The Amazing Grace Race

Just got back from our church's Amazing Grace Race held at a park nearby...Blane and I entered along with 19 other couples. I knew we probably wouldn't win, but come on! LAST??? We came in LAST??? How can that be?? There were times I didn't even see anyone else around during the race so it seemed obvious to me we must have been way ahead, right? Well, let's see, giving it more thought I can think of a few times we may have lost some time....the 3 mile bike trail was first for us...we took our time looking at the map and getting our helmets on while everyone else left us in the dust....After that race my legs were like jello so I walked a little unsteadily to the next thing and couldn't help laughing 'cause I knew if I bent down too much I'd just collapse..., we next did canoeing which I think we did pretty good or at least it seemed like a piece of cake without a toddler sitting in the middle.....but walking to some of the other stations we were stopped a few times from people in the park asking what was going on (we had numbers pinned to our backs) so we chatted a little and told them about our church....So with all that in mind, I guess we could have gained, oh I don't know....2 minutes on our time?? Anyway, we had a good time. There were only two casualties on the bike trail...my poor sister wiped out pretty bad on the steep descent...BIG OUCH!!!! BUT, once she received a little medical attention she continued with the rest of the race with her husband....well not the bike part but everything else....
And thank goodness for other people with extra diapers! I only packed one for Isaac but gave it to his cousin who REALLY needed it...then later Isaac REALLY needed one so someone from church had an extra to give to me for Isaac....what goes around comes around...ha ha...

A Recommended Book...by me

I just finished reading a book How To Raise A Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn, MD..a leading pediatrician! He's been in practice for over 30 years. It's VERY insightful and coming from a pediatrician it's quite interesting that he HIGHLY encourages parents to take more control of their child's health AND if at all possible AVOID the doctor! He reveals the general mentality of the medical profession and the dangers of putting your child in a doctor's care for minor things where it could very well be something parents can handle at home, rather than seeing a doctor who will intervene in many unnecessary ways! He lists guidelines to follow for many childhood illnesses and gives his opinion on various subjects, including the fact that he DOES NOT recommend vaccinations! This coming from a pediatrician, but he backs it up with very interesting statistics and information that spells out how useless AND potentially dangerous they are....and how to treat diseases (i.e. mumps, measles, etc.) if contracted. He's also against tonsilectomies unless the child's tonsils are so swollen he can't breathe...but he says the tonsils are the first line of defense against infection. He's also against antibiotics unless absolutely necessary (i.e. olive oil recommended for earaches rather than antibiotics)...he's against strep throat cultures and antibiotics for that and explains why...etc., etc...(Perhaps NOW I have a few people curious about this doctor...so you gotta read the book!....Anyway, it's a great book and now I'm going through and highlighting things to keep in mind.
Aside from finishing the book, Isaac and I spent some time playing with play doh and he did so much better this time by NOT EATING IT....just licking it to get my reaction! What a rascal!

Isaac can't fill his daddy's shoes...but I can tell he fills his heart! :)

Happy Father's Day!

Saturday, the day before Father's Day was Blane's company picnic at Hershey Park, which I consider Father's Day since Isaac LOVED being on the rides with his daddy and didn't seem to want to be on rides with mommy, but that's ok! He sees me alot more than Blane...Their favorite ride was the big Fun Slide which they went on four times! Poor Blane had to carry Isaac up a lot of narrow steps each time. We had to walk through the water park area a few times...whew! I think about 70% of the people are much too generous in showing their appearance in a bathing suit.
Maybe next year Isaac will go on a few rides by himself...but for now it was fun to watch him making memories with daddy! It was a completely different kind of memory ON Father's Day when we attempted to go canoeing as a family...not a good idea with a tired, sleepy 19 month old...I thought we'd never make it back to shore! How do you explain to a toddler that it's not a good idea to nurse on a canoe?? He rocked the boat a little bit...but most of the time he rocks our world :)

The Unknown Cowboy

I asked him if he found his horse..all I got was "Neigh, Neigh!"

A Baby's Yawn...

I glanced in the rear view mirror on the way home from food shopping today and saw Isaac yawn and his eyes grow heavy..then fall asleep. I kept glancing back in the mirror taking in the sweet, sleepy face that makes him look like a baby even though he's a toddler now. I started thinking about a baby's yawn and what babies get away with. I think it's safe to say that EVERYONE and ANYONE who sees a baby yawn, especially a newborn or infant, has the same reaction. "Ah, how dear, how cute!" And you just want to hug and snuggle, and kiss their soft little cheeks. Am I right? Am I right?? Babies can get away with yawning anywhere and anytime they like, and make noise along with it..but I had to chuckle when I realized that it's not the same for adults or even kids when they reach a certain age....No, no, no...when you get a little older yawning in public isn't cute..but instead seen as a sign of boredom, rudeness and disrespect....and it's ESPECIALLY bad when it's accompanied by loud sighing! Oh I never tire of watching Isaac sleep and occasionally yawn. It's hard to believe that some day when he's older I might very well have to reprimand him for yawning loudly....Right now I'm enjoying the cuteness of it! :)