Lately...

Lately we've been busy with a capital "B" around the Bedinghaus. I barely have time to read other blogs I like to follow, let alone write on my own. I have so many thoughts for blog posts, but really, they just aren't writing themselves.

So...I thought I'd do a quick post about some things we've been doing lately.

Lately Liam has been loving books. If you know me at all you know I love to read, so it is very exciting to see Liam developing a love for books. We used to just keep books upstairs for reading before naps and bedtime, but recently we brought some downstairs and there is no going back. Liam carries books around with him and is constantly at my feet holding up a book to be read. It is one of the most precious things he does. When I open the book he literally bounces up and down. I hope that he always has such a great love of books.

Liam and papa enjoy a book together

If you're looking for some recommendations, we are really enjoying the Baby Einstein First Words and Let's Go! books (thanks mom B!). They have big pictures divided into different categories on each page (food, transportation, instruments, etc.). Liam likes to turn the pages himself and then point to pictures and wait for us to say the word. It's fascinating how his tastes are already developing -- he skips right over the pages about boats and animals, but loves the pages with trucks, food, anything with a ball and oddly enough, the "home" page. Probably because there is a picture of the vacuum on it. That is also one of his words -- "vacuum". I have him saying "vacuum" on video, but it's not loading properly...grrr....so I'll try to put it up later.

The one thing that is difficult is reading the same baby books over and over again. I will say that to keep Liam's interest up I will read them over and over again, but some are just bad. I think Mother Goose was smoking something when she made up some of those rhymes. I would welcome any recommendations for good books for 12 to 18 month olds!

Lately our house has also been inhabited by The King of Drool. I didn't know it was possible for someone to have so much drool! Granted the poor kid is breaking in some nasty molars, but the drool often soaks his shirt down to his bellybutton on any given day. I think I could take his shirt off and wring it out that's how wet he gets. I do change him into his jammies for naptime because I would feel awful if he had to sleep in that. Yuck. I also bought him two bandanas today to wear around his neck because lets be real, cool kids don't wear bibs all day. Cool kids wear bandanas. I hope that will help at least protect his shirts and maybe make him a little more comfortable. He seems to take it all in stride though and really hasn't complained too much about his teeth coming in.

The King of Drool. Yes my friends, all that wetness is from his mouth.

A cheeser face for the camera

That's better!

Lately we've been listening to a lot of Christmas music by the Good Shepherd Band. I usually am a stickler about no Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but this is an exception year I think. The CD is really growing on me and is an excellent way to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas. If you like, you can order your own copy here. (or ask me nicely and I'll hook you up with a copy.)

Lately I've been thinking about making a lot of Christmas gifts for friends and family instead of buying gifts. I won't share my projects because some of you who read this blog will be the recipients of the gifts (if I can actually make what I want to...), but I'll take some photos and tell you all about them after Christmas. I have some fun ideas, but actually bringing them to fruition is a whole other story. It seems like most days it's all I can do to keep the house tidy, dishes washed, clean clothes on our bodies, a dry, happy baby and dinner on the table. That doesn't leave much room for crafting. Not to mention I don't sew...

But! There are some other, non-sewy things I want to try, so stay tuned.

As usual I have lots of thoughts about lots of things, just not much time to write them down. But I will eventually and I'll be happy to share my thoughts here for all of you who care enough to read my thoughts...! Thanks for caring enough to keep checking back on this little piece of my world.