Happy Halloween!

It's Luke's first Halloween! We went with the monkey costume, though there is no way he is going to wear that thing on his head. Why do they even make costumes like that for babies? We're getting together this morning with some of his baby friends, so there should be some more pictures for you later.

I wanted to show you the scary house in our neighborhood. These pictures really don't do it justice. I had planned to take some better ones today, but it's raining!




Yesterday we went to the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens to see their annual scarecrow exhibit/competition. Denise and the girls and Kristen and Owen went, too. Luke is not really popular with the ladies, yet. I guess he is still in the stage of having more fun with the guys. We'll see today, I guess, when we hang out with Canon and Colt.







This was one of my favorites. Notice that it is called "Desperate Housewife." It reminds me of something...



On the way home from the Gardens, Luke started saying "mamamamama" out of the blue and that has replaced "dadadadada" as his babble of choice. It kind of makes me feel more like a mom than I did before!

Why haven't we done this before now?

Tonight we gave Luke his first bath in the sink. That is so much easier because you don't have to bend over and you can rinse him off with the sprayer! Well, Kyle is the one who actually bathed him, but it looked easier, for sure. And Luke loved it! He was drinking water out of the faucet and clapping and splashing. He screamed bloody murder when we took him out. So, baths will be in the sink from now on. Oh, and by the way, he's TEN months old today!

I also have some pictures from the weekend. Friday night our sunday school class went to the Corn Dodgers Farm in Headland. We had a really good time and it was an excuse for Luke to sport his new Carhartt overalls! We had fun getting the babies together, but I'm afraid this bunch is not helping to encourage the childless members of our class to get started. (Well, Luke isn't, for sure!)

This farm had two corn mazes. We thought we were so smart when we made it out of phaze one, but not so much when we came out in that same spot when we tried to go through phaze two. After the maze, the guys took turns with the corn cannon (hence the name Corn Dodgers Farm?). Except for Kyle, because the loud noise was too scary for Luke. We went over and played in the pumpkins instead. This is Luke with Abby Bancroft and Collins Martin.

On saturday night we went over to the fall festival at Grove Park with Eddie and Emily Jones and their kids Ava and Rafe. Emily is one of Kyle's partners at Primecare and Rafe was born about 12 hours after Luke.

Rafe is Darth Vader and Luke is supposed to be a monkey. He will NOT wear the head part, though. Sitting next to Darth he looks like Yoda. Both of these guys look older than 10 months to me.



We'll try to get some pictures with the whole monkey outfit this weekend. Some of Luke's other friends are going to be animals, too. It should be an interesting Halloween.

Random thoughts

This is kind of random, but has anyone else noticed the madness that has been created in the supermarket world since Publix decided to come to town?? Every grocery store in Dothan has had a total make-over complete with hardwood flooring in at least one section. And this includes Wal-Mart. I mean, I thought the manager at Southern Family Markets was going to hug my neck before I got out of there. I'm not complaining. I just think it is an interesting phenomenon. It just goes to show you what a little competition will do in a FREE MARKET economy! When is Publix going to be built, by the way? I still think it is a myth.

Also on a random note, does anyone else like to assign a letter grade to your child's report you get from Mother's Day Out? For example, today, Luke gets an A+ (and a high-five) because he pooped while there and his nap was less than 45 minutes. That means one less poopie diaper for me to change and a longer afternoon nap at home! Maybe this is just me...

Here is a random picture for you, too. He can really fly behind that thing! Oh, and he will sometimes let go and take several steps on his own now. I really need to get a video, but my camera memory is full :(

Aplin Farms

Denise has a long list of places that she wants us to go before she moves...or is it my list? Anyway, I know Aplin Farms was on her list, so last week we went on the search for pumpkin shirts for Luke and the girls to wear to the pumpkin patch. And after 3 trips to Wal-mart, 2 trips to Target and 3 trips to a little shop in Headland, we didn't even get a picture of the three of them in their matching pumpkin shirts. I think the picture above is as close as we got, but I forgot to take off the bib. How cute is that? From left to right is Mary Selwyn Nichols, Luke, Owen Thompson, Anna Clare Thompson, and Adeline Nichols. (The Thompsons are in the sunday school class that Denise stole us from.)

When we got to the farm, we first went to see the animals. Luke seemed to like the cows, but he was much more interested in climbing the fence than petting any of them.

After the animals, we looked around the market then loaded up on the wagon and headed to the pumpkin patch. Luke's grandaddy will be happy to know that he loved the tractor ride! There were tons of pumpkins of all shapes, colors and sizes in the patch. We decided just to pick one up in the little market when we got back since we had so many children to hold on to. Kyle did manage to cut a pretty bouquet of sunflowers. Steve (Thompson) was very impressed that he has such a knack for creating a bouquet...

It was a big day for Luke. So tired!




Kyle didn't miss an opportunity to build a fire when we got home.

My First Real Boo-Boo :(

I guess it just comes with learning to walk, or climb actually. And I'm sure it is only the first of many. He was trying to climb on the basket filled with magazines and it tipped over and he smacked his head on the baseboard. Thankfully, Kyle was working this morning because if Matt Krista had been there, Luke would have probably gotten his first set of stitches. Probably just one stitch. But since it was just Kyle and me, we cleaned it up and stuck some steri-strips and a band-aid on it. Good as new!

Maybe the bump on the head triggered something, because today was also a big day for milestones. For some reason, while I was trying to get a picture he figured out how to clap and he's been clapping all day. He also took TWO WHOLE STEPS, all by himself!! He's still not doing that consistently enough to catch on video, but I did get the clapping:

Babypalooza and a Sneaky Peek

So I'm taking a break from ironing because I just have a couple of things to share. I know this is a mistake because Luke is going to wake up any minute and I'm just 4 shirts away from having everything Kyle owns ironed. Oh, well.

First, I wanted to put this on here before I forget, because I never get a chance to post pictures of these guys:

Don't be mad, Alicia! You look very cute. This is Luke with his friends Canon Moss, Colt Parrish, and Ava Yates. We had a Babypalooza the other day when Mary (Colt's mom) was sick with a stomach bug. (Kyle pointed out that Luke is the oldest and is the only one wearing a bib. The spitting up just won't quit). What a lot of babies! And lots of opportunities for cute pictures of babies with Halloween coming up!

Speaking of cute pictures, take a look at my friend's blog (www.kaydeeroden.com/blog) for a "sneaky peek," as she calls it, of Luke's nine month pictures. They are wonderful!! And speaking of Halloween, there is an impressive display in our neighborhood that I have to show you. I'll take a picture this weekend and post it for you, or if you are in Dothan, go by the corner of N Park and W Powell street. It really adds a certain charm to the Garden District...

Individual Discouragement and Personal Growth

The title of today's lesson in My Utmost is actually "Individual Discouragement and Personal Growth," so after yesterday's post I had to share. The last two days have talked about getting into "God's stride" and Oswald says that this is summed up in these words--"I AM WHO I AM...has sent me to you." (Exodus 3:14) This is from Exodus when Moses was sent to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Moses just knew that he was going to be the one to do that, but he went about it the wrong way. He first needed to learn true fellowship and oneness with God.

Apparently, Moses was a little discouraged when he was sent to the desert to tend sheep for forty years, but by the time God came to him in that burning bush he was a little more ready to depend on God rather than his own strength. At that point he actually told God he couldn't do it, send somebody else (Exodus 3:10-11). God had to remind him that he wouldn't be doing it..."I AM" would.

This lesson also says, "We must learn that our individual effort for God shows nothing but disrespect for Him--our individuality is to be rendered radiant through a personal relationship with God so that He may be 'well-pleased'."

I take from all this that God doesn't want (or need, for that matter) me to do anything for Him. He just wants me to focus on my relationship with Him and He will do things through me.

The lesson ends by saying, "If you are going through a time of discouragement, there is a time of great personal growth ahead."

God's Silence

I have felt so discouraged for the past several days and I'm really not sure why. I guess the news that my kindred-spirit-co-worrier-encourager-stay-at-home friend (Denise) is moving helped bring it on, maybe? Anyway, since I've been staying home with Luke I have had more time to spend with the Lord. Things were going really well. The entire process of med school and residency had really just crushed my spirit, but now that I am away from all that my joy is returning. But for whatever reason this past week it was gone again. I really believed it was an attack from satan and maybe that is part of it.

I picked up my copy of My Utmost For His Highest (by Oswald Chambers--wonderful daily devotional book. I highly recommend it.) this morning and opened it to where I left off, which was October 10th. That day was about how to know God's revealed truths. They are sealed until they are opened up to us through obedience. You can't philosophize, think or worry your way into them. You just obey. But isn't that what I've been doing? I have quiet time every morning (when Luke lets me), I pray for guidance, I read my Bible, go to church, confess my sins. I mean, I know I could do even better, but I have told God that I need help. And it only seems like things have gotten worse.

Back in August, Brother Johnny Fain gave a message on knowing the will of God. He pointed out that we always seem to be wondering if we're carrying out His will, when there are a lot of things we should do that we already know are His will:

For unbelievers that is to accept Christ as your savior.

As believers we know we should:

• Live a sacrificed life


• share the gospel


• be baptized


• tithe


• do missions


• learn and study His word


• put off the things of your old life--anger, bitterness, anxiety


• love one another


• go to church


• raise your children in the ways of Christ

He said that we should use what we already know and God will show us what we need to know.

I certainly have a lot of room for improvement, more places to be obedient, but maybe this is a time of God's silence. The October 11th lesson in My Utmost talks about God's silence as His answers. Oswald says, "God will give you the very blessings you ask if you refuse to go any further without them, but His silence is a sign that He is bringing you into an even more wonderful understanding of Himself."

So, I'm going to try not to be immature and say, "Let me hear you, Lord!" I'm trying to praise Him for His silence and wait for something even more wonderful.

First Steps!

Luke finally took some steps today! He still hasn't actually initiated the steps by himself, but we were holding his hands and letting him walk back and forth between us today and once he got started we let go of his hands and he would keep going. Usually he just leans forward when we let go. Good thing he got his first real pair of shoes 'cause he's going to be ready to go!

We had a great weekend. Saturday morning Kyle ran and Denise and I walked a 5K for the Medical Center's Breast Cancer Foundation. Good thing I didn't decide to run because I would have never made it! I ended up carrying Luke and Denise pushed the stroller.

Last night we went to a dinner at Kenny and Rita Cox's to celebrate Kyle becoming a partner at Primecare. Yay! We went to our Sunday School class this morning, then to Big Church at Covenant for Colt's (Josh and Mary Parrish's son) Christening. He was great! I didn't hear a peep out of him and he stayed for the entire service.

Time to rest up for another busy week!

Bowties with Sausage Cream Sauce

Kyle and I love Italian food. My favorite restaurant in Tuscaloosa was always DePalma's, mainly for the meatball and onion breadsticks with pizza sauce. So good! Sadly, the last time we went it just wasn't the same. The owner committed suicide several years ago, but for a while it didn't change. I think they've taken some shortcuts because of the economy. Very depressing.

I got distracted. That has nothing to do with this recipe and I'm sorry you will have to read that anytime you look at this post. The point of the post is this pasta recipe that I discovered a couple of weeks ago that is delicious. Just ask our friend Shay!

Bowties with Sausage Cream Sauce

1 package Bowtie pasta

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup diced onion

1 28 ounce (or 2-14 ounce, duh) can of Itialian style diced tomatoes, drained

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons minced fresh basil (optional)

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente: drain and set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage and pepper flakes until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in onion and garlic. Cook until onion is tender. Add tomatoes, cream, and salt. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Stir cooked pasta into sauce, and heat through. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Nine month stats

We went to the pediatrician yesterday. Still in the 75th percentile for height and weight. He weighed 22 pounds and is 29 1/2 inches long. Had to get a Hep B shot. I wasn't ready for that. We didn't give shots at 9 months in residency, but he only cried for a second and wasn't even fussy that afternoon (much unlike with 4 and 6 month shots). I would also like to take this opportunity to say that, yes, he is still spitting up enormously. We started giving him zantac again so he doesn't seem to cry as much, but the output has not slowed down.

His favorite toys right now are a baseball and a basketball and he loves to point out the eyes on all the animals in his books. He still loves to go for runs in his stroller and anytime we get near a door he starts saying "dog, dog!" (Ok, it sounds more like "dodt, dodt," but I know what he means.) This is my favorite age, so far, though I think Mother's Day Out has played a role in that. Did I mention that I decided to let him go two days a week instead of one?

We had a great time getting 9 month pictures made. Can't wait to see them!!

Mother's Day Out

Just dropped Luke off for his first day of "Mother's Day Out" at First Methodist. I'm sorry, "Parent's Day Out." (We Baptists aren't very PC). The church is only a block from my house so I loaded him in the stroller and walked up to drop him off. Looks like he is the youngest one in the class because when I got to the door there were two other little boys running up to the baby gate. He wasn't excited when I handed him over, but he wasn't very upset, either. I expected a little more emotion from him since they had to call us out of sunday school this week because he wouldn't stop crying.

At any rate, I thought I would feel freedom after dropping him off, but I was really sad pushing home the empty stroller. Um, I think that is a bit dramatic considering he is basically just playing at church a block away for four hours. Oh, well. I have to go do laundry and pack for picture weekend. Hope I remember to pick him up on time...