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June 30, 2008

the babe

sir willem the smiley one will be nine months old on the fourth of july

recent accomplishments include: scooting all over the floor without actually crawling; mastering this interesting yoga-like position that resembles a downward-facing dog; ramblings with a lot of "da da da;" so many smiles; a few more grunts now that several teeth are emerging at once; continuing to wake mom up 2-3 times a night with pleas for milk (have you seen the size of this kid?); a new nasal, snorting laugh that his brothers really love; and the ability to recognize his name and the sight of those that he loves the most. he really is so much fun! thank you, god, for this amazing gift!

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June 29, 2008

catchin' up

well, there are no pictures to share. sadly, my computer has not been well, and i have to snag mark's laptop when he happens to bring it home. i have been feeling a little disconnected. we rarely watch television or listen to the radio. now with no computer, i am totally in the dark. at first, i was a little anxious at being separated from my email, my new facebook friends, and the extra noise created by the television that kept me from thinking long enough to become discontent. now that all of those things have been taken away, i have found myself completely drawn to the silence...well, the bits of silence that can be found in this busy home. the boys and i have been reading much more, have structured our days around fairly worthwhile endeavors, and we really do not seem to miss the distractions.....

as our summer rolls on, we have found ourselves out on the greenway that runs alongside the river riding with all of the bicycle gear needed for a family of six. the path is great for long rides, and we often stop midway for a picnic at a playground. the kids love it, and i am working toward getting the exercise that i need. we do tend to attract a lot of attention along the way. aidan rides alone. mark pulls abel on a trail-a-bike, and i have ollie and willem in a trailer behind my bike. one afternoon, we ran into some good friends who were out for a ride with their five children. we really were a sight that day, but it was so much fun! we have also been busy with different camps for the kids, vbs, and weekly trips to the library. this week we are looking forward to some time at the pool, visiting with my brother and his family over the 4th, and maybe a trip to the zoo.

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June 13, 2008

summer

this summer is already much different than the last. at this time last year, i was on bed rest nervously awaiting the arrival of the fourth cooley boy. this year i am enjoying willem and trying to create an exciting and structured summer for aidan, abel, and oliver. we have been on several walks, played at a few playgrounds, gone to the zoo, swam, and spent a little time with family and friends. the structure...well, i am still working on that.

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