Anecdotes

Sunday afternoon naptime was a disaster in terms of sleep.  Serena & Bret just talked, laughed, sang, etc., the ENTIRE 2+ hours that they were in their room.  Definitely going to have to come up with some new nap perimeters.  :P  However, there was some pretty funny stuff going on in there!  I think I got a pretty accurate picture of what Serena's Sunday School class is like!  She seemed to be basically reenacting it...from the "Let's all stand up and CLAP OUR HANDS!!" to the "Now, let's all sit down for a story!"  She sang "Deep and Wide" and "This Little Light of Mine."  Bret was a quite enthusiastic participant.  After having him sit down for a story, she asked, "Do you know about Jesus?" and Bret called out, "I know about Jesus!"

In Serena's SS class, they've been talking about Moses, so she's been particularly interested in going over that story in her Bible storybooks, plus it's been coming up in a lot of daily conversations.  The other day, she said, "Moses' mommy put him in a spacket (basket).  And he was in a spacket for a LOOONG time.  The mean king said, 'If you see a baby you should throw him in the river.'  That's funny!  Yeah that's pretty funny!  We don't throw babies in the RIVER!  I think he was trying to make his mommy laugh!"

Another time, she ased, "Mom, why did Moses have to cross the Red Sea?"  I said, "Because he was trying to run away from a mean king and God said he needed to get across the Red Sea so he could reach the Promised Land that God wanted to give him."  Then she asked, "But why did God put the Red Sea there?"  GOOD QUESTION!  If God is in control, why does He put obstacles in our path to obey Him???  Is this not something that every person wonders at some point in their lives??  I answered, "Because God wanted to do something special for Moses."  I hope God gives ample grace as I attempt to answer all her questions! She is such a thinker!

One more Moses story.  ;)  As Bret was tripping all over the books and puzzles Serena had spread all over the room (and Serena was getting upset with him for stepping on said books & puzzles), I said,  "Serena how about you move some of your things to the side so Bret has a path to walk through?"  A look of understanding crossed Serena's face as she started moving her things, "Oh, like God did for Moses?"

Serena loves talking about heaven.  The other day, she asked me if we would be bringing Daddy to heaven with us, haha!  ;)  Tuesday morning, when I went in to get her and Bret up, she was standing on her bed with her hands lifted, singing some song that I didn't recognize.  She smiled sweetly and said, "I'm singing a song about heaven" as if it was the most special thing!  Later that morning, she couldn't wait to tell Miss Kathleen (her library storytime teacher) that she knew a song about heaven.

Serena is getting more and more interactive with "strangers."  Not just random people, but people that she sees Mommy or Daddy talk to...ie., cashiers, waiters, etc.  She got it in her head the other day that it was going to Olie's birthday, and told 2 cashiers and a waitress.  Now, we're expecting Olie's birthday again in a few weeks ;) and she's already told a waiter and Miss Kathleen about that as well.  ;)

We went out with Daddy Monday night and got home pretty late.  As usual, Serena had Olie along, though by the time we got home she was riding on the floor of the car along with a burp rag and Serena's purse.  As I was getting Serena out of the car, I asked her if she wanted to bring Olie in.  Olie was way on the other side of the car, though, so I suggested that maybe we could just leave her out in the car since it was so late and we were going to be going to the library first thing in the morning and she'd probably want to bring Olie then, anyway.  Serena nodded at the suggestion.  "That will be okay.  We can leave her out here.  She will be okay.  She won't cry or anything.  She is like Jesus, but her name is Olie."  As a side note, we are still singing "Away in a Manger" every night (by popular demand).  ;)

 Bretster is suddenly becoming SUCH a Daddy's boy!  He loves all things Daddy more than ever!  In the morning, I can hardly hold him back long enough to take his diaper off as he is in such a hurry to go find Daddy!  When I got him dressed for church Sunday morning, he was SO very pleased that I put a collared, button-up shirt on him!  "My shirt just like Daddy's!" he exclaimed happily!

Bret is certainly living up to his nickname "Mr. Congeniality."  He is very observant of social graces and niceties.  He rarely forgets to say "please" and even more rarely forgets to say "thank you."  He often asks "How's it goin'?" or "How you doing?"  Monday night at supper, he told the waiter, "I'd like water please" when he heard Jordan & I say it.

I have a set of number magnetic tiles and alphabet magnetic tiles on the fridge.  Serena has really been into "smelling" different names as she is starting to learn all her letters.  It's pretty exciting to Jordan & I to realize how much she is picking up even though we haven't really sat down to "teach" her the alphabet or numbers!  The other day, Serena wanted to spell Cody.  I said, "First you need to find the 'C'."  Serena started searching all over the fridge for the 'C.'  "Where'd the 'C' go?" she asked.  "There's the 'C'!" Bret exclaimed, and pointed TO THE 'C'!!!!!  To say that Jordan and I were shocked would be an understatement!  I really think that kid picks up a LOT more than we realize!!!

Cody is still loved and doted upon by all!  Both Serena & Bret love getting him up from his naps and getting toys for him.  Serena's weird thing she likes to do with Cody is to pick the lint out from between his toes.  ???  Bret likes to sit on Cody.  ;)  Cody just thinks Serena & Bret are awesome!  He loves to sit in his bumbo seat and watch them play.  Serena is particularly good at making him smile and laugh.  Her babytalk is seriously awesome!  She & Cody get into a giggle fest and it is one of the most precious sounds ever!