Birthday blahs

We had Walker's birthday party on Sunday afternoon, which was good for a 2 reasons. First, it was a really nice day so he got to play with his new outside toys, including a remote controlled truck big enough that Anderson can ride. Second, Monday night he woke up with the stomach flu and spent Tuesday (his actual birthday) laying on the couch getting better. At least he was able to play with his new hot wheels, listen to his MP3 player, etc. instead of being totally bored. By the afternoon, he was even playing with his hyper jump game. Tuesday evening, by which time I was feeling pretty miserable, he was even feeling good enough to go to Bob Evan's for supper, which he had been looking forward to for some time. He must have really had his appetite back by then because when we got there, he said, "We should have gone to one of those automatic restaurants like McDonald's or Chic-fil-a where they give you the food right away." And today, Carla feels sick. Hopefully she won't pass it to someone else . . .

Basketball, decorative towels, and new words

I turned the radio on for Walker the other night when he went to bed so he could listen to the basketball game.
Announcer: . . . sinks the shot. That makes it 62-56 . . .
Walker: Huh, sounds like the third quarter.

First thing when I came home one night this week from work, Ellie met me in the kitchen and showed me the new towels hanging from the handle on the oven. She said, "Daddy, you can't dry your hands on these towels. They're decorations. They're only to look at. I like the flowers and the bees. So don't dry your hands on them. Only look at them." Sigh . . . just like mommy.

Anderson's talking up a storm, now. Ask him if he's happy and he'll either say "Happy" or shake his head and say "hmmm mmm". Ask him what he likes to watch on TV and he'll say "Georgie" (curious george) and his favorite breakfast food is a "nannie" (banana).

Oh, happy birthday, Dad.

No news is old news

I've been notified that, while posting a pregnancy ticker suffices to get the point across that we're expecting another baby, it lacks a satisfactory level of detail. So, here's what we know:

• The baby's due October 15
• Carla's starting to feel a little bit better - she seems to be through the worst of the morning sickness - but she's still very tired
• An early ultrasound (b/c dates were in question) confirms that the baby has a head and a heart
• By next October ('10), Carla will have been either pregnant or nursing for 6 out of 7 years. She's a trooper.

Walker, right before bed: When was God born?

Me: Well, this is kind of hard to understand but God was never born. He's always been here and he'll always be here.

Walker: Then when did the days start - like Sunday, Monday, Tuesday . . . ?

Me: Oh, I guess God started the days when he made the world, before he even made people.

Walker: Then how old is Adam?

Me: Hmm . . . I don't know, buddy.

Walker: Was he born?

Me: No, God made him out of dirt like you can make things out of play-dough.

Walker: Oh, yeah, I know. And God made Eve out of Adam's . . . shoulder?

Me: Close. He made her out of Adam's rib.

Walker: Does Jesus have any kids?

Me: No.

Walker: Why not?

Me: Because he never got married.

Walker: Why didn't he get married.

Me: Because God sent him here to save us, not to get married and have kids. Now you need to turn off your brain and go to sleep.

Walker, laughing: I can't turn off my brain.

I think he's right.

Ellie's new favorite snack: "Greasy Pieces"

Anderson's a cow

Carla, Walker and Ellie were playing the "states game" the other day where you have to know something about the states to move your game piece around on the board. Ellie's question was, Name three states that start with "New". Ellie's response: "New York, New Jersey, New Vada."

Ellie wanted apple juice at snack time yesterday but she'd already had enough so I told her she could only have water.
Ellie: I don't like water.
Walker: Yeah, well, it's good for your knuckles so you're having it!

Also, if Anderson moos at you, he just wants more food. We taught him how to say "more" but it comes out of his mouth like "moo." Better than him just screaming until he gets more food, though. Oh, if you haven't heard him say cookie, yet, treat yourself to it. It's very cute. Be prepared to actually give him a cookie, though, or he'll be mighty upset.

Ellie and I took him in for his 15 month check up last Friday. He's doing really well, 22.5 lbs and short (I forget exactly how tall, but not very). While we were waiting for the nurse to come back with his shots, Ellie asked me if they were "going to be loud shots", meaning is Anderson going to scream. I told her he'd probably cry for a few minutes and she immediately covered her ears. No nurse in sight or anything.

Another Clue

It's a very affectionate chocolate.

Also (this isn't a clue), Ellie has asthma and/or major allergies, just like her mommy did. Carla took her in yesterday and they did a chest x-ray and some other things. She'll be on an inhaler for a while. We'll take her back in a couple months to see what's working and what's not, then every 6 months after that, I think. We'll see how it goes. She's healthy otherwise, though.

Walker and Anderson are also fine, nothing new to report there. Anderson's finally getting good at telling us who people are when he sees pictures of them. He looks so proud of himself when he gets it right and we praise him. He's a very cute kid, in my opinion.

What Dreams Are Made Of . . .

The other day, W & E were playing when E accidentally made W slip and fall. He was trying to shake it off, but I could tell he really hurt something. The conversation went a little something like this.

C - You gonna live?
W - Yeah. (slightly wincing)
C - That's good!
W - (in one big breath)Yeah, that IS good 'cuz I'm not married yet & I wanna get married when I get big. What happens when a person falls and dies if they're not married?
C - (totally trying not to laugh yet think of a satisfying "Walker answer" all at the same time) They just never get married, buddy.
W - (without skipping a beat) Well, Jesus could make them come alive again . . . . (thinking briefly) . . . or the girl could just marry another boy. ( I guess he was assuming that it was the boy who died.)

SERIOUSLY, what almost-five-year-old is looking forward to marriage? Shouldn't five-year-olds be thinking about sports, junk food, TV, toys and all the other stuff kids enjoy? I guess I'm glad that Walker has starting planning for his future at such a young age. During our next conversation, he'll probably tell me he's invested in a great mutual fund! He never ceases to amaze me.

P.S. I had to change the size & color so you would know it was me posting. I think this is only the 2nd or 3rd time I've ever posted. I usually make Kurt retell the stories because he can add his wittiness, but this time, I couldn't resist!

P.P.S Kurt told me to give you a hint regarding the above candy riddle. It's chocolate, so start guessing.

A few quick notes and a guessing game

Ellie cut her hair but that's old news now. She had it in a pony tail, found some scissors, and cut it. Off. Carla had to take her to the hair dresser to get it fixed up. It's now short and cute but it didn't happen the way we would have liked. Carla kept the pony tail, I guess for a scrap book. I'll bet it's 8 - 10" long.

Walker grabbed one of my harmonicas the other day and started playing around on it. After a while, I heard this beautiful bluesy note come out. I figured it was a fluke but took a shot and said, "Hey, Walker, you just bent a note. That means you can play the blues! Can you do it again?" Well, he could and he did and now he can bend a note at will. Very cool. I'll teach him overblows later and, with any luck, he'll hit the blues circuit big one day and be a multi-thousandaire!

See if you can guess this one. I couldn't.
Ellie came home Saturday after being out with mom and Walker.
Ellie: Dad, I have a secret for you.
Me: Oh, what is it, El?
Ellie: We had candy at the store.
Me: Wow, how did you get that?
Ellie: The lady gave it to us.
Me: Oh, you mean samples? Like you had a little piece?
Ellie: Wayl (or however you spell her little hillbilly-eye-rolling 'well'), we had the hook ones with the big bums.
Your job: Name that Candy.