a random assortment of updates...

so i feel there is a lot to update, seeing as i haven't posted a legitimate update in a while, but i feel that quite a lot has happened....

1. summer was very busy. between all the visitors, flood waters, baby dedications and the like, i feel like summer was about a month long. it was a wonderful summer, and i am thankful for all the people who came out to see us -- rebecca, the wood family, and traci. we were blessed to have you all here!

2. school has once again commenced which means my hubby is back at work. which i am really excited and proud of him for...but i do miss him at home and i do miss the option of sleeping in every other morning as we would switch off which parent would get up with the wee one. but the good thing is that he has been sleeping later, which is good. anyways, so dave is in full swing teaching and coaching, and it's been fun. every wednesday there is a football dinner which we go to and is quite fun because i don't have to cook and it's yummy food. last week was the freshman team's first game, and sadly, they lost 48-8. better luck this week?

3. i start school next week which i am really excited for. hopefully, we are going to turn our basement into a classroom which should be really fun for the girls and give james lots of crawling around room during lesson time. i think i get my curriculum soon, and i'm excited to start planning my lessons. for those of you who don't know, this year i am going to be homeschooling to twin fifth grade girls every day at my house from 9-12. God pretty much blessed our socks off with providing this job, because i get to teach and stay home with my boy! except i am surprised their mom trusted me with their whole education for the 5th grade? hopefully, i won't let them down!

4. james is pretty much amazing. we've been working on getting him to sit down for naps because i'll need him to once school starts, and so far, it's been going great. sometimes we'll let him cry it out, sometimes bounce him a little, and sometimes sit him down once he's asleep. and every way seems to be successful guaranteeing a 1/2 hour to 1 and 1/2 nap. i feel pretty blessed and thankful for this! what a lil' buddy...Also, he's been on the move lately. crawling like no other, going from room to room, basically being an independent little man. he's been pulling up on anything he can from coffee tables to fireplaces to chairs to parent's legs to well, anything. this also includes cribs, which proves to be a problem when you've laid him down for a nap only to later hear him banging on the crib railing because he's stood up. this also proves to be a small hinderance to naptime. but good news is he just last week learned to get himself down from standing which is an improvement from his previous method- falling back and hitting his head on the floor. other than that, he's been a complete joy and i can't believe in a few short days he'll be 7 months old. where has time gone?




also, he's easting solids pretty regularly and not nursing as much during the day, mostly because he has so much to do (crawl, stand, sit, etc...). this however means he's nursing a ton at night. let's just say i have coffee every morning. we also ordered his halloween costume and i'm pretty excited for it! he's going to be a 1920's golfer and i can't wait to see him in it!

4. training has once again commenced for my half marathon. it's only a month and a half away and we are in full swing of running. we had to take a big break due to visitors and moving and such, but i feel we are back on track. it's october 19th in grand rapids, any of you who are interested.

5. dave and i really like watching "america's got talent." we hope frank sinatra wins!

6. i really like this drink

especially the nectarine and raspberry flavor. go try it!

that's all! goodbye for now!