Swimming

So, Stephen's been taking swimming lessons at the Y, but what it really is is time to go swimming.  Well, last week, Stephen was really quite fussy and we ended up having to leave early.  After some talking with my mother in law and friend Amy who have taught kids to swim, apparently, I need to just let him go swim and let him go under and try to swim by himself.  Well, today I did.  While he can't keep his head above water because he isn't that strong yet, he can kick and move his arms enough to keep about 1-2 inches below the water, which I thought was great.  It really tired him out, so we didn't do it for too long, and it was definitely a new feeling for him, but wow, my kid can swim.  It is kind of unnerving for me, but I think I learned to let go a little.  He can get out of the pool himself and jump in himself too.  Obviously no picture of this because I'm the one in the water with him. :)

Rainy Day at Northpark

Our nanny asked for this Monday and Tuesday off to go to Mexico for her grandchildren's baptism, so I've kept Stephen for these two days. It has been really a lot of fun. It was raining really hard with tornado warnings and such on Monday morning and unsuitable to go to the park later on in the morning, so we spent some time at Northpark mall hanging out with the turtles and ducks they have there in a pond. At first Stephen was shy, but then as he warmed up, he got really quite bold, and started to clean windows of the stores and then try to shut their doors. He walked about half way to the car and stopped to play in a puddle in the parking lot. I couldn't quite get a picture of him stomping, but did of him stooping down into the water.

I love this image for some reason. I think I really like how the light was shining on the balcony.  Stephen's doing fine.  This week we're working on giving up the bottle finally, got a little cold, but basically doing well.  He has learned to hit the golf ball with the golf club and kick a soccer ball.  We're having fun and looking forward to some travel in May and this summer.

Spring Cleaning a Life

Stephen and I decided to clean out our downstairs office today during a rainy morning and I tackled the filing cabinet, holding all our papers for the past 5 years and some from previous times.  Going through the papers makes me realize all that we have gone through/has happened in the past five years.  Among the finds:  

• buying 4 different cars 
  
• the not buying of 2 different cars (one had had a major accident that was not disclosed, and one was a smoker car.  Both of these we found out within 2 days of "buying" and we brought back to seller and didn't buy)
• 1 car accident
• 1 back surgery and 1 birth
• warranties from appliances and the roof from the original 4144 Emerson that was torn down
• 2 tenant leases from old house
• 1 letter from neighbor about fence that was originally on his property when we closed on the original Emerson house.  Subsequent certified letters back and forth.  
• A very cute letter received from a high school friend's father who has recently past away regarding a RSVP for our wedding.
• 1 identity theft where a person stole my name and address to create a fraudulent Pay Pal account.  Documents include the police report I had to file and send to credit agency that was hounding me for unpaid amounts.

Stephen enjoyed playing with old golf clubs that are to go to Kaitlyn's boyfriend next weekend while I went through all the papers.  Stephen actually loves to clean.  He's learned now to take his diaper to the diaper pail after he gets off the changing table.  He also takes a rag and wipes off the table too.  He is way more messy than clean, but we're sure to encourage this clean side of him.

Easter

We had a very nice Easter weekend with Sean's family in Houston, where Stephen got to hunt some easter eggs that were filled with goldfish and some candy.  He didn't really like to give up the eggs and was a little perplexed at what to do when he already had one in each hand and he found a third on the ground.  It was cute and short and good fun.  We then all watched the Masters final round, which was very exciting, and then drove home later in the evening.  

This one is for Grandpa....Dreaming of the Masters, or Future Golfer

Stephen took one of Sean's golf clubs to bed with him tonight.  He was tired out from a day of swimming lessons, playing at the park and watching the Masters with his dad.  We've been taking Stephen around town since I've felt better.  He went to the Nasher Museum First Saturdays, where they have free admission, last Saturday in the morning, went to the Farmer's Market to taste some good food, and then to Kaitlyn's SMU soccer game in the afternoon.  He had a GRAND ole time with the coach's sons who are 4 and 2 years old.  It was a little hard to keep him off the field, but perhaps we can work on that this fall.  This weekend, we are going to Houston to have an easter egg hunt and spend Easter with Sean's family.  His swimming lesson today was great.  He learned how to jump into the pool from standing up, get out of the pool, and he's getting closer to learning how to blow bubbles.  He's really likes swimming and all the older people at the YMCA taking water aerobics LOVE him.  I've signed him up for gymnastics lessons in June at the Y as well, two days a week in the late afternoons.  As you can see, he now sleeps with a pillow--on the floor for naps and in the crib for night time.  He pretty much always takes something to bed with him, but he varies on what it is.  Most of the time, it is some kind of ball, his sparkle ball, or the Astros soft baseball and soft soccer ball are his favorites.  What a boy...balls and sticks are really his favorites right now.

Love's Recovery

(Title comes from an Indigo Girls song of the same name)  

I've been thinking this week and talking with Sean about my recovery.   I'm becoming a better mom, wife, and probably person as I recover.  Things are really getting easier day by day.  I'm able to walk a mile, go to the grocery store, and not get extremely exhausted by the end of the day.  I'm back to making dinner and Sean's lunch.  I seem to have more patience with Stephen then pre-surgery.  The recovery on the whole has been easier than life pre-surgery.  Granted, the first two or three weeks were tough, but since then it really has been getting much easier.  I've started doing more and more difficult exercises and stretches and next week, I'm going back to the gym.  

I'm so glad I had this done now.  I'm so excited about my life post surgery, about all the things I can/will be able to do soon.  My hip doesn't have to be the excuse not to do things any more.  The next challenge will be soon, when our dog, Emmy, comes back home and will be just a bundle of (trained) energy.  I'm confident though that I will be able to handle it.

Guest Blogger: Lilli Smith

KidsOnShoulders
Originally uploaded by shelbitha

Lilli here, Shel's sister and guest blogger. I went to Dallas last weekend to “take care” of Shel, but she didn’t need it! She is really doing great! It’s really pretty amazing how well she can get around in a little over a month. She’s not doing any marathons yet, but is off the cane in the house and she seems to handle the stairs very well – even carrying Stephen! At first I was a little worried as she woke up continuously vomiting for a couple hours on Saturday morning due to what she suspected was some old narcotics, but by lunch it was out of her system and she was up for going out for Tex Mex that night with our cousins. Her physical theraphy exercises seem to be helping and she says that she still sees pretty drastic daily improvements in her mobility.

Stephen is still a total little charmer with a smile that just melts me. I mentioned something about kisses and all of a sudden I had little tiny fish lips on my cheek. According to Shel and Sean, it was a kiss! He’s missing the smacking follow through, but he’s still the sweetest little kisser ever! Stephen just loves to read books and he’s developing a longer and longer attention span – in fact he likes to read the same books over and over and over. Besides reading, we had lots of conversations about “da”. Apparently “da” is everywhere in Dallas! And it means so much – cat, dog, duck, dad and garbage truck to name a few! He is quite expressive and excited with his “da!”s. He’s a boy after my own heart always wanting to be outside and we had some quality park time in the warm Texas sunshine. I left early Monday morning to go back to cold rainy Boston --it was a short trip, but hopefully somewhat helpful. I’m so happy that you’re on the mend Shel!