Sunday

Recently - like today I have a bone to pick.  I told myself I wasn't going to use my blog for these, and just for happy updates on my cute little family.  I changed my mind for a brief moment so I'm going to vent a little bit.

Now for you loyal blog readers (I kid myself into thinking it's a lot but it's just a few - but I love you for reading) I don't want to offend you and this vent isn't to offend it's just my little opinion that needs to spill out through words instead of yelling at someone I love.

Here it goes.  While driving today Sunday August 21st, Lyla my four year old says "I hope someday we can change our mind and go to church today."  Bill and I look at each with an odd look because we don't mention church.  Here is why.  I have nothing against any religion really I don't - I just choose to not make religion a part of my life.  Now I'm not saying I don't believe in God, or prayer, or spirituality.  I believe in all of that.  I just in my opinion don't think I need religion or church to tell me how to believe in these or how I should be.  So, I don't plan to raise my kids in any religion.  I will teach them about God, prayer, and spirituality.  I will teach respect to others.  To accept everyone for their strengths and for their faults. I will teach charity, in fact every winter I gather up toys and clothes not being used, plus food and take them to homeless shelters and the Dove House.  This year Lyla will be going with me - to see how others don't have everything she has. As my children grow if that want to make religion a part of their lives - I will support them!  I don't care what religion they choose as long as it's their choice and it's an informed decision.  I don't want it to be a because my parents go to this church I do, or because my friends go to this church I do - I want them to choose their church based upon what is in their heart and what they have researched on said church.  If like me they don't choose one I think that is fine too - as long as it's what they want.  So, guess what no my kids won't be baptized when they're 8 years old - just accept this.

On with the Lyla conversation.  After she says this I ask "who talked to you about this?"  Of course it could only be 1 or 2 people (and I will keep that on the DL).  She tells me.  I ask her "do you know what church is?"  Lyla says "It's where people get married."  Yes that's true.  But here is what bugs me about this conversation.  I don't want someone telling Lyla that she is supposed to go to church, because she's not, and frankly as her parent I am allowed to have a say in what she is supposed to do and what she isn't.  Like:  Yes Lyla you're supposed to wipe the snot off your nose.  No Lyla you're not allowed to make fun of that kid in daycare because he doesn't wipe his nose.   To me spirituality is not the same as religious.  Really you can be spiritual with out religion, and you can be religious with out being spiritual - we all know some of these people.  Lyla will go to church when she chooses to go to church, and I honestly hope that if she does decide this - she goes to several different ones.  See what they're all about - nothing wrong with that.

Now do I hate you because you go to church every Sunday and are part of a religion - umm no.  I support you, I love you, and I hope for only great things in your life.  I'm not going to say to "You should stop that church thing."  Guess what if you invite me to a religious service that means something to you ie: baptism, I will come if I'm able because you have asked me to be part of something that is very special to you and your family - I will support and love you.  So, please oh please do not tell me or my family that we need/have/should go to church - guess what I think we're still a very strong spiritual family.  Thanks for your concern.

All right I'm done offending and I feel a little bit better getting that off my chest.  I shall drink a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi now.

9 months old - really?

Gage is 9 months old - really 9 months has already passed since the day he was born.  Sometimes that feels like "No way really?" - Other times it feels like "Its only been 9 months?".  So what is up with Gage you ask?  He is still just about the cutest baby ever only tying with Lyla when she was a baby.  He is still trying really hard to walk.  He is into the pushing anything he can around the house to practice walking with.  We do have a walking toy, but he prefers the shoe basket, a laundry basket, or of course his big sis who will hold his hands and walk him around the house.  One of the funniest things about Gage is that he HATES it when you leave the room that he is in!! BUT, he can totally ditch you and it's totally fine.  I can't tell you how many times I find myself sitting on the floor in the living room watching him - when suddenly he isn't there.  Where is he?  His top picks are the laundry room, my bathroom and closet (which houses MJ's food and water - so fun for Gage!), and Lyla's room.  

Took some 9 month pics in the front yard.

Oh those bright blue eyes and blonde hair - love them!  He looks like his Uncle Tyler.

My lil' Tree Hugger!

As any of you who read my blog know that Gage is sick kinda often - sometimes it feels like all the time.  Recently we had another issue with illness - that being tonsillitis (again!).  Gage has also decided that he no longer wanted to drink formula so I started letting him drink Lactaid milk instead.  When I took him to the Dr for the tonsillitis (did I mention - again!) she didn't like this at all and said if he wouldn't drink formula then we should do goats milk.  Well come to find out after a few days of Lactaid and a few days of goats milk - Gage has a milk allergy.  Not like can't breath allergy, it just gives him a bad belly ache, ear ache, fever, and a runny nose.  Oh well.  So, I put him on a different and cheaper formula and he is doing really great on it - in fact we haven't been sick for a little while.  Hooray!  Oh and at the Dr's office Gage weighed 20lb 4oz.  Gage is also mostly wearing 12 month clothes and I have no idea on his shoe size (because I never put shoes on him), but I think around a 2 or 3.


Sippy cups!!  I love sippy cups and I'm so looking forward to the day when bottles are gone.  We are close!  Gage only uses a sippy cup during the day, and he gets a bottle before bed.  At one those bottles are going in the trash - never to be seen in my house again!  Gage also eats like a growing boy.  We have 3 meals a day, and he mooches whatever he can from our plates as well.  I think he would rather have the real stuff.


Toys!!  What baby doesn't love toys?  By toys of course I mean everything else in the house and will sometimes play with the actual baby toys.  Gage's favorite non toys:  pots-pans-wooden spoon, shoe basket, toilet paper, stacked cd's, Lyla's ZuZu pets (with or with out her) etc.  Gage also loves to play anything that Lyla is playing.  If she is coloring he is coloring (he understands it too, knows how to hold the marker, and how to get it to work on paper), if she is playing blocks he is playing blocks (we call him Godzilla Gage, because his playing is destroying what has been built), if she is playing babies, barbies, and puzzles - well so is Gage.  Lyla is very patient with him, and only seldom will she play in her room with the door closed leaving Gage out.  Gage loves being outside, if the door to the backyard is open he is outside.  He will push around the mini 4 wheeler (with Lyla on it), he will play in the grass, he will play with MJ's dog toys, and he will eat leaves!  He does play with his toys sometimes as well.  His favs are the music stage, little trucks, balls (he has got quite a good arm for throwing them), and he has a favorite book: Little Quack Loves Colors.  His eyes light up when he sees the book, and he loves it being read to him.  I will be buying more of the Little Quack collection for sure.

He don't need no gym to build muscles.

The music stage.

Seriously he played with a medicine syringe and dip bowel for like 30 minutes.

Playing with Lyla.

Helping Dad hang a shelve.

Annoying?: Are you allowed to consider a baby annoying?  Well Gage has a quirk that is annoying - he keeps biting Lyla.  Really he keeps biting her feet.  She will be sitting on the couch and he will be on the floor and to get her attention because he either wants to play with her or because she is eating something he wants - he bites her feet. Ugh!  


Teething:  They haven't all appeared but we are currently cutting 4 teeth - yes 4.  One on the bottom and 3 up top.  He really is quite good for how much I'm sure it sucks.  Hopefully they will finish cutting soon. 

So Gage is growing up, and seems like he is one smart kid.  He can say Mama, Dada, Lyla (by say Lyla I mean yell).  He points to what he wants and will say "that" - he does this when he wants juice.  I'm always amazed since the day he was born that he just seems to - get stuff - if that makes sense.  It's like he knows how to do everything and what everything is about he just has to get the rest of his self to do it.  I've always thought of him as an old soul stuck in a babies body - we will have see as he grows up I guess.

Preschool

Lyla has started Preschool - for her second year!  She is just as excited about school as she was last year, and two of her friends from last year - Sophie and Isobel - are back in her class this year as well.  Hooray!  We are really working hard this year on letters and writing her name.  I have put her on the list to hopefully attend George Washington Academy next year - she just has to make it through the lottery.  Here is my cute girl on her first and second day of preschool.

First day new backpack, shoes, and dress.

She picked the dress and shoes out herself!

Lyla picked out this outfit too - 2nd day of school.