Just Stick Him Out Back

Timothy woke happily from his nap, as he usually does. He became angry when I lifted him from his crib and would not be consoled. I placed his milk on his dresser so that he could get it himself, but he just threw it down. I tried warming his milk, but still he cried. I asked Paul if he had any thoughts on why little brother was so upset. Paul thought Tim needed a snack. No, he didn’t want graham crackers. He didn’t want to be held; he didn’t want to be on the sofa or chair or bed or floor. He was too sad to even point to what he wanted.

“Paul, do you have any other ideas?”

“He wants to go outside. Just stick him out back.”

“Do you want to come out with us?”

“No.”

A minute later, TJ walked around happily exploring out back while I sat in a lawn chair on the porch. Then he sat in my lap and peacefully drank his milk. Eventually, big brother joined us and we discussed bugs and dinner.

Shhh...

Paul spent one day a few weeks ago asking me “why?” Tonight, he climbed all over me at the VBS opening show asking question after question. “Where did he go?” “Who is that?” “Is that Pharaoh?” “When will she stop singing?” “Is that a baby?” “Who said mama?” "Where is Sean going?" "Is it over?"

I thought they were just supposed to ask why.

Baby Talk

TJ is brilliant. He can talk. His best-enunciated word is “cookie.” “Mine” is also very clear. His other words include: mama, dada, Paul, ball (which is very difficult to differentiate from Paul – I use context), cow (which means any animal except dog), dog, TJ, and car.

He’s also a whiz with pointing. Yesterday, he told me, “Dada failed to change my diaper when he got me up.” I learned this from one point, which emphatically indicated his bulging diaper. Today, he told me, “I’m really thirsty and I want to drink out of the cars cup with a straw.” This statement took a series of gestures to indicate pick me up, go from the bedroom into the kitchen, open the cabinet and get the prized cup.

I love Timothy’s baby talk, which must really mean something. He’ll make sure to catch my eye, sometimes by placing his hand on my face before he carefully speaks in his own language. Every time he does this, I wish to be quick enough record his sweet voice to play back over and over.

Paul Gets "One More Story"

After reading the usual two bedtime stories to Paul tonight, I told him it was time to say a prayer. He protested and asked me to read “one more story.” I read from The Bible Story tonight and find it difficult to deny the child Bible stories. So I bribed him. I usually ask him what he wants to pray about and I say the prayer because he refuses to say it. I told him that if he would say the prayer, I would read one more story.

I’ve never heard a sweeter prayer. It went something like this: “Dear God, thank you for mommies and daddies. Thank you for grandpas and grandfathers. Thank you for…thank you for grandmas and grandmothers. Thank you for my family. Thank you for Alec. Jesus name. Amen.” It started out like a prayer he might have heard earlier tonight in his class at prayer meeting, but I think the family and his friend Alec was from his own heart.

I told him that definitely deserved another story and continued in the book to the one about Jacob’s ladder.

Paul's Four Month Check Up

14 lbs 2oz
26 in
42.25 cm head circum

Paul 2 month check up

11 lbs 12oz
24inches

Paul's Two Week Check Up

9lb 1 oz
22 inches
37.4 head circum