Halloween- a long time ago

My mom found this old picture from a Halloween, a long time ago.

Cute huh?

Here's what my mom learned that day-

Never grease back your son's hair with vaseline!! Bad idea :)

October's going by fast!

I've been away for a while- mentally and physically.

Sometimes NYU sends Jay on short recruiting trips and James and I like to tag along. This year he had to go to JMU and Penn State. So, we went with him to Harrisonburg VA for 4 days then James and I went to Lynchburg and stayed until Jay got back from his Penn State trip. I love getting away, but I love coming home too.

While in Harrisonburg we found little to do, but we did visit the Luray maze. Jay says he didn't enjoy it, but I think he did. And at times James was scared because somewhere they were trimming the hedges and he didn't like the noise.

Then we went to pick pumpkins. James liked this one... but the one we got was much smaller!
In Lynchburg we took James to a little play park. At one point he fell face first into the dirt and ate most of it, but he had fun!
And we visited my friend, Melanie. Her little boy, Kaden, is just 3 months older than James and she just had a little girl (Kaysen) in September.
This is Melanie getting used to having 2 kids. One hungry and one crying because he fell down and hit is head!
:) I think we're done traveling for a while. It's cold and rainy here in the city and I think the cold is setting in, so we're pulling out our coats and scarfs. Fun!

Happy 4th Birthday to Apostles

Our church celebrated their 4th birthday yesterday. I consider it a blessing to be a part of this church and to be part of something working to change our city. Apostles loves and serves the people of NYC. This beautiful song was sung yesterday and really speaks about what we can do in a city like New York. I wish I had a clip of the song live, but I don't- so just enjoy the lyrics.

"May we be stable, may we be steadfast

Not shift from the gospel we've heard

May we in Him, rooted within Him

and flee from desires of this world

Let's do what we're called to do

We're chosen to live the truth

As we walk the city we will love

As we walk the city we'll speak love"

September already!

I realize that it's been quite some time since I've posted a new blog. I love to write but I just haven't had blogging inspirations or felt anything worthy of a blog lately. August came and went, we took an unexpected trip to visit family one week, but mostly we've sweated it out here in the city. This week however, it's been lovely- absolutely beautiful and I am eagerly anticipating the fall weather. I'm just hoping it doesn't jump right into winter!

James found that he enjoys standing in the rain very much...

He also seems to enjoy a DQ dilly bar... (and NO I did not allow him to eat the whole thing. He only had a bite)

Perhaps it's his age, 17 months, but he's taken to grand displays of unhappiness. Sometimes it's just a short outburst of crying (as pictured below when he was denied more salsa) and sometimes it's throwing himself on the floor as if I'd just done the unthinkable. I say NO about 50 times a day and I sometimes feel guilty, even though I know I have to keep him from harm. But he doesn't know that, he just knows I've hurt his little feelings and he doesn't like it. But he still gives me hugs and kisses! I read somewhere to learn to say yes instead of no, but geez it's a lot easier to say "NO James, don't touch the computer" than to say "Yes, James I know you like to push buttons, but those aren't the buttons you should push. Come on lets push the buttons on your piano/phone/computer." Oh well... I guess we are both learning! I think sometimes he's just bored and in need of further entertainment :)

By the way, we call this his ugly face and when James sees it he thinks it's funny.

We welcomed the start of college football this weekend, something Jay looks forward to all year. Yesterday Jay says to James, "What is today?" and James (after some coaching) says "game day." Too cute!

I joined a little book club, which I'm excited about, with a friend from our church. The two of us with two other girls who we found through craigslist :)

I read all the time, so it will be fun to connect with other people reading the same thing! We just read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by the same guy that wrote "The Kite Runner"- both of which were very good.

I'll try to write more frequently, if not for anyone else, than for myself. It's medicine for the soul.

the strength of our youth

Very often I forget how powerful kids can be. They are aware of much more than I give them credit for. They know what's right and wrong, they know pain, they know justice, they know about humanity and can handle subjects I sometimes think they aren't ready for.

One of the blogs I follow and an organization I feel passionate about is Love 146, which I've mentioned before. I just read the latest post, called "Labor of Love" and was moved by the story. Check it out here.

How encouraging it is to know that young people are using their voices and talents to bring awareness to issues like this.

James in August

Haven't had much to post about lately. It's hot here, we go to the park just about every day (unless it's raining) and James is becoming more and more daring. Here's a couple recent pictures.

James' latest obsessions: clocks and fire trucks. Whenever he hears a siren he get excited and wants to look out the window to see the fire truck pulling out of the station. This happens pretty often considering we live in NYC, so you can imagine how many times during the day we have to quickly look out the window. I took him down to the station this past week and he was so excited to see the truck. Not excited enough to get very close, but still thrilled. They gave him a fire hat and said I could bring him anytime :)

We've also been learning to use a spoon. I have to grit my teeth and let him make a mess so he'll learn, but I will admit it's difficult to see him scoop it up then drop it all over the place over and over again.

James is talking more now too. He says clock, tick-tock, up, yes, kitty-cat and does several animal sounds. This was my attempt to video some of the human tricks- of course he didn't really want to cooperate, but I tried.

For the love of his blanket

My baby boy is attached to this blanket. It's kind of cute and I'm not opposed to it at all. I mean he didn't take a pacifier or his thumb, so I think it's okay for him to love a blanket. He was being super cute yesterday so I took a couple pictures.

He's getting so big; and more and more I see him becoming a little boy instead of a baby!