More Stories...

I remember when I was pregnant with Andrew the word 'normal' took on a whole new meaning.  It was always such a relief to hear that his heart was normal, his brain was normal, and whatever else we were checking was normal.  I think we all want our children to be extraordinary, but I'm grateful for normal.  

I tell you this because I think somewhere between the womb and Wal-Mart, on Monday, my child went from normal to weirdly funny.  We were walking down an aisle (not isle, as I learned from my friend) and there was this young boy and his mommy coming toward us.  He points to Andrew and says 'Look Mommy, a boy.'  She was polite and talked to Andrew and asked her son to show Andrew his shirt, and he said 'Look, I have transformers.  What do you have on your shirt?'  For some reason, unbeknownst to me, Andrew plants his feet in a rock star stance and shouts 'LADIES AND GENTLMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS, INTRODUCINGGGGG...SPIDERMAN!!'  When  he finishes his introduction the mom looks at me with eyes that scream 'Ohhh, you have one of those children.'  I wanted to tell her, 'No he's completely normal but I think the fumes* at Wal-Mart have finally gone to his head.'  

Yesterday, the boys and I were riding around town.  I still don't know the town well and I wanted to see different parts, and look for a house for my friend whose moving here.  As I was driving around, I think I made myself carsick.  When I got home I laid on the ground and tried to recover from the nausea and major headache.  Andrew, being the most tenderhearted boy I know, asks me if I wanted a cold wash cloth.  I said 'No thanks.'  But he goes and gets a washcloth wet and puts it on my head.  He sat there and rubbed my hair and kept saying its okay Mommy.  Jonathan tried to help too, but all he wanted to do was bring me toys.  I love them so much.

*Our Wal-Mart doesn't have fumes, but I couldn't think of the right word.  Still can't.

Piano Recital

Here's Andrew's first piano recital. Enjoy...

Jonathan doesn't like to miss a good time, so he made a little cameo.

Tent Time...

The boys and I were playing on Thursday and Andrew decided that he wanted to play in his tent. It's a lot of fun to play in. The only problem is that it traps heat in and becomes a small sauna with 2 boys and me in there. I decided that if I were going on a camping trip in the Arctic, I'm taking this tent with me.
Andrew and Jonathan made it very clear they didn't want their picture taken. This is the best I could do.
Here's Jonathan trying to escape. He would crawl out, and Andrew would drag him back in. Andrew couldn't conceive why everybody didn't want to play in the sauna tent with him.
FYI, Andrew is taking his nap in the tent right now. He took his nap in there yesterday and came out sweaty and 10 lbs lighter.

Thursday was another big day for Jonathan.  He started walking.  If the distance isn't too far he'll walk their on his own.  It is so exciting. 

Big Day...

Today was a big day for Jonathan.  We started weaning him off his bottle, and so far, that is going well.  He doesn't seem to mind the mixture of milk and formula.  The big news is, today was the first day he ate all regular foods  (I have a tendency to drag out the baby food stage due to my lack of  creativity with new baby foods).  His menu for today was cinnamon roll oatmeal for breakfast, pb&j for lunch, and creamy pesto and chicken pasta for dinner.  He loved it all and ate it all.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Reminiscing...

It was one of those weird nights when I was tired of surfing the web, and decided to look at old pictures of the boys.  As I was going through them, I realized how much Jonathan favors Andrew.  I guess I'm in denial because I was hoping that he would look a little like me (and not just share an eye color).  Here are a few pics of Andrew and Jonathan:

This one was taken just before BBC's County Fair, Andrew is about 5 months old.  
This is Jonathan around 6 months.  They look a little alike.
Here is one of my favorite pictures of Andrew.  This is when he first started to get teeth.  Jonathan's hair is starting to do the curl in the back.  
This is one of the last pictures I took of the boys at the old house.  A rare chance to have both smiling and looking in the sameish direction (thanks to their GG).

Captain Flight

This is solely for you.  No more comments about the lack of your name.

Snow Day

We had a lot of snow fall today (not sure of the exact amount).  I love snow!!!  It makes freezing cold temperatures seem less miserable.  Ordinarily, I wouldn't enjoy going out in the cold, but for some reason I don't mind when it's snowing.  Here's our winter wonderland:

I loved taking this picture.  As I walked outside it was so quiet, and all I heard was the snow crunching under my feet.  It was one of those times when you could stand outside, close yours eyes and listen intently and hear nothing.  I hope it snowed where you live so you can understand this feeling.  By the way, this is our new home.

Eventually we all ventured out to enjoy the snow.  Andrew came down early to tell me that it snowed outside.  It took all he had to eat his breakfast super fast so that he could go outside.  I love Jonathan's look of bewilderment as he experienced snow for the first time.  
A snow angel.
Another snow angel.

Poor Jonathan had to stay in his stroller, and watch us from the sidelines.  He looked adorable though (and very cold). 

Guess What Happens Next...

If you guessed Jonathan falls off the bed, you were right.  His cousin Kirsten and Andrew are holding him (and I say that loosely) while I was taking the picture.  As soon as I take it, both of them let go and lunge to see their picture, leaving Jonathan to learn how to fly on his own.  I guess my major problem was not thinking and taking a picture on the bed.  I have learned my lesson.

The next picture shows what happens when Mommy leaves the camera to comfort the child who couldn't fly.  I guess Kirsten took this picture of Andrew.   A photographer in the making.   

Updates...

As I sit here and watching American Idol (cringing because she is not doing well) I figured I should let you know what has been holding up all the blogs...nothing but pure laziness.  Every time I go to write something nothing comes to mind.  Don't get me wrong, there is a lot going on but nothing worth sharing.  Here's the update on the chilies...

Jonathan

Besides being adorable, his two top teeth came in--praise the Lord, and he is ever so close to walking on his own.  Yesterday, he wanted me to hold him, meanwhile I had to get his bottle ready, so he ends up walking across the kitchen just to get a little loving.  He walked and didn't even know it.  He is a lot of fun (when he is well rested and well fed).  

Andrew

He is doing well adjusting to the new house.  He loves to play all over the house and especially in his room.  He likes to tell us before naps and bedtime that 'Sleeping is not my big fan' (translation:  I'm not a big fan of sleeping).  Other than that he is being a typical toddler boy.

Mental note to myself:  Don't try to blog when watching American Idol, very distracting.  Can't focus.  

Gotta Go    

Grilled Cheese

Yesterday, Jonathan had his first grilled cheese, and loved it.  He isn't a picky eater but he knows what he likes and doesn't like.  Other food that are his favorite...spaghetti, mac and cheese, PB&J, goldfish and all sorts of fruits (even guava).  This is a classic picture of Jonathan during lunch time.  He likes to pack his mouth as full as possible and wash it all down with a cold, sippy-cup of water.
This is Andrew's grilled cheese face.  One day, a long time from now, he is going to take a good picture again.  Whenever I pull the camera out he likes to make silly faces (he gets that from his father's side of the family).

Fun Stories

Again I have no pictures but I do have lots of funny Andrew stories (and one of my own) to share.
Story #1
As you know we have moved to a new home, but until yesterday, Chris was still employed at BBC and would drive back to NC to do the work while I remained at home with the boys. Since Sunday was our last official Sunday and there was to be a farewell reception for us, the boys and I enjoyed a trip back to NC. We were driving along when. low and behold, we smell a skunk (ahhh the country life). Andrew asks me 'What stinks Mommy?' and I tell him a skunk. Then he replies 'What's a skunk' Luckily, he was watching Bambi 2 and so I thought that would be perfect to help him understand, so I tell him 'Flower in your movie is a skunk.' Thinking that I just thought of the greatest way to help him realize what a skunk was but then I was snapped back to reality when he says 'I CAN SMELL DA SKUNK THROUGH MY TV!!!'
Story #2
A few months ago Andrew and I were having a talk about our family. You know, I'm Mommy Dowd and then there's Daddy Dowd, followed by GG and PaPa Dowd. Then we turn to my side of the family and he asks 'Is Maw Maw, Maw Maw Dowd?' I tell him no, that she is Maw Maw Flight and then there's Pa Pa Flight and even Mommy use to be a Flight before she got married. That seemed to boggle his mind but was okay with it. All that to help you understand the next part of the story.
As we were helping Daddy pack up his office, we found some Disney movies someone let us borrow but now we were finally returning. Andrew asks Daddy if KK (I should probably ask before I post her name, so she'll be KK for now) had any children and Daddy says 'No, because she's not married.' Then Andrew, in all his wisdom, says 'Then she must be a Flight.' Because, apparently, all girls are Flights before they're married.
Story #3
I go yesterday to get my VA license and I was told it would be real quick because it's a small DMV. After waiting 10 minutes just to get a number so I can wait another 20 minutes for my number to be called (and for someone who likes organization and the numbers had no order) I was reminding myself constantly, that these are people that I want to win to the Lord so be patient with them (clearly they were sinners because I was being inconvenienced, it made a lot more sense at the time). Finally, my number (C 210 (previous number was E 097...what)) was called and I proudly walked to the window with all that it takes to get a drivers license in VA. She starts typing and then says "Hmmm, ' which I know can't be good. Then she asks me 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?' Stunned, I tell her no and then she asks 'Are you sure, because there is a stop on your license application.' Still stunned, I stare at her for a while and finally say (a little more emphatically) 'NO.' After 45 minutes of going around, are you sure you have never been convicted, I start to wonder maybe I have been convicted, I just have blocked out that whole part of my life.
I wish I could say that the story ends well but she told me after all that time that I would have to come back tomorrow. She said that they would take care of it tomorrow but then she asks 'When did you get your license?' I told her I was 17 (my parents were trying to teach us something by making us wait an extra year, humility I think, but they would tell you responsibility ). She gives me another look and I say 'What now?' She replies 'When you come back tomorrow, you'll need to take both written tests.' Seriously, I almost go off on her but I am reminded that she is a sinner in need of a Savior (again because she has inconvenienced me even further). I, the possible felon, politely ask for my study guide and go home.
I go today to see if they have fixed the problem and take the test.

**Disclaimer, for those who don't know me**
I have never been convicted of a felon...Ever.

--Follow-up to this story--
I got my driver's license without a problem today and I didn't have to take a test.