Andrew started crawling on Thursday and he's been on the move ever since. He's already discovered the forbidden: electronics and other power cords. And when firmly scolded - "Andrew, NO" - he looks up and makes eye contact with a huge, knowing grin. Oh yeah. He knows alright.
This is going to get interesting.
My mind was distracted late Sunday evening as Scott and I were working to assemble a cabinet for the basement from our favorite Swedish furniture maker. I still had my coupons to cut from the paper that day, plus my grocery list to make for the next morning's shopping trip. And we were hustling to get a couple loads of laundry in before the return of Basement Guy Monday morning.
At one point we took a break from the project to fold clothes, and I wanted to check my phone for updates from a dear friend and her overdue baby. But the phone just wasn't in its usual place on the end table. I remembered keeping it in my pocket all day, just in case the "He's here!" call were to come, but as I felt my hips and looked down to see myself already dressed in my pajama pants, I knew exactly where it was.
"My cell phone is in the washing machine," I told Scott with a blank stare. He was convinced otherwise and began to search the car and all the other usual places. I was met with silence as I frantically called my phone from his to help locate it more quickly. Meanwhile Scott unloaded the finished clothes from the washing machine and discovered what I already knew. My phone, now fresh and clean, was sitting in the bottom of the drum.
In an attempt to air out what water the spin cycle couldn't squeeze out, my phone sat on the kitchen counter, dismantled and lifeless for the next couple days.
Amazingly though, now 36 hours later, I'm using my once water-logged cell phone! The thing actually works, address book and all. Ironically we have just nine more days until we are eligible for a credit for newer phones. But in the meantime, I am back in business. Can you believe it?
Time and time again, Scott has been our family's hero, saving us from situations that seemed impossible. He is our calm voice of reason and patient through the trials. What would we do without him?
For Andrew, Daddy is the turning point in the late afternoon when he pulls in the driveway. Cries suddenly change to smiles, and Andrew squirms out of my arms, kicking until Daddy walks in the back door.
For Morgan, Daddy is the entertainer, the one who plays along with the homemade games and elicits the biggest giggles from her soul. Running, chasing, jumping, laughing - these are occurances shared between them at the end of each day.
For Mommy, Daddy is everything. He's the completion of the marriage, the example by which our family follows, the leader of the household, the foundation from which our children will grow, and one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. Without him, the walls would cave in around us.
Thank you for all you do for our family! Happy Father's Day.
Andrew can't get enough of the vacuum cleaner. He loves it, on or off, and his eyes are glued to it every time it makes an entrance. Here he is with his newest love:
With dinner gobbled up by 5:30 tonight, our family took advantage of the extra time before bed and decided to take a quick trip to our local Metropark. And at the last minute, we threw our dusty rollerblades into the trunk.
Just five miles away from us with a bike path that extends to our neighborhood and beyond, we don't take advantage of this access as much as we should. Or as much as we used to. When Scott and I were dating, we often would rollerblade at "the beach" (if you can even call it that). But since marrying and becoming homeowners with responsibility and yardwork, our time in the summer months was spent elsewhere.
So this evening was a perfect opportunity to get out again. With our double stroller, we spent a good chunk of time on the path. The kids enjoyed the warm breezes and we were able to get some quick exercise - something that has also gone by the wayside in recent years. I'm hoping the rollerblades don't see much dust this summer, but instead lots and lots of blacktop.
Insulation of the basement was completed today, and tomorrow the drywall begins. Exciting! This transition also signals our last chance to leave behind something for the future. So tonight we did just that.
Because we were out of town over the holiday weekend, there was a mix-up with the delivery of our Sunday paper. We received two - the extra was a perfect time capsule item. Kept in tact with original sale flyers and rubber band, I slipped a note with the paper:
Our time capsule for the future. Buried May 2010 during basement remodel.
Scott, Rachel, Morgan and Andrew
(owners 2004 to ...?)
