub reporter in a small town in the middle of nowhere and suddenly - out of the blue you might say - my boss heaved a 12 lb. turkey onto my desk and wished me a happy Thanksgiving before sending me off to cover yet another Turkey-themed event...just another of the many insults I endured in that just-out-of-college job working for a notoriously cheap family-owned newspaper...that turkey - nothing but a frozen mammoth to me - was my Christmas bonus...I was told later...after my boss cheerfully hit me up for a donation to United Way...I pointedly pointed out to him (pointedly pointed out?) that making $5.25 an hour qualified me for 80 percent of United Way's programs and an unplanned pregnancy or broken arm would help me with the remaining 20 percent...he never asked me to contribute again...I remember he blushed to a deep, satisfying-to-me purple at the suggestion of a pregnancy...

But there I was, Thanksgiving looming, just me and a frozen Turkey in my tiny apartment in the middle of flat-land Colorado (yep, there is a flat part to Colorado, but no one ever talks about it) I wrestled it into my fridge - it wouldn't fit into the purze-sized freezer and proceeded to call around to find just who would appreciate a gift of a quickly-thawing Gobbler ASAP...

It ended up at the local food bank, where a kindly man exchanged it for a package of cut deli turkey and a loaf of sandwich bread, which I gratefully ate at my tiny kitchen table, chewing on it and on my boss' seemingly bottomless insensitivities. I diligently worked that job for 18 more months, winning two awards along the way, before someone took notice and head-hunted me away to better working conditions.

That's the memory I visited as I wrestled my second ever frozen turkey out of the freezer and carefully thawed it in my fridge (three days!!! What in the world takes three days nowadays???) and then man-handled, hog-tied and massaged it to sheer deliciousness.

It was surpisingly easy and I discovered that basting is a very satisfying and soothing activity.

I'm so very grateful for my little, sweet family and God watching over us - and my days of paying my dues behind me.

Grateful

2010-11-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

Gus is learning about saying Thank You and being grateful in preschool this week, which got me thinking about all the things I'm grateful for at this time in my life.

First and foremost I am grateful for three lovely ladies named Ms. Renee, Ms. Gwenn and Ms. Kathy, who have come into Gus' life and in a very short time transformed it only for the better - the much better, I think. Their patience with him has been unparalelled and I marvel at how inspired and cheerful they appear every day that he spends with them. Aside from being three wonderful adult presences in a little boy's life, they work hard every day to create an environment where children teach children in that kind of beautiful stern and focused way that only children can. Gus is a diligent pupil of all his peers and many of them take their part in his socialization very seriously.

I'm so very grateful for all that.

So having a couple of days to myself last week I got inspired to knit up a quick three pairs (I know that makes me sound like a maniac, but they really were done quick...and I'm all caught up on my Hulu television now) of simple mittens for each of Gus' preschool teachers. Done in a chunky yarn, they are sturdy yet soft and hopefully will keep these three women toasty on chilly days on the playground.

We decorated gift bags together on Wednesday and we plan to present our gifts of gratefulness to them next week.

I'm also grateful:
- For being married to the quietest man in the world. Every sentence from his mouth is an achievement, but he teaches me that contentment is not a sentence.
- For an emerging personality in my son, Gus. I can't wait to get to know him better. He is full of wonderful traits
- For a body that - at the ripe old age of 40 - plugs along without too many complaints and allows me to stay active and healthy
- For running and for Sara who runs with me
- For alarm clocks and for National Public Radio
- For croissants
- For my parents
- For friends with a real espresso maker that I get to operate now and then
- For a group of special girlfriends who inspire, entertain and delight me every time I see them
- For work and paychecks
- For Preschool and the quiet hours it brings to tackle errands
- For Family who supports and helps, comfots and calms and keeps us in prayers faithfully
- For Tire swings and occupational therapy and most of all playgrounds
- For a trip to Charleston and a trip to Atlanta
- For yarn and needles and the relaxation they bring
- For my bike
- For my faith and all that it has transformed for the better

Funkstille

2010-11-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

That means "signal silence" in German and it is what we are experiencing now that Osi has left us (after a very fun visit) and taken her camera with her.

Mine broke on the way to Charleston, and I have been in denial about it, which is easy when you have your mother's camera as a backup.

Now I will have to face the investment in a new camera, which I'm not excited about.

Until I do, you will have to make do without new posts on this blog...

...don't despair...we'll be back before too long.

Hi-Five for Osi

2010-11-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

SPOILER ALERT!!! If your last name is Twilley or Harris, don't look any further!

My Mom is the all-time, best, most exact, most detailed and patient finisher of all things knitted...if you think I'm good at knitting, she is an Olympian knitter. Anyways, she's been working at putting together and sewing together a baby blanket me and Jacob's Cuz Sara have been working on (painfully, one square at a time)since September.

Today it's done and I think it came out beautiful!

There is going to be one cozy baby boy in Philly!

Triple Threat

2010-11-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Dupont Forest, just outside Brevard, is home to the fantastic and awe-inspiring Triple Falls, a sight so beautiful, it gets me every time I see it. Today we took Gus out for a little pre-nap hike, which he turned into his customary striptease, where he proceeded to shed clothes near the middle fall and topped it all by peeing into a puddle - to the delight of all assembled tourists...then he tried to drink from the aforementioned puddle...we made a quick exit and re-dressed him a little down the road.

He is a true naked hiker.

Trick or Treat

2010-11-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Despite his aversion to my lovingly-hand-made lion costume, Gus had no problem tracking down the sweets and going from house to house carrying his little bag.
Happy Halloween!

Over the rainbow

2010-10-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

It's been raining buckets for the past two days, so today we got a well-deserved treat - a beautiful, clear & complete double rainbow.

The picture does it no justice, you just have to believe me. It felt magical.

A fierce lion

2010-10-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Voila! The fruits of my frantic labor - A fierce lion - a fiercly-opposed-to-dressing-up lion. In the end the trip to the fabric store and an afternoon spent sewing on fur and felt paid off, Gus loved doing his lion impression at preschool for dress up day today!

Settling in

2010-10-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

Osi is settling in nicely and Gus loves having someone other than Mommy who can read "Jakob" to him in Swiss-German, eventhough he knows the entire book by heart - in Swiss-German!
And then there is the Amazing Handyman, also known as Jacob, who know finally has the T-shirt that says it all, thanks to my Pape who stayed behind in Switzerland to mind the store so to speak. "Lueg Pape, de Jacob hett sis T-Shirt ah!"

We're enjoying another day with Osi!

Osi is here!

2010-10-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Gus' Osi has arrived all the way from Switzerland and after a few days of settling in, we took her out to the forest today for a good hike to our favorite waterfall at Morris Cove. Gus had a great time showing of his hiking skills and Osi loved the fall colors and watching Gus' antics.

Swing into Fall

2010-10-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jacob went to the landfill to dump stuff - like our old, sorry, floppy mattress, and promptly came back with an old tire - a Michelin tire, he'll have you know, a nice bald one, one someone got a lot of good use out of.

After being plucked from the doomsday pile by my husband, a self-described tire connaisseur, this tire got the spa treatment, including a wash, scrub and quite possibly a peel, well maybe I'm exaggerating on the latter, but during Gus' nap the sad, old, bald tire was transformed into a sleek, gleaming tire swing, which now adorns our stately honey-maple and has won high marks with our discerning 3-year-old.

Today, a sunny, crisp Sunday, the swing was christened as the perfect fall photo session prop. Note Gus' daring form and his Daddy's delight.

Happy fall, everyone.

Frightful fun!

2010-10-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

With Momma working all weekend, the boys decided to go on a fall-inspired outing to Skytop Apple Orchard, where pumpkins are blooming and hay bales become frightfully fun jungle gyms. The weather has been amazing and Gus played hard and even picked apples - one, which he ate immediately...

Weekend in Atlanta

2010-10-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we met up with Granna & Pap and had a big weekend out on the town. Friday night Gus took in his first major baseball game, watching the Phillies thrash the Braves and more over watching out and making sure Granna didn't forget to buy him ice cream, after he dutifully scarved down a hot dog.
Saturday we jumped into the wild and beautiful world of the Georgia Aquarium - a truly spectacular place with oceans of elegant, toothy and some downright frightful creatures. Gus loved the giant Japanese crab and most of all he loved the Whale slide in the children's discovery area.
It was a great, balmy weekend in Atlanta and we'll happily revisit the memories we made.

A New Adventure!

2010-09-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

Preschool! The big day is here!
Yesterday Gus went to preschool for the first time! He is scheduled to go every day for the morning and so far so good. He loves his new teachers and all his classmates were very nice to him!

He says he likes "peeschool"

I couldn't believe my baby is wearing a backpack, getting out of the bike trailer and setting off on his own - without looking over his shoulder once...

...today though he showed a bit of clinginess and cried when I left...it almost made me feel good....bad momma...

On the fast track

2010-09-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday brought my fall run challenge to myself. This year I set my sight on an uphill calf-blaster in the beautiful woods of Dupont State Forest called the Hickory Mountain 10K Trail Run. A highly competitive but small field of runners made the start ambitious and the rest of the race a blurr, but this year - unlike in races of the past - I decided to go along and hang with the fast ones from the start rather than hang back and pick off runners at the end...it paid off!

I set a new personal record for a trail 10K of 53:26 (unofficial) which means I ran the entire 6 miles at sub-9 min. miles. I came in 27th overall and 7th of all women - I flew high for the rest of the day!!!

I was so fast, Heather's pictures of me are blurry...until Gus tackled me at the finish...that was the sweetest kiss I've ever gotten from my son, followed by the best admiring hug from Jacob...I might be 40 but I'm still getting faster...

Fun @ the Amazing Savings!

2010-09-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

While Jacob played in a tennis tournament on a nearby court, Gus and I decided to explore downtown Asheville this past Saturday. Asheville - 30 min. from Brevard - is a spunky small city with a lot of crunch. Case in point the discount health food store, where we always have a great time. Gus loves the bright green walls in the edgy little cafe...and I love the 5 minutes of uninterrupted bliss i get from gazing into a perfectly foamed cappuchino while sitting on a designer cool orange couch, kicking back in my decidedly un-cool running gear (I had just rocked a trail race...so I cared little about not being fashionable...plus the staff in the little cafe always makes us feel so welcome...we feel like royalty regardless of attire-faux-pas.)
They also added the sweetest little kitchen play set, which I want to steal and Gus wants to marry...we had a good time and even picked up a few healthy groceries all in one giggle-filled trip.

oh...and Jacob won...handy...both of his matches...yeah! Team Dinkins showed up on Saturday and rocked!

A Fair Day!

2010-09-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

The Western North Carolina Mountain State Fair (that is the full name of this annual week-long shindig!!!) happens to almost always fall around Gus' birthday - so we continue the beloved tradition we began last year (this year with our good friends Heather and Rion) of shlepping to the fair, sweating through a sun-soaked parking lot, stuffing ourselves with overpriced yet under-nutrient fair food (we stayed away from anything on a stick this year)and then ride midway rides until the nap-nasties set in...this year, just like last year...the last ride was rough...Gus - even after 17 go arounds on the SAME merri-go-round (no joke, he did, however, vary his choice of transportation between the blue motorcycle and the orange bus) - lost it all, when it was time to pack in...

...he slept the sleep of the truly exhausted on the way home, dreaming no doubt about a blue motorcycle, a green tractor, an orange bus and a lellow (not a typo) helicopter and maybe a goat and a lama and a camel (which he fed like a champ at the petting zoo).

I can't wait to forcefully pluck him off the last ride next year...what will I do when he starts riding those truly scary things that drop at zero-gravity???

Hang on for my dear life???

One more gift!

2010-09-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

I had to get this one included, just because I slaved over it for weeks (sewing velvet is not for the faint of heart). Voila! Gus' new, personalized, hand-made beanbag chair....he's always wanted something slouchy to cuddle up in to read all his books, now he's got it!
I know he doesn't look excited here, but he is, he just wasn't because I forced him to sit down when he wanted to stomp around in his brand-new firefighter rain boots...

Happy birthday, Bud, you are my favorite!

Gifts so good!

2010-09-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Many presents with Granna and Pap over the weekend and even more today from Auntie Leah and Momma & Daddy. The firefighter rain boots take the grand prize, but the vintage Fisher Price house (with all the furniture!) is not far behind. The beanbag, money for fair rides and a winter coat and trainset table are going to be appreciated in days to come.

Thank you everyone, for making a little boy's birthday very special!

I'm three!!!

2010-09-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

Three
What a tiny number.
What a great journey.
Too many "new" to keep track.
Too many memories to contain.
So much happiness to revel in.
We love you. Augustus!

Because...
-You don't have a favorite color, though "lellow" and blue are your go-to color guesses.
-You will sit down and read a book - to yourself, if you have to - anywhere, anytime, before doing anything else.
-The washer in motion is your favorite place in the house. Your Grosspape is proud of you for that.
-All our photo albums are dog-eared because of your daily search through them - as all good photo albums should be.
-You make a peepee like a big boy, but have no interest in the whole poopie business.
-You can play so beautifully, so contained, so alone, so happy, so creatively - I stand in awe of that.
-You run, climb, swing, bike circles around everyone - I'd be amazed if I wasn't so tired of it.
-You treat wounds, booboos and injuries with much courage and show mind over matter in all things pain.
-You are starting to tell jokes - often just the punchlines - and love getting a good laugh.
-You hurt when I hurt, even when you are the one who hurt me.
-The dryer (not working) is your second favorite place in the house.
-You hate socks, love butter and miss "The Little Engine That Could" whenever Daddy hides it.
-You have caught on to us "abbreviating" books and you are now in charge of turning the pages.
-You can sing "Firetruck," "You are my Sunshine" and "Froggie went a'courtin'" beautifully if out of tune.
-You still like to go for a jog in the stroller and urge your Momma to go faster.
-You sleep like a baby, eat like a supermodel and make a mess like a repairman.
-You are excited about going to "peeschool" - soon!
-You love your friends and delight seeing them - even if you adore alone time just as much.
-You love your little toys (playmobil men, matchbox cars etc.) and will search the house to find a missing one.
-Your memorization skills are par none - unmatchable.
-You say "what's wrong?" or "What's the matter?" when you mean to tell me something is wrong.
-You are funny, warm, cuddly and still so sweet.
Stay three for me forever - please?

Whee Whee Whee, Gus is turning Three!

2010-09-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

Ten boys, one firetruck, 24 cupcakes and too many memorable moments to keep count. The birthday boy loved it all and our guests made the day special for us.
Thank you all for coming, for thoughtful and fun presents, for being sweet to Gus and for giving us lots of memories to revisit and smile about.

Our Gus is almost three - all little boy - well except for the poopie-in-the-potty thing.

Rag-tag fire

2010-09-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

On our way back from Elijah's birthday party, Daddy got paged to a fire at a local restaurant. It turned out to be a dryer-full of rags on fire, but still, Gus got to see it all first-hand and up-close. He loved every moment of it. Hey! My Daddy is a firefighter!

Elijah's birthday party

2010-09-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Elijah and family, for inviting us to the family farm in Fairplay for a rockin' birthday party, complete with pool and pony rides...we had a great time!

Sweet end-of-summer fun

2010-09-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Friday we went to our secret summer swim hole in Dupont State Forest, where the water is always sun-warmed, the breeze just right and the lazy current forgiving to wanna-be swimmers. We love this place, the many laughs we shared with fellow mommas and toddlers add to a new layer of fond memories each summer.

Saturday we went to the farm fair in Brevard. First, Gus held court on the fire department's vintage fire truck, then he reluctantly moved on only to find a great play table filled with feed corn at the other end of the fair. We spent a whole hour there, honing our get-along-with-other skills - those will come in handy in a few weeks when Gus enters preschool.

Three weeks until preschool! We have to make the most of it!

To the lake

2010-08-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's become a much loved tradition for us to tag along with our friends, Heather & Rion, to stay at her Mom's on Lake Hartwell for an overnight, all-services included, mini-vacation.
This year's was even better than years' past. After a trying two-week absence from all pools and waterways because of Gus' bum leg Dr. Graham cleared Gus for swimming -and swimming he did: Splashing, jumping, paddling, floating and anything else you can do in the water...
I had a great time spending a much needed girl-evening with Heather, Chanley and Aleshka, and Gus did his best to keep up with all his little friends.
It's a bitter-sweet time for me, the end of summer, but I love saying good-bye to a season at Lake Hartwell.

A leg up

2010-08-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing more tricky than keeping an active, on-to-go-go three year old from moving around...though the splint is helping keep the hurt ankle in line, Gus is getting increasingly restless and frustrated with the whole concept of "keeping the leg elevated and at rest"...I want to elevate my feet and rest, but Gus doesn't really think that's a sensible course of action...

Yesterday, luckily, we had Cedar Ann and Lillian for another morning visit, and they did a great job keeping our minds off the hurt ankle...Gus loved hanging off the porch railing for a who-can-spit-past-the-flower-bed competition!

This morning, after an achy awakening at 5:30, he slept in late (thanks to another dose of Motrin) and is now enjoying his favorite breakfast of Cheerios, raisins and honey...the plan is to take it easy and get out before it gets super hot...and use the stroller as much as possible...

Gus is such a trooper!

All in one Day

2010-08-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

First a happy image: Gus out of his own inspiration decided to give a fresh, local farm-grown carrot a try (I just set them out as advised and didn't talk them up) and he liked it! Afterwards he was so inspired he had to go lie down and tell all his toys that he "ate a callot"

Then disaster struck (I still feel dramatic about this) Gus and his Daddy were wrestling on the bed and one bad turn led to a pop in Gus' right ankle and now he has a splint and a steady pain medicine regiment while we wait to find out if it is broken or just badly sprained. In kids this young an X-ray is hard to read and his didn't show anything conclusive, but he isn't putting any weight on his foot and refuses to move much at all...poor boy!

I'm ready for this week/year? to be over.