A busy week so far

This week we've gotten back into the swing of the things at home.

It's always a bit tough to come home from a busy house full of family that you get along so easily with. But we'll be home long enough to do laundry, make a few messes and clean them up again and other odds and ends before we're off to Seattle, next Tuesday.

Monday was a slow day for us, but we were able to get a few things accomplished! Our front garden beds were overcome with weeds and wild grass, some of them, as tall as me. So we weeded for awhile, and then it was nap time. Amos was such a good helper, using his new shovel and rake and loved playing in the dirt. He loved it! It was soon time to wash up, eat and sleep. While he napped, I weeded the other side and threw away the weeds. There was a ton of them! While I was doing the other side, the mailman asked what I was going to put down and I said, "Nothing! I just had to pull the weeds, they were so embarrassing!" We both laughed at that...I'm so not a gardener! Thankfully, landscaping was pretty decent, when we bought our house, so now it's just about keeping the weeds out! Nathan came home early to record, but was discouraged when it was too hot upstairs and his guitar didn't cooperate! Soon, the piano tuner came to tune our piano that we moved across country so that we could have music practice and recording sessions at our house and things would be in tune! Amos was fascinated with the tuning. We had a great night together while Nathan was at a meeting. We had dinner, a bath and Amos went to bed easily and without complaint.

Tuesday morning, Amos was up early. Like 6:30, early, ready and rearin' to go. So we got up, got breakfast, dressed, breathing treatments, Clifford cartoons, etc. and got ready for Miss Hannah to come over for developmental therapy. Amos did ok all morning, of course, until she got here, and then he started to fade. He did an ok job of sticking with it and doing the different activities, but he started to definitely fade by the time we were done, around 11. I was perplexed, as he had eaten well that morning, had been given adequate tylenol, etc. He was still cutting teeth (and is, to this day) getting three of his four eye teeth. Around 11:15, he got his binky, climbed up onto the couch with his blanket and laid down. So we watched a bit of Sesame Street and then went upstairs to play. I realized that he had been awake for awhile and that he may be ready for a nap, already! As I sat talking to my mom on the phone, I had Amos in my lap and was rocking gently. Soon, he was asleep and it was only 11:45!! I had no choice but to put my poor tired little guy to bed. Soon I went to bed, too, for a nap and we both slept well that afternoon. When we woke up, I decided it was time to go to the pool and play for awhile. As we left the pool for dinner, Nathan was already home preparing to have the music group over for practice that night. When everyone showed up and got started, Amos was in his element, excited about all of the music around him. He really wanted to take his flyswatter guitar and go stand next to his Dada, saying "Dada!" and playing guitar with him. So after a bit of that, we went upstairs to let them finish practicing.
The picture below is of Amos' new reading spot. We returned home with so many new books that his library grew to need a place of its own. Since we set up the little book spot, Amos has done more reading and has really enjoyed sitting down, looking at his book.

Wednesday was Nathan's day off and we all slept in a bit. As I was sitting there, wondering what adventure we could go on, I remembered, that we had a physical therapy appointment, in half an hour!! So I got Amos and I ready to play with Christine, who was excited about his progress on the steps, his balance, and his new bike. Again, we were tired from such playing and Amos and I took a good nap. Nathan rescued him from his crib and let me sleep a bit longer. It was so nice to just sleep! After our naps, we decided on dinner, ran to the store for ingredients and then went to play at the pool. The day before, I had forgotten to bring Amos' floaty to the pool and he did really well, staying up and getting used to being in the water. When we went with Nathan, he did so well, walking around, without holding our hands and staying up in the water. Later we went to the deeper end and Nathan was able to get Amos kicking his feet and moving his arms. He is definitely more comfortable in the water, which is good, hopefully he'll start moving more freely, but I know I'll really have to watch him!

Today we were up really really early again. He came to bed with us, around 6:45 and let me nap until 8. We ran errands and found super great deals at our favorite place, Old Navy. The clearance section was on sale! I got a bathingsuit for Nathan for $4.50!! Anyway, Amos did so well and ate lunch in the cart at Target. We finally headed home and he fell asleep in the car. I put him in bed and settled down to the computer. A few minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. I looked at my watch and realized it was 1 o'clock, I had made an appointment to cut our friends' sons' hair!! It was great to hang out with their family as I cut hair. Their mom, Laura went through treatment for leukemia last year and it was a real treat to have her and the whole family in our house, sharing hospital stories stories and other such journeys.
Soon after the cuts were done, Amos woke up and then Nathan came home ready to record. Again, Amos was taken with the piano, as our friend, Wolfy, sat down and played beautiful songs on our newly-tuned instrument. Nathan rigged a few microphones, with wires coming all the way down the stairwell from his studio upstairs. Having just woken up and needing snacks, we had to stay home and so Amos may also make it to the recording!

Tonight we went to a little specialty store just north of us and gave moral support to our friends who were having a reception and sort of art opening. Then we went back to Old Navy, so Nathan could peruse the bathing suit section. After looking and trying on other ones, we settled on the one I bought earlier today and went for dinner. We had dinner at Chick-fil-a and had fun making Amos laugh. Yesterday, at the pool, to demonstrate that we don't drink the pool water, I would fill a cup with water and then as I put it to my mouth, say, "blechk!" For some reason, this made Amos laugh hysterically. Every single time, he would laugh these deep belly laughs. So tonight, we got him doing it again and it was so funny. Also, somtime last week, Amos learned how to say that something is stinky, by holding his nose and waving his hand in the air. This also makes him laugh. So between those two new things, we were laughing really hard, making quite a racket, I'm sure!