Swimming

I am not sure what happened in one week, but Carter went from not jumping off the side of the pool with his floaty to jumping off the diving board without his floaty. He also went from not wanting to let go of Larry or I while in the pool to swimming in yes, one week!

Carter has become a fish to say the least. He loves to swim! We had been working with him on swimming, but then literally over night he figured it out. I took him to the pool and he just started swimming. Of course at first he did not realize you could lift your head and breath while still kicking your legs, so we worked on that for about 10 minutes and he had it down perfect.

The water was hurting his eyes a bit, so I got him some Lighting McQueen goggles. He is that child that was so excited to have goggles that he wore them all day and wanted to sleep with them too. We compromised and the goggles watched him sleep on his side table...too funny!

I can't believe it, but Natalie is 23 months old! I have been telling people she was 21 months old, what happened to the time?

Natalie has started talking a lot! She is asking a lot of questions and repeating whatever you say (carefully watching all the words that come out of my mouth). She is also a busy body, never stopping. You would never know she had a heart defect the way she continues to go.

Pandamania

Carter had VBS last week at our church, Pandamania. He loved it! He came every day asking me about "Patty Panda..." Where does she sleep? How does she take a bath? How these kids come up with some of their questions, who knows. I did what every parent would have done, I told Carter to ask the talking panda.

I was blessed to be able to volunteer one day with Carter's actual group. There is nothing like 11 4 year olds, to completely wear you out. Natalie went to the nursery,but after two hours in the nursery, she wanted to come and join the fun.

At the end of the time everyone gets together and sings as we wait for parents to pick up there kids. Natalie was fascinated and trying to do all the hand motions. Yes, I did almost cry, but thought I should really try and contain myself for the sake of the other kids around. I just can't help it sometimes, when I see my kids on fire for God!

We get the option to purchase a music cd of the songs they sing during the week. I was pretty pumped to buy a new VBS cd, because frankly, I was tired of the one from last year, that we still played everyday. I can't complain too much, because it does make my heart smile to hear Carter in the backseat busting out, "He's wild! He's wild! God is wild about us!" Plus, occasionally I get the hand motions too!

I do have to mention this one last thing, because I am so proud of Carter. He has memorized his first bible verse, Philippians 4:13! We were driving to school one day and he would not stop talking, so I thought I would try and get him to memorize a bible verse and that was the only one that came to my mind, but I do love it, so it worked.

Some updated on our friend's kids with e coli....Our friend whose little girl was in Dallas is home now and doing much better. They will continue to have blood work done twice a week for a while. The other two little girls are finally doing better. One had surgery today to get her port out. God is working and healing these little girls!

Fashion Statement to Say the Least

Natalie making her fasion statement

Painting with water

Natalie is setting a fashion statement like no one else. I was folding and putting up laundry last week and twice, she got a hold of Carter's underwear and put them on over her clothes. The first time, he was a little upset, because they were his favorite Lighting McQueen underwear. However, the next time was just Nemo, so he let her wear them over her pants the entire day. I could care less, but Larry thought she needed to take them off before we left the house. Natalie did not agree and threw her new "almost two year" fit. Guess who won??? Of course, daddy gave in and I am sure it helped that we were just in the front yard playing and not going to the store or anything.

She has shown a little interest in the idea of potty training. I mean seriously, she is wanting to sit on the potty and can't even talk good yet! So far, she has not actually gone in the potty, but seems to like trying to be a big girl. I did go out and buy a potty seat, which might help. I will keep you posted on how it goes, once I get the nerve to actually put the potty seat on the toliet and make an effort.

Okay, all you mom's that need cheap entertainment for you kids, I've got it. I was talking with my mom and I remembered as a kid, she would give a paint brush and I would spend hours painting the edge the pool and deck with water. I tried it last weekend (picture above). The kids loved it! I got some cheap paint brushes and a bucket of water for each of them and the went to town. Carter had a blast! Natalie had more fun dipping the brush into the water and sucking the water off the end of the paint brush (gross, I know). Anway, fun ideas for summer.

Just a little update on the girls with e coli...Our friend's daughter, Jesse, who was a Children's in Dallas is doing much better. They are hoping to come home at the end of the week or first of next week. Her hemoglobin level is still low, but holding steady and not decreasing any. Please pray for that to get back to normal and for the entire family as they are split between Dallas and Amarillo. Coming from a person who has been there, it is so emotionally hard on you. Also, there are still three little girls here in Amarillo that are on dialysis trying to battle e coli. Please pray for them and their families as their little bodies try to fight off this horrible bacteria.

Summer Has Begun

I know my last post was about two week ago. Summer has gotten the best of me to say the least. I never realized how much I enjoyed those two hours three days a week when Carter was in school and Natalie was napping. Natalie still naps, but Carter does not. We do have "Quiet Time" every day, but Carter comes out of his room every 5 minutes to ask a question, so I gave up.

We have been loving summer so far! We have only been to the pool once, but plan to come more here in a couple of weeks. We have spent every waking minute outside, riding bikes, playing in the water, etc. Carter does love to help me water! Of course, that means it takes twice the amount of time and he ends up all wet, but oh well.

I do wish the Panhandle wind would die down. I am tired of 30 to 40 mph winds every day and so are my dry eyes. I should not complain, because I know people have been hit by flooding and tornadoes, but Amarillo is in desperate need of water in the worst way possible. We had another outbreak of fires this past weekend and a few people lost homes. What is going on with Mother Nature these days?

I do have a prayer request...There has been a small cluster of e coli cases in Amarillo in children under 3 years of age, mostly girls. They are not sure where it came from, but 6 of the 7 cases have had paths crossed and some of the kids are related. Five of the cases are good friends of ours and several of the kids have been put on dialysis. One of our best friend's little girl is one who was put on dialysis. She actually flew to Children's in Dallas this past weekend and I talked to my friend a few minutes ago and Jesse, the little girl is doing much better. Her kidneys are responding to the dialysis. However, Jesse's cousin is sick and not doing very good and may have to be put on dialysis as well. Please pray for all these little kids and their families as they fight this.