I'm going running too!

"Hey, guys, wait for me. I'm almost ready!"

"Now Daddy, if you could just help me up..."

"Now that's better. So, do you just take off running from here?"

"Okay!!! Here... I... go!"

"Look at me Momma, I ran so fast my shoe came off!"

"Now, let's try this one more time."

Playing with Frodo

Micah has really taken to playing with Frodo lately. I'm not sure that Frodo could say the same, but it's been fun to watch the two learning to co-exist with each other.

"Here Frodo, let me wave this glo-stick really fast. You like that, don't you?"

"Hmm, Momma, why did he run under the table after I did that?"

"Okay, let me try it like Momma does it. Maybe you'll like it more."

"Am I doing it right now?"

"Wait, come back! I'm not done playing with you yet."

"Okay Frodo, we're going to do this again..."

Yogurt Time!

Micah decided to take the spoon from me tonight and feed himself, thus the video below. What a silly, silly boy:)

Big Kid Fun

Micah was hanging out at my friend Kate's house today while I finished up my last day of jury duty (ptl!!) and I am sent the below two pictures:

Micah definitely enjoyed some big kid fun with Jed and Max around. I love the 2nd picture, as he's just laying back and chillin' while being driven around. Oh, the fun we have in store:)

14 months, baby!

This past week has been a very long and busy week, as I was selected as an alternate for jury duty downtown Chicago at the Federal Courthouse. The case went Monday - Friday, as well as tomorrow and I've been working 13-14 hour days. I can certainly say that I have empathy for Christian and his commute (more so than I ever wish I had, haha) and I'd venture to say he could understand the same for my role, as he was home much more than normal:)

All that to say, I was definitely on the short end of Micah time and tried to soak in every second this weekend!!!

I had a great time with my boys all weekend making good use of the sunny weather we had. Saturday we went for a family bike ride as well as a trip to the pool (which Micah loved) and today we headed out to Brookfield Zoo after Micah took a great mid-morning nap. The weather was quite steamy - about 93 degrees sans humidity and Micah can sweat with the best of them. The poor boy was drenched from head to toe about 15 minutes into our zoo visit, but we made the most of it and traipsed around as much as the zoo as possible.

I can't believe Micah is already 14 months!! The summer is almost over and tomorrow is already August. We have had a great month and I am so blessed to be this little boy's mom.

Monthly highlights:

• we travel to Colorado and have a great time and Micah does pretty well traveling, despite the fact that he slept not at all the entire time in transit
• Micah has the most terrible burn on his entire hand and we are still reeling from those effects (although he hardly looked at his hand today - serious progress from yesterday alone!!)
• Aunt Kari lived with us for about 2 1/2 weeks, and it was so fun to have her around and watch her interact with Micah - she will be deeply missed while in Africa for the next year
• Micah loves holding our hand and walking us around to wherever he wants to go - but if you change courses from his plan, he is NOT happy!
• Micah also started walking up and down the stairs with minimal assistance.
• He started signing eat this month...can we call that his second word? :)
  

Classic childhood - taking everything in, as usual:)

Day 1 of no gauze...progress has been made!

Today, 1 1/2 weeks later, we are finally saying goodbye to the gauze, hand cream, first aid tape, pads, and "glove" that held all the bandages together on Micah's hand! Thank that good Lord that we made it through and Micah's hand is being restored:)

It has been interesting to watch Micah through this healing process. He became very attached to all the first aid materials surrounding his hand that it turned into a form of a security blanket to him. Whimpering would emerge from his lips every time I had to change out the bandages, or he was placed in a bath, even as the hand was covered and healing.

But today, we have gratefully taken off the protection! It is a process for Micah...I went up to get his from his nap today and found him sitting in his crib, staring at his hand. :) And any time I ask to see his hand, he immediately turns his hand over and stares at it with concern in his eyes. That is when I try to be super encouraging, telling him how good it looks!! You can see below how it has healed. The skin is a fresh pink on all the places where the blisters were, so I'm sure it's slightly tender for him, but overall it's looking pretty good:)

Thank you for all your prayers and concern! We are definitely grateful to be through this crisis, as it was certainly one of the hardest things we have encountered, thus far, as parents. Minor in the big picture, I know, but tough while going through it.

Unconditional Love

Micah has figured out a stall tactic for bedtime that gets me every time...even though I know I'm doing exactly what he hopes I will do. Our normal bedtime routine involves reading a few stories, praying, drinking milk, and then bedtime. For the last week or so, Micah will immediately lay his head on my shoulder, tugging at my heartstrings and causing me to just hold him. He knows that in laying his head on my shoulder I will sing or hum to him, delaying bedtime by just a few minutes. He knows that in laying his head on my shoulder I will lightly rub his back, providing just a few more precious moments of mama and Micah time.

And while I know manipulation is essentially what's going on (I questioned if it was truly manipulation if I knew it was occurring?!? :) ) it's just too sweet for me to stop. I love his little head cuddling my shoulder, wanting more love, wanting to show me more love. And I pray that I am always able to give my child the love that he needs. I pray I never withhold love at the sake of manipulation.

It causes me to think about the love that God has for His children. The unconditional kind of love, that He sent His only son to die, so that we could have eternal life. That unconditional love is so amazing, so incredible, and I am so blessed to be able to have a glimpse of that love when I think about Micah.