Finally! Beach Weather!

This weekend we stayed at my mom's house and were able to enjoy a little beach time. A real shocker came when I opened the drawer on my bedside table there and found the following reading material: Preparation for Childbirth: the Lamaze Method, Easy Labor, Husband-Coached Childbirth, and Your Pregnancy Week by Week. Oooh. This time last summer I was swelling and practicing breathing to the tune of "Yellow Submarine." My baby, Peter, is almost one--boo hoo!

Peter is awesome right now. He is sleeping very well, parroting single syllables (such as please, Pete, and no), and is very mobile. He's not walking yet, but he uses anything he can as a walker, frequently pushing a step stool in front of him around the house. My favorite thing though is when he stands at the coffee table and I hold out my arms to him and say, "Come here, Peter! Walk!" He turns around and steps fearlessly away from the table grinning as he collapses into me.

After spending three days on the beach with the kids, I have a sunburn (they are perfectly pale!) and a couple of stories to share. Yaka, Jacqui and Anna went to the beach with us yesterday. When they walked into Nana's house in swimsuits, Jill went berserk. She said, "I'm going to the beach, too! Wait for me!" I said, "Hold on, Jill, let me get your swimsuit on!" Too impatient to change, she said, "I don't want my swimsuit!" and starting putting her beach shoes on with her pajamas. Anna watched her, amused, and said, "OK! Jill's going swimming in her pajamas. New plan, everyone!"

Then when we finally left Nana's house today, Jill was really sad and angry about going home. She cried and scowled in the back of the car until she finally said, "I lost my temper." I said, "I know. I'm sorry you're sad, but it's OK to feel angry sometimes." Then I started singing songs to distract her and Peter. Jill eventually joined in singing and said, "God helped me get my temper back."