Trains

Samuel's fascination with trains began this summer.
He and Rob were at a park.
They had walked down to the water, under a railroad track.
Soon a train came by.
Samuel waved and the conductor blew the horn.
He was amazed.

Since then when you ask him what sound a train makes, he says "choo choo" and then waves.
He associates the wave with the train.

His love of trains has grown since.
Loves seeing them as we drive.
Loves playing at the train table at Barnes and Noble.
Loves watching Thomas as a special Sat morning treat with Dada.

And so for Halloween, Samuel is going to be Thomas the Train.
I have to admit, there were such "cute" costumes like lions and monkeys.
I thought, he would look adorable.

But nothing excites him as much as his trains and saying choo choo.

Look tomorrow for pictures.

Bob and Sue's visit

Here are a few pictures from Bob and Sue's trip to Washington.
To survive leaving the sunshine of South Carolina, we headed across the mountains and went to Leavenworth and then on to the Grand Coulee Dam. Bob worked on a Westinghouse generator there in the early 70s. It was so fun to be there with him. And it is impressive!!

Camera Found- here is the last picture taken

Hello

As many of you know, our camera has been missing for a while.

Today I went on a serious hunt for it's location, and it was in......

the diaper bag.

Now I am sure I checked there several times. Today I emptied it's entire contents and there it was, along with some other unmentionable items, that I think were at one time food.

Funny it was with me every day as I am seldom without my diaper bag!!

I was interested in seeing the last picture taken. Here it is- it was from a date night Rob and I had on Sept 18th. Ruthie watched Samuel and we had dinner at the Melting Pot- yum.

Here is Rob post new glasses and pre new haircut.

(oh and I suppose me pre covering my gray:)

At The Park

Yesterday afternoon Kathleen and I went to the park with Samuel.
It was a beautiful sunny fall day. (That doesn't happen too frequently in Seattle falls)
Kathleen took a bunch of pictures...and even put together a collage of some of them.

Rob took the bus from downtown and met us there.

Our plan was to go to the zoo, but Samuel napped longer than usual and didn't get up in time to make it. Imagine that, things not going as planned with a toddler!

Here are some pictures- thanks Kathleen.
Now I'm going to go look for our camera in all of those places the previous post mentioned:)

Having fun on the slide!

An uneven teeter totter.

Laughing with Kathleen.

Heading home....

Slipper in the Frig

Before I was a mom, I never....

1. found a stuffed animal in the dishwasher
2. heard my cell phone ring deep inside the toy bin
3. discovered my long lost keys in the high chair
4. felt a monkey in my shoe
5. spotted string cheese stuck in through the hole in the drawer of Samuel's dresser
6. found clean clothes stuffed in the diaper genie
7. grabbed a giraffe magnet while searching the drawer for a measuring spoon
8. pulled out a block that was blocking my printer from printing
9. saw raisins lined up on the stairs like ants marching
10. found my slipper chilling in the refrigerator

(and that's just my top ten:)

Melanie

July in Minnesota

Samuel and I went to Minnesota for 2 weeks in July. Rob was able to join us for about 5 days in the middle of the trip. We had the 3rd annual golf tournament in memory of my Dad.

We spent lots of time at parks and playgrounds. Trips to the Children's Museum, the zoo and the aquarium. Along with lots of time playing in Abuela's house and yard.

This playground is at Carver Lake, close to my moms house.








Samuel had lots of fun playing in the pool. Although I'm not sure what to think of his attempts to drown Curious George. (Or perhaps as someone suggested, he was baptizing him)



















































At Teddy Bear park in Stillwater.

With Mari and Maycee. Their parents (Terry and Jill) are good friends of my parents (and us too!) Terry is the impetus behind the golf tournament and as a family they make the annual trip to Minnesota for it. Samuel loved playing with them. (And their older sister Maggie, who was celebrating her 13th Bday)

Our first trip to Mall of America park. (It was previously known as Camp Snoopy, but I can't think of what it is now called)

Riding the hot air balloons.

With Abuela (my mom) on the Carousel.

At moms house.

Some messy eating.

At the Children's Museum, rooftop sandbox.

Our second trip to MOA. (With Rob and to celebrate Maggie's 13th bday)

What do these have in common?

Ball
Baby
Amen
Apple
Fish
Jump

South Carolina

As you may notice, I am working my way through the last few months.
In June we took a fun family trip to South Carolina to visit Rob's family.
Samuel loved the ocean and playing in the sand...so much so that a later trip to the pool was met with indignation.


(For those who don't know, Rob's parents live in SC as well as his "little" brother Ted, his wife Karen and their three beautiful kids. Not sure why I chose to say little, as I know Ted is taller, but I always smile when I hear Rob call him his little brother.)






















Looking at the water with Mamu




Papa, DaDa and Samuel





I love the above picture of the cousins





And this one of Ted and Karen.

Mothers Day

Bob and Sue left yesterday...and I am still blogging!
I was going through any pictures taken since the "recliner"- and realized there's a lot.
Here's a few that were taken on our first mothers day with Samuel.

My first mothers day breakfast in bed.
All the Wits End Moms sharing:
Brunch at church:
Samuel brought me to 3rd Place Books, gave me some cash and a few hours to explore.

Coke Cans

The other night I got Samuel ready for bed, went to put some things in the frig and turned around to this!!

(yes I had the camera right there ready for such shots:)

So I thought, I'll just see how high he can go.

Six was no problem.

On the 7th one, now taller than him, it started tipping.

For those of you who know how much I love Coke, you will notice I let this experiment happen with Rob's Diet Coke.

Decisions

How do you make decision?

I'm an analytical person- list of pros and cons and spreadsheets that weight different values.
I'm a person of faith- lots of prayer, listening and noticing.
I'm an ESFJ- so whatever that might mean for decision making- along with externally processing it all.

I mention all of this to talk about a decision I made a month ago. I was forwarded a job description. Not just any job description, but one that sounded like it was made just for me. It combined finance- using my mba and analytical skills, purpose- a non profit that I believe in and a focus on at-risk girls and women- playing into my all womens college eduation that always draws me into strenghtening and bringing tenderness into womens lives.

And it was 15 hours a week. And the pay was great- on par for a full time job.

So of course I would apply for it. At least apply and see what happens. The next hour I would think, I love staying home with Samuel- I'm not going to apply. But only 15 hours a week- that's nothing. I could work 3 five hour days or 5 three hour days or maybe 2 full days- I'll apply. But I went through a similiar decision last fall and made the decision to stay home- I'll not apply.

And so went my own "mommy wars" in my mind.

And so increased the conversation I had with Rob and with my mom and with friends. Keep in mind this was only in the decision to apply. If it caused this much thought, why not at least apply and it might not even be a decision I have to make. But deep in my soul it seemed so important to know what I wanted, to have some intention.

I honestly couldn't figure it out. Couldn't figure out why I changed day by day. How can I feel so differently moment by moment?

And then one day at the childrens museum, I had a revelation. I was watching Samuel play. I loved watching his intensity as he was figuring out how the water flowed. With tears, I thought, this is what I want. I want to spend this season with him...and am grateful it is an option, although not without sacrifice. And I knew I wasn't going to apply for the job, that I didn't want to work 15 hours a week....and for a moment felt freedom from guilt for that thought.

And then I asked God, will I change my mind tomorrow? Why do I keep changing?

And it felt so clear. "I do not feel I am making this decision just for me. I am making it for all women." As I have reflected on that, I realized I couldn't hear my own voice due to all the other voices, important voices. In this season, I had knowledge of what I wanted- but felt it was "irresponsible" or "selfish" to decide just for me. Does that make sense?

I was feeling that if I stayed home I was saying all women should stay home. And if I worked I was saying women should work. I don't feel either one of those is true. There are a lot of circumstances, desires, gifting that lead women to making one or the other decisions. Along with a lot of the same that lead women into feeling they "have to" stay home or work.

I asked Rob if he understood. And he said yes...but "I have never felt I am making a decision for all white men." Interesting. As much as I knew I wasn't obviously wasn't deciding for all, I felt such weight in what I decided.

Through this process, being able to identify why I was struggling, I feel I have come out on the other side with a freedom. To be able to say, without defense, I am going to stay home. I do not think it is the "right" thing to do. I do not know if it is what I will decide in another season of life. But I am confident it is what my heart and soul is calling forth from me.

So how do you make decisions?
And for women, have you been caught in the mommy wars? And how do you hear what your heart is calling you to?

love
melanie

One Year Ago

One year ago today:

• We woke up at the Marriott in Guatemala City.
• We packed up luggage and held a sleepy baby at 4am as a shuttle headed to the airport.
• We planned out how much formula would be needed and worried if the security would let it through.
• We boarded our flight to Houston and wondered what Samuel's first flight would be like.



• We landed in Houston and waited in the Immigrations room for our interview.
• We said good bye to Mamu and Papa.
• We boarded another flight, a longer flight to Seattle.
• We landed in Seattle and were greeted by Abuela who had just flown in from MN and by Nathan who had long prayed for this moment.
• We brought Samuel into our home and gave him a tour and he giggled, impressive after a long long day of travel
• We checked in on him sleeping in his crib about every 10 minute, to make sure he is breathing.

One year ago today:

• Our life changed.
• Our dreams came true.
• Our new path as parents began.
• And we still check on him sleeping in his crib, just to watch the peacefulness as he sleeps.