Joyous July

[Lady Edfeil]

Today has been a very busy day for the royal baby, and it is only 3 pm in the afternoon. He woke up once at 5.20 am, nursed and went back to sleep for another two hours. Thank you Joseph. When he woke up, he nursed again, was promptly changed, put into a new outfit, and went with mommy and daddy on a trip in the car. The destination? The dentist office where he and mommy waited during daddy's semi anual check up. Oh... what an interesting place to discover! Mommy had brought toys with her, but there were just so many new things to discover that those were quickly abandoned. There were metal studs in the carpet to stop the doors that needed to be examined, chairs to pull up on, an otoman with magazines (which mommy took away) a bin with newspapers (which mommy took away), a coatrack to pull up on, there were assistants and other people to be charmed, and then of course there was the plant.... a peace lilly which stood in a bin on the floor. Despite mommy's vigilance, Joseph raced to attack several times and managed to get a few fragments off and once even managed to topple the entire thing. Wasn't that fun!! While daddy was scheduling his next appointment, Joseph was allowed to go watch the aquarium with all the nice fishies.

And then we were off in the car again. Mommy and daddy stopped, very unhealty, for donuts, and after a short exploration of the donut shop in daddy's arms, it was back on the road for .... story time. A very kind grandmother there called Joseph "A social butterfly". Mommy calls him "Trouble". He doesn't want to sit still and listen to the stories anymore. He wants to explore, preferably what he should not explore, like the cd player behind where we sit (note to self, sit on the other side next time), the basket full of books that the story lady has next to her, and of course all other babies, and their pacifiers or sippy cups. Older or younger, no one is as active during storytime as Joseph.

After all the storytime excitement, Joseph promptly fell asleep in the car, napped there for about 20 minutes and consequently refused to nap anymore when at home. He did play nicely though with the blocks, first just throwing them around and trying to eat them, but after a few minutes he followed mommy's example and had his first lesson in 'tidying' by putting the blocks one by one back in the bag. And then... he amazed mommy by actually managing to put two bocks together. Yes, yes... Joseph has learned how blocks actually work! Can building the first castle be far behind?
After that exciting adventure, there was play to be done under the kitchen table by exploring the fat middle pillar on which the table rests and all the ways in which you can touch it, tap it with a spoon, and pull up on it.
Baby is down for a nap, and mommy will follow. I think I get more exhausted from his adventures than he does. I think we should grow an extra arm in childbirth...

[Halethala]

Eiluna . . I've been just drooling over that costume since you posted it, trying to imagine how I would have embellished it, it looks like such fun! And I've held your mother in prayer as she deals with everything.

Dream . . good to hear you and Ms Beren had such a lovely time together, and I'm sure you and your Mum will as well! I sure wish I could've snuck into your luggage!!

Eva . . *laughs* you describe the lil' Prince's escapades with such accuracy, I can just picture him at it! Just imagine him channeling all that energy into his future profession! He'll be sooooo wonderfully successful at whatever he tackles.

Well, so it seems my 'sore knee' is possibly a fracture in one of the larger bones close to the knee. Not being one that likes sitting around, there are days when even the narcotics and extra doses of ibuprofen do little to take the edge off the pain. I'm being sent on to an orthopedist in the near future, and have been rueful of all that milk I haven't drunk over the years.

[Lady Edfeil]

Ouch, Letha, that does sound so painful. Even if you are not one for sitting around, try doing it anyhow? If you can't be just doing nothing, maybe pick up some knitting? *L* I went to the library for some light reading and ended up with a fourhundred something book called "No Idle Hands, A social history of American Knitting" The royal husband just laughed.
Today was a busy day of fun, we went out for fast food, then later baby and husband had a swim, we had a long afternoon in the conservatory and ended with a long, long walk towards the lake. We finally found out where the right path was and had a nice little stroll before coming back. Throughout it I did a lot of filet crochet. I will finish this one project though and go back to normal crochet for a while because I keep getting carpal tunnel symptoms from it. I hope it will be better now that I have a special protective cushion, but tonight or tomorrow, I will finish it, then go to some other crochet for a while. I am doing a mushroom pattern. Kind of silly perhaps, but I am pretty proud of my first attempt.

[Lady Edfeil]

Well, the mushroom is finished. Hurray! Now off to different crochet, once I select a new pattern, but that is for later.
A busy, busy day here... with flagplanting laundry, kitchen cleaning, finding out that a bottle of formula had leaked in my purse (Urgh), finishing letters, a walk after a thunderstorm, a nice talk with the neighbours and more of that kind. We planted the little flags in our front yard in honour of the Belgian national holiday. I should have known that that would mean rain, rain and more rain. *L* In Belgium we speak of the 'national rain' because it always rains on our national holiday, despite the fact that july is normally a 'good weather month'. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you!

[Lady Edfeil]

Busy, busy, busy... Joseph is into everything. He manages to climb through a chair to get to the powercords, and he keeps getting on top of the fireplace or in the trashbin in the kitchen... My right arm is protesting from lifting him out of trouble so much. I each time repeat the stern and consistent "No" but at the ripe age of ten months that does not seem to do much yet. Seriously, my from my hand to my biceps, my arm is hurting and he just got out of bed. It didn't even manage to recuperate from yesterday over night. Any tips? I am trying to lift him more left handed, but that just does not feel safe.

[Halethala]

Perhaps dedicate one room that's been completely "baby-proofed" to spend a few hours each day so you don't have to resort to the "NO's" and rescuings? Or hire a Nanny a few times a week to give yourself a bit of a respite? It's bound to be more cost effective than medical attention to that arm! *hugs*

My week has turned out to be chock-full of wonderful news, some of it to treasure for a long time. My daughter's home and oldest granddaughter hitched a ride home with us last night, so we're off to put the pool to good use!

But first, I thought a few of you might enjoy this site! "30 of the Creepiest Trees on Earth" lol ... www.environmentalgraffiti.com/offbeat-news/30-creepiest-trees-on-earth-pics/1381

[Dream Loxley]

Love those trees Letha!! Thanks so much for sharing the link. You take care of that knee!!

Summer is here again with a vengence......too hot for me............I want to be at the seaside again Had a super time with Mum......and we hope to do it again when time allows.

Wishing all a wonderful new week.............stay safe and well. xxxx

[Lady Edfeil]

The rooms are babyproofed as much as we can so far. Oh well, people say the mommy's arm syndrome will go away in a while when the muscles have strengthened.
I wish you could be at the sea again as well, a nice healthy seabreeze can do so much good.
I have started to knit for the first time in my life. I just read a book called "Social History of American knitting" and I got inspired, especially since crochet uses up so much more thread. My goal is a gift for Beren by christmas, either crocheted or knit... we will see.